Wonders Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC
Inside
• The story of Penwern • The sounds of summer • Area activities
Spring 2015
of WALWORTH
COUNTY
Page 2
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
Purpose Contracting Asphalt & Concrete
COMMERCIAL
TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS
RESIDENTIAL
TIRED OF CLEARING SNOW OFF A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY
ASPHALT PAVING PATCHING DRIVEWAYS PARKING LOTS DRIVEWAY APPROACH GARAGE APPROACH HOT TAR CRACK SEALING
MAKE YOUR DREAM A REALITY
CONCRETE SPRING SPECIAL
10% OFF Must be presented at time of estimate. Limit one coupon per customer. Valid with this coupon only. Not valid with any other offers. No cash value, expires 5-31-2015
DRIVEWAYS PATIOS WALKWAYS COLORED STAMPED CURBING DUMPSTER PADS LOADING DOCKS
CALL TODAY 414-305-9005 Please Visit our Website at: www.purposecontracting.com
195357
SPRING 2015
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 3
The main house at Penwern is pictured from the side facing Delavan Lake. The 10-acre parcel boasts 600 feet of lake frontage.
Author digs for real story of Penwern Frank Lloyd Wright designed four-building estate on Delavan Lake’s south shore By Vicky Wedig STAFF WRITER
R
eaders today might chuckle at the social news that graced the pages of newspapers at the turn of the century. The columns detailed who was calling upon whom, when lake residents were in town and even when they would be away. It’s not fare one commonly finds on news pages today. But photojournalist and author Mark Hertzberg, who has pored over page after page of microfilm of 100-year-old issues of the Delavan Enterprise and the Delavan Republican, said that kind of news – what he called “chicken-dinner news” – was invaluable in his research for his latest book. Hertzberg, of Racine, is writing a yet-untitled book – his fourth involving the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright – about Penwern, a Delavan estate designed by the famous architect. Penwern owners Sue and John Major commissioned Hertzberg to write the book and expressed their desire to learn as much about its original owner, Fred B. Jones, as possible. “The Majors’ primary interest is that I learn as much as possible and get as complete a story as possible,” Hertzberg said. Hertzberg began his research in June 2013 and along the way has dispelled erroneous information previously disseminated and continues to learn new things about Jones and the estate. A tidbit Hertzberg learned a few weeks ago – by perusing Pittsfield, Ill., newspapers from the 1870s at the library there – is that after Jones graduated from high school in southern Illinois in 1877, he went to work for $6 a week as a stock clerk for Adams & Westlake. Adams & Westlake was a company in what is now the River North neighborhood of Chicago that made things like bicycles and brass beds, Hertzberg said. But its biggest business was hardware for railroad cars - lanterns, door handles and the like. Pullman, the company that made sleeper coaches, was a big customer of Adams & Westlake. Jones started out as a stock clerk – making the equivalent of $138 a week today, and within 15 years was a managing director of the company, Hertzberg said. By 1901, Jones was secretary of the company, and he retired as vice president in 1908 at the age of 50. “Quite a career,” Hertzberg said.
Wright homes on Delavan Lake Five homes on the south shore of Delavan Lake were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The homes’ original owners, locations and years of construction are: • Henry H. Wallis, 3407 South Shore Drive, 1900; • Fred B. Jones, 3335 South Shore Drive, 1900; • Charles and Mary Ross, 3211 South Shore Drive, 1902; • Carrie and George Spencer, the Ross’ daughter and son-in-law, 3209 South Shore Drive, 1902; and • Arthur P. Johnson, 3455 South Shore Drive, 1905. Source: Article by Mark Hertzberg for At the Lake magazine in fall 2014 Escape from Chicago Jones was among Chicago businessmen looking to escape the stagnant city during the hot months. “Chicago was a terrible place to be in the summer at the turn of the century,” Hertzberg said. The heat – coupled with the lack of air conditioning, the use of coal to cook, the stench of thousands of horses in the streets and Jones’ corpulence – made for unpleasant conditions. That fall, Hertzberg said, Jones acquired the property where Penwern sits – along the south shore of Delavan Lake on 10 acres with 600 feet of shore line – in nine or 10 acquisitions, most of them from Henry Wallis. Wright connection Henry H. Wallis was a Chicago man who married a Delavan woman, Minnie Shulz, Hertzberg said. He operated a hardware business in Chicago but in 1887 opened a real estate office in Chicago to sell property on the south shore of Delavan Lake in his wife’s hometown. “To a large extent, it you were going to buy property on the south shore, you bought it from Henry H. Wallis,” Hertzberg said. Wallis’ clients were businessmen like Jones looking for a getaway from Chicago. “They were among the summer cottage clients,” Hertzberg said. “These so-called cottages are large enough to be homes in and of themselves.”
Wallis, he said, was friends with Frank Lloyd Wright and is the probable connection to the Wright-designed structures on Delavan Lake. Wright designs Wright designed five homes on Delavan Lake – all on South Shore Drive – between 1900 and 1905. “I think it’s incredibly unique to have five houses on a lake designed by a world-renowned architect,” said Penwern owner Sue Major, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., near San Diego. “It still amazes me how few people in the area know that.” Major said she and her husband, John Major, also were unaware of the Wright-designed houses during their search for a summer home in the area when they were living in Barrington Hills, Ill. Wright also designed the original Delavan Lake Yacht Club in 1904, but the building was demolished in 1916, Hertzberg said. Another home on South Shore Drive called the Wallis
Wond ers
• See PENWERN Page 4
The of Walworth County A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 728-3411 EDITOR: ........................................................... Tracy Ouellette EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: ........................................Sharon Soch CREATIVE/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: .................. Sue Z. Lange ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: .............................Vicki Vanderwerff SPECIAL SECTIONS ADVERTISING: .................Karen Dubinsky
FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: Call (262) 728-3411 On the cover: Sailboats at rest on Geneva Lake. (Photo by Dave Baker)
Page 4
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
• PENWERN from page 3
Stewards of Penwern Penwern owners since the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed estate was built on South Shore Drive beginning in 1900 are: Fred B. Jones – 1900 to 1933 The property could not be sold for five years after Jones’ death in 1933 while his will was contested. Burr and Peg (Margaret) Robbins – 1938 to 1980 The Robbins renamed Penwern “Robbinswood.” The boathouse was destroyed in an arson fire in September 1978. Ross Robbins – 1980 to 1989 Ross Robbins was the son of Burr and Peg Robbins. John O’Shea – 1989 to 1994 O’Shea owned the property except the gate lodge, which was owned by Terry Canty, Burr and Peg Robbins’ daughter, from 1980 to 2001. Sue and John Major – 1994 to present The Majors also bought the gate lodge in 2001 and used Wright’s plans to rebuild the boathouse from 2002 to 2005.
Gate House has a plaque on it that says Wright remodeled it, but Hertzberg has found no documentation of that. Myths In his research, Hertzberg is taking care not to build on previously reported inaccuracies. It has been written that Wallis, who also had a home at 3301 South Shore Drive, never lived in his Wright house because of the death of his only child. In fact, Wallis’ daughter was born in 1903 and died in 1927, according to an article by Hertzberg. Hertzberg is also trying to track down the meaning of the name Penwern as Wright intended it. “It has been written that it’s Gaelic for great house,” Hertzberg said. However, the word is either Welsh or Cornish and does not mean “great house,” he said. One of the meanings for the word is the head of a grove of alder trees, which might have been native to the area. Another possible tie is Wright’s heritage. Wright’s mother was Welsh, and his mother’s uncle lived in a cottage named Penwern in Wales, Hertzberg said.
Source: penwern.com
The estate The 10-acre Penwern estate has four buildings that Wright designed – the main house, designed in 1900; a boat house, also thought to be designed in 1900; and a gate house and a barn, both of which date to 1903, Hertzberg said. He said the Delavan Enterprise chronicled construction of the barn and gate lodge in 1903. The boathouse burned in 1978 – an apparent arson, Hertzberg said. “Apparently people know who did it, but the individual was never charged,” Hertzberg said. The boathouse lay in ruins when current owners Sue and John Major bought the estate in 1994, he said. The Majors used Wright’s plans to rebuild the boathouse in 2002 and have won preservation awards for their work on the property, according to Wright in Wisconsin – a Frank Lloyd Wright historian group. Sue Major said the couple had great friends who introduced them to Delavan Lake during their search for a summer spot within an hour or two of their Barrington Hills, Ill., home. She said the couple were looking for a home on the lake when their children were
small and saw an array of homes on the lake including Penwern, which was called Robbinswood at the time. Hertzberg said Burr and Peg Robbins, who owned the home from 1938 to 1980 after Jones’ death in 1933, renamed the home. Major said the home fit the Majors’ fondness for antiques, older things and renovation. “Our home in Barrington Hills was a renovation as well,” she said. “We learned about Frank Lloyd Wright, and we felt we could renovate.” “They rescued the house,” Hertzberg said. “The house was not in perfect shape when they bought it.” The Majors based their renovations on Wright’s original design and purchased the gate lodge when it became available. The lodge had been separated from the rest of the estate and owned by Terry Canty, the daughter of Burr and Peg Robbins, until 2001, according to the Penwern website. Major said her favorite thing about Penwern is the open feeling upon entering the property. “I love, as you’re coming in, the feel of the countryside around the lake,” she said.
Major said she also loves the garden, and the view of the lake that is unobstructed by the boathouse. “The alignment was thought through in such detail that (a) person sitting on the porch and looking out over the lake would have an unobstructed view of the opposite shore,” Hertzberg wrote on the Penwern website. “Had the boathouse been just one foot higher, that view would have been disrupted. That it was done in a time before computers showcases Wright’s genius.” The Majors – John, an investor, and Sue, who operates an executive search firm – still spend summers at their Delavan Lake home. Sue Major said those summers are getting longer now that their children are grown. She said her hope for Hertzberg’s book is to get an understanding of the person who built the house – understand what his thoughts were, how he met Frank Lloyd Wright and why the house was designed the way it was. “I really like the design of the house and how it fits on the property,” she said. While Hertzberg has learned many interesting things about Jones, the original question of how he met Wright hasn’t been cracked, Major said.
The living room of Penwern is seen as it was when Chicago businessman Fred B. Jones vacationed at the South Shore Drive estate from 1900 to 1933.
The dining room of Penwern is seen in the early 1900s when Chicago businessman Fred B. Jones commissioned its construction on South Shore Drive.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIME Wonders of Walworth County
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIME Wonders of Walworth County
MARK HERTZBERG Wonders of Walworth County
The living room in the main house at Penwern, a four-building estate designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is seen as it looks today.
MARK HERTZBERG Wonders of Walworth County
The dining room of Penwern is seen as it is today under the stewardship of Sue and John Major.
summer SPRING 2015
The sounds of The Ferro Pavilion at George Williams College in Williams Bay plays host to the summer concerts series Music by the Lake. The summer festival is presenting six artist debuts in 2015 featuring American classics, jazz, contemporary rock, comedy for families, pop and classic rock.
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 5
SUBMITTED PHOTO Wonders of Walworth County
Credence Clearwater Revisited
The BoDeans
Music by the Lake announces season lineup Outdoor summer entertainment venue Music by the Lake, presented by George Williams College of Aurora University, recently announced its 15th annual season presenting six artist debuts and a range of musical genres and shows, including American classics, jazz, contemporary rock, comedy for families, pop and classic rock. The season, which includes weekend events from June 27 through Aug. 8, features performances for all generations to enjoy. All 2015 artists are making their Music by the Lake debut this season.
Tickets for all summer events go on sale to festival donors at 9 a.m. on April 21. Support the festival at the Friend level or above and receive early access to tickets. Visit musicbythelake.com/ support. Public ticket sales begin at 9 a.m. on May 5. Patrons can purchase their tickets at musicbythelake.com or by contacting the Music by the Lake ticket office at (262) 245-8501. Music by the Lake does not charge a service fee on ticket orders. Ticket prices vary. All events take place in the campus’
Ferro Pavilion, 350 Constance Blvd., Williams Bay. American classics and the sounds of jazz Emmy and Grammy Award-nominated entertainer and multi-platinum selling artist, Michael Feinstein opens the Music by the Lake 2015 season on June 27, celebrating the centennial of one of the greatest voices in American music history, Frank Sinatra. Dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” Feinstein performs
more than 200 shows a year worldwide, while continuing to record albums and appear in national television specials. World-renowned jazz guitarist, singer and bandleader John Pizzarelli makes his Music by the Lake debut on July 12. Establishing himself as one of the prime interpreters of the Great American Songbook and beyond, he brings a cool jazz flavor to his performances. Pizzarelli has experienced a string of success with his albums and also
• See LINEUP Page 6
Page 6
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
• LINEUP from page 5
appeared as a special guest on recordings for Sir Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Ricky Lee Jones, Buddy DeFranco, Rosemary Clooney and more. He continues to tour worldwide performing classic pop, jazz and swing. Pop music with ABBA tribute and the BoDeans Hailing from Waukesha, legendary rock band the BoDeans perform on July 18. Known as one of the best live acts in the music industry, the band has entertained audiences for more than 20 years with their chart-topping hits such as “Closer to Free,” “Idaho” and “Fadeaway.” The energetic group has been honored by Rolling Stone and their legacy is part of a permanent display featuring Midwest artists at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. They continue to make new music, releasing their 12th studio album “I Can’t Stop” this April. The festival takes a trip back to the 1970s with one of the world’s most popular and best-selling ABBA tribute bands and the closest adaptation of Sweden’s biggest music export, which sold more than 400 million records. The band, Arrival from Sweden, makes its festival debut on Aug. 1 bringing the music, voices and costumes inspired by ABBA, as well as famous hits “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “Take a Chance on Me” and more. The band has toured and sold out venues across 48 nations and appeared in television shows worldwide. CCR closes the season Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Stu Cook and Doug “Cosmo” Clifford,
•
Darien
•
the original bassist and drummer for Creedence Clearwater Revival, celebrate the legendary rock band’s classic hits such as “Fortunate Son,” “Bad Moon Rising” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” on Aug. 8, closing the summer season. Reunited as Creedence Clearwater Revisited in 1995, the band has toured worldwide for more than 20 years amazing audiences with astounding concerts jam packed with hits that still remain staples on radio and throughout popular movie soundtracks today. The band has also reached a new generation of fans through their performances and their platinum-selling live album, “Recollection.” Creedence Clearwater Revisited adds a new chapter to Cook and Clifford’s legacy with vibrant and exhilarating energy, and pure American spirit. Family time Science and comedy meet with the July 26 debut of Doktor Kaboom in “Look out! Science is Coming!” The creation of actor/comedian David Epley, Doktor Kaboom is a physicist with a passion for science that knows no bounds. His improvisational skills and character driven one-man interactive show entertains all ages with explosive comedy, demonstrating that the foundations of scientific discovery are fun tools for everyone. For more than 20 years, Doktor Kaboom has toured the United States and Canada, encouraging audiences to express their awe of scientific demonstrations, to creatively explore the world around them, and discover that science and mathematics can be entertaining.
Allens Grove
•
Sharon
•
Arrival from Sweden
Fontana
•
Walworth
Lafayette
Delavan
SPRING 2015
•
• Lake Lorraine
Silver Lake
Best salt prices in town. Authorized Dealer for Over 60 Years 262-728-2731 • 262-723-2199
Mike Guiler
culligandelavan.com
Whitewater Lake
•
Doktor Kaboom
•
Williams Bay
North Lake
Wandawega Lake
•
Proudly serving the Delavan Lake and surrounding areas for over 60 years.
John Pizzarelli
190232
Sugar Creek • Elkhorn • Millard • Richmond • Turtle Lake
Michael Feinstein
SPRING 2015
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 7
The Belfry Theatre, built in 1888 as a Mormon church, will be restored to use as an active theater. The church portion with the belfry and red door will contain a lobby, restrooms and ticketing and concession areas. The brown Lindal cedar portion on the right, added on in 1967, will be a 250-seat theater and the 12-bedroom actor’s house (below, left) will be renovated.
Vicky Wedig
Photos by Wonders of Walworth County
Looking to
step back in time
O
The backstory The theater has been vacant since the late 1990s when Eddie Cash left the venue after performing his music show there for seven or eight years, Connors said. The original building – the white church portion with the belfry and red door – was built in 1888 as a place of worship for Mormon farmers in the area, Connors said. It was the only Mormon church in the state with members who belonged to the Iowa Saints and abhorred the Brighamite and Strangite doctrines, according to the building’s history at belfrymusictheatre.com.
Group hopes to restore theater to former glory
The church was abandoned in the 1920s when the Mormons retreated to Utah after a skirmish in Illinois, Connors said. In 1932, the church was turned into the first summer stock theater – a theater that presents stage productions in the summer – in Wisconsin. The theater put on four or five shows in a summer using all the same actors, Connors said. In the 1950s, the “actor’s house” was moved from the Crane Farm – in the area where Geneva National is now – and placed next to the church. The building was used to house migrant farm workers who picked from the orchards on the
Paul Newman
rganizers are nearly a third of the way to their goal of raising $1.8 million to restore the Belfry Theatre to active use. Transformative Arts – “a group of local Christians who would like to see great professional Broadway music” return to the Town of Delavan venue – bought the vacant building in November 2013, said Anne Connors, of Williams Bay, development director for the group. The group aims to raise $1.8 million to refurbish the 250-seat theater and 12-bedroom “actor’s house” next to it on Highway 67 at Bailey Road south of Highway 50 across from Mercy Walworth Hospital and Medical Center.
Harrison Ford
STAFF WRITER
Gary Burghoff
By Vicky Wedig
Crane Farm, according to the online history. In 1967, a Lindal cedar addition – the brown part of the building that extends toward Bailey Road – was built onto the church, Connors said. The same year, Highway 50 was widened, and the owners of the theater had to move the building back away from the road, she said. That cost and the cost of the addition – $25,000 at the time – forced the theater out of business, and it closed from 1969 to 1976. Connors said seven large boxes of photos and historical artifacts were inside
the building when Transformative Arts purchased it, and the group will sort and preserve the items. The cast Productions at the theater when they began in 1932 were delivered by the Belfry Players – a group of amateur actors, who originally formed as the Lake Geneva Drama Club, who received no pay for their performances, according to the theater’s history. Some well-known actors also graced the stage at the Belfry including Paul Newman in 1949; Del Close, coach to some of the best-known comedians of the late 20th century, in 1953; Gary Burghoff, “Radar” of “M*A*S*H,” in 1962; and Harrison Ford in 1964. When Ford graduated from Ripon College in 1964, the 22-year-old took his first job as an actor at the Belfry Theatre, Connors said. The young actor was very charming and a good singer as well as actor, she said. He was known to walk up and down the hill into Williams Bay from the theater. “He enjoyed the tavern and the friends he’d met along the lake,” Connors said. Ford eventually bought a scooter for his social trips down the hill into the Bay, she said. Allen Buzzell, 90, of Delavan, served
• See THEATER Page 16
Page 8
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
Since 1975
Steel Spiral Stairs Gates Railings & Fences
Lake Geneva’s Largest Liquor Store Salutes American Workers!
Custom Made Products Available
Best Fine Wines from Around the Globe d e t o V in our Expansive Wine Room Store r o u Liq
162 Walworth St. Genoa City, WI
Craft Beers • Full Liquor Section
Premium Cigars ~ Catering For Weddings Or Any Special Events
262.279.5927 (Phone) 262.279.5926 (Fax)
quor.com • 262-248-640 www.brunosli 7
Email: spirals@metalspirals.com
524 Broad Street Lake Geneva, WI Open 7 Days 9-9
www.metalspirals.com 199863
199229
TRADE UP TODAY!
FX SHO NanoXcel® 2 Hull * 3 Passenger * Reverse
YZF - R1 998cc * Inline Four Cylinder * Electronics
Our Biggest Upholstered Furniture Sale Event Is Here!
Now Through April 30
g Sprin SaleOFF
35%
Clayton Marcus • Bradington Young Highland House • Lexington • Lee • Norwalk ZUMA 50F Fuel Injection * 4 Stroke * 132 mpg
VIKING EPS 686 cc * 4WD * 3 Passenger
Visit MaXxx for All Your Seasonal Apparel, Accessories, Parts and Service Needs!
For In-Stock & Special Orders – Also Includes All Leather Recliners
Made in America Upholstery and Furniture Available
Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection. Observe all state and local laws. Respect the rights of others. Ride within your capabilities. Allow extra time and plenty of distance for maneuvering. Do not perform stunts. @2014 Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. All rights reserved. 190630
(262) 248-6268 • www.paperdollsinteriors.com Highways 12 & 120 • Geneva Square Mall • Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
198496
I-43 & Hwy 14, Darien, WI (262) 882-6299 www.maxxxmotorsports.com
Now serving: Subs
with Soldiers SPRING 2015
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 9
Area soldiers join to dine with residents of Inspiration Ministries By Kellen Olshefski STAFF WRITER
What began as a simple request from residents of Inspiration Ministries turned into an event that not only lifted the spirits of those living there, but also drafted new friendships when area soldiers came together to dine with the residents last Thursday. Sara Nolte – online community manager for Inspiration Ministries – said the Subs with Soldiers event March 26 began as an award for some of the residents, coming out of the establishment’s Health Bucks Auction program. She said when residents make healthy choices and go to activities, they earn Health Bucks, redeemable twice a year during Health Bucks auctions. “They can put them to really cool outings or different events that we have,” she said. This year, one of the popular bids was for an opportunity to sit down and dine with some area soldiers. “I knew this would be an event they would love, having the soldiers come all dressed up and tell stories of what kind of things they train for and where they came from and why they do what they do,” Nolte said. Staff Sgt. Brian Wolff said Nolte, who he knows through a mutual friend, originally stopped to talk with him about the event at the fair this past summer. As a recruiter in Elkhorn for the Army National Guard, Wolff said though he does a lot to recruit new soldiers, he finds it important to also hold at least one community event each year that isn’t recruiting oriented and gives him and area soldiers an opportunity to give back to the community. With eight to 10 residents interested in having Subway with a bunch of soldiers and having met a few of the residents himself, Wolff said he began to pull the event together. “So, I was like sure, you know what, I have a bunch of soldiers I’ve recruited and I have people I know,” he said. “A lot of us are family oriented and have had loved ones with either mental issues or physical issues, so it was just kind of our way to give back to them.”
• See SOLDIERS Page 11
PENNY GRUETZMACHER Wonders of Walworth County
Pfc. Mariana Aranda, from Elkhorn, and Pvt. Haley Waite, from Walworth, serve Inspiration Ministries resident, Faith, when area soldiers joined residents for lunch. Aranda is a supply specialist and Waite is a mechanic. The soldiers answered questions and served the residents first before dining themselves.
PIER 290
BAR • BEACH • RESTAURANT Farm to Fork • Lunch and Dinner 1 Liechty Drive | Williams Bay, WI
262.245.2100 | PIER290.com 198471
Page 10
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
Live Visit Be Now Two Locations to Better Serve You • Williams Bay
Imagine your perfect romantic getaway with chilled champagne & chocolate dipped strawberries, double whirlpools & cozy fireplaces & luxurious robes.
36 W. Geneva St. 262-649-9115 • BURliNGTON
Located on the West Side of Lake Geneva at W4033 Hwy. 50
262-275-3322
For more pictures and online reservations visit www.lazycloud.com
www.bearrealty.com
166348
565 Milwaukee Ave. 262-763-8116 190394
the Western Shore of Geneva Lake TIM GRAMLY Commercial • Residential • Installation • Repairs Carpet • Vinyl • Ceramic • Hardwood
262.275.5102 • chamber@genevalakewest.com www.GenevaLakeWest.com
190723
262.728.6200 • 438 Wright Street, Delavan, WI 53115 www.fourseasonsflooringInc.com
199379
Times
Walworth Fontana Williams Bay
Donate Your Boat or Car DONATE YOUR USED CAR OR BOAT AND HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
For advertising contact
262-374-9175
262.725.7701 x128
jstearns@southernlakesnewspapers.com
Get a tax deduction with your hassle free donation. 190893
166295
JACKIE STEARNS
328 Kenosha St., Walworth, WI 262-275-2171 • www.toyntonfuneralhome.com
199332
175 Valley View Drive, Fontana, WI 53125
www.InspirationMinistries.org 190709
“We Do Metal Roofing”
Voted Walworth County’s Best Voted Remodeling Contractor Four Years in a Row!
Walworth County’s Best Remodeling Contractor Four Years In a Row!
Perfecting of
800.410.8027 • StebnitzBuilders.com
166542 190754
the
mywalworth county.com 156747
(815) 385-2621
Free Estimates Shingle Roofing Flat Roofing Siding Gutters 199333
The Rauland Agency, Inc. -REALTORS® www.raulandagency.com 262-275-2185
199581
SPRING 2015
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
• SOLDIERS from page 9 Wolff said he put the idea out on Facebook and with interest from numerous soldiers was able to pull together a group of eight available to head down to Inspiration Ministries. For the ten who redeemed their Health Bucks for the event, Wolff said they brought along shirts and hats, a little something for the residents to remember the soldiers’ visit last week. Though only residents who redeemed their Health Bucks were allowed to join the soldiers for lunch, Nolte said all residents were invited later in the day for a brief presentation from the soldiers who attended and a chance to mingle with them afterwards. “They all had a story, some reason why they wanted us there,” Wolff said. “They were all really cool and respectful.”
PENNY GRUETZMACHER Wonders of Walworth County
Staff Sgt. Brian Wolff, recruiter from the Army National Guard stationed in Elkhorn, served Inspiration Ministries residents Charma and Bonnie cookies after their sub meal. Residents decorated the table with a “Thank You For Serving” sign, signed by all the residents.
Looking back Nolte said residents were thrilled about the event and it’s something they hope to do again in the future. “They absolutely loved it, I’m still hearing about it today,” she said Monday. “They want it to happen again for the next option, which goes on in the end of April.” Wolff said the soldiers who participated have echoed those sentiments, noting they couldn’t be happier. “Every single one of the residents we talked to, they all had a story and it was awesome,” he said. “Every single one of my guys and girls left with a smile on their face, saying, ‘that was awesome, I’d do that again.’”
Page 11
Wolff said it’s definitely something the group would do again and he’s already looking to do something a little bit different for the residents. Wolff said some of the group of soldiers who joined him are even now in phone contact with some of the residents, noting one of his younger recruits who works for the Dancing Horses. “Well, one of the residents was like, ‘I get to go out, I like horses,’” he said. “So, it’s really kind of cool that they’re going to carry on relationships outside of just the one event.” Wolff said the event was “awesome,” allowing area soldiers to focus on the needs of others. “I think it kind of demonstrates the way that we are as soldiers in the National Guard for Wisconsin,” he said. “I’m not going to promote and say that we do it for the recognition, because it wasn’t even about that, honestly. Nobody could have known about it but us and the residents and I’d still do it again in a heartbeat.” Nolte said she thinks it’s really important people are exposed to people with disabilities and that seeing other community members, such as the soldiers, come out to make a difference in the lives of the residents of inspiration ministries is a good thing for all. “I think it’s so important for people to see the impact others make in these amazing peoples’ lives,” she said. “Every soldier was so good with the residents and you could tell their hearts were devoted to making the residents happy. “It’s acts of kindness like this that makes life so wonderful.”
DON’T MISS THE BOAT!
full lake tours
u.s. mailboat tours
ice cream social • scenic boat tours • historic tours • meal tours
CRUISELAKEGENEVA.COM APRIL TO NOVEMBER
AT THE RIVIERA DOCKS LAKE GENEVA, WI 262.248-6206 • 800.558.5911
198472
Page 12
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
The Dancing horses
393 N Edwards Blvd. Lake Geneva, Wis.
Wisconsin’s #1 Must see attraction!
(262) 248-3637
$
2.50 OFF Adult Tickets Only Regular Price Adults $27.50 Children 12 $ Under $15.00 • Code: WOW
Hours 11:30 a.m.3 p.m., 4:30-8 p.m.
For TicKeTs: call 262-728-8200 online at www.thedancinghorses.com And don’t forget our other on-site attraction... Animal Gardens & Petting Zoo: Open May - October Dancing Horses: Open Year ’Round 5065 State Road 50, Delavan, WI 5 miles west of Lake Geneva 262-728.8200 166491
Lots of frEE parkiNG Open 363 days a year (Closed Christmas & New Year’s Day)
www.redgeraniumrestaurant.com
156469
B&J Tree & Landscape Service, Inc.
Distinctive Landscape & Hardscape Design and Installation
Hwys. 12 & 120 • Exit 328 on US 12 Lake Geneva, WI • 1 1/4 miles North of Downtown 100 E. Geneva Square
in the Geneva Square ShoppinG Center
Snow Removal ~ Firewood ~ Planting ~ Lawn Maintenance Seeding ~ Brick Pavers ~ Patios ~ Retaining Walls *Fully Insured *Free Estimates *Since 1959
190763
(262) 248-8798
VOTED #1 LANDSCAPER
Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. 7 Days
CARS WANTED!
Deep Tissue
Actively Buying Cars for Over 20 Years... Any Condition!
Swedish Couples GIFT CERTIFICATES
190882
W2795 Krueger Road • Lake Geneva • (262) 248-3653 • bj.tree@att.net
Fast Payment & Pick Up! Generous Finder’s Fees!
For advertising contact
Aromatherapy
JACKIE STEARNS
www.lakegenevamassagetherapy.com
262.725.7701 x128
(262) 249-1230
Jaguar, Xk-XKE, MG T series; MGA Triumph TR-2-3-4-250; Mercedes 190, 220, 230, 250, 280SL; Porsche 356, 911, 914; Austin Healy; Riley; Alfa-Romeo; Singer, Mustang 1964-1967; Model T, A
Also Other Interesting European & American Made Cars
jstearns@southernlakesnewspapers.com
905 Marshall St. • Lake Geneva, IL 166142
630-553-9023 • email sbcinc@aol.com
167115
179539
Voted #1 Heating & Cooling Contractor 5 Years Running! Voted #1 Plumbing & Electrical Contractor 2 Years Running!
www.peckandweis.com fREE EstimatEs • fast REliablE sERViCE 2506 Crest Drive Lake Geneva, WI 53147 262.248.6836 • FAX: 262.248.1490
More people get comfortable with us!
190726
Thumbs up To Car Care You Can TrusT!
Front to Back... Complete Automotive Repairs We invite you to experience our dedication to you and your vehicle
Comprehensive Auto Care and Complete Tire Center Quality Guarantee • Imports & Domestic
Autoworks Plus
www.autoworksplus.net
334 Interchange N. • Lake Geneva, WI (Just off Hwy 12 on Exit 328)
And Tire Center
199417
200969
262•248•4272
SPRING 2015
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 13
Photos by KELLEN OLSHEFSKI Wonders of Walworth County
Left: Chris Wells, a sophomore at Elkhorn Area High School, appreciates the importance of providing fish plenty of places to hide and the role of water movement in helping them exercise. Inset: Wells’ tank provides plenty of cover for his fish, such as the Coeruleus, a cichlid from Malawi Lake in Africa, pictured here peeking out from an alcove.
PEEK at the CREATURES of the deep Taking a
Elkhorn high schooler becomes adept at tending his aquarium By Kellen Olshefski STAFF WRITER
F
or some people throwing a goldfish into a bowl full of water, then adding colored gravel and fake plants is enough to say they have an aquarium. For others like Chris Wells – a sophomore at Elkhorn Area High School – owning one fish is not enough and it all soon blooms into a full-blown hobby. Wells took up the hobby, starting with a small 10-gallon tank and the help of a family friend who cleans and maintains fish tanks around the area. Wells has now moved up to a 50-gallon tank set up in his bedroom, stocked with Ahlis and Coeruleus, a bright yellow cichlid that comes from Malawi Lake in Africa. “I’ve had everything from guppies to cichlids,” he said. His first tank is now on display in one of the high school’s science rooms.
All sorts of variety
W8896 County Hwy. A, Delavan (608) 883-2100
Wells said the different colors of the fish, fiddling around with the tank and
• See CREATURES Page 18
Check out our hours at www.stallerestate.com
Stop in to enjoy Complimentary Wine Tasting Relax with a glass of wine and a cheese platter in our sunroom and gazebo looking out at the vineyard. NEW Wines • NEW Food Options Wine Flights • Delicious Picnic Platters Wine & Chocolate Pairings Enjoy a Picnic Overlooking the Vineyard or Bring a Blanket to Savor Your Wine in the Vineyard
1 BEDROOM SUITES IN-ROOM JACUZZI, FULL KITCHENS FIREPLACE, IN-ROOM SAFES INDOOR POOL W/WHIRLPOOL FREE HIGH SPEED INTERNET UNDERGROUND PARKING
RENT OUR FACILITY FOR:
Ask About Our Romance Package 199583
• Birthday Parties • Bridal Showers • Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties • Group Outings • Family Gatherings Groups and Buses Welcome TO GET ALL OF OUR UP TO DATE EVENT INFO
199413
THE MILL CREEK HOTEL 123 CENTER STREET, LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147 www.MillCreekHotel.com 877-MCH-LGWI • (877-624-5494)
Page 14
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
Things to do
MAY
Springtime at Old World Wisconsin – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, at Old World Wisconsin, S103 W37890 Highway 67, Eagle. Springtime fun for the whole family on the 19th and 20th-century farmyards and homesteads including shearing sheep, plowing fields, cooking, building and flying kites and the arrival of baby animals. Check website for details about daily activities. 1-3 Just Between Friends Spring/ Summer Sale – children’s and maternity consignment sales event (9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Aug. 2 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Aug. 3) at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, North Hall building, 411 E. Court St. (262) 949-7083 2 Kentucky Derby Party – 1:30-6p.m. at Evergreen Golf Club, N6246 Highway 12. (262) 723-5722 3 Bustle Hustle 5K Run/Walk and children’s 1K race – 8:30 a.m. at Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 Highway 67, Eagle. Participants receive a T-shirt, museum admission voucher and a healthy snack. Prizes awarded to top finishers in each age division, and all 1K youth runners. (262) 5946301 or www.oldworldwisconsin. wisconsinhistory.org 2 Opening Day of Fishing Season – on all inland Wisconsin waters. Licenses and regulations apply. 3, 4 Motorcycle racing – at Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., 6 p.m. (262) 723-3228 7 Wisconsin Walking Horse Show – at 10 a.m. at the Walworth County
Area farmers markets Whitewater Farmer’s Market The Whitewater Farmers’ Market is every Saturday from 8 a.m. until sell out, May through November, rain or shine, in the parking lot at the Winchester True Value Hardware, 1415 W. Main St. East Troy Farmer Market The East Troy Farmers Market is every Friday, from 3 to 7 p.m., May 22 through Oct. 2, on the downtown village square. Lake Geneva Farmers Market The Lake Geneva Farmers Market is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday, May through October at Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St. (414) 759-5615 Walworth County Farmers Market The Walworth County Farmers Market is every Saturday, starting June 6, from 8 a.m. to noon in Veterans Park, on the courthouse square in Elkhorn. (262) 741-4961
LISA HEIDELMEIER Wonders of Walworth County
Nina Spacek helps her daughter Avery bite into her first sweet corn of the season at the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce’s 38th annual Corn and Brat Roast Memorial Day weekend 2014. The East Troy Chamber’s annual Community-wide Rummage Sale also runs Memorial Day weekend. Fairgrounds, Highway 11. (920) 7254455 6, 20 Limber Timbers Square Dance Club – dancing from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Elkhorn Area Middle School, 627 E. Court St. Cost is $5 per adult, $2 per child. (262) 275-6373 or www. limbertimbers.org 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 “Hello Dolly” – performance by Lakeland Players, Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m., Sunday performances at 3 p.m. at the Walworth County Performing Arts Center, 15 W. Walworth St. Cost is $12. (262) 728-5578 or www.lakelandplayers.org 16 Educators Credit Union Block Party – from 12 to 3 p.m. at 611 E. Geneva St. featuring children’s activities, blow-up fun house, food, raffles and m ore. Radio station Lake 96.1 will be doing a remote broadcast from the event. Proceeds to benefit Elkhorn Area High School. (262) 743-1800 16 Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert – Sibelius 2/ Bernstein. Event will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Calvary Community Church, Harris Road and Highway 50 in Lake Geneva. Tickets are $12. www. lakegenevaorchestra.org 16 Lake Geneva 2015 Kitchen Walk – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Area chefs will prepare food in the kitchens of some of the premiere estates in Lake Geneva. The event benefits Walworth County Food Pantry, Open Arms Free
Clinic and many others. Tickets are exchanged for itineraries at The Hunt Club at Geneva National 9:45-11 a.m. The Wine Down is at Hunt Club at Geneva National 4-6 p.m. Tickets are $100. Order tickets by calling (888) 663-3729. 17 Antique Flea Market – at 7 a.m. at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, Highway 11, 7 a.m. Cost is $5. (414) 525-0820 or www.nlpromotionsllc.com 22-25 Burlington ChocolateFest – all day on ChocolateFest grounds. Chocolate activities, midway, games, food. www.chocolatefest.com 23-24 East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce’s 24th annual Community-Wide Rummage Sale Saturday – Sunday, May 23-24, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., hosted by the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce. www. easttroy.org 23-25 East Troy Area Chamber of Commerces’ 39th annual Corn & Brat Roast, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday on the village square. Roasted sweet corn, brats, hot dogs, burgers, soda, beer and live entertainment. www. easttroy.org 25 Elkhorn Memorial Day Parade – downtown Elkhorn beginning at 11:30 a.m. (262) 203-2434 25 Whitewater Memorial Day Parade – Whitewater; time to be determined 25 East Troy Memorial Day
Observances by American Legion Loomis-Martin Post 188. Parade begins at 10:30 a.m., ending on the village square with a ceremony. (262) 470-4694 29 Lutherdale Fish Fry – 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Lutherdale Camp, N7891 Highway 12. Ticket cost for adults is $12, $7 for children 12 and younger. (262) 7422352 30 Lauderdale Aqua Skiers performance – Future team at 5:30 p.m., main team at 6 p.m. on Don Jean Bay. www.aquaskiers.com 31 Celebrate Wisconsin Folklife – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Old World Wisconsin, S103 W37890 Highway 67, Eagle. Enjoy music, dance, storytelling, food and crafts that celebrate the rich folk traditions that make Wisconsin unique. (262) 594-6300 or www. oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory. org
JUNE 3, 17 Limber Timbers Square Dance Club – dancing from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Darien Senior Center, 37 Park St., Darien. Cost is $5 per adult, $2 per child. (262) 275-6373 or www. limbertimbers.org 5 Night Under the Lights – hosted by the Elkhorn Parks and Recreation Department, 5 p.m. at Harris Park, Wright Street. (262) 741-5114
• See CALENDAR Page 17
SPRING 2015
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 15
the trend Robotics clubs in one local area attract more girls than boys By Tracy Ouellette EDITOR
he statistics say young women aren’t entering STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields at the same rate as young men. In fact, the Department of Commerce’s “Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation” (August 2011) showed only 24 percent of the STEM workforce is made up of women, even though women earn on average 33 percent more when they work in those high-growth fields. “One of the things that I really strongly believe in is that we need to have more girls interested in math, science, and engineering,” President Barack Obama said in 2013. “We’ve got half the population that is way underrepresented in those fields and that means that we’ve got a whole bunch of talent … not being encouraged the way they need to.” The movement to increase female participation in the STEM fields trickles down from the White House all the way to local schools. In East Troy, there is a concerted effort in the School District to get all children more involved in STEM clas-ses. Every sixth grader at East Troy Middle School has been required to take the robotics class since the 2013-14 school year. There are also elective robotics class offered in seventh and eight grade, which are very well attended, said Amy Foszpanczyk, director of curriculum and instruction in the district. The Patronum Bots, one of the robotics teams in East Troy, assists in these classes. “We have at least two (sometimes three) team members helping in the classrooms every day to assist the teachers and students,” Shawn Hunter, club advisor, said. The other robotics club in the district is eTREC (East Troy Robotics and Engineering Club). While the rest of the nation struggles to get more girls interested in things like robotics, the East Troy clubs have far more girls participating than boys. The Patronum Bots is an all-girl team with Caitlin Hunter, seventh grade; Brianna Fridley, 10th grade; Rachel Hunter, 11th grade; Emerson Dignan, 10th grade and Lauren Hunter, ninth grade. The eTREC team is at three members with two boys and one girl – Joey Finch, eighth grade; Tim Zinniker, 11th grade; and Meghan Griffin, 10th grade. Nik Prusinski, who attends St. Francis High School in Milwaukee, left the team after its season ended, but may be back next year. But it’s Griffin who’s the unofficial leader of the eTREC group. “I think it’s because she’s so passionate about it,” Tim Griffin, eTREC advisor and dad to Meghan, said. “She just gets so excited by what they’re doing and naturally takes the lead.” Meghan, who has hopes of attending MIT and becoming a mechanical engineer, said she loves to work with her hands and watch the progression of the team’s work throughout the season. “This is something we need to promote in our schools,” Tim Griffin said. “We need to encourage the girls to get
TRACY OUELLETTE Wonders of Walworth County
Above: eTREC (East Troy Robotics and Engineering Club) teammates Meghan Griffin and Joey Finch demonstrate how the team’s robot “Borg” operates. The team of Griffin, Finch, Tim Zinniker (from left) and Nik Prusinski constructed the robot for the FIRST Tech Challenge 2014-15 competition season. At right: Griffin, Zinniker and Finch work on the club’s summer project, an automated soda dispenser.
involved. There are women in the field that aren’t just reaching the glass ceiling, they’re breaking through and our girls need to know they can too.” Both the Patronum Bots and eTREC teams have been competing in the 2014-15 FIRST Tech Challenge (see related article on this page). The worldwide challenge, Cascade Effect, was put to the students last September, and the teams began work immediately. The goal this season was to build a robot that could pick up balls in the challenge court and deposit them into a storage container. The teams followed the engineering process beginning with brainstorming on how they might solve the problem, building a prototype then a proof of concept (a functional build), tweaking that concept in the final design stage and then moving on to the final build. The eTREC team used things such as 3D printers to
custom make parts of their robots and had to record their progress each step of the way in a project notebook that goes with them for every competition. “It’s our specialized Book of Knowledge that teaches us everything we need to know,” Finch said. It’s a time-consuming process that takes the kids months to complete before heading into the competition phase in January and February. The eTREC team brought home the Inspire Award from the FIRST FTC Wisconsin Qualifying tournament in Madison Jan. 25 and advanced to the state tournament in Milwaukee Feb. 7. The team’s season ended at the state tourney, when their robot “Borg” wasn’t able to complete the challenge and they did not advance.
• See ROBOTICS Page 17
Page 16
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
• THEATER from page 7 12 years on the Belfry Players board ending in 1967 and – by the flip of a coin – ended up with a backstage role during Ford’s performance of “Damn Yankees.” “My biggest thing was I was on stage with Harrison Ford, and I got the playbill to prove it,” he said. Buzzell’s son, Greg Buzzell, of Minocqua, worked all summer with Ford and provided Transformative Arts with a picture of the “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” actor from his performance in “Little Miss Sunshine” at the Belfry Theatre. “Harrison Ford was Harrison Ford back then,” Allen Buzzell said. “He was a budding actor and very good.” Buzzell said Ford also was one of the lead carpenters at the theater, having done carpentry work for a living before acting. Buzzell’s son, Brian Buzzell, of Delavan, performed on stage with Burghoff at Delavan-Darien High School. Burghoff graduated from D-DHS in 1962, Buzzell said. Burghoff performed at the Belfry, and his mother, Ann Burghoff, was a choreographer at the theater for many years – including during Ford’s time there. The box office Transformative Arts has raised $550,000 to date. It had a bell-ringing fundraiser in October when 91 people turned out to ring the bell for $5 each. “It’s tradition to ring the bell before each show,” Connors said. She said many people who came to
ring the bell remembered going to the Belfry Theatre as children or worked there when they were younger. Another fundraiser, Laughter Heals – a gala dinner at Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva – is being planned for Aug. 1. Connors said Transformative Arts is partnering with Mercy for the event that will feature undisclosed special attractions. The group is looking to raise $1.8 million to refurbish the theater and actor’s house and is seeking corporate sponsorships, monetary donations, inkind gifts and volunteers. Connors said the group has been in contact with publicists for Ford and Burghoff with the hope that a successful actor with ties to the theater would make a significant contribution to restore the facility. So far the group has had no luck but would like to honor the actors in some way regardless of whether it receives contributions. “My vision is to have a historical timeline on one of our walls,” Connors said. The group is creating a brochure for individuals and corporations to sign up for memberships that range from $25 for student level to $10,000 or more to become a Ford Challenger. Each membership level comes with benefits that include acknowledgement in the playbill, discounts on tickets, passes for Belfry family events, use of the facility’s terrace for a private function and the opportunity to sponsor a show. Connors said the group also is gathering donations of furniture and
building materials such as windows, roofing materials, drywall and kitchen cabinets. Someone replacing kitchen cabinets, for example, Connors said, could donate the cabinets being removed to the theater. The actor’s house has two full kitchens that need to be replaced. Volunteer artists, plumbers, masons and drywallers are also being sought. The group will have “volunteer Saturdays” from May through October during which volunteers can sign up to help in their areas of expertise, Connors said. Eighteen people per Saturday can sign up to volunteer on the theater’s website at belfrymusictheatre.com. When show production begins, the group will look for in-kind donors like homeowners to offer rooms in their homes to house traveling actors or producers, Connors said. The next scene Initial work in May will focus on the theater, which is housed in the brown 1967 addition. “It’s completely gutted,” Connors said. Renderings show a stage and 250-seat theater with removable rows of seats to make room for dance performances on the floor in front of the stage, Connors said. The group also is looking for donated seating. The white church portion of the building will be the lobby and ticketing area with restrooms and a concession area that will serve hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine. Connors said she hopes that much of the simple architecture and hand-
craftsmanship of the Mormon farmers in the 1880s can be preserved. “You can tell a lot of it is hand-hewn,” she said. “The oak rafters are good, solid, beautiful wood.” The first act Connors took a trip to Broadway to look at productions going on the road in 2015 and 2016. She said most theaters in Wisconsin are now booking through Christmas. Being a small theater, the Belfry will need to book productions in conjunction with other similar-size theaters in the state to make tickets affordable. Connors said an average show costs about $2,500 to bring in, and a better show will run about $5,000. To avoid charging $100 per ticket to pay for the shows, Connors has made connections with the Wisconsin Presenters Association and the Illinois Presenters Association to book productions around the same time as other theaters in Wisconsin and Illinois and keep ticket prices affordable. Connors said she wants to quash the rumor that Transformative Arts, a Christian organization made up of members of Calvary Community Church, intends to bring in only Christian shows. While some shows might have a Christian theme, Connors said the idea is an offshoot of community theater to bring in professional music and drama. “It’s really bringing in high-quality theater from off Broadway,” she said. Connors said she expects shows to begin in June 2016.
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 6a
.m. to 10 p.m .
Your Full Service Grocery Store A CUT ABOVE THE REST • Full Deli Department, Party Trays Available • Fresh Salad and Hot Food Bar • Produce Delivered Fresh Daily • Full Service Meat Department, Will Cut To Order • In-House Bakery, Custom Cakes • Floral Arrangements and Plants for All Occasions • Complete Liquor, Wine & Beer Department
Conveniently Located
LAKE GENEVA 100 East Geneva Square in the Geneva Square Shopping Center
262-248-8798 DELAVAN 1414 E. Geneva St. in the Shopko Shopping Center
262-728-2638 Stinebrink’s Liquor Store (Next Door)
Largest Liquor Store in the Area
262-740-0541
190230
• CALENDAR from page 14
6 Vintage Base Ball: Eagle Diamonds – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with game at 1:30 p.m. Celebrate America’s favorite pastime and enjoy an old-fashioned game at Old World Wisconsin, S103 W37890 Highway 67, Eagle. (262) 594-6300 or www.oldworldwisconsin. wisconsinhistory.org
6, 7 Free Fishing Weekend – on all Wisconsin waters. No license required. 7, 28 Wisconsin Walking Horse Show – at 8 a.m. at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, Highway 11. (262) 7233228
Concert – free open-air concert at Elkhorn’s historic band shell in Sunset Park, 7:30 p.m. (262) 741- 5114 13 Annual Walworth County Farm Bureau Breakfast – from 6 a.m. to noon, children younger than 5 eat for free. Huge menu and lots of activities, as well as a farm tour all at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, Highway 11. (262) 723-3228
12, 13 Rummage sale – city-wide
15-30 The World of Little House – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Old World Wisconsin, S103 W37890 Highway 67, Eagle. Daily activities that let visitors live like Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Ingalls family and friends. Dress as a character from one of the Little House on the Prairie books and receive a discount on admission. (262) 594-6300 or www. oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory. org
12, 19, 26 Holton-Elkhorn Band
18 Walworth County Fair’s Pork Chop
6, 13, 20, 27 Lauderdale Aqua Skiers performance – Future team at 5:30 p.m., main team at 6 p.m. on Don Jean Bay. www.aquaskiers.com
• ROBOTICS from page 15
The Cascade Effect challenge FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international, K-12 not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, launched its 2014-15 FIRST Tech Challenge season with an online game reveal last fall. FTC teams gathered at 52 international kickoff events to get a first glimpse of this season’s game: Cascade Effect. An estimated 44,500 students on 4,450 teams around the world participated in the 2014-15 FTC season. FIRST Tech Challenge is a robotics program for grades 7 through 12 that promotes project-based learning. Using a proven formula to engage student interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), FTC is one of the fastest-growing programs of its kind. FTC is scalable and easily integrates into the classroom with measurable results. FIRST teams collaborate with business, engineering, and science professionals, and working together, become a focal point of the community in which they live. “Like all FIRST programs, FIRST Tech Challenge is about more than robots,” said Donald E. Bossi, FIRST president. “Through their participation, students learn the value of hard work and creative problem-solving. As they tackle Cascade Effect this season, FIRST Tech Challenge teams must work together, share ideas, and understand that failure is part of the road to success – much like a ‘real-world’ engineering project they would encounter in the workforce.” Using a combination of motors, controllers, wireless communications, metal gears, and sensors, including infrared tracking and magnet seeking, students will program their robots to operate in both autonomous and driver-controlled modes on a specially designed field. The object of the 2014-15 game was to score more points than an opponent by placing balls into rolling goals and then moving goals into scoring areas. Points can also be awarded when balls are shot into a center goal. For more information, visit www.usfirst. org.
But that’s okay with the kids. “We learn so much more from our mistakes than our successes,” Meghan said. “We really do.” “Borg had a very good record of crawling up the wall like Spider-Man and flopping over in shame,” Finch said, explaining the problem the team had with the robot and how it kept catching on part of a ramp and ending up on its side. The eTREC teammates took it all in stride and say the things they learned this year will help them next year and it was worth all the hard work they put into it. “I was impressed when they showed the same enthusiasm and sense of accomplishment after coming in last at the second tournament as they did when they received the Inspire Award, at the first tournament,” Tim Griffin said. “They have
SPRING 2015
Cookout – featuring Country Idol Preliminaries and Crowning of 2012 Fairest of the Fair from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, Highway 11. (262) 723-3228 18 Concerts in the Park at Cravath Lakefront Park, Whitewater, 7 p.m. Free concert, children programs and hands on activities. 19 Lutherdale Fish Fry – 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Lutherdale Camp, N7891 Highway 12. Ticket cost for adults is $12, $7 for children 12 and younger. (262) 7422352 19-20 Pig in the Park – Whitewater’s Pig in the Park State Championship BBQ Cook-Off at Cravath Lakefront Park, 341 S. Fremont St., Whitewater. Free admission, local live music, Wisconsin brews, activities for kids and more.
come a long way and are very eager to do it all again next year.” Tim Griffin has the kids working on a summer project to keep their skills sharp for next season. They’re building an automated soda dispenser, which has to include parts from this season’s challenge project and be programmable. Patronum Bots still competing The Patronum Bots are still in the run for a FIRST Tech Challenge championship. They won the Inspire Award (which automatically advanced them to the next round) at the Iowa’s Wild Card Qualifier. The team won the Iowa FTC Championship March 6-7 and traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, March 26-28 to compete in the FTC North Super
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 17
19 The East Troy Cycling Classic is officially back for its fourth year with the Tour of America’s Dairyland, June 18-28. East Troy’s downtown square is transformed into a professional cycling venue for the day. The 2015 Tour of America’s Dairyland is set for June 18-28. www.eastroy.org 21 Early Harness Races – noon at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, Highway 11. (262) 723-3228 28 Antique Flea Market – at 7 a.m. at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, Highway 11, 7 a.m. Cost is $5. (414) 525-0820 or www.nlpromotionsllc.com Although we make every attempt to provide accurate information regarding area events, dates and times may change or events may be cancelled. We suggest you confirm events before you finalize your travel plans.
Regional. The girls were part of the Tinker Division alliance at the Super Regional and qualified for the FTC World Championship. The Patronum Bots be in St. Louis, Mo., April 22-25 to compete at the FTC World Championship, where only 128 out of over 3,500 FTC teams worldwide get a chance to compete against the best teams from around the world, Hunter said. “At the start of the season the girls set some very challenging goals for themselves. However, they have positioned themselves well to be able to achieve those goals at the Super Regional and World Championship competitions. The girls have worked hard to earn the success they have achieved so far and we are excited to see how the rest of the season unfolds,” Hunter added.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Wonders of Walworth County
The Patronum Bots – Caitlin Hunter (from left), Rachel Hunter, Emerson Dignan, Brianna Fridley and Lauren Hunter – have a little fun with one of the components of the 2014-15 FIRST Tech Challenge, the Cascade Effect. The Patronum Bots are still competing and will travel to St. Louis, Mo., April 22-25 to compete in the FTC World Championship.
Page 18
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
• CREATURES from page13 maintaining it are only a few of the many things that keep his passion burning. “Some people don’t like cleaning the tank, but it’s something I love doing because I’m a hands-on guy,” he said. Wells thinks aquariums have become a bigger hobby over the past few years, including saltwater tanks – often containing live coral. Wells said many are downsizing their captive coral collections, though, in an attempt to stop harvesting of coral from reefs in the world’s oceans. People who own live coral are breaking it down into smaller pieces and selling it among other hobbyists. Steering away from saltwater tanks means many are starting to collect freshwater fish. “I think the freshwater hobby is really booming right now because a lot of people are getting into it, it’s fairly easy, inexpensive and it’s just a lot of fun to have,” he said. Wells said he would definitely recommend a smaller freshwater tank for any family, due to its fairly easy maintenance and low cost. Though he said he’s not pursuing it as a career path, Wells said he plans to always have a fish tank in his house. “It’s a fun thing to look at. It’s a relaxing thing and if you get really good at it, you can breed the fish,” Wells said, pointing out a batch of young Coeruleus he recently hatched and is raising for his tank. “You can sell the babies and get more money for the hobby. It’s a cycle.”
Setting up a tank
To date, Wells has tried his hand at both fresh and saltwater tanks. While saltwater tanks have become more popular in recent years now that smaller tanks are more feasible, Wells recently took his down
because they can get quite expensive. Wells said aqua-scaping – the way plants, rocks and the sand/gravel base are laid out – can play an important role in the activity of the fish. By giving the fish more places to hide, Wells said the fish will actually be more active, spending more time in sight because the fish feel more secure. “The more hiding places you have, the less they will hide,” he said. Wells said it took him some time to set up the rocks in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and serves a purpose, stacking and restacking several times. While he said it might look like a bunch of stacked rocks, he set it up so the fish had alcoves and crevices to dip in and out of. Additionally, he had to keep in mind the fish he keeps actually dig out a sand bed below overhangs, carrying sand in their mouth to another location in the tank. “It takes a little effort,” he said. Lighting also plays an important role in keeping a successful aquarium. Wells currently uses a 40-inch 50/50 fluorescent one-bulb fixture, giving a nice mix of blue and white light. Wells said blue bulbs can have a nice effect in saltwater aquariums, while white bulbs are beneficial when trying to grow live plants in an aquarium. Wells has two SunSun Wavemaker pumps that can be hooked up to a Wavemaker box, causing the pumps to pulsate giving the tank a more natural flow and feel. While only one is a necessity, Wells said he has two, which adds to the flow of water in the tank. Wells said while water flow is more important in saltwater tanks, water flow in a freshwater tank also has its purpose – not only providing a pleasant aesthetic aspect, but also giving fish a current to swim against, giving them exercise and keeping them active. “It’ll keep them moving around,
swimming against the current,” he said. Additionally, Wells said heaters and filters play important roles in an aquarium, helping to keep the water at a safe and comfortable temperature for the fish and keep the tank clean and waste-free.
Selecting livestock
Wells said when selecting fish for a tank, there’s many options of not only what kind of fish to get, but also where to get them. Wells said he’s purchased fish from stores like Petco and PetSmart in the past and has even gone through breeders in the Lake Geneva area. However what’s more important is doing a little research before throwing a bunch of fish together in a tank. Wells said fish come in three levels of compatibility: community, semi-aggressive and aggressive. He said it’s advisable not to mix fish from different levels. “If you put a community fish with an aggressive fish, guess what’s going to happen,” he said. “The aggressive fish are going to kill the community fish. “You can mix and match some fish, but you have to do some research.” Wells suggested looking up a compatibility chart to see which fish will mesh well with each other. Some fish species also can be more difficult to care for and might require extra attention or special treatment. Wells also said it’s important to research how large a fish can get and how many gallons a fish needs for movement and gaining territories for itself. Finally, Wells said while ordering fish online is possible, he doesn’t suggest it as there’s no guarantee the fish will survive shipment. Going to a local pet store allows
buyers to make sure the fish is healthy, find out what and how much the fish is eating per day, what the fish need to thrive and receive immediate answers to any questions they might have about caring for the fish.
Maintaining a tank
Once a tank is set up, it’s not going to take care of itself and there is still work to be done, such as cleaning and feeding, Wells said. When it comes to feeding, Wells said it’s important to monitor the activity of the fish and how much they eat, as overfeeding can have a negative effect on the tank. Too much food in the tank leads to more waste and more work, as the filter will have to be cleaned on a more regular basis. “You have to try it first and see how much they’ll eat,” he said. “If there’s excess food, don’t feed them a second time, let them pick it off the bottom.” Wells said a tank should typically be cleaned once a week, cleaning the glass, sand and changing out a portion of the water with clean water during the process.
Words of Wisdom
Finally, Wells said when questions come up, the best way to find help is to ask. “You just have to ask around,” he said. “Go to your local pet store. They know what they’re talking about.” He said he can’t emphasize enough that it takes a little effort to make an aquarium a positive experience. “If you don’t put in a little effort, you won’t enjoy it, you won’t get the full gist of what it’s going to give you,” he said. “It’s like a car; you take care of the car, the car’s going to take care of you. You take care of the fish tank, the fish tank’s going to take care of you.”
Spectator Parking off Mound Road
at Lake Lawn Resor t Airstrip $5 with Shuttle Servic e
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Lake Lawn Resort SATURDAY, JULY 11 LAKE LAWN RESORT
Car Show Highlights
10:30 am: Road Tour to Winery - limited participants 11 am-3 pm: Free Gimmick Road Rally, winner announced at the BBQ Buffet 7-11 pm: Summer BBQ Buffet, cash bar, lake side bonfire, $23 inclusive. PHOENIX PARK BANDSHELL 7 pm: FREE Concert ~ Beatolution (AKA Stockwood) Beatles Tribute
Dennis Gage of
My Classic Car with Dennis Gage
100 th Anniversary Dodge Salute
1st 100 Dodge Vehicles to register will receive a “100 th Anniversary Dodge Dash Plaque” Capt’n Bob & Arlo Wisconsin Hotrod Radio Personalities Dan Lensing #19, Races all around Wisconsin Funny Car driver Barry Bartz featuring: Mr. Twister
SUNDAY, JULY 12 ~ LAKE LAWN RESORT
8 am-3 pm: Car Show
Entry Fee $10 pre-registration, $15 day of Show ~ General Public Parking $5 per car at Lake Lawn’s Airport, shuttles will be running all day No pets No BBQs
Presented by:
Delavan-Delavan Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
CSI Media LLC │ Central Printing & Media Solutions │ Kunes Country Auto Group Lake Lawn Resort │ Noble Insurance │ TLC Restorations LLC
262.728.5095 800.624.0052
delavanwi.org 199215
SPRING 2015
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 19
R E T IR I N G I N 20 15?
Tyson Ray, CFP (left) Luke Kuchenberg, CFP (right)
You Your Money Your Future 431 Geneva National Ave S, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 | 262.686.3005 | 844.600.3008
www.formwealth.com Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC Investment Advisory Services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. 198465
Page 20
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SPRING 2015
Vive La France Wine Dinner Experience French Vineyards
Friday, April 24 6:30 pm Laurent Pierre Champagne & Appetizers
Majestic Oaks Golf Course
Opening day – Wednesday, April 15 18 Holes of Golf for $25 Includes shared cart | Any day of the week
7:00 pm
Four course dinner
$80 per person inclusive Limited reservations – call 262-725-9155
Cork & Canvas Night Wednesday, April 8 6:30 – 9:00 pm $45 + tax includes art supplies and a glass of wine Reservations are required, please call 262-725-9155
Vegas Legends A Tribute to Frank & Dean Dinner & Show | Saturday, May 2
7:00 pm dinner | 8:00 pm performance (doors open at 6:30 pm)
$65 per person inclusive, room packages are available
For reservations call 262-725-9155
199323