Wrourtown 2015

Western Kenosha County

The

Report

2015

Published by

Town

Our

A royal flush?

EARLENE FREDERICK Our Town

Maureen Rosenick, 7, and Ryleigh Faust, 6, both of Salem visit with the Queen of Hearts and the Queen of Spades during a very special tea held last year at Westosha Central High School. Cast members of the school’s spring play, Alice in Wonderland, in full makeup and costume, visited with guests for an afternoon that blended reality with fantasy.

OUR TOWN 2015

Inside

2

Wilmot academics ................Page 3 Butterfly garden ........... Pages 8-9 Churches ....... Pages 13-14

Western Kenosha County

OUR TOWN A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 728-3411 www.mykenoshacounty.com

Editor in Chief .......................................... Edward Nadolski Editor ......................................................Jennifer Eisenbart Graphic Designer ........................................... Jen DeGroot Creative/Production Director ......................... Sue Z. Lange Advertising Director.................................Vicki Vanderwerff

FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: (262) 763-2575

About the cover After the tasty breakfast was served and their time with Santa ended, these little girls decided to climb up on top of one of the Town of Randall’s fire engines to get a bird’s eye view of all the holiday activity taking place in the fire station. The annual event covers two days, with Santa arriving in town and visiting with children and the second is the scrumptious breakfast served at the firehouse, followed by Santa time.

EARLENE FREDERICK Our Town

“

Sometimes it isn’t as flashy as playing a sport, but they bring a lot of pride to the school.”

- coach Don Serkowski, WILMOT ACADEMIC DECATHLON

EARLENE FREDERICK Our Town

Award-winning members of the Wilmot Academic Decathlon team, which took second at the national finals in Hawaii earlier this year, are: (front from left) Alyssa Gregory, Angela Schumacher, Alexa Lewis, Claudia Baker, Ashley Dabbs; (back row) Althea Disse, Johny Weber, Joey Burba, Kyle Kostrova, Carl Simmons and Carlie Banchi.

To field an academic decathlon team, a school has to have at least six students in three different divisions: • GPA 3.75 or higher, honors division.

• GPA between 3.0 and 3.74, scholastic division.

• GPA below 3.0, varsity division.

Up to three students can compete in each division, but only the top two scores count.

Students who participate take tests in 10 areas: science, literature, art, music, social science, economics, math, essay, interview and speech.

Other schools in the Southern Lakes Conference who compete include Westosha Central and Burlington.

Striving to be the greatest academic athletes in the world Wilmot High School students advance in U.S. Academic Decathlon

By Anne Trautner STAFF WRITER

TEAMWORK Wilmot’s academic decathlon team is made up of nine students and three alternates. On the team, three students have a grade point average above 3.75, three students’ GPA is between 3 and 3.75 and three students have a GPA below 3.0.

“That’s one of the cool things about the decathlon,” Serkowski said. “I can’t just pick the nine smartest kids in the school.

We have to pick from an array of grade point averages.”

As a result, students get to meet new people, he said.

“The kids that never would necessarily talk to each other in a school this big in the hallway, they now work together academically,” Serkowski said.

“We have gotten closer and formed friendships,” said junior Carlie Banchi.

For senior Johny Weber, the best part of being in the group is the team aspect.

“It is amazing,” Johny said. “How we are always pushing each other to do better and we are always pushing ourselves to do better for each other.”

All of the students on the team have to take the same tests in 10 different subjects.

“The challenging part is finding the kids with a GPA of 2.99 and below that really want to study super hard,” Serkowski said.

Because it is a team sport, everybody is in it together, Serkowski said. In order to move on to the next round, the team as a whole has to score well. The students tutor one another because they are all at different levels, and they practice taking tests.

“Sometimes those kids that are at the lower level can beat the kids that are at a top level in a test, and that makes their week,” Serkowski said.

Any student in the school can sign up to be on Wilmot’s academic decathlon team, d see Decathlon on page 15

OUR TOWN 2015

Training for a decathlon can be grueling.

For a group of Wilmot High School students, the definition of “grueling” means an awful lot of studying.

The members of Wilmot’s academic decathlon team recently won their local competition and posted the best score in the state by close to 3,000 points. The students involved are hoping for a return to nationals.

The competition is part of the U.S. Academic Decathlon, an international high school scholastic competition.

This year marks the first time that the Wilmot Panthers have been in first place in the state after the local level competition.

The team hopes to advance through the regional and state competitions. A second consecutive state title would earn the team another trip to nationals, which will be held in Garden Grove, Calif.

Last year, Wilmot’s team went to Hawaii and placed second in Division 2 of the international competition. All but one of those team members graduated last

year.

“It’s pretty much a new, improving team,” said Don Serkowski, who is coaching the team for the 13th year. “They worked so hard, and it’s cool that they get recognized.

“Sometimes it isn’t as flashy as playing a sport, but they bring a lot of pride to the school.”

3

Hitting the big time

Rüger’s love for music, drive for success brings her home

By Kellen Olshefski STAFF WRITER

OUR TOWN 2015

A taste of success wasn’t enough for Twin Lakes native Megan Rüger.

For Twin Lakes native Megan Rüger, having received a taste of success just wasn’t enough; she wants it all.

After stints on both “American Idol” and NBC’s “The Voice,” the 26-year-old has begun making strides forward.

4

Doing it all Starting over as a 20-year-old in Nashville, Tenn., had both its ups and downs, according to Rüger. While it was huge change – being out on her own – the food was warm and welcoming.

“I still don’t eat collared greens, but okhra and grits,” she said. “Southern cooking and southern hospitality, I love it, I definitely love living down there.”

Rüger said when she first moved to Nashville, she didn’t realize how hard and tough of a city Nashville is. Being a bit more country in her stylings at the time, in contrast to her rocker side now, she said Nashville quickly reared its head on her.

“I quickly learned what it’s like to be a broke musician and play for tips, play for four hours straight through without a break,” she said. “Sometimes you’d play to a crowd of 100 people or more, and then sometimes you play to a crowd of 10

TYLER GOLDEN NBC Our Town

Twin Lakes native Megan Ruger (who changed her name from Megan Pflueger) joined Team Blake on the NBC show The Voice. Ruger participated in the blind audition March 4 and both Blake Shelton and Usher wanted her to join their respective teams.

people, sometimes two or three.

“I definitely learned the appreciation of a dollar.”

Rüger said in trying to reach her goals of success, she’s always going and going, hustling around everyday.

“If I’m not on stage I’m doing something to network, get my name out there,” she said. “I very rarely have downtime.”

Rüger said throughout her entire time in Nashville, she’s never had a manager, even after her stints on both “American Idol” and NBC’s “The Voice,” and she’s always done it by herself.

“

It’s very nerve-wracking, even more so than on ‘The Voice,’ because I’m from there and those people have known me for so long.”

- Megan Rüger

“When I’m not singing, I’m booking shows and making phone calls, constantly hustling,” she said. “It’s not easy.”

Rüger said being her own manager has been nice in the sense that she doesn’t have to pay anyone for those types of services and it feels good to know you’ve booked a show on your own.

However, just because she does it all on her own doesn’t mean she wants to. Rüger said she’s currently in the market for a manager, something that actually drove her decision to try out for “The Voice.” d see Rüger on page 7

Town Board meets first Monday of month at the Town Hall at 7 p.m.

N1100 Town Hall Road P. O. Box 609 Pell Lake, WI 53157 279-6039 FAX 279-3545 Email: clerk@townofbloomfield. com Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chairperson: Ken Monroe Clerk: Cynthia Howard Treasurer: Janet Hammerstrom Assessor: Associated Appraisal Consultants, (920) 749-1995 Supervisors: Tom Sullivan Bill Holder Sue Leedle Dan Schoonover Building Inspector: Joe Mesler 262-215-3711 Municipal Judge: David Schiltz 279-3556 Police Chief: Craig Rasmussen 279-3454 Fire Chief: Fred Schalow 279-2033

Town of Brighton

Town Board meets second Monday of each month at the Town Hall at 7 p.m.

25000 Burlington Road P.O. Box 249 Kansasville, WI 53139 878-2218 FAX 878-5489 www.brightonwi.com Email: townofbrighton@wi.net Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2 to 5 p.m.

Chairman: David DeVito 537-5022 Supervisors: Charlene Brandes 620-0706 Edward J. Wagner 843-2181 Clerk Treasurer: Linda L. Perona 878-2218 Assessor:

Rocco Vita 925-6707 Building Inspector: Don Fox 878-3358

Town of Paris

Town Board meets fourth Tuesday of each month at the Paris Safety Building at 7 p.m.

16607 Burlington Road Union Grove, WI 53182 859-3006 FAX 859-3008 Email: townofparis@wi.net Monday and Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday: 1 to 5 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m. to noon First Saturday of month: 9 a.m. to noon.

Chairman: Virgil Gentz Supervisors: Ron Kammerzelt Ken Monson Clerk/Treasurer: Beverly McCumber Office Assistant: Mary Burkman Assessor: Associated Appraisal Consultants (800) 721-4157 Building Inspector: Don Fox 878-3358 Fire Chief: Roland Iwen 620-3696

Town of Randall

Town Board meets second and fourth Thursday of each month at the Town Hall at 7 p.m.

34530 Bassett Road P.O. Box 116 Bassett, WI 53101 877-2165 FAX 877-9032 www.townofrandall.com Email: randalltown@wi.rr.com Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m.

Chairperson: Robert Stoll Supervisors: Mark Halvey Robert Gehring

Lauren Fox Clerk: Phyllis Kaskin Treasurer: Val Lass Municipal Judge: Charles Gitzinger Assessor: Rocco Vita 925-6707 Building Inspector: Lee Greivell, Jr. Fire Chief: Matt Gronke Enforcement Officer: George Lawrence

Town of Salem

Town Board meets second Monday of each month at the Town Hall at 7 p.m.

9814 Antioch Road Highway 83, P.O. Box 443 Salem, WI 53168 843-2313 FAX 843-4432 www.townofsalem.net Email: cernest@townofsalem.net Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Chairperson: Diann Tesar Supervisors: Dan Campion Dennis Faber Ted Kmiec Mike Culat Administrator: Patrick Casey Clerk: Cindi Ernest Treasurer: Christine Lamb Municipal Judge: Michael Langel Building Inspector: Jack Rowland Assessor: Rocco Vita 925-6707 Fire and Rescue Departments: Trevor Station:

25700 Wilmot Road

862-2431 or 911 Salem Fire and Rescue:

8339 Antioch Road

843-2170 or 911 Wilmot Station:

30400 Wilmot Road

862-2801 or 911

Town of Wheatland

Town Board meets second and fourth Monday of each month at the Town Hall at 6:30 p.m.

34315 Geneva Road P.O. Box 797 New Munster, WI 53152-0797 537-4340 FAX 537-4261 www.townwheatland.com Email: smsiegler@townwheatland. com Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chairman: William M. Glembocki Supervisors: Andrew J. Lois Kelly Wilson Clerk: Sheila M. Siegler Treasurer: Deborah K. Vos Municipal Judge: Fred C. Hewitt Assessor: Assoc. Appraisal Cons., Inc. (800) 721-4157 Building Inspector: Tim Popanda Constable: Robert Santelli, Jr. Fire Chief: Lou Denko

Village of Bristol

Town Board meets second and fourth Monday of each month at the Bristol Municipal Building at 7 p.m.

19801 83rd Street P. O. Box 187 Bristol, WI 53104 857-2368 FAX 857-2136 www.town.bristol.wi.us Email: bristolclerk@wi.rr.com Hours: Monday through Fri-day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clerk/Treasurer: Amy Klemko President: Mike Farrell Chairman: Richard Gossling Supervisors: Ruth Atwood Colleen Fisch John McCabe Carolyn Owens Municipal Judge: Fred Ekornaas 857-2841 Assessor: Assoc. Appraisal Cons., Inc. (800) 721-4157 Building Inspector: Terry Welsh Hours: Tuesday and Friday 8 to 10:30 a.m.

Fire Chief: Peter Parker 857-2711 Public Safety Officer: Mark Niederer

Village of Genoa City

Village Board meets the second Thursday of each month at the Village Hall at 7 p.m.

715 Walworth, P.O. Box 428 Genoa City, WI 53128 279-6472 FAX 279-6618 www.genoacity.info JEAN DAL PORTO Our Town

Jean Dal Porto captures a colorful sunset over a frozen Bohner’s Lake on March 6 from her back porch.

d see Offices on page 7

OUR TOWN 2015

Our Town CITY, TOWN AND VILLAGE OFFICES

Town of Bloomfield

5

Our Town KENOSHA COUNTY

FIRE DEPARTMENTS

TOWN OF BRISTOL FIRE/ RESCUE 8301 198th Ave. Bristol, WI 53104 Chief: Peter Parker Station Number: 5200 Phone (262) 857-2711 KENOSHA FIRE/RESCUE 625 52nd St. Kenosha, WI 53140 Chief: John Thomsen Station Number: 5300 Phone: (262) 653-4100 Fax: (262) 653-4107 MEDIX AMBULANCE Burlington, WI 53105 Station Number: 5400 (262) 539-2080 TOWN OF PARIS FIRE/ RESCUE 16607 Burlington Rd.

Paris, WI 53182 Chief: Roland Iwen Station Number: 5500 Phone: (262) 620-3696 PLEASANT PRAIRIE FIRE/ RESCUE 8044 88th Ave. Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 Chief: Doug McElmury Station Number: 5600 Station #1: (262) 694-4066 Station #2: (262) 694-8027 TOWN OF RANDALL FIRE DEPARTMENT Box 8 Basset, WI 53101 Chief: Matt Gronke Station Number: 5700 Phone: (262) 877-2941 TOWN OF SALEM FIRE/ RESCUE

Planning an Outdoor Event?

TOWN OF WHEATLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT Box 797 34011 Geneva Rd. New Munster, WI 53152 Chief: Louis Denko Station Number: 6600 Phone: (262) 862-2801

SILVER LAKE FIRE/ RESCUE DEPARTMENT 113 S. First St. Silver Lake, WI 53170 Interim Chief: Allison Draeger Station Number: 6100 (262) 889-4713

TOWN OF SALEM FIRE/ RESCUE Box 443 9814 Antioch Rd. Salem, WI 53168 Chief: Mike Slover Phone: (262) 843-2313 LJH AMBULANCE PO Box 1227 6329 28th Ave. Kenosha, WI 53143 Chief: Terry Helton Phone–Emergency: (262) 658-4422

Westosha Floral

38331 60th St. Burlington, Wis. Call

Family Owned for over 30 Years 24200 75th Street Paddock Lake, Wis.

(262) 537-4988

(262) 843-4003

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OUR TOWN 2015

6

236 E. Main St. Twin Lakes, WI 53181 Chief: Stan Clause, Jr. Station Number: 6500 Phone: (262) 877-2373

TOWN OF SALEM FIRE/ RESCUE WILMOT FIRE STATION Box 306 30400 Wilmot Rd. Wilmot, WI 53192 Battalion Chief: Greg Brown Station Number: 6700 Phone: (262) 843-2313

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SCOUT LEADERS RESCUE Box 457 Silver Lake, WI 53170 Chief: Bruce Metallo Station Number: 6000 (262) 694-7789

TOWN OF SOMERS FIRE/ RESCUE Box 197 7511 12th St. Somers, WI 53144 Fire Chief: Thomas Smith Station Number: 6300 Station #1: (262) 529-2277 Station #2: (262) 552-7262

We’ll provide the comfort and reassurance your guests deserve!  Portable Restroom & Sink Rental For Any Occasion  Holding Tank Pumping

SALEM FIRE AND RESCUE TSFR Station 1, Trevor 11252 254th Court (262) 862-2431 TSFR Station 2, Salem Station 8339 Antioch Rd. (262) 843-2170 TSFR Station 3, Wilmot Station 30400 Wilmot Rd. (262) 862-2801 Battalion Chief: Darin Noyes Battalion Chief: Bill Carey

www.westoshafloral.com

Flowers Designed Especially for You Free Consultations 192221

d Rüger from page 4

“I got tired of doing it all myself, I just want to have a team behind me so I can be a more successful artist, rather than a solo artist doing everything herself,” she said.

The Voice Though Rüger’s run on NBC’s The Voice this past spring didn’t last quite as long as she had hoped it would – she was eliminated in the second-round “battles” stage – she said gained quite a bit of valuable knowledge working on Blake Shelton’s team.

“I’m very abrasive sometimes, very in your face singing sometimes and he taught me I don’t always have to do that, I can be more sensitive,” she said, noting that a couple songs on her new EP are laid back and vulnerable, something she told Shelton she doesn’t like being.

Rüger said having the availability of a vocal coach was of great value to her as it was something she’d never had before.

Additionally, while she said she’s never had a problem with choreography, working on it through the voice was still a good experience.

“To practice crossing and passing each other, working with another artist on stage, is kind of cool,” she said.

She also noted having the opportunity to work with mentors on the show.

“Working with Chris from Coldplay, he was really cool, and The Band Perry, the brothers of Band Perry and Kim, they’re all really nice,” she said. “The one

brother, I think it was Pete, he told me that my harmonies were good, which is a big compliment to me because I’ve worked on harmonies. Harmonies aren’t my strongest suit because I’m a lead singer, so that was really cool to hear.”

Finally, she added the overall experience – the hair and make-up, being treated like a rock star who’s touring the world – was phenomenal.

“Making friends from all over the world was my favorite part,” she said. “I have friends now from everywhere and we’re all trying to do concerts together.”

She said she’s already had friends come and perform with her in Nashville and she will be out to perform with others in the future.

“That’s the best part about it,” she said.

Black Dress EP Coming back to the same old grind from the Voice, her biggest fear while on the show, Rüger said she put together a Kickstarter campaign for recording an EP. “I saw how many people believed in me,” she said. “The fact that I was able to raise $15,000 in 30 days was pretty awesome.”

Rüger said this is the first time she’s truly had a product of herself in all of the six years she’s been in Nashville, as she’s never been able to afford to fund musicians, producers, studio time and other production services.

Rüger said she thinks it’s really cool that

she wrote two of the five released songs.

“I’m pretty proud,” she said.

Rüger said she was influenced by numerous artists throughout her upbringing including Patsy Cline, a phase with Shania Twain and Faith Hill, and of course, that good old rock and roll.

“I always had that rock influence,” she said. “I was a big Bob Seger fan, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Then even through the 90s I was a big Counting Crows fan.

“I’m definitely a big 80s fan,” she continued. “Joan Jett’s like my idol.”

In terms of more current artists, Rüger noted Pink and Katy Perry as both being major influences on her as a performer.

“I do like the spunkiness of Katy Perry,” she said. “I’m very similar to her in the fact that I like to wear bright colors and glitter.”

Rüger said recently, she’s become more of a songwriter, thanks to the influence of songwriters around her. Having always tried to write her own material in the past, Rüger said she never really had the confidence until songwriting friends encouraged her to be less critical of her own work.

“I started writing and I would co-write with other writers and they would be like, yeah, you need to believe in yourself more that you are a good writer,” she said.

She added that it’s difficult as she currently only plays minimal guitar.

“It’s a lot easier if you can accompany yourself and play what you hear,” she said.

d Offices from page 5 Email: villagehall@paddocklake.net Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

President: Terry Burns Trustees: Kathy Barry Barb Brenner Kathy Christenson Richard Fish Gary Kaddatz Gloria Walter Clerk/Treasurer: Emily Uhlenhake Deputy Clerk/Treasurer: Michelle Shranek Municipal Judge: Robert Brenner 843-9314 Administrator: Tim Popanda Assessor: Assoc. Appraisal Cons., Inc. (800) 721-4157 Building Inspector: Tim Popanda 843-2713

Village of Paddock Lake

Village Board meets first and third Wednesday of each month at the Village Hall at 7 p.m.

113 S. First Street Silver Lake, WI 53170 889-4308 FAX 889-8874 www.vi.silverlake.wi.gov Email: slclktreas@bizwi.rr.com Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Village Board meets third Wednesday of each month at the Municipal Building at 7 p.m.

6969 236th Avenue Paddock Lake, Salem 53168 843-2713 or 843-2400 FAX 843-3409 www.paddocklake.net

Village of Silver Lake

President: Sue Gerber Trustees: Mike Decker Patrick Dunn Cyndy Schwebke Paul Snellen Soti Wilber Chris Wilkomm Clerk/Treasurer: Terry Faber Deputy Clerk/Treasurer: Suzanne Nelson Municipal Judge: Marlene Engstrom Assessor: Assoc. Appraisal Cons., Inc. (800) 721-4157 Building Inspector/Zoning: Royce Kennedy 889-8094 Fire: Andrew McFarlane Non-Emergency: 889-4713 Police: Chief Dan Kingsley Non-Emergency: 889-4455

Village of Twin Lakes

Meets third Monday of each month at the Village Hall at 7 p.m. Committee of the Whole meets first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

108 E. Main Street P.O. Box 1024 Twin Lakes, WI 53181 877-2858 FAX 877-4019 www.villageoftwinlakes.net

Email: viloftwinlakes@charterinternet. com Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Village President: Howard Skinner Village Administrator: Jennifer Pollitt Trustees: Sharon Bower Tom Connelly Kevin Fitzgerald Aaron Karow Jeremy Knoll Michael Moran Clerk/Treasurer: Kathleen Richardson Deputy Clerk/Treasurer: Lisa Rohrbach Municipal Judge: Bruce Goodnough Court Clerk: Julie Horbach 877-2269 Assessor: Accurate Appraisal (800) 770-3927 Building Inspector: Lee Greivell 877-3700 Police Chief: Dale Racer Non-emergency 877-9056 Emergency 911 or 877-2191 Fire Chief: Stan Clause, Jr. Deputy Fire Chief: Don Schemenauer Non-emergency 877-2373 Emergency 911

OUR TOWN 2015

Email: clerk@genoacity.info Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Village President: Bill Antti Police Chief: Joseph Balog 279-6252 Fire Chief: Fred Schalow 279-2033 Clerk: Mary Buchert Treasurer: Claudia Jurewicz Municipal Judge: Robert J. Klabunde Assessor: Dean Peters Associated Appraisal Consultants, Inc. (800) 721-4157 or (920) 749-1995 Building Inspector: Barney Brugger 206-2609 Trustees: Eric Boxer Karen Bullock Roger Lagann Alan Cornue Phillip Traskaski

7

Flight of the

butterfly Judy Grasser shows off a butterfly way station sign for her own garden.

Now Grasser has a butterfly garden and helps others start them to help butterflies grow and prosper.

GAIL PECKLER-DZIKI Our Town

AREA WOMAN WORKS TO PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR MONARCHS

By Gail Peckler-Dziki CORRESPONDENT

OUR TOWN 2015

T

8

hings always look different today than they did when you were younger. But if you suspect that you see fewer Monarch butterflies now than you did some years ago, you might be right.

The solution lies not, however, with the butterflies but with what many consider weeds. Milkweed, to be specific, since milkweed is the only host plant for monarch caterpillars.

Milkweed is named for its milky sap and there are about 140 known species. The monarch uses several species native to the Midwest as a host plant for caterpillars.

They are the orange Asclepias tuberosa or butterfly weed, the pink to purple Asclepias incarnata or swamp milkweed and Asclepias syriaca or common milkweed and the white Asclepias verticillata or whorled milkweed.

Without these plants in proliferation,

there will be no Monarch butterflies since these plants are what the caterpillars eat.

The No. 1 problem is pesticides, according to Judy Grasser.

“Farmers spray and we spray pesticides.

While we might spray for aphids, the pesticides will kill everything,” she explained.

Keeping an eye out Grasser watches for ways to protect the butterflies, and notices changes. Milkweed also grows along streets and roads. When grass cutting is done, milkweed goes with it.

“Last year there was a lot of milkweed growing along Highway 50,” Grasser said.

“I saw it one day and when I drove by the next, it was all gone. Monarchs need the milkweed. They lay eggs on it and when the eggs hatch, the caterpillars eat the leaves.”

The host plants are good for the eggs and caterpillars, but a butterfly garden needs

nectar plants also. The butterflies drink that nectar. A successful butterfly garden should have perennial plants, which come back year after year but flower for a short time and annual plants. Those must be planted every year but will bloom for an entire season.

If the eggs escape the pesticide, there are many other predators that eat the eggs like dragonflies, ants, ladybugs and the praying mantis. That’s one big reason to capture the eggs and bring them inside to hatch and pupate, Grasser said.

Monarch life cycle Butterfly eggs are tiny and the female attaches them to the leaves of the host plant, Grasser explained. These hatch into caterpillars. Monarch caterpillars molt four times.

Each time the caterpillar grows; it sheds it skin. The chrysalis is the stage where the transformation from caterpillar into

butterfly occurs.

There are four generations of Monarchs each season. The butterflies one sees in the spring have returned from the great migration to Mexico. The butterflies of this generation live nearly a year. They lay eggs and when those eggs hatch, they become Monarchs that live for about four weeks.

That generation hatches another crop of Monarchs that also live for about four weeks. The Monarchs that hatch from that group migrate to Mexico in the fall and return the following spring.

Early interest Grasser started her butterfly hobby in 1968 when she and junior high school friend made forays into the fields across from their homes in Shiller Park, Ill. Grasser still has her collection of more than 20 different butterflies and moths that they discovered living there.

“This was before the Internet, of course,” Grasser said. “So we would get on our bikes and ride to the public library to find out just what we were discovering.”

That early interest lay dormant until 2005 when Grasser became interested again – this time in black swallowtail butterflies.

She noticed them flitting through various

plants outside her home. The species likes parsley, dill and Queen Anne’s Lace.

Grasser found eggs and took them inside.

She ended up with six black swallowtail butterflies.

In 2014, Grasser said she was painting outside and noticed a Monarch female flitting and she found the eggs. She brought them inside and put them in a clear “critter keeper” and raised 16 butterflies.

“Butterflies have their own personalities,” Grasser said, “and the black swallowtails take off as soon as you release them. My first Monarch was a male and they are territorial.”

“Male butterflies have a small dark spot on their wings, which is where the pheromones are located. When I released that first butterfly, he stayed on my garden and he attracted females,” she said. “He chased off other insects like dragonflies.”

What a Monarch requires A good butterfly garden will have a source of water close by, either natural or man-made shallow puddles or other moist areas, Grasser said.

A warming surface such as a flat rock or exposed soil or grasses allow the butterfly to capture the sun’s rays to warm their bodies.

Trees and shrubs provide shelter and resting places for butterflies. While Monarchs migrate to Mexico for the winter, many butterflies need a wood or leaf pile to overwinter.

Photo provided by Judy Grasser

The plants

A Monarch waystation

Photo provided by Judy Grasser

The host plant for the monarch is the milkweed, but there are other plants that host other butterflies, Grasser said.

Dill and fennel host the black swallowtail, Hollyhocks host the painted lady and the gray hairstreak and willows host the mourning cloak, the tiger swallowtail and the viceroy.

Some proven perennial nectar flowers are liatris or blazing star, coreopsis, Echinacea or purple coneflower, bee balm, goldenrod, ironweed and joe pye weed.

Annuals – which bloom for a much longer time than the perennials and keep luring those butterflies to the garden – are zinnias, cosmos, marigolds and tithonia or Mexican

sunflowers. Grasser has had great luck with her 15-by-five-foot plot.

She plans to plant more this year and says its best to plant as many as possible.

Milkweed seeds can be harvested prior to the stage where they are released from the pod. “Just before they harden to spilt,” she explained, “you open the pod while the white silk is still lying flat and take them out, remove the dark brown seeds and then throw the silk away.”

This is a good way to keep control of the garden. The plants will still multiply by rhizomes, but this is a much longer process and they will stay in the same area.

Photo provided by Judy Grasser

OUR TOWN 2015

Monarch waystations are popping up across the United States and you could have one.

All you need is a 10-by-10-foot plot with access to water and some small warming areas for butterflies. For more information, visit http://monarchwatch.org/ waystations/ The application cost for certification is $16. Last year, Grasser helped Evan Kirsch with his Eagle Scout project of developing a Monarch waystation at the Salem Community Park as well as developing a waystation in her own back yard.

Grasser will be presenting a program for Monarch waystations at the Community Library some time this spring. Check the library website (http://www. communitylib.org/) for information in the future.

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OUR TOWN 2015

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Our Town SCHOOLS BRIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT OF WESTOSHA

Brighton Elementary School 1200-248th Avenue Kansasville, WI 53139 878-2191 FAX 878-2869 www.brighton.k12.wi.us Administrator: Dr. Penny Boileau School Board: Meets in the IMC room on the second Tuesday of the month.

President: Linda Perona Treasurer: Mark Salerno Clerk: Judy Uhlenhake

Westosha Central High School 24617-75th Street Salem, WI 53168 843-2321 FAX 843-4069 www.westosha.k12.wi.us District Administrator: Dr. Scott Pierce Principal: Lisa Albrecht Assistant Principals: Peter Haubrich Sean Leavy School Board: Meets at 7 p.m. on first and third Tuesday of month in the All Purpose Room.

President: Mary Ellen Pearsall Vice-President: Charlene Brandes Treasurer: Mary Anderson Clerk: Cheryl Baysinger Members: Roger Runkel, John Holloway, Steve Richter

BRISTOL SCHOOL DISTRICT #1 Bristol School 20121-83rd Street Bristol, WI 53104 857-2334 FAX 857-6644 www.bristol.k12.wi.us Administrator: Gale Ryczek Principal: Jeff Terry School Board: Meets at the school in Room 201 the second Tuesday of the month.

President: Lynn Keller Vice-President: Amy Hanson Treasurer: Katie Horton Clerk: Kathy LeFebve Deputy Clerk/Treasurer: Katie O’Neill

GENOA CITY JOINT #2 SCHOOL DISTRICT Brookwood Elementary 630 Kossuth Street Genoa City, WI 53128 279-6496 FAX 279-2098 http://brookwood.badger.k12.wi.us/ Principal: Teresa Curley, Principal Brookwood Middle School 1020 Hunter Ridge Drive Genoa City, WI 53128

279-1053 FAX 279-1052 http://brookwood.badger.k12.wi.us Principal: Kellie Bohn Lake Geneva Star Center School W1380 Lake Geneva Highway Lake Geneva, WI 53147 348-7000 FAX 279-7938 http://lakegeneva.star.groupfusion.net/ Principal: Chiper Tennessen

PARIS CONSOLDIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT JOINT #1 Paris Consolidated School 1901-176th Avenue Kenosha, WI 53144 859-2350 FAX 859-2641 www.paris.k12.wi.us Administrator: Roger Gahart School Board: Meets in the school library the third Thursday of every month.

President: Deanna Krumm Vice-President: Joan Hancock Treasurer: Dennis Hrupka Clerk: Colleen Belmont Member: Curt Nikula

RANDALL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT Randall Consolidated School 37101 87th Street Burlington, WI 53105 537-2211 FAX 537-2280

www.randall.k12.wi.us District Administrator: John Gendron Principal: Erin Zigler School Board: Meets the second Wednesday of the month in the school library 7 p.m.

School Board President: Jim O’Connell Vice-President: Tracy Strother Treasurer: Teresa Mortensen Clerk: Randy Nolan Member: Kelly James-Piccolo

SILVER LAKE SALEM SCHOOL DISTRICT Riverview School 300 Prosser Street P.O. Box 69 Silver Lake, WI 53170 889-4384 FAX 889-8450 http://www.silverlakejt1.k12.wi.us/ District Administrator: Jon Schleusner Principal: Andrea Zackery President: Jim Walker Vice-President: Bert Christensen Treasurer: David Van Kampen Vice Secretary/Treasurer: Brent Brenner Clerk: Mary Vozel Salem Grade School 8828 Antioch Road P.O. Box 160 Salem, WI 53168 843-2356 FAX 843-2506 www.salem.k12.wi.us District Administrator: Dr. David Milz Principal: Eileen Bruton School Board: Meets third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

President: Jack Niccolai Vice-President: Dana Powers Treasurer: Lisa Hinze Clerk: Nick Pauloni Deputy Clerk: Kim Macleod

ANNE TRAUTNER Our Town

Westosha Central High School students rehearse the musical comedy “Anything Goes,” which will be performed at the school this weekend.

Trevor-Wilmot School 26325 Wilmot Road Trevor, WI 53179 862-2356 FAX 862-9226 www.trevorwilmotschool.net District Administrator:

d see Schools on page 14

OUR TOWN 2015

TREVOR-WILMOT CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT

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OUR TOWN 2015

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Our Town CHURCHES BASSETT Westosha Baptist Church SBC 35300 Bassett Road (Highway F and Highway KD) 877-2841 or 537-4727 Sunday School 9:30 a.m Sunday Worship 10:45 a.m.

BRIGHTON St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 1704 240th Avenue (Highway X, South of Highway 142) Kansasville 878-2267 School 878-2713 www.twocountrysaints.org Masses: Sunday 8 a.m.

1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday 4 p.m.

BRISTOL Bristol United Methodist 8014 199th Avenue (South of Highway 50 on Highway 45) 857-2961 www.bristol-wesleychapel.org.com Worship Service Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Holy Cross Catholic Parish 18700 116th Street 857-2068 Mass Schedule: Saturday 4:30 p.m.

Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Wesley Chapel United Methodist 10239 136th Avenue (Highway U) www.bristolandwesleychapel.com

Church Office 857-2961 Sunday Worship 9 a.m.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran 7931 Bristol Road (Highway 45, ½ mile south of Highway 50) 857-7310 Sunday Service 8:45 a.m.

Sunday School and Adult Bible Study 10 a.m.

Tuesday Service 7 p.m.

GENOA CITY Anchor Baptist Church 315 Sumner Street 279-2838 www.anchorbaptistwi.com Sunday School 11 a.m.

Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday Bible Study 4:30 p.m.

Youth Group and Prayer Service: Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.

Berean Grace Church N665 County Hwy B 279-6435 www.bereangracechurch.com Sunday Church School 9 a.m.

Sunday Worship 10:15 a.m.

First Congregational United Church of Christ 624 Park Street 279-5547 www.gcucc.com Sunday Worship 9 a.m.

Sunday School 10:30 a.m.

Midweek Bible Study Wednesday at 6 p.m.

First United Methodist Genoa City 518 Booth Street

279-6448 Bible Study 9 a.m.

Sunday Worship 10 a.m.

Thursday Prayer Service 5:30 p.m.

NEW MUNSTER St. Alphonsus Catholic Church 6301 344th Avenue 537-4370 www.st-alphonsus.com Mass Schedule: Friday 8:30 a.m.

Saturday 5 p.m. (Oct. to March) Sunday 8 a.m.

PADDOCK LAKE Christ Lutheran Church ELCA 24929 75th Street 843-2631 www.ourchurch.com/member/c/ CLC Sunday Worship 9 a.m.

Sunday School 10 a.m.

Westosha Lakes Worship 24823 – 74th Street 843-1948 www.westoshalakeschurch.com Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.

PARIS St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 1501 172nd Avenue Union Grove 859-2684 School 859-2007 www.twocountrysaints.org Mass Schedule: 2nd and 4th Saturdays 4 p.m.

Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Yorkville United Methodist 17645 Old Yorkville Road 878-2388 www.yumc.org Sunday Worship: 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Sunday School 9 a.m. (Sept. to May) PELL LAKE Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church W775 Geranium Road 279-3052 www.trinitypelllake.com Sunday Worship: 7:45, 9, and 10:45 a.m.

Sunday School, 9 a.m.

SALEM Salem United Methodist 25130 85th Street (West of Highway 83) 843-2525 Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School 10:45 a.m.

SILVER LAKE Community Baptist Church 203 N. Fourth Street 889-4013 www.cbcsilverlake.org Sunday School 9:15 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7 p.m.

SLADES CORNERS St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran (Wis. Synod) 39506 60th Street d see Churches on page 14

The hilly terrain by Christ Lutheran Church in Paddock Lake makes for perfect for sledding, as these kids proved during a recent sunny afternoon.

OUR TOWN 2015 EARLENE FREDERICK Our Town

13

d Schools from page 11 Dr. George Steffen Principal: Ted Gavlin School Board: Meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Trevor Grade School library.

School Board President: Tom Steiner Vice-President: Lynn Jaeger Treasurer: Bill Barhyte Clerk: Cole Marshall Member: Dean Troyer

WILMOT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Twin Lakes, WI 53181 877-2148 FAX 877-4507 www.twinlakes.k12.wi.us District Administrator: Joseph Price Principal: Clay Nelson School Board: Meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.

School Board President: Amanda Hahn Vice-President: Jennifer Matlock Treasurer: Patricia Platts Clerk: Kathy Ticha Members: Rhett Suhre

Wilmot Union High School 11112-308th Avenue P. O. Box 8 Wilmot, WI 53192 862-2351 FAX 862-6929 www.wilmothighschool.com District Administrator: Daniel Kopp Principal: Joel Adamczyk Assistant Principals: Thomas Blair Luke Braden School Board: Meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.

School Board President: Nadine Slowinski Vice-President: Wayne Trongeau Treasurer: Sam Barranco Clerk: Marcie Badtke Members: Barbara Tietz, Barbara Wetherbee

WHEATLAND CENTER SCHOOL JOINT DISTRICT #1

TWIN LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT #4

St. Alphonsus School 6211 344th Avenue P.O. Box 922 New Munster, WI 53152 537-4379 FAX 537-3527

Lakewood School 1218 Wilmot Avenue

Wheatland Center School 6606 368th Avenue Burlington, WI 53105 537-2216 FAX 537-4059 www.wheatland.k12.wi.us District Administrator: Marty McGinley Principal: Patricia Clements School Board: Meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Community Center room #164.

School Board President: Chris Serak Vice-President: Timothy Driscoll Treasurer: Troy Bruley Clerk: Mary Ochoa-Petersen

AREA PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS

www.st-alphonsusschool.com Principal: Greg Young School Secretary: Gloria Lauritsen School Board: Meets second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

President: Douglas Hughes Vice-President: Michelle Allen Secretary: Susan Beyer Members: Rob Foley Erin Decker Susan Kolano Catholic Central High School 148 McHenry Street Burlington, WI 53105 763-1510 FAX 763-1509 www.cchsnet.org Principal: Dave Weiters School Secretary: Rosa Tadeo Academic Dean of Students: Theresa Phillips School Board: Meets second Wednesday of each month.

President: Mike Kelly Vice-President: Ellen Galvan Treasurer: Mark Wolff Clerk: Suzanne Williamson Shoreland Lutheran High School 9026 12th Street P.O. Box 295 Somers, WI 53171 859-2595 FAX 859-2783 www.slhs.us Principal: Paul Scriver Assistant Principal:

Jeffrey Dorn School Board: Meets the second Monday of each month.

Board Chairman: Pastor David Rockhoff Vice Chairman: Pastor David Wierschke Secretary: Pastor Matt Grow Treasurer: Jim Whittier

PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC SCHOOL East Campus K-4 1481 172nd Avenue Union Grove, WI 53182 859-2007 FAX 859-2604 www.providencecatholicschool.org West Campus 5-8 1714 240th Avenue Kansasville, WI 53139 878-2713 FAX 878-3299 Principal: Susan Meyer School Education Committee: Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

Chairman: Roy Christensen Vice Chairman: Delena Reiter Secretary: Shelli Daniels Treasurer: Open Union Grove Christian School 417 15th Avenue P.O. Box 87 Union Grove, WI 53182 878-1265 FAX 878-2085 www.ugbcswi.org Principal/Administrator: Lee Morey School Board: Meets first Tuesday of each month.

President: Dennis Acker

d Churches from page 14 539-2979 www.sladescornerschurch.com Sunday Worship 9 a.m.

Sunday School 10:15 a.m.

Wednesday Service 7 p.m.

OUR TOWN 2015

TWIN LAKES Calvary Congregational United Church of Christ 1511 Wilmot Avenue P. O. Box 640 877-3133 Sunday Worship 10:15 a.m, Sunday School 10:15 a.m.

Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m.

(Memorial Day to Labor Day)

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Hope Lutheran Church 876 Lance Drive 877-4381 www.hopelutheranchurch-wi.org Sunday Worship 9 a.m.

Bible Class and Sunday School 10:15 a.m. (during school year) Wednesday Bible Study 6:30 p.m.

La Salette Shrine

10330 336th Avenue 877-3111 www.lasaletteshrine.org Sunday Mass 8 a.m.

Daily and Holy Days of Obligation Mass 7:30 a.m.

Confessions 6 p.m. daily Various spiritual activities at the shrine. Individuals or groups welcome.

Messiah Lutheran Church 8720 368th Avenue P. O. Box 808 (Highways O and F) 877-2728 www.messiah-lutheran-church.com Sunday Worship 8 and 10:30 a.m.

(September through May) Sunday Worship 9 a.m. (Memorial Day through Labor Day) Sunday School 9:15 a.m.

New Life Bible Church 112 W. Main Street 877-9090 www.mynlbc.org

Sunday Communities for Adults 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

Children’s Church 11 a.m.

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 701 N. Lake Avenue 877-2557 www.staljohn.com Mass Schedule: Saturday 6:30 p.m. (in Spanish) Sunday 10 a.m.

Monday 8 a.m.

Eucharistic Adoration: Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Twin Lakes Kingdom Hall Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses 12735 Richmond Road 279-0792 Sunday Public Meeting. 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday Cong. Book Study 7:30 p.m.

Thursday Ministry School

and Book Study 7 p.m.

WILMOT Holy Cross Catholic Church 18700 116th St., Bristol 857-2068 Saturday Mass 4:30 p.m.

Sunday Mass 10:30 a.m.

Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church 11233 306th Avenue (Highway C, off Highway W) 862-6014 www.facebook.com/peacewilmot Sunday Service 9 a.m.

Sunday School 10:30 a.m.

Wilmot United Methodist 11425 Fox River Road 862-6366 www.wilmotumc.org Sunday Worship 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Sunday School: Kids – 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.; Adults – 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

d Decathlon from page 3

which is offered as a regular class at the school.

Carlie Banchi, a junior who is currently ranked first in the state, first joined the team as a freshman, and it helped her adjust to high school.

“I just think it is a really great program,” she said. “I had moved here from Pennsylvania, and finding this team really helped me get involved in school. I think it’s a great thing for anyone.”

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OUR TOWN 2015

PREPARATION Like any athletic team, the academic team practices to enhance skills.

“It’s like learning a sport. It’s like learning to study before you can actually learn the stuff. You need to learn the skills of doing so,” Carlie said.

The academic decathlon team is more intense than being on a sports team at school, Johny said.

“It’s more taxing because with sports you have your season, it’s however many games, and then you’re done. Acadec is year round. It’s always studying, it’s always improving.”

The teammates learn and utilize different types of study skills.

Carlie sits with a binder and circles or underlines words, annotating everything. Other students use flashcards. Some write notes. Others discuss things out loud.

“Everyone needs to find their own individual thing for studying,” Carlie said. “We’re learning to study, which in the long run is going to help me so much.”

In addition, the students learn how to take timed tests. They learn how to rule out answers that don’t make sense.

The team meets during eighth period every day. The students studied during the summer and stay after school on Mondays, Serkowski said. They get together at students’ houses on Sundays and are planning to meet over winter break.

“It is very challenging stuff. It’s harder than anything I took in college,” Serkowski said.

All of the tests evolve around a central theme. Last year’s theme was World War I, and this year’s theme is New Alternatives in Energy: Ingenuity and Innovation.

“We spent the summer reading a novel and really analyzing it,” Carlie said. “We put in about 65 hours total just studying that one subject.”

The book, “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek,” by Annie Dillard, fit the theme because Dillard’s voice is energetic, Carlie said.

“It was good. It’s a bit hard to understand because it is very philosophical, so it isn’t something you can get the first time, really,” Carlie said.

For team member Carl Simmons, the academic decathlon is fun because there are different subjects and they don’t focus on just one thing.

The team’s success is due in part to Serkowski, junior Joey Burba said.

“Every day in class reads out loud to help us. He talks things over with us and helps us to understand it better,” Joey said.

“I think he’s a really great coach,” Carlie said. “He will make jokes to help us remember things.”

“Mr. Serkowski will help us ways to remember things, with word devices to use to remember things, or even just saying them out loud and discussing them helps us remember things together,” Carl said.

Students help each other learn as well.

“We help each other understand things, and you get to learn and help others learn at the same time,” Carl said.

The team helps students develop a love for learning.

“I love it, honestly,” Carlie said. “I find just pure joy learning all these new things. Weird as it might sound, I just love reading all these things. And every time you re-read it, you find something new, which I think is great. And to test on that and say, hey, I know this subject this well, it’s really cool.”

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