Inside this edition
Community Calendar: Theater, live music and more!
Art from Around the Valley: Jen Salt’s “Vintage Car”
COVID-19 cases rising again with Sauk, Richland and Iowa Counties showing high case activity
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Spring Green, Wisconsin
Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 32 FREE, Single-Copy
Spring Green comes together to clear storm damage as severe weather hits the area Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief A week of severe weather as the greater region saw tornadoes and repeated severe storms this week, with Spring Green receiving over three inches of rain in the last seven days as of press time, according to the National Weather Service. High winds from a severe thunderstorm Tuesday evening brought down trees and snapped power poles and lines, with Alliant Energy reporting the damage causing over 1200 residents in Spring Green to lose power for several hours. In the aftermath of the storms, residents were seen assisting each other with the cleanup. “Oh my god, we’re so lucky,” said Barbara Mott, who had part of a tree fall on her roof, causing minor damage, with a much larger tree barely missing the house. “Neighbors are helping us and that’s amazing, neighbors helping neighbors.” Pictured, neighbors help clear trees at Mott’s residence on Wood Street. Much of the damage was centered on Wood and Daley Streets in Spring Green, with trees down throughout Spring Green.
Arena chooses location for much needed secondary well, discusses financing options Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief The Arena Village Board met Aug. 3 for its regular, monthly meeting, where the board discussed location and financing prospects for a second village well, and discussed a somewhat controversial natural lawn ordinance. The board members reviewed location options for a secondary village well, based on the results of a well site study by MSA Engineering firm and the DNR, and voted to approve constructing the well at the sand volleyball courts at the community park on Sharon Street. The well will replace the volleyball courts and connect to water mains on Sharon Street and Christina Street and end at South Street and Main Street. The well project is estimated to cost approximately $1,932,000. In addition to the secondary well, the village will construct a secondary well house to maintain and service the well. The total cost for both projects is estimated to cost $3.17 million. The board heard from Brian Roemer
from Elhers, the financial advising firm that handles the Village’s Tax Increment District (TID) funds, at the Aug. 3 meeting on a few different funding deadlines and options for funding the well projects using TID funds. According to Roemer, per TID requirements, the village had before Sept. 28 to secure interim financing. The village has applied for an EIF loan, but Roemer said he doesn’t expect that to become effective until early 2022, if the board is approved. The board has three options to secure interim financing: —A State Loan Trust, which takes approximately 45 days to become effective and comes with higher interest rates, at about 4%. —Taking a loan from a local bank. Roemer a recommended hiring a special bond council to oversee paperwork for this option. —A public Market Transaction, which can be done by Elhers and would come with lower interest rates. The board is waiting for both the Department of Administration
and DNR to approve the proposed projects. The board will hold a special meeting on August 17 to discuss further financing options with representatives from Elhers. Natural Lawn Ordinance The board also took up approving a natural lawn ordinance, which regulates the parameters in which residents can plant and grow natural prairie grasses and flowers. Ultimately, the board voted to make some changes to the ordinance, including mandating the board approves all applications for natural lawns, following sign-off from both the fire chief and police chief for safety and property line limitations. The proposed changes will be sent to the village’s attorney for review, prior to board approval. The ordinance is set stipulate that property owners with approved natural lawns must provide the board with a yearly written plan and annual inspection by a horticulturist to ensure compliance. The inspection will be paid for by the property owner.
The ordinance also sets measurements and parameters for how tall and close to village and other private property the natural lawn can be. I’m addition, the owners must circulate a letter of intent to neighbors, who will have the chance to voice their opinions of the natural lawn to the board prior to approval of an application. During public comment, Oscar Wendt voiced his concern over the Ordinance, saying that the way it was currently written was troubling for neighbors. “Natural Lawn ordinance the way its written puts one neighbor against another, I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” Wendt said he was against the allowance of natural lawns, because he was concerned it would look “shabby and knock down property values.” He also voiced concerns regarding vermin, such as mice, living in the natural lawns. “What happens when rabies gets in there?” Wendt questioned.
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Local artist wins first place in the Dubuque Museum of Art Biennial show Taylor Scott, Managing Editor Spring Green artist Linda Kelen was recently awarded first place in the Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA) 2021 Biennial. The submissions for the juried show covered four states — Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota — with 27 artists and 55 artworks accepted out of over 600 submissions, with Spring Green’s own Kelen walking away with best in show. According to the museum, the show was founded in 2003 and is presented every two years as a competitive, juried exhibition intended to recognize and honor the
artistic talent that exists throughout the region. Other Wisconsin artists include Alyssa Love from Appleton, Bill Mitchell from Lancaster, Daniel O’Brien and Katie Schutte from Platteville, and Vera Scekic from Racine. The show is meant to offer artists’ perspectives on current events. “The DuMA Biennial is a provocative snapshot of the work of artists from across the region and their search for meaning and understanding during this historic moment,” shared Gary Stoppelman, Executive Director of DuMA. “The show sheds light on how artists in the
region have experienced, interpreted, and reacted to their experience of the last two years.” The museum said for this exhibition there was a focus on the domestic space and the use of recycled or repurposed materials used in innovative or unexpected ways. “The goal of any exhibition of contemporary art is to show a version of where we are right now,” says 2021 Biennial Juror Laura Burkhalter. She described the overall theme as “inventions in a time of strife. Not every work deals blatantly with the pain many experienced in 2020.
Many do, and many are more subtle.” This was Kelen’s second selection for shows at the DuMA, with the previous being a craft invitational. “This Biennial is the second show I’ve been fortunate enough to be in, and again, they have outdone themselves,” said Kelen Kelen will also be featured in the upcoming Fall Art Tour in the area. In the meantime, she suggests checking out the exhibition.
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opinion
WednesdaY, august 11, 2021
Editorial
Second well needed in Arena, but not at expense of village assets At last week’s meeting, the Arena Village Board took its first real steps toward the establishment of a second well for the village. There has been an identified need for a second well in Arena for several decades. If Arena is to grow it absolutely needs a second well, but not at the expense of its other offerings and services. Last week the village board decided on the placement for the new well, while the thorny issues of financing the nearly $3.2 million necessary to build the well are due to be discussed next (and will likely garner their own future editorial). The well will be placed in the Community Park on Sharon Street in the current location of the volleyball courts. Missing from the discussion was mention of replacing services and assets such as the volleyball courts. For those that have lived in Arena for the past couple decades, this is just one more service or asset that has gone by the wayside. Arena has seen the horseshoe courts (another possible well site) that once were filled with people and brought
life to the park crumbling to ruin, Arena has seen the loss of consistent sporting events in the village that once boasted a full park most nights of the summer. Arena has lost all semblance of a parks and rec program, and more. (An exception to the general trend is the beautiful dog park next to the pond at the village’s West Park, kudos to Public Works Superintendent Mike Schmidt and crew.) The reasons are not simply explained by any one cause. Maybe it’s been a lack of interest, maybe it’s been a lack of upkeep, maybe it’s simply the loss of social capital as we draw into our own tribes in the digital age and the bridge clubs disappear. For once we can decidedly not blame the pandemic for the lack of engagement in these assets, but the village board should be looking for solutions to not only build out infrastructure, but to also build out community. The community itself needs to fight for services, assets and offerings that the area villages and local organizations provide, and
then they need to engage with them. Go to that potluck, march in that parade, set up a volleyball tournament, help grandma start up her bridge club again once everyone is vaccinated. If you are okay with losing a volleyball court because you think no one uses it, remember that you are taking away the opportunity for anyone to use it. It may not be exciting, but it’s much easier to maintain an asset than it is to rebuild it completely. If your village is not offering the services you think it should, then get involved — Arena has a vacancy on the village board. If the community wants them, then the community needs to fight for things like intermunicipal parks and rec programs, arts in our parks, ice rinks, sporting events, and — of course — volleyball courts. While Spring Green recently lost some archaic playground equipment, it tabled the discussion until its next meeting in order to receive feedback from the community. While maintenance of the tennis courts at Spring Green’s North Park fell through the cracks
and eventually was impractical, the village tore up the courts recently with a full plan in place to reseed the area for greenspace while securing the necessary grants to replace the tennis courts within the year with pickleball courts and a tennis court, based on community feedback. Arena needs a second well. It has needed a second well for decades. Arena is on the brink of strangling itself, both in village limits and in village capacity in terms of what the village can offer residents and businesses for water and sewer services. It needs to address these imminent issues, but not at the expense of offerings and assets. Sure these are just volleyball courts, sure they’re not used every night, but our village boards shouldn’t be taking away services and assets that people could enjoy without having discussions about how we’re replacing and expanding them in a way that includes the community. That’s not how you build a community and that’s not how you build Arena.
This week’s Plain and Simple Correspondent— The Birds and the Bugs Katie Green, Contributor Gardeners make many sacrifices in pursuit of their obsession, although there are many rewards, of course. I was out in the heat of a recent late July afternoon giving the variegated willow a haircut, while around me swirled insects of many species, some of whom were dining on me, some apparently just using me as a landing strip, some I was murdering. The delicate lacewing was lifted off my arm and onto a leaf, where I hoped it would devour many aphids. Meanwhile, I pondered several of the great mysteries: (a) why would the Creator, in Her infinite wisdom, give the Japanese beetles no natural enemies except humans? and (b) why does lettuce bolt so quickly? Suddenly I was granted one of the great boons bestowed on people who are outdoors a lot: a pair of cedar waxwings flew into the plum tree beside me. As usual, they were just passing through, restless as ever. I don’t very often get to see them, and their subtle, sophisticated coloring and distinctive black face markings -- besides the rarity of laying eyes on them -- make them one of my favorite birds. I am letting native cedars grow on a steep, weedy portion of our property I call The Wilderness in the hope of seeing waxwings more frequently eventually, since cedar berries are to them as sweet corn is to Midwesterners in late summer. I was treated to yet another exciting natural spectacle on the way to Sauk Prairie a few days ago. For once I wasn’t driving and so was able to rubberneck to my heart’s content. My eyes bulged nearly out of their sockets when I saw a tree full of large white herons on the outskirts of Troy. An unusual sight for this region -- it wasn’t a true , permanent rookery, just a temporary gathering of feathered friends. Once my husband and I were led to the real thing in the Chequamegon-Nicolet forest of Northern Wisconsin, where great blue herons sailed in to land on the tops of ancient pine trees, looking like refugees from the dinosaur age. I have witnessed similar sights in wildlife refuges in California, where vast rice fields and floody areas along the Sacramento and San Joaquin River drainages attract herons year ‘round. There are also places out West in
urban and suburban neighborhoods where night herons have become a problem, hanging in the trees like strange fruit, contaminating the area with their droppings and driving neighbors batty with their haunting cries. Too much of a good thing, you could say. (They probably say the same thing about us.) A fledgling robin was flopping around in the street by our house a day or two ago, too big to stay in the nest but not yet able to fly. Robins are hardly an endangered species, but little ones in distress bring on protective responses, no matter what the creature. Fearing it might be rendered a grease spot by a vehicle, I chased it down. It appeared to be all open, yawning beak and frightened eyes as I picked it up and carried it to our lawn. And the amount of heat generated by that tiny body sitting in my palms was impressive. Meantime, the parents were whirling around my head in an agony of alarm, which ceased only when I set their precious offspring in the grass and walked off. The impression of that soft, steaming-hot body made a dent in my memory bank that will not soon go away. Which is as it should be, no? Many writers, most graphically and memorably Aldo Leopold, have described the deep connection made when eyes lock intra-species. In his case it was a dying wolf, but I have felt it in the wild with squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, raccoons, deer, a bobcat, a pine marten, grouse, hawks, chickadees, hummingbirds, etc.. And domestically with cats, dogs and even a talkative budgie belonging to a friend. That eyes are the windows into the souls of creatures is borne out when faces are covered by masks, and yet so much personality and emotion flows between us. Butterflies are cruising the milkweed, coneflowers and other vegetation in greater numbers now, some of them quite tattered by encounters, no doubt, with pecking birds and hard objects. Even with butterfly books keyed to our area, I can’t identify all of them, only view them with reverence and awe and wave them on their way with my blessing. Those frail, gossamer wings, the many leagues they travel to get here – well, that accomplishment rivals any Olympic medal performance, only quieter,
Photo contributed by Katie Green anonymous, with brief life as its crowning glory. As for the Japanese beetles in such profusion, devouring everything in sight, if I achieve objectivity I can appreciate that they are marvels of bug engineering, an evolutionary triumph. They are adaptable, vigilant, and tough as nails, mostly. (They become more vulnerable to capture when the temperature drops below about 60 degrees, when they huddle in colonies .) But their eyes are too small for me to commune with eyeball to eyeball, and thus I am able to scoop them from leaves and drop them into a bucket of soapy water without a twinge. My reverence for life has its limits. If the general subject of diminishing pollination concerns you, a number
of Wisconsin State senators are cosponsoring a series of bills aimed at protecting pollinators, which are, of course, absolutely necessary for agricultural production of any crop that blossoms: SB 455, 456 and 457. The last listed, SB457, would allow local municipalities or counties to decide which pesticides they deem are safe for pollinators and where, which at present it is not legal for them to do. Local control seems a logical approach, since no two terrains are alike. And what is safe for pollinators is likely safe for birds and the rest of us, as well. I feel sure your State senator would be thrilled to hear from you in support of these bills, which are sensible and timely.
opinion/Community
WednesdaY, august 11, 2021
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Sen. Howard Marklein — The Best Legislation Comes From You
Howard Marklein, WI State Senator
Now that our work on the State Budget is completed, I am refocusing my efforts on other legislation. As the Co-Chair for the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance (JFC), I admit that most of my attention has been dedicated to working through the budget process. I am ready to shift my effort. Early in the current legislative session, I was able to move five important bills through the legislative process to be signed into law. I am proud of my work on Acts 1, 2, 6, 11 and 13. These bills made small, but important, changes to state law and were all driven by residents of the 17th Senate District: Act 1 included a variety of tax reforms and updates. It was amended to align state income tax code with Federal changes included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) to exclude forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from taxable state income. It also exempted grants provided by the state of Wisconsin to businesses and organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Act 2 simplified the tax treatment for partnerships and S corporations. Act 6 updated state statutes related to the Powerball lottery game so that Wisconsin could continue to participate when the Powerball
organization begins selling tickets internationally. Act 11 changed the law to count hours of teaching on the farm or in the field toward university teaching hours. Under prior law, UW Extension specialists who taught farmers outside of the traditional college setting were not able to count this time toward their teaching time on the university’s accountability dashboard. This bill changed the law to count these hours. Act 13 aligned penalties for those who commit battery and are being held at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Mauston awaiting trial with the penalties for those who are officially committed at the facility and commit battery. This legislation was requested by the Juneau County District Attorney. I have several bills that are still working through the legislative process including legislation to make the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam optional for rural EMS departments, Truth in Food Labeling bills, Tobacco21, a bill to designate Hwy 21 from Sparta to Oshkosh (through Necedah) as the Purple Heart Highway and more. But, now I need your help. I firmly believe that the best legislation comes from you. It comes from the people who live, work and volunteer in our communities. You
know how state laws and regulations impact your community, your businesses, your hobbies and interests. Often the only way that we, as legislators, know about changes needed to laws, is directly from you. What ideas do you have? Do you face any obstacles that could be cleared by a change to state law? Are there any antiquated, outdated state statutes that stand in your way? Is there a state law that needs to be updated to keep up with new technology or techniques? Has another state passed legislation that you think we should consider? Please share your ideas with me! I am
looking for new ideas to pursue this fall and into the spring. While I cannot guarantee that the bill will pass or be signed into law, it is important to begin the legislative process, do the research and take first steps to fix problems. I look forward to hearing from you! For more information and to connect with me, visit my website http://legis. wisconsin.gov/senate/17/marklein and subscribe to my weekly E-Update by sending an email to Sen.Marklein@ legis.wisconsin.gov. Do not hesitate to call 800-978-8008 if you have input, ideas or need assistance with any state-related matters.
In other news Taliesin looking for volunteers The Taliesin Preservation is looking for a variety of volunteers to assist with its gardening and preservation teams. Volunteer positions can range from a variety of Gardner positions to office assistants, and preservation ambassadors. For more information on current volunteer positions, visit, https://taliesinpreservationvolunteers.applicantpro.com/jobs/, or contact the volunteer coordinator at volunteer@taliesinpreservation.org. If You Give a Kid a Book fundraiser Arcadia Books in Spring Green and Hope House of South Central Wisconsin are partnering for a children’s book drive this month, called “If You Give a Kid a Book.” To donate a book on the Hope House book list, visit www.readinutopia.com/?q=p.organization_s_
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Community
WednesdaY, august 11, 2021
COmmunitycalendar Events for August 12 - August 25 Thursday, August 12 Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wildlife Tails &Tales with David Stokes 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM . Plain Community Park, Plain . www.kraemerlibrary.org. Join David Stokes, Educator/Entertainer/Naturalist for fun using sign-language, humor, puppets, and LIVE creatures! This Summer Library Program Performer is a LIMITED TICKET EVENT held at the Plain Community Park Pavilion. 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: Randy & Florence - Stars Entertainment 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. APT: Cymbeline - Opening Night 8:00 PM . American Players Theatre, 5950 Golf Course Road, Spring Green . Prices Vary . www.americanplayers.org. Like many in Shakespeare’s comedy quiver, this one kicks off with a young couple in love. But Cymbeline is not your average Shakespeare comedy, and things go rapidly off the rails, driven by wicked stepmothers, spoiled princes and a villain with no clear motive looking to flip a hero to the dark side.
Friday, August 13 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. We will be collecting seeds this month. If you have any questions, please call Mary Kay Baum, at 608-935-5834. Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wine Down Fridays 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. White Oak: Folk Fest White Oak Savanna, 4352 WI-23, Dodgeville . www.whiteoakfolkfest.com. White Oak Folk Fest is a truly special opportunity to get away from the grind and enjoy some quality time in the country. Live music and events all day long.
Saturday, August 14 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. Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Ice Wolves Youth Hockey Golf Outing 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM . Dodge Point Country Club, 1771 County Road YD, Mineral Point . $60 per golfer . www.icewolveshockey.org. 4 person scramble includes 18 holes with cart, food, and hole prizes. A raffle, silent auction, and other events will benefit the Ice Wolves Youth Hockey Association. 2021 Member Appreciation Party 1:00 PM . Trader's Island Campground, 6708 Wittwer Road, Arena . www.facebook.com/WFACLUB/. Join us on Saturday, August 14th, 2021 for Wildlife Forever ATV Club's 4th Annual Member Appreciation Summer Party! 100% of the proceeds made will go back to the club for signage and other club events. Enjoy the food and live music! Hard Tellin 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 St., Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com. These musicians have been meeting at the General Store for decades. Recently reunited as life begins to return to normal, they would love you to join them as audience or participant. Pork or Chicken Drive Thru Bake Sale & Raffle 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . St. John’s Church Parking Lot, 129 West Daley, Spring Green . $20/Meal . www.facebook.com/StJohnEvangSchool. Join us at St John The Evangelist Catholic Church for our school's fundraiser Raffle and Bake sale! We will have a pickup lane for our presold dinner ticket holders and pop-up tents selling baked goods, raffle tickets, and drinks. Raffle drawing is at 8pm and will be live streamed on our Facebook page. The grand prize is $10,000! Jambidextrous 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM . SlowPoke Lounge 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com. Come on down for a tour through the jazz archives with standards from the 50s, progressive jazz from the 60s, to funk and fusion of the 70s featuring local favorites Rob Steffen, Erik Johnson, Dave Saperstein, and Ted Frank. No admission cost, but donations for musicians are always welcome. White Oak: Folk Fest White Oak Savanna, 4352 WI-23, Dodgeville . www.whiteoakfolkfest.com. White Oak Folk Fest is a truly special opportunity to get away from the grind and enjoy some quality time in the country. Live music and events all day long.
Sunday, August 15 4PETESAKE: Day in the Park 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM . North Park, Daley St & Park Rd . www.4petesake.com. 4PeteSake provides relief to River Valley residents who face financial needs and who are unable, through no fault of their own, to provide for themselves. Fun run/walk, bike ride, music from local bands, food and drink from local vendors, kid’s activities and a silent auction, it will be another memorable day raising money for a great cause. Harrisburg One-Room School House Open House 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM . THarrisburg One-Room School House, E7646 Cty Rd. B, Spring Green . Contact: sorgss@hotmail.com. One-room school and museum featuring antique and old farming items and historic items from area. White Oak: Folk Fest White Oak Savanna, 4352 WI-23, Dodgeville . www.whiteoakfolkfest.com. White Oak Folk Fest is a truly special opportunity to get away from the grind and enjoy some quality time in the country. Live music and events all day long.
Monday, August 16 Circus Show 3:00 PM . Downtown Mazo . Come join us for the Circus in Downtown Mazo! Hosted by Wild Rumpus Circus. August Morrill Lecture at the Octagon Barn 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM . The Octagon Barn, E4350 Horseshoe Road, Spring Green . Contact: stef@rivervalleycommons.org. The Power of Our Sibling Relationships Throughout Life presented by Dr. Mandy Morrill, program director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Valparaiso University. Pre-order dinner available at 5:30 p.m. Rural Musicians Forum: The Twa Dogs 7:30 PM . Mazomaine Outdoor Pavillion, Mazo. Traditional folk music from Celtic regions.
Tuesday, August 17 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, August 18 Virtual Story Time 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms. Christi for this live Facebook event! While we need to keep our social distance, we can still get together online for stories, songs, rhymes, and fun. All are welcome! Arcadia Book Club: "Shoulder Season" by Christi Clancy 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM . Online . www.readinutopia.com. Author Christi Clancy will join the Arcadia Book Club to discuss her second novel, Shoulder Season. This is a virtual Zoom event.
Thursday, August 19 Veterans Service Office 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . www.kraemerlibrary.org. Come join us to learn more about Veteran Services. Topics of discussions: Veterans Benefits, Spouses & Children’s Benefits, for both State and Federal. Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Mazo Music & Street Market: Sam Ness 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . The Apothecary & Mercantile, 18 E Hudson St., Mazo . Spend a fantastic evening in Mazo! Enjoy live music by Sam Ness and browse a bountiful farmer/craft market. Local Night: Solstice Jazz Band 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. 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.
Friday, August 20 Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wine Down Fridays: Jake'O 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. Sunny War // Amanda Huff 6:00 PM . Sh*tty Barn, 506 E Madison St, Spring Green . www.shittybarnsessions.com. Los Angeles-based street singer, guitarist, and roots music revolutionary Sunny War has always been an outsider, always felt the drive to define her place in the world through music and songwriting. Amanda Huff is an award-winning singer and composer currently based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Advance tickets sold out. That said, tickets often come up that people can't use. Check website or socials for the latest details about ticket availability.
Saturday, August 21 2021 Spring Green Car Show 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM . Spring Green Area Chamber of Commerce, 208 N Winsted St., Spring Green . $15 for each vehicle entered in the car show . Contact: sgacc@springgreen.com. This is a day where Spring Green shuts down its main street to showcase some of coolest cars around. The Spring Green Car Show features all year, make, and models of classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars, and trucks. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy!
wood
WednesdaY, august 11, 2021
Community 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. River Valley Area Community Gardens Brat Fry 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM . Prem Meats, E5028 US-14, Spring Green . www.rvacg.org. All proceeds will go towards building a shelter at the Gardens. All are welcome to tour the Gardens. 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. Live Music: Gandy Dancer Bluegrass Festival 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM . Mazomanie Performing Arts Pavilion,116 Brodhead St., Mazomanie . $ 10- $15 . www.gandydancerfestival.org. The Gandy Dancer Bluegrass Festival returns to the Dane County music festival scene. Featured acts include Soggy Prairie, Art Stevenson and High Water, The Kevin Prater Band, Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road from Deep Gap, N.C., and Meadow Mountain. Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 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! Acoustic River 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com. Join us for an acoustic version of songs from the 60's to the present and original songs! We blend finger style with rhythm and lead work on both 6 and 12 string Acoustic guitars. Harmonious Wail 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM . SlowPoke Lounge 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com. Americana flavored Gypsy Jazz on full tilt! Harmonious Wail combines the searing wit, humor and mandolin virtuosity of vintage Jethro Burns performances, the Continental panache of Django and charm of Edith Piath inspired vocals to create a unique musical journey.
Sunday, August 22 Growing Up Wright: Book Signing Event With Lonnie Lovness 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Taliesin Gift Shop, 5481 County Road C, Spring Green . www.taliesinpreservation.org. Join author Lonnie Lovness in person for a meet and greet and book signing at the Taliesin Gift Shop. Purchase the book in person or online. Scott Stieber & Don Myers 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!
RAREA press release — Moving Forward
RICHLAND CENTER, WI. “RAREA: Moving Forward” will be the theme for the first 2021 meeting of the Richland Area Retired Educators’ Association (RAREA) scheduled for Thursday, August 19, 2021, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at The Phoenix Center, 100 South Orange Street, Richland Center. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The cost will be $12 for RAREA members, their guests, and prospective members; this meeting is not open to the public. RSVP deadline for all attendees will be 12 noon on Monday, August 16, 2021, and should be directed to RAREA President Paul Murphey, 269 South Park Street, Richland Center, WI, 535812303; 608.647.6439 or pmurphey@mwt.net. Attendees are also reminded to bring items or cash donations for our annual Richland Community Food Pantry collection service project. Members should also renew their expiring memberships in both the Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA) and/or RAREA, and consider completing their 2021 volunteer tally forms. Both member tasks can be accomplished at this meeting. President Murphey stated, “RAREA has not officially met in-person since December 12, 2019, so we are very pleased to be able to do so. Attendees will be following all safety & health protocols as defined by our Richland County Public Health Officer (Rose Kohout). The personal safety of our members and their guests is of the utmost importance to RAREA. RAREA members should be monitoring their emails or USPS mail for these protocols and other meeting updates. Our panel of guest speakers for this meeting will be internal organizational leaders that will give us all an update as to how their respective organizations have survived the pandemic year/s, and how they
will also be ‘moving forward.’ RAREA, as one of many service organizations in our area, begs all area residents to obtain a COVID vaccination that will allow us all to fulfill our service for the community and for our public schools because we can do that service more easily when we are allowed to meet our members in-person rather than remotely.” RAREA is one of sixty active local units throughout Wisconsin and Arizona affiliated with the greater Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA). WREA and RAREA serve all retired and currently employed public education professionals (administration, teaching, and support staff) at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Currently employed professionals may also join both groups as a regular member. In addition, retired or currently employed public employees (non educators) that belong to the Wisconsin Retirement System may also join both organizations! As a local unit, RAREA serves the following 12 school districts/ institutions within the greater southwest Wisconsin area: Boscobel, Ithaca, Kickapoo, North Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, River Valley (shared with Sauk County REA), Riverdale, Seneca, UW-Platteville Richland, Wauzeka-Steuben, and Weston. For more information regarding a WREA or a RAREA membership, please contact RAREA Membership Marketing Chair Barry Roghair, 230 Schmitz Street, Richland Center, WI, 53581, 608.647.6542 (or) bjcrogh@charter.net, or visit the WREA website at https://wrea.net/. Make plans now to join with other RAREA members to attend the first meeting of the year and to celebrate RAREA: “Moving Forward.”
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Page 5
Arcadia Book Signing: "Ancestral" by Daniel Smith 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM . Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.readinutopia.com. Join us at Arcadia for a book signing with Daniel Smith, author of Ancestral. Rural Musicians Forum: Wisconsin Brass Quintet - A Night at the Movies 5:30 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 WI-23 Trunk, Spring Green . A steller university faculty ensemble with special guest.
Monday, August 23 Trivia Night 12:00 PM . SlowPoke Lounge 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com. Join us for Trivia! Come for the prizes, stay for the fun!
Tuesday, August 24 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. Lake Marion Tuesday Concerts 6:00 PM . Lake Marion Park, HWY. KP, Mazo . Concerts held every Tuesday, Aug 3-24. Sponsored by Mazomanie Music Conservancy.
Wednesday, August 25 Bubble Party 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Bubble machines, music, treats, and outside fun! Come on over to the library to enjoy the sunshine and the bubbles on our lawn area near the Community Room. Everyone is welcome! The Cactus Blossoms 7:00 PM . Sh*tty Barn, 506 E Madison St, Spring Green . www.shittybarnsessions.com. The Cactus Blossoms -- Minneapolis-based brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey -- offer compelling evidence that this tradition is alive and well, with a deceptively unadorned musical approach that offers "creative turns of phrase, gorgeous harmonies, and an ageless sound" (NPR All Things Considered), not to mention spine tingles aplenty. Advance tickets sold out. That said, tickets often come up that people can't use. Check website or socials for the latest details about ticket Community Calendar curated by Whitney Back, from events submitted by the community
Arena board tables naturallLawn ordinance, looks to set guidelines continued from page 1 The board took up the ordinance after receiving a natural lawn application from Hadie Muller, a resident on Prairie Street. The board voted to table its decision on the application until after the
village attorney reviews the ordinance, and it is approved. The next regular village board meeting will be 7 p.m. Sept. 7. The board will have a special meeting Aug. 17 to discuss financing options for the secondary well projects.
Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Pictured, sand volleyball courts at the Arena Community Park, which will be the new site for a secondary village well.
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arts & culture/Community
WednesdaY, august 11, 2021
Art from around the Valley: Jen Salt paints a 1936 Chrysler Airstream I love vintage cars! I pass by Newton’s Auto Repair and Restoration at Highway 14 and 23 here in town, several times a week and often there are some real gems waiting to be restored. One day I glanced over on my way home and saw the most beautiful car I’d ever seen. I had to paint a picture and here it is....a 1936 Chrysler Airstream. The Spring Green Car Show is coming up on Saturday, August 21st and I’ll be there with my camera!! 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.” ... Valley Sentinel Welcomes local artist across all mediums to share their work with the community. Send your submissions to: editor@ valleysentinelnews.com
Painting by Jen Salt
Spring Green Artist’s collection on exhibit in Dubuque continued from page 1 “If you have not been to the Dubuque Museum [of Art], you should just make it part of a field trip, it is a gem of a museum,” shared Kelen. “Small, yes, but curators assemble very strong shows.” Kelen said she intends to return to the exhibition before it ends. “I do want to Kellen return to take in the entire show, quietly, by myself, so I can listen to the individual narrations and really take a good look at the exhibition.” The exhibition runs through Oct. 31 in the Falb Family Gallery of the DuMA. Kelen’s winning pieces and spoken recordings describing each piece are available online at: dbqart.org/biennial-2021/ artists/kelen/
If you go DuMA is located across from Washington Park in historic downtown Dubuque at 7th and Locust Streets. Museum hours: Wed – Sat: 10 AM-4 PM Sunday: 1 PM-4 PM Mon – Tues: Closed Daily admission: Members: Free Adults: $7 Seniors (65+): $6 College students (with ID): $4 Youth (18 and under): Free For more information please visit dbqart.org or call 563-557-1851. Artwork by Linda Kelen Swamp, 2019, Cherry woodblock print, 24x29.5 in., Collection of the artist (Contributed photo
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Community
WednesdaY, august 11, 2021
COVID-19 Dashboard
Page 7
Wisconsin Summary
631,750 Positive Cases
Cases as of 8/10/2021
+7,537 from 8/3
3,063,387 Negative Test Results +25,170 from 8/3
7,459 Deaths +12 from 8/3
Vaccine Summary Statistics Updated: 8/10/2021
5,902,997 Administered
3,272,167
2,385,204
Pfizer doses administered
245,626
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
1,374 Positive Cases +18 from 8/3 8,352 Negative Tests +56 from 8/3 16 Death +0 from 8/3
Richland
Sauk
Target Range
51.2%
Iowa County
2,119 Positive Cases +30 from 8/3 12,245 Negative Tests +108 from 8/3 13 Deaths +0 from 8/3 Sauk County 6,180 Positive Cases +72 from 8/3 37,413 Negative Tests +266 from 8/3 52 Deaths +0 from 8/3
54.6%
Percent with at least one vaccine dose
Percent with at least one vaccine dose
51.2%
48.2%
Percent fully vaccinated
Target Range
Percent fully vaccinated
Iowa
Target Range
60.4%
Percent with at least one vaccine dose
57.9%
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 8/10/2021
Updated: 8/10/2021
Lower %
Higher %
Richland County Ages 12-15 33.9%
Iowa County Ages 12-15
Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose
45.7%
Sauk County
Ages
12-15
Ages 12-15 36.3%
16-17
18-24
Dane County Ages 12-15
Graphic by Whitney Back
71%
25-34
Updated: 8/10/2021 36.7%
44.7% 45.9%
50.1%
35-44
58.1%
55-64 65+
84.1%
45-54
Data From: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm
60.2%
70.2%
“The good stuff.”
Page 8
WednesdaY, august 11, 2021
regional/outdoors & recreation
Blue River Sand Barrens State Natural Area: A Desert-Like Refuge For Unusual And Rare Plants And Animals Wisconsin DNR
Why Visit?
Cacti, lizards, wolf spiders and sand dunes here in Wisconsin? Yep, just make your way to the Blue River Sand Barrens State Natural Area in Grant County for Wisconsin’s very own version of a Southwestern desert “sandscape.” Situated on a level terrace above the nearby Wisconsin River, the natural area’s droughty, sandy soils support plants and animals adapted to life in a very arid and harsh environment. Stabilized dunes with short-grass prairie vegetation and a thin forest cover of black oaks intermingle with open sand “blowouts” – unvegetated depressions – eroded by the wind. Unusual plant species find refuge here, including prickly-pear cactus, hairy hawkweed, false heather and sand cress. In late July, the magenta flowers of poppy mallow create bright patches of color on the site. In places, the soil surface is cloaked with a thin crust of silvery-green British soldier lichen, reindeer lichen and dwarf spikemoss.
Look for interesting insects that build burrows in the dunes, such as predatory Bembix sand wasps, ant lions, tiger beetles and wolf spiders. There are no trails in the natural area, but hikers find easy walking in the open landscape. Learn more about this site, view maps and visitation guidelines.
Recent Habitat Work
State Natural Area crew members have conducted prescribed burns, annual invasive species control along an interior road to prevent weeds from spreading into the site, and brush and tree clearing. The SNA crew also has been doing some seed collecting to use on site, as well as at other barrens sites along the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. Recently crews began working on the site’s north end, where the upland barrens transitions to wetland and a backwater slough. Restoring barrens to the wetland edge reduces habitat fragmentation of important transition habitat and improves conditions for nesting turtles and birds.
Photo by Thomas Meyer Prickly pear cactus are among the plants adapted for the arid conditions. Cactus spines are actually leaves modified to reduce evaporation from the leaf surface and the thick, fleshy cactus pad is a stem designed to store water.
Get Involved
State Natural Areas Volunteers have contributed more than 200 hours of labor caring for the site in the last two years with the help of FLOW, Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. They’ve
helped control invasive species, clear brush and collect seed. Get notices of volunteer workdays for Southwest Wisconsin State Natural Areas, including at this site. No experience needed and equipment is provided on site!
The Sauk County Gardener — Putting Up the First Harvest to Get a Second One Jeanie Manis, Sauk County “Earth is… so kind… just tickle her... and she laughs with a harvest.” Douglas William Jerrold The harvest season is finally upon us – or at least at my house. My purple, yellow wax, and scarlet runner beans are coming in strong, along with my weird, cross-pollinated squash. I’m not sure what they really are because they don’t really resemble what I planted. I know squash can cross pollinate, but I was running out of room in my garden this past spring, so I planted several different types too close together. The beets and the onions are ready to be pulled and I’m still getting broccoli and tons of kale! My tomatoes are looking better than ever so when they start turning, I’m going to be inundated with them. Just yesterday, I canned eight pints of beans, four pints of corn, and made seven batches of garlic scape and kale pesto to put in the freezer. If you can your garden produce, make sure you use the proper method for processing it. Not everything can be water bathed; some need to be processed in a pressure cooker. Lowacid foods like beans and corn should be pressure cooked if you plan to can them. Of course, you can freeze them
as well, but I’m out of freezer room. Also, don’t forget to test your pressure cooker’s dial gauge; especially if you haven’t used in a couple years or you purchased it second hand. In fact, it’s recommended to have the gauge tested once a year. Contact Extension Sauk County at (608) 355-3250 to arrange a time to have your pressure cooker tested. You can also visit Extension Sauk County’s website for more information on testing your canner and numerous food preservation publications at https://sauk.extension. wisc.edu/pressure-canner-testing/. Another great resource to learn more about canning and the correct processing method can be found at the National Center for Home Preservation - https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/general. html. Once you’ve pulled up all that produce to harvest, consider planting a second crop of fast-growing vegetables such as beans, basil, arugula, and radishes. Pay attention to how long it will take for these plants to reach maturity, as the first expect frost date in the Sauk County area is around September 20. These plants can be protected with row covers as needed, but it will require you to keep a close eye on the weather
in September. If you decide to plant a second crop, take the time to find a way to provide frost protection quickly and easily. It’s much easier to protect plants if you have the structure in place, to throw a cover over the top of them. A few slower-maturing vegetables that can be planted now as they enjoy cooler temps are lettuce, spinach, beets, and kale. Many of these vegetables can direct sowed but should be planted a little deeper than recommended for spring planting when the soil is cooler and moister. You may also need to provide shade and extra moisture for the young seedlings. Another option to consider is sowing a cover crop that can add nutrients and organic matter back into your garden when the dead plant material is turned over into your garden the next spring. Some late summer cover crops to consider are ryegrass, rapeseed, or oats, as they grow quickly in cooler weather. Do your research and see what works best for your garden. Once you’ve dealt with your vegetable garden, venture out into the rest of your garden. If you have some particularly interesting geraniums or coleus, take cuttings from them to get them rooted for winter houseplants or next spring’s containers and planters. Keep an
eye out for chrysanthemums to start showing up at local stores, nurseries, and farmers markets. If you can get them planted now, help them become established with a side-dressing of fertilizer and potentially survive over winter. Most will need some protection – at least for the first year. Divide any spring-blooming perennials such as bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis), hellebores (Helleborus) and lungwort (Pulmonaira), if needed. If you have bare spots or are starting a new lawn, mid-August to mid-September is the best time to establish grass seed. As I write this, it’s raining, but it won’t last, so you need to be prepared to keep the soil moist or the seeds will dry and die. Also, now through the end of September is the time to plant evergreens. They too will need to be watered regularly. 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 608-355-3250.
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