Waterford ot 2016 17

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Published by the

Waterford Post

2016-17

Waterford WISCONSIN

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Home heart is where the

Pelicans sometimes make an appearance on the Fox River in Waterford. They were spotted in spring of 2016 as temperatures began their upward climb. ~ TERRY ALBY Our Town

Christmas tree in the library.

All these events, along with the fun stuff happening at the local schools and churches make Waterford a place where you can feel at home.

So, we welcome you to Our Town and hope you enjoy your stay!

Waterford, Wisconsin

OUR TOWN A publication of the Waterford Post and Southern Lakes Newspapers.

209 N. Dodge St., Burlington, WI 53185 • (262) 763-3330

Editor: ........................................................................ Tracy Ouellette Editor in Chief: ........................................................ Edward Nadolski Creative Director: .........................................................Sue Z. Lange Graphic Designer........................................................... Jen DeGroot Advertising Sales: .......................................................Donna Brooks Contributors: ............................... Patricia Bogumil, Linnea Langusch, Tracy Ouellette, Maureen Vander Sanden, Lisa Sinda, Terry Alby and community members.

For advertising opportunities call (262) 763-3330 The Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Balloon Fest attracts thousands to the area each July.

(TERRY ALBY PHOTO)

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

.

On the cover

aterford began as a town of commerce in the 1800s being situated on the Fox River. The waterway provided the perfect source of access.

By 1923 the Village of Waterford was considered the largest and most prosperous village in western Racine County. Its location on the Fox River helped the community become a hub of commerce in the center of the farming community.

Today, Waterford is considered by many to be a “destination” with its community events, downtown shopping district and restaurants.

The village is easily accessible via Highway 36 and is only 20 minutes away from Milwaukee and five minutes from Burlington.

The community, which includes the village, Waterford Township and the Village of Rochester is home to about 8,000 people, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

While the Waterford area has continued to grow over the past 150 years with the additions of an industrial park, business park and downtown districts, it has never lost its identity and is still known for community and family friendly activities, which attract thousands every year.

In the summer, the Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce’s Hot Air Balloon Festival, which sees more than 20,000 visitors, is entering its sixth year. See Page 7 for more on the chamber and its activities.

The annual Fourth of July parade is another big draw for visitors who join in with the community’s Independence Day celebration.

Fall in the village features Absolutely Waterford’s River’s Edge Art Walk and the chamber’s Harvest Fest and annual Lion’s Chicken barbecue dinner.

Then there is the annual Christmas Parade the first Saturday in December, sponsored by Absolutely Waterford, with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving at the end by fire truck to light the village

is

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MAUREEN VANDERSANDEN Our Town

Jennifer Beaudry (left) and Valerie Iverson, Shirley Schmidt’s granddaughter and daughter, hold a banner honoring the100-year-old during the Tichigan Lake Lions Club summer parade held July 31.

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Loving life at the century mark 4

Schmidt celebrates her 100th birthday, life in Tichigan

Maureen Vander Sanden

BY CORRESPONDENT

undreds of people lined North Tichigan Road July 31 ,2016, during Tichigan Lake Lions Club annual summer parade, which included a special appearance from one of the town’s earliest residents.

From the back of a pick-up truck and surrounded by her great-grandchildren, Shirley Schmidt waved to parade goers in recognition of her recent 100th birthday.

Shirley reached the century-old milestone on July 10, 2016, which was marked by an afternoon celebration at the lake cottage that her father built during the Roaring ’20s.

Hosted by Shirley’s daughter Jean Lewis, who now owns the original cottage, the party consisted of nearly 100 loved ones from all over the country, including the guest-of-honor’s other three daughters, 13 grandchildren and 23 greatgrandchildren.

“She loved her party and seeing so many familiar friends and family,” Lewis said, noting that a number of guests came dressed in blue – the family matriarch’s favorite color.

Food was catered by Sam’s Diner, which leases the quaint café on North Lake Drive built by Shirley and her late husband Frederick in 1960, then known as Val-Win Drive-In. “The celebration gave everyone the opportunity to reminisce with her and share memories of the past generations,” Lewis said. “It also gave all the younger ones a chance to learn their family history.”

Life on the lake spans five generations

Shirley was born in Chicago in 1916, the daughter of Dr. Charles Cardy, a dentist.

Responding to a real estate ad printed in the Chicago Tribune in the spring of 1924, the dentist packed his family into their 1920 Dodge Brothers model 30 for a six-hour trip north on dirt roads where vacant land on Tichigan Lake awaited.

The land, a clover field on the northeast corner of the lake, was perfect for building memories with his wife and two daughters.

By Thanksgiving, the Cardys had much to be thankful for as they gathered for a holiday meal in their new lake cottage.

“We all huddled around the wood stove and fireplace and thoroughly enjoyed the day,” Shirley, then 8, recalls in her memoirs, “Recollections of Early Living in Tichigan.”

The drive to the lake from the city could be difficult, but Shirley is proud that by age 14 she could change and patch tires along the way.

In the winter months, “Our parents heated bricks wrapped up in cloths to warm our feet for the long ride home,” she wrote.

Life on the lake was second to none, according to Shirley. Together with her sister and cousins, Shirley would spend entire summers on the lake, swimming to Ice Hermann’s, boating up river to Big

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Right: Young Shirley Schmidt walks down the cottage’s stone stairs down to the lake for a dip. Her first summer on Tichigan Lake was in 1925, when she was 8. Above: Shirley Schmidt displays her trophy for her first-place Val-Win’s float entered in a Tichigan parade held decades ago.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Our Town

u CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 first work experience at Val-Win’s, “Shirley was the largest employer of teenagers in the community,” Lewis said. “She was a very knowledgeable businesswoman and a mentor to a lot of young people,” she added, noting that a number of her mom’s former employees attended the July party.

In 1987, her daughter “Val” took over the business, which developed a reputation for a great place to enjoy a pizza and play a round of miniature golf. Today Val leases the restaurant to Sam’s Diner.

Shirley’s secret to staying young

During her lifetime, Shirley successfully balanced her roles as a mother, wife, business and career woman.

She also took advantage of seeing the world around her – from walking the whitesand beaches of Cuba in her teen years

to pushing her wheelchair-bound cousin through cobblestone streets of England when she was in her 70s.

Though she does need a little assistance and therefore lives with her daughter on the Fox River, Shirley is in very good health, according to family.

“She loves working outside in the gardens,” Lewis said. “She is always happy and has a very positive outlook.”

Shirley’s key to longevity?

“Staying active, and don’t forget the peanut butter and jelly,” said the century-old woman.

With two aunts who have lived to be older than 100, Shirley is not surprised to have lived to see the ripe age, always telling those around her, “we go until 105 in our family.”

To her, every day is a blessing.

She lives by her personal mantra: “Every day is a good day when I wake up.”

EASY (EARLY) LIVING ON TICHIGAN LAKE In an excerpt from her memoirs entitled “Recollections of Early Living at Tichigan,” Shirley Schmidt recalls: “…Trips to town (Waterford) were exciting: Haircuts at Roy the Barber on Main Street, a visit to Zimmer’s Ice Cream Parlor, the outdoor band concerts, the narrow movie house next to Zimmer’s were real events. Several times we took the “Interurban” to Muskego Beach to ride the high roller coasters.

Our daily walk was to the mailbox on narrow, gravel “F” (now Highway 164) to wait for the mailman. Just to see a car come down the road was a thrill.

Sometimes we walked to Waterford, and to swim the width of the lake to Ice Hermann’s was an accomplishment we would never forget. Our fathers would tie two rowboats together and with the trusty two (horsepower) Elto motor, we would ride all the way up the river to Big Bend.

One person would have to stand in front to direct the way through the lily pads at the end of the lake and marsh and finally we would find the river.

Reaching the old iron bridge was the first spot of interest, then Norris Farm summer camp hours later. This was a full-day excursion.”

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Bend and taking trips into Waterford for some ice cream at Zimmer’s.

Each Sunday morning, her dad would make his way back to the city for the work week, while the family stayed behind to soak up summer’s bounty.

“Kerosene lamps, a kerosene cooking stove that had to be pumped to operate correctly, and the community deep well made for many enjoyable summers for the ‘Chicago people’ as we came to be known,” she wrote.

It wasn’t long before the city gal caught the attention of Tichigan local Frederick Schmidt Jr., a businessman whose family ran, among other businesses, a black smith shop, livery, grocery store and garage which issued some of the state’s first license plates.

He and Shirley were married in 1937, and her roots in her summer lake town were officially planted, paving the way for five generations of the Cardy/Schmidt family.

In 1960, the couple built a 20-by-20-foot knotty pine building along North Lake Drive and opened Val-Win’s, a summertime favorite among seasonal cottage owners.

Val-Win’s, named for the pair’s two youngest daughters, Valerie (Iverson) and Winifred (Sheeder), served 30-cent burgers, 20-cent hot dogs, ice cream and root beer for 10 cents and cigarettes for 30 cents a pack.

“In those days, fast food was a very new concept,” according to Shirley, who ran the business successfully for 27 years.

She wrote a short history of the diner, which revealed: “The money was collected into a cigar box on the kitchen table and there was no state tax, minimum wage or compulsory records.”

With nearly 50 youngsters gaining their

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OUR PARKS VILLAGE OF Waterford

WHITFORD PARK 625 N. River Road Whitford Park is available to rent for certain events such as wedding showers, family reunions and birthday parties. Park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Contact the village clerk at (262) 5343980 or vwaterford.clerk@tds.net for details or see Whitford Park Rental Form.

TOWN OF Waterford

JENSEN PARK Highway 164 and Jensen Parkway Park pavilion and/or ball diamond rentals available. Call (262) 534-2350 or email townwtfrd1@tds.net for details.

VILLAGE OF

Rochester

PIONEER PARK 101 S. Front Street Downtown Rochester park provides a scenic view of the Fox River with fishing and picnic facilities.

ROCHESTER COMMONS PARK 208 W. Spring St. Park on the Rochester Public Library and Village Hall grounds offers a full basketball court and playground equipment for the kids.

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

CASE EAGLE PARK South Rochester Street The park entrance is located just west of the intersection of Highway 36 and Highway J (South Rochester Street in the village).

The 239-acre park contains two baseball diamonds, nature trails, a fenced in dog park, fishing on the Fox River, and a canoe launch.

A Racine County bike trail includes this park in a continuous trail from the City of Burlington north to Wind Lake.

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SALLER WOODS Highway 36 The park entrance is just south of where the Fox River crosses Highway 36. This 91-acre park runs alongside the river and contains nature, bike and cross country ski trails.

WADEWITZ NATURE PARK 2716 Buena Park Road The 176-acre park functions as a primitive group campsite with, a lodge, numerous hiking and cross country ski trails. The natural resource orientated site contains some of the finest glacial topography and wooded vegetation to be found in the county.

Member of the Fox River Citizens Against Underwater Silt and Erosion (or CAUSE) clean up the river in 2016.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

OUR CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Absolutely Waterford, Inc. 102 E. Main St. (262) 534-5911 www.absolutely waterford.org American Legion Post 20 P.O. Box 65 Waterford, WI 53185 (262) 534-6225 Food Pantry – Community United Methodist Church 455 S. Jefferson St. (262) 534-2313 Fox River CAUSE 5950 N. River Bay Road Waterford, WI 53185 (262) 895-3205 Lions Club of Waterford P.O. Box 84 Waterford, WI 53185 (262) 534-5344 Lions Club – Tichigan Lake

6710 Big Bend Road (262) 895-6268 www.facebook.com/ TichiganLakeLionsClub Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce 102 East Main St. (262) 534-5911 chamber@ waterford-wi.org WaterfordRochester Jaycees Joetta@elknet.net Waterford Area Kiwanis Club 4926 Elm Island Circle (262) 534-3596 www.kiwanisone.org Waterford Lions Club P.O. Box 84 Waterford, WI 53185 www.waterford lionsclub.org Waterford-Rochester Senior Card Club (262) 514-2474

Waterford Youth Baseball and Softball Association 8309 Parkside Lane (262) 534-1984 www.waterfordyouth baseball-softball.com Tichigan Senior Citizens Club (262) 514-2864 Tichigan Sno-N-Go Snowmobile Club P.O. Box 216 Waterford, WI 53185 (262) 895-2989 VFW Post 11038 Aspinall-Bair-Stober Post 29224 Evergreen Drive (262) 763-9075 VFW Post 10441 Tichigan Memorial Post 8330 Fox River Road 414-355-3179 Kulchar-Fohr Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 8343 (262) 895-2153

The Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce has offices on Main Street in downtown Waterford. The office is open weekdays during regular business hours.

Chamber Commerce

Our

Where business and community connect The Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce is the place to start when visiting or moving into the community.

According to its website, the mission of the chamber is to “promote responsible business development, tourism and growth in the overall best interest of the Waterford area through services and representation of the business community.”

The chamber doesn’t stop there, the chamber also hosts several events to bring people to the Waterford area and show off its wonders. From Balloon Fest to the Spring Expo, the chamber and its members are an integral part of the community.

The chamber’s executive director is Katy Engels, who works with the chamber

board to facilitate its vision for on its members Waterford Area information the organization. and the Waterford Chamber OF The FUNd-a-Palooza community and features Commerce chamber fundraiser is set a full, online member 102 E. Main St. for Sunday, Nov. 6, at River directory along with Waterford, WI 53185 City Lanes, 730 Cornerstone information on its events, (262) 534.5911 Crossing, Waterford. The event how to join, the area’s chamber@ will include pizza, bowling and history and things to do waterford-wi.org fun, along with a silent auction, when visiting. wine/beer pull, 50/50 raffle and

The chamber also hosts bucket and meat raffles. monthly POWER Luncheons Cost for two hours of bowling, pizza allowing the mingling membership a and salad bar buffet is $25 for adults and relaxed atmosphere of introductions and $15 for kids age 4 to 11. information. This is offered at a “members Tickets are available at the chamber only” reduced rate. Most luncheons host office. a keynote speaker covering varying topics The annual Waterford Area Spring pertaining to business. The chamber also Expo, which is a home, wellness and bridal has quarterly “After Five” Networking show, will be Saturday, March 4, 2017.

Socials.

Balloon Fest is set for July 21 to 23, 2017.

Being actively involved in the community, the chamber’s website says it “serves as a facilitator on the city, For the businesses township and county levels to improve The chamber’s main purpose is to infrastructure, plan for community growth support local business and it does so in and enhance the business climate. It many ways. The chamber is often the first also works to attract, retain and promote place people turn for referrals on where to business, tourism and travel.” obtain goods and services.

The chamber office is open from 9 a.m.

The chamber’s website is full of to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

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OUR GOVERNMENT VILLAGE OF

Waterford

123 N. River St. Waterford, WI 53185 Phone: (262) 534-3980 Fax: (262) 534-5373 Email: vwaterford.clerk@tds.net Website: www.vi.waterford.wi.gov Village Hall office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Administrator Rebecca Ewald (262) 534-7912 rewald@waterfordwi.org

Thomas Christensen* tchristensen@waterfordwi.org Andrew Ewerd aewert@waterfordwi.org Jerry Filut jfilut@waterfordwi.org Don Houston dhouston@waterfordwi.org Tamara Pollnow (tpollnow@waterfordwi.org James Schneider jschneider@waterfordwi.org * Term ends April 2017.

Plan Commission Thomas E. Roanhouse, chairman

Clerk Carrie Orlovsky (262) 534-3980, ext. 223 corlovsky@waterfordwi.org Rachel Ladewig (262) 534-3980, ext. 221 vwaterford.deputy@tds.net

Members Howard Bryant Tom Christensen Craig Kosut Bil Luth Kathy Nargis Gonzalo Perez

Village Board The Waterford Village Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at Village Hall.

Assessor Affiliated Property Valuation Services (608) 436-3038 Daniel McHugh 356 Dale Drive Burlington, WI 53105

Board President Thomas E. Roanhouse* (262) 210-3707 troanhouse@waterfordwi.org Trustees

Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Fire and Rescue Department Westside Station Fire Chief Richard Mueller (262) 534,3980, ext. 400 Health Department Central Racine County Health Department (262) 898-4460 10005 Northwestern Ave. US Bank Building, 2nd Floor Franksville, WI 53126 Library Director Pamela Belden (262) 534-3988, ext. 30 psbelden@waterford.lib.wi.us

Building Inspector, Zoning Administrator Martin Montoya (262) 894-2982

Municipal Court Judge Greg Miller (262) 662-5582 Court Clerk Rachel Ladewig (262) 534-3980, ext. 233 court@waterfordwi.org The Village of Waterford Court Administration office is open Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Police Department Police Services in the Village of Waterford will be provided by the Town of Waterford Police Department.

Waterford Police Department (262) 534-2119 (non-emergency) 415 N. Milwaukee St. Waterford, WI 53185 Emergency: 911

1709 Milwaukee Ave., Suite C Burlington, WI 53105 262-210-BTAN (4826)

Deputy Treasurer Stephanie Charapata (262) 534-3980, ext. 229 scharapata@waterfordwi.org

TOWN OF

Waterford

415 N. Milwaukee St. Waterford, WI 53185 Phone: (262) 534-2350 Fax: (262) 534-6606 Website: www.tn.waterford.wi.gov Town Hall office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Town Clerk Tina Mayer townwtfrd@tds.net Town Board Town Chairman Tom Hincz* (262) 945-1015 thincz@wi.rr.com Supervisors Nick Draskovich* (414) 640-4113 Dale Gauerke* (262) 210-1668 Teri Jendusa Nicolai (414) 254-8374 Tim Szeklinski (414) 399-6943 * Term ends April 2017.

Planning Commission Jan Alvey (414) 333-8066 Ted Derse (262) 514-2567 Tom Hincz (262) 945-1015 Duane Luick (262) 895-7129 Roy Schmidt (262) 534-6767 Risa Smith (414) 690-6724 Max Wenck (262) 957-6500 Town Assessor Kathy Romanak (262) 534-3003

Public Works Director Jeff Dolezal (262) 534-3980, ext. 321 dolezal@tds.net

Fire Department Fire Chief David Wagner (262) 662-3570

Village Attorney Marcia Hasenstab (262) 534-6611

Building Inspector Lee Greivell (262) 534-9236

Treasurer Lori Peternell (262) 534-3980, ext. 224 lpeternell@waterfordwi.org

Municipal Court Judge Jill Mitchell (262) 534-4880

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Hours: M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

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314 E. Main St., Waterford, WI 53185 thepinkpeonyllc.com • (262) 514-3251

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2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

www.burlingtontan.com

On target Archery program joins ‘Cops and Kids’ events

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Our Town

Above: Waterford Police Chief Tom Ditscheit presents Roman Read with a new fishing pole, a Cabela’s hat, a Brewers bobble head and several other small items to make up for the fishing he missed after he became ill the day of the trip. Top: Area youngsters (above) got their second and final chance at “Cops and Bobbers” July 20, 2016, a community outreach program through the Waterford Police Department. Youngsters from various communities in southeast Wisconsin got a chance to go fishing for the day and get to know the Waterford police.

For Town of Waterford Police Chief Tom Ditscheit, taking the time to bowl and fish and shoot arrows with youngsters is a way into the minds of those he works with.

“We’re trying to get the kids to understand that the police are their friends,” Ditscheit said. “In the end, if the kids feel that way, they don’t want to disappoint you.”

And if the kids find a way to stay out of trouble growing up, it justifies the efforts being put forth by the Cop and Kids Foundation – a nonprofit organization started by two police officers in Pewaukee before that department was disbanded.

Cops and Kids has trademarked the program’s “Cops and Bobbers,” “Gutter Busters” and “Badges and Bull’s-eyes” – the last of which the Town of Waterford chief put into practice in 2016.

The idea, according to the foundation’s website, is to create a stronger link between police and the people they serve.

“Citizens and the police have the same goals…we both want safe neighborhoods and a better place to live,” Kraemer wrote on the website.

“During my nine years as a community service officer, I felt compelled to start programs that would bring citizens and the police together. I learned the best way to change the public’s perspective is to start with the children, thus I created several community service programs aimed at kids.”

The youngsters involved come from around western Racine County, including Burlington, Waterford and Kansasville/Dover.

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2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

BY Jennifer Eisenbart STAFF WRITER

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u CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Court Clerk Sharie Gauerke (262) 534-4880

townwtfrd1@tds.net

Police Department Chief Tom Ditscheit (262) 534-2119 tditscheit@waterfordpd.com

300 W. Spring St. P.O. Box 65 Rochester, WI 53167 Village Hall office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Tuesdays 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Department of Public Works Supervisor Ken Hinz (262) 534-5705 Town Attorney Michael Dubis (262) 534-6950 Christopher Schultz, assistant town attorney, (262) 534-6950 Town Treasurer Heather Stratton (262) 534-2350

VILLAGE OF

Rochester

Clerk’s Office Village Clerk Betty Novy (262) 534-2431 bnovy@rochesterwi.us Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Sandra J. Swan (262) 534-2431, ext. 302 sswan@rochesterwi.us

Mike Weinkauf (262) 534-2163 mweinkauf@rochesterwi.us

VILLAGE BOARD Board President Edward Chart (262) 534-5425 ejchart@rochesterwi.us Trustees Nick Ahlers (262) 534-9578 nahlers@rochesterwi.us Gary Beck (262) 534-2071 gbeck@rochesterwi.us Christopher Bennett (262) 514-4505 cbennett@rochesterwi.us Chris Johnson (262) 534-2008 cjohnson@rochesterwi.us Russell Kumbier (262) 210-7299 rkumbier@rochesterwi.us

Assessor Kathy Romanak (262) 534-3003 romanak@tds.net Building Inspector Lee Greivell (262) 424-6957 lgreivell@gmail.com Public Works Director Christopher Birkett (262) 332-1017 cbirkett@rochesterwi.us Zoning Administrator Jonathan Schattner (262) 902-2782 jschattner1@gmail.com

u CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Check us out at MYRACINE COUNTY .COM

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City Lanes in Waterford. Over the summer, the Fox River and Tichigan Lake hosted to Cops and Bobbers.

“They relax as the day goes on,” Ditscheit said about the kids involved. “I give them a little introduction in the beginning as to why they’re there. I’ll usually ask them if they can tell me why they’re there.”

The joke then becomes about Mom and Dad getting some time off. With the laughter,

the ice is broken, Ditscheit said. But in reality, it’s all about forming bonds with the community and hopefully cutting down on crime.

“The community’s becoming quieter every year,” Ditscheit said.

For more information on Cops and Kids, visit www.copsandkidsfoundation.org.

The Police Department can be reached at (262) 534-2119.

We’re proud to be your

Hometown Newspaper!

209 N. Dodge Street, Burlington, WI 53105

262.763.3330 • fax 262.763.0996 LOCAL YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION RATE ONLY $33 EDITOR: JENNIFER EISENBART • EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: ROXANNE MAAS • ADVERTISING: DONNA BROOKS

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For years, Ditscheit and the Town of Waterford Police have offered the bowling and fishing events – the former in the winter and the latter during the summer. On March 29, 2016, the department offered the “Badges and Bull’s-eyes” for the first time.

Held at Buck Trail Archers in Burlington, 10 children were involved in each session, getting a chance to shoot at various targets.

The bowling programs are held at River

Robotics squad

TA K E S E F F O R T S TO S TAT E With Science, Technology, Engineering and Math educational programing taking center stage on a national level, it’s no surprise that educators have come up with ways to make learning fun.

For grade school and middle school students, it’s First LEGO League – a robotics competition that uses LEGO, pre-programmed chips and a competition format that encourages learning not only of STEM principals, but of teamwork and presentation.

For those interested in taking the next step – as a number of Waterford Union High School students have – there is the FIRST Tech Challenge.

“FIRST has a number of programs at different levels,” said Waterford’s advisor Kyle Rader through email. “Our hope is that some of those (LEGO League) members ‘graduate’ to our team when starting high school.”

The Waterford team – called “Wall-Y” Robotics – recently qualified for state, and competed Feb. 6, 2016, at the Wisconsin FTC State Championship in Milwaukee.

Much like the LEGO League, students must design, prototype, test and build a robot to complete a number of tasks that change with each competition season.

This year’s theme was called “Res-Q” – where all robots needed to fit into a cube 18 inches on all sides. The robot squad then worked with an alliance partner to “score” debris of various shapes into goals placed on a mountain the robot had to climb.

Students build the robots with both premade and custom-designed parts, and compete in two and a half minute matches broken into 30 seconds of autonomy and two minutes of driver control.

FTC overlaps slightly with Lego League, as students in seventh and eighth grade can compete in FTC. Waterford’s team is comprised of all high schoolers.

The competition team of D.J. Aquirre, Eric Albrecht, Jessica Brutlag, Jake Egan, K.C. Grieger, Sky Kitzke and Trevor LaDell made the trip to state, held at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

There, the team took home the top spot for the “Connect Award” – given to the team with the best business plan, community outreach and connection with the “local STEM community,” Rader explained.

The team also won the Connect Award at the Milwaukee School of Engineering qualifier, and was an alliance captain at the Madison qualifier.

The team is sponsored by the high school, SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town Runzheimer, SC Johnson, MSOE, Gateway Sky Kitzke (from left), D.J. Aguirre and Eric Albrecht set up their robot to compete Technical College and Harry’s Ace Hardware and recently in the FTC robotics competition.

Rental.

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

BY Jennifer Eisenbart STAFF WRITER

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OUR SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 819 W. Main St., Waterford (262) 514-8250 www.waterford.k12.wi.us 21016 W. Seven Mile Road, Franksville (414) 425-6020 www.droughtschool.net 11926 W. Highway K, Franksville (262) 835-4069 www.northcape.k12.wi.us 8937 Big Bend Road, Waterford (262) 662- 3466 www.washcald.com 302 S. Second St., Waterford (262) 534-2265 www.stthomas.pvt.k12.wi.us

HIGH SCHOOLS 100 Field Dr., Waterford (262) 534-3189 www.waterforduhs.k12.wi.us

148 McHenry St. Burlington (262) 763-1510 www.cchsnet.org

COLLEGES Toll Free (800) 247-7122 TTY (262) 741-8492 Burlington Campus (262) 767-5200 Elkhorn Campus (262) 741-8200 Kenosha Campus (262) 564-2200 Racine Campus (262) 619-6200 www.gtc.edu 900 Wood Road P.O. Box 2000 Kenosha, WI 53141-2000 (262) 595-2345 www.uwp.edu 800 W. Main St. Whitewater, WI 53190-1790 (262) 472-1234 www.uww.edu

For Moments Shared with Special People

SUBMITTED ARTWORK Our Town

This pencil drawing by Trevor LaDell was inspired in Waterford Union High School’s AP Art Studio class by an online radio broadcast called, “I, Pencil.”

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St. Thomas celebrates 165th anniversary When St. Thomas Aquinas church opened in 1851, it had less than 50 members.

Now, as the church celebrates its 165th anniversary this year, there are more than 3,700 members of the church.

The parish celebrated with special celebratory masses on June 18 and 19, 2016.

Normally churches celebrate milestone anniversaries on a traditionally milestone year. But Bob Garriepy, a member of the church’s Grounds Committee, joked a bit.

“They missed the 150th,” he said of the church. “I may not be around in 10 years (for the 175th).”

He said the preparations started off rather “low key,” but after all of the spring events, the celebration has really picked up steam.

“All of a sudden, they realized, ‘we’re getting close to it,’” he said. “They’re excited.

“A lot of people didn’t realize we were that old,” he added.

The church started as a loose congregation in the 1840s, before a formal church was constructed. A stone church was built in 1880, which still stands today. The new church opened on Easter Sunday, April 7, 2007, with Father Gene Doda as pastor.

The parish school has also grown from 12 students in a donated room to a full village block.

Following the mass, there were snacks and refreshments and a display of pictures of building construction, significant events, class pictures, a 1866 Latin Missal, old newspaper articles and other memorabilia.

Complete details on the history of the parish can be found at www.saintthomaswaterford.org.

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

BY Jennifer Eisenbart STAFF WRITER

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OUR CHURCHES The Waterford area is home to a variety of denominations and churches.

Many churches have special activities for children and youth.

Call for worship times and more information about activities.

BAPTIST HONEY CREEK COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH (American Baptist) 35512 Washington Ave., Honey Creek (262) 534-3585

CATHOLIC ST. CLARE CATHOLIC CHURCH 7616 Fritz St., Wind Lake (262) 895-2729

UNITED METHODIST

6525 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wind Lake (262) 895-3700 www.livingwaterlutheran.com

CALDWELL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 8504 Caldwell Road, Waterford (262) 363-2630 www.caldwellumc.org

NORTH CAPE LUTHERAN 2644 124th St., Franksville (262) 835-2206 www.northcapelutheran.org NORWAY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 6321 Heg Park Road, Wind Lake (262) 895-2281 www.norwaylutheranchurch.org

COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 455 S. Jefferson St., Waterford (262) 534-2313 www.extremefaith.org

PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 349 Wegge Court, Burlington (262) 763-5024 • peaceburlington.org

NONDENOMINATIONAL

ST. PETER’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 145 S. 6th St.,Waterford (262) 534-3639 www.stpeterswaterford.com

ST.THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH 305 S. First St., Waterford (262) 534-2255 www.stthomas.pvt.k12.wi.us

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

LUTHERAN LIVING WATER LUTHERAN CHURCH (Wisconsin Synod)

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ROCHESTER 103 S. State St., Rochester (262) 534-6582 www.fccrochester.com

Your Hometown Funeral Home Since 1923

NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH 318 W. Main St., Waterford (262) 514-4559 FOX RIVER CHRISTIAN CHURCH 238 E. Main St., Waterford 262-332-7047 www.foxriverchristian.org GRACE CHURCH 257 Kendall St., Burlington (262) 763 -3021

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2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

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The saloon, once a stopping point for railroad travelers, has been lovingly restored by Debbie Nelson and houses a collection of historical artifacts about its origins and life in the village.

Our Saloon

FILE PHOTO Our Town

BY Tracy EDITOR

Ouellette

When Debbie Nelson bought the old house on the corner of East Main Street and North Fifth Street in Waterford in early 2013 with the plan of converting the residence back into a tavern, she said she had no idea the challenge she was undertaking.

“It’s been a process,” she said. “But it’s been very rewarding and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Nelson said when her job with the Town of Waterford Sanitary District was outsourced she was faced with having to change careers.

“I wanted to have something in my community, I wanted to be here,” she said.

So, when the idea of opening a bar in the Village of Waterford came to her she said she pretty much ran with it.

“It wasn’t easy,” Nelson said. “It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.”

The building she chose to open her new business in was built in 1921 as a home for the Thiemann family as well as a rooming house for travelers and had ice cream parlor, news stand and confectionery store near the TMER&L Co.’s railroad line. (See the opposite page for a Waterford Post article about the building.)

In the years since, the property has been a tavern and single-family residence, which it was when Nelson purchased it.

The house had been for sale for about 8 years when she took ownership in February 2013.

“It was just so run down,” Nelson said. “I had to clean it out. I was hauling stuff out for weeks. I even went under the house and pulled out everything that had been shoved under the porch.”

Once that was done, Nelson began stripping down the interior for the remodel.

“I did whatever I could myself,” she said. “The worst project was taking off all the layers of linoleum on the floor and then I had to scrap off the layer of tar. My contractor said the tar actually protected the wood floor, but removing it was no fun, that’s for sure.

“I would spend hours scraping and scraping and get a section done and think I had accomplished so much, but then I would look up and see how much I still had to go and began to think maybe linoleum wouldn’t be so bad after all.”

But she persevered and eventually exposed the original wood flooring and refinished it, recapturing the rustic feel of days gone by.

The renovations took several months with Nelson hiring local contractors for anything she couldn’t manage on her own. And when it finally came down to furnishing the bar, Nelson scoured the Waterford Public Library’s historical collection and researched the history of the building to find artifacts to decorate

u CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

TAKE A TRIP TO THE PAST AT THE RAIL STOP SALOON

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u CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 with.

With the building’s rich history, she was able to locate old Waterford Post articles about it, and many other items of interest, which she has on display throughout the bar.

Finally, after a lot of hard work, Nelson opened the doors of the Rail Stop Saloon in October 2013.

“And then that brutal winter hit,” she recalled. “It was so cold stores were closing and I was trying to make a brand

new business work. It was a struggle but I remember thinking if I can make it through this, I can make it through anything.”

And she did, with the help of friends and the growing group of regulars who frequented the new establishment.

“I just love hearing the stories from them,” she said. “All the stories, I just love listening to the people who come in here.”

Things have gotten much better over the past two years and Nelson added new

services like bar food not long ago.

“There’s still so many things I want to do, but it takes time. I want what I do to have meaning and for people to enjoy it, so I put a lot of thought into what goes in here.”

The Rail Stop Saloon is at 600 E. Main St., Waterford. For more information, see the ad on Page 4, visit www. therailstopsaloon.com or call (262) 5347245.

Rail Stop Saloon owner Debbie Nelson greets patrons with a smile at her Waterford bar.

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

TRACY OUELLETTE Our Town

This Waterford train depot photograph from the early 1900s has been colorized.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Our Town

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Clockwise from top: The sun sets on the Fox River in the Waterford area; Desiree Spear, Alyssa Fischer, Patrick Goldammer, Brady Francisco, and Brett Waldron titrate used vegetable oil in order to determine how much potassium hydroxide will be needed to convert it into biodiesel at Waterford Union High School; the Lunch Money Bullies play to a large audience at River Rhythms in July; and the annual fireworks display over Tichigan Lake is always a crowd pleaser.

~ Photos by TERRY ALBY Our Town ~

2016-17 WATERFORD OUR TOWN

Around town

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IMPORTANT NUMBERS UTILITIES

Diggers Hotline: (800) 242-8511 Electric WE Energies – Customer service: (800) 242-9137; 24hour emergency service: (800) 662-4797 (electric, lights) or (800) 261- 5325 (gas, odors, leaks, appliance repairs) Telephone TDS Telecom: 262-534-5101 Cable Television Companies • Time-Warner Cable Customer service: (888) 395-7175 • DirecTV Customer service: (800) 630-5795 • Dish Network (TDS Telecom) Customer Service (888) 634-8410

AIRPORTS

• Burlington Municipal Airport 703 Airport Road Airport manager Gary Meisner (262) 763-6600 • East Troy Municipal Airport

Highways 20 and L Airport manager Walter Watkins (262) 642-5008

GARBAGE

pickup/recycling • Town of Waterford: Veolia (800) 232-0860 • Village of Waterford: John’s Disposal Service Inc. (262) 473-4700

NEWSPAPERS

Weekly • Waterford Post (262) 763-3330 Daily • Racine Journal Times (262) 634–3322 • Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (414) 224-2000

POST OFFICES

• Waterford Post Office, 218 N. Milwaukee St., 262-534-3255 • Rochester Post Office, 208 W. Main St., (262) 534-6100

Puddle jumper FILE PHOTO Our Town

Ava Wagner splashes in a puddle at the Tichigan Lake Lions 2016 Easter Egg Hunt at Waterford Town Park.

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