Valley Sentinel - 06-30-2021

Inside this edition

Voice of Pride: Finding gender and identiy in a small town

4petesake announced 2021 Day in the Park

Art from around the Valley: Jen Salt’s Prickly Pear Cactus

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Spring Green, Wisconsin

Wednesday, June 30, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 26 Free, Single-Copy

Weather won’t stop Pride Paddle to bring together, support LBGTQ+ community Photos contributed by Timm Zumm, FLOW

Despite inclement weather cancelling the official Pride Paddle, organizers of the event stuck it out and went out on the Wisconsin River with Pride gear and decorated boats to paddle from the Highway 14 boat landing to Pecks Landing June 26.

The second annual Pride Paddle was planned to invite anyone out on the River to celebrate Pride Month and the LBGTQIA+ community, led by Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway’s (FLOW) mascot, Flo the PaddleFish.

Despite the brush with inclement weather, which attendee Bowie the River Dog (narrated through FLOW’s Timm Zumm) described as “ruff,” the weather cleared off and made for a good paddle.

“It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” said Zumm, with a twinkle in his eye. “We started off in a bit of a drizzle, but once we got in the water the great river spirit was with us and it was great.”

Last year’s paddle included roughly 45 attendees and around 150 indicated they were interested this year.

Organizers Charity Roel and Jennie Lanzendorf said they were hoping to have a rain date set sometime in August and to be on the lookout on Facebook.

Spring Green finds new location for StoryWalks, looks to revisit signage ordinance Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief The village of Spring Green met for its bi-weekly meeting, where the board discussed the continued, temporary placement of village library StoryWalk signs in North Park.

The board voted to continue allowing the temporary signage for the StoryWalks in the park throughout the summer, provided the library, Parks and Recreation Committee and Village President Robin Reid sign off on varied locations for the signs within the park.

This approval comes with the stipulation that each different StoryWalk throughout the summer will be in different locations in the park, and will not be in that location for more than four weeks.

Trustee Michael Broh voiced concerns about potential visual obstructions of any temporary signs in the village that are placed in the same area for an extended period of time, and brought forth a discussion about updating the current village ordinance pertaining to temporary signage.

Broh said he believes the current ordinance is easy to evade and lacks clarity, and limiting the use of temporary signs to four weeks at a time would be helpful.

“I think it’s pretty easy to abuse the idea of temporary signage, and avoid the systems we have in place to regulate signs throughout the village,” said Broh. “Temporary signs are a valuable tool we all have as residents. We must have a way to put up the occasional political sign, garage sale sign, support for high school sports, etc. I don’t ever want us to lose that ability. At the same time, we have, upon occasion, seen temporary signs used to get around the sign ordinance, usually for businesses.”

Broh said he supports three different locations with four week time limits specifically for the library StoryWalks and believes the current location in the park is reasonable.

The village Plan Commission will take a look at the temporary signage ordinance at it’s July meeting.

“I’m looking forward to developing some clarity around how and when we approve temporary signs, and how we enforce the ordinance,” said Broh.

Trustee and Parks and Recreation Committee Chairwoman Jane Hauser recommended moving the StoryWalk signs to a different location within the park, to create a more immersive and permanent experience for the readers.Currently,

the StoryWalk signs line the road leading into North Park.

“I love the idea of the story walks, AND appreciate the concern about the visual obstruction to green space that we discussed at the meeting,” said Hauser. “I think we can create a space that would enhance the experience of the story walk and isn’t lining the road into the park. I’m hoping that in the future, the Library can provide a more attractive, more permanent way to present the Books.”

Library Director Lisa Renier Thomas said she would like to consider a more permanent option for StoryWalks in the village in the future, and emphasised the temporary story signs this summer were put together with limited time and resources, as the village focused on outdoor programming that can be safely enjoyed during the on-going pandemic.

“As you are aware, vaccinations have not been approved for children under the age of 12.

This has resulted in some area families being reluctant to come inside our building,” said Renier Thomas. “The benefits of Story Walks® are well-documented. They encourage reading, creativity, physical activity, and spending time outdoors. The benefits of Story Walks®

are well-documented. They encourage reading, creativity, physical activity, and spending time outdoors.”

Renier Thomas said she was pleased with the outcome of the meeting, and was excited to hear that some village board members are interested in a more permanent StoryWalk option. Renier Thomas said while she worked in Mauston, the library placed permanent StoryWalk signs along the riverwalk.

“It has been a huge hit for the community as a whole, drawing people to the downtown, library, and Riverwalk,” said Renier Thomas. “I would love to see a more permanent Story Walk® in Spring Green at some point, whether on library grounds or elsewhere in the community, and would work with the village and library boards in doing so.”

Permanent signs would look similar to interpretive signs in state parks, and would include 4x4 wooden or steel posts and removable plexiglass, said Renier Thomas.

Storywalks can be found in North Park, featuring a new story in July and August. Visit www. springgreenlibrary.org/ for more information on StoryWalks and other summer, pandemic safe programming.

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OPINION

WednesdaY, june 30, 2021

Editorial

Love is love: it’s not just a logo change for a month each year We hope for a day when this is a given in our society, but put simply, it is the editorial policy of Valley Sentinel that love is love.

Period.

Whatever hang ups one may have, for any reason, do not negate someone else’s right to love another. There is no excuse that would absolve the bigotry of someone feeling the need to interject or interrupt in any way in the love of other people that does not effect them.

Now we’ve gotten that out of the way, you may have noticed a change to Valley Sentinel’s logos.

It’s also important to note that it came at the end of Pride Month, and that was intentional, for this year at least, and it will continue

while this edition in on newsstands.

In the past few years we’ve gotten used to not only wonderful expressions of Pride from members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies, but also expressions from corporate America. Every major corporation seems to have a rainbow logo, perhaps this year more than most. To us it is important to differentiate between corporate virtue signaling and actual support and allyship and equality.

The LGBTQ+ community includes our friends, family, contributors and more. They deserve more than a rainbow logo for a month each year. While a broad swath of large corporations changed their logo for the month

of June, we invite you to look at the political and social contributions of many of them. You’ll find that many, but not all, give to causes and groups that would seek to disenfranchise the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

To quote a favorite here: “Human progress isn’t measured by industry. It’s measured by the value you place on a life, an unimportant life, a life without privilege… That’s what defines an age.

That’s what defines a species.”

This is important, because simply — no life is unimportant. But in a time when bills across the country, including right here in Wisconsin, seek to legislate and codify bigotry with form letter proposals seeking to create solu-

tions for problems that largely don’t exist.

If there is a perceived need to devalue another’s life or an expression of love out of a belief that those things would negatively affect your own, we’re not sure what more can be said to such a lost cause on the wrong side of the arc of justice and equality.

It is as good a time as any for us to all be reminded of the roots of Pride Month, from gay liberation marches to the Stonewall riots and more. It feels good to wear rainbows and change logos for a month, but they mean very little if we as a society don’t stand in defense of equality for all and against the devaluing of a single life, each and every month.

Finding your gender and sexuality in a rural small town Anna Stocks-Hess, LGBTQ+ contributor Discovering yourself in any space can pose challenges for someone. Whether it be your career choice or becoming the person you were born to be, figuring yourself out is a long journey.

This is also a journey that never ends.

Don’t expect to wake up one day, and suddenly be your completed self. You should be growing and changing every single day.

Growing up in Darlington, Wisconsin, I never really had the representation that I was seeking.

Sure, my parents let me dress how I wanted and participate in the boyish activities I did, but it seemed like meeting someone the same as me was not a possibility.

My name is Anna, and I was born female. I’ve never felt like a “girl” in my head. Yes, I enjoy feminine things, but in terms of my presentation, I have always preferred men’s clothing and overall looking more masculine.

This can probably be a confusing topic for most people, but I can assure you, I am just a regular person. I like being in this body. I do not identify as transgender, but I also do not identify as cisgender. Cisgender is a term that means your body matches the gender in your head. I identify as non-binary.

Non-binary is a pretty open-ended term. Basically, I’m just existing how I want to be. I don’t let gender norms or typical gender-related traditions confine me. I use she/her or they/ them pronouns.

Now, figuring this out about myself took a long time! About 20 years to be exact, but the thing is, I was never not like this. I didn’t just one day become

Photo contributed by Anna Stocks-Hess Anna and her partner, Kathleen

non-binary. Unfortunately, you don’t get taught in school about gender identities. I think a lot of people, especially in small-town-Wisconsin, are sort of afraid of all these “identities” and “pronouns.” It’s not so much about your body, it’s more about breaking stereotypes. Not every bornmale person wants to be super tough and sportsy and manly. That’s okay, and being educated about gender identities can help people understand and appreciate themselves more.

Since my school wasn’t teaching me about figuring out who I was, I did what basically every teenager these days does. I turned to the internet.

Connecting with people all over the world is so fascinating and uplifting.

It’s very easy to find other people that are just like you or feel similarly to you. Social media and my online friends taught me about gender identities, and it helped me label who I was. It never changed who I was.

Educating myself on the difference between sex and gender only helped me understand who I was more.

Realizing that gender is a spectrum and not black and white brought me so much self-love. I’m happy and proud of who I am today.

Another topic I’d like to address in this column is sexuality. Now that I’ve briefly summed up the 20+ years of discovering my gender identity, I want to talk about how I discovered my sexuality. First off, sexuality and gender are not related. Just because I am non-binary, born female, doesn’t equate to me being gay.

So, like I said, growing up in Darlington, Wisconsin didn’t provide me with a plethora of LGBTQ+ representation. I’m sure there were gay people around me, but it was usually kept secret. I did watch my fair share of The Ellen DeGeneres Show on TV, but no one in my life was openly gay. As a kid, I kind of just assumed I had to be with a man. I was completely unaware of the idea of my gender as well as being gay.

But, around the same time I turned to the internet to figure out my gender, I also went there to learn more about my sexuality. Not only my own sexuality but I wanted to educate myself on the world of identities. It’s not just lesbian, gay, bi, and straight. There are so many identities out there! If you’re confused about who you are, I suggest going to the internet. The internet doesn’t let

Photo by Julianna Williams you pick from a list, and you become that. The internet simply helps you label yourself. If you’re a person who doesn’t care about labels, that’s awesome! You do you. I only have labels to help with confusion when talking to other people.

The identity that I felt best fit me was pansexual. Pansexual basically means someone’s gender or sex doesn’t affect me being attracted to them. If I connect with someone, it’s more about who they are as a person, their morals, their ethics, etc. Pansexual is sort of like bisexual, but more inclusive of other gender identities.

I met my partner, Kathleen, about a year and a half ago. From the second I met her; I knew she was meant to be in my life. We met online and were long distance for about a year with occasional visits in between.

The connection I built with her while being miles apart is amazing. I had never truly and deeply connected with someone like that ever before.

Kat loves me and accepts me for exactly who I am. She really makes me glow and makes me the happiest I have ever been. Love goes way beyond the realm of bodies. It does not make a difference who are you, love who you love. Kat has been with me for so many major events in my life already, and she supports me endlessly. Not only does she help me grow into who I am, I help her grow. Relationships are all about growth and love, no matter who they are with.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this column, feel free to email me at annagstockshess@ gmail.com

OPINION

WednesdaY, june 30, 2021

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Community column: Katie Green’s ‘Along the Milky Way’ Katie Green, Contributor My maternal grandmother in Iowa loved her milk cows. Born in 1878, she and millions of others like her in the 19th Century nourished a tender relationship with their farm animals. In the first Federal Census in 1790, 90-some percent of the people enumerated in this country were engaged in farming of one kind of another. By the 1940 census – the last one we can have access to -- the statistics were reversed, with 90-something percent of our citizens off the farms and doing something else for a living. I cherish a photo of Grandma perched on her milking stool, cheek against the flank of a cow, filling a bucket to be drunk at the next meal by her many dependents, or to make butter, or use in many other delicious ways. Such as to whip up a batch of her buttermilk “gems”. Yum! My cousin Jerry, who grew up in my grandparents’ house, would only drink the Brown Cow’s milk (a Guernsey, perhaps), not the other milker they kept at that time. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two, myself, but he had developed discriminating tastebuds and insisted on Brown Cow. On the other side of the tree, my father’s family established successful dairies in Dundee, Illinois in the mid-1800s, replicating dairies they had owned in Western Massachusetts before emigrating West.

Considering myself a farmer by inheritance and proclivity, the articles about the plight of farming, particularly dairy farming, in Wisconsin in the last issue of The Sentinel elicited great sympathy in my bosom. I know the heartbreak firsthand from family stories, and saw the Iowa Grandpa hurl an ear of corn against the side of the corncrib in disgust when a load of corn was delivered from the leased home farm to him at the smaller farm near town. “He’s not taking care of the soil!” he lamented, inspecting the stunted cobs.

Several thoughts occurred to me after I read the articles, omissions in the possibilities still open for those who want to remain in agriculture.

Co-ops, primarily. One of the farmers interviewed lamented not being able to easily sell directly to customers. Well, my husband and I have belonged to a buying club for some years that purveys unpasteurized dairy products, locally grown meats, honey, sorghum, kimchi, sauerkraut, eggs, and baked goods, among other basics. Everything is inspected, carefully stored and labeled. We all sign a statement regarding possible health risks when we join, and eat these high quality products with trust in our farmers. The Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection tried to close down our co-op a few years back and a jury trial ensued. Not only did the jury did find our farmer innocent except for one niggling charge, but some of

the jury members joined the co-op and the trial publicity brought in other new members. The State still has not regularized such co-ops in law so as to open up other sources of revenue for farmers and is devoutly to be wished.

One spectacular success story is that of Organic Valley, whose birth pangs were in the 1970s. From a small group of farmers disenchanted with the new chemical “innovations” increasingly used here in Wisconsin, Organic Valley now has numerous certified satellite members all over the country, with a long list of potential members waiting to join. Dean Swenson, of rural Spring Green, was one of the originators to return to Old Ways of farming, before the advent of herbicides, pesticides, hormones, etc.. All of the original group had independently decided to turn away from chemical farming as dangerous to the farm hands and ruinous to the general environment, regardless of what the schools of agriculture were teaching. Dean and wife Jan had visited a biodynamic farm in Germany and that hardened his resolve. Dean says that at first he just poured his milk in with “conventional”, since no market for organics had yet been developed, but eventually he linked up with others to establish the company whose products can be found coast to coast.

Several complaints made by farmers in the Sentinel articles have been addressed by Organic Valley. First,

Contact us

PO Box 144 Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA (608) 588-6694 editor@valleysentinelnews.com valleysentinelnews.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Nicole Aimone Managing Editor Taylor Scott Legal Editor Gary Ernest Grass, esq.

the OG farmers themselves set the price of their milk, not some other entity, so the statement that “their hands are tied” is not relevant for OG farmers. And since OG cows are pastured for much of the year, as opposed to standing in a barn, the cost of feed is much less. The company keeps a staff of veterinarians to help their farmers deal with any problems that arise, but by and large pastured cows are healthier (and no doubt happier) than those who gaze longingly at green fields while chained to a stall in a building. Finally, OG has a fund to support young people wanting to get into farming –including linking young, would-be farmers with older ones approaching retirement -- to take over their farms in some cases, assistance in purchasing land in other casess, and offering the wisdom of many years of experience.

As a result, there is a crop of younger people in the wings eager to take their chances in a chancy but fulfilling way of life.

In any case, I hope that more agriculturists take courage from these examples and others like them springing up around the country.

The need for good food isn’t going away anytime soon, and the soulful dedication to the art of growing things and producing products demonstrated by the farmers interviewed in your articles is too valuable to ignore or discourage. We need you.

Deadlines: The display and classified

Valley Sentinel is published in Spring Green, Wisconsin every Wednesday by Lower Wisconsin River Valley Sentinel, LLC. ISSN 2694-541X (print) — ISSN 2694-5401 (online) Interns Graphic Design/Pagination Anna Stocks-Hess Graphic Design/Infographics Whitney Back Editorial Adeline Holte Graphic Design/Editorial Nicole Hansen

advertising deadline is Monday at noon for that week. If you would like our design team to design the ad then please allow extra time for the creative process and proofing.

Ad team: ads@valleysentinelnews.com

Editorial Matthew L. Beyer Editorial Adam Meyer Distribution/Photography Kalen Scott Regular Contributors Arts & Culture/Editorial Bill Gordon

Arts & Culture/Editorial Alison Graves Arts Jen Salt Columns Grace Vosen Sports Mike McDermott

Our team will be growing and changing as we settle into publishing regularly, please stay in touch. Thank you to all of our contributors, by name and by pen, for believing in our community.

Editorial Policy

On certain topics in areas of great community interest, the editors of the Valley Sentinel may take positions they believe best represent and serve the interests of the community. Any opinions or positions taken by the editorial board are separate and distinct in labeling and substance from the community journalism that appears in the rest of the publication and does not affect the integrity and impartiality of our reporting. .

Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire”

Letter to the Editor Policy

Letters submitted for consideration are subject to fact-checking and editing for space and clarity.

Submissions must have a compelling local community interest. Letters to the editor must fit within a 500-word limit, and include name, city and phone number. Phone numbers are for office use only and will not be published. Letters of a political nature, without chance of rebuttal, will not be published the week before an election.

Valley Sentinel is a free, weekly single-copy news publication, available on newsstands in the area.

Covering Arena, Lone Rock, Plain, Spring Green and the surrounding areas.

Column Policy

Editors may feature opinion columns written by public figures, members of the public or other publication staff. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual contributors and do not represent positions of the publication. Guest columns of an anticipated length more than 500 words should seek prior editor authorization. .

Subscribe Want the paper delivered to your home or business? Subscribe online at valleysentinelnews. com/subscribe or subscribe annually with your name, phone number, address and $30 sent to: Valley Sentinel, PO Box 144, Spring Green, WI 53588

Community Discussion Policy

From time to time the editorial board may select letters to the editor of a particular compelling community interest where a public figure or accountable public action is the recipient of criticism and allow, in the same issue, the subject of the criticism chance for rebuttal, with expounded independent input.

The format shall be point, counterpoint and expert analysis. This community discussion shall serve as a moderated dialogue that presents multiple views of important community topics. .

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Community

WednesdaY, june 30, 2021

COmmunitycalendar Events for July 1- July 14 Thursday, July 1 Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . $10 cash only . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine & Yoga every Thursday in the Vineyard with certified Yoga Instructor Lara Carpenter.

Local Night: The Crooner Strikes Back 5:30 PM - 8:00PM . The Shed/Post House Garden, 123 N Lexington Street, 119 E Jefferson Street Spring Green . Come out and spend your Thursday evenings with some local music and local food. The food cooked on the grill on the patio is from our many local vendors in Spring Green and surrounding towns, and the musicians are from the River Valley area.

Friday, July 2 Wine Down Fridays: The Sapsuckers 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . Free . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine down and chill at Wild Hills Winery! Live music every Friday! Enjoy the sounds of local musicians and singer-songwriters outdoors on the patio. Food and drink specials.

Saturday, July 3 Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . S230 E. Monroe St Spring Green . www.facebook.com/SGFMarket. Local farm fresh produce, coffee, fresh baked goods, honey, soaps & lotions, bedding plants, cut flowers, maple syrup and more.

Driftless Landscape Tour 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM . Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center 5607 County Road C Spring Green . $6 – $25 . www.taliesinpreservation.org. Join Taliesin for a conversation about the interconnectedness of land and culture while enjoying an approximately 1-mile walk across the Taliesin estate. This completely outdoor tour will speak to the natural history of the estate, using Frank Lloyd Wright as the connecting theme between topics.

Jeff Larsen 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S Albany Spring Green . www.springgreen.com . Come to play, come to listen. Come to teach, come to learn. Or just hang out & enjoy the people and the music.

3 Souls 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Rough Crossing: Opening Night 8:00 PM . Hill Theatre,5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green . Ticket prices Vary . www.americanplayers.org. Here we have a play that hits all the notes with equal glee – a screwball comedy written by one of the smartest playwrights of our time. Limited seating.

Sunday, July 4 Lone Rock 4th of July 11:00 AM - Dusk . Fireman’s Park, Lone Rock . We have a parade, carnival games, volleyball tournament, tractor pull, bounce houses, and so much more!

Myles Talbott Dyad 12:00 PM - 3:30 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Independence Day Celebration 2:00 PM - Dusk . Lions Park, Walter Rd Entrance, 318 Park Street Mazo . Come celebrate with us! Pool games, baseball and Ladies Must Swing Big Dance at the Pavilion. At dusk, fireworks will be set off at the Bluff.

Retrobus 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Local Night: Better Daze 5:30 PM - 8:00PM . Post House Garden, 119 E Jefferson Street Spring Green . Come out and spend your 4th of July with some local music. The Shed dining room will be closed inside.

Tuesday, July 6 Tails & Tales Outdoor Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . www.kraemerlibrary.org. Storytime lasts between 30 minutes and aimed for ages 0-6 with themed songs and stories.

Pizza on 14 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM . The Shoppe, 7352 Hwy 14, Arena . Pizza from our wood-fired oven and live music every Tuesday.

Wednesday, July 7 Story Time at South Park 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms Christi at Spring Green's South Park for a fun morning of summer Story Time!

Whippoorwills and Words: An Evening on the Wisconsin River 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM . Ferry Bluff Rd, Sauk City . $40 . www.eventbrite.com/e/whippoorwills-and-words-an-evening-on-the-wisconsin-river-tickets-15816515323. Join us for a very special evening of Whippoorwills and Words at Ferry Bluff State Natural Area.

While we wait for the birds to sing, we will listen to short stories and poems from August Derleth, a native of Sauk City, and one of Wisconsin's most prolific writers.

Thursday, July 8 Community-Wide Garage Sale 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. The event is organized by the Friends of the Spring Green Library as a library fundraiser. Registration for the sale is FREE, though donations are encouraged ($10 minimum donation suggested).

Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . $10 cash only . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine & Yoga every Thursday in the Vineyard with certified Yoga Instructor Lara Carpenter.

Local Night: Don Myers & Scott Stieber 5:30 PM - 8:00PM . The Shed/Post House Garden, 123 N Lexington Street, 119 E Jefferson Street Spring Green . Come out and spend your Thursday evenings with some local music and local food. The food cooked on the grill on the patio is from our many local vendors in Spring Green and surrounding towns, and the musicians are from the River Valley area.

Evenings Afield - Solar Energy for Homes & Farms 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM . Seven Seeds Farm, 5079 County Road Z, Spring Green . Free . www.driftlessconservancy.org/lowery-creek-watershed. Lowery Creek Watershed Initiative partners invite you to join us to learn about the current state of solar energy,how to go about getting solar

Friday, July 9 Ridgeway Pine Relict Workday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . Ridgeway, WI . www.dnr.wisconsin.gov. Ridgeway is known for its pine relicts that have northern plant species. The workday this month will focus on spraying or pulling garlic mustard.If you have any questions, please call Mary Kay Baum, at 608-935-5834.

Community-Wide Garage Sale 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. The event is organized by the Friends of the Spring Green Library as a library fundraiser. Registration for the sale is FREE, though donations are encouraged ($10 minimum donation suggested).

Wine Down Fridays: Beth Kille 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . Free . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine down and chill at Wild Hills Winery! Live music every Friday! Enjoy the sounds of local musicians and singer-songwriters outdoors on the patio. Food and drink specials.

Saturday, July 10 Community-Wide Garage Sale 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. The event is organized by the Friends of the Spring Green Library as a library fundraiser. Registration for the sale is FREE, though donations are encouraged ($10 minimum donation suggested).

River Valley Wrestler Camp 8:00 AM - 4:00PM . 660 W Daley St., Spring Green .

Free . www.facebook.com/rivervalleyschooldistrictwisconsin. Calling all interested River Valley Wrestlers! Check out this summer's wrestling camp that will be led by RV Alum, Shane Liegel. The camp will have a range of sessions for all RV students entering Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . S230 E. Monroe St Spring Green . www.facebook.com/SGFMarket. Local farm fresh produce, coffee, fresh baked goods, honey, soaps & lotions, bedding plants, cut flowers, maple syrup and more.

Driftless Landscape Tour 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM . Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center 5607 County Road C Spring Green . $6 – $25 . www.taliesinpreservation.org. Join Taliesin for a conversation about the interconnectedness of land and culture while enjoying an approximately 1-mile walk across the Taliesin estate.

This completely outdoor tour will speak to the natural history of the estate, using APT: Talk Backs — An Iliad 11:00 AM . www.americanplayers.org. Our usual post-show Q&A continues this year through the magic of Zoom. Bonus: we're recording them this year, so if you can't make the live stream, you can still watch any time after.

Whiskey’s Summer Cookout 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM . Whiskey Row Saloon, 403 Front Street . Free . www.whiskeyrowsaloon.com. Come join us for our summer cookout!

We will be cooking outside on Whiskey’s BBQ pit burgers, brats and hotdogs wth all the fixings. Featuring DJ John Torgerson W/ Dance Doctors, Kelly Long and The Arcadia Book Club: Book Signing with James DeVita, author of Blue 12:00 PM .

Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.readinutopia.com. Twenty years ago Jim DeVita wrote a beautiful, funny and magical book called, Blue. Jim has generously made himself available for a book signing.

Myles Talbott Dyad 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Bluegrass Jam 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S Albany Spring Green . Free . www.springgreen.com . This group of artists have been playing together for decades. Come and listen or grab your instrument and come and play with them.

Sunday, July 11 2021 Hunter/Jumper Summer Schooling Show Series 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM .

Timeless Farm North, 7431 Village Edge Rd, Arena . $12/hunter class, $14/jumper class, $20/derby and prix. Ground Poles, Crossrails, Walk/Trot, Green and Baby Green, to Open Jumper. Class 3 Walking Equitation is FREE, along with Walk/Trot division . www.timelessfarm.com. Timeless Farm in Arena, WI has been dedicated to offering quality, affordable horse show opportunities for every rider from beginner to advanced and every horse from green to made. There is no fee to come watch the beautiful horses, ponies, and riders perform.

APT: Sunday Salon 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . www.americanplayers.org. Sunday Salons are hosted by APT Leadership and are your chance to ask questions and discuss the things about APT that YOU want to talk about.

Cowboy Church 2:00 PM - 3:39 PM . 29864 Brown Chruch Rd., Lone Rock . Contact (608) 647-0622. "Cowboy Church" with Monty Berger, of The Country Gold Band, will be held on Sunday, July 11th. The Church is air-conditioned and handicapped accessiArcadia Book Club: Book Signing with John Galligan, author of Bad Moon Rising and Bad Axe County 2:30 PM . Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.readinutopia.com. John Galligan's fictional Bad Axe County is populated with the good, hardworking people of southwest Wisconsin. Please join us to have your book 1st Annual Pride Picnic 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Eunice Keepers Shelter, 200 W. 8th Street (Corner of 8th and Jefferson Street), Richland Center. Contact shawnakratochwill@gmail.com. In celebration of a recently passed resolution by the Richland County Board of Supervisors celebrating June as Pride Month in Richland County, please join us for an inclusive picnic! The picnic will be potluck in nature. Please

Community

WednesdaY, june 30, 2021

Monday, July 12 Design with a Pro: Advanced Digital Modeling Studio (Ages 16+) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center 5607 County Road C Spring Green . $325 . www.taliesinpreservation.org. This two-week intermediate and advanced design studio allows students/adults to explore architecture as a profession.

Taught by a professional architect trained at Taliesin, this studio engages students in exploring design in a digital environment.

Spring Green Community Group for Racial Juatice 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM . Daley St and Park Rd Spring Green . Contact sgcommunitygroup@gmail.com. The Community Group for Racial Justice is a discussion and action group that meets the second Monday of each month.

Page 5

Local kids jam in Downtown Spring Green

Tuesday, July 13 Tails & Tales Outdoor Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . www.kraemerlibrary.org. Storytime lasts between 30 minutes and aimed for ages 0-6 with themed songs and stories.

Take & Make Craft Kits 11:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Drop by the library to grab a Take and Make kit! These kits are created with adults in mind (all are welcome to them!) and contain materials needed to complete the project. Kits are available first come, first served, while supplies last.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers Concert 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Spring Green Community Center, 117 S. Washington Street, Spring Green . Free for seniors 65+ years; others are $5/each donation . www.facebook.com/SGCommunityCenter/. Come to the Spring Green Community Center were the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers will be playing.

Pizza on 14 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM . The Shoppe, 7352 Hwy 14, Arena . Pizza from our wood-fired oven and live music every Tuesday.

Wednesday, July 14 Story Time at South Park 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms Christi at Spring Green's South Park for a fun morning of summer Story Time!

Photo by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor On recent hot summer days you may have seen Eli Saperstein and Dylan Perry sitting on the corner of Lexington and Jefferson Streets in Spring Green — or, rather, you may have heard them first. Equipped with five gallon buckets and drumsticks, both describe themselves as long time drummers.

Perry said he plays mostly for fun but that he was hoping to save up for some more drums.

Saperstein said he’s hoping to save up for a kendama, which is a traditional ball and stick game.

They said they sometimes are joined by a friend with a saxophone as well.

In other news County Highway 133 to close for three weeks Highway 133 from Bigelow Road to Highway 130 in Lone Rock will be closed until July 9 for grading, paving and replacement of guardrails.

Spring Green COVID-19 testing The Spring Green EMS will not host COVID-19 testing Monday, July 4.

Typically testing is Mondays 11 a.m to noon at the Fire Station in Spring Green. An appointment and pre-registration are required.

Free COVID-19 testing suspended in Richland County Richland County Health and Human Services announced it will suspend weekly free COVID-19 testing throughout the summer. Testing is typically held Monday’s at Richland Center High School.

The County Health Department said it will reevaluate the COVID-19 infection rates as Fall approaches, and determine if community testing needs to be reinstated.

Richland Hospital will continue to test symptomatic individuals, and individuals can schedule a testing appointment at Center Pharmacy.

Richland County changes Corporation Counsel Last week, Richland County officially transferred corporation counsel services to Abt Swayne Law Firm, with Attorney Michael Swayne representing the county.

Swayne formerly provided corporation counsel services to Vernon County and local municipalities. Swayne was appointed by County Administrator Clinton Langreck, and is expected to be confirmed by the county board at it’s July 20 meeting.

The county’s former, interim corporation counsel Julie Dadoun will remain in the county providing supporting legal services, and manage Health and Human Services placements and guardianships as needed.

Gov. Evers Seeks Applicants for Richland County Sheriff Gov. Tony Evers announced today that he is seeking applicants for Richland County Sheriff.

The appointment will fill a vacancy created by Sheriff James J. Bindl’s resignation, effective July 12, 2021.

The new sheriff will complete a term ending January 2, 2023.

The application for appointment can be found on the “Apply to Serve” page on Gov. Evers’ website at: www.evers.wi.gov. To apply, please complete the “Register of Deeds, Coroner, and Sheriff” application form. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Friday, July 9, 2021.

Applicants with questions about the sheriff selection process may contact the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel at GOVSheriffAppointments@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-1212.and pre-registration are required.

4petesake announces date for day in the park and golf outing, new recipients Spring Green, WI – After a year hiatus, 4PeteSake’s Day In The Park returns to Spring Green’s North Park on Sunday, August 15th. What began in 2005 as an impassioned effort to help a 20-year-old cancer survivor has become a summer tradition and a symbol of the River Valley’s commitment to helping neighbors in need.

16 years ago, Spring Green’s Peter Greenwood was that 20-year-old. Bone cancer had taken his leg and insurance wouldn’t pay for a next-generation prosthetic that would help him stay active.

So friends of the Greenwoods held the first Day In The Park, with a goal to raise $50,000. But by day’s end, they had so far exceeded the goal that money was set aside for future people in need. And so 4PeteSake - and the Day in the Park - was born.

Since 2005, 4PeteSake has been able to provide assistance to more than 90 River

Valley residents facing economic hardship in the wake of a medical crisis. Fall 2020/ Spring 2021 4PeteSake recipients are: Kristine Weston from Arena; John Acker, Donald and Jordean Grass, David Ray Davenport, Natalie Nicoll and Alaxandria Deneen from Lone Rock; Shawna and Andrew Fromfeld from Plain; and Regina Caldwell, Heloise Idstein, Theresa Rupp and Andrew Pardee from Spring Green.

This year’s Day in the Park will feature music from local bands, food and drink from local vendors, kid’s activities and a silent auction. There will also be a 5k Walk/Run and a 26k Bike Ride.

Registration for the walk/run and bike is online at 4petesake.com. Day-of registration will be available at 8am on the morning of the event.

The 2021 4PeteSake Golf Outing will

see page 6

Construction Services Yard Laborer Kraemer Brothers is accepting applications for a yard laborer. Prior knowledge and/or experience with construction materials/equipment is helpful. Ability to work independently and as a team member is critical. One of Wisconsin’s leading construction companies, Kraemer Brothers provides competitive hourly wages, along with a safe and challenging work environment.

Apply at the office of Kraemer Brothers

925 Park Ave., Plain, WI 53577 Phone: 608-546-2411 • Fax: 608-546-2509 Or send resume to jobs@kraemerbrothers.com

EEO/AA EMPLOYER

Page 6

Community

WednesdaY, june 30, 2021

4petesake announces date for day in the park and golf outing, new recipients continued from page 5 be held on Friday, September 17th, at The House on the Rock Resort and Golf Course. Space is limited 36 teams.

Registration is open now at 4petesake. com. 4PeteSake thanks the River Valley Community for over 15 years of generous support.

To make an online contribution, visit 4petesake.com or send checks to P.O. Box 577 Spring Green, WI 53588. Checks should be made out to Christ Lutheran Church/4PeteSake.

Fall 2020/Spring 2021 Recipients John Acker

Lone Rock’s John Acker used to go a million miles an hour. A self-employed jack-of-all-trades since he was 18, John kept busy building, roofing, siding, doing car repairs - whatever someone needed for almost 40 years. And then last August a fluke slip during a roofing job sent him tumbling 20 feet to the ground. He broke his femur and his pelvis; and shattered his wrist and several vertebrae. And just like that, a lifetime of activity came to a halt.

Eager to recover after multiple surgeries and a month in the hospital, Acker worked hard at rehabbing his broken body. He had to relearn how to sit, to walk, to dress himself, and to shower - all while enduring excruciating pain. Nearly a year later, he’s learning that willpower alone isn’t always enough. He can get on his feet, but only for 20 minutes at a time. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve hit a wall,” he says. To keep busy, he dusts and vacuums, does the dishes, plants flowers, listens to ‘70s rock and roll, and minds his many bird feeders.

“I’d make a very good wife,” he jokes.

With John’s work future uncertain, he and his wife Tracy reached out to 4PeteSake.

“They saved our house,” he says.

Donald Grass

Donald and Jordean Grass are natives of the Driftless area who settled in Lone Rock in the early 2000s “for a change of life.” With health issues keeping them both from working, that life is a low-key one now filled with card games and trips to the store.

Good budgeting has kept the Grasses on top of their monthly bills, but when their trailer needed significant repairs earlier this year to meet the requirements of their lease, they realized they needed help.

After seeing an article about 4PeteSake in the paper, they reached out. 4PeteSake was able to help the Grasses make the necessary repairs.

David Ray Davenport

Born in Verona and raised in Mazo, David Ray Davenport spent 32 years operating a forklift at Norske Wood Works in Black Earth. He’s lived in Lone Rock since 1999.

Retired now and on a fixed income, Davenport reached out to 4PeteSake when his furnace needed replacing. While he waits for cool temps to return, Davenport plans to spend the summer scavenging garage sales for a bike to help him rehab an injured leg.

Natalie Nicoll

Natalie Nicoll is a fighter. She’d lost six siblings to cancer when she was diagnosed

herself in 2014. She beat it. “The doctor came in and told me ‘you’re cancer-free.’

I couldn’t believe it.” But in August of last year, the cancer returned. “I turned 85 in March - and I want to take one more trip,” she says. Nicoll had an itinerant upbringing, moving from New York state as a child to places as far-flung as southern California, Waco, TX, Douglas, AZ, and Goldfield, NV (now one of the country’s most famous ghost towns). She settled with family in the River Valley in the early 70s. She currently lives in Lone Rock with her son, her daughter-in-law, and her fiveyear-old chihuahua Faun.

She has plans to visit family in Oregon this summer. 4PeteSake has been able to help with expenses while Nicoll undergoes treatment.

Regina Caldwell

Caldwell and her family moved to Spring Green in 2019. They love it here. 8th grader Zach started a successful lawn and snow removal business. But then in April of last year, Caldwell’s husband David suffered a heart attack, requiring triple bypass surgery.

It sent the family reeling. Uninsured and without a steady source of income, Regina did what she could to keep the family of four fed and a roof over their head. She applied for loans and used the food pantry.

But she was still falling behind. That was when someone suggested that Caldwell reach out to 4PeteSake. “If anyone out there needs help, they should apply,” says Caldwell. “They helped us so much.”

Heloise Idstein

“The universe opened its helping hands for me,” says Spring Green’s Heloise Idstein. Idstein - a native of South Africa, who moved to the area in 2015 with her husband Frank Chaffee - received a cancer diagnosis in May of last year. She was uninsured. “It felt like the bottom had fallen out,” she says. Scared and anxious about the financial toll the diagnosis would take on her and Frank, she was also worried about not having a reliable vehicle to get her to treatments. She recalls running an errand to People’s Community Bank, where she was told: “There is help.”

A day later, she got a call from River Valley Commons, who put her in touch with 4PeteSake. “The people in this community really help,” says Idstein. “They don’t just offer help, they jump right in.”

4PeteSake worked with Darlington’s Virtue Motors to get Idstein a car, which proved its reliability earlier this year when she experienced a medical emergency.

“We could have taken an ambulance—or the car,” says Idstein. “We took the car.”

Shawna and Andrew Fromfeld

The Fromfelds and their 11-year-old twins were expecting 2020 to be a challenging year, but what they got was so much more than they anticipated. In November, 2019, Shawna was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In December, she learned that it wasn’t a single tumor—it was two. Surgery was scheduled for April, 2020, but when Covid hit, it was postponed. And that’s when the Plain family got more news: they were about to become foster parents. “We were approved to foster in early 2019 and had

been waiting for a placement,” explains Shawna. “And just when my surgery got delayed, we learned we’d been selected.”

Two brothers, 7 and 9, soon joined the Fromfeld household.

Shawna finally had her surgery in June, but remained out of work for months while she recovered. The family - now six - needed help. A school counselor referred them to 4PeteSake. “They understood that it wasn’t just the big things that we needed help with,” says Shawna. “It was the daily bills that can get overlooked when you’re focused on the biggies. They’re miracle workers.”

Andrew Pardee

Spring Green’s Terri Pardee has to laugh so she won’t cry. “Andrew needs to stop being in the top ten percent of everything,” she says. Pardee’s son Andrew was the valedictorian of River Valley’s 2016 graduating class. He went on to graduate with highest honors at UW-La Crosse and just completed his first year of doctorate work with a 4.0. But then earlier this year, during a routine checkup, doctors discovered a pea-sized lump in Andrew’s neck. They said there was only a ten percent chance that it was cancerous.

Soon, Andrew was being scheduled for surgery. He had Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

While he takes radiation treatment and waits for the fall to find out if he’s cancerfree, Andrew continues working toward the career he’s been preparing for since he was in 4th grade: physical therapy.

He’ll intern this summer in Reedsburg with fellow River Valley alum Dr. Craig Johnson. 4PeteSake was able to help the Pardees cover some medical expenses that weren’t covered by insurance.

4PeteSake’s 2021 “Day in the Park” Sunday, August 15th

● The 2021 Day in the Park will be held on Sunday, August 15, from 11 am to 7 pm at North Park in Spring Green. ● To help support 4PeteSake, all you have to do is show up! ● Enjoy music from local bands, food and drink, kids’ activities, and a silent auction. ● The day also features a 5k run/walk and a 26k bike ride. Registration forms are available at 4petesake.com or the morning of the event. ● For more details about Day in the Park 2021, visit 4petesake.com.

Local Nights at The Shed

● On July 15th, you can find 4PeteSake committee members and volunteers at The Shed’s Local Night in Spring Green. ● Purchase Day in the Park t-shirts or drop by to learn more about how to help support the organization. ● Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 15th (with The Solstice Jazz Band).

2021 4PeteSake Golf Outing

● Friday, September 17th at the House on the Rock Resort and Golf Course ● Limited to 36 teams. Registration - and sponsorship opportunities - at 4petesake. com

Volunteers Needed

● The 4PeteSake committee is always looking for volunteers ● There are many ways to help, and assignments can be adjusted based on

the talents and time commitment you can offer. ● The Day in the Park •Staffing and organizing activities •Set-up and clean-up •Selling raffle tickets •Publicity •Baking and preparing food ● Help organize and run smaller fundraising events during the year. ● If you would like to get involved, please contact 4PeteSake Committee member Jean Alt at jean.m.alt@gmail.com.

Donate

● To make an online contribution, visit 4petesake.com or send checks to P.O. Box 577 Spring Green, WI 53588. Checks should be made out to Christ Lutheran Church/4PeteSake. ● 4PeteSake thanks the River Valley Community for 16 years of generous support!

Apply for assistance

● The next funding cycle is tentatively scheduled for fall, 2021. ● Additional information and application forms are available online at 4petesake. com. ● Applications are also available at Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson Street in Spring Green. ● Completed applications should be mailed to: 4PeteSake, P.O. Box 577, Spring Green, WI. ● Applicants may also write to the address above to request that an application be sent to them. ● Questions about the application process may be directed to 4PeteSake Committee Member Todd Miller at 608588-4619. 4PeteSake provides funds for River Valley residents who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in health-related circumstances and are in need of financial assistance.

Applicants must be residents of the River Valley School District.

About 4PeteSake

Since 2005, 4PeteSake has provided over $1 million of assistance to more than 90 recipients.

4PeteSake is run by a 9-member, volunteer group. The independent committee is part of the public outreach program of Christ Lutheran Church, which gives 4PeteSake access to a 501(c) 3 organization, allowing contributions to be tax-deductible. The committee chooses at least one recipient each year through an application process.

Recipients must live within the boundaries of the River Valley School District and find themselves in circumstances, through no fault of their own, for which assistance is needed. All recipients must have had medically related needs.

The group’s mission is to raise money to assist recipients in a way that can substantially change their circumstances and impact their quality of life.

For more information on how to participate in 4PeteSake, visit www.4PeteSake.com.

Business/Professional

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M-F Sat 8am-5p 8am -noo m n E4792 Kennedy Rd.

and

Snow Removal

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•Natural double shredded oak bark mulch - $30/yard •Colored decorative mulch Red-Brown-Gold-Orange - $30/yard •Free delivery to the River Valley area (min. 2 yards) •Other landscape supplies available!

Gravel-Boulders-Screened Topsoil-Sand, etc.

We offer complete landscape and lawn care service •Full Landscaping from start to finish •Lawn Mowing We’ re y •Plantings stop our on sho e •Grading & Seedings p!

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Reserve a spot in our business/professional directory!

Add $30 to any ad order or as a stand-alone ad and you’ll be added to the next week’s business/professional directory.

Business card sized (2 col./5.125” x 2.81”), full color ad.

Perfect for top-of-mind awareness.

Want to run it every week? $750 for 6 months, $1000 for 1 year (26% discount, $19.23 /week).

Community

WednesdaY, june 30, 2021

COVID-19 Dashboard

Page 7

Wisconsin Summary

612,732 Positive Cases

Cases as of 6/29/2021

+499 from 6/22

2,982,555 Negative Test Results +7,769 from 6/22

7,306 Deaths +53 from 6/22

Vaccine Summary Statistics Updated: 6/29/2021

6,809,515

5,570,218

Administered

Allocated

3,049,478

2,291,619

Pfizer doses administered

228,977

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

Vaccine Data

These two core measures are all measures of herd immunity in Richland, Sauk and Iowa County. We do not yet know what level of vaccination leads to herd immunity for COVID-19, or how current or future variants might affect herd immunity. We know based on other diseases that herd immunity is likely at least 60%, and if more transmissible variants become more common, that threshold may become higher, so our current target range is 60-90%.

-Madison Public Health and Dane County

Richland County

1,331 Positive Cases +3 from 6/22 8,317 Negative Tests -48 from 6/22 16 Death +0 from 6/22

Richland

Sauk

Target Range

48.7%

Iowa County

2,061 Positive Cases +1 from 6/22 11,938 Negative Tests +15 from 6/22 13 Deaths +0 from 6/22 Sauk County 5,969 Positive Cases +6 from 6/22 36,434 Negative Tests +53 from 6/22 51 Deaths +1 from 6/22

51.5%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

48.1%

46.1%

Percent fully vaccinated

Target Range

Percent fully vaccinated

Iowa

Target Range

57.9%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

55%

Percent fully vaccinated

Percent of Wisconsin residents ages 12-15 who have received at least one dose by county

Cases per zip code Cases as of 6/29/2021

Updated: 6/29/2021

Lower %

Higher %

Richland County Ages 12-15 24.6%

Iowa County Ages 12-15

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose

35.8%

Sauk County

Ages

12-15

Ages 12-15 26.5%

16-17

18-24

Dane County Ages 12-15

Graphic by Whitney Back

59%

25-34

35-44

Updated: 6/29/2021 27.4% 36.7%

41.4% 46.7% 55%

45-54 55-64 65+

Data From: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm

56.7%

67.3% 84.5%

“The good stuff.”

Page 8

Community/Arts & Culture

WednesdaY, june 30, 2021

Art from around the Valley: Jen Salt’s “Prickly Pear Cactus” The Prickly Pear Cactus is native to Wisconsin and one of the best places to view these beautiful yellow treasures is at the Spring Green Preserve Natural Area.

Known as the “Wisconsin Desert”, the Preserve is very unique with it’s sandy floor and shifting dunes. The area has over forty various species of biennials and annuals and is home to many types of invertebrates such as lizards, spiders and tiger beetles.

Once you pull into the parking lot, you could almost imagine that you were out west with the Prickly Pear Cactus, sandy desert, sweeping prairies and high bluffs, which all bring a delicate beauty to an amazing landscape.

The Spring Green Preserve Natural Area is open to the public from dawn till dusk everyday and it’s free. The best ways to access the Preserve is to go north on Pearl Road from highway 14 or heading north on highway 23, turn right onto Jones Road and travel about a mile. Parking lot is on the left. Enjoy!

This Prickly Pear Cactus image was done in Prismacolor pencil and pastels and is 8” x 10”.

—Jen Salt, Contributor Jen Salt is an artist who lives in a place she calls “Crow’s Lair Cottage”-just outside of Spring Green where she’s lived for five and a half years. “The Wisconsin River was the draw to move here and I’ve never looked back, coming from a big city.

This is home.”

Painting by Jen Salt

The Sauk County Gardener — Help Your Garden Feed You Jeanie Manis, Sauk County A vegetable garden doesn’t just feed your body. It also feeds your soul.”

— Doug Green This past week I was checking out our basswood tree that finally started blooming, trying to see what bees and other pollinators were visiting it. As I moved the branches around, a whole kaleidoscope of moths just flew out of the tree. Although it was actually quite pretty to see, I knew my broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale were in harm’s way. I spoke with a fellow gardener, John, and he said he had more white moths than he’d seen before as well. Unfortunately, the dreaded cabbage moths are thick this year. Start checking your plants closely so you can hand-pick the eggs and worms. You can also use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var Kurstaki or Aisawai) as it is can be a highly effective organic way to control cabbage worms. This needs to be sprayed every 1 to 2 weeks or after it rains to help control the cabbage worm and other cole crop pests. If you decide to use an insecticide organic or otherwise - read the label closely to ensure it can control the pest you are trying to get rid of and only apply the correct amount.

In the vegetable garden, my squashes are sprawling out nicely and some are already flowering. I am keeping my eye out for the squash vine borer. They are about a half inch long, have an orange abdomen with black dots, have green wings, and they make a buzzing noise when they fly. You can see if you have any by putting out a yellow-colored container filled with water. The squash vine borers are attracted to yellow so they will fly into the container and get trapped in the water. There are a several ways to control them. You can slit open the stems and remove the larvae and replant the stem. Another way is to plant a second planting of summer squash in early July, so they mature after the adult borers are finished laying eggs. If you have any plants

that were destroyed by squash vine borer, remove and destroy the plants promptly.

After July 1st, apply a side dressing of 5-10-5 or superphosphate between your onion rows to promote bulbing.

Phosphate is also good for other root crops such as beets, carrots, potatoes, leeks, garlic and kohlrabi but remember to only side dress at this time. With the strange weather of hot and cold streaks so far, it has been causing some people onion plants to bolt or flower. Once an onion has bolted, there is nothing you can do. There is no benefit to removing the flower stem. Do not worry though; the onion will still be edible, but smaller. Use these onions first as it will be very difficult to store them effectively. Keep an eye on your onions, garlic, and potatoes and be prepared to harvest them when their tops start to shrivel. Replant lettuces and spinach for a fall crop.

This time though plant them a little deeper than you did in the spring and mulch lightly. Also plant beets, kale, bunching onions and cucumbers for a fall harvest. Because seeds need moist soil to germinate, try and plant right before it rains if rain is in the forecast. Many of the seeds I planted last week right before the rain have sprouted nicely. You’ll have to keep the soil moist but it’s nice when nature lends a helping hand. If you have had tomato fungus in the past or it’s very warm (82-86 F) and humid (rainy, heavy dew or 90+% humidity), start regularly applying a fungicide that contains copper or chlorothalonil before the symptoms appear.

In the flower garden, cut off the seed pods from your peonies. Pinch back your mums on last time and lightly fertilize if desired. If you happen to have hollyhocks, check them for rust.

Remove any infected have leaves to help control the rust. As you now finish up any plantings, take time to weed and add additional mulch as needed. Continue watering if we receive less than an inch of water per week. Water deeply and less

frequently instead of watering daily and only lightly. Finally, apply more mulch if needed to help maintain soil moisture. If you planted any trees, water them weekly if needed and mulch as well. When mowing, keep your grass at least 2” high and watered to prevent early summer dormancy. If your red and black raspberries are done, it is time to remove canes. Thin red raspberry canes to 3-4 canes per foot in a row or 9-10 canes to a hill. Thin blackberry canes to about 10 per hill. Assess your strawberry bed and renovate as needed. My strawberry bed is fairly new and only produced enough berries for my grandson to eat them right out of the garden.

When I took him outside to play, he headed straight for the strawberry bed looking for berries. Although I didn’t have enough strawberries to make jam, my daughter gifted me with a bucket of mulberries so I made mulberry jelly for the first time – it was delicious! I found the recipe on the National Center for Home Food Preservation website https://nchfp.uga.edu/. Visit this site

for safe, delicious recipes for food preservation.

The Sauk County Fair is July 13 – July 18 and the Sauk County Master Gardeners Association will be doing several presentations on the FAME stage in the commercial building.

I hope you stop by to watch our demonstrations and learn about the Sauk County Master Gardeners Association.

This week’s article is written

by Jeannie Manis, a Wisconsin Certified Sauk County Master Gardener Volunteer. If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to tim.ripp@saukcountywi. gov or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608355-3250.

Construction Superintendent

Kraemer Brothers, one of Wisconsin’s leading construction companies, is adding an experienced construction professional to its staff. Kraemer Brothers consistently provides top level compensation and a challenging and safe work environment.

Requirements: 5+ years of field management and a related degree or equivalent experience for this position. Experience supervising and coordinating the construction of complex commercial or institutional projects.

Duties include: ■ Overall responsibility for the management of construction activities.

■ Ensuring compliance with design, schedule and budget requirements.

■ Coordinating company performed trade work.

Successful candidate must be able to demonstrate prior success in working effectively as a team member with project owners, architects and subcontractors.

Please forward your confidential resume to:

Kraemer Brothers, LLC • 925 Park Ave., Plain, WI 53577 Phone: 608-546-2411 • Fax: 608-546-2509 Email: jobs@kraemerbrothers.com www.kraemerbrothers.com

EEO/AA EMPLOYER