Your Family

SPRING 2017

Open Skate A place where disabilities are no disqualifier

A ‘must’ for jazz lovers SENIOR LIVING:

Taking care of mental health

Day Trip:

HISTORIC FEEL IN MINERAL POINT

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Right here, UW physicians care for these kids while performing cutting-edge research that is saving precious lives.

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Fighting cancer so kids won’t have to

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Top Agents Join Top Company KATHY BARTELS & SCOTT STEWART

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It’s an exciting transition during a dynamic real estate market. As always, please contact us with questions or stop us around town.

S TA R K H O M E S .C O M

KATHY BARTELS

KBartels@StarkHomes.com • 608-235-2927

SCOTT STEWART

SStewart@StarkHomes.com • 608-512-8487

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DURING OUR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES of combined service, Scott and I have been fortunate to help our clients begin a new chapter of their lives.

Now, we are beginning our new chapter. As leaders in the Verona Area School District Housing Market, we are proud to join the leading company in Dane County.

F O R A L L LO C A L L I S T I N G S SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 3

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ON THE COVER ADAPTING ON ICE

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Kenzie Morris, 10, of Orfordville, scrimmages with the Wisconsin Skeeters sled hockey team at Madison Ice Arena on Feb. 4. The arena, owned by Madison Ice Inc., was renovated last year to become more disability-friendly through a $1.26 million grant from the Goodman Foundation. It’s gearing up for the fifth annual Regional Disabled Hockey Festival from March 18-19, which draws adaptive hockey teams for those with cognitive disabilities and sled hockey teams for those with physical challenges from all over the Midwest.

GENERAL MANAGER Lee Borkowski lborkowski@wcinet.com SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER Kathy Neumeister EDITOR Jim Ferolie

Photo by Evan Halpop

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ellen Koeller

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YOUR FAMILY STAFF Diane Beaman, Samantha Christian, Scott De Laruelle, Kate Froehlich, Scott Girard, Anthony Iozzo, Donna Larson, Amber Levenhagen, Bill Livick, Kate Newton, Angie Roberts, Carolyn Schultz, Catherine Stang and Dawn Zapp

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Spring 2017

18

Family Fun 5 things Swinging coffee shops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

Day Trip Historic Mineral Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Kenosha’s Velodrome gets 90th birthday present. . . . . . 22 It’s all about the camaraderie for Ladies Must Swing. . . . 24 Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Family Food My Blood Type is Coffee In love with technology. . . . . . . .

7

Recipes: Silken chicken, Biscotti Ripieni Cookies . . . . 27

Family Life Planning for College Responsibility for college prep lies with parents, not school . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26

Business Spotlight Lost and Found Ring, LLC. . . 34

Family Health Publishers of the Oregon Observer Stoughton Courier Hub Verona Press Great Dane Shopping News Fitchburg Star

To Your Health Careful with weight words. . . . . . . . . . .

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Senior Living Take care of elders’ mental health . . . 30

SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 5

FAMILYLIFE

Everyone’s abilities are worth celebrating INSIDE YOUR FAMILY

BY LEE BORKOWSKI

W

elcome to another great issue of Your Family magazine.

Our feature story is about the Madison Ice Inc. and the commitment it makes in providing activities that include everyone – regardless of skill and capabilities.

And in reading this story, I began to think about my niece, Ele, who’s a cheerful, friendly 18-year-old with an amazing ability to remember names and faces.

The day she was born, I happened to be driving through town where my brother,

Tim, and his wife, Carolyn, live. I passed my brother on the road and pulled over to find out the details. Tim shared that they’d had the most gorgeous baby girl, their third, but there were tears in his

You never know when being differently abled will affect you or someone you know. eyes as he spoke, and I wasn’t sure where they were coming from. I assumed it was disappointment as, perhaps, he had

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wanted a boy.

Fortunately, I just listened, and he eventually explained. He said, “The doctors say she may have Down syndrome, and I’m so scared!”

We talked for a few more minutes, and Tim said he was going home to gather his other two daughters and take them to the hospital to meet their new baby sister. He asked if I would come down, as well, and bring them back home after their visit.

My thoughts were troubled as I made my way to the hospital to visit with the family, but my concerns proved to be unfounded. Ele was a perfect addition to our family!

After a short time, Carolyn’s parents arrived. Proud sisters Amy and Leah (then 3 and 7) were excited to take them to the nursery and show them the new baby.

Down the hall we went.

As we were looking through the window at the baby, Amy, the older of the two, stated very matter-of-factly that “our new baby sister might be a slow learner.”

Her grandmother didn’t miss a beat when she replied, “Well, you know, I believe we’re all slow learners at some things. For instance, I’m slow at math.”

I was struck by the simplicity of her statement at the time and have thought of it often since. This simple statement was the perfect way to drive home the point that we are all differently abled. Ele was not able to progress far in school, but her mind excels in some non-academic ways.

I sure wish I could remember everyone I meet the way she does.

Our country has made great strides over the years of being accepting and inclusive. Lately, I fear we are regressing, but I’m committed to doing my best to be a champion of equal rights and access for all and hope that you, too, will do the same.

You never know when being differently abled will affect you or someone you know. l Lee Borkowski is the general manager of Unified Newspaper Group, which publishes Your Family magazine.

FAMILYFOOD

Thanks, technology, for helping me get smart MY BLOOD TYPE IS COFFEE

BY RHONDA MOSSNER

I

’m in love! Before we get carried away, let me tell you that, of course, I am head over heels for my husband of 32 years, but this column is about a different kind of affection.

I am in love with technology.

Have I lost my mind? Most likely.

Am I considering professional help?

Perhaps.

Thirty years ago you could not have told me that by the time I turned 50, most of my daily life would be dominated by some kind of electronic or Internet-connected device.

I will be the first to confess that in 2000, I needed my kids to tutor me on how to use my first computerized sewing machine! It was too much for me to take in and it overwhelmed me with all the fancy buttons and stitches I could make if only I programmed it correctly.

In addition, for many years it was kind of the joke of the family that in order to bring up the subscription movie channels I needed an index card with step-by-step directions. I would laugh and deny, but it was the truth. I had the instructions written on the back of an envelope that held my shopping coupons that was tacked to the bulletin board in the kitchen.

Until I confessed, the family never knew. At least I don’t think they did.

Now, about 15 years later, as I write this column, I am typing at a small table at one of my local coffee spots on a laptop loaded with the latest versions of all kinds of software, firewalls and probably many other add-ons I don’t even have reason to use.

The best part of this laptop is that the screen flips over flat to the back and becomes a reading tablet. I won’t confess to how many ebooks I have loaded at any given time.

When I think back to those days, it’s amazing to consider the kind of convenience we enjoy. the thought of a huge home computer with a monitor taking up half of my dining room is ridiculous to me.

I simply cannot imagine being without

my laptop. I never know when the urge to write the next chapter to my novel will strike at the same time as a craving for my favorite coffee. I suppose I could carry a pen and a tablet of paper along with me, but forget it. I am now a woman of convenience.

I have to say, though, the all-time greatest technological gadget is my phone. Who would have been able to comprehend the idea that our phones would have someday been able to control our lives like they do?

I don’t know what I’d do without my Google Maps. There’s no reason to spend money on a GPS system when I can simply ask my phone to get me where I want to go.

I cannot believe all the times I have relied on my phone for calculating calories, finding digital coupons, checking email and getting weather updates. But I love the local radar maps the best of all.

As a storm phobic, this is great in the summertime. I can cower in my basement and watch the storms move over Verona without having to run up and down the steps every few minutes.

Seems a little trite, I suppose, but it’s a big deal to people like me.

The most recent addition to our household has been a smart television.

My husband bought it the day before what was to be the final Packer game of the season in hopes he’d be watching the team at the Super Bowl a few weeks later.

This new appliance is connected to just about every app the Internet can push through our circuits. In fact, just when we thought we had seen all it had to offer, our son gifted us with a streaming device that pops into the side.

Our television now talks to us! All I have to do is push a little microphone button on my one control and tell the TV what to do, and a pleasant female voice answers me back each time.

Sometimes she says she is not sure what I am asking her to do, but eventually we get it figured out. She

even brings us recipes for me to try and tunes in radio stations from all over the country for me to enjoy. All this from my television.

Isn’t life today just amazing? l In addition to her blog, TheDanglingThread.blogspot.com, Rhonda Mossner is a professional speaker, quilter and chef. She is known as The Quilter Cook and travels throughout the area sharing her quilts, stories and recipes.

SMART TV FOOD

A couple of easy snacks my new TV friend recommends:

YOGURTWICHES

Spread 2 heaping tablespoons of your favorite flavor of low fat frozen yogurt in between two graham cracker squares. Press down firmly to form a thick sandwich. Roll edges in crushed peanuts, candies or mini chocolate chips. Wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap and store in freezer until ready to eat.

PEANUT BUTTER WANDS

Spread a thick layer of your favorite peanut butter on the top one-third of a large pretzel stick. Roll in your favorite toppings such as those suggested above. You may also store these in the freezer, but most will want to enjoy them immediately.

SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 7

5 coz y

FAMILYFOOD

Story by Amber Levenhagen Photos submitted

I

t can be easy to stay inside and brew a cup of coffee, but I often find myself longing for a new, cozy atmosphere to relax with a good book and a warm brunch. These five coffee shops are my personal favorites and are all within the Madison area. From knitting clubs to the one of the most expansive tea selections in the area, these coffee destinations are ideal for anyone looking for a new spot to unwind.

Mermaid Cafe

Sow’s Ear

1929 Winnebago St., Madison mermaidcafemadison.net

125 Main St., Verona knitandsip.com

The Mermaid Cafe is passionate about food.

Upon walking in the door, you’re greeted by friendly staff and comforting music. The open bar lets customers take a peek while their food is being prepared, so there’s no secrets about what is happening with your order.

Lisa Jacobson is head chef at Mermaid Cafe. “Fresh food from small farms fuels my passion and our kitchen, I choose from internationally-inspired dishes that showcase fresh food,” she wrote on their website.

All of their food is locally sourced and made from scratch.

They even offer a rewards program for loyal customers. After 10 visits, customers earn 20 percent off their purchase.

The cafe is busy but not overly crowded, a perfect balance of comfortable and work friendly.

With salads, soups, sandwiches and the popular rice bowls, there’s something to snack on for all tastes. A wide tea selection and cozy atmosphere offers a welcoming environment for a lunch with coworkers or a date with someone special.

Sow’s Ear in Verona is the ideal destination for a crafty coffee fan who’s looking for a new spot to knit.

The cafe opened in 2000 and is owned by Debra Errington.

The cafe claims to be the Midwest’s first combined yarn store and coffee shop.

With rotating seasonal specialties, it’s easy to find an item to enjoy, but their most popular menu item is their quiche that’s featured from Rolling Pin Bake Shop in Fitchburg, followed closely by their housemade hummus plates. “We have a front garden that was brought in by an employee who is passionate about local food, so during the summer we offer food from the garden,” Jen Davis, the cafe manager, said. Then instead of having full reference in the last graf, it can just say: Davis says they are also trying to organize a gentlemen’s craft night.

Various knitting clubs meet at the cafe multiple days a week. Jen Davis, the cafe manager, says they are also trying to organize a gentlemen’s craft night.

8 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

FAMILYFOOD Oasis apart.

The cafe opened in 2010, and the earthy atmosphere of a shop full of plants and warm lighting makes for an already welcoming ambiance. Once you sit down with a warm cup of its locally roasted EVP coffee, it’s an easy decision to return time and time again.

From breakfast burritos to its most popular menu item – Russian dumplings called Pel’meni, which are meat and potato based dumplings with melted butter, cilantro, curry powder and spicy sauces – it’s also an oasis of yum.

A “Belly” rewards program lets customers earn points that go towards jazzing up coffees or a free T-shirt.

Whether just stopping in for coffee, or working through the day, you’ll find the cafe to be perfect for relaxing, working or just passing through for the morning cup.

Firefly Coffeehouse 114 N. Main St., Oregon fireflycoffeehouse.com

The Firefly Coffeehouse opened in 2001 as a tiny spot in comparison to the expansive space that customers love now, filled with lounge chairs, sofas and an impressive art display along the walls.

Two of its most popular items are the granola bars and scones made from scratch each day by the shop’s talented bakers. Its special Firefly Blend brewed coffee, roasted by Kickapoo Coffeehouse in Viroqua, is popular, as well.

All of the Firefly’s sandwiches can be made on glutenfree bread, and they even make their own gluten-free peanut butter cookies. It offers seasonal salads, so new menu items can be expected in April, said owner Erika Weidler.

One of the special features the Firefly offers is a community gathering space that can be reserved for any event, like club meetings or birthday parties.

“We are known as Oregon’s Living Room and it really lives up to the name,” Weidler said. “We are a welcoming place for everyone to receive expertly crafted beverages and food with the best service and homey atmosphere.”

Oasis Cafe

2690 Research Park Dr., Fitchburg oasiscafefitchburg.com Not unlike the rest of the coffee spots on this list, Oasis Cafe customers are greeted with friendly smiles and waves as they enter. This amazing service, however, is what sets

Lakeside St. Coffee House 402 W. Lakeside St., Madison lakesidestcoffeehouse.com

Lakeside St. Coffee House is an eclectic cafe that hosts live music and has a relaxing atmosphere. Kate Burmeister has been the owner and manager of the coffee house for the last eight years of the 14 it’s been open.

“It’s a great and interesting group of people that are constantly changing and evolving,” she said of the crowd of regulars who stop by for a casual lunch, the wine and beer bar on the second half of the cafe and the live music held almost every weekend.

The most popular menu item is the Asian peanut tofu sandwich and the Reuben sandwich (with a secret twist).

The coffee house is divided into two separate rooms – a barista station and food area called the “Lake Room,” with a view over the Lake Monona Bay, and the bar room that was added four years ago. The wine and beer bar is open Wednesday through Saturday with bluegrass, country and classical music.

Lakeside St. Coffee House is a perfect spot for a cozy lunch with friends or a weekend date night with that special someone.

Its featured organic coffee from True Coffee Roasters and fresh, local food can cure any craving from those who are seeking a quirky new spot to visit. l SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 9

FAMILYFUN

D

There’s history ...

in those hills

p i r ay T

‘Where Wisconsin Began’ is just around the corner in Mineral Point Story and photos by Scott De Laruelle

A

visit to Mineral Point is like taking a trip back to the area’s historic mining boom of the

1830s.

Minus the working in the mines part, of course.

A combination of unusual geology and old-world flavor, Mineral Point has many ways to spend a great day

for those looking for a quick getaway into yesterday. About an hour west of Madison down U.S. Hwy. 151, it doesn’t take long to get to there.

That’s good, as there’s plenty to see and do, particularly for history and art aficionados. While Mineral Point has only around 2,500 residents, a notable number include a variety of

Photos submitted by Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce.

High Street (left) and Commerce Street (right) are two of Mineral Point’s main drags, with plenty of dining, shopping and more.

10 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

artisans who live there year-round.

Many dozens more people live or work in restored buildings along the narrow, hilly, curved streets that give an oldWest feel to the downtown.

The call of history is strong here, and the city is well-known for its many museums and preservation sites, the most popular of which is

FAMILYFUN Pendarvis. A Wisconsin Historical Society re-creation of a Cornish settlement from the state’s early 1800s-era mining boom, the site captures a theme woven into the fabric of the area ever since those days – Mineral Point’s close connection to a seemingly remote English county.

Spring is a great time of year to visit Mineral Point, said Chamber of Commerce executive director Joy Gieseke, noting that the first weekend of May is generally “when things really get going” and the area’s historic sites open. A Woodcarvers’ Round-up kicks things off May 2-4.

“Pendarvis, the Orchard Lawn, the (railroad) depot, all open in May for tours,” Gieseke added.

The city hosts its second annual Historic Preservation Weekend May 5-7, including open-house tours of historic area homes and businesses, a play about the men who started historic renovation efforts in Mineral

Sister cities For nearly two decades, the City of Mineral Point has been “twinned” with the City of Redruth in Cornwall, England. This was formally instituted in Redruth in the spring of 1996 and at the Gundry House in Mineral Point in July 1997.

Point, the opening of the Mineral Point Market and “a few other things in the works,” said Gieseke, noting that the event started last year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Preservation Act. “We thought since that’s such a big part of our history here, we needed to do something,” she said. “We are the third-oldest city in the state … we’ve been named the most Cornish community in the United States. It should be a fun weekend.”

Visit to yesteryear

The culture and feel of Mineral Point today started in the early 1800s, when the fur trade was giving way to mining as the area’s main industry.

As the trade grew more lucrative, in Cornwall, England, tin miners heard of the plentiful ore deposits and soon began immigrating from there in the 1830s. Mineral Point grew quickly and was even Wisconsin’s territorial seat before the capital was sited in Madison when it became a state in 1848.

Eventually, mining – and the city’s importance – faded, but much of the era was saved through renovation efforts in the last 100 years that have saved dozens of structures built by the Cornish workers, some of whom were expert stone masons. Just a drive around the city shows the dozens of familiar, sturdy limestone structures

Photos submitted by Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce.

Left: Pendarvis, a Wisconsin Historic Site that opens in May, is perhaps the most well-known of Mineral Point’s historical destinations, attracting many visitors each year.

Right: A favorite stop for hungry travelers is the Red Rooster Cafe (158 High Street) for authentic Cornish pasties, or “Figgy Hobins” (a raisin and brown sugar dessert).

On the web Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce mineralpoint.com Mineral Point Historical Society mineralpointhistory.org Pendarvis historic site pendarvis.wisconsinhistory.org Midwest Cornish Festival cornishfest.org Mineral Point Railroad Society mprs.org that give Mineral Point a bit of a European feel.

“There was this abundance of local stone, and buildings they built reflected their homeland,” Gieseke said. “That wave of immigration from Cornwall really had a lot to do with how we look today. When you look at photos of downtown and the town of our sister city, Redruth (England), it’s really quite similar.”

One of the city’s more notable relics is is the Mineral Point Railroad Museum (11 Commerce St.), open from May through October. One of the few surviving pre-Civil War depots still standing, it’s recognized as the Continued on page 12

SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 11

THERE’S HISTORY Continued from page 11

FAMILYFUN oldest depot in Wisconsin, housing artifacts and exhibits covering 150 years, including a diorama of the 1915-era rail yard.

In season, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

For information, call 987-2695 or visit mprs.org.

Later in the year, the Orchard Lawn historical site (234 Madison Street) is open to the public. Built in 1868, it was a working estate with gardens, orchards, barns, a carriage house and an Italianate mansion. The house was saved for $800 by local citizens in 1936 and deeded to the Mineral Point Historical Society.

Feed your creative side

As much as Mineral Point is wellknown for its history, it’s becoming a hip spot for artists, as well as those who like to broaden their

‘Where Wisconsin Began’ According to the city’s Chamber of Commerce, Mineral Point is the third-oldest city in Wisconsin (behind Green Bay and Prairie du Chien), and the first to be named to The National Registry of Historic Places.

A mining hub and center of government in the early 1800s, a shining moment for Mineral Point was July 4, 1836, when Henry Dodge was inaugurated as Wisconsin’s first territorial governor in downtown’s modern-day Liberty Park.

From this event, Mineral Point is often called the place “Where Wisconsin Began.”

Left: Kathleen Nutter of Artful Apparel & More has been weaving for more than 30 years, using natural fibers and hand-dyed yarn in her restored studio on High Street.

Right: A M-60 Patton tank stands as a silent sentinel at Soldiers Memorial Park.

12 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

abilities. When you’ve had your fill of history, Mineral Point’s growing art community has a lot to offer, and “Shake Rag Alley” is the junction where history starts to take a crafty turn.

A street right off the main downtown, the alley is part of a central enclave of nine historic buildings that serves as an art center, with a variety of workshops for artists of all ages and abilities. It’s located on one of the original settlements of the town, dating back to days when Native Americans would settle around the natural spring running through it.

It’s a nearly year-round art school, with classes on topics like writing, jewelry making, blacksmithing and woodcarving. It’s worth a nice, lazy trip down the length of Shake Rag Street, with plenty of shops and parks and places to stop and wander in, even if you’re not there to take one of many courses available throughout the year.

“People come from all over to teach and to take classes in a whole lot of art mediums,” Gieseke said.

Recreation

On those precious spring days where the showers stay away, Mineral Point has plenty of options for outdoor recreation. * A t Library Park, downtown on High Street, you can see where

FAMILYFUN

Henry Dodge became the first governor of the Territory of Wisconsin on July 4, 1836. * I f a nature walk is more your style, the Don Hawkins Community Oak Savanna on Cothren Street features restored oak savanna with some trees estimated at more than 150 years old. * F or a faster pace, the Cheese Country Trail is a 47-mile multi-use trail allowing ATVs, horses, snowmobiles, bikes and hikers. There is plenty of scenery to enjoy from Mineral Point to Monroe on the former rail bed with 57 overpasses and a 440-ft bridge spanning the Pecatonica River. * T he Military Ridge Trail connecting Dodgeville and Fitchburg is directly accessible from the Shake Rag Trail. The moderately graded (2-5 percent) trail is open for hiking, biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

Dining

If you’ve worked up a good hunger and thirst, Mineral Point has plenty of places that cater to every taste. For those looking for some authentic Cornish pasties, or “Figgy Hobins” (a raisin and brown sugar dessert), the Red Rooster Cafe (158 High St.) has been a fixture for more than 40 years. If you stop by the area on Fridays, there’s always fresh cheese curds at Hook’s Cheese Company (320 Commerce St.) The historic Walker House (1 Water St.), built in 1836, offers a variety of menus. For the sweet tooth, there’s Cyndy’s Fudge & Ice Cream Shoppe (231 High St.), where hand-made fudge and other treats await.

If you’ve worked up a thirst, the Brewer Creek Brewpub (23 Commerce St.), sited in a restored 1850s stone warehouse, is a small pub offering food and cheer in the English style. l

Gallery Nights Mineral Point area artists, musicians and merchants collaborate to present “Gallery Nights” four times a year, highlighting the talent in the community with live entertainment, dining, art displays and sales. Gallery Nights are set for Saturdays April 1, June 3, Aug. 5 and Dec. 2.

For information, visit artsmp.org/gallery-night.

Visitors to Pendarvis can walk through a five-building re-creation of a Cornish settlement from the area’s mining boom of the early 1800s, and see how the men lived.

SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 13

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SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 15

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16 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

Many families spend winter figuring out how to chase away cabin fever and endure frigid temperatures until spring and summer mercifully return.

Parents thinking ahead to swimming pools and days lounging on the beach can put their daydreams to practical use by planning ahead for their youngsters’ summer vacations.

Youth recreational programs and summer camps can bridge the gap in care between the end of school and the day when classes resume. Due in part to high demand, parents who want to place their kids in summer rec programs or summer camps should being vetting such programs and camps well in advance of summer. The following are a handful of tips for moms and dads who want their kids to have fun and fulfilling summers.

• Ask for recommendations. Speak with fellow parents and trusted friends about where they send their children. Personal recommendations can be very helpful, providing firsthand insight into a particular camp or program. Schedule appointments to visit camps that fall within your budget.

Take your son or daughter along so he or she can get a sense of what camp will be like.

• Explore all options. Camps come in more flavors than ever before.

Certain camps may be faith-based ministries while others may focus on particular sports. Band camps and art camps may appeal to creative kids.

Also, there are plenty of general-interest camps that offer various activities without narrowing in on any particular one. Parents may need to choose between a sleepaway camp or day camps, depending on which camp experience they want for their children.

• Inquire about camp schedules. While many camps are flexible, day camps do not have the same level of flexibility as after-school programs.

Arrangements will need to be made if care is required after regular camp hours. Speak with camp staff to see which types of after-hours programs, if any, are available.

• Determine your camp budget. As varied as program offerings may be, camps also can vary greatly with regard to cost. Government-run camps may be less expensive than those offered by private companies. Day camps typically cost less than those that provide room and board. Find out if a particular organization subsidizes a portion of camp costs. Scouting programs often have a dedicated camp and may offer affordable options for scouts. Martial arts schools and dance centers frequently offer camp schedules.

If camp seems out of reach, look into local summer recreation programs at parks or schools. Such programs may not be as extensive as those offered by camps, but they can quell kids’ boredom and keep children occupied during the day.

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FAMILYHEALTH

Negative weight talk can be damaging TO YOUR HEALTH

BY KARA HOERR

T

he old saying, “Sticks and bones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” doesn’t always hold true. Especially when it comes to weight talk and your children.

Perhaps you casually decline dessert and mention you’re trying to lose weight or complain how you don’t like how you look in your clothes right now. Or maybe your kid is gaining weight a little too quickly and you cut her a smaller slice of cake than the rest of the family.

What seem like inconsequential comments or actions can have a negative impact on your child’s future body image and eating patterns.

Research has shown that ‘weight talk,’ or any comments made by a family member about their weight or comments made to the child to encourage weight loss, can cause feelings of shame and embarrassment for the child. It can also place thoughts in their mind that their value is in size and body appearance.

No loving family member ever has this intent — we only want what’s best for our child, after all. However, no matter how innocent an offhand comment may seem, you never know if it’ll lead to a damaging, long-term consequence.

Unfortunately, the scarring effect of one comment is just as detrimental as repeated comments. Weight talk to a child or adolescent can lead to lasting dissatisfaction with their body (whether overweight or not), disordered eating or unhealthy dieting as an adult.

There are positive things you can do, however, when you have a child who may benefit from some weight loss.

It can be a challenge navigating through this territory. The key is not so much what you say, but what you do.

Sometimes words can hurt. The solution can be as simple as talking less and doing more: Talk less about weight and start doing more to make your home a healthier place.

Here are a few ways you can help ensure healthy habits and body images in your family for years to come.

Family focus on health

You can make an influence on your family’s eating habits without even talking with them about it. One of the most effective ways is simply by focusing on healthy living and habits as a family.

Actions really do speak louder than words sometimes. Simply by modeling healthy behavior – like keeping healthy food readily available in the house, not buying soda regularly, or encouraging physical activity by going on family bike rides – can help your family stay on track and maintain positive self-esteems.

Be comfortable

Rather than dwelling on your own imperfections, your weight, or how you wish you looked, be confident and comfortable in your own skin and show that confidence to your children.

If you continue to work toward being a healthier version of yourself, you’ll notice a natural change in how you feel, anyway.

Ignore the scale

The scale can be useful to track progress, but it is still simply an outcome of what you or your child are doing. Instead of focusing on the scale and losing weight, it’s best to zero in on healthy eating habits instead.

For example, have conversations with your child about eating more fruits and vegetables, so they have the nutrients needed to grow strong and stay focused at school.

Eat the same

Offering one child a rice cake with fruit while the other gets waffles is not helping the situation at hand. Being treated differently than other siblings can be hurtful or embarrassing.

So provide the same meal for the entire family. And if dessert is an option, offer small servings for everyone to enjoy.

Avoid commenting at all

If you’re about to make a comment to your child related to food, eating habits, weight or size, stop first to think if it could have a damaging outcome.

Even positive comments about weight or size can backfire in the long run. The best solution is to refrain from making any comment at all.

Positive reinforcement

Even if your child’s weight isn’t moving, don’t forget that it’s not about the weight. Any positive behavior changes being made are worth encouraging and reinforcing.

Family meals together

Studies have found that sitting down for meals together as a family most nights during the week helps protect against disordered eating and frequent dieting among children.

As a parent, mealtime is also a perfect time to model good eating habits and healthy food choices to your kids when you’re gathered around the table together. l Kara Hoerr, MS, RD, CD, is the registered dietitian at the Fitchburg Hy-Vee. This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 17

FAMILYLIFE

Hockey, skating programs empower those with special needs

Story by Evan Halpop and Samantha Christian Photos by Evan Halpop Isaac Morris, 14, of Orfordville, scrimmages with the Wisconsin Skeeters sled hockey team at Madison Ice Arena on Feb. 4.

J

ake Vanderbloemen got his first pair of hockey skates before he was 3, but learning how to skate was the easy part.

At around age 5, his frustrations on the ice started piling up. While playing mite hockey, he would sometimes get bored and make snow angels on the rink, or get aggressive and use his hockey stick on more than just the puck.

Finally, after getting embarrassed by accidentally scoring on his own goaltender – and his team losing as a result – he was ready to quit.

18 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

It wasn’t until his sophomore year of high school at Waunakee that Vanderbloemen laced up his skates again.

He got back onto the frozen rink after his family found out about a special needs hockey program being formed through the nonprofit Madison Ice Inc. (MII), one in which the coaches and players would better understand some of his peculiar challenges.

“I thought, you know what, if there’s other kids with disabilities and special needs, maybe they’re around my skill

level,” Vanderbloemen said. “So I came in to try it out.”

As it turned out, he has autism spectrum disorder, which can affect social skills, communication and behavior. That became a source of friction and frustration with teammates and coaches despite his interest in playing.

“It was really hard for Jake to understand the concepts and rules of the game,” explained his mother, Kate Vanderbloemen. “Team sports were not a good match when he was young.”

FAMILYLIFE Vanderbloemen has been a member of the Wisconsin Timber Wolves since their first practice on Jan. 20, 2008. Now 25, he still has something to look forward to every weekend.

“When I clock out of work on Friday … one of the things that always pops into my head is, alright, cool, on Sunday I get to go play hockey with my friends,” he said.

The Wisconsin Timber Wolves team is one of three adaptive hockey and ice skating programs that meets at Madison Ice Arena. The arena, one of two in Madison owned by Madison Ice Inc., also hosts a free adaptive learn-toskate program for kids with any sort of cognitive or physical disability, as well as two sled hockey teams for youths and adults with physical challenges.

These programs teach more than just the fundamentals of skating and game play: They help kids and adults develop interpersonal skills that can be translated into their daily lives.

They all converged at the arena in 2008, said Andrea Chaffee, MII business and marketing director. Adaptive learnto-skate started a month after the Timber Wolves’ first practice, and the first sled hockey program in the state moved to Madison later that year.

The programs got help and mentoring from one of MII’s founding board members, Jeff Sauer, the former UW-Madison men’s hockey coach and later the U.S. men’s sled hockey coach.

Sauer, who died of pancreatic cancer at age 73 on Feb. 2, was a supporter of expanding programming to make hockey and skating as inclusive as possible.

He was instrumental in bringing the national sled hockey team to visit in 2013, soon after the arena installed clear sled hockey dasher boards and made the ice flush with the floor of the team benches and penalty box for better visibility and easier access.

Madison Ice Arena is the only arena in the state and one of only 15 in the country with the special dasher boards, Chaffee said, and that will allow it to host its fifth annual Regional Disabled Hockey Festival.

Chaffee expects teams from Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Minnesota and other parts of the Midwest to participate in the event March 18-19 for a “weekend of camaraderie and competition.”

Last year, the arena made its facilities even more disability-friendly by completing a renovation project with a $1.26 million grant through the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Foundation.

MII is “always looking to add new

Jake Vanderbloemen, right, scores on Wisconsin Timber Wolves teammate Joe Riefke at special hockey practice in January at Madison Ice Arena.

opportunities” for its programming, Chaffee said.

“This includes additional ice time, instruction hours and coaches/ instructors,” she said. “Future programs may include hockey for the hearingimpaired and for those with visual disabilities.”

Heath Thompson, 9, participates in Madison Ice Inc.’s Adaptive Learn-to-Skate program at Madison Ice Arena on Feb. 5. Some students used the seal skating aids to skate or ride on the ice.

Skating for all

MII developed its adaptive learn-toskate program because of the interest in special hockey, Chaffee said, explaining that it was important for kids who wanted to be in the team environment to have good fundamentals.

“Madison Ice Inc. recognized that kids with disabilities needed to be in a class that works directly with them and their disabilities, giving them the

opportunities to learn how to skate at their own pace and participate when they wanted to,” she added.

The adaptive learn-to-skate program started with 10 skaters in February 2008 and has grown to more than 100 participants during a season, which now includes winter, spring and fall sessions.

“On any given Sunday you will see at least 25 kids out there,” Chaffee said.

The nonprofit wants to bring skating to everyone, whether they’re standing or sitting, said adaptive learn-to-skate facilitator Eden Armstrong.

“For so many people, when they think of figure skating or they think of hockey, they think of tall, skinny, able-bodied people,” she said. “And that is not necessarily true. That is not a qualification. There’s sled hockey.

There’s so many other options.”

Learn-to-skate instructors help students “of all sorts of backgrounds (who) have some sort of special need” figure out how to stand up, fall down and spin, Armstrong said, sometimes with the use of kid-friendly skating aids that look like seals.

Some students, like 9-year-old Heath Thompson, attend with their siblings, so instructors also facilitate games or lessons “that would engage (them) to have fun together,” she added.

Thompson’s mother, Amy, said the whole family started coming along to the program about three years ago, and Heath’s been responding “very well to attention and instruction.” “I think Continued on page 20 SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 19

ADAPTING ON ICE

FAMILYLIFE

Continued from page 19 whenever he finds a group where he feels comfortable and feels like he belongs it improves his self confidence and makes him more likely to try other things that are new,” she said.

Sliding into popularity

Wisconsin’s first sled hockey team got its start in Green Bay in 2006, when founder Brad Roethlisberger said he later heard about a wheelchair hockey team in Madison and wanted to get them “out of wheelchairs and into sleds.”

In fall 2008, practices moved to Madison Ice Arena, and MII took over as the parent group for the Wisconsin Skeeters team almost two years ago.

Last fall, it formed the adult sled hockey program, the Wisconsin Sting, under the umbrella of a new nonprofit, Southern Wisconsin Sled Hockey (SWISH).

Players from both sled hockey teams come from all over southern Wisconsin, as well as a few from the northern part of the state. Since the age for Skeeters players maxes out when they graduate high school, they can move up to the Sting team once they turn 18.

The teams have become mutually beneficial. For instance, more advanced Skeeters can stay later on Saturdays and practice with the Sting if they’d like, and Sting players like Luke Russell can also help coach the Skeeters.

Russell, who has spina bifida

(a condition that can damage the backbone and nerves), said sled hockey has changed his life because of the connections he’s made on the ice, and he’s grateful for the encouragement he’s gotten from the coaches and parents.

“It’s made me more independent, because practicing a sport on a regular basis made me stronger,” he said. “And it’s just made me feel more empowered.”

Since sled hockey requires a tremendous amount of upper body strength (two sticks are used to propel across the ice and pass or shoot the puck), the sport has helped some players simultaneously build muscles and friendships.

Paul Natzke said playing with the

Sauer helped bring Madison into hockey spotlight

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Madison Ice Arena is gearing up for its fifth annual Regional Disabled Hockey Festival in March, which comes just weeks after the unexpected passing of hockey legend Jeff Sauer.

Sauer, a former UW-Madison men’s hockey coach and later the U.S. men’s sled hockey coach, died Feb. 2 of pancreatic cancer at age 73. He had been a longtime board member of Madison Ice Inc. and avid supporter of its adaptive ice skating and hockey programs.

He was also on the original committee that formed MII so the nonprofit could purchase both ice arenas from the City of Madison in 2004, and he even helped to design Madison Ice Arena’s new disability-friendly facilities last year.

Andrea Chaffee, MII business and marketing director, said getting the $1.26 million grant for the renovation project was considered a “longshot,” so she was thrilled to find out the Goodman Foundation board unanimously awarded “every penny” MII asked for.

At the U.S. men’s sled hockey team training During the summer of 2016, Madison Ice Arena became fully ADA compliant, with camp at Madison Ice Arena in November 2016, coach Jeff Sauer told Your Family, an accessible parking lot, lobby area, bathrooms, locker rooms and access to the “If I can stay healthy and stay above ground, studio rink.

I’m gonna keep doing it (coaching) “He’s coached and played all over the world,” Chaffee said of Sauer. “And he said as long as they want me to do it.” that after our renovations were completed … (the improvements) made it one of the top ice skating venues for disabled hockey and skating in the United States.”

Sauer was also selected as one of the board of directors for the newly formed Southern Wisconsin Sled Hockey (SWISH) league, which includes the youth Wisconsin Skeeters and adult Wisconsin Sting teams.

“We’re going to miss him because he’s such a leader in the hockey community Do you have allergy & asthma questions? in general, but really in the sled hockey Don’t wait weeks for an appointment, community,” said SWISH organizer Kathie Natzke. we can see you immediately.

We accept major insurance plans or reduced pay options.

Sauer’s legacy lives on in the hundreds Dr. Don Bukstein has over 30 years experience! of players and coaches who feel • Allergy-related nasal or sinus symptoms • Food allergies empowered to hit the ice, especially those • Asthma and related lung disorders • Chronic cough in the state’s adaptive skating and hockey • Hives or swelling • Preventative allergy and asthma care programs.

To book an appointment or for more info, call (844) 692-7846 or visit myaasc.com And now that Madison Ice Arena’s renovation is complete, Chaffee said MII will pursue opportunities to host national 2955 Triverton Pike Drive, 2nd floor Madison, Wisconsin 53711 or larger regional ice skating and hockey events in the future.

20 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

FAMILYLIFE Skeeters has been a way for him “to get in shape” while “skating with (friends) and having fun.”

After Roethlisberger left last spring, the youth team was in need of a coach.

During the restructuring that created SWISH, Natzke’s mom, Kathie, felt compelled to take on the “spearheading role.” “(Hockey is) really important to him – he loves it,” she said. “I kind of felt like if I didn’t take it on, I didn’t know for sure if it would continue.”

But it has, and as the sport’s popularity grows and more teams are being formed in the La Crosse and Milwaukee areas, the Skeeters will finally have some local competition.

“I’m excited to have more actual sled teams to play,” Kathie Natzke said.

“What it does is it makes our sport more legitimate.”

that “leadership feeling” again.

Others reported feeling a sense of purpose, pride and belonging.

Jerry Seaberg said his son, Brian, has benefited from joining the Timber Wolves, exposing him to new cities and people when the team travels for tournaments.

“He gets camaraderie with other team members and good communication with them,” Seaberg said. “I think he feels important being on the team.”

Timber Wolves player John Kohlman said bringing awareness to the sport is

important, since it can be a challenge to find teams to play that match their caliber. In fact, they often have to trade players with other teams during games to balance out their rosters.

Bennett acknowledged the team’s biggest struggle is having “such a diversity” of skills and experience, and some parents and players think another team should be created.

“On the one hand, many of the players on our team are quite talented, and some of our players really desire more competition than what the league Continued on page 29

Spectrum of abilities

For now, the Timber Wolves remains for all ages and skills levels. That means some players require more assistance on the ice than others, coach Hal Bennett said.

Many of the players are on the autism spectrum, including his son, Elliot, who has difficulty speaking. Others have anxieties, quirks or behavioral issues that can make the team environment stressful.

Vanderbloemen said even though “there’s a huge range between players’ abilities,” hockey games are still enjoyable.

“It’s so much fun to watch them out there because they have a huge smile on their face,” he said.

And along with having fun, being on a team has improved the players’ leadership and communication skills.

Before Vanderbloemen joined the Timber Wolves in high school, he had also participated in the Special Olympics of Wisconsin, where “a lot of kids looked up to me as a role model.”

He said being a hockey captain gave him

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SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 21

FAMILYFUN

The ‘granddaddy track’ Kenosha’s rebuilt Velodrome races through its 90th year

by Kate Newton Submitted Photos

The Washington Park Velodrome, which was built in a natural amphitheatre in Kenosha in 1927, has hosted dozens of national and international championship cyclists over the decades, including several Olympic gold medalists. Its most recent renovation, which repaved the track in concrete and increased the bankings on the corners, is part of an effort to make the track “a little bit more competitive with some of the other velodromes in the country,” race director Chris Riva said.

D

epending on who you talk to, Wisconsin’s only track cycling arena is either the “granddaddy” of all velodromes primed to return to its glory days, or a “state-of-the-art” facility setting off on a new, freshly-paved path.

Kenosha’s Washington Park Velodrome seems poised to claim both labels as it celebrates its 90th year. It’s a milestone made even sweeter by the fact that the facility is re-opening in May for its 2017 racing season after being closed for two years for extensive renovations.

The nearly $700,000 project was designed to make it “a little bit more competitive with some of the other velodromes in the country,” race director Chris Riva told Your Family. It has a new, 333.3-meter concrete track (its first resurfacing since 1992) and increased banking on the corners, up from 23 degrees to about 28-30 degrees.

The Velodrome, built in 1927 in a natural amphitheatre less than a

22 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

mile from Lake Michigan, has hosted dozens of national and international championship cyclists over the decades, including several Olympic gold medalists. In 1959, a British cycling magazine lauded it as “one of the more active and lively tracks in the States” during what could be considered the sport’s golden age. At that time, it wasn’t unusual to draw a crowd of 6,000 to 14,000 spectators to the grassy hill above the track.

Larry Otter, board president of the Kenosha Velodrome Association, started racing on the track in 1957.

“The granddaddy track,” as he heard someone recently call it, is a moniker he can appreciate after witnessing 60 years of its history alongside other longtime riders who are (literally) gearing up in anticipation of the upcoming season.

“You’d be surprised how many people you talk to (in Kenosha) who as little kids, even if they didn’t race, came

down and rode the track,” he said. “It’s a beautiful, beneficial thing for the community to use.”

‘The next generation’

Like many municipalities across Wisconsin, Kenosha has sought to define itself as a bicycle-friendly community in recent years by expanding its network of bike trails.

The city also hosts the finish line of Ride Across Wisconsin, a 175-mile race that starts in Dubuque and is set for Aug. 26-27 this year.

Jack Rose, a City of Kenosha alder who raced at the Velodrome from 19591963 and now acts as an advocate for the track, said building that network and investing in the renovation of the track “all goes together” in helping Kenosha achieve that “bike-friendly” status.

“It’s a state-of-the-art velodrome right now,” Rose said, adding that while

FAMILYFUN

Scott King and Len Cabaltera compete against Willy Gauss and Kenton Merrick in a tandem race around 1990 at the Washington Park Velodrome. The track was resurfaced a few years later, the last time it faced significant repairs since its most recent renovation began in 2015.

it’s “quite a bit different” than when he rode, the track’s mission has stayed consistent in that it remains a “great starting point for youth to get involved in cycling.”

Longtime rider and volunteer Len Cabaltera said the “success of the overall program” the track sets forth each new season lies in engaging the youngest generation of riders through its Monday Night Racing events, which invite people to bring their own bikes to the track and test it out. This gives amateurs a chance to try out what could become a “lifelong sport” in a relaxed and safe environment, he added, while also offering a chance to “reach across the lines” of the cycling community to encourage avid mountain and road bike racers to try something new.

Riva, who is working with Cabaltera to plan this year’s race programming, watched as her son began racing in the Monday night programs nearly two decades ago at 5 years old. She, too, recalls heading to the Velodrome to “ride around the track” during her own childhood in Kenosha.

“It’s always been a part of the family,” she said. “Getting those younger kids involved, it’s ‘the next generation’ type of thing.”

‘Exciting’ transformation

As construction continued for months and the gates of the Velodrome remained locked, Riva was heartened to see ridership not only hold steady, but actually increase while Velodrome

volunteers continued the Monday night races out of a nearby museum parking lot the past two years.

And when the track reopens, they’ll have a new area to ride on, as a warmup circle was added to one end of the Velodrome in the renovation.

Cabaltera said it’s been “exciting” to watch the track, recognized as an “iconic landmark” in Kenosha, get some much-needed updates. But it’s also renewed his own interest in returning to racing, an outlook many longtime Velodrome visitors apparently share.

“By word of mouth already, there’s guys who raced back in the ’80s and ’90s (who) are all excited to come back and ride the new track,” he explained. “I’ve raced all around the country at different tracks, and it’s the hometown feel of Kenosha that keeps riders coming back.”

Cline, who lives in Chicago, has commuted up to Kenosha since he first started racing there about seven years ago – and despite breaking three ribs during one ill-fated race on the track – he said he “goes out of his way” to spend time at the Velodrome and enjoy an atmosphere you don’t get at other facilities.

“Every velodrome has its own dynamic, nuances and characters that run their tracks, and Kenosha to me has just been the friendliest,” he added.

“Everybody knows everybody, people are yelling at you as you go around the turns, and it turns into an event. Not a lot of tracks are necessarily like that.” l

Racing returns to Velodrome May 16 Riders will be among the first to break in the Washington Park Velodrome’s new track during the season’s first “Tuesday Night Racing” program May 16.

The weekly races have long served as the track’s premier event, grouping licensed riders ages 9 and up into “ability categories” who compete in long-distance and sprint events, according to the Velodrome’s website. The most advanced riders reach speeds of more than 35-40 miles per hour on track bikes, which are fixed gear with no brakes.

John Cline, a veteran racer of the track who also serves on the board of the Kenosha Velodrome Association, said the “nonstop” pace of the Tuesday events ensures there’s always action on the track, as participating riders typically race at least three times during the evening.

He added that safety is often the first concern people have when it comes to trying out the track for the first time, but explaining the dynamics of the sport is just part of the process of building new ridership.

“The brakes thing just kind of freaks everyone out,” Cline said with a laugh. “But if nobody has brakes, everyone’s in the same predicament, and it’s an even playing field for all the racers.”

Tuesday Night Racing, which runs through Aug. 29, is joined by the track’s popular “Monday Night Stock Bike Racing” program in mid-June.

Riders as young as 3 can “bring their own bike” and compete within their age group.

Race director Chris Riva said the Velodrome, which has hosted seven national championships in its 90 years of existence and is the oldest continually operating track in the country, will bring back some of its “big races” from past years this season. Its upcoming schedule includes the 50-lap Mayor’s Cup, 150-lap Bob Pfarr Classic and Kenosha News juniors points race for riders ages 9-18.

For more on the racing schedule, visit kenoshavelodrome.com.

SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 23

FAMILYFUN

Swing they must All-female jazz band going strong for two decades Story by Bill Livick Photos submitted

Ladies Must Swing, an all-female jazz band, has a core of 19 members, led by founder and organizer June Dalton (lower left).

T

he love of swing and big-band jazz is one reason the Madison-based Ladies Must Swing has continued to perform big-band music for nearly 20 years.

Another is the camaraderie of its allfemale ensemble.

Trombonist Amy Kerwin recalls having the band play at her wedding 14 years ago.

“I loved the group so much that within a year after joining, I asked them to play at my wedding reception,” she remembered. “A lot of times the band will play for events like that for the ladies.”

The roughly 19-member jazz band will celebrate its 20th anniversary this October, after enjoying “a banner season” last year with 29 performances, said organizer June Dalton, who plays saxophone and clarinet.

Ladies Must Swing got started when the Madison Jazz Society asked Dalton to put together “an all-girl orchestra for an event they were sponsoring,” she recalled.

It began as a one-time gig and “sort of took off on its own.”

It became an opportunity to “encourage women to get better at playing and nurture that,” Dalton explained.

“That was kind of our mission, and it still is,” she said.

The group patterns itself after bigband jazz outfits from the 1930s and ‘40s, performing popular music of the time and often dressing in vintage clothing from the period.

A big part of the band’s shows are the dancers who follow the group and also tend to dress in styles of the era. They’re

24 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

Dancers who follow the band often dress in vintage clothing and revel in the sounds of 1930s and ’40s swing and jazz.

not officially part of the band, but they inspire its members as they swing to the music.

Ladies Must Swing was named Best Jazz Artist in the 2013 Madison Area Music Awards and also won a Best Jazz Album award for its 2012 release, “Just For a Thrill.” The group released its debut album, “And Swing We Must,” in 2003.

The band’s music hits on all the types of ballroom dancing, with an emphasis on swing.

“Swing, I guess you’d say, is very danceable music,” Dalton explained.

“Some of it is called jump swing, which is really quite energetic, and there’s a medium swing, which is sort of in between. We also play some ballads, polkas, waltzes and a lot of Latin numbers, too.”

The music

The band’s identity has “sort of morphed into” its current form based on responses from the audience and dancers, Dalton said.

“They really have a lot to do with what we play and where we go, and I keep

trying to find interesting pieces of music from those eras and those particular styles of music that suits us and our dancers,” she said.

The band features a large horn section with five saxophonists, four trombonists and four trumpeters, in addition to a guitarist, pianist, bassist, percussionists and several vocalists. Marilyn Fisher has been the group’s lead singer for many years.

Dalton is responsible for selecting most of the band’s repertoire, which includes chestnuts from George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter and “all the great big bands,” such as Woody Herman, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Harry James and lots of Count Basie and Duke Ellington.

She said the group has learned “several hundred songs” and tends to add six or seven new songs a year.

“We’ll never run out of good music,” Dalton said.

She added the group likes to play music that’s written by women: “There certainly is a prevalence these days of phenomenal women musicians in the jazz genre, players and writers.”

Angela Babler, who resides in the Village of Oregon and has been with the band almost from the start, said while it’s not topping the charts these days, bigband jazz and swing are not about to go out of style.

“It’s timeless, ageless music,” she asserted. “I never get tired of it, and June does a great job of finding music and bringing it to the group. Adding new songs all the time keeps it fun.”

Babler said there “seems to be a

resurgence of younger people learning to swing dance.”

She noted that lots of schools offer social dance as a gym class or an elective, and Ladies Must Swing often sees younger dancers at its shows – a fact that bodes well for the band’s future.

Lasting friendships

Dalton and other band members say that unlike most large ensembles, there’s not much turnover in the group’s lineup because the women tend to forge strong friendships and support each other.

“A lot of us have been hanging in there since the get-go,” Dalton said. “We’ve had people come and go, but some actually stayed in so long that they’ve retired from the band.”

Babler, a tenor sax player, has been with the group 19 years and thinks it’s fun being in such a large ensemble. She agrees that a key to the group’s success rests in the bonds its members have formed.

“Once people join the band, they really stick with it for a long time,” she observed. “I’ve worked with other jazz groups and see people going in and out of those groups continually. When it comes to the Ladies, we really have a core group of people that are dedicated to the band.”

“And we play very fun venues,” she added.

Amy Kerwin, who joined the band 15 years ago and had the band perform at her wedding. Kerwin explained that having close friends in the band has made her a better trombonist.

“I wasn’t very confident in soloing when I first joined the band,” she said. “What I love about all those women, and especially June, is that they create a comfortable environment where they encourage you to solo. There’s no pressure, but they are encouraging, and playing with all the women in the band and the friendships that we’ve formed has been really great. We support each other.”

Babler also said that along with loving the “timeless” music the band plays, the “camaraderie between all of us is just great.”

“I’ve made some great friendships in the band, and we’re all very supportive of each other,” she said. “We’ve gone through weddings and divorces and funerals – everything. We all take care of each other.”

Dalton thinks the band has a bright future because playing music together is “a joyful experience.”

“My husband always says if it’s not any fun anymore, then it’s time to quit,” she said. “But I never get tired of it.” l

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Saturday, March 25 Benefit for ECHO, Pontiac Convention Center, Janesville, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 Badger Honor Flight, Dane County Airport, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 Badger Honor Flight, Dane County Airport, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 20 Watertown Military Show Hangar Dance, Wisconsin Aviation, Watertown, 7-10 p.m.

Throughout the Midwest and beyond In almost two decades of performing, Ladies Must Swing has traveled throughout the Midwest and beyond. The band plays venues ranging from historic auditoriums and performing arts centers to airport hangars.

They’ve gone as far south as Tuskegee, Ala., where the band played a hangar show for the surviving “Tuskegee Airmen,” the group of African-American military pilots who fought in World War II. “We went to the airfield there, and they had rebuilt the airport hangar where the Tuskegee airmen were trained,” organizer June Dalton recalled.

Dalton described the experience as “awesome,” while band member Angela Babler called it “amazing.”

In fact, hangar shows have become a favorite venue for the group.

They’ve been doing them for 15 years, recreating the “USO-style” (United Service Organization) shows that entertained American troops, beginning in the 1940s.

The group has done an annual hangar dance at Wisconsin Aviation in Madison, and Ladies Must Swing performed at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) convention in Oshkosh last September, where they did a dance in a museum hangar.

“The hangar dances are the most fun, when you’re reliving the 1940s,” said trombonist Amy Kerwin, a Ladies Must Swing member since 2001.

“I love playing dances more than performing arts centers because people are dancing and having fun rather than sitting and just listening to your every note.”

Babler agreed, and said those shows tend to attract younger audiences.

“Some of the young kids really get into dressing like the style and dancing,” she said, “and some of these younger dancers can really whip each other around.”

The group also performs “homecoming shows” for Badger Honor Flight, which takes four trips a year out of the Madison airport to Washington D.C. “We’ve been there to serenade them when they get home in the evening,” Dalton said. “In 2016 we played two of their homecomings, and it looks like we’ll be able to do all four this year.”

Kerwin and Babler each said they love when the group travels to a new venue for the first time.

“Every road trip is memorable, and we’ve been all around the Midwest,” Babler said. “It’s all fun, and once you start playing the music, you get in the zone and it’s just such a joy.”

Kerwin agreed: “Every time we play somewhere new, it’s always a new experience, and that’s really fun.”

The band performed in a historic Turner Hall in Galena, Ill., last summer, an experience that left an indelible impression, Dalton said.

Equally fun was the Ladies’ performance at the Stoughton Opera House in December 2014, when the group performed a concert in conjunction with the Madison Jazz Society.

The jazz society sponsored an airing of the award-winning documentary film “The Girls in the Band,” which featured women who flourished as jazz musicians in the early decades of big-band jazz and swing, when female musicians were treated as novelties and forced to wear “ridiculous” starlet costumes.

Ladies Must Swing followed with a concert of music that was featured in the film.

“That was a real thrill,” Dalton said.

SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 25

FAMILYLIFE

Responsibility for college prep lies with parents, not school PLANNING FOR COLLEGE

BY ROBERT DECOCK

M

ost parents want their children to benefit from a post-high school education. As parents, we want our kids to be “prepared for college.”

Yet we know that less than 60 percent of students attending four-year colleges graduate within six years.

And less than 30 percent attending two-college colleges obtain either an associate’s degree or a certificate within three years.

In addition, we observe many households burdened with unexpectedly high amounts of student debt. And of those that who do graduate, we know many disgruntled college grads.

Obviously, college preparation isn’t working too well for many families.

These results are a call-to-action for parents with kids in middle and high school.

Last week I spoke with a mom whose freshman son attends high school in Sun Prairie. She shared that her son had already visited three colleges through the school. I found

that a bit hard to believe. We both agreed this was a bit over the top.

Many schools go out of their way to create the appearance of being a “college preparation school.”

Parents are led to believe that just as elementary school prepared their children for a good journey through middle school, college will practically be a continuation of high school and our children will complete their studies simply by staying on-track with their peers.

Because of this misconception, most families are on pre-college auto-pilot.

Often, I find the college preparation done by middle and high school (despite some very good support work) provides a false sense of security that our kids will be prepared for college.

It isn’t just that our children aren’t prepared for college as reflected in the statistics; the household isn’t ready for the on-going commitment.

Whether a parent or guardian feels competent in the college preparation process is really beside the point. The fact is, the parent and student must live

with the consequences of the college decision after high school.

Most parents eventually come to the realization that the high school’s role is to be a resource. But parents must be the main guiding figure in the precollege process, because they are the ones who will pay the bills if it doesn’t work out.

Certainly some responsibility lies with the student, but few 18-year-olds have a working understanding of what a $100,000 college education looks like, and most do not have the decisionmaking skills for it. As parents, we must take back the responsibility for the college preparation process.

We don’t want to be making excuses for ourselves when our children are struggling to get a good start in life after highs school. l Robert DeCock, certified College Planning Specialist, founded the Parents Planning 4 College, LLC (Formally Quest College Program) in Middleton. For information, visit parentsplanning4college.com.

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FAMILYFOOD

Silken Chicken

2

Biscotti Ripieni (Vanilla Cookies with Chocolate Buttercream Filling)

4

SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 27

FAMILYFOOD

Silken Chicken Serves 2 to 4

For marinating the chicken: 4 boned, skinned chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 pounds) 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 1/2 teaspoon homemade garam masala (see below) 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground roasted cumin seeds (see below) 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed to a pulp 1/2 teaspoon peeled, finely grated fresh ginger

seeds, paprika, garlic and ginger in a bowl. Stir this mixture well and pour it over the chicken. Rub it into the meat and leave for 10 minutes.

Lift up the chicken pieces (most of the marinade will cling to them) and place them in a single layer in a shallow baking pan lined with aluminum foil. On top of each, sprinkle a little salt, black pepper, garam masala, ground roasted cumin seed, cayenne, dried mint and lemon juice. Put into the top third of the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is white all the way through. Serve immediately, minted side up.

For sprinkling over the chicken: Salt as needed Freshly ground black pepper A little homemade garam masala A little ground roasted cumin seed A little cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon dried mint flakes Generous squeezes of fresh lemon juice Preheat the oven to its highest temperature and arrange a shelf in the top third of the oven.

Cut 3 diagonal slits across the top of each piece of chicken breast, being careful not to cut all the way through and also not to go to the edge. Prick the chicken pieces with the sharp point of a small knife. Put them in a single layer in a large baking dish and rub both sides with the salt and lemon juice. Leave for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the cream with the garam masala, cayenne, cumin

Garam Masala 1 tablespoon cardamom seeds 1 2-inch cinnamon stick 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 1 teaspoon black cumin seeds 1 teaspoon whole cloves Place ingredients into a clean coffee or spice grinder and ground to a powder.

1

To make ground roasted cumin seeds: Put 4 to 5 tablespoons of the whole seeds into a small cast-iron frying pan and set over medium heat. Stir the seeds and roast them over dry heat until they turn a few shades darker and emit a wonderful roasted aroma. Wait for them to cool slightly and then grind them in a clean coffee or spice grinder. Store in a tightly closed jar.

Biscotti Ripieni (Vanilla Cookies with Chocolate Buttercream Filling) Makes about 18 filled cookies

1/2 cup sugar 6 ounces (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter 1 large egg Grated zest of 1 navel orange 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt Buttercream 1 large white egg 1/4 cup sugar 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and softened 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces Preheat the oven to 325o. Line a cookie sheet with parchment.

In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter together until smooth. Stir in the egg and orange zest, then add the flour and salt and stir together until smooth. You can also do this with an electric mixer, if desired. Transfer the dough to a pastry bag fitted with a medium-size plain tip, about 1/2-inch wide, and pipe thin strips about 2 inches long onto the pan, leaving about 2 inches between each strip.

Bake in the lower one-third of the oven until lightly browned on the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove with a spatula to a rack and let cool.

Meanwhile, prepare the buttercream: Combine the egg white and sugar in the top of a double boiler or a metal bowl that fits over a pan of simmering water. The bottom should not touch the water. Heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is slightly thickened, whisking continuously.

Immediately remove the bowl from the water and begin beating the mixture with a hand-held electric mixer. Continue beating while slowly adding the butter.

Beat until the mixture is room temperature and thickened, about the consistency of a thick confectioners sugar-butter frosting, 10 to 15 minutes. About halfway through, the buttercream will look ugly. Keep beating; it will become smooth and thick. Beat in the vanilla. Cover and refrigerate for 10 to 20 minutes.

To assemble, place half the cookies upside down (flat side up) on a sheet pan and spread each with a thin layer of buttercream. Top with the remaining cookies and refrigerate the tray until the buttercream sets, 10 to 15 minutes.

While the cookies are in the refrigerator, melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove the inset and cool the chocolate to room temperature. Remove the cookies from the refrigerator. Holding each cookie by one end, dip half of it in the melted chocolate. Set it on a waxed paper- or parchment-lined tray. When all of the cookies are dipped, return them to the refrigerator for a few minutes to set.

Send your favorite recipe(s) to aroberts@wcinet.com

28 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

3

FAMILYLIFE

ADAPTING ON ICE Continued from page 21

currently has to offer them,” he said.

“On the other hand, we have some less experienced players, who need more opportunities to skate with other players at their level.”

He has thought about the potential of offering a league for mixed abilities to help remedy this situation.

“We have started to do that a little with occasional 3-on-3 hockey games for the more advanced players (with cognitive disabilities) and inviting neurotypical players and coaches to join in games,” Bennett said.

Wisconsin’s first special hockey team started as a way for those with cognitive disabilities to play hockey in a more accommodating atmosphere. But Bennett said something “unexpected” emerged over the years.

“The team provides a peer group and a healthy social activity,” Bennett said. “And a purpose that helps keep this group of individuals busy and on the right track.’’ l

GET INVOLVED To learn more about the adaptive learn-to-skate, adaptive hockey and sled hockey programs, visit madisoniceinc.com or contact Andrea Chaffee, business and marketing director at Madison Ice Inc., at andreachaffee@yahoo.com

Editor’s Note: Your Family correspondent Evan Halpop has been a member of the Timber Wolves since they were founded in 2008.

Challenges of a growing sport While the adaptive hockey teams are optimistic about the futures of their programs, they face two main sustainability concerns: recruitment and fundraising.

Hal Bennett, coach of the Timber Wolves team, which features youth and adults with cognitive disabilities, said he hopes the extra ice time at Madison Ice Arena will also allow the team to offer a special hockey practice time for “very young players” (likely between ages 5-11) starting this April or next year.

“Maybe this is a way we can grow the team,” he said.

Kathie Natzke, Southern Wisconsin Sled Hockey (SWISH) organizer, said fear of the unknown can play a role in some people avoiding sled hockey.

“We’re having a hard time finding players who are willing to get out of their wheelchairs and try hockey,” she said.

“Honestly, once they try it, they’re sold.”

Even then, the assumption of steep prices can get in the way of interested participants joining the programs. That’s why Madison Ice Inc. provides free ice time for all of its adaptive skating and hockey programs and also assists with funding equipment, said Andrea Chaffee, MII business and marketing director.

The adaptive and sled hockey programs are free to join through MII, but the Timber Wolves require annual registration fees through USA Hockey and the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA) (which are waived the first year a participant plays special hockey).

While the teams do their best to provide

all gear and equipment for players starting out, participants are responsible for travel expenses.

“Families with kids with disabilities have a lot of expenses, anyway,” Natzke said.

“And so to put an expensive sport on top of it is challenging.”

But for families like hers, it’s been worth it.

“The sport itself is so important for the kids,” she said. “We don’t want (families) to have to worry about the money.”

To help offset travel and other costs, the Sting, Skeeters and Timber Wolves teams hold fundraisers.

SWISH is trying to boost its own fundraising efforts, but as a new nonprofit no longer part of WAHA, it’s been challenging, Natzke said.

The Wisconsin Skeeters (formerly called the Wisconsin Warriors) lost their founding director and coach, Brad Roethlisberger, in spring 2016 when he started his new role as WAHA disabled section director.

“I wanted to avoid a potential conflict of interest,” he said. “But I definitely miss the players.”

The team then separated from WAHA and formed SWISH as an umbrella organization for the youth and adult programs, Natzke said.

WAHA still serves as the oversight organization for the Timber Wolves, Bennett said, which allows the team to accept tax-deductible donations. The Edgewood High School parent group has held fundraisers for the Timber Wolves, and other people have donated “clean, good quality, used equipment to help the

program.”

Parents of players and local student athletes (including hockey players from UW-Madison and Edgewood, Middleton, Madison West and Memorial high schools) donating their time as volunteer coaches has been equally important.

“Their support … is what helps us to be able to attend to all of our players at practice,” Bennett said.

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SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 29

FAMILYHEALTH

Elders too often don’t get the mental care they need SENIOR LIVING

BY STEPHEN RUDOLPH

A

few years back, my uncle had what was considered a “nervous breakdown.”

He was in his mid-70s, had never been married and was a recluse. The depression finally got to him. And although his acute episode resulted in hospitalization, when he returned home, he spurned follow-up visits, medication or any other offer of help.

My uncle’s story is just an example of a common problem among elders – not getting enough care and treatment for mental illness.

The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

However, mental illnesses and disorders comprise a broad range of problems, with a variety of symptoms, especially among the elderly. They are generally characterized by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behavior and relationships with others.

Some well-known examples are schizophrenia, depression, intellectual disabilities and disorders due to drug abuse. Most can be successfully treated.

Although the terms mental health and mental illness are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing; nor are they mutually exclusive.

A fundamental difference between mental health and mental illness is everyone has some level of mental health all of the time, just like physical health, whereas it is possible to not have mental illness. In part, what this means is mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness.

As many as 25 percent of elders are “in need of mental care for depression, anxiety, psychosomatic disorders, drug 30 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

abuse and schizophrenia,” according to an overview of this topic by Trudy Persky, a recognized expert in the field. Persky explained in her post on the Mental Health and Aging Advocacy Project (mhaging.org) that these numbers will only go up as the elderly population grows – from just over 40 million in 2010 to well over 70 million by 2030.

Although people 60 and older represent 13 percent of the American population, they account for only 7 percent of all inpatient psychiatric services, 6 percent of community mental health services and 9 percent of private psychiatric care, she reported.

Meanwhile, less than 3 percent of all Medicare reimbursement is for psychiatric treatment of older adults.

“It is also a distressing reality that the suicide rate of elderly stands at an alarming 21 percent per 100,000, the highest of all age groups in America,” she said.

Mental health care for seniors is clearly an unmet need, and there are numerous reasons for this.

One is simply the growing number of seniors. According to a 2012 book on mental health care and substance abuse from the Institute of Medicine, providers are not prepared for the coming challenges of what has been called a “silver tsunami” because of the sheer size of this aging generation.

These challenges include both physical and mental health care needs.

Another is payment rules and coverage of Medicare and Medicaid.

FAMILYHEALTH believe that a society that places such importance on youthful good looks is not amenable to better mental health care for the geriatric population.

And again, there is the problem of reimbursement. Since the passage of Medicare in 1965, it has limited reimbursements to all specialties (psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists) that care or treat for geriatric patients The IOM report concludes with a warning to lawmakers about the significant shortcomings of the nation’s health care force facing a rapidly

aging population. The IOM panel urges Congress to provide additional funding of resources to evaluate, coordinate and facilitate better access to mental health care for elders.

This is a battle we should all be engaged in. l Stephen P. Rudolph is a consultant for Comfort Keepers of South Central Wisconsin, a home care agency that provides skilled nursing and personal care services for aging adults, those with disabilities and others needing assistance.

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RETIREMENT SERVICES Skaalen is located in a quiet residential neighborhood.

The beautiful campus offers walking paths and comfortable outdoor spaces. Skaalen’s continuum of care provides residents a full menu of living options from which to choose.

INDEPENDENT CONDOMINIUMS Low-maintenance residence designed for carefree living offering a wide variety of comforts and conveniences.

ASSISTED LIVING

Providing assistance with the activities of daily living while offering the security of having licensed nursing staff available 24-hours a day.

THERAPY AND WELLNESS CENTER In-patient and out-patient therapy services for people of all ages, following an accident, illness, or surgery. Wellness programs tailored to meet each individual’s personal fitness goals.

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The IOM report explains that those are impeding treatment of counseling and other services for older patients and calls for an overhaul.

Dr. Dan G. Blazer, a professor for psychiatry and behavioral science at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, chaired the IOM panel that wrote the report. He wrote, “A lack of national attention to these issues combined with an ill-equipped health care work force that doesn’t understand the special needs of older adults only worsens the situation.” He calls the findings a “wake-up call that we need to prepare now or our older population and their extended families will suffer the consequences.”

But care for the general population is often very different for the geriatric population and requires specialized training.

Older people undergo metabolic changes, making it more difficult for them to tolerate certain medications and thereby increasing the risk of overdosing. Age-related cognitive impairments can affect the ability to comply with medication instructions.

Grief and depression caused by loss of loves ones, social isolation or alcohol and drug abuse can accelerate the mental decline.

Primary care physicians are the first people elders seek help from when they think they require mental health treatment, and many of these physicians do not have the training required for geriatric patients. This too often results in neither the patient nor the physician recognizing symptoms necessary for mental health diagnosis.

This disconnect in the health care system contributes to the underdiagnosis and under-treatment of depressive disorders in older people.

Depression can and should be treated when it co-occurs with other illnesses -- for untreated depression can delay recovery from other illnesses.

There are many other reasons why elders do not receive their share of mental health services, and often it is the elder himself or herself who is the barrier to treatment.

Part of it is a perceived stigma. Elders often resist treatment for mental health illnesses due to the incorrect belief that they will be stigmatized if they receive this care. They come from the generation that “pulled themselves up by the bootstraps” and do not need a therapist.

Another is ageism. Many elders

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FAMILYFUN

SPRING 2017 CALENDAR March 2-4 WIAA boys and girls hockey tournaments, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, wiaawi.org March 2 - April 16 “Beauty and the Beast,” Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson, firesidetheatre.com March 3-4 WIAA team state wrestling tournament, University of Wisconsin-Madison Fieldhouse, wiaawi.org March 4 Geocaching, Devil’s Lake State Park: fun outdoor skills challenge, dnr.wi.gov Science Saturday: Aldo Leopold Day, Discovery Building, Madison: discovery.wisc.edu Madison On Tap beer festival, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, madisonontap.com Music Can Beat MS benefit festival, High Noon Saloon, Brass Ring and Brink Lounge, Madison, charityjamboree.com Wollersheim Winery open house, Sauk Prairie, wollersheim.com Barn Dance, Folklore Village, Dodgeville, folklorevillage.org March 4-5 Madison Kids Expo, Alliant Energy Center: madisonkidsexpo.com March 9-11 WIAA girls basketball tournament, Resch Center, Green Bay: wiaawi.org March 10 Moonlight hike under full moon, Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit, dnr.wi.gov March 10-12 Canoecopia and Bike-O-Rama Sale, Alliant Energy Center: canoecopia.com and bikeorama.com March 11 Dane Handmade, Madison: Upcycled materials and a variety of art vendors, mymonona.com Irish Jig Jog, Watertown: 5K, kid’s run, food, live music, watertownjigjog.com Sips and Sounds, Janesville: Beer and wine tasting including hors d’oeuvres, live music and silent auction, agrace.org Shamrock ’N Run for Kids, Janesville: 5K run/1-mile walk benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Janesville, bgcjanesville.org Sustainability Fair, Janesville, janesvillecvb.com YMCA Celtic Run Before You Crawl, Monroe: Annual Run Before You Crawl 5k and Kid’s Fun Run event, ymcaceltic5k.weebly.com March 11-12 Spring Into the Arts, Watertown: visual, musical, theatrical, literary arts, watertownartscouncil.com March 12 Second Annual Beloit Wedding Showcase, Eclipse Center, beloitweddings.com Natural Family Expo, Monona Terrace: Explore local resources about parenting and wellness, naturalfamilyexpo.com St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Capitol Square, Madison: stpatsmadison.org Farm Toy Show, Monroe: Pedal pull, silent auction, food stands, travelwisconsin.com Music in the Parlor, Ringling House Bed & Breakfast, Baraboo, baraboo.com March 16-18 WIAA boys basketball tournament, Kohl Center, Madison: wiaawi.org March 18 Madison Area Doll Club Show and Sale, Alliant Energy Center, Madison: Madison Area Doll Club Facebook page High-tech nature hike, Devil’s Lake State Park, explore nature using tech from iPads and apps to digital microscopes and thermal imagers, dnr.wi.gov March 18-19 South Central Wisconsin Builders Association Home Show, Janesville Conference Center, scwba.com/home-show March 19 Fondy Vintage Auto Club Swap Meet, Fairgrounds, Fond du Lac, fdl.com Madison Comic Con, Monona Terrace: geekincomics.com March 24-25 Wisconsin Kids Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, wiwrestlingfederation.com March 24-26 Cajun Music and Dance Weekend, Folklore Village, Dodgeville: workshops, dance parties, performances, folklorevillage.com 32 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

March 25 Mushing for Meals, Horace White Park, Beloit: 5K and 10K run, beloitmealsonwheels.org March 25-26 Badger Lapidary and Geological Society 47th Annual Rock and Gem Show, Janesville: Dealers, demonstrations, speakers and kids activities, janesvillecvb.com Jefferson Home Expo, Jefferson: jcfairpark.com Art Glass and Bead Show, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, beadshowmadison.com Garden Getaway, Shake Rag Alley, Mineral Point: Garden art, lectures, workshops, shakeragalley.com Gem Mineral and Fossil Show, Janesville: Displays, speakers, presentations, plus vendors selling specimens, carvings and jewelry, badgerrockclub.org March 26 Mad City Bridal Expo, Monona Terrace, Madison, madcitybridalexpo.com March 29 Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Barrymore Theater, Madison: wisconsinrivers.org March 30-April 6 Wisconsin Film Festival, various Madison theaters, wifilmfest.org March 31 Young Talent Cabaret, Janesville Performing Arts Center, janesvillecvb.com March 31-April 2 Field and Stream Deer and Turkey Expo, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, deerinfo.com Norwegian Music and Dance Weekend, Folklore Village, Dodgeville: workshops, dance parties, performances, folklorevillage.com April 1 Finding Bigfoot night hike, Devil’s Lake State Park, dnr.gov.wi Maple Syrup Festival, MacKenzie Center, travelwisconsin.com April 1-2 On Wisconsin Annual Spring Powwow, Alliant Energy Center, Madison: cultural demonstrations, exhibitions, intertribal dances and more, calendar.powwows.com Lambing Days, Eugster’s Farm Market, Stoughton: Weekends through April, eugsters.com April 3 Milwaukee Brewers home opener (day game), Miller Park, brewers.com April 6 Fitchburg Chamber Spring Business Expo, Fitchburg Community Center, fitchburgchamber.com April 6-8 Lil’ Badger Consignment Sale, Monona: Children’s consignment sale to sell clothing and toys, mymonona.com April 11 Great EGGspectations, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona: Learn how to dye eggs and make baskets from natural materials, aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org April 15 Cottontail Classic and Easter Egg Hunt, Fitchburg: 5K and 10K run, cottontailclassic.com Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch, Winnequah Park, Monona: mymonona.com Easter Egg Hunt, DreamBank, Madison: dreamfearlessly.com/dreambank Dane County Farmer’s Market opens outdoor season, Capitol Square, Madison, dcfm.org Play the Animal Way at Ochsner Park Zoo , Baraboo Public Library, baraboo.com April 16 Lawn chair bird watching, Devil’s Lake State Park, dnr.gov.wi April 18 Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Earth Day, Monona Terrace: nelson.wisc.edu April 20-22 UW Varsity Band Concert, Kohl Center, Madison, badgerband.com April 20 - June 4 “South Pacific,” Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson, firesidetheatre.com April 21 Girls Night Out, Cambridge, cambridgewi.com April 21-23 Midwest Horse Fair, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, midwesthorsefair.com English Country Dance Weekend, Folklore Village, Dodgeville: workshops, dance parties, performances, folklorevillage.com

April 22 Rockin’ for a Cure, Radisson Hotel, Madison: live music event supporting ALS patients, rockinforacure.org Bike ride through Badger, Sauk Prairie Recreation Area, dnr.wi.gov Frog Safari, Devil’s Lake State Park, dnr.wi.gov April 22-23 Sheep Shearing Days, Rainbow Fleece Farm, New Glarus: Demonstrations, presentation, fiber sales, rainbowfleecefarm.com April 23 Share the Road, Watertown: Duathlon or 5K, watertownsharetheroad.com April 24 Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, Dodgeville: Professionals compete for prizes, live music, drinks, activities for all ages, grilledcheesewisconsin.com April 28 Moon over Monona Terrace: View moon and other celestial objects through different telescopes, mononaterrace.com Taste of Culture, UW-Rock County (Janesville): Fundraiser with evening art show and sale, auctions and entertainment by the UW-Rock County Jazz Musicians, rock.uwc.edu Wisconsin Dells Wine Walk, downtown Wisconsin Dells: wiscdells.com April 28-30 Capital City Jazz Fest, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Fitchburg: Jazz musicians from all over the country, madisonjazz.com Spring Car Show and Auto Swap Meet, Jefferson County Fair Park, Jefferson, madisonclassics.com Wisconsin Dells Polka Fest & Expo, Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, dellschamber.com April 29 Maggie Mae Military Tribute Concert for the Brooklyn Veterans Memorial, Oregon High School: brooklynveteransmemorial.org History Makers Gala, Janesville: Gala and silent auction of the Rock County Historical Society, rchs.us/historymakers Crazylegs Classic, Capitol Square: 8-kilometer run and 2-mile walk, proceeds benefit UW athletics: crazylegsclassic.com Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, Dodgeville: grilledcheesewisconsin.com May 1 Musical Imagery Spring Concert, Sun Prairie Area Community Band, Sun Prairie Library, sunprairiechamber.com May 4 MIXPO Business Expo, Mount Horeb fire station: trollway.com May 6 Janesville Farmers Market begins, Janesville: Weekly farmers market in downtown Janesville, janesvillefarmersmarket.com Lake Monona Run: 20K/5K, Monona, lakemonona20k.com Insane Inflatable 5K, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, insaneinflatable5k.com Bloody Lake Rendezvous, Woodford: Pre-1840s re-enactment camp and battle, with knife and hawk-throwing and primitive shooting competitions, Fur Trade Era food, yellowstoneblackhawkpark.webs.com Maypole Dance Family Evening, Folklore Village, Dodgeville: folklorevillage.com May 6-7 The Clay Collective Spring Potters Tour, Cambridge: theclaycollective.org Beads and Bangles, Shake Rag Alley, Mineral Point: jewelry classes, workshops, networking, shakeragalley.com Historic Preservation Weekend, Mineral Point: Home tours, etc., mineralpoint.com May 11 Artful wine walk, downtown Sun Prairie, sunprairiechamber.com Spring bluegrass festival, Schumacher Farm Park, Waunakee, waunakeechamber.com May 12-15 Horicon Marsh Bird Festival, Horicon, horiconmarshbirdclub.com May 13 Fourth annual Janesville Performing Arts Center Family Festival: Performances, interactive activities and demonstrations, janesvillepac.org Madison Mini Maker Faire, Monona Terrace: Part science fair, part county fair. Hands-on workshops, music, food, mononaterrace.com May 14 Historic Indian Agency House Opening Day Celebration, Portage: Historic game presentations, butter making for kids, agencyhouse.org

FAMILYFUN

SPRING 2017 CALENDAR May 19-20 BBQ Festival, Sauk City: Barbecue contests, entertainment, music, demos, poker run, madmagbbqfest.com May 19-21 State polka festival, Oconomowoc: Celebrating the official state dance of Wisconsin with live music, dancing, fish fry, wisconsinpolkaboosters.com Syttende Mai festival, Stoughton: celebrating Norwegian culture with art exhibits, demonstrations, live music, dancing, kids activities, stoughtonwi.com May 20 Fiesta Cultural LatinoAmericana: 5K run, ballet folklorico, Mexican crafts, food, live music, dancing contest, soccer games, Riverside Park, fiestacultural.org Dairy Breakfast, Jefferson County Fair Park, jcfairpark.com Susan G. Komen South Central Wisconsin Race for the Cure, Agora Fitchburg: 5K run/walk and 1.25-mile fun course, komenwisconsin.org Spring Fling, Monticello: Pig roast, tournament, beer stand, entertainment: monticellow-wi.com Waunakee Depot Days, Waunakee, waunakeechamber.com May 20-21 Renaissance Faire, Traxler Park, Janesville: Performers and exotic vendors in a middle-ages event that benefits local charities, jvlrenfaire.com Civil War Living History Festival, Milton House Museum, Janesville, janesvillecvb.com Military Show, Watertown: Display of historic military vehicles and airplanes, war re-enactments, memorabilia, swing dance band and pancake breakfast, watertownmilitaryshow.com Morel Mushroom Festival, Muscoda: Events revolving around sales of the hard-to-find delicacy; carnival, games, flea market, fireworks, muscoda.com Automotion, Noah’s Ark Waterpark, Wisconsin Dells: Swap meet of 1989 and older cars, parts and more, dells.com May 21 Greek Fest, Fond du Lac: Food, music, games, dancing, fdl.com May 26-27 Spring Dirt Fling, Sauk City: FFA tractor pull competition, saukprairieffa.com May 26-29 World’s Largest Brat Fest, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, bratfest.com Yesteryear Days, Albany: Street dance, parade, duathlon, chicken barbecue and Memorial Day commemoration, albany-chamber.org Chocolate Fest, Burlington: Carnival, fireworks, parade, games, contests, entertainment, music, chocolatefest.com May 27 Green County Breakfast on the Farm, Jeglum Farm, Blanchardville: Breakfast, farm tours, arts and crafts, entertainment, greencountyagchest.com May 27-28 Fort Koshkonong Rendezvous, Fort Atkinson: 1800s re-enactment, black powder shooting, pioneer demonstrations, horse-drawn carriage rides, fortchamber.com Run Madtown, Madison: Half marathon, kids run and twilight 5K and 10K, runmadtown.com May 29 41st Annual Oregon Horse Society Memorial Day Open Horse Show, Triple K Stables, Oregon, oregonhorseassociation.org Cambridge Memorial Day Parade, Cambridge: Firemen’s all-you-can-eat breakfast, parade, memorial service, enjoyjeffersoncounty.com Memorial Day Parade, Janesville, janesvillecvb.com May 30 Art Walk, Watertown: Stroll historic downtown and take in art displays by local talent, enjoyjeffersoncounty.com June 1-4 Hometown Days, Verona: Festival celebrates community’s nickname, Hometown USA, with a carnival, parade, music, food, free activities for kids, fireworks, veronahometowndays.com June 2 Cars on the Square, Historic Courthouse Square, Monroe: Classic cars on display, prizes, food, travelwisconsin.com June 2-3 Artistry in Motion, Janesville: Two evenings of dance performances for all ages, janesvillepac.org Rendezvous at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters, Portage: Period Encampments, tours, fortwinnebagosurgeonsquarters.org

June 2-4 Festa Italia, Fitchburg: Live music, Italian food, cultural exhibits, sporting events, iwcmadison.com Spring Art Tour, Verona-Mazomanie-Blue Mounds area: Open art studios all over the area, springarttour.com June 3 Rock River Trail opening, Rotary River Center, Beloit, dnr.gov.wi National Trails Day hike, Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit, dnr.gov.wi Sawyer Crossen Memorial Triathlon, Monona: mymonona.com Yellow Brick Road 5K run/walk, Oconomowoc, oconomowoc.org Wisconsin Folks: Masters of Tradition concert, Stoughton Opera House, stoughtonoperahouse.com Dragon Art Fair, Market Street, DeForest: Arts and crafts from dozens of area artisans. Dragonartsgroup.org Taste of Sun Prairie, Sun Prairie, sunprairielions.org Fish’n’Fun, Edgewater Park, Beaver Dam: Fun and educational day for kids age 4 to 12 to learn the basic of fishing, beaverdamchamber.com Barn Dance, Folklore Village, Dodgeville, folklorevillage.org June 3-4 Free Fishing Weekend and Wisconsin State Parks Open House Day, all locations, dnr.wi.us Burgers and Brew, Capital Brewery, Middleton: REAP fundraiser with local chefs, brewers, reapfoodgroup.org June 4 Rob’s Sugar River Ramble, Mount Horeb: Bike, canoe to Paoli, return by bus for drinks and food, usrwa.org June 8 - July 23 “Back to the Fifties,” Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson, firesidetheatre.com June 8-10 Corvette Adventures, Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells: driving event featuring road tours leading to wineries, breweries, cheese factories and restaurants, wiscdells.com June 8-11 Summer Frolic, Mount Horeb: Beer tent, food, entertainment, lumberjack competition, fireworks, parade, carnival, tournaments, Norsk Run, trollway.com June 9-10 Taste of the Dells, downtown Wisconsin Dells, wiscdells.com June 9-11 Walleye Weekend, Fond du Lac: Live music, children’s entertainment, sports and national walleye tournament, fdlfest.com Roger Bright Polka Festival, New Glarus: Polka bands from Wisconsin and the Midwest in the big tent downtown, plus Beer, Bacon and Cheese, swisstown.com PrideFest Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee: Largest gay/lesbian, bisexual and transgender festival, pridefest.com Rockerbox Motofest, Plymouth: Motorcycle show and party, 920-892-4576 June 10 Taste of the Arts Fair, Sheehan Park, Sun Prairie: Arts and crafts, food vendors and entertainment. Sunprairiechamber.com Taste of the Dells, downtown Wisconsin Dells: American and ethnic delicacies, beer tent featuring Wisconsin microbrews and live entertainment, tasteofthedells.com The Great Beaver Paddle Festival, Waterworks Park, Beaver Dam: Demos, seminars, boat rentals, paddle trails, concessions and entertainment, beaverdamchamber.com Dairy breakfast, Sauk City: Entertainment, historical displays, reedsburg.org June 10-11 Marquette Waterfront Festival, Yahara Place Park, Madison, marquette-neighborhood.org June 12-15 Wisconsin FFA Festival, Alliant Energy Center, wisconsinffa.org June 15 Strawberry Fest at the Farmer’s Market, Fitchburg, fitchburgchamber.com June 15-18 Fireman’s Festival, Cottage Grove: Carnival, beer tent, water fights, tractor pull, baseball, all to benefit the fire department and youth groups, cottagegrovefire.org

June 16-17 Stoughton-McFarland-Oregon Relay for Life, Mandt Park, Stoughton: Overnight walk/activities honoring cancer victims and survivors, relayforlife.org/stoughton-mcfarland-oregonwi Muscular Dystrophy Association 23rd annual Tub Run, Janesville: Motorcycle ride, silent auction, raffles and live music, janesvillecvb.com June 16-18 Lakefront Festival of Arts, Milwaukee: festival features 189 national artists who display and sell, travelwisconsin.com June 17 17th Annual Pie Ride, Janesville: Family-friendly bicycle event featuring 20K, 50K and 100K rides, janesvillemorningrotary.org North Fondy Fest, Fond du Lac: Music, crafts, model train display, games, fdl.com Robert Wellnitz Memorial Air Show, Fond du Lac, fdlaa.com Taste of Wisconsin, Beaver Dam: Craft beer and cheese tasting of Wisconsin-made products only, tasteofwisconsin.net Mad City Vegan Fest, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, veganfest.org Waterslide-athon, Wisconsin Dells: Benefits Ronald McDonald House, wisdells.com Horribly Hilly Hundreds, Blue Mounds: Grueling bike ride results in 10,000-foot elevation gain in Driftless Area, horriblyhilly.com June 17-18 Columbus Carriage Festival, Columbus: One of the largest horse and carriage pleasure driving shows in the country, columbuscarriagefestival.org June 18 Father’s Day Chicken BBQ, Blanchardville: Ecumenical church service, baseball game, blanchardville.com June 19 Concerts at McKee Farms Park, Fitchburg, facebook.com/ConcertsAtMcKee June 20-24 USTA Tumbling and Trampoline Championships, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Madison, usta1.org June 22-25 Oregon Summer Fest: Carnival, parade, music, fireworks, tug of war, hot air balloon rides, parade of bands, tournaments, summerfest.oregonwi.com Town and Country Days, Lake Mills: Carnival, parade, sidewalk sale and live entertainment, lakemills.org June 23 Rock the River, Watertown: live music, watertownchamber.com June 24 Tour da Goose, Watertown: Bike ride offers 100-, 62-, 42-, 22- and 12-mile routes, food and live music, watertownchamber.com Bubble Run, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, bubblerun.com June 24-25 Heidi Fest and Music Fest, New Glarus: Heidi drama performances, chicken BBQ, run/walk, auction, volleyball tournament, craft fair and mini expo, swisstown.com Spring Green Arts and Crafts Fair: Refreshments and entertainment provided, springgreenartfair.com June 25 Lions car show, Albany: food, music, greencounty.org

If you know of an event that should be in this calendar, e-mail yourfamily@wcinet.com SPRING 2017 YOUR FAMILY 33

FAMILYLIFE FAMILYLIFE

B usiness S potlight

Name: Lost and Found Ring, LLC Owner: Dan Roekle Website: Lostandfoundring.com Contact: 6 08-492-1070 (best way) or fill out form on the website

‘A

vicious cycle of kindness ’

Roekle family starts lost and found ring business

I

by Anthony Iozzo Photos submitted

Dan Roekle (middle) and his son Carter, 13, and daughter Kylie, 10, stand out on a search with their metal detector. Dan owns Lost and Found Ring, LLC – a business that specializes in finding lost valuables for people.

t all started four years ago on vacation.

Dan Roekle, his son Carter, 13, and daughter Kylie, 10, noticed some older guys with metal detectors on a Florida beach.

They noticed one had a necklace with dozens of rings and decided it sounded like a fun hobby.

At first, Dan bought a low-end detector and did it for fun – finding at best about a dollar and some change. But a year later, he realized he could do more when he helped someone find a ring during an Ironman race.

Now, Dan runs Lost and Found Ring, LLC – where he and sometimes his son and daughter go searching for wedding rings and other valuables.

They have a rate based on hours and mileage, and it can net them as much as $1,000, but they adjust it on a case-by-case basis so it doesn’t discourage people who can’t afford it.

Some of that money goes into the equipment of the business and 25 percent of everything goes to his children’s school, Westside Christian in Middleton. Carter and Kylie get to pick a project a year that they donate to their school. This year, the school received a 3-D printer.

“It is a vicious cycle of kindness and helpfulness that is cool to be a part of,” Dan said.

Q&A with Dan Roekle YF: Why did you make this a business?

Dan: I love the thrill of the hunt – just being able to go out and find something that the person had written off in their mind as being lost forever and being able to return that. … That moment when we find that ring and return it to somebody and the look on their face and the expression and the hugs is just priceless.

That is why we do it.

with your children?

Dan: I still like that they like to spend time with me, which probably won’t be the case too much longer. … I remember our first water hunt when we needed to get to a sandbar on a boat. I remember my son thought it was the coolest thing, like it was a secret mission we were on. … It was kind of an adventure, and I think they enjoy that. And I enjoy doing that with them.

YF: Are your children part-owners too?

Dan: Only through family affiliation.

It is a single-owner LLC, but eventually when they or maybe my son becomes 18 – yeah, I might write him into the business.

YF: What was the most challenging time you had finding someone’s lost ring?

Dan: One of the water hunts I have done. There was a couple here visiting family, from Kansas.

I went out two or three times on my own, blindly searching based on the coordinates they gave me, and I came up empty each time.

YF: What is it like to share the search 34 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2017

They were back in the area two months later for a wedding, and they agreed to rent a boat and take me out there and see if anything triggered in their mind. The key to the whole thing was that they had cellphone selfies.

It was those pictures that helped put us back on the spot. … After about two hours of searching, we actually pulled the ring out. It was sitting there for about nine months in the water and about three or four inches under the sand.

YF: How long do you plan on doing this?

Dan: Until I retire, and then ... after I retire. I love it. My wife knows that when the business number rings, she is probably not going to see me for a couple of hours because I get excited about the searches.

SPRING

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A TASTE OF

From Your Hometown Grocer…

Miller & Sons • 210 S. Main St., Verona • (608) 845-6478

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