Thursday, March 15, 2018 • Vol. 53, No. 43 • Verona, WI • Hometown USA • ConnectVerona.com • $1.25
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Verona Press The
New VAHS
City, district closer, but still no road deal Remaining dispute centers on acquisition of property JIM FEROLIE AND SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Scott Girard
Verona Area School District early learning coordinator Jennifer Skibba also helps teach some of the Pre-K classes at daycare sites around the district. Here, she reads “You Will Be My Friend” to a group of students at La Petite Academy in Fitchburg.
First 5 years
Pre-K more than ‘kindergarten for 4-year-olds’ SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Don’t ask Jennifer Skibba about “4K.” As the Verona Area School District’s early learning coordinator, Skibba oversees the program the district calls “Pre-K.” To her, the distinction is important. “We really didn’t want kindergarten to just be brought down to the
4-year-olds,” Skibba said. “The (planning) group felt very passionately that we called it ‘Pre-K’ to truly, really emphasize that preschool experience, and not that kindergarten piece.” Instead, the program hopes to have its students ready to learn academically by the time they arrive at kindergarten, with the social and behavioral rules already covered, explained the director at one of the Pre-K sites. “We’re just getting them ready
for school, teaching them to make friends, trust their teachers and make school easier for them when they actually start,” Little Pilgrims director Jessica Carlson said. “Kindergarten teachers don’t have to do as much of that.” The program, which is based at daycare sites around the district, began taking district students ages
Turn to Pre-K/Page 20
New VAHS
Safety, security listening session March 15 Board decision on building design could come March 19 SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Verona Area School District officials are hoping to hear ideas and questions from the community about safety and security at the new high school.
The school board, along with administrators, security staff and design consultants on the project, will hold a listening session at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at Badger Ridge Middle School. The school board is expected to make a decision on any changes at its March 19 meeting. The listening session follows a March 2 announcement from the district that it would review the design
of the school after concerns from staff and parents about some features – specifically, the amount of glass in classrooms. Preliminary plans for the building included tall glass – sometimes floor-to-ceiling – looking into every classroom. The goal was to help provide natural light into the inner hallways and common areas, which was one of the
Turn to Security/Page 18
If You Go What: Listening session: Safety and security at the new high school When: 7-8:15 p.m. Thursday, March 15 Where: Badger Ridge Middle School, 740 N. Main St. Info: verona.k12.wi.us
The months-long dispute between the city and school district over funding a second access road into the new high school is getting closer to a resolution but still has one major sticking point. Verona Area School District officials agreed to one of the City of Verona’s three contract options Friday, March 9, but added
some counterproposals and clarifications to their response on a proposal to swap $4 million in city payments for the Sugar Creek Elementary School land. After a closed-session discussion Monday, March 12, the city attorney indicated alders had accepted most of them, including an additional $500,000 payment to the district that could be recoverable years down the road. But it stood firm on one, about who should negotiate and pay for additional property that would need to be acquired for the road. District officials had
Turn to Road/Page 7
City of Verona
Rebuilt Fireman’s Park will get splash pad significant upgrade. The Common Council voted unanimously Monday to commit the JIM FEROLIE first part of more than $3 million to install a Verona Press editor 3,600-square-foot splash More than a year after pad, a mostly open-air it was supposed to get a park pavilion, a secondary major facelift, Fireman’s 1,150-square-foot “water Park beach is getting a d i ff e r e n t , bu t e q u a l l y Turn to Park plan/Page 18
$3 million upgrade set to open in June 2019
Inside
Pages 8-13 Mayoral candidate questionnaires Page 16
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March 15, 2018
The Verona Press
ConnectVerona.com
Right, Gayle (Zaria Roller) gives back Lendall (Grant Lawson) all of the love he gave her, represented by red-colored pillows.
‘Almost, Maine’ The Verona Area High School theater department presented four performances of “Almost, Maine” at the Performing Arts Center last weekend. Written by John Cariani, the play takes place in the remote and somewhat mythical town of Almost in northern Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of the town find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways.
Sandrine (Clary Miller) pulls up the sleeve of her old fling Jimmy (Issac Schroeer-Hanneman) to see the tattoo he got after she broke up with him. He had attempted to tattoo the word “villain” because he had lost her, but ended up tattooing the word “villain” instead.
Photos by Kimberly Wethal
From left, Pete (Jerry Barnett) and Ginette (Hannah Amell) professes her love to him on a park bench while on a date. Students from the Verona Area High School put on the play “Almost, Maine” Thursday through Sunday last week. Written by John Cariani, the show comprises nine shorts about love in the mythical town of Almost, Maine.
Marvalyn (Caylee Lawrence) hits Steve (Anton Maslowski) over the head with a book to see if he doesn’t feel pain like he claims he doesn’t.
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From right, East (Asiah Doyle) tries to put Glory’s (Lauren Sandler)’s heart back together as she watches the Northern Lights.
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The Verona Press
March 15, 2018
3
City of Verona
Lincoln apartments voted down No action on eliminating A plan to put 90 apartments on what’s now an industrial site near the fire station got sent back to the drawing board Monday with a 5-3 Common Council vote against. The 102-104 Lincoln Street project had debuted as a 113-unit complex in three buildings, and this third version of the project was a single L-shaped building pushed away from the Jefferson Street neighborhood it abutted, nestled against the bike trail and Lincoln Street. A week ago, it won over enough members of the Plan Commission to move forward in the second and most important phase of the approval process. But alders cited a variety of concerns, including stormwater management, traffic and general “fit” in the area. Monday’s meeting didn’t bring in the parade of area residents some previous stops had, but three people spoke against the project in generally hyperbolic terms. One suggested the added traffic would force the city to move its police station, and another said it would “ruin the neighborhood” and flood basements. The stormwater concerns caught the attention of alders, even though stormwater management is reserved for the third and final stage in the process and city ordinances require the design to
keep runoff on site, something that was not in place when the current tenant of the land, sump cleaner manufacturer Cecor, was built decades ago. A misunderstood question could have had an impact on the vote. Though city planning director Adam Sayre pointed out city staff and consultants had no concerns with stormwater management, he essentially said “I’m not prepared to answer that,” when asked if alders could vote against the project in the final stage if it shows stormwater can’t be controlled. He admitted to the Press in an email the next day that the answer should have been yes. At least three alders – Brad Stiner (Dist. 3) and Public Works committee members Evan Touchett (D-4) and Luke Diaz (D-3) – specifically cited stormwater problems in the area as a top concern. Ald. Sarah Gaskell (D-2) voted for the project, imploring fellow alders to look at the traffic analysis the city had done for it, saying it would have a “pretty minimal” effect on the intersection. “It’s pretty explicit about the impact of the traffic,” she said. Only one person had spoken about the project in the public hearing the week before, giving mostly positive comments, and the commission didn’t take long to give it the thumbs-up despite some reservations about the overall number of apartments being built recently.
The three-step public process is called a planned-unit development, which allows the city to waive standard zoning rules, which in this case would be mostly for the amount of dwelling units – about three times the normal limit for a lot of its size. The first step is a concept plan, delivered for feedback to the commission and council. During that step, in January, the general reaction was that it’s consistent with the city’s 4-year-old downtown plan. Directly across from the Verona Area Community Theater building and the fire station, the front of the property is considered an appropriate spot for dense apartments, but it also backs up to an old, established neighborhood on Jefferson Street. The downtown plan the city approved in 2014 shows a 72-unit building, and generally, that was considered close enough for most commissioners and some alders. An approval in the second stage, the general development plan, would have essentially guaranteed the developer that it can build the project, as long as the third stage, the precise implementation plan, is consistent with the GDP. The PIP, which includes architecture, lighting and landscaping, is a separate approval, which requires both plan and council review. Email Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet.com.
Gaskell chosen for Plan
City in brief
JIM FEROLIE
Chad Kemp’s career as a Verona alder started out awkwardly. After coming up from the audience several minutes into Monday’s meeting and having trouble getting out the words, “District 1 alderperson,” the city clerk swore him in before the Common Council actually voted on his appointment. But the vote was unanimous, and Kemp was appointed to fill the committees his predecessor was on – Finance, Public Works and Seniors. The appointment was technically only for a month, but Kemp is running unopposed for the seat, vacated by Mac McGilvray in November.
Verona Press editor
After 11 months of frustration, the Common Council now has a representative of the Plan Commission. Sarah Gaskell, nearing the end of her first year on the council, was confirmed on a 7-1 vote Monday. Ald. Jack Linder (Dist. 2) was the lone holdout despite there being Gaskell no other nominations, explaining later in an email that Gaskell never explained why she should be on the commission. Linder had served on either the council, Plan Commission or both for more than a decade until a lack of a six-person plurality knocked him out of the job last April. Alders who were against bringing him back cited a desire to bring a different voice and perspective, and they first voted for Ald. Luke Diaz (D-3), until he announced a run for mayor in November,
and then they switched to Gaskell. Votes were held twice a month, with comical predictability. Eventually, those who had voted consistently for Linder switched to support Linder’s compromise plan of nominating Ald. Evan Touchett (D-4), but nobody on either side ever got more than four votes until Monday. Linder, meanwhile, continued to attend every meeting. G a s ke l l w i l l g e t o n e meeting, April 4, before nominations come up anew under a new mayor and as many as two new alders (Chad Kemp was appointed earlier Monday in District 1). However, it’s extremely unlikely any new composition of the council would change the council’s support of Gaskell. One of the incumbents in a contested race is Linder, and the other is Ald. Brad Stiner (D-3), who, along with Evan Touchett, had supported either Linder or Touchett all year until Monday.
Kemp joins early
City hires deputy clerk Clerk Ellen Clark announced Kayla Martin has accepted the city’s offer to take the deputy clerk position.
Serving All Your Electrical Needs
Alders decided Monday not to vote on a proposal to eliminate the maximum house size in the city’s smallest zoning classification, Community Residential. The CR zoning, established in 2000, allows homes on lots as small as 6,000 square feet, rather than the previous minimum of 8,000. It also, however, limits homes to 1,900 square feet in an attempt to provide the city with a wider range of housing types and prices. City staff agreed with a request to do away with this limit, and the Plan Commission agreed last week, saying it does not work to make housing “affordable,” but alders appeared to lean against and wanted to hear the results of a housing survey being performed for Verona by a regional planning body before deciding. The applicant, Hometown
Email Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet.com.
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That position was vacated when Holly Licht left to take the open clerk position in Stoughton. Martin is a Verona resident who has been working as a medical program assistant at the University of Wisconsin School of Public Health. Before that, she was assistant administrator at the Caring Center in Verona, and Clark said she has a variety of administrative experience, including in human resources.
Tanya’s expansion OK Alders unanimously approved a plan to add a new outdoor play area and remove city limits on the number of kids allowed at Tanya’s Big House for Kidz, 120 Enterprise Dr. Despite a concern raised at the public hearing the week before by a Noel Way resident, Ald. Brad Stiner (Dist. 3), himself a Noel Way resident, said the business has been an “awesome neighbor.”
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Grove subdivision developer Ray Yunker, spoke at length in public comment section about how housing needs have changed from the days of 1,200-square-foot homes people wanted decades ago. He agreed affordable housing is important but said CR wasn’t accomplishing that. But Ald. Brad Stiner (Dist. 3) proclaimed he was a CR “success story,” having moved into his house years ago. “I think we need more of it, actually, all around the city,” he said. And Ald. Sarah Gaskell (D-2) called CR “one of the only things we have in place to even attempt” affordable housing and wanted to keep it. Ald. Luke Diaz (D-3) said the city should “let the market decide” whether bigger or smaller houses are in demand.
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March 15, 2018
Opinion
The Verona Press
ConnectVerona.com
Letters to the editor
Vote progressive on April 3 Verona voted for Clinton 65 percent in 2016, and yet we’ve been represented by a Republican mayor for 12 years, a Republican County Board representative for eight years and our council has been split between progressives and conservatives. We have a chance to change that on April 3, to place progressives in charge of our local government–people who care more about people than about big corporate interests. Let’s vote for candidates who want to keep our hometown feel with responsible development, who care about environmental sustainability and want to make our community more walkable and bike-able. Let’s elect officials who support affordable housing and public transportation and support small businesses. For our city government, the candidates who will work hard on these issues are Luke Diaz for mayor, Katie Kohl for Common Council district 2, and Kate Cronin for Common Council district 3. Luke has been a council member since 2013 and will make a fine mayor. For our County Board representative, we need Jason Knoll. Jason is a teacher and a veteran. His top two policy objectives are to help our children, families and
seniors live in dignity and fulfill their potential; and to boost our economy by improving our infrastructure, promoting public transportation and standing up for public workers. For Dane County Circuit Court Judge, please vote for Marilyn Townsend. She’s the only candidate who actually has experience as a judge. She is dedicated to improving access to the courts and eliminating racial disparity in the courts. She promises to be fair and impartial. For State Supreme Court, the clear choice is progressive Rebecca Dallet over her ultraright opponent. Finally, I urge you to vote “no” for a constitutional amendment to eliminate the position of State Treasurer. This is Republican move to reduce checks and balances, to continue consolidating their power. We need our government to restore the powers they’ve stripped from the position. For voting information, you can visit myvote.wi.gov. Absentee ballot voting starts March 13 at the City Clerk’s office. Please make a plan to vote, and let’s elect an all-progressive team to lead us on April 3. Steve Hingle City of Verona
See something wrong? The Verona Press does not sweep errors under the rug. If you see something you know or even think is in error, please contact editor Jim Ferolie at 845-9559 or at veronapress@wcinet.com so we can get it right.
Thursday, March 15, 2018 • Vol. 53, No. 43 USPS No. 658-320
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Community Voices
You can judge a book by its cover
I
’m sure at one point or another, we’ve all been told not to judge a book by its cover. However, I want to let you in on a little secret. I do it all the time. Part of my job as a librarian is to do what’s called readers advisory. I regularly recommend books, movies, TV shows, what have you, to library visitors. Try as I might, I cannot read every book in the library or try to memorize the plot and a half dozen read-alikes for everything in our new fiction section. So I often have to rely on the cover of a book to give me clues. And there’s a lot you can learn about a book Cobb just from looking at its cover. Designing a book cover is undoubtedly an art form, but it’s one that adheres to a lot of conventions. The imagery and colors chosen for the cover usually follow a set of guidelines. It’s important to note the front cover of a book is designed to draw your attention, to inspire you to pick it up, take it home, read it and then tell all your friends how amazing it is. But it should also give you some clue as to what the book is about. If a couple is passionately embracing on the cover, it’s a romance. Same goes for a photo
of a shirtless man with perfect abs whose face may or may not be cropped out of the image. An old-timey landscape in muted tones most likely means it’s a western. Dragons and unicorns are fantasy cover staples. Anything space-related or an image that merges real world elements with something unreal tends to be science fiction. Smoke, clouds, and fire are common imagery used on sci-fi covers as well. Unfortunately, not every book and its genre is so easily identified by cover art imagery. Yet thanks to other cover art conventions, the color schemes used can help you identify the tone or genre. Bright, bold colors can be indicative of a fun summery read. Dark graphics with contrasting fonts can make a book seem dramatic, mysterious or even ominous. A large number of thrillers use red as an accent color in otherwise color-free covers, while traditional romance novels tend to prefer softer colors: lilac, light pink, pale gold. Sci-fi novels often use the color blue to invoke the feeling of the calm before the proverbial storm. Then there’s the back. While the front cover is designed to draw the reader to it, the back cover is designed to sell them on the content. That’s why they typically feature mini reviews, also called endorsements. These short blurbs of praise can include clues about the book’s tone, pacing and general
writing style. Usually the blurbs are from well-known authors who write in the same genre or they’re from sources that review books, like Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. The adjectives used in endorsements can be telling. “Humorous,” “twisted,” “poetic,” “enthralling,” “witty,” “sensual,” “vivid,” “vibrant,” “entertaining” and similar words give an impression of the tone of the book and the type of storyteller the reader will encounter. It also gives a few hints at content. “Cozy” refers to a type of mystery, ones that are usually softer and focus around a theme like knitting, libraries, birds, you name it. “Thrilling” or “fast-paced” is used to identify thrillers. Often, for historical fiction, the quotes tell you the place and the era. They may mention whether it’s the author’s debut novel or whether it’s part of a series. Of course, this isn’t foolproof, I’m sorry to say. There are books that shirk these conventions and make judging the cover futile. The covers also won’t tell you if the book is one you’ll ultimately enjoy or hate, but they can give you an idea of what’s on the pages inside. From there you can decide if you want to learn more or move on to the next cover. Emma Cobb is the head of reference services at the Verona Public Library.
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We like to send reporters to shoot photos, but we can’t be everywhere. And we know you all have cameras. So if you have a photo of an event or just a slice of life you think the community might be interested in, send it to us and we’ll use it if we can. Please include contact information, what’s happening in the photo and the names of people pictured. You can submit it on our website at ConnectVerona.com, email to editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet. com or drop off electronic media at our office at 133 Enterprise Drive. Questions? Call 845-9559.
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March 15, 2018
Verona Area School District
The Verona Press
5
Verona Road
District: Students planned March 14 national walkout SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Verona Area School District students were expected to participate in a March 14 school walkout in remembrance of those killed in the Parkland school shooting last month. According to an email to parents on March 9 from superintendent Dean Gorrell, the walkout was expected to begin at 10 a.m. and last 17 minutes, recognizing the 17 people who died. Both middle and high school students are expected to participate. “While we support the good intentions behind these actions, the district is not endorsing these walkouts,” the letter states. “We
On the web See coverage of the walkout, which was after the Press’ deadline:
ConnectVerona.com understand that some students may choose to exercise their First Amendment rights by walking out. Similarly, we recognize that other students may prefer to stay in class.” Local law enforcement was expected to “have a presence in and around” the district’s buildings on the 14th, according to the letter, and staff were to be deployed to “further promote student safety should a walkout occur at any of our schools.” “This is not to intimidate
participants or attempt to quash the walkout, but instead to help provide security for those students who do choose to participate,” the letter states. “Those staff are not endorsing nor participating in the walkout, but again, are there to ensure student safety.” Gorrell wrote that classes would continue on a normal schedule during the walkout, and unless a parent calls to excuse their child, an absence will be treated as unexcused. The letter asked parents to call ahead of time to excuse their student. Gorrell also wrote that the district had heard “some students are being pressured by classmates to participate, and that is making
some students very uncomfortable.” “Our goal is to ensure that all students feel safe and respected,” he wrote. The letter also mentions a planned march to the Capitol in Madison that some high schoolers there are organizing and clarifies that the district will not provide transportation to the noon march. Two other student-led protests, one on March 24 and one on April 20, are also mentioned in the letter, though Gorrell said the district does not have “specific information” on planned participation for those events. Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @sgirard9.
Fitch-Rona Art Crawl opens next week Nine artists to create live art at local businesses HELU WANG Unified Newspaper Group
Nine artists will create live artworks at nine local business next week to connect local businesses and neighbors. The Fitch-Rona Art Crawl will feature 18 businesses in Verona and Fitchburg, and each business will have an artist on site from Friday to Saturday, March 23-24. Artworks will include painting, watercolor, three-dimensional art, oil painting, photography, wood carving and jewelry making. There will be a live art competition from 2-4 p.m., Saturday, March 24, at Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Rd #200, with a ceremony at 4 p.m. to award the
best artwork created during the Art Crawl event. Yahara Bay’s client service manager Kristin Kaker said the purpose is to encourage people to know better about local businesses and artists. “Local businesses, artists and customers are working hand in hand to create a dynamic community,” Kaker said. People can pick up “passports” at Hop Haus Brewing and Wisconsin Brewing Company and get a chance to win a prize basket if they collect stamps from more than five businesses. There will be free samples provided by the businesses. Badger Prairie Needs Network will also participate in the Art Crawl as a local non-profit organization and host an open house from 4-7 p.m. Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. There will be free cheese and wine sponsored by other businesses. Lindsey LaPlant of Expressively
If You Go What: Fitch-Rona Art Crawl When: Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24. Hours vary by business. Live art competition, 2-4 p.m. Saturday Where: Various local businesses Info: yaharabay.com
You, a Madison artist, will create a painting on a 3x4 foot canvas featuring faces of volunteers and visitors during those two days. The painting will hang in the community room of BPNN afterward. “I’m very excited to capture the moments and get people engaged,” LaPlant said. Contact Helu Wang at helu.wang@ wcinet.com.
File photo by Scott Girard
At left, the road to the future Williamsburg Way-Verona Road interchange. At right, the East Frontage Road that was completed last year and is open to traffic.
Construction open house March 15 SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
It’s nearly construction season again in Wisconsin. State transportation officials are planning to update anyone interested on one of the most significant projects in the region, the Verona Road reconstruction, with an open house Thursday, March 15. The open house will begin with a brief construction preview at 5:30 p.m. and will have maps and exhibits of the improvements on display. Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials will also be on site to discuss the project with attendees. The meeting will focus on Stage 2 construction activities, which include work on Verona Road between Raymond Road and County Hwy. PD, as
If You Go What: Verona Road construction open house Where: Verona Road Project Field Office, 6200 Nesbitt Road, Suite B, Fitchburg When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15 Info: veronaroadproject. wi.gov well as on PD between Fitchrona Road and Commerce Park Drive. Stage 2 is expected to continue through fall 2020. The open house will be at the Verona Road Project Field Office, 6200 Nesbitt Road, Suite B, Fitchburg. Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @sgirard9.
Fortepiano recital at Rhapsody Arts Center If You Go What: Trevor Stephenson: Fortepiano Recital When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 21 Where: Rhapsody Arts Center, 1031 North Edge Trail Info: 848-2045 or email info@rhapsodyarts.org The Rhapsody Arts Center’s annual Faculty and Friends Recital Series features monthly concerts from professional musicians September to May, according to its website. The center is a non-Profit 501c3 community school of the arts, and more information and the schedule of performances can be found on its website, rhapsodyarts.org. Contact Alexander Cramer at alexander.cramer@ wcinet.com.
On the Web facebook.com/rhapsodyarts or trevorstephenson.com
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Rhapsody Arts Center, 1031 North Edge Trail, will hold a solo fortepiano recital at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 21. Madison-based musician Trevor Stephenson will play music by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and B a r t o k , a n d w i l l o ff e r explanatory commentary between pieces. The event is free and open to the public. Stephenson has been playing piano for nearly 50 years, according to his website, and, in addition to the fortepiano, also plays the harpsichord. He has a doctor of Musical Arts from Cornell University and has lived in the Madison area since 1990. Along with a partner, Stephenson restores instruments ranging from Italian Renaissance harpsichords to Victorian pianos, according to his website.
EMERALD INVESTMENTS MINI STORAGE
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Coming up
Churches
St. Patrick’s Day dance People can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Irish dance and music from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the library. They can dance with Trinity Irish dancers from Madison. Space is limited and registration is required. For information, call 845-7180.
Support group for parents Parents who are looking for a supportive and safe place to talk with other parents as about how to navigate the ups and downs of their children’s adolescent years can participate in a support group from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the library. Tia Fagan, certified parent coach will lead a discussion about the trials and tribulations of raising tweens and teens. For information, visit veronapubliclibrary.org.
Casey and Greg music show Casey and Greg will perform acoustic and Irish music at the Hop Haus, 231 S. Main St. and Fisher King
Winery, 1105 Laser St. The Hop Haus performance is from 7-10 p.m. Friday, March 16 and 6:458:45 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17, at the Fisher King Winery. For information, call 239-4870.
Children development storytime
Parents can learn how to enhance their children’s language skills through reading from 10:30-11 a.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the library. They can ask questions about children’s development during the story Corned beef dinner time led by therapists from CI PediatThe American Legion will host a ric Therapy Centers. For information, visit therapymadicorned beef dinner from 4:30-7 p.m. son.com. Saturday, March 17, at 207 Legion St. There will be corned beef, cabbage, Family fort night dessert and beverage. The cost is $12. Families can set up a fort, enjoy For information, call 845-7898. some walking s’mores and crawl in St. Paddy’s Fiddles for an evening of reading together Rhapsody Arts Center will hold a from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, March performance of Irish fiddle and dance 26, at the library. Some sheets and clips will be profrom 2-3 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at vided. People can bring their own Heritage Senior Living, 6234 Maysheets or lightweight blankets for wood Ave., Middleton. The concert, free and family-friend- building the forts. They can also bring a pillowcase ly, is part of the continuation of the center’s faculty and friends recital filled with objects such as toothbrush series and features performers includ- and pencil to join a pillowcase scaving a student fiddle club, ceili danc- enger hunt at 7 p.m. in the story room. ing and local award-winning trio– the Each object packed will earn a point, which leads to chances of winning a Daring Fair Maidens. prize. For information, call 848-2045. For information, call 845-7180.
Community calendar Thursday, March 15
• 4-5:30 p.m., Anime and Manga club, library, 845-7180 • 6:30-7:30 p.m., Support group for parents, library, veronapubliclibrary. org • 6:30-7:30 p.m., St. Patrick’s Day dance, library, 845-7180
Friday, March 16
• 10-11:30 a.m., Young and the restless, library, 845-7180 • 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Birthday and St. Patrick’s Day party, senior center, 845-7471 • 7-10 p.m., Casey and Greg music show, Hop Haus, 231 S. Main St., 239-4870
Saturday, March 17
• 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., VAHS kids carnival, Verona Area High School gym and commons area, 300 Richard St., verona.k12.wi.us • 4:30 -7 p.m., Corned beef dinner, 207 Legion St., 845-7898
• 6:45-8:45 p.m., Casey and Greg music show, Fisher King Winery, 1105 Laser St., 239-4870
Sunday, March 18
• 2-3 p.m., St. Paddy’s Fiddles, Heritage Senior Living, 6234 Maywood Ave., Middleton, 848-2045
Tuesday, March 20
Road #200, Madison, info@yaharabay.com
Saturday, March 24
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fitch-rona Art Crawl, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt Road #200, Madison, info@ yaharabay.com
Monday, March 26
• 10:30-11 a.m., Children development storytime, library, therapymadison.com
• 6:30-8:30 p.m., Family fort night, library, 845-7180
Wednesday, March 21
• 2-2:45 p.m., Ice cream taste test (ages 8-12, registration required), library, 845-7180
• Trevor Stephenson’s fortepiano recital, Rhapsody Arts Center, 1031 North Edge Trail, 848-2045
Thursday, March 22
• 4-5:30 p.m., Anime and Manga club, library, 845-7180
Friday, March 23
• 12:30-2:30 p.m., Movie: The Darkest Hour, senior center, 845-7471 • 4-10 p.m., Fitch-rona Art Crawl, Yahara Bay Distillers, 6250 Nesbitt
Tuesday, March 27
Thursday, March 29
• 1:30-3 p.m., Family movie: Ice Age, library, 845-7180 • 4-5:30 p.m., Teen gaming (ages 11-18), library, 845-7180
Friday, March 30
• 12:30-2:30 p.m., Movie: Paddington, senior center, 845-7471
What’s on VHAT-98 Thursday, March 15 7 a.m. – Diabetes Info at Senior Center 8 a.m.- Zumba Gold 9 a.m. – - Daily Exercise 10 a.m. – - Review & Preview at Senior Center 2 p.m. – - Zumba Gold 3 p.m. – - Daily Exercise 4 p.m. – Home Improvement at Senior Center 5 p.m. – Greg Anderson at Senior Center 6 p.m. – - Salem Church Service 7 p.m. – - Cindy & Randy at Senior Center 8 p.m. – - Daily Exercise 9 p.m. – E-Readers/Music & Memory at Senior Center 10 p.m. – Leper Colony? at the Historical Society Friday, March 16 7 a.m. – Home Improvement at Senior Center 1 p.m. – - E-Readers/Music & Memory at Senior Center 3 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 4 p.m. – Greg Anderson at Senior Center 5:30 p.m. – - 2016 Wildcats Football 8:30 p.m. – - Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. – - Diabetes Info at Senior Center 11 p.m. – Review & Preview at Senior Center Saturday, March 17 8 a.m. – - Common Council from 03-12-18 11 a.m. – - Vintage Verona
Sports 1 p.m. – - 2016 Wildcats Football 4:30 p.m. – Leper Colony? at the Historical Society 6 p.m. – Common Council from 03-12-18 9 p.m. – - Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. – - Leper Colony? at the Historical Society 11 p.m. – - Review & Preview at Senior Center Sunday, March 18 7 a.m. – - Hindu Cultural Hour 9 a.m. – Resurrection Church 10 a.m. – - Salem Church Service Noon - Common Council from 03-12-18 3 p.m. – - Vintage Verona Sports 4:30 p.m. – - Leper Colony? at the Historical Society 6 p.m. – Common Council from 03-12-18 9 p.m. – - Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. – Leper Colony? at the Historical Society 11 p.m. – - Review & Preview at Senior Center Monday, March 19 7 a.m. – Home Improvement at Senior Center 1 p.m. – - E-Readers/Music & Memory at Senior Center 3 p.m. – - Vintage Verona Sports 4 p.m. – - Greg Anderson at Senior Center
5 p.m. – - 2016 Wildcats Football 9 p.m. – - Hindu Cultural Hour 10 p.m. – Diabetes Info at Senior Center 11 p.m. – Review & Preview at Senior Center Tuesday, March 20 7 a.m. – Diabetes Info at Senior Center 10 a.m.- Zumba Gold 9 a.m. – - Daily Exercise 10 a.m. – - Review & Preview at Senior Center 2 p.m.- Zumba Gold 3 p.m. – - Daily Exercise 4 p.m. – Home Improvement at Senior Center 5 p.m. – Greg Anderson at Senior Center 6 p.m. – - Resurrection Church 8 p.m. – - Cindy & Randy at Senior Center 9 p.m. – - E-Readers/Music & Memory at Senior Center 10 p.m. – - Leper Colony? at the Historical Society Wednesday, March 21 7 a.m. – Home Improvement at Senior Center 1 p.m. – - E-Readers/Music & Memory at Senior Center 3 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 5 p.m. – Mayoral Forum from 3-14-18 7 p.m. – - Capital City Band 8 p.m. – Vintage Verona Sports 10 p.m. – - Diabetes Info at Senior Center
11 p.m. – Review & Preview at Senior Center Thursday, March 22 7 a.m. – Diabetes Info at Senior Center 8 a.m.- Zumba Gold 9 a.m. – - Daily Exercise 10 a.m. – Review & Preview at Senior Center 2 p.m. – - Zumba Gold 3 p.m. – - Daily Exercise 4 p.m. – Home Improvement at Senior Center 5 p.m. – Greg Anderson at Senior Center 6 p.m. – - Salem Church Service 7 p.m. – - Cindy & Randy at Senior Center 8 p.m. – - Daily Exercise 9 p.m. – E-Readers/Music & Memory at Senior Center 10 p.m. – Leper Colony? at the Historical Society
All Saints Lutheran Church 2951 Chapel Valley Rd., Fitchburg (608) 276-7729 allsaints-madison.org Interim Pastor Sunday: 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. The Church in Fitchburg 2833 Raritan Rd., Fitchburg (608) 271-2811 livelifetogether.com Sunday: 8 & 10:45 a.m. Fitchburg Memorial UCC 5705 Lacy Rd., Fitchburg (608) 273-1008 memorialucc.org Interim Pastor Laura Crow Sunday: 8:15 and 10 a.m. Good Shephard Lutheran Church ELCA (608) 271-6633 Madison: Raymond Road & Whitney Way, Madison Sunday: 8:30 & 10 a.m.. Verona: Corner of Hwy. PD & Nine Mound Road, Verona Sunday: 9 & 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Damascus Road Church – West The Verona Senior Center 108 Paoli St., Verona (608) 819-6451 info@damascusroadchurch.com, damascusroadonline.org Pastor Justin Burge Sunday: 10 a.m. Memorial Baptist Church 201 S. Main St., Verona (608) 845-7125 MBCverona.org Lead Pastor Jeremy Scott Sunday: 10:15 a.m. Redeemer Bible Fellowship 130 N. Franklin St., Verona (608) 848-1836 redeemerbiblefellowship.org Pastor Dwight R. Wise Sunday: 10 a.m. family worship Resurrection Lutheran Church – WELS 6705 Wesner Rd., Verona (608) 848-4965 rlcverona.org Pastor Nathan Strutz and Assistant Pastor Timothy Priewe Thursday: 6:30 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. St. Christopher Catholic Parish St. Andrew Church 301 N. Main St., Verona St. William Church 1371 Hwy. PB, Paoli (608) 845-6613 stchristopherverona.com Fr. John Sasse, pastor Saturday: 5 p.m., St. Andrew, Verona Sunday: 7:30 a.m., St. William,
Paoli Sunday: 9 & 11 a.m., St. Andrew, Verona Daily Mass, Tuesday-Saturday: 8 a.m., St. Andrew, Verona
St. James Lutheran Church ELCA 427 S. Main St., Verona (608) 845-6922 stjamesverona.org Pastors Kurt M. Billings and Peter Narum Office Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 a.m.-noon Wednesday Saturday Worship: 5 p.m. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Salem United Church of Christ 502 Mark Dr., Verona (608) 845-7315 salemchurchverona.org Rev. Dr. Mark E. Yurs, Pastor Laura Kolden, Associate in Ministry Sunday School: 9 a.m. Sunday Worship: 10:15 a.m. Fellowship Hour: 11:30 a.m. Springdale Lutheran Church ELCA 2752 Town Hall Rd. (off Hwy ID), Mount Horeb (608) 437-3493 springdalelutheran.org Pastor Jeff Jacobs Sunday: 8:45 a.m. with communion Sugar River United Methodist Church 415 W. Verona Ave., Verona (608) 845-5855 sugar.river@sugarriverumc.org, sugarriverumc.org Pastor Gary Holmes 9 & 10:30 a.m. contemporary worship. Sunday School available during worship. Refreshments and fellowship are between services. West Madison Bible Church 2920 Hwy. M, Verona (608) 845-9518 www.wmbiblechurch.org Pastor Dan Kukasky Jr. Sunday Worship: 9:15 a.m. Sunday School: 10:45 a.m. Zwingli United Church of Christ Hwy. 92 & G, Mount Vernon (608) 832-6677 Pastor Brad Brookins Sunday: 10:15 a.m. Zwingli United Church of Christ Hwy. 69 & PB, Paoli (608) 255-1278 Rev. Laura Crowe Sunday: 9:30 a.m. family worship
Believing Is Seeing “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities –his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20 NIV We all know the old saying “seeing is believing,” which makes perfect sense, since it is hard to doubt something that is right in front of you. But the equation of seeing and believing works both ways. That is, we often believe only because we have directed our eyes, or our mental gaze, in the direction of something. Many of us believe in God because we have seen His work in our lives or have experienced him in a way that is hard to doubt. Many view the natural world around them as the handiwork of God and this strengthens their faith. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews gives a working definition of faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV) Those who believe without seeing are sometimes commended for their faith, but sometimes, in the effort to strengthen our faith, we really need to look harder. If you aren’t looking for God in the world then you probably won’t see Him there, whereas if you make a determined effort to see God, both in the guise of your fellow human beings, and in the natural world all around you, you are sure to see Him everywhere. – Christopher Simon
Support groups • AA Meeting, senior center, Thursdays at 1 p.m. • Caregivers Support Group, senior center, first and third Tuesday, 10 a.m. • Healthy Lifestyles Group meeting, senior center, second Thursday from 10:30 a.m. • Parkinson’s Group, senior center, third Friday at 10 a.m.
430 E. Verona Ave. 845-2010
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The Verona Press
Road: Discussions continue as district, city disagree over who should purchase land for road expressed hope an agreement would be reached by the end of that meeting, as they want to finalize plans and costs to stay on schedule for a 2020 opening of the school. The district has been negotiating with the Erbach Trust – which two years ago sold the district nearly half of the west-side land the new Verona Area High School will be built on – for the majority of the right-ofway from the site to Nine Mound Road. However, part of it will cross into the industrial park, and that means the road will need property from one of two other landowners. That part of the discussion Monday – a 20-minute open debate before a 75-minute closed session – got testy after city and school district representatives disagreed again on what had been said in prior meetings with city staff. “We were given explicit instructions from the public works director to not contact property owners and he would be the sole negotiator,” school board president Noah Roberts said with a glance at public works director Theran Jacobson. “That is true,” Jacobson replied before explaining that those instructions were given during a previous phase of negotiations, meaning if the city planned to build the road. Roberts and fellow board member Meredith Stier Christensen insisted that
New VAHS in brief VAHS details OK’d Alders voted unanimously Monday in favor of a conditional use permit and a certified survey map that were required to give final approval to the new Verona
wasn’t made clear, prompting city attorney Bryan Kleinmaier to break his normally stoic expression and blurt out that, “I have a real difficulty with the way Theran is being treated” and follow it up by accusing the district of making “a number of mistakes” in the process and being “not prepared” to deal with complications. That quickly led to a closed session on a 5-3 vote, with Alds. Luke Diaz (Dist. 3), Heather Reekie (D-4) and Brad Stiner (D-3) voting to stay in open discussion. The city had offered up the three options Feb. 26 after an even longer discussion – 70 minutes open and 90 minutes closed. The school board met Friday, March 9, and decided after an hour-and-a-half closed session to pursue what appeared to be the simplest option, a $4 million structured payment from the city in return for the Sugar Creek land, which is expected to be redeveloped, in “as-is” condition, meaning the city would be in charge of demolishing the school building. The four $1 million payments would be timed based on progress constructing intersection and road improvements to handle the large traffic volume the school will bring. While agreeing to parts of the city’s proposal, the district also requested a few alterations – including an extra $500,000 contribution that could be recovered by the city through a special
assessment of the adjoining Erbach property that will be improved for the road into the site. That was a point of contention previously, with the city reserving the right to impose an assessment of $921,000 if that property develops into a commercial center, as it is expected to eventually, but the school district saying that was a deal-killer. The district’s counterproposal suggests the Erbach Trust would likely be able to cover a special assessment up to the $500,000 cost, as long as the payment can be deferred until a building permit is issued for development of that property. The district also agreed in its response to cover costs of most of the intersections that would be improved, after railing against those requirements in a previous meeting. It asked the city to consider assessing some of the improvements to a nearby tax-increment financing district, which the city attorney advised against, noting there is no increment yet in that new district and saying it would require an addition to the TID project plan. The most controversial request the district made was for the city to take care of any right-of-way acquisition required as part of the improvements – including through the RVS Properties, LLC property to get the road into the site. The district questioned whether it had the legal
Area High School. Though infrastructure remains a contractual issue between the district and the city, the CUP, allowing a waiver to the height limit of 45 feet, clears the way for construction documents and
site work. The CSM creates outlots for roads. The city also approved a zoning change for Stewart’s Woods from agricultural to public institutional, allowing it to be used as a school forest.
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authority to acquire the property and said the possibility of needing authority from electors would be “uncertain” and “could be contentious for the community.” Stier Christensen added Monday that electors could say no, leaving “no recourse” for the district. She and Roberts, meanwhile, echoed statements made in the letter that the city told them it would insist on negotiations for acquiring the property. “The city has previously advised VASD that the city would have sole responsibility for acquisition of the RVS Property, and has engaged in all discussions and negotiations with the RVS Property owner to date in this regard,” the letter states. “VASD has relied on the city’s assurances and actions.” Kleinmaier, in addition to disputing that version of the prior discussions, argued the district would have plenty of time to get approval from electors and suggested such
a requirement on the city would eliminate any negotiating leverage and possibly increase the cost dramatically. The city and district also have minor disagreements over language to ensure city residents continue to have access to school facilities and the newly acquired Stewart’s Woods and over what fees the city could waive. The district’s response stated it did not want to make a commitment to a standard before construction but “fully intends to permit use of its grounds and facilities by the community on a reasonable basis.” Kleinmaier said the city would have to calculate the fees and actual costs first but could include those calculations as an “exhibit” inserted into the contract. The two governments h ave b e e n a t o d d s f o r months despite a major overlap in their constituency. The dispute has centered around what district
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officials took as a firm commitment of $5 million for a road without conditions. City leaders, though, have said the number was always conceptual and a change in where the access road would connect – Nine Mound Road instead of the initial plan for Paoli Street – reduced its value to the city. Each group met in closed session multiple times on the topic last year, before and after the successful $182 million referendum in April, but they did not meet together until the end of November. After that meeting, they sent a series of proposals back and forth, with district officials complaining vociferously that the city was not providing enough timely information to allow them to fully respond at some points.
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8 Young At Heart - March 15, 2018
Photo by Helu Wang
Jo Statz dances Zumba at Oregon Area Senior Center during a class on Thursday, March 8. Zumba is one of a number of programs the center offers to help seniors stay active.
Staying in step
What’s inside Explore virtual reality programs Page 9
Senior centers adapt to boomers’ active lifestyles SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
They are serious about staying in shape - mentally and physically - and they’re showing up to senior centers to find a growing list of things to do. T h e l o n g - aw a i t e d a r r iva l o f t h e baby-boomer generation hitting retirement age is here, and their restless energy is changing the way senior centers serve this growing segment of their populations.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 75 million boomers in the United States. Considered those born from 1946-64, they are a generation known for their independence. And as they enter their senior years, they are “very focused on aging well,” said Fitchburg Senior Center director Jill McHone, citing participation of more than 100 people on Mondays for aerobics, functional fitness and yoga classes. “And that is just Monday,” she said.
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“Our health and wellness activities are experiencing a huge increase. One activity in particular is pickleball, which McHone said is a “wave that’s gaining a ton of popularity in all communities.” Fitchburg now offers pickleball every Tuesday night, with growing numbers of participants coming out to try a sport that keeps you moving and having fun. “These people are in great shape,” she said.
Learn how to simplify tasks Page 10 Tips for tech savvy seniors Page 11 Benefits of growing older
Turn to Boomers/Page 13
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Young At Heart
New horizons Verona senior center delves into virtual reality world SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
A word of caution - people headed to the Verona Senior Center starting next month might end up in Paris, Cairo, or the middle of the Pacific Ocean. In fact, they might even end up at the house they grew up in. It’s all due to the modern technology of virtual reality which director Mary Hanson is eagerly awaiting and will arrive in April, thanks to funding from the City of Verona and the Friends of the Verona Senior Center. “We are very appreciative for their involvement and support,” she said. “There’s just a whole world of possibilities and a huge number of applications we could try.” The technology comes from a relatively new company called Rendever, started by a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who created it to help his elderly grandmother not feel so isolated in an assisted living facility. Case manager Becky Losby came across the company while doing research on virtual reality, and came away impressed by their sole focus on seniors, as well as
their credentials. Verona’s will be the first senior center in Wisconsin to feature the company’s virtual reality system. “They won some awards for it,” Losby said. “It’s senior-specific, and the people who designed this have heart and are passionate about seniors, and giving seniors a positive outcome.” The system includes equipment, on-site training, educational materials and an activity guide. Rendever partners with museums throughout the world, and has virtual cameras located around the globe. Hanson said the plan is to use the equipment weekly, holding travel programs that give people who lack the financial means or physical ability the opportunity to “travel” around the world. She said those “journeys” can be very therapeutic, both to seniors and those who care for them. “It helps seniors connect with others over a shared interest, to stimulate memory, and it can ease anxiety or agitation due to mental health issues or cognitive loss by viewing a soothing scene, or perhaps a place from their childhood,” Hanson said. “It also provides caregivers a quick, convenient, and much-needed break from the demands of caregiving.” Losby said there are “many angles” staff at the
Photo submitted
The Verona Senior center is ordering a new virtual reality system from a company called Rendever, which was started by an MIT graduate who created it to help his elderly grandmother feel less isolated. senior center are looking they might not be able to tears to his eyes. beginning to think there at with the program, from but they can do that with “It was probably comfort- might be applications for combating isolation and this system. We’re excited ing and a little bit of clo- them, too.” depression to helping fulfill about applying this technol- sure,” she said. “Things like “We think we’re on the people’s “bucket lists.” ogy in a way that’s benefi- that, if it can help people cutting edge here,” she “People come to the cen- cial to seniors.” with some of that, it’s worth s a i d . “ We b e l i eve t h i s ter and swim with dolphins, L o s b y s a i d s h e w a s every penny.” has terrific potential to tour the pyramids, visit the moved when she watched H a n s o n s a i d Ve r o n a add renewed excitement Louvre and see art, or vis- a video of a World War II Senior Center officials and spirit to the lives of it the neighborhood where veteran “returning” to Ger- h ave t a l ke d w i t h s t a ff all seniors, but especially they grew up,” she said. many, where he fought, at other centers around those who are most frail.” “Physically or financially and the experience brought the area, and “some are
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March 15, 2018
Young At Heart
ConnectVerona.com
How seniors can simplify everyday tasks The ability to perform everyday tasks is something many people take for granted. But as men and women approach or exceed retirement age, many may start to struggle with chores and tasks they have performed for decades. Physical limitations are a common side effect of aging. But such limitations do not have to prove too big a hurdle for seniors to clear. In fact, there are many ways for seniors to simplify everyday tasks while maintaining their independence.
Downsize Whether downsizing to a smaller home or simply downsizing a lifestyle, seniors may find that living smaller is akin to living simpler. Empty nesters may find they no longer need several bedrooms in their homes, and moving into smaller homes can reduce their daily workloads while also clearing out clutter that can make performing everyday chores more difficult. Men and women accustomed to
Embrace technology
– Metro News Service
Verona Senior Center
A Gathering Place for Active Adults
Photo courtesy Metro News Service
More and more seniors are regularly using the internet, and are becoming more comfortable using new technology.
installed on shower walls so seniors can safely get in and out of their showers and bathtubs. Such bars are both effective and inexpensive, and some do not even require any drilling to install. Specialty grab bars, tub grips and tub transfer benches are just a few additional products that can make bathing easier for seniors who have lost or Upgrade bathrooms are starting to lose some of Tasks associated with their physical strength. personal hygiene also tend “Smart” on the road to be taken for granted Seniors who are experiuntil they become difficult. But a few simple bathroom encing mild difficulty drivalterations can help seniors ing can make getting about safely navigate the bath- town that much easier by rooms in their homes so plugging their smartphones they can maintain their per- into their vehicles or maksonal hygiene without fear ing use of the various apps of injury. Grab bars can be that have become standard
in modern vehicles. For example, the maps app on a smartphone can be connected to a car and direct seniors to their destinations, saving them the trouble of remembering all the ins and outs of how to get to a particular destination. Seniors
also can employ apps to help them find their vehicles should they forget exactly where they parked in crowded parking lots. Such apps can increase seniors’ comfort levels on the road while helping them maintain their independence.
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Even the proudest Luddites cannot deny techn o l o g y ’s p o t e n t i a l t o make seniors’ lives easier. Seemingly simple tasks like shopping for groceries and vacuuming a home can be difficult for seniors with dwindling or limited mobility. But seniors with Internet access in their homes can order their groceries online and then pick them up in-store or have them delivered, saving them the trouble of walking around the store. With regard to vacuuming, autonomous vacuum c l e a n e r s h ave r e m ove d the need to use traditional vacuum cleaners. Certain autonomous vacuums employ sensors to detect dirty spots on the floor, and these vacuums can even be programmed to clean the home while residents are out of the house.
hustle and bustle may also find that cutting back on professional and/or personal commitments gives them more energy for everyday activities while enriching the commitments they continue to maintain. Aging men and women can employ various strategies to simplify their lives and maintain their independence well into their golden years.
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Young At Heart
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Seniors becoming more tech-savvy Technology is the future, and digital communication has opened many doors for people around the world. Although younger generations have grown up with technology at their fingers, baby boomers and older adults did not. In spite of that, studies show that growing numbers of seniors are open to the idea of technology and even seeking ways to further their use and knowledge. According to a 2014 study by Pew Research Center, 59 percent of seniors regularly use the internet, a 6 percent increase from the previous study conducted in 2012. Today, 67 percent of adults age 65 and older say they go
online. P ew a l s o s a y s t h a t , although seniors consistently have lower rates of technology adoption than the general public, four in 10 seniors now own smartphones, which is more than double the amount who did in 2013. Seniors in Australia are especially tech savvy, as Deloitte’s mobile consumer survey found 78 percent of Australian seniors aged 65 to 75 own a smartphone, up from 69 percent in 2016. While stereotypes have long painted seniors as technologically inept, seniors are actually more socially and digitally engaged than ever before. Seniors use
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technology in many different ways. Some use mobile apps to manage medications and doctor’s appointments and monitor their fitness regimens. Some families employ 24/7 alert systems or “smarthome” technology to keep seniors comfortable and safe at home for as long as possible. Noninvasive, “smart” technology can analyze factors such as whether or not doors are left open, if there has been movement in a home, or whether appliances/lights are on or off. This represents a great way for families to stay informed and provide assistance even if they are not nearby. SilverSurfers, a seniorbased information website, says other tech that seniors are embracing includes online dating; audio and digital books; online shopping, which is especially valuable to seniors who have mobility issues; and social media, which can help seniors feel less lonely and keep them connected to others. A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco found 18 percent of American seniors live alone, and 43 percent report feeling lonely on a regular basis. Loneliness can increase death risk. Social media and internet connectivity can be an important tool in helping seniors feel like active members of society. Technology is no longer just for teenagers or active workers. Seniors are increasingly embracing technology and becoming a fast-growing Photo courtesy Metro News Service demographic for tech usage. – Metro News Service Seniors are becoming more tech savvy: More than two-thirds of adults age 65 and over say they go online, according to the Pew Research Center.
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March 15, 2018
Young At Heart
ConnectVerona.com
The benefits of growing older
Many people are quick to think of growing older in a negative light. Although there certainly are some side effects of aging that one may wish to avoid, people may find that the benefits of growing older outweigh the negatives. Seniors are a rapidly growing segment of the population. In the United States, the Administration on Aging states that the older population - persons 65 years or older -numbered 46.2 million in 2014 (the latest year for which data is available). Statistics Canada reports that, in July 2015, estimates indicated that there were more persons aged 65 years and older in Canada than children aged 0 to 14 years for the first time in the country’s history. Nearly one in six Canadians (16.1 percent) was at least 65 years old. With so many people living longer, it’s time to celebrate the perks of getting older rather than the drawbacks. Here are some great benefits to growing old.
Higher self-esteem The insecurities of youth give way as one ages, and older people have less negativity and higher self-esteem. A University of Basel study of people ranging in ages from 18 to 89 found
- something called bilateralization. This can sharpen reasoning skills. For example, in a University of Illinois study, older air traffic controllers excelled at their cognitively taxing jobs, despite some losses in short-term memory and visual spatial processing. Older controllers proved to be experts at navigating, juggling multiple aircrafts simultaneously and avoiding collisions.
Less stress
Photo courtesy Metro News Service
Seniors tend to worry less about what others think about them, and have higher self-esteem and lower negativity than younger people, studies have shown. that regardless of demo- museum entry fees, mov- Park Service offers citizens Reasoning skills graphic and social sta- ies, and other entertain- age 62 and older lifetime Brain scans reveal that tus, the older one gets the ment if they’re willing passes to more than 2,000 higher self-esteem climbs. t o d i s c l o s e t h e i r a g e s . federal recreation sites for older adults are more likely Qualities like self-control Discounts are available just $10 in person ($20 to use both hemispheres of their brans simultaneously and altruism can contribute through an array of venues online or via mail). to happiness. if one speaks up. Seniors also can enjoy travel perks, Financial perks with slashed prices on S e n i o r s a r e e n t i t l e d resorts, plane tickets and to discounts on meals, more. The U.S. National
As people grow older, they are able to differentiate their needs from wants and focus on more important goals. This can alleviate worry over things that are beyond one’s control. Seniors may realize how little the opinions of others truly mean in the larger picture, thereby feeling less stress about what others think of them. Growing older may involve gray hair or wrinkling skin, but there are many positive things associated with aging. – Metro News Service
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ConnectVerona.com
March 15, 2018
Young At Heart
13
Boomers: Senior center programs exercise body and mind I just want to be at h home ...
Continued from Page 8
Care & Support Through the Stages of Serious Illness
“(The generation) is generally composed of people who want to remain physically active, mentally engaged, socially connected, and contributing in a purposeful way,” she said. “Once they retire, or have fewer family obligations, the Boomers may find it more challenging to easily meet all of those needs. That is where involvement in the local senior center can be important to younger seniors.”
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chronological age,” she said. “Why would somebody who feels that way be inclined to come to a senior center? Part of the answer is to offer opportunities the boomers are interested in.” And that doesn’t mean just exercising the body, either, but the mind as well. Brickner said educational programming at the center tends to increasingly draw more boomers, who she said “tend to think of themselves as lifelong learners.”
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At the Oregon Senior Center, director Rachel Brickner has seen programming like Zumba and StrongWomen classes are drawing a larger crowd of younger seniors. “Exercise classes of all sorts are growing, and the younger seniors are driving that growth,” she said. “We offer different exercise classes, and have more participants taking those
classes, than we did five years ago.” It’s all part of a different mindset of a generation that’s used to being young and on the go. Brickner said one of the challenges senior centers face with baby boomers is that they “tend not to view themselves as seniors.” “I have often had people in their sixties tell me they really still think of themselves as being 20 years younger than their
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14
Sports
Thursday, March 15, 2018
The
Verona Press For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectVerona.com
Karate
Southern Wisconsin Open set for March 18 The 2018 Southern Wisconsin Open Spring Karate Championships sponsored by Karate America Verona will be held Sunday, March 18, at the Verona Area High School gym. Competitors from ages 3 to 90 are welcomed in all styles of martial arts, competing against others the same belt and age. Students can compete in forms, weapons and/or sparring – essentially a scored version of tag, scoring one point for a punch or a kick to the head or chest. Registration opens at 8:15 a.m. Weapons start at 9 a.m. Forms start at 10 a.m. Sparring starts in the afternoon. All sparring will start after black belt grands at approximately 1:30 p.m. The tournament, which enters its 20th year, is the only one in the area that has a grand champion for women. The karate school’s tournament in September had 736 competitors, and owner Jeff Christensen said he expected a similar turnout this month from 54 karate schools in five states, including Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota. Christensen said around 500 have pre-registered as of last week. Questions can be directed at Christensen at 845-1333 or by email at kaverona@chorus.net. - Jeremy Jones
If you go What: Southern Wisconsin Open Karate Championships When: Registration at 8:15 a.m., competition starts at 9 a.m. Where: Verona Area High School gym Info: Call (845-1333) or email (kaverona@chorus.net) Jeff Christensen with questions
Jeremy Jones, sports editor
845-9559 x226 • ungsportseditor@wcinet.com
Anthony Iozzo, assistant sports editor 845-9559 x237 • sportsreporter@wcinet.com Fax: 845-9550
Boys hockey
File photos by Jeremy Jones
Verona junior defenseman Jake Osiecki (14) was selected to the first-team Big Eight All-Conference list.
Switch to defense pays off Osiecki joins Baker on first-team All-Big Eight Conference JEREMY JONES Sports editor
Junior Jake Osiecki joined the Verona boys hockey team this season and immediately made the Wildcats’ blueline much better. Osiecki switched to defenseman this season and helped Verona repeat as Big Eight Conference champions with a 12-1-1 record (17-3-3 overall). He and junior forward Brockton Baker highlighted the Wildcats’ Big Eight all-Conference selections last month, with each garnering first-team honors. “I kind of always thought that I had a defensive mind,” Osiecki said. “That kind of helped with the transition. I feel like my skating is solid and it’s really helped me along the way” Both come from hockey families. Jake’s father Mark is an associate head coach with
the UW men’s hockey team. His uncle Matt Osiecki played collegiately for Notre Dame and his grandfather Tom played at St. Thomas. Baker’s brother Tarek played a year at VAHS and is now a member of the UW Madison men’s hockey team, while his brother Brogan played with Verona for four years. “I started playing at a very young age, probably around three years old, but it wasn’t until about four months ago that I started playing defense,” Osiecki said. “My dad had a major impact on that, and it’s been very nice.” Osiecki played for the Madison Capitols before deciding to play for Team Wisconsin and the Verona High School team this season. “It’s been a very good year for me,” he said. “I really enjoyed playing high school hockey this season.” As a 6 foot, 1 inch, 185-pound defenseman, Osiecki scored seven goals and 26 assists and helped anchor a blue line that allowed Junior Brockton Baker earned first-team Big 2.25 points per game in 23 games. Eight all-conference honors after scoring 26 Baker joined Osiecki on the first team. goals and assisting on 26 more. He led Verona in both categories.
Turn to Hockey/Page 15
Boys basketball
Clements makes third team ANTHONY IOZZO Assistant sports editor
Senior Bui Clements was named to the third-team All-Big Eight Conference, the lone player for Verona boys basketball to make the list. Clements, a 6-foot-1 guard, led the Wildcats in points, rebounds, assists and steals. “He had some games where he put us on his back,” coach Jevin Budde said. “Any time you are recognized as being one of the top 15 players in one of the top conferences in the state, It says a lot about the type of player that Bui is and what he is about.” Clements averaged 12.2 points File photo by Anthony Iozzo and six rebounds per game, Senior guard Bui Clements, shown going up shooting 49 percent from the for a layup against Madison West in Decemfield (101-for-205). He finished ber, was named to the third-team All-Big Eight with 280 points, 136 rebounds, 60 Conference. assists and 31 steals.
All-Big Eight First team: Brogan Brunker, sr. (Middleton), Donnell Gray, jr. (Madison La Follette), Jalen Johnson, so. (Sun Prairie), Keshawn Justice, sr. (Madison East), Marlon Ruffin, sr. (Sun Prairie, Player of the Year) Second team: Nick Caropreso, jr. (Madison Memorial), Cade Ellingson, jr. (Madison Memorial), Trayvon Fair, sr. (Beloit Memorial), Blake McCann, sr. (Janesville Craig), Troy Reeves, jr. (Madison La Follette) Third team: Taylor Jansen, sr. (Sun Prairie), Bui Clements, sr. (Verona), Jacob Ngobi, sr. (Janesville Craig), Marty Strey, sr. (Sun Prairie), Anthony Washington, so. (Madison East), Anthony West, sr. (Madison La Follette) Honorable mentions: Chris Galvan, sr. (Janesville Parker), Alan Roden, sr. (Middleton), Keshawn Shanklin, sr. (Madison West) Defensive Player of the Year: Elliott Grays, sr. (Madison Memorial) Coach of the Year: Jeff Boos (Sun Prairie)
Girls hockey
Berg earns first-team selection JEREMY JONES Sports editor
M o u n t H o r e b ’s S i e r r a Berg led the Madison Metro Lynx girls hockey co-op all season. Last week, the junior forward once again led the Metro Lynx, earning firstteam all-Badger Conference honors. Berg was one of three all-conference honorees for the Metro Lynx who skated to a 5-5-0 record (7-16-1 overall) and a third-place tie with Viroqua in the Badger
Turn to Lynx/Page 15
ConnectVerona.com
March 15, 2018
The Verona Press
Sport shorts
All-Badger Conference First team: Colleen Milligan, sr. (Sun Prairie co-op), Sierra Berg, jr. (Middleton co-op), Maggy Henschler, sr. (Beloit co-op), Dani Heitsman, sr. (Beloit co-op), Margo Thousand, sr. (Sun Prairie co-op), Taylor Thornton, sr. (Sun Prairie co-op) Second team: Zephryn Jager, so. (Sun Prairie co-op), Emma Kolden, sr. (Viroqua co-op), Zoie Steig, sr. (Beloit co-op), Ally Conybear, sr. (Middleton co-op), Montana Cruz, sr. (Cap City Cougars), Ivy Shonka, sr. (Viroqua co-op) Honorable mentions: McKenzie Nisius, sr. (Stoughton co-op), Vivian Hacker, sr. (Middleton co-op), Amanda Bauer, fr. (Sun Prairie co-op), Lizzie Patton, jr. (Baraboo co-op), Maia Barendregt, jr. (Viroqua co-op), McKaylie Beuscher, sr., Anika Einbeck, fr., and Cammi Ganshert, jr. (Beloit co-op)
Lynx: Girls co-op earns three all-conference selections Continued from page 14 Conference. The co-op advanced onto the sectional semifinals, where they fell to the conference champion Rock County Fury. Berg scored a team-high 23 points, including 14 goals. A three-year starter, she had three game-winning goals and two short-handed goals. Madison Edgewood senior defenseman Ally Conybear earned second-team honors after finishing second on the team with 13 goals. She had a team-high two power-play goals and 18 points. Conybear also scored a pair of game-winners. She was a four-year starter for the Metro Lynx. Senior Madison West forward Vivian Hacker scored eight goals and tied for the team lead with nine assists to finish third on the team with 18 File photo by Jeremy Jones points and an honorable mention Metro Lynx forward Sierra Berg earned first-team Badger Conference honors last nod. She was a three-year starter for week. Berg led the Metro Lynx with 14 goals and nine assists this season. the Metro Lynx.
Luehring heads to NCAA tournament with UW-Green Bay Verona Area High School graduate and U W- G r e e n B a y freshman guard Alex Luehring is going to the NCAA Division I womens basketball tournament with the Phoenix. The Phoenix won Luehring the Horizon League tournament from March 3-6 at Detroit, Mich., defeating Wright State 62-44 in the finals. The title gave UW-Green Bay (29-3 overall) an
15
automatic bid for the NCAA Division 1 womens basketball tournament. The Phoenix earned a No. 7 seed and open the tournament at 5 p.m. Friday, March 16, against No. 10 Minnesota. The game will be televised on ESPN 2. The winner of that game will take on the winner of No. 2 Oregon/No. 15 Seattle University on Sunday, March 18. Luerhing has not yet played this season, but she did play in two exhibition games and scored 10 points against Michigan Tech on Nov. 2.
Boys swimming
Swimmers receive academic honors by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association. The award is given to seniors who have lettered at least a year and have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.75. In addition, Enloe, Guenther, Henshue, Nunn, Otto, Kittleson, McMillan, Parkel joined Annika Larson, Jacob Busher, and Michael Princl on the Academic All-State team
for compiling a cumulative sponsored by NISCA. GPA of at least 3.50 and - Jeremy Jones earning a varsity letter for at least a year. As a team, the VA/MH girls swim team received the Silver Team Scholar award with a team GPA of 3.73. The VA/MH boys swim team also received the Silver Team Scholar Award and had a team GPA of 3.616. These awards were also
After Over 30 Years of Serving Verona,
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on March 30th, 2018
All-Big Eight First-team forwards: Drake Baldwin, jr. (Madison West, Player of the Year), Brockton Baker, jr. (Verona), Benett Halbleib, jr. (Sun Prairie), Parker Lindauer, jr. (Middleton) First-team defensemen: CJ Harkins, sr. (Sun Prairie), Jake Osiecki, jr. (Verona), Jack Helle, jr. (Madison Memorial) First-team goalie: Adam Buencamino, sr. (Madison West) Second-team forwards: Ben Coulter, jr. (Janesville), Kaden Brunson, so. (Sun Prairie), Travis Kernen, jr. (Sun Prairie), Mason McCormick, jr. (Verona) Second-team defensemen: Bo Bergenthal, jr. (Middleton), Dean Fuhrmann, sr. (Madison West), Kyle Hanaman, jr. (Beloit) Second-team goalie: Owen Leatherberry, jr. (Sun Prairie) Honorable-mention forwards: Casper Clark, sr. (Beloit), Mack Keryluk, so. (Verona), Derek Buckalew, so. (Madison Memorial), Colin Pulkrabek, sr. (Madison West) Honorable-mention defensemen: Nick Sitter, sr. (Janesville), Nick Statz, sr. (Madison Memorial), Jackson Welsh, sr. (Madison Memorial) Honorable-mention goalies: Wes Turner, so. (Madison Memorial), Cole Garver, jr. (Middleton) Coach of the Year: Steve Libert (Madison West)
Hockey: Four Wildcats make all-conference Continued from page 14 The 5-9, 155 pound lefthander led Verona in goals and assists, tallying 26 of each, and led the team with 52 points. He tied for the team lead with four power-play goals and was second on the team with four game-winning goals. Fellow first-line Wildcat forwards junior Mason McCormick and sophomore
Mack Keryluk also joined Baker as all-conference honorees. Despite missing six weeks of the season the 6-foot, 3-inch, 195 pound McCormick earned second-team honors. The left-hander amassed nine goals and 14 assists in 15 regular season games. Keryluk was named honorable mention all-conference. He had 13 goals and 20 assists in 17 games this season.
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Keryluk was also valuable on the power play, where he tied for the team lead, lighting the lamp four times. Senior Drake Baldwin of Madison West led the state with 43 goals and was second in points with 85. As a result, Baldwin was named Big Eight Player of the Year. Coach Steve Libert led the Regents to a third-place finish in the Big Eight 10-4-0) and was named Coach of the Year.
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Ve r o n a A r e a / M o u n t Horeb High School boys and girls swimming earned recognition for their efforts in the pool and the classroom. Swimmers Tala Enloe, Courtney Guenther, Sophie Henshue, Maggie Nunn, Camie Otto, Torbin Kittleson, Kaleb McMillan and Caulden Parkel received Academic All-American honors. The award is sponsored
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March 15, 2018
The Verona Press
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Mayoral candidate questionnaires, Spring 2018 The Verona Press sent questionnaires to each of the candidates for City of Verona mayor this month about themselves and current issues facing the city. There is no incumbent with the retirement of Mayor Jon Hochkammer. Ald. Luke Diaz (Dist. 3) faces former school board president Dennis Beres for the open seat. The election is April 3. Each was asked to limit answers to 100 words on two questions and 50 on the others.
Luke Diaz Age: 36 Family: Wife Cheryl, son Tristan, 5 Originally from: Oconomowoc Lived i n Ve r o n a since: 2012 EducaDiaz tion: BA political science; history, Valparaiso University 2003 Occupation: Technical writer/documentation control Employer: Gammex Political experience: Verona alder since 2013; Senior Citizens Commission, Public Works committee, Fitch-Rona EMS Commission
Dennis Beres
qualified person for this office? I’m a proud father, a former Epic employee of over 11 years, a Verona city council member and dedicated to our community. This background gives me insight into our community; however, being a good mayor is more than having certain qualifications, it’s about serving the community. When I stand for open government, responsible budgeting, protecting our environment, representing neighborhood concerns and supporting city services, it benefits Verona far more than my professional qualifications. I want to make Verona a better place for all Verona residents. My community values make me qualified this office.
district regarding the school road in open session from the beginning. I voted against going into closed session because the public has a right to know what’s going on. Open discussions would have made the entire process a lot smoother.
What are your top priorities for the next two years? Supporting responsible development, which includes development in our downtown, as well as development that features sit-down restaurants and places to shop. In addition, I’ll work to support transparency, fiscally responsible budgeting, our parks, infrastructure for people who want to walk or bike and our city services.
Has the city been transparent enough over the past two years? What could it do better? I ’v e l e d t h e w a y i n improving transparency and communication and the city has made progress. However, there is more work to be done. As mayor, I’ll work to improve communications and make the city as transparent as possible. We have a right to know what our city is doing.
Is there anything the city has done in the last two years you would have done differently? The city council should Why are you the most have conducted negotiations with the school
What can the city do to bring more people downtown? We ’ v e m a d e s o m e improvements to our downtown, but there is still work to be done. I want to see a vibrant downtown with additional places to shop and eat. I also want to see our current downtown businesses, like our wonderful grocery store, continue to succeed.
Questions Why are you running for mayor/alder? I’m running for mayor on a platform of keeping our hometown feel even as we grow. I want to see our city support responsible development that fits the character of our community and that is good for people who want to walk or bike. I want to support our great city services like 24-hour fire coverage, the library and the senior center. I want to keep Verona a great community for all Verona residents, whether you’re new to Verona or have lived in Verona your whole life (like my treasurer, Joe Wineke).
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What or who is to blame for the recent disconnect between the city and school district on funding related to the new high school? Trying to place blame is not productive and not beneficial to Verona. It’s more important to work out a solution that is good for the school and the city. We’re going to work this issue out because when Verona schools succeed, the city of Verona succeeds, too.
Age: 64 Family: Spouse Lisa Pulver, deceased 2011; son, Robert Beres, deceased 2011 Originall y f r o m : Beres New Berlin Lived in Verona since: 1991 Education: BA in history, University of Wisconsin Occupation: Insurance and Retirement Planning Employer/job title: Owner, Beres Financial Services Political experience: 15 years Verona Area Board of Education (eight years president), 15 years Intergovernmental Development Advisory Committee (regional elected officials consulting on development issues) Other notable affiliations: St. James Lutheran Church Congregational Council (two terms including working on recent successful $3.1 million remodeling project)
Questions Why are you running for mayor? When fellow residents and I learned that our current mayor, Jon Hochkammer, decided not to seek re-election, many friends suggested that I run in his stead, given my 15 years of leadership on the Verona school board. I was concerned regarding a possible void of experienced leadership in Verona’s most important office. Verona has had great leadership for many years, resulting in a very thriving, prosperous, and safe community. Verona is an attractive
and growing community; I intend to work hard to maintain that quality of life and ensure that proper planning takes place to serve us in the future. Why are you the most qualified person for this office? My proven leadership led our school board through, arguably, the most critical planning in years. The efforts leading to the successful referendum required community outreach on the highest level; consensus building and planning was needed for referendum approval. Financially, the school district produced level budgets while paying off debt early, saving taxpayers millions. I served on committees which produced insurance and retirement plan changes, saving millions of dollars while still maintaining our staff morale. Ve r o n a A r e a S c h o o l District is rated highly by financial experts and will be desirable and attractive to people looking to locate here in the coming years. What are your top priorities for the next two years? West Verona Avenue is my main priority, especially the Sugar Creek Commons; we need an attractive West gateway to Verona. Completing existing developments such as Technology and Liberty parks and securing additional sites for the future is critical to providing quality employment and amenities to the city. Is there anything the city has done in the last two years you would have done differently? The failure of the
redevelopment of World of Variety/Ace Hardware site will haunt us for many years to come. Important projects in the critical areas of the city need special attention to bring to completion. What or who is to blame for the recent disconnect between the city and school district on funding related to the new high school? Rather than worry about whom is to blame I will focus on restoring the great relationship we had in the past. I am uniquely positioned to do this work by virtue of my long history of working with both entities. Has the city been transparent enough over the past two years? What could it do better? Communications need improving, which requires proactive outreach from both administration and the public; this is a multifaceted issue. As president of the s c h o o l d i s t r i c t , I wa s instrumental in hiring a communications director; this increased transparency immensely. Delicate negotiations like confidential employee matters, however, must be handled in closed sessions. What can the city do to bring more people downtown? A thriving downtown is essential for any community; redevelopment of the Sugar Creek school site will provide a fantastic opportunity to provide a focal point for our downtown. Community engagement and input is essential to ensure that our downtown is an appealing and vibrant destination.
More questionnaires The Verona Press will run questionnaires from alder candidates in the March 22 paper and Dane County board and Verona Area school board candidates March 29.
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March 15, 2018
The Verona Press
17
VERONA POLICE REPORTS
Philip H. Downing
Philip Downing
Philip “John” H. Downing, 85, of Ontario, Wis., passed away Monday, March 12, 2018, at Norseland Nursing Home with his loved ones by his side. John was born Jan. 12, 1933, to George and Daisy (Lamb) Downing, on the home farm in the township of Sheldon, Monroe County, Wis. In March of 1953, John began his lifelong service to our country by joining the US Army. He was trained as a high speed radio operator and became fluent in Morse code. He was stationed in Germany. After being honorably discharged, John became an active member of local Legion and VFW organizations in the area of which he lived. He was proud to be commander of the Ontario Legion for many years. John was a great advocate for veterans and
Roberta H. Miller
Roberta Miller
Roberta H. “Berta” Miller, age 81 of Verona, died on Sunday, March 11, 2018, at Four Winds Manor. She was born Feb. 12, 1 9 3 7 , i n F i t c h bu rg , t o Edwin “Glenn” and Virginia (Haight) Osmundsen. She was a US Navy veteran during the Korean War. She married Robert E. Miller on April 9, 1960, at Luther Memorial Church in Madison. She was a nurse’s assistant at the VA Hospital and later worked in home health caring for the elderly. Berta was a foster parent to eleven infants. She contributed to the official seal design for Dane County after winning a contest around 1954. She loved to fish and trips to the north woods, flower
always available to assist them in a time of need. N ov. 2 3 , 1 9 5 6 , J o h n married his best friend, Joyce Dunwald. He began working on mink ranches in Ontario and Verona. John later took a job with Madison Silo Company and eventually became a skilled carpenter and member of the Carpenter’s Union. This brought him back to Ontario where he worked for the Boldon Brother’s Construction and eventually at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in their maintenance department until his retirement. John was a happy, humble man. While times in his life were not always easy, he remained a man of strong faith and integrity. John and Joyce were faithful members of the Brush Creek Lutheran Church. He was the finest husband, father and friend anyone could ever ask for. His presence in the town of Ontario and surrounding communities is going to be deeply missed. He is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, J oy c e ; c h i l d r e n , D av i d (Coleen) Downing of Verona, Phylis Dalldorf of Camanche, Iowa, and Kathryn (William) Nasseth of Stoddard, Wis.; a sister, Dorothy “Dot” Mossholder of Dell, Wis.; grandchildren, Troy (Karla) Downing, Tonia (Tony) Bastian, Amy Stuart, Ethan and
Evan Dalldorf; great grandchildren, Travis, Nathan, Ryan, Mackenzie, Payton, and Piper; along with many amazing nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents; his two daughters in 1977, Dawn and Jody; and his brothers: Clyde, Raymond, Roy, George Jr., Kenneth, Max and Herbert Downing; and a sister Glida (Downing) Melby. Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 17, 2018, at the Ontario Community Center. Pastor Gary Daines will officiate. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Hilltop Rest Cemetery, Ontario. Family and friends are invited for visitation Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community Hall. Memorials may be given in Philip “John’s” name to the Ontario American Legion Post or to the Gundersen Medical Center in La Crosse. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Ontario is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
gardening and reading. When she lost her sight to macular degeneration, she then turned to audio books. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Verona, and of its Women of ELCA. She was also a member of its choir. She made homemade pies for the church bazaar for many years. Grandma, “we will remember your grilled cheese, French toast, peanut M&M’s, Diet 7-up, campfires, taking walks and camping in the front yard.” Survivors include her husband, Robert of Verona; children, Ronald (Joanne) Miller of Richland Center, Robin (Jeff) Paske of Blue Mounds, Robert (Kari) Miller, Roland “Ed” (Rita) Miller both of Belleville; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four sisters: Mona Scott of Stoughton, Karen (Dale) Ihm of Balsam Lake, Sharon (Marlin) Lehmann of Madison and Gail (Bob) Lehmann of Sparta; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Elizabeth (Paul) Brantmeyer; brother, Monty Osmundsen, and a brother-in-law, Orville Scott and her father
and mother-in-law, Russell and Gladys Miller. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 16, 2018, at St. James Lutheran Church, 427 S. Main St., Verona, Wis. with Rev. Dr. Kurt Billings officiating. A gathering with family and friends will be from 10-10:50 a.m. Friday, at St. James Lutheran Church. We’ll be looking at the moon, grandma.
Torkelson Funeral Home 720 Madison St., Ontario (608) 654-7764 torkelsonfuneral home@yahoo.com
Ellestad Camacho Funeral Home, 500 N. Eighth St., Mt. Horeb camachofuneralhomes. com 608.437.5077
Information from Verona 2:45 p.m. A caller reportPolice Department log books: ed a theft of prescription opiates from her apartment Jan. 15 happened a couple months 6:50 a .m. A 42-year-old ago. She suspected a cleanlandscaping worker was er or her mother did it. warned for a local ordinance violation for blowing Jan. 17 snow into the road on the 11:19 a .m. A caller re100 block of Verona Ave- ported a package was stonue. len from her front door step 2:07 p.m. A man was ar- on 300 West Chapel Royal rested and booked into jail Drive. No suspect informaafter he was cited for pos- tion was provided. session of drug parapher6:18 p .m. A caller renalia while on probation. ported someone trespassed He was pulled over on East into the house, on 500 Verona Avenue, drug par- block of Marshall Circle, a aphernalia was found. He realtor box was found unwas also cited for operating secured and items on the after suspension and with other side of the downstairs no insurance. door were moved but nothing was missing. Jan. 16 6:39 p.m. A juvenile was 9:34 a.m. A man was ar- reported missing after he rested and booked into jail argued with his parents. on warrants after he got A K9 dog search was coninvolved in a parking issue ducted, friends were conon 700 blocks of Westward tacted and surrounding arDrive. eas were checked, but po10 a .m. A juvenile was lice couldn’t locate him. He sent to the hospital for a was defined as a missing mental health evaluation person and a SCAR mesafter he pushed a school sage was sent out. After principal, threw a chair at five hours at midnight, he him and threatened to harm returned home unharmed him and other school staff and said he went to a members. church to clear his mind. 10:34 a .m. A student was cited for fighting on Jan. 18 school property after he 2:07 p .m. A man was fought with another student cited for operating after at the Verona Area High revocation and possesSchool. sion of marijuana and drug
paraphernalia after he was pulled over on Old PB and Forest View Drive. 9 : 2 4 p . m . A Ve r o n a woman reported five fraudulent charges on her credit card after she attempted to book a flight with Orbitz but didn’t finalize the order. Jan. 19 9:04 a.m. A Verona Area High School administrator reported threats from a student, who posted a rap song and pictures on social media. After investigation, police officer determined no threats were intended and the pictures were old with a fake weapon. 9:48 p .m. A 54-year-old woman was arrested for a first OWI offense and cited for non-registration and no insurance after she was pulled over on the North Main Street. Jan. 20 12:45 a .m. A 31-yearold man was booked into the public safety building for 12 hours for refusing to take breath and intox test. He was cited for the first OWI offense and speeding after he was pulled over on North Main Street. The other three passengers were almost arrested for behaving uncooperatively. – Compiled by Helu Wang
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March 15, 2018
The Verona Press
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Park plan: Fireman’s Park splash pad idea had been put on hold during pool discussion Continued from page 1
Rendering courtesy MSA Professional Services
The Fireman’s Park upgrade adds a splash pad, playground and pavilion and changes the parking area and several other features for about $3 million. dismissing the idea of putting one next to the library. But Ald. Elizabeth Doyle (Dist. 1) said rebuilding the park is “not an either-or” decision. “It’s a good opportunity (to upgrade the beach) without having to take on too great of additional borrowing,” she said. “We’re
definitely open to exploring sites for a community pool in the future.” The cover letter for the plan states the revisions are made “with the goal of building a new aquatic center in mind.” Ald. Jack Linder (D-2) said he takes his family to the beach and
Legals NOTICE The City of Verona Plan Commission will hold Public Hearings on April 4, 2018 at City Hall, 111 Lincoln Street, at 6:30 PM for the following planning and zoning matters: 1) Zoning map amendment to rezone 201 East Verona Avenue from Urban Commercial (UC) to Central Commercial (CC). 2) Conditional use permit for a group daycare center land use, known as the Seventeenth Radish, to be located at 201 East Verona Avenue. 3) Conditional Use Permit for a proposed personal or professional service land use, known as SBR Coaching, to be located at 507 Bruce Street. Interested persons may comment on these planning and zoning matters during the public hearings at the April 4th Plan Commission meeting. The Plan Commission will make recommendations for these matters, which will then be reviewed by the Common Council for final decisions on Monday, April 9th. Contact Adam Sayre, Director of Planning and Development, at 608-8489941 for more information on these items or to receive copies of the submittals. Ellen Clark, City Clerk Published: March 15 and 22, 2018 WNAXLP *** NOTICE OF ABSENTEE VOTING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the special voting deputies from the Town of Verona will conduct absentee voting at the Badger Prairie Health Care Center, 1100 E. Verona Avenue Verona, WI 53593 on Thursday – March 22, 2018 at 10:00 AM for the Spring Election to be held April 3, 2018. The deputies will adjourn from 11:00am until their return at 12:00pm for a second time to provide an opportunity to vote. DONE in the Town of Verona This 12th day of March 2018 Tammy Dresser Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Town of Verona Faxed: March 12, 2018 Published: March 15, 2018 WNAXLP *** STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, DANE COUNTY, NOTICE TO CREDITORS (INFORMAL ADMINISTRATION) IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RUTH A. HANSON Case No. 2018 PR 132 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: 1. An application for Informal Administration was filed. 2. The decedent, with date of birth
July 22, 1947 and date of death January 16, 2018, was domiciled in Dane County, State of Wisconsin, with a mailing address of 121 Paoli Street, Verona, WI 53593. 3. All interested persons waived notice. 4. The deadline for filing a claim against the decedent’s estate is June 1, 2018. 5. A claim may be filed at the Dane County Courthouse, 215 S. Hamilton Street, Madison, Wisconsin, Room 1005. Electronically signed by Danell Behrens Deputy Probate Registrar February 22, 2018 Atty. Marilyn A. Dreger 200 W. Verona Avenue Verona, WI 53593 (608) 845-9899 Bar Number: 1001608 Published: March 1, 8 and 15, 2018 WNAXLP *** STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, DANE COUNTY, NOTICE TO CREDITORS (INFORMAL ADMINISTRATION) IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DONALD J. OTT Case No. 2018PR158 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: 1. An application for Informal Administration was filed. 2. The decedent, with date of birth December 1, 1931 and date of death January 30, 2018, was domiciled in Dane County, State of Wisconsin, with a mailing address of 471 Prairie Way Boulevard, Apartment 1313, Verona, WI 53593. 3. All interested persons waived notice. 4. The deadline for filing a claim against the decedent’s estate is June 8, 2018. 5. A claim may be filed at the Dane County Courthouse, 215 S. Hamilton Street, Madison, Wisconsin, Room 1005X. /s/ Danell Behrens Deputy Probate Registrar February 27, 2018 Attorney Peter J. Waltz 205 East Main Street, PO Box 294 Mt. Horeb, WI 53572 608-437-5577 Bar Number: 1008249 Published: March 8, 15 and 22, 2018 WNAXLP *** ORDINANCE NO. 18-912 AN ORDINANCE REZONING THE HEREIN DESCRIBED PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF VERONA The Common Council of the City of Verona, Dane County, State of Wisconsin, does hereby ordain as follows:
1. That Section 13-1-42, “Zoning Map” of Title 13, Chapter 1 “Zoning Code”, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Verona be amended by repealing the existing zoning of Rural Agricultural (RA) on the following described parcel in the City of Verona and assigning the Public Institutional (PI) zoning classification: Commencing at the East Quarter Corner of said Section 21; thence North 89 degrees 04 minutes 35 seconds West along the North line of the Southeast Quarter of said Section a distance of 1,289.70 feet to the Northeast comer of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, being the Point of Beginning; thence South 00 degrees 13 minutes 31 seconds West along the East line of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, 1,319.95 feet to the Southeast comer of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter; thence North 89 degrees 12 minutes 12 seconds West along the South line of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, 1,007.50 feet to the Northeasterly right-of-way line of United States Highway’s 18 and 151; thence North 63 degrees 29 minutes 29 seconds West along said right-of-way line, 756.37 feet; thence North 23 degrees 14 minutes 14 seconds West along said right-of-way line, 1,093.72 feet to the North line of the Northeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter; thence South 88 degrees 54 minutes 23 seconds East along said North line, 831.58 feet to the Northwest comer of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, also being the Center of Section 21, aforesaid; thence South 89 degrees 04 minutes 35 seconds East along the North line of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, 1.289.70 feet to the Point of Beginning. 2. That the City Clerk is directed to forthwith make the above change in the zoning district boundaries on the official map of the City of Verona pursuant to Section 13-1-42 of the City ordinances after passage and publication as required by law. The foregoing ordinance was duly adopted by the Common Council of the City of Verona at a meeting held on March 12, 2018. CITY OF VERONA _______________________ Jon Hochkammer, Mayor (seal) _______________________ Ellen Clark, City Clerk Enacted: March 12, -2018 Published: March 15, 2018 WNAXLP
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Email Verona Press editor Jim Ferolie at veronapress@wcinet. com.
Security: Addressing concerns about glass Continued from page 1 ideas students chose as a priority during the planning process last year. The district reported concerns began when a virtual tour of the high school design was posted on YouTube early this year, and they increased following the Parkland, Fla. school shooting. Last week’s announcement of a review said any changes will be vetted by the visionary design team, a group of high Rendering courtesy Eppstein Uhen Architects school staff members that The Plan Commission on Monday, March 5, joined the echo helped come up with priori- of parents, teachers and others expressing concern about the ties for the initial design. amount of glass in the new Verona Area High School plans.
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said the plan was a good idea because the building is “in really rough shape.” Ald. Luke Diaz (D-3) said the upgrade has the potential to bring festivals and special events there. Parks director Dave Walker later told the Press another motivation for the plan is to fix existing
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journey” splash pad, a new playground, a new parking lot, a forest management plan and an entirely different configuration, possibly without ticket-takers. It would still keep two soccer fields and the boat launch, unlike the 2016 plan, but would not have the previously planned kayak launch. It would all open in time for the 2019 summer swimming season. The vote approved an agreement with MSA Professional Services for just under $300,000 to put together detailed plans and specifications for a master plan that would follow a conceptual plan the Parks, Recreation and Urban Forestry Commission approved last month. The original plan, designed in 2016, would have spent as much as $5 million in two phases and would have built a new bathhouse, smaller than the existing one. But after some alders wondered whether that money wouldn’t be better spent on a community pool, it was put on hold while city staff and consultants explored the idea. So far, there is no suitable location for an outdoor community pool, with the new Verona Area High School site running out of room, even an expanded area of Fireman’s Park not providing enough space and the county
stormwater problems, including wet areas of the soccer fields, which would be shifted and regraded but stay the same size. A future phase of the master plan would create a path in the adjacent, privately owned forest and provide access to the creek to the east of the beach. The path would then link up with sidewalk that’s being installed this summer on South Main Street between Carnes and Locust Street. The beach is a former quarry that was turned into a recreational area in the early 1960s. Walker said it will go through minor upgrades, including finer sand, newer trees and additional shade structures. The money for the project remains budgeted in 2018 as a “water feature,” but alders would have to approve borrowing in the spring. Bids would go out in July, with construction planned to start as soon as the swimming season is over, “after Labor Day.” The beach, playground and splash pad would open by June 2019, and park and turf areas such as the soccer fields and forested areas would open the following year.
ConnectVerona.com 402 Help Wanted, General
March 15, 2018 602 Antiques & Collectibles
DISHWASHER, COOK, WAITRESS, & DELI STAFF WANTED. Applications available at Sugar & Spice Eatery. 317 Nora St. Stoughton. KK LAWN AND SPORT of Oregon Seeking Mechanic or applicant with mechanical aptitude to work in our store. Full or part-time available. Apply at 220 Janesville St, Oregon. 608-835-0100. ON-CALL DRIVERS for Premier Evansville Auto Auction. Part-time, experienced. Safe drivers with valid driver's license. Apply in person at 320 Water St., Evansville, WI. PET GROOMER wanted. Great Opportunity! Call 1-608-289-2116
444 Construction, Trades & Automotive EXPERIENCED POOL & Spa Technician. Must have basic understanding of pools, equipment & plumbing. Benefits available: Health Insurance, 401K & vacation. $20/hr , More based on experience. POOL CONSTRUCTION & DECK FRAMERS. Multiple positions open. $15/hr. More based on experience. Recreational Concepts, Oregon, WI 608835-2780 or email recconinc@ymail.com
447 Professional HAIR STYLIST Full or Part-time. Busy Salon. Benefits, 401K, paid vacation, flexible hours. Cutting Edge Hair Salon, Oregon, WI. Deb at dsaley@icloud.com
COLUMBUS ANTIQUE MALL & CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS MUSEUM "Wisconsin's Largest Antique Mall"! Customer Appreciation Week 20% DISCOUNT April 2-8 Enter daily 8am-4pm 78,000 SF 200 Dealers in 400 Booths Third floor furniture, locked cases Location: 239 Whitney St Columbus, WI 53925 920-623-1992 www.columbusantiquemall.com
720 Apartments ROSEWOOD APARTMENTS for Seniors 55+. 1 & 2 bedroom units available starting at $795 per month. Includes heat, water and sewer. Professionally managed. Located at 300 Silverado Drive, Stoughton, WI 53589 608-877-9388
WE BUY Junk Cars and Trucks. We sell used parts. Monday thru Friday 8am-5:30pm. Newville Auto Salvage, 279 Hwy 59 Edgerton, 608-884-3114
750 Storage Spaces For Rent
705 Rentals 2 BEDROOM upper, 2 unit building. Parking for 1 car in back lot. No Pets. Stoughton. Rent $725 Available April 15th. 608-332-6013
ALL SEASONS SELF STORAGE 10X10 10X15 10X20 10X25 10X30 Security Lights-24/7 access OREGON/BROOKLYN CALL (608)444-2900
GREENWOOD APARTMENTS Apartments for Seniors 55+, currently has 1 & 2 bedroom units available starting at $795 per month, includes heat, water, and sewer. 608-835-6717 Located at: 139 Wolf St., Oregon, WI 53575 CLASSIFIEDS, 873-6671 or 835-6677. It pays to read the fine print.
C.N.R. STORAGE Located behind Stoughton Garden Center Convenient Dry Secure Lighted with access 24/7 Bank Cards Accepted Off North Hwy 51 on Oak Opening Dr. behind Stoughton Garden Center Call: 608-509-8904
CHERYL'S HOUSEKEEPING Stoughton, Oregon. No job too big or too small. 608-322-9554 TORNADO CLEANING LLC We will clean your house Faster than a Tornado. Veteran Discount. 608-873-0333. www. garthewing.com Visit us on Facebook@ Tornadocleaningllc Talk to you soon.
548 Home Improvement A&B ENTERPRISES Light Construction Remodeling No job too small 608-835-7791 RECOVER PAINTING currently offering winter discounts on all painting, drywall and carpentry. Recover urges you to join in the fight against cancer, as a portion of every job is donated to cancer research. Free estimates, fully insured, over 20 years of experience. Call 608-270-0440.
554 Landscaping, Lawn, Tree & Garden Work
One bedroom apartments in Verona for persons 62+ and/or handicapped/disabled. Rent starts at $443. Includes major appliances, off street parking, water and sewer, garbage pickup and we mow the lawn. Call 888-237-5710 for more details. This institution is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider and employer.
Apply Locally at: 219 Paoli St., Verona, WI E-mail: Jobs@BadgerBus.com Call: 608-845-2255 or Go Online: BadgerBus.com
Apply in Person: 5501 Femrite Drive Madison, WI
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Hearts & Hands, Inc. in Mount Horeb is looking for Teachers to join our awesome team. We offer: • $22,880 - $31,200/year starting (based on education completed) • Substantial child care discount • Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays • 50% Employer Paid Premium for Employee Health Insurance • 3% match of SIMPLE IRA • 100% Employer Paid Long Term Disability • Access to Dental, Vision, and Life Supplemental Insurance • Paid Planning and Continuing Education Hours • Flexible Schedules • Training in WMELS, Pyramid Model, CPR, and more Apply ininperson: Apply person:8900 8900Ridgeview RidgeviewRd. Rd.Mount MountHoreb Horeb WI WI 53572; 53572; email: heartsandhands@mhtc.net; or call (608) 437-6400 email: heartsandhands@mhtc.net; or call (608) 437-6400
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Sunday, March 18, 2018 @ 9:00 AM 72 Easy Street – Benton, WI 53803 Powers Auction Service: 608-439-5761 608-214-5761
Open House: Friday, March 16: 9 AM – 4 PM
OFFICE SPACES FOR RENT In Oregon facing 15th hole on golfcourse Free Wi-Fi, Parking and Security System Conference rooms available Kitchenette-Breakroom Autumn Woods Prof. Centre Marty 608-835-3628
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Listing & Photos: www.powersauction.com
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HOUSE FOR sale by owner. 1973 ranch, 2000 sq ft, 3 BR, 3 BA, LR, FR, 2 car garage on one acre lot. Open House Saturday, March 17, 12:00-4:00 at 3068 County Road A, Stoughton, WI. $325,000. Cash sale of china hutch, oval dining table with 8 chairs, kitchen table with 4 padded chairs, 2 couches, 3 upholstered chairs, 1 coffee table, 1 end table, vintage full sized bedroom set, lamps, and golf cart.
NOW HIRING
CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE IS Noon Friday for The Great Dane and Noon Monday for the Verona Press unless changed because of holiday work schedules. Call now to place your ad, 873-6671 or 835-6677.
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Drive Locally andWages Support your Community •Excellent Badger BusTraining Offers: •Paid • $150 Sign-On Bonus for Van Drivers •CDL Program • $500 Sign-On Bonus for (If Qualified School Bus Drivers •Signing Bonus Applicable) • Paid Training and Available Bonus to get in your CDL •Positions Madison and Verona • Full and Part-Time Positions Available
LAWN MOWING Residential & Commercial Fully Insured. 608-873-7038 or 608-669-0025
Add us on Facebook and Twitter as “Verona Press”
801 Office Space For Rent
VERONA DRIVERS WANTED
Call: 608-255-1551
FREE WOOD and/or FREE WOOD CHIPS available with provided dump sites in Dane County. Accurate Tree Service.. 608-347-8510
Find updates and links right away.
FRENCHTOWN SELF-STORAGE Only 6 miles South of Verona on Hwy PB. Variety of sizes available now. 10x10=$60/month 10x15=$70/month 10x20=$80/month 10x25=$90/month 12x30=$115/month Call 608-424-6530 or 1-888-878-4244
UNION ROAD STORAGE 10x10 - 10x15 10x20 - 12x30 24 / 7 Access Security Lights & Cameras Credit Cards Accepted 608-835-0082 1128 Union Road Oregon, WI Located on the corner of Union Road & Lincoln Road
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RASCHEIN PROPERTY STORAGE 6x10 thru 10x25 Market Street/Burr Oak Street in Oregon Call 608-520-0240
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CLASSIFIEDS, 873-6671 or 835-6677. It pays to read the fine print.
DEER POINT STORAGE Convenient location behind Stoughton Lumber. Clean-Dry Units 24 HOUR LIGHTED ACCESS 5x10 thru 12x25 608-335-3337
NORTH PARK STORAGE 10x10 through 10x40, plus 14x40 with 14' door for RV & Boats. Come & go as you please. 608-873-5088
SCHETTLER TERRACE
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STORAGE BUILDING 36x80. Located in Oregon, Schuster and Netherwood St. 816-222-8401 or 816-304-4157
696 Wanted To Buy
449 Driver, Shipping & Warehousing
• Driveways • Floors • Patios • Sidewalks • Decorative Concrete
OREGON 2-Bedroom in quiet, well-kept building. Convenient location. Includes all appliances, A/C, blinds, private parking, laundry, storage. $200 security deposit. Cats OK $715/month. 608-219-6677
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The Verona Press
POWERS AUCTION SERVICE
2445 E Hwy 11 South Wayne, WI 53587 608-439-5761 or spowers3764@yahoo.com
Engineering Industries, Inc. 407 S. Nine Mound Rd., Verona, WI 53593 100% Employee Owned
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March 15, 2018
The Verona Press
ConnectVerona.com
Pre-K: Program teaches social-emotional skills before kids get to kindergarten Continued from page 1 4 and older in the 201213 school year after years of debate – and a one-year delay over staffing. It has since broadened its scope to reach parents of even younger children and has become a financial boon for the district, generating $887,256 in additional state aid over its first five years – after costing $717,906 in its first. Eleven area preschools serve as the sites for the program Tuesday through Fridays for 3 hours and 10 minutes. Each offers its own atmosphere or familiarity for parents, which Skibba said has helped foster key partnerships with centers that see children sometimes years before district programming begins. “I feel like we all are really working together for the benefit of all children and all families, and it doesn’t just start at age 4,” Skibba said.
Focus on social In the program’s five full years so far, its leaders have learned to put even more focus on social-emotional lessons than initially expected and begin reaching out to parents to get them comfortable in the system. “The goal is get parents involved in school early on and hopefully they’ll stay involved,” said Caring Center administrator Regina Kane. “If you have those positive experiences, it’s less intimidating to go into school when you’re children are getting bigger.” Kane said teachers in the program want to make sure they leave a good first impression on the kids, too. “Entering school is a pretty big deal to kids,” K a n e s a i d . “ I f t h ey ’ve
Pre-K financials Fiscal year 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Totals
Revenue Expenses Net gain $688,271 $1,406,177 ($717,906) $1,336,099 $1,390,641 ($54,542) $2,050,053 $1,388,960 661,093 $1,987,115 $1,534,694 $452,421 $2,043,089 $1,496,899 $546,190 $8,104,627 $7,217,371 $887,256
Enrollment 2012-13: 313 2013-14: 282 2014-15: 310 2015-16: 288 2016-17: 313 2017-18: 277 Photos by Scott Girard
Getting students prepared for the school they’ll be part of for the 13 years after Pre-K is one of the main goals of the program, with classroom rules, behavior guidelines and ways to recognize emotions covering the walls. started out with a negative experience, that’s gonna follow them all through school. For us, it was really important that their very first exposure was, ‘This is a great place for me, and I’m gonna like school.’” Focusing on that idea helped the district realize it needed to emphasize social-emotional learning, which it had considered early on, but not to the extent it does now, Skibba recalled. That changed after she and center directors heard from teachers about some difficulties they were having with particular students. “ We a lwa y s b e l i eve d in social-emotional,” she said. “It wasn’t until we started Pre-K, though, that we realized we were going to need to focus so much training on social-emotional.” Skibba and the directors agreed a change had to be made. She began training on what’s called the “Pyramid Model” of behavioral support and found it
them,” Kane said, adding that it allows for the kids to be more prepared for kindergarten and beyond. “It’s just a shift in letting children feel capable right away,” Kane said. “I think that makes a big difference for kids in how they’re going to go through life and approach problems down the road.”
Rough start Student responsibilities for classrooms at La Petite Academy in Fitchburg rotate. created problem-solving skills among both staff and the students. “When you hear a child say, ‘I’m really frustrated,’ that’s really exciting,” Kane said. “You’re thinking, ‘Yes, let’s talk about that.’ Kids are learning to monitor their own feelings and they’re learning to self-regulate.” That’s helped change the idea that kids are “kind of helpless and needy, and that we had to fix everything and make everything easy for
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Back in 2010, some in the community were opposed to the idea of adding Pre-K to the school district. The idea had received “moderate” support on a district survey the previous fall, but a committee to explore the idea formed, nonetheless. Kane recalled that the timing, with the world still in the midst of the Great Recession, left some in the community unsure whether it was worth the extra dollars it would cost in the early years. Critics called it nothing but free childcare, a giveaway that was unfair to people already investing in preschool for their own kids. “ I t wa s i m p o r t a n t t o show them that this is an investment and this is an investment that’s going to pay off for children, and I believe it has,” Kane recalled. District director of curriculum and instruction Ann Franke, who was not in the district when Pre-K began, agreed and added that it’s been especially helpful as the program has moved toward “personalized learning,” giving students control over their day from an early age. “It’s such an important bridge for us, but (also) for families, to have this Pre-K
experience,” Franke said. “They’re becoming part of the school district, their journey begins.” But persuading the community the investment was worthwhile did not get the program off the ground immediately, as a dispute between the teachers’ unions and district officials over contract language for the nonunion staffing of the Pre-K program lasted too long to get it running by fall 2011. E ve n t u a l l y, t h e s i d e s came to an agreement that allowed daycare center employees to staff the program, which Kane said avo i d e d c r e a t i n g “ t w o tiers” of employees at the centers, with some being compensated by the district and part of the teachers’ unions and others through the centers. Those same centers were “very apprehensive” about the idea when it initially came up, Kane said, because of how it had gone in other districts “where things maybe weren’t thought through before they were implemented.”
‘Wonderful partnership’ Building that trust took time, but now Skibba said the district is committed long-term to its community-based model. “We’ve grown leaps and bounds, and we’ve done that because of our collaboration,” Skibba said. That collaboration includes centers that aren’t actually part of the Pre-K program, Skibba said, with the district opening up its trainings to early childhood teachers from any center in the district. That’s a big-picture decision, she explained. “ We ’r e a u n i t o u t i n the Verona and Fitchburg area,” Skibba said. “All (of those kids will) ultimately
Sites • Here We Grow Learning Center, Fitchburg • La Petite Academy, Fitchburg • La Petite Academy, Verona • Little Blessings Preschool, Verona • Little Pilgrims, Madison • Once Upon a Time Child Care, Verona • Pooh Bear Child Care and Preschool, Fitchburg • Red Arrow Head Start, Madison • St. James Preschool, Verona • The Caring Center and Verona Montessori, Verona • YMCA – Stoner Prairie, Fitchburg possibly gonna come through these doors. Why put barriers up?” That’s a significant factor when involving private businesses that have historically competed for families to attend their centers. But Kane and Carlson said they understand that parents will seek out different environments for their children. “We never wanted every classroom to look exactly the same, we never wanted the experience to be exactly the same in each room,” Kane said. “There’s a different fit for different people.” That’s helped her recognize it’s not “competitive, it feels cooperative,” something Carlson said she noticed early on after her center joined the group three years ago. “It’s been a wonderful partnership,” Carlson said. Contact Scott Girard at ungreporter@wcinet.com and follow him on Twitter @sgirard9.
Expanding to the ‘first five years’ Call For A Tour 608.729.9200
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Over the last two years, the Verona Area School District has shifted from just Pre-K to a “Verona Area First Five Years” program to cover what happens in Pre-K and before. Director of early childhood learning Jennifer Skibba explained that part of the district’s Pre-K program requires community outreach. Events like open gyms, playgroups, an annual kids concert and the Kids Expo, which had its second version last year, were borne out of that requirement, but she still felt that “families don’t
actually know what we offer.” So they created the program, VAFFY, to comprise all of the work that goes into getting a child prepared for kindergarten – including Pre-K – and ensuring outreach was focused on parents with children of any age under 5. “It really says more of how we’re promoting working with everyone,” Skibba said. “So many people were confused if I was in a two-year-old room, or I was holding a baby … but I was coaching in those classrooms.”