Valley Sentinel - 08-24-2023

Music Residency announces performance schedule

Community Calendar: BeatleFest, Fair and more

Pages 1, 10 Pages 6, 7, 8

Day Trip Distractions: Driftless Music Gardens

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September 10 to 23 Residency announces shows and talks with this year's musician Joshua Powell

Spring Green Music Residency brings “Astral Rock” musician Joshua Powell

Now in its sixth year, the Spring Green Music Residency is bringing Indianapolis-based band leader Joshua Powell in for this year’s two-week session. The Residency talked with Powell a little bit about his roots, his music and his inspirations in advance of his stay in Spring Green.

Spring Green Music Residency: What got you into making music in the first place, and what was your first instrument?

Joshua Powell: My Mom started us on piano at age 4 to take advantage of that neural sponginess, but I could only ever read music and not actually play, create, or improvise. I got into it in a real sense at age 15 when I learned guitar to be in a pop punk band. I’d been playing piano and drawing with pencils for years and knew I was attracted to art, but that was the first sort of magical transformation for me. When I had the guitar in my hands, I could realize the idea in my head–still with shortcomings and frustrations, but fewer barriers than on the keys or with graphite.

SGMR: Who were some of your inspirations when you first started playing, and who are some of your current inspirations?

JP: No questions asked, Blink 182. The threshold of access to those songs is so low

because they’re simple, like bizarro church music with rebellion and toilet humor instead of praise. You could learn four songs in an afternoon and feel like a guitar hero, then show up with your pals and play through them–even before we had written a song, I knew this was all I wanted to do. You know: New Found Glory, A Day to Remember and Underoath. Florida bands in particular because I grew up there.

My biggest inspirations in a meta, overarching way are Neil Young, David Lynch, and Justin Vernon. I love that Neil has always done precisely what he wanted

to do instead of what we wanted him to do. I love Lynch because he transcends narrative structure and realizes dream architecture and refuses to give people the key. And I love Vernon because he has my favorite singing voice, and despite all his pop adjacency and critical acclaim, he continues to seem like a down-to-earth Midwestern dude who is more concerned with creativity and community than celebrity.

SGMR: When did you start writing your own material?

JP: As creative assignments for high school English classes to get out of writing book

River Valley Players announces auditions for 'The Cricket on the Hearth'

River Valley Players announces auditions for The Cricket on the Hearth The play will be produced December 2-3 and 8-10. The piece calls for 5 female and 4 male characters. Parts range from a female teenager to adult females and males.

Auditions will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, September 10; Monday,

September 11; and Tuesday, September 12 in the Middle School band room in Spring Green. Those auditioning will read from the script. Questions may be sent to director John Kremm at krmn8r@ yahoo.com, and producer Patrick Hagen at hagenp2@gmail.com. River Valley Players encourages participation by both new and experienced actors.

Rehearsals will begin on Monday,

September 25 and continue MondayThursday until the production dates. There will be a Thanksgiving break.

The Cricket on the Hearth is by Charles Dickens and is set in 19th-Century London during the Christmas period. Local playwright Bruce G. Bradley adapted the story for the stage. In making his choice, Bradley was guided by Dickens’s claim that Cricket was his personal favorite of

reports.The first two songs I remember writing in total were about Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” and Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451.” I was in two punk bands before we had one that actually wrote, but Three Star Riot (a mishearing of “Restart Riot”) had a few original tunes on Myspace with titles like “The New World,” “Bockscar,” and “Storm (Instrumental).”

SGMR: How did the current band come together?

JP: Farmersonly.com. No no, the drummer is my brother. The other two guys I met at Anderson University. There were several cool original bands in college but none of them went on tour much, and most of them didn’t last long past school. The other guys were a couple years behind me in school so I had a chance to establish some road dog cred beforehand, and by the time I was coming back to Indiana they were getting out of school.

SGMR: What drove you to land on “astral rock” as your genre?

JP: When you watch “Mulholland Drive,” and all of a sudden a character has inexplicably transformed into another person offscreen–then it becomes a horror movie for a second behind the dumpster, but that’s unexplained and you’re never quite sure what kind of movie you’re watching? That’s how Lynch’s influence interfaces with our records–like

continued on page 10

his five Christmas novels.

Director Kremm says of Bradley’s script: “The atmosphere is Dickens. It’s a fun story with characters we can relate to in the 21st century. It has a ‘she-said-hesaid’ quality, with surprises along the way.”

The Cricket on the Hearth will be part of the Spring Green Chamber of Commerce’s “Country Christmas.”

Rob Steffen, Spring Green Musician in Residence Program

Photo contributed by Spring Green Musician in Residence Program Spring Green's 2023 Musician in residence Joshua Powell.

Patrick Hagen, River Valley Players

The (not so) Plain and Simple Correspondent: Blissful Golden Silence

Katie Green, Columnist

As I write I am listening to classical music on Wisconsin Public Radio for a few hours to fill a craving for beauty and to settle my brain, but I also crave silence. Long periods of it. This has been true since earliest childhood, when day-dreaming and exotic fantasizing about my present and future life was a cherished activity growing up in the midst of a large, exuberant family confined in a small cabin. Escape into the outdoors was a necessity, where it took only a few minutes to retreat to the river or up the mountain, both devoid of human companionship if I chose to go it alone. As an adult I have read scientific claims that silence is critical for all creatures large and small, to restore the spirit and soothe nerves battered by the constant noise of civilization. Stress hormones are produced in us by registering mechanical noise, even in our sleep. Some species will not reproduce without privacy and quiet and their survival rate is greatly reduced due to noise. Whales are confused by the sounds of ships and submarines, for example. Birds abandon their nests.

The prairie path where my daily walks take place (preferably alone) contains stark contrasts: plants and animal life so varied and interesting to me that sometimes I can filter out the cacophony of the freeway that parallels it for short periods by focusing my attention on the flora and fauna as I meander: a regal oak putting out new leaves, wave after wave of seasonal wildflowers, dragonflies, butterflies, and other insects, the carcasses of those whose life cycles have ended violently or otherwise. Occasionally the flow of tires on the highway sounds almost like a distant river, but too soon the screeching of brakes, large trucks grinding into other gears, speed demons accelerating to beat out the competition, sirens of firetrucks, cop cars and ambulances rend the air. It is oppressive. Just as bad is the sound of air traffic from the Madison airport, especially the new ferociously loud fighter jets which punish us several times a week.

Years ago I read a piece by Russell Baker, then a wise, funny and much revered columnist for the New York Times, about taking a vacation in the country and being horrified by the silence. Cricket

On the cover

sounds seemed diabolical. Once back home in New York City, he was relieved to once again hear the sounds of whole blocks being dynamited, cars driving through plate glass windows, drunks shouting and breaking bottles beneath his apartment. Although this was meant sarcastically, I hope, I can testify that city relatives of mine who visited us in the mountains were frightened at night by the “abnormal” quiet punctuated only by the sounds of wild forest denizens and wind in the trees. When I told a friend about this, he suggested as explanation, that in lieu of familiar noise one must face oneself in the quiet, and that isn't always pleasant.

Sun magazine reprinted a 2010 interview with an acoustic ecologist named Gordon Hempton, a resident of Washington state near Olympic National Park, “a place he calls 'the listener's Yosemite'”. Hempton was nonplussed by the fact that so few places remain in the US that offer “relatively long periods of natural soundscapes.” According to him, at that time “the average daytime noise-free interval [from humans] in our wilderness areas and national parks had shrunk to less than five minutes.” He became interested in acoustic ecology when enroute to becoming a graduate student in Madison, he pulled over alongside a cornfield to sleep and experienced a thunderstorm. He was 27 and wondered afterward why he had never fully listened to a thunderstorm before. Wanting to become a “better listener”, he dropped out of graduate school and began recording natural sounds in places where they were disappearing. He wangled grants, made films, made tapes of natural silence, wrote a book called One Square Inch of Space: Man's Quest to Preserve Quiet, which enumerates his long struggle to convince the Federal Aviation Administration, legislators, and regulators “of the importance of protecting silence in our national parks.” His foundation at that time sought to establish a 20-mile radius noflight zone over Olympic National Park. A jet passing overhead at six thousand feet intrudes into more than a thousand square miles of silence below it. If you have ever visited the Grand Canyon, case in point, you will have seen lots of air traffic over the canyon and heard a ton of

noise pollution. The tourist helicopters and small planes have even been known to collide and plunge into the canyon. In the prologue to his book Hempton writes, “Silence is not the absence of something but the presence of everything”. Asked to explain, he said:

“When you're in a place of natural silence you're not alone and you can feel it. Whether its birdcalls from far away or the proximity of a giant tree whose warm tones you can feel, there's a presence. It's a quieting experience.” Asked to be more specific about his definition of silence, Hempton replied, “...there are natural sounds that can be deafening – thundering surf or waterfalls. But most natural sounds on earth are quieter than even the quietest human place. The mechanized noise of modernity is excluded from 'natural silence' for the same reason the janitor is forbidden to run the vacuum during the symphony: it's out of place.” Pressed about whether there are human sounds he considers non-invasive and natural, he mentioned certain indigenous music, an infant's coo, human footsteps if the human is immersing him or herself in that place, not bringing another place with them. “When you travel in natural harmony, you attune yourself with your environment...Sound is a wave that passes through air, water and even solid objects. Natural sounds generate a sinusoidal wave, with rounded peaks, which is easy on the ears. Many mechanized sounds are square or sawtooth shaped or have jagged edges. If you see them on an oscilloscope, you'll know why they're unpleasant to listen to.”

Hempton has traveled all over the world to search out natural silence. A visit to the Kalahari Desert in 1990 was one outstanding example. He says that we are all born listeners, but when children get to school teachers direct kids' attention to their lessons, to what is considered more important. Some advanced teachers know that all children, none more than children with attention deficit disorder, improve when let loose in the natural environment – the latter as well or better than on medication. “Our ancestors took silence for granted; they never imagined we'd lose it....My recordings are not meant to be used for escape; they're meant to inspire people to get out of unhealthy environments.” Masking stressful noise by putting in earbuds isn't a remedy. He thinks that you shouldn't forget it if you're in an unhealthy place and need to take measures to rectify it when you can. Even in a city he says there are places to seek out silence – an empty church, an empty concert hall, chapels or meditation rooms in airports. Sometimes a back corner in a library works well.

“As technology evolves to become more and more efficient, shouldn't it also become quieter and quieter? As we continue to develop as a civilization, we can choose between creating a sonic environment akin to a garbage dump or one akin to a garden.”

When asked if, given the other severe environmental threats we face, the pursuit of silence wasn't a bit quixotic, he replied, “No, because it's in quiet places in nature that we are best able to answer those other important environmental questions. We think they are more important than quiet, but it's the quiet that can make us fall back in love with the earth. It's quiet that can give us the joy of knowing we're doing the right thing.” His parting advice is “Be aware, protect your hearing, speak out for your right to quiet”, particularly in your own neighborhood. Makes sense to me.

Katie, who until recently lived in Plain, has been writing for fun and profit since childhood. Self-described as opinionated, she writes in the interests of a more loving, better-functioning world for all. She may be reached at katiewgreen@icloud.com.

WisPolitics — Wisconsin’s sprawling university system is under a lot of stress

By WisPolitics.com

Wisconsin's sprawling university system is under a lot of stress.

A few years ago we saw the merging of two-year campuses into regional schools.

And now we're seeing the shrinking of some of those regional institutions due to enrollment declines, a drop in state aid and other financial challenges.

At least four schools have recently announced moves to address structural deficits, including consideration of layoffs and furloughs:

--UW-Platteville, which has a projected $9.7 million deficit.

--UW-Parkside, which has a deficit expected to reach at least $4 million by the end of the fiscal year.

--UW-Oshkosh, which announced it will lay off more than 200 of about 1,460 employees to address an $18 million deficit.

--And of course, the former two-year campus at Richland Center that was folded into UW-Platteville, has ceased in-person instruction to cut costs.

Some policymakers think the System is too big. Formed in the 1970s, it lists 13 universities across 26 campuses and a statewide extension network with offices in every county. That's in addition to all of the tech colleges around the state. Some

of those are right next door to the System schools.

UW System President Jay Rothman in a statement said the announcements from UW-Platteville and UW-Parkside are “disappointing and unfortunate – yet not unexpected.”

“Our universities are facing demographic, political and economic realities that require hard, though necessary decisions. These actions we are forced to take represent missed opportunities for our students and families but are necessary given our circumstances,” Rothman said.

Democrat Gov. Tony Evers had proposed a $305 million increase in state funding to the UW System in his 2023-25 budget, but the GOP-controlled state Legislature rejected that move. Instead, it cut state funding by $32 million as Republicans, most notably Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, criticized its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as wasteful, leftist indoctrination. The System could earn that money back if it comes up with a plan to use it for workforce development purposes.

Democrats focused on the funding cut in their response to the campus moves.

Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer urged Republicans to use a special session called by Evers next month

to address the budget shortfalls, as well as child care costs and paid family leave. Republicans have quickly gaveled in and out of previous special sessions.

“Our community members are face-toface with furloughs and spending cuts. There are livelihoods on the line across the UW System,” the Racine Democrat said. “Inaction on September 20th is unacceptable, and I hope my Republican colleagues see the gravity of this situation.” UW-Parkside Interim Chancellor Scott Menke told employees the administration needs to consider all options to conserve resources.

“While our preliminary estimate for freshman and transfer enrollment looks promising for the new school year, it will likely take more than a year to recover from our current shortfall,” Menke said.

Last fall, 3,966 students enrolled at UW-Parkside compared to 6,485 at UWPlatteville. Overall, 160,782 students enrolled in UW System schools. UWParkside had 525 total employees in fall 2022, according to UW System data, while UW-Platteville had 915 employees.

Menke cited challenges such as declining enrollment, reduced state support, the

“First Day of School” (2023) Photo by Amberly Mae-Cooper

A hot first day of school for River Valley students as they start the 2023-2024 school year. Pictured are students hand buses headed out after their first day.

Katie Green

Meeting Our Needs — Part 14: Why Can’t We Have Nice Things

“Meeting Our Needs” is a series that acknowledges the organizations and individuals who work to make our communities better, stronger, healthier and more inclusive. We know we face challenges and divisions among us, but we miss and underestimate the essential goodness of rural Wisconsinites when we fail to celebrate those who are lifting us up in so many ways. Let us hear your stories, contact bpestel@msn.com to be included in this series.

had hoped, but I want to thank those who contributed columns and ideas. I also want to express my gratitude to those I encountered as I explored a variety of fundraisers. Community members are working together in many ways to meet needs, and that is a marvelous thing to behold. That’s not the whole story, however, because our government does not always step up to meet its obligations of meeting the needs of citizens.

Patriotic Millionaires is “fixing the problem of extreme wealth inequality” and their single-minded focus is on “money, money, money, money.” In that vein, the primary topic to be addressed by them appears to be taxes, taxes, taxes, taxes. Taxes, as in millionaires do not pay enough taxes, and the effect on the economy is not good for anyone, especially the middle class. Well, that was a surprising thing to hear from a group of millionaires.

some to spare to reinvest to make more money. The family making $50,000 has only $45,000 left to make ends meet and may actually end up in debt. Sound fair now?

I’ve been asking Alexa to play relaxing music for me at bedtime lately. It’s hot, it’s dry, and too many pieces of equipment I pick up to use either don’t work or I have forgotten how to use them. To add insult to that, a family of woodchucks were eating my peas. OK, that’s all I’ve got. Time to admit that life is actually pretty good here in Little Willow Valley and I am in no danger of not having my needs met. That puts me in better shape than many. In addition, I saw momma woodchuck and her three kids heading north after I sprayed repellant around the garden – the peas recovered and were delicious. I’m not just doing okay, I’m blessed.

It’s time to wrap up this series on “Meeting Our Needs” and I’ve been struggling with how to bring it to an end. I didn’t hear from as many of you as I

The idea of how to end this series came to me after attending several meetings over the last few weeks. A lot of us in Richland County received an invitation to get a free meal in exchange for listening to talks about the economy. The invitation came from a group called Patriotic Millionaires, the members of this group have an average yearly income of at least $1 million or have assets of over $5 million. I’ve been aware of this group for several years, so I was anxious to attend. A lot of other folks had never heard of them and were very skeptical of the whole thing. However, the banquet room at the Phoenix Center has been full, and after feasting on some really good food, we’ve heard from Erica Payne, the woman who started the group, and several other members of the organization.

Erica began the first night with: “Raise your hand if you think the economy is rigged in favor of the rich.” Kind of a strange thing to ask a bunch of middleclass working folks – of course we think it is rigged, every hand in the hall was raised. But do these millionaires think that as well?

What we’ve heard about is “The Great Economy Project”, given the opening question, the well-fed group seems anxious to hear what the speakers have to say. I think what we’ve heard so far has caught a lot of folk’s attention.

According to the presentations and their literature, the top priority of the

The Patriotic Millionaires have been around for 13 years lobbying Congress for tax laws that more equitably tax the rich so that a better economy can be built for everyone. The Great Economy Project is a new grassroots initiative to approach their goals by activating the middle class.

The Patriotic Millionaires focus is mostly on federal taxes, but since we have just gone through a budget season in Wisconsin with taxes on the agenda, using the tax plan proposed by the Wisconsin Legislature and the one signed by the Governor seem a logical place to start talking about taxes.

In a move to make progress toward a flat tax plan, the State Legislature passed a tax plan in 2023 that gave a large tax cut to the wealthy and a much smaller tax cut to the lower income earners. Using his line-item veto pen, the Governor eliminated the tax cuts to the wealthiest and retained the tax cuts to the lower earners. The result was that the average tax cut went from $573 to $36, meaning that most of us were never going to get more than that $36.

This deserves a closer look. The flat tax priority of the Republicans sounds fair on its face – everyone gets taxed at the same rate. Let’s simplify and say the flat tax is set at 10% across all income levels and income types. A person making a million dollars gets to keep $900,000. A family making $50,000 gets to keep $45,000. The millionaire has enough money to meet the family’s needs and

WisPolitics — Wisconsin’s sprawling university system is under a lot of stress

continued from page 2

former tuition freeze and inflation. He said the school is considering using up to $1 million of its unused balances to cover a portion of the deficit and reducing department budgets and spending across the campus by 10 percent.

Other changes include only filling positions identified as “critical need” areas, pausing all new initiatives, and campuswide furloughs. Menke said Parkside may make

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other changes as well if needed, including layoffs, consolidating and restructuring departments and creating incentives for early retirement.

Meanwhile, UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich said the university is weighing implementing one-time budget retractions, along with furloughs and staff reductions.

“While implementing the strategies before us will not be easy, we need to position

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ourselves for long-term financial stability and prosperity,” Evetovich said.

Professor Terry Warfield, a member of UW-Madison PROFS’s Steering Committee, told WisPolitics the situation is “predictable” after the Legislature decided to cut the UW System budget.

“It’s hard to fathom why we wouldn’t invest more to help these campuses respond to these challenges and to continue to provide higher education and

I think I know the answer to that question, but I am anxious to hear more from the Patriotic Millionaires. They are hosting a series of programs and folks in Richland County have the opportunity to hear and hash over actions we could engage in to move our community into an economy that works better for all of us. What I’ve learned so far, however, is that if the tax code is restructured to tax everyone fairly, the government would have enough assets for all of us to have more nice things. Nice things like affordable healthcare for everyone, affordable childcare, paid family and medical leave, well-funded public schools, and adequately funded local emergency services and law enforcement. Add your own items to the list, the rich and corporations can afford the taxes to pay for it, many of them are currently making billions in profits every year.

The message from the Patriotic Millionaires is: “You have more power than the billionaires do – if you use it.” My response is: “If it will help us meet the needs of all of us - tell me what that power is and how to use it!”

As I’ve emphasized in other columns, one force we do have is the power of our vote. Maybe the message we need to send to our political representatives is: “Tax the rich or we toss you out, because we all deserve nice things.”

For more information on The Great Economy Project you can go to americanagenda.com.

Beverly is a retired professor. She lives in a remodeled farmhouse and tends 40 acres of woodland in Richland County. When not in the woods she spends her time reading, writing and enjoying the beauty of the Driftless Area.

more skilled and well-educated people that join the workforce,” Warfield said.

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The Capitol Report is written by editorial staff at WisPolitics.com, a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics, and is distributed for publication by members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Copyright © WisPolitics.com

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CHRIS HARDIE'S 'BACK HOME' COLUMN

An early morning of fog and mist greeted me as I slipped out the back door.

The Driftless Area is especially magical this time of year with our foggy mornings. It’s caused by cooler overnight temperatures matching the dew point. Water vapor condenses into liquid water droplets suspended in the air, creating a backdrop of mystery and beauty.

prepared for the morning milking at 6, we would try to call the cows in.

“Come boss, come boss.”

Sometimes the cows came, one by one, up the lane to the cowyard. If we were lucky, the whole herd would be ready to come in by the time we finished pushing the feed cart around the barn.

Sometimes they didn’t and you’d have to walk down the lane into the fog to fetch them. It was somewhat of an eerie feeling on extremely foggy mornings to have large bovines suddenly emerge from the mist.

Those were sweatshirt mornings, the long sleeves welcome in damp and cool air. But by the end of milking, the temperature started to rise and the fog burned off. Sometimes the mist would hang around until after breakfast.

No fetching cows this morning though. The task at hand was to harvest our sweet corn.

My destination was the vegetable garden, but I stopped to take in the moment. Across the creek used to be the night pasture for the dairy cattle. As we

While early achievers have already been dining on sweet corn for more than a month now, most of our garden was not planted until Memorial Day weekend. With only the two of us to feed, we only did one planting of six short rows surrounded by vine crops to help keep the raccoons out.

Wisconsin may be known as the dairy state and the cranberry king, but we also grow lots of vegetables. Our sweet corn production ranks third in the nation, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, and is celebrated by many sweet corn festivals throughout the state.

In 2021 Wisconsin produced just shy of 958 million pounds of sweet corn, accounting for nearly 17% of the nation’s production. Washington is No. 1 with 1.57 billion pounds, followed by our neighbors to the west in Minnesota with 1.44 billion pounds. That sounds like a lot of kernels, but sweet corn represents only 1% of the nation’s corn crop. Sweet corn is believed to have come from the wild corn native to the lowlands of the Andes Mountains. When I was young we sometimes ate plain field corn, but most of the commercial agriculture corn planted now is dent corn, grown for its ability to dry and not for sweetness.

There are three types of sweet corn –normal sugary, sugary enhancer and supersweet. We planted a bicolored supersweet variety.

Stepping carefully as I could between the jungle of squash vines, I quickly worked my way up and down the rows. Any cob with a dark silk was stripped from the stalk and tossed into a bin. In about 20 minutes my shirt and pants were soaked from the morning dew but the bin was full.

I carried the bin to the house, where my wife Sherry started husking, boiling water, blanching and cutting. A couple of hours later, 11 pint-sized bags and eight quart-sized bags were in the freezer. There are still a few underripe cobs left to pick for a few more meals. But when the green stalks turn brittle and golden and a winter wind blows through the valley, we can still enjoy a little sweet taste of summer.

Chris Hardie spent more than 30 years as a reporter, editor and publisher. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and won dozens of state and national journalism awards. He is a former president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Contact him at chardie1963@gmail.com.

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Photo contributed by Chris Hardie A summer scene in Jackson County.

Photo contributed by Chris Hardie A herd of cows seeks shade on a hot summer's day in Jackson County.

Each edition, retired dairy farmer Barb Garvoille brings her musings on dairy farm life from her own years of experience on Lost Horizon Farm with her late husband Vince “Mr. Farmer” Garvoille. This mooving memoir focuses on 1980-2000, join Barb as she rises with the herd.

Robbie

On the morning after a spring rainstorm that had included high winds, we discovered a robin's nest that had been blown out of a tree. All the youngsters but one had died of exposure, and that somewhat feathered spotted survivor became Robbie. The dog crate was resurrected from its storage place in the cellar, perches and a nesting cup (a child’s Care Bears’ cereal bowl) hastily installed, and Robbie had a safe new home in the utility room. His replacement human parents were kept busy feeding the little bird. Our daughter Rebecca called the food-hunting activity: "worming." It was absolutely astonishing how many worms one baby bird could consume! We girls would go out at night with a flashlight and catch nightcrawlers for the next day. We became expert worm hunters. When the earth became too dry, we would water an area with the sprinkler and create better environmental conditions for the evening's work. If it was a less than fruitful worming night, we supplemented earthworms with meal worms that could be found crawling amidst spilled ground cow feed under the storage bins.

Reflections from Lost Horizon Farm — Robbie, Judy, Christy and Michael birds would add a new dimension to our farm. We bought four Embden goslings, the species of domestic white goose sporting an orange bill. These birds are often depicted in paintings of rural life. We decided that the small area around our kitchen wood stove, not in use at the time and totally enclosed by a protective screen, would make a great first home for the new quartet. They spent the first few weeks of their life heartily eating their feed and sipping from their waterer and then clustering under the warmth of a heat lamp clamped to a corner of the screen. When they had feathered out and grown sufficiently, they were moved into a vacant outdoor dog pen. The geese were penned in at night and had free run of the farm during the day. Months later, loud nocturnal honking awoke us. Mr. Farmer found that a raccoon pair had crawled up and over the chain link of the dog pen. One of the geese had been killed and partially consumed, and the remaining three birds were backed up against a corner of the enclosure. Mr. Farmer “took care of” (shot) the offending raccoons. (Along with the dead goose, they were thrown into the manure spreader and went out with the morning's manure load.) An anchored, predator-resistant, plywood cover was constructed and put in place on the top of the dog pen later that day. As usual, when evening approached, the three remaining birds assembled and waited to be let into their now fortified nighttime quarters.

When Robbie was adult enough to live outside, we released him outdoors. He would perch in trees close to the farmyard, and, sometimes, when we were outside, he would fly down to perch on a person's shoulder. The milkman, who had never met a pet robin, was very impressed when Robbie flew down and landed on one of the intake doors on the milk truck. Unfortunately, less than a week after his release, Robbie made the fatal mistake of perching on a car hood while we were visiting with a neighbor. A barn cat had seen Robbie land, and before anyone could even react, the cat had leaped up and killed him.

Judy, Christy and Michael

An annual early spring event at the farmers’ cooperative would be Chick Days. The office's floor would be partially covered with orders of baby chicks, ducks and geese still in their delivery boxes: specialized lidded oblong cardboard cartons perforated throughout with small round holes. It was almost impossible not to be drawn to these peeping downy baby birds. We were smitten especially by the goslings and thought a few young

During the day, the three geese wandered around the farm finding insects, plants and bits of grain to forage on. They delighted in rainstorms and loved bathing in puddles. During dry periods, we would fill a child's wading pool, and the goose trio would enjoy bathing in it. They appreciated a gentle misting from the milk house sprayer hose too. The geese became our security staff; they would group and collectively honk when someone would drive into the farmyard. They were also excellent at spotting migrant birds. When they would tilt their heads and look upward, a person knew there was some birdwatching to

do. Once, all three geese clustered in a protective lump by the milk house. It turned out they had discovered and were sheltering a Ruffed Grouse chick! We raised that chick in the same way we had successfully raised the goslings. However, when the grouse chick was about half grown, it suddenly died. Its death was as mysterious to us as its arrival had been.

We knew we had a Judy and a Christy because they would lay wonderfully large white eggs. Michael was the gander: he would extend his neck and hiss while energetically flapping his wings. Sometimes he’d follow up that behavior by chasing people. He would quit if the chased person turned and chased him back. While Michael displayed the aggressive tendencies of a male, Christy had a very shy nature and Judy was demonstratively affectionate. If someone would sit on a 5 gallon pail, Judy would hop up and settle on the person's lap and wait to have her back feathers stroked.

When our daughter Alyson began to walk, we decided the geese would have to find another home. We were afraid that Michael might chase and possibly injure our toddler. A neighbor was happy to provide a home for Judy and Christy. Michael, because of his aggressive tendencies, was harder to place. In the midst of trying to figure out what to do

with Michael, a yearling steer died, and in calling the rendering truck, we had an inspiration. Using a lot of sign language, we had asked the Spanish-speaking truckers if they would like a goose. They indicated that they would take Michael. After the dead steer had been winched up and onto the truck’s floor, Michael was lifted into the death truck, and its dark double doors were shut. The last thing we heard was Michael's honking as he traveled up the farm road and down our county road in the back of that black box truck with its telltale protruding inclined metal plate. As it happened, the very next day, a cow delivered a stillborn calf that had to be taken to that rendering plant. Mr. Farmer and I went together, and we noticed that in one of the plant’s overflowing drums for "spare parts," (our term for the residuals from such an enterprise) was a pile of white feathers. Michael had become someone's dinner!

Barb has called Lost Horizon Farm, just north of Spring Green, her home for the past 43 years. She is fond of all creatures (including snakes). Her joy stems from being able to be outdoors every day observing and treasuring the plant and animal life on her small piece of this planet. She loved milking cows and is proud to have been a dairy farmer.

Barb Garvoille, Columnist

Barb Garvoille

Photo contributed by Barb Garvoille The baby Ruffed Grouse discovered by the geese.

Photo contributed by Barb Garvoille Robbie takes a hand perch!

Photo contributed by Barb Garvoille Judy and Christy and Michael on the farm road.

Photo contributed by Barb Garvoille A "Judy" egg.

COmmunitycalendar

Events for August 24 - September 7

Thursday, August 24

Storytime 10:30 AM Lone Rock Community Library, 234 N Broadway St, Lone Rock

Join us every Thursday for storytime!

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green springgreengeneralstore.com The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Community Read Along 4:00 PM 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com During this session, we'll discuss the second half second half of Wildwood. We'll read our favorite parts aloud, discuss the ending, and do a hands-on activity.

Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr, Muscoda wildhillswinery.com Join certified Yoga Instructor for Wine & Yoga every Thursday evening in summer! Lara offers a fun and relaxing yoga session in the beauty of our vineyard. Please bring a mat and water. $12 per person.

LIVE MUSIC: McCarty & Sanyer Violins 5:45 PM American Players Theatre, Picnic Area, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green americanplayers.org Leyla and Maureen are the two violinists of the Madison-based Camerata String Quartet. Maureen worked with great joy as an APT musician for five seasons during the early years when musicians were part of the APT staff.

Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green ninasdepartmentstore.com Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

Friday, August 25

Wine Down Fridays 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr, Muscoda wildhillswinery.com Come enjoy live music and wood fire pizzas from our food truck. There is no cover, but we ask that folks support free live music by not bringing in outside food or drink. Family friendly! You may want to bring lawn chairs and blankets for extra seating. Relax, enjoy the music, take in the fresh air, have a glass of wine, and enjoy some delicious snacks from our tasting room while you wait.

LIVE MUSIC: Solstice Jazz Band at Local Night 5:30 PM Post House Garden, 127 E Jefferson St, Spring Green Look up The Shed on Facebook for more info Come enjoy a summer outdoor music series featuring different local artists every week! Grills will be fired and beverages available, so come and enjoy the best that River Valley has to offer!

Trapper Schoepp //with Brother Galen 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green slowpokelounge.com Tickets $10 in advance / $15 at the door “What’s most important to me is to be a link in the chain of folk singers before and after my time,” Trapper Schoepp says in light of his forthcoming album, Siren Songs. In 2019, the Milwaukee singer-songwriter published a long lost song with Bob Dylan called “On, Wisconsin” – making him the youngest musician to share a co-writing credit with the Nobel Prize laureate Starting off the evening is Brother Galen, a writer and performer who began writing music and songs after working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico for two years.

Saturday, August 26

Lone Rock Market 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM . Under the Lone Rock Water Tower, 358 S Oak Street, Lone Rock For more information, look up Lone Rock Market on Facebook We will be hosting a variety of Farmer's Market and Craft Vendors at our Weekly Community Market Mid-May Through Mid-October. Any items you would like to see at future markets or if you are a Vendor that would like to participate in our future market please message or contact for more information 608-604-3537.

Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green Spring Green Farmers Market Is a year-round outdoor market offering seasonal produce, local meats, baked goods and many other wonderful items. Held outside the Spring Green Community Public Library every Saturday morning.

APT: Inside Out Tour 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM American Players Theatre 5950 Golf Course Rd Spring Green springgreen.com $17.50 or free w APT insider card. Get a peek at APT’s inner workings during our two-hour walking tour of the grounds, costume shop, backstage, and more. You'll see all that goes into making the productions you ultimately see on the Hill and in the Touchstone Theatre. Stair-Free tour option availble.

APT Play Talks: The Royale 12:00 PM American Players Theatre, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green americanplayers.org $5 or Free with an APT Insiders Card Jamal James (Jay in The Royale) and Rasell Holt (The Royale Movement Director) talk about how the poetry of movement tells a story in Marco Ramirez's The Royale.

2nd Annual UTV/ATV Ride and Steak Feed 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Arthur's Supper Club, E4885 US-14, Spring Green Spring Green Rod and Gun Club, S12314 County Rd G, Spring Green For more info look up Spring Green Rod and Gun Club on Facebook UTV/ ATV Scavenger with registration starting at 10am at Arthur's Supper Club and conclude no later at 5pm at the Rod and Gun Club. End your evening with a grill your own steak meal for $20.

LIVE MUSIC: Psycherelic on the River Stage 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green www.wiriversideresort.com Warm weather, cold cocktails, and great live music! Join us outside on the River stage!

Euchre 5:00 PM Arena VFW Hall 514 Willow Street, Arena For more info look up Ewing-Olson VFW Post 9336 on Facebook Open Euchre last Saturday every month. $5.00 entry fee. Will have BBQ, beans and chips for sale. No partner needed.

Campfire Skits & Smores: Cub Scout Pack 38 6:30 PM Tower Hill State Park, 5808 County Rd C, Spring Green For more info look up Cub Scout Pack 38 on Facebook Come Join us for an evening of fun skits and delicious smores! and to learn more about Scouting in the River Valley!

SOLD OUT – LIVE MUSIC: Shitty Barn Session 297: The Sadies + Sally Timms & Jon Langford 7:00 PM . 506 E Madison St, Spring Green shittybarnsessions.com Doors open at 6 Advance tickets sold out. That sald, tickets often come up that people can't use, so check out SH*TTY TICKET SWAP, which helps to connect ticket buyers and sellers The Sadies are one of this continent’s greatest extant rock ’n’ roll bands. Versatile and imaginative, they skip from astral psychedelia to shuffling bucolics and leap from puckish pop to righteous garage-rock without losing momentum or mastery. Sally Timms was born in Leeds, England. In 1985 she joined the Mekons as a full-time member. Welsh rabble-rouser, painter extraordinaire, and Punk Rock pioneer: Jon Langford was originally the drummer for the The Mekons when it formed in 1977.

Sunday, August 27

Sunday Salon 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Post House Park, Jefferson Street, Downtown Spring Green americanplayers.org A casual conversation with APT staff and leadership about whatever is on your mind. Free, no tickets required.

APT Play Talks: Mala 12:00 PM American Players Theatre, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green americanplayers.org $5 or Free with an APT Insiders Card Nancy Rodriguez will join us in John's Place to discuss Melinda Lopez's Mala and the joys and challenges of performing a one-woman show.

LIVE MUSIC: Spring Green Gentle Jam 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spring Green Community Center 117 S. Washington St. Spring Green springgreencommunitycenter@gmail.com

Free event This practice style jam is for learners and generous experienced players to make music together. We will practice leading songs, taking breaks, learning riffs, integrating our instruments with others, and generally making music with the expectation of learning and having fun.

LIVE MUSIC: Wild Child on the River Stage 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green wiriversideresort.com Warm weather, cold cocktails, and great live music! Join us outside on the River stage! Let’s welcome in the summer!

LIVE MUSIC: The 1st Annual Solar Powered Pearl Road Jam 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM . S13000 Pearl Road in Spring Green Come support this fundraiser for the Community Food Pantry of Spring Green! 50/50 Raffle, Beer, Soda, and Food are available for purchase. Bring a chair - Please no carry ins. Donations to the Food Pantry are urgently needed. Music: 4H - The Bill Roberts Combo - Open Jam.

Monday, August 28

Lone Rock Market 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Under the Lone Rock Water Tower, 358 S Oak Street, Lone Rock For more information, look up Lone Rock Market on Facebook or call 608-604-3537 We will be hosting a variety of Farmer's Market and Craft Vendors at our Weekly Community Market Mid-May Through Mid-October.

Open Mic 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green slowpokelounge.com Join us the fourth Monday of every month for an Open Mic, hosted by Dylan Harris. We’ve got the mics, the plug-ins, the piano - you bring the music! Whether you want to play solo, sing to a back up, or get the band together, this is the place. So come on out and show your stuff, or just support the folks on stage. Either way, we’re making music together! No cover, but tips for our host are always welcome!

Tuesday,August 29

Summer Family Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain kraemerlibrary.org

Summer Family Storytime lasts about 30 minutes and is full of stories, songs, and followed by a simple craft. Geared toward ages 3-5, but older and younger siblings and friends are always welcome. All children must attend with an adult.

Movies, Munchies and More — Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark 1:00 PM Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com . Come to the library for a cup of coffee, a sweet treat, a movie. Synopsis: Dr. Indiana Jones, a renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the ark of the covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, Hitler's agents are also after the ark. Indy and his ex-flame Marion escape from various close scrapes in a quest that takes them from Nepal to Cairo (PG, 1h 55m, 1981).

Arcadia Book Club discusses “The English Experience” by Julie Schumacher 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Arcadia Books, 102 East Jefferson St., Spring Green readinutopia.com

Jason Fitger may be the last faculty member the dean wants for the job, but he’s the only professor available to chaperone Payne University’s annual “Experience: Abroad”. Through a sea of troubles—personal, institutional, and international—the gimlet-eyed, acid-tongued Fitger strives to navigate safe passage for all concerned, revealing much about the essential need for human connection and the sometimes surprising places in which it is found. Meet Julie at Arcadia to discuss her novel!

Wednesday, August 30

All Ages Storytime 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM North Park, Daley St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com Join us at the North Park for a special Storytime of "Popsicles in the Park"! Sponsored by Birth to 3 and Public Health.

Iowa County Fair 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM 900 Fair Street, Mineral Point iowacountyfair.com 1pm: Dioramas may begin to be set up – Exhibit Bldg 2pm– 7pm: Face-to-Face Judging in Exhibit Bldg. (All mechanical sciences -Dept. 24, ceramics, robotics, Child Development) 2pm - 7pm: Check-in for exhibits in Exhibit Bldg 5pm –8pm: JR. Rabbit check-in in Rabbit barn 6pm - 7pm: Goat check-in in Sheep/Goat Barn 6pm - 8pm: Sheep check-in in Sheep/Goat Barn 6:30pm - 9:00pm: Swine weigh-in in Swine Barn Kids Watch for Gizmo D Robot on the grounds each day! Mechanical Bull Everyday on the Midway by Tough Entertainment!

SOLD OUT – LIVE MUSIC: Shitty Barn Session 298: The Nude Party 7:00 PM . 506 E Madison St, Spring Green shittybarnsessions.com Doors open at 6 Advance tickets sold out. That sald, tickets often come up that people can't use, so check out SH*TTY TICKET SWAP, which helps to connect ticket buyers and sellers The relaxed atmosphere of the sessions, and arriving with only loosely structured material, allowed the band to thrive in the studio. It also unleashed a diverse sonic texture compared to their previous releases, as best demonstrated by the title track, "Ride On."

Thursday, August 31

Storytime 10:30 AM Lone Rock Community Library, 234 N Broadway St, Lone Rock

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green springgreengeneralstore.com The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

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Community

Events for August 31 - September 7

Thursday, August 31 cont.

Iowa County Fair 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM 900 Fair Street, Mineral Point iowacountyfair.com 8 am – 9 am: Goat check-in in Sheep/Goat Barn 8 am– 10 am: Swine weigh-in in Swine Barn 8 am – 10 am: Check-in for exhibits in Exhibit Bldg 8 am – 3: pm: Dairy check-in in Schimming Bldg 8 am – 5 pm – Jr. Rabbit check-in in Rabbit Barn

10 am – 4 pm: Poultry check-in inPoultry Barn 10:30 am – Judging begins in Exhibit Building 1 pm – 2:30 pm: Beef weigh-in in Schimming. Bldg 1pm – Jr. Meat Goat Show in Sheep/Goat barn 2:30 pm – Jr. Dairy Goat Show in Sheep/Goat barn 5 pm – 11 pm

Badgerland Midway Opens ($2 Deal Day- Tickets $2 each; 1 ticket / ride) 5:30 pm –Dog Agility Show in Schimming Bldg 5 – 7:30 pm – Meet Miss Wisconsin on the grounds 6 pm – Jr. Market Gilt Show in Swine Barn 5 pm – Dairy Fitting Clinic & Contest-Open Dairy Barn 7 pm – CC Bull Company Bull Riders and Barrel Racing in the Grandstands Kids Watch for Gizmo D Robot on the grounds each day! Mechanical Bull Everyday on the Midway by Tough Entertainment!

LIVE MUSIC: Jambidextrous at Local Night 5:30 PM Post House Garden, 127 E Jefferson St, Spring Green Look up The Shed on Facebook for more info Come enjoy a summer outdoor music series featuring different local artists every week! Grills will be fired and beverages available, so come and enjoy the best that River Valley has to offer!

LIVE MUSIC: Scott Stieber and Don Myers 5:45 PM American Players Theatre, Picnic Area, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green americanplayers.org

Don is a two-time inductee of the Iowa Rock’n’Roll Music Association Hall of Fame (2009 and 2016). He moved to Wisconsin in 2010, then met Scott, who has graciously included Don in his (formerly) solo shows ever since.

Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green ninasdepartmentstore.com Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

Friday, September 1

Iowa County Fair 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM . 900 Fair Street, Mineral Point iowacountyfair.com . 8 am: Jr. Barrow Show in Swine Barn . 8 am: Jr. Dairy Show in Schimming Bldg 10 am – 5 pm: Vendor Fair in Commercial Bldg 10 am – 2:30 pm: Hodan Center Fun Day Wheels of Agriculture Show at 10:30 am, 2:30 pm, & 5:30pm with Traveling Tractor Trivia strolling the grounds! 3 pm: Beef Showmanship Schim. Bldg 3 pm: Bacon Buddies 3 pm – 11pm: Badgerland Midway Opens 6 pm: Wine Judging – By Commercial Building Bldg 7 pm: Texas Hold ‘Em in the Entertainment Garden 7:30 pm: Nashville Artist- Chad Brock, Ashley Barron, Jarrod Turner in the Grandstands Kids Watch for Gizmo D Robot on the grounds each day! Mechanical Bull Everyday on the Midway by Tough Entertainment!

Wine Down Fridays 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr, Muscoda wildhillswinery.com . Come enjoy live music and wood fire pizzas from our food truck. There is no cover, but we ask that folks support free live music by not bringing in outside food or drink. Family friendly! You may want to bring lawn chairs and blankets for extra seating. Handmade and hand tossed wood fire pizzas for sale made from scratch by the Halverson family!

LIVE MUSIC: Fareed Haque Group 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green slowpokelounge.com Tickets $20 in advance/$25 at the door Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso. Steeped in classical and jazz traditions, his unique command of the guitar and different musical styles inspire his musical ventures with tradition and fearless innovation.

Saturday, September 2

Iowa County Fair 8:00 AM - 12:30 AM 900 Fair Street, Mineral Point iowacountyfair.com . 8 am: Jr. Rabbit Show in Rabbit Barn . 8 am: Jr. Beef Show in Schimming Bldg . 8:30 am: Jr. Poultry Show in Poultry Barn . 10 am: Open & Junior Sheep Show in Sheep Barn 10 am – 5 pm: Vendor Show in Commercial Building 11:30 am: Milk & cookies with the Fairest of the Fair Wheels of Agriculture Show at 12pm, 3pm, 6pm with Traveling Tractor Trivia strolling the grounds! 12 pm: Bean bag tournament by Hootin Hill in Ent. Garden (11am registration) 12 – 11 pm: Badgerland Midway Open 12 pm:

Meat Paddles in the Ent. Garden 2 pm: Create a crown with the Fairest in Commercial

Tent 1 pm – 5pm: Free face painting Vibe Body Art Crew 3 pm: Livestock Auction in Schimming Bldg 5:30 pm: Tri-state Truck and Tractor Pullers with Local tractor pull to start the show in the grandstands 8:30 pm – 12:30 am: Tessa Band in Ent. Garden

Kids Watch for Gizmo D Robot on the grounds each day! Mechanical Bull Everyday on the Midway by Tough Entertainment!

Lone Rock Market 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM . Under the Lone Rock Water Tower, 358 S Oak Street, Lone Rock For more information, look up Lone Rock Market on Facebook

We will be hosting a variety of Farmer's Market and Craft Vendors at our Weekly Community Market Mid-May Through Mid-October. Any items you would like to see at future markets or if you are a Vendor that would like to participate in our future market please message or contact for more information 608-604-3537.

Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green Spring Green Farmers Market Is a year-round outdoor market offering seasonal produce, local meats, baked goods and many other wonderful items. Held outside the Spring Green Community Public Library every Saturday morning. Preorders are recommended. Visit our Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact into.

Mindfulness: Discussion and Practice (Zoom Only) 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM Virtual Event springgreenlibrary.com Our meetings will include discussions and short mindfulness exercises/practices. We will explore sitting, standing, lying down and moving mindfulness experiences. Find the zoom link online.

APT Play Talks: The Merry Wives of Windsor 12:00 PM American Players Theatre, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green americanplayers.org $5 or Free with an APT Insiders Card Two Falstaffs get together in a forest to talk about...well, Falstaff. Join us for a discussion with David Daniel and Brian Mani, which is sure to be a great time.

LIVE MUSIC: 3 Souls on the River Stage 12:00 PM - 3:30 PM Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green www.wiriversideresort.com Warm weather, cold cocktails, and great live music! Join us outside on the River stage!

Sunday, September 3

Iowa County Fair 8:00 AM - 12:30 AM 900 Fair Street, Mineral Point iowacountyfair.com 8 am – 9:30 am: Open class rabbit check-in in Pig barn. Show begins at 10AM 9 am: Gymkhana Horse Show in Horse Arena 10 am: Beef Extravaganza in Schimming Bldg . 10 am: Open class rabbit show in Pig Barn . 10:30 am: Hay Bale throwing contest. All ages welcome 10 am - 5 pm: Vendor Show in Commercial Building 11am: Jr. Cat Show in Sheep & Goat Barn 11:30 am: Master Showman Contest in Swine Barn Wheels of Agriculture Show – 12pm – 3pm – 6pm with Traveling Tractor Trivia strolling the grounds! 12 pm – 11 pm: Badgerland Midway Opens 12 pm: Kiddie Tractor Pull –below the exhibit building by Kindshi Pedal pulls 1 pm: – 3 pm: Cloverbud show and tell with Ambassadors & Fairest of the Fair 2 pm: All Dairy Breeds Futurity Show in Schimming Bldg 4 pm: Storytime with Fairest of the Fair in Commercial Tent 6 pm: Hard HIt Promotions Demolition Derby at the Grandstands 8:30 pm – 12:30 am: The Blue Steel Band in Ent. Garden Kids Watch for Gizmo D Robot on the grounds each day! Mechanical Bull Everyday on the Midway by Tough Entertainment!

LIVE MUSIC: Myles Talbott Dyad on the River Stage 12:00 PM - 3:30 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green www.wiriversideresort.com Warm weather, cold cocktails, and great live music! Join us outside on the River stage!

Sunday, September 3 cont.

LIVE MUSIC: The Yard Dogs on the River Stage 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green www.wiriversideresort.com Warm weather, cold cocktails, and great live music! Join us outside on the River stage!

Rural Musicians Forum: The Honey Pies 5:00 PM Wyoming Valley Cultural Arts Center Lawn, 6306 State HWY 23, Spring Green . ruralmusiciansforum.org . For more than a quarter-century, the Rural Musicians Forum has served the Wisconsin River Valley community and beyond.

Fireworks Dusk Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green www.wiriversideresort.com Come enjoy fireworks after The Yard Dogs perform!

Monday, September 4

Iowa County Fair 8:00 AM - 12:30 AM 900 Fair Street, Mineral Point iowacountyfair.com 8:30 am: Mini Dairy Showmanship in Schimming Bldg 9:30 am: Open Class Dairy Show in Schimm. Bdng . 11am: Euchre Tournament in Ent. Garden . 11am: Barnyard Olympics in Sheep & Goat Barn 1pm: Harness Racing in Grandstands 12 pm – 6 pm: Midway Open 12 pm – 3 pm: Hard Hats Band in Ent. Garden 2 pm: Exhibit Building Closed 3:30 pm: Exhibits released in Exhibit Bldg 4 pm: Livestock exhibits released from the barns. NO EXCEPTIONS! Kids Watch for Gizmo D Robot on the grounds each day! Mechanical Bull on the Midway by Tough Entertainment!

LIVE MUSIC: BeatleFest 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green springgreengeneralstore.com No charge, but please, no carry ins The 15th Annual BeatleFest will be held on Labor Day Monday from 11 am to 5 pm. We'll be in the back yard so bring a chair and maybe some bug spray. Special menu begins at 11 am and we'll listen to all Beatles music all day long. Local beers, water and cider will all be on tap. Be sure to join us.

Lone Rock Market 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Under the Lone Rock Water Tower, 358 S Oak Street, Lone Rock For more information, look up Lone Rock Market on Facebook We will be hosting a variety of Farmer's Market and Craft Vendors at our Weekly Community Market Mid-May Through Mid-October. Any items you would like to see at future markets or if you are a Vendor that would like to participate in our future market please message or contact for more information 608-604-3537.

LIVE MUSIC: No End in SIght on the River Stage 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green . www.wiriversideresort.com . Warm weather, cold cocktails, and great live music! Join us outside on the River stage!

Tuesday, September 5

Summer Family Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain kraemerlibrary.org Summer Family Storytime lasts about 30 minutes and is full of stories, songs, and followed by a simple craft. Geared toward ages 3-5, but older and younger siblings and friends are always welcome. All children must attend with an adult.

Summer Movie: Ferris Bueller's Day Off 12:30 PM 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com Bring the whole family to the Library for a fun movie. Enjoy the show with snacks and a drink. Synopsis: Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) has an uncanny skill at cutting classes and getting away with it. Intending to make one last duck-out before graduation, Ferris calls in sick, "borrows" a Ferrari, and embarks on a one-day journey through the streets of Chicago. On Ferris' trail is high school principal Rooney (Jeffrey Jones), determined to catch him in the act (PG-13, 1h 43m, 1986).

River Valley Community Anime Club 4:00 PM Spring Green Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com Join us for the first meeting of the RVS Anime Club! We will have a small meet-and-greet, then dive right into watching a few episodes of My Hero Academia! This event is geared toward teens.

Wednesday, September 6

All Ages Storytime 10:30 AM Spring Green Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com Bring the whole family to the library for a morning of song, stories, movement, and fun!

Thursday, September 7

Painting with Watercolor on Canvas, a 4-day workshop with Helen Klebesadel

10:00 AM 6306 Wisconsin 23 Trunk,Spring Green Look up Helen Klebesadel on Facebook for more info Painting with Watercolor on Canvas is a 4-day workshop. Participants learn approaches for painting watercolor on non-porous surfaces. This four-day workshop is designed for artists with some experience painting with watercolor on paper, as well as painters more familiar with oils or acrylics and other painting media, who are interested in learning how to work with watercolor on canvas and other porous surfaces. Participants will try a range of approaches for effectively using watercolor on Aquabord, watercolor canvas, and other surfaces, and will learn ways to seal the works for display without needing mats or glass to display. (Workshop fees include provision of substrate and sealant supplies needed for the class). 10:00-4:00 daily. Plan

Storytime 10:30 AM Lone Rock Community Library, 234 N Broadway St, Lone Rock

Join us every Thursday for storytime!

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green springgreengeneralstore.com The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

LIVE MUSIC: Randy and Flo-stars Entertainment at Local Night 5:30 PM Post House Garden, 127 E Jefferson St, Spring Green Look up The Shed on Facebook for more info Come enjoy a summer outdoor music series featuring different local artists every week! Grills will be fired and beverages available, so come and enjoy the best that River Valley has to offer!

Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green ninasdepartmentstore.com Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

Evenings Afield — Agroforestry: Where to Begin 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Savanna Institute, 6172 County Road Z, Spring Green driftlessconservancy.com Agroforestry integrates trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems. Learn about the many benefits of agroforestry and the basics of getting it started on your land by visiting the Savanna Institute's home farm. Hear their plans for turning it into a showcase for agroforestry and whole farm management.

Nature Hike on the Bluff 6:00 PM Spring Green Preserve, Jones Rd., Spring Green Look up Justin Sommerfeld or Cub Scout Pack 38 Spring Green on Facebook for more info Come join us for a hike up the Bluff, and to learn more about Scouting in the River Valley! Please wear hiking and weather-appropriate clothing, and bring a water bottle and bug spray. The hike will go out rain or shine.

SOLD OUT – LIVE MUSIC: Shitty Barn Session 299: Elizabeth Moen 7:00 PM 506 E Madison St, Spring Green shittybarnsessions.com Doors open at 6 Advance tickets sold out. That sald, tickets often come up that people can't use, so check out SH*TTY TICKET SWAP, which helps to connect ticket buyers and sellers A self-taught guitarist, Moen wrote her first songs while a student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She gave up her lease in Iowa City and toured for two years across the USA, the UK, and the EU, eventually making Chicago her homebase. Moen confidently exhumes the emotional hangover of our 20s: a turbulent, sometimes euphoric, often fraught time.

LIVE MUSIC: Warrior Songs 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green slowpokelounge.com No cover charge Together, Doug and Jason provide audience members with unique insights about music and war, as well as an understanding of how music can be used to help heal the wounds of war. Jason will provide copies of the CDs produced by Warrior Songs free of charge to veterans in attendance. Doug's books and other CDs will be available for purchase.

CIVICS & SERVICES CALENDAR

This calendar is a place listing (for free) the typical meeting dates for area governmental bodies, and Please email us with these meetings, or use the form on our Community Calendar page — let's build community together: editor@valleysentinelnews.com

August 28: MEETING: Plain Village Library Board 6:30 PM 510 Main Street, Plain villageofplain.com

September 4: MEETING: Clyde Go-Getters 4H Club 6:30 PM Clyde Community Center, 6281 WI-130, Spring Green Contact Mia or Jonathan Hillebrand at clydegogetters4hclub@gmail.com Community service, life skills, citizenship, and so much more!

WHAT’S HANGINg ? ongoing art exhibitions

Spring Green Community Library Art Exhibitions . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green

Monday-Thursday: 10 AM - 7 PM Friday: 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday: 9 AM - 1 PM

Lauren Thuli is the featured artist in the Community Room Gallery in August. She is a local artist who finds inspiration in everyday life, including landscapes, seasonal colors, flowers, and one of her all time favorites, the wonderful birds that surround us. Her goal is to ultimately bring “life” to a painting. She typically begins with some degree of intentional direction and, at some point, spontaneity and discovery become an integral and invaluable part of her process as well Lauren uses a variety of different mediums including oil, acrylic, pen & ink, watercolor and oil & wax. Her work has evolved over the years, as experimentation is a key motivating force for her Lauren’s paintings can be viewed during regular library hours when the Community Room is not in use. Please ask for the key at the circulation desk

Lexington &

LITERARY SECTION

What is Lexington & Jefferson?

Eric Hanson is the featured artist in the Glass Case Gallery with “Hardware Bikes (reCycles)” during the month of August. Eric tells about his show: "Having grown up in Baraboo in the 1950s and ’60’s, my hope is these motorcycle assemblages reflect the beautiful, industrial style of the time (Brook Stevens, Buck Rogers) using chrome, streamlined polished aluminum and stainless steel By chance or happenstance these flea market and garage sale parts (shrouded Taylor Tot strollers, electric drill bodies, old bicycle parts, fruit juicers, etc.) all seem to miraculously fit into the same useable scale Held together with hardware store fasteners (screwed) and spit (glued) they’ve evolved into somewhat successful dust collectors from an earlier more stylish era." Eric’s work is available for viewing during regular library hours.

Some time ago, we announced the soft launch of a semi-regular to regular literary section we've been inspired by other literary compilations to call Lexington & Jefferson

As the pivotal intersection of our community, we envision this as a place that celebrates the cross-section of arts in our greater community.

We envision it as a place of curated and submitted prose, poetry and more that showcase the talents

of our community. Each edition we receive submissions of artwork, poetry, prose and other musings that we have trouble placing in the paper on their own and often have to simply hold or regrettably turn down.

We hope this becomes a welcome place for them.

This space will grow and change, as all things do, and we welcome talented individuals, organizations, authors, experts and artists to help

curate this section - perhaps we'll compile and publish an annual literary journal, who knows?

We may also use this space for arts & culture news and submitted musings that don't quite fit within the bounds of a traditional column, profile or letter to the editor.

Get involved: If you're interested in submitting, curating or have ideas, please do not hesitate at all to submit them to us at: editor@valleysentinelnews.com

Musings from the End of the Rainbow

Following

I stood, one hand on my hip, the other resting behind my head, with my chest pushed forward, holding the best Marylin Monroe pose I could muster. My voice shook, my stomach was in knots, and my teeth rattled. The Catholic school girl in me wanted to shrink into a puddle and cower in the corner. My eyes fixated on the priests’ stark white collar as it shone brightly: Like the light of an oncoming train barreling down on me.

For years I had dodged Eldon Pratt as he hounded me to join Forensics.

As the Vice Principal, Teacher, and Forensics Coach, in my teenage head, he was useless. Funny though, how when you least expect it, people sneak up and implant themselves forever in your mind. People who seem to be long forgotten, live on in our thoughts, our philosophies, and our daily habits. I clearly remember a class where Mr. Pratt talked about driving, he explained: “When you continued to pass cars, just by the action of pulling out to pass, going around the car in front, you actually drive farther, costing yourself more in time, miles and gas.” No doubt his actual motive was to get a bunch of new drivers to slow down, be safe, and stay alive. To this day, it seems, Eldon is always in the car with me when I contemplate passing.

The girl’s bathroom was one place I found; I could hide from him.

Tired of it seeming as if I had chronic stomach issues and having been slowly worn down by his persistence, One day, after school, I found myself outside his classroom door.

I had dodged him for years with no idea what I was really dodging.

Eldon

perform it at competitions.” My interest piqued, I scoured through stacks of speeches, plays, poems, Nothing. Not one, seemed right. Not one, spoke to me. “Write your own” he said. Me, “You can do that?”

Just like that I was hooked. It was easy to come up with a topic.

As a teenage girl, in a world of Seventeen magazines and perfect images

I was always on a constant diet treadmill. I wrote my performance, playing the part of a girl, in front of a weight loss support group. Lamenting to them over her dieting struggles she finally comes to the realization that instead of fad diets, she will commit to living a life of healthy habits, not only for the body, but for the mind as well. All culminating with me, striking that pose and declaring, “Cheryl Tiegs, eat your heart out!!” Suddenly, the smell of fresh baked doughnuts wafts into the room, distracting her new-found motivation. Walking off, I declare, “I will start my diet tomorrow”.

People continue to live on because of the impact they make in the lives touched. Mr. Pratt coached and encouraged a teenage girl to have confidence in herself and her abilities. A passion was born, for something I never knew existed, but somehow, Eldon Pratt recognized I would flourish at.

Now, after all the earlier competitions, I found myself at the state meet.

As I walked into the room, my feet froze, a lump formed in my throat, I caught a glimpse of the person, slated to judge me, sitting staunchly behind the desk, Entirely decked out in Full Priest Garb!!

American Players Theatre Presents: Art in the Woods . American Players Theatre, 5950 Golf Course Rd, Spring Green July 23 - October 8 Free, no tickets required Come early and explore this season’s creations! Art in the Woods is a series of art installations displayed throughout the APT property. Art that evokes conversation, that intertwines with our landscape, that sparks your imagination.

As I walked in, he looked up from his desk. Having no clue it would end with me, hands on my hips, chest out in a sexy pose, in front of a Priest, I shyly announced myself and asked, “So what’s this forensics thing all about?” His response: “You find a “speech”, or a “poem” memorize it and

Not a sight, a girl, who spent her early years at Catholic school, wanted to see.

By The Way

Thank you, Eldon.

Seeking office space

Valley Sentinel is seeking office space in the downtown area of Spring Green. Flexible ideas for the space include a newsroom, co-working space for small businesses and entrepreneurs, local retail/consignment, local art exhibition/ gallery space and (eventually) working collaboratively with area food businesses to provide extended hours coffee and potentially grab-and-go food. We want to create a space that truly serves the entire community. Please let us know if you have a vacant or soon-to-be vacant commercial building, know of any space, or have any creative ideas or partnership opportunities. We'd be happy to look at a land contract arrangement to reduce your tax burden. By phone at 608-588-6694 or by email at editor@valleysentinelnews.com.

Take a journey with me to the end of the Rainbow. I grew up at the end of Rainbow Road, a beautiful and magical place in a River Valley, just outside of a town called Spring Green.

are stories and reflections of a simpler time.....

— Mary Lanita Schulz

DAY TRIP DISTRACTIONS

Music festival alive in the hills of the Driftless: 15 years of People Fest

Alex Prochaska, Editorial Intern

Our community has tons of live music options right here in Spring Green. But if you ever want to shake things up, consider checking out the Driftless Music Gardens, a Yuba, Wisconsin venue in the hills of northern Richland County that puts on a number of music festivals each year.

People Fest was DMG’s last event of the season, hosting 35 bands from Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the nation at large. Since the festival has been running for 15 years, and since neither I nor my partner Maria have ever had the opportunity to attend, we figured it was about time we headed to the not-so-distant land of Yuba to see what People Fest was all about. So we took our conveniently comped tickets and did just that.

Upon arriving, the first thing we noticed was how beautiful the area was, nestled among tall green hills. We were alone on a winding country road, until we rounded a corner and all at once saw a gathering of tents, campers and cars. It was like discovering a hidden society in the forest. As we pulled in, the DMG staff were helpful and attentive, offering us wristbands for purchasing alcohol—in my mind, an absolute necessity—and guiding us to available parking. There was plenty of room for parking, even though it was a sold out event.

Walking toward the sound of music, we came across an assortment of food trucks. There was barbeque, Thai food, pizza baking in wood-fired ovens. Something for everybody. Vendors sold technicolor art and clothing. Tie dye and cowboy hats were all over the place. I would describe the theme of

People Fest as: Hippie Cowboy. Backwoods Psychedelic. Floral Americana. Speaking of Americana, it’s a good time to mention that Americana was the type of music played at People Fest. Think folk, rock, blues, and country all wrapped into one. As we entered the main stage area, we saw that it was a natural amphitheater with a gently-sloping hill for the audience to view performers from the vantage of higher ground. There was space for people to crowd near the stage itself, or if preferred, lounge farther away in chairs and on blankets. In this farther area, children piloted neon drones which darted and zipped to the music. Adults waved loops of string, summoning giant bubbles which undulated in the evening light. Hula hoops were rampant. The vibe was very relaxed and carefree.

Now to the music itself. The first performance we saw was Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, an alternative country band from North Carolina. Their sound was genuine and unpretentious. “Stranger,” the first song we heard, was a rueful meditation on breaking up. The Disarmers’ set had a picaresque quality. The singer’s character was a wayward libertine who was constantly falling into and out of a relationship. In the song “No Mistakes,” it was played for laughs when she admitted, with difficulty, that “I realize I am to blame to some degree” for her romantic woes.

At 8 p.m., it began to rain and lightning was spotted. The organizers of DMG prioritized the safety of all in attendance and put the music on hiatus, asking that people take shelter in their vehicles until the thunderstorm passed. The storm was

Spring Green artist to exhibit in Paoli

Local artist Shawn Olmstead will be participating in Paoli Art in the Park, presented by Southern Wisconsin Art Guild Inc. The fair takes place on Saturday, September 2nd and Sunday, September 3rd from 9 to 4 in the Paoli Park, 1367 County Road PB. Shawn is a woodworker who creates amazing art.

Meet Award Winning Artists

This fine art fair will feature local and regional artists showcasing original, head-turning art in a variety of mediums, including wood, glass, jewelry, painting, fiber, photography, ceramics and metal sculpture. Many of the artists have participated in premier shows including the Art Fairs on and Off the Square, Agora Art Fair and the Spring Green Art Fair. If you're wondering where to find that truly unique, one-of-a-kind meaningful piece of art...come to Paoli Art in the Park.

Located in Historic Paoli, WI Paoli has long been known as a mecca for

art, bicycling and paddlers. Come for Paoli Art in the Park, but also discover the historic buildings, unique shops and area dining in Paoli. If time permits, stay and enjoy the music at The Mill. Paoli is located just 14 miles south of Madison.

Southern Wisconsin Art Guild, Inc.

The Southern Wisconsin Art Guild is an organization of artists and art supporters. Our mission is to further the common good and the general welfare of the public in the communities of southern Wisconsin, by supporting the visual arts and providing opportunities and support for artists.

See you there!

Shawn looks forward to seeing you on Labor Day weekend, 9 to 4 both Saturday and Sunday, at the Paoli town park, 1367 County Road PB.

For more information about the fair, visit www.paoliartinthepark.org or “Paoli Art in the Park” on Facebook.

an unpredictable act of nature, and put the festival on pause for the remainder of that Friday night. But we appreciated the organizers’ concern for the people, and it helped to foster a sense of community.

Returning on Saturday, we saw Joe and Vicki Price, two blues guitarists from Iowa. I cannot think of a better description for the down-home duo than the one on their own website: their act is “A righteous, joyful, foot-stomping jubilee, [which] catapult[s] the blues. A bit rough & tons of fun.” When listening to Joe and Vicki, I was convinced that I was witnessing the living spirit of American music proclaim liberty throughout all the land. Here was electric strumming at its downest and dirtiest. Here was twang so greasy it was deep-fried.

Here was an abrupt silence interrupted by growing and relentless tap-shoes that dragged us up to rapturous heights not to be believed but only experienced In short: they were very good. I highly recommend you see Joe and Vicki Price. Next came Chicago Farmer & the Field Notes, folk musicians from Illinois. Their lineup struck the perfect balance between heartfelt and hilarious, acoustic and electric. On the heartfelt side were songs like “Dirtiest Uniforms,” about the people who inspired the lead singer to do his best with what he was born with. On the hilarious side were songs like “$15 dollar beers,” a so-called inflation protest song that was

continued on page 10

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You may be at risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if you are:

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Interested?

Fall session starts September 13. Includes a free Wellspring membership and 1-to-1 health coaching sessions.

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Jillian Cori Lippert Paoli Art in the Park

Photo contributed by Paoli Art in the Park Some of Spring Green artist Shawn Olmstead's works.

Photo by Alex Prochaska

Eau Claire-based Them Coulee Boys plays People Fest at the Driftless Music Gardens in Yuba.

DAY TRIP DISTRACTIONS

Music festival alive in the hills of the Driftless: 15 years of People Fest

continued from page 9

originally called “$13 dollar beers” until the titular beverage’s price increased. The band said they are honored to be called working-class musicians. Their song “Assembly Line Blues” really hit home for me, having worked nearly two years on the production line at Spring Green’s very own Cardinal IG window factory. “I’m sighin’ and dyin’ and pantin’ for a rest / That boss man is smiling with his feet on his desk / I wish for one day he could walk in my boots / He wouldn’t last an hour with assembly line blues.” Chicago Farmer & the Field Notes were such an entertaining performance that—I guess—I’m willing to excuse the fact that they’re from Illinois.

Last but certainly not least in the performances that we saw were Them Coulee Boys, an Americana-bluegrass-folkrock band from Eau Claire, WI. They were definitely a crowd favorite, causing the densest packing of excited onlookers of the whole festival. Them Coulee Boys cemented the underlying philosophy of People Fest— family and community. They had chosen to stay and camp the entire weekend, just to hang out with folks. The band said that everyone on the sacred grounds of DMG had now become family. This segued fittingly into their song “Namesake,” with the lyrics:

“Even if we all ain’t got the same names / I’ll be proud to call you family sure enough.” I would describe the band’s music as wistful and poignant. Gratefulness and celebration were always present, for sure. But there were also notes of loss and hurt, however faint. More than anything, their message seemed to be one of love—for each day we live, and for all the people that come along. Strangers then, family now.

Driftless music gardens is roughly a 50 minute drive from Spring Green, and is home to a few annual music festivals — Bonfire Music and Arts Festival, The Boogie Down Music Festival and People Fest. The festivals have passed for the season but will likely return — with potential for more — next year, and would make the perfect summer day trip (or weekend if you like to camp). The venue is owned by five members of an 8-piece rhythm and soul band, The People Brothers Band.

We asked Cricket Lochner, one of the organizers of People Fest and the Driftless Music Gardens, some questions about the event.

Valley Sentinel: What does People Fest mean to you?

Cricket Lochner: Having people of all

walks of life come together over music, food, love, arts, and smiles. Being able to feel at ease with yourself and get lost in nature. Getting the recharge/reboot that each one of us deserves before we go back to the dayto-day routine.

VS: What was the origin of People Fest?

CL: Open mic performers fall in love with camping. My husband, now, used to run the open mic night in Madison back 16 years ago. Was the start of the creation for the band The People Brothers Band. Met me, Crickett, who loves camping. We collaborated and along with another friend who was attending open mics, was our friend Delvis. Delvis, owned land not too far from Madison. Dodgeville was the birthplace of People Fest. We spent two years there and then moved to Hillsboro for five years at The BullPen. As we grew each year, we then had

the opportunity to move to a space that we could develop into the project that we have today. We opened Driftless Music Gardens, fall of 2015, and held our first event June of 2016; Bonfire Music and Arts Festival.

VS: What does the Driftless Music Gardens team hope to accomplish in the future?

CL: DMG hopes to team up more with the local communities. We provide opportunities for communities to get-involved, network, sponsorships, development, and many more ways of being involved with what we are doing. We want to bring live music to our valleys in a way that was enjoyed as I was a kid in high school musicals. These valleys have something special about them and being sixth generation off my family property, I personally take interest in bringing something that I truly enjoy back home to share with others.

Spring Green Music Residency brings “Astral Rock” musician Joshua Powell September 10 to 23

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my song “Rainbow Trout” starts as an indie rock song, then it has a metal breakdown that sucks you through a portal, then you end up in an autotuned cacophony of digital weirdness. It has rock at the core of it, but it trips across universes like an astral traveler. I loved the world-building that James Wan’s “Insidious” franchise set up because it was metaphysical and transdimensional without going too deep into faux science or any particular religious strain, and it’s hard in this era to spin spirituality in a new way. So the idea of a rock band that leaves its own body and inhabits other versions of themselves on different planes–that’s us, that’s what we’re doing.

SGMR: We frequently hear of indie bands relocating to Nashville or Austin. How would you describe the Indianapolis music scene, and do you think you’ll stay there for a while?

JP: Indianapolis is a really loveable hydra–cut one head off and two grow back. When I moved here in 2015, I was a student of the scene and I did my level best to index it. I went to as many shows as I could to learn as many of the bands who were working and I kept them all in a Google doc with genre tags and social links; but in the course of two years or so, I realized that with how many people were moving in, moving on, changing names, starting side projects, and going on hiatus, this would become a full time job. And then the plague of course, killed off a bunch of young stalks in bloom I thought would take over the world, but then all these other sprouts came through the cracks in the wake. All the bands I thought would be popular broke up and then new ones started that overtook the old with like, a beautifully irreverent speed.

We’re like any other city in that we have cliques–Healer kids don’t go to State Street shows as much; State Street dudes talk shit (catch some “Joshua Powell sucks” graffiti in there), and I wish Black Circle and Hi-Fi people would all hold hands and join each other in a big Flying Burrito Brothers cosmic country singalong, but people find identity in genre and we’ll never be free from the hierarchical constraints of humans’ innate need to classify and differentiate. I do think we’re maybe on the cusp of a post-genre landscape thanks to the globalization of TikTok and the genre-defying trajectories of folks like King Gizzard, Lil Uzi Vert, Bring Me the Horizon, MGK, and of course daddy Neil Young and that’s exciting to me. But yeah to answer your question, I intend to

stay here a while. It’s a sprawling place full of beautifully stitched pockets. We’ve got some uncle roles in the city now due to having stuck around, and I want to explore how we can help other artists cultivate a healthier scene. And Brother Jacob and I have nested a lot here, we have studio and rehearsal spaces, so we intend to continue to grow from here until we get called somewhere else, just gotta make sure to stay in that “Tomorrow Never Knows” mindset. I remain interested in all types of places.

SGMR: What about the Music Residency appealed to you, and caused you to apply for it?

JP: I just needed a safe place during this part of the lunar cycle where I could really werewolf out and not be around too many people. Just kidding. As a dedicated student of the Midwest DIY touring landscape, Sh*tty Barn was a strange mecca I chased for almost ten years before I think name-dropping my buddy Zach Pietrini helped get me through the barn door. My whole band was meant to come but then got sick, so I drove up six hours by myself through the late summer corn and played the set myself, and it was pretty damn sublime. I played with MN heroes Kiss the Tiger and the show sold out and I felt properly heard and seen and cared for, which believe it

or not can be a real rarity in the slough of the deep DIY canals of music industry aspirants on their infinite interstate journey toward glory.

The idea that someone would gift a person with the space to create outside the furious bounds of capitalistic zeal seems too good to be true–like maybe it will be a Wicker Man situation and this is actually a trap for me to be kidnapped by like, a cool Wisconsinspecific cult or something. Hopefully!

I’m kidding, but honestly, the monastic space to focus on songwriting when so much of the rest of life is bound up in revenue and booking and driving and emailing and all that–it’s a very generous gift. I intend to make devotional use of it.

SGMR: Any new recordings in the works?

JP: Almost always. I’m still working on producing our band’s current album, an 8-song LP for Romanus Records that is our heaviest work to date, but I’ve also demoed out another quieter record already, so I hope to record some of those songs’ skeletons in Spring Green, then open myself up to a new batch and see into what genre they incarnate themselves!

The Spring Green Musician in Residence program was created to sow more support

for the art of musicianship in Wisconsin by providing time and funding that can be dedicated to musical inspiration and creation. Past Musicians in Residence are Zach Pietrini, Laura Sellner, Zach Vinson, Bubbles Brown, and Ben Mulwana. The idea was born from a collaboration between Springboard, a local civic incubator, and The Shitty Barn Sessions, a local music venue known for bringing a variety of high-quality music to Spring Green. We wanted a way to provide a fair wage for creation and performance, promote growth among local artists via collaborations, and bring even more original music to Spring Green.

Administrative and financial support for the program is generated from volunteers, local performance venues, The Shitty Barn Sessions, River Valley ARTS and The Wisconsin Arts Board.

Powell’s performance schedule is:

• Sunday, September 10th 7:30 p.m. @ Slowpoke Lounge — free show with meet & greet

• Sunday, September 17th, 1:00 p.m. Spring Green General Store monthly Acoustic Jam

• Friday, September 22nd, 7:30 p.m. @ The Shitty Barn — tickets at shittybarnsessions.com/

The Sauk County Gardener

August Gardening Tasks

“This morning, the sun endures past dawn. I realize that it is August: the summer's last stand.”

— Sara Baume

I was so thankful for the 2 inches of rain we received this week. I’m simply tired of watering by hand. Although I use soaker hoses in my vegetable gardens, my fewer than usual planted containers still require me to drag the hose out into the garden. And it’s so important to keep our gardens well-watered at this time of year if we want to get any kind of garden produce. Luckily, I’ve just really had to deal with my container planters; my perennials are well-established so although they don’t look their best this year, I’m confident they will survive the winter and hopefully have a better season next year.

Even as we struggle to deal with the water shortage this season, there is plenty to do. Your dahlias will thank you for an extra layer

Is this Ripe?

Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener

“Ripe vegetables were magic to me. Unharvested, the garden bristled with possibility. I would quicken at the sight of a ripe tomato, sounding its redness from deep amidst the undifferentiated green. To lift a bean plant’s hood of heart-shaped leaves and discover a clutch of long slender pods hanging underneath could make me catch my breath.”

— Michael Pollan

It’s so amazing how much has changed in my garden since we had some rain a little while ago. Everyone I talk to is now saying how much they have ready or just about ready to pick in their vegetable gardens. I’ve received pictures of super large bell peppers, seen some amazing onions, and my own tomatoes are going bonkers. My grandson was so excited to pick tomatoes the other day. When he entered my greenhouse, he exclaimed “Nana, look at all those tomatoes!” and then proceeded to eat his way through the greenhouse and out into the garden. He enjoys eating the little ‘Sun Sugar” tomatoes, but he really loved picking the large heirloom tomatoes that were ripening nicely in the garden. Knowing when your vegetables are ripe or ready to pick is key to truly enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Tomatoes and peppers are fruits that you can pick when they are not completely ripe and they will still ripen off the vine. However, if you can, let them ripen on the vine. Look for good even color over the whole fruit. Winter

of mulch to help them conserve moisture. Mulch also provides an added bonus – fewer weeds. If you planted dinner plate dahlias, make sure to stake them to prevent them from toppling over. If you have phlox in your garden, keep them deadheaded and don’t let them go to seed if you want to keep their colors true. I have some gorgeous ones that I need to get out and deadhead now. Get your daisy, coreopsis, sweet William, and pansy seeds started so you can transfer them into your garden beds in late September/early October. If you planted glads for cutting, make sure you leave as much foliage on the plants to help them put energy back into the bulbs. It’s also time to divide iris and daylilies. I have a couple beds where my iris did not bloom well this year; they were really too deeply planted so they need to be dug up, inspected for iris borers and replanted. If you need to add a little fall color, plant chrysanthemums but give them a little extra protection to help them survive the winter. Even though we received some extra rain,

squash are ripe when the stem dies and harden. Another way to tell is if you can push your fingernail into the skin and it dents, not punctures it.

Root crops such as beets, radishes, and turnips are most tender when they are golf ball size. Carrots can be dug any time they are big enough to for your needs. Parsnips are best if you wait until after the first frost kills the leaves. Potatoes can be harvested early (around 10-12 weeks after planting) or after their foliage dies back (about 20 weeks after planting). If you rub the potato skin and it doesn’t come off, they are ready to dig. I planted mine in bags this year.

I’m just waiting for the plants to die back so I can dump them out and let

water your flowerbeds at least once a week if dry spells return. If you kept your poinsettias from Christmas, it’s time to bring them back indoors. Amaryllis need to have their water withheld for about eight weeks to help them bloom. Bring them back indoors and store them in a cool basement for the next three months.

In the vegetable garden, continue to harvest vegetables such as eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers regularly. Sow cover crops in beds you don’t plan to use any more this year. Buckwheat is a good cover crop to consider. If you plant herbs, cut, dry, and freeze them for future use. It’s best to pick them before they bloom for best flavor. However, if you’re like me, I like to use them for attracting pollinators, so I tend to let the majority of mine flower and go to seed. There is still time to plant a late crop of radishes, lettuce, spinach, and beets. Fertilize strawberries with 10-10-10 fertilizer at 2-3 pounds per 100 square feet. Tip layer black raspberries for new growth.

my grandson find all the potatoes. He’ll have a blast.

Beans, peas, cucumbers, and zucchini all require regular picking once they start producing. Peas and beans should be picked when the pods are long and smooth. If you don’t keep picking them, they simply slow down or stop. Zucchinis are best when they are 4 to 8 inches long. You can still use that missed zucchini to shred up and make zucchini bread or relish. For cucumbers, pay attention to what size you would like them to be and harvest them before they become big and yellow. I planted some mini-me cucumbers that are perfectly sized to eat when they are 3-4 inches. They don’t have the usual prickly

Plant any new evergreens now through mid-September to give them time to get established. If you use the holiday schedule, get ready to spread lawn fertilizer around Labor Day. Finally, remove lawn thatch if it is more than ½ inch thick.

The Sauk County Master Gardeners Association is looking for gardens in the Sauk-Prairie to be on their 2024 Annual Garden Tour. They are interested in gardens that have been designed and maintained primarily by ordinary gardeners whose gardens are the result of their own hard work, sweat, and gardening ingenuity. If you’d like to have your garden featured, please contact saukctymg@gmail.com to be considered.

Just a reminder, the deadline for registering for “Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundation in Gardening” is fast approaching. This online, complete-at-yourown-pace introductory course is offered by the UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program. Registration is open until August 31.

skin so they can be eaten right out in the garden. I also planted gherkins for pickling, ajnd they should be picked when they are 1 to 6 inches long versus by regular slicing cucumbers which get 8 to 12 inches long.

Cole crops, such cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower should be cut as soon as they have formed tight, firm heads. Broccoli and cauliflower will bolt if left too long. Harvesting kale depends on how you plan to use it. If you’re using it fresh in a salad, smaller is better. If the plan is to use it in soups, larger leaves work great.

Garlic and onions can be dug for fresh use as soon as the leaves start to die back. If you plan to store them, wait until the foliage has all died back and then dig them. They will need to be cured first before storing them for the winter.

Apples are ripe if you can cup them in your hand, gently twist, and they come off easily. Pears are hard and very firm. Peaches, apricots, and nectarines are ripe when they are slightly soft near the stem. Another way to tell is to smell them; if they give off a sweet smell, they are ripe. Berries should have even coloring before picking. Blueberries will taste their sweetest a couple days after turning blue.

Keep these tips in mind to help you figure out when your crops are ready to pick. You’ll find that you enjoy your fresh vegetables even more – as if that was even possible.

Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener

Photo contributed by Jeannie Manis The author's garden produce.

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Columnist

Hello friends, I am guessing that it was probably exactly 40 years ago that 2 high school buddies and I paddled our canoes from near Wisconsin Dells to Lake Wisconsin near Lodi. Over the years I have done that trip about 15 times and this week I paddled from just south of the Dells to Hookers Resort, which is about 6 river miles above Lake Wisconsin, naturally I had my pups Ruby and Red along for this 3 day journey.

Friday, August 4th

High 86°, Low 54°

So, I have a confession. A while back I was driving through Eagle River and my kayak paddle fell out the back of my truck and before I could get it, it was run over. Today I would find out that duct tape will not fix it. I am in hog heaven as are the pups, I have been in an extremely busy type of lifestyle all summer and a good fix to save the soul and body from overload is a canoe trip.

The first thing I noticed today is that the river is faster and narrower, this is due to the drought. All 3 days I would trail a crankbait behind me and hope to catch a meal. I had forgotten a shrimp hot dish that was part of my plan so fresh fish was kind of a need, instead of a want. Good luck came my way when I saw a muddy but very nice-looking bait casting rod and reel that someone had lost and it was stuck

in a fallen tree. The current was scary bad, but I got my new toy out and it even had a top water bait on it. I was pulling a blue chrome Husky Jerk and missed my only hit of the day and then lost the lure. Later I built a camp on about a 50acre sandbar that not that long ago was under water, now it is loaded with deer and turkey tracks.

One of my goals on this trip was to sleep on the sand from inside of my tent. With 2 bundles of gold laying as close to me as I would allow, I did just that.

Saturday, August 5th

High 82°, Low 57°

Before I forget I have to say this, if you do not know this fact, explore the river from the Dells to Lake Wisconsin. The northern section is frequently so shallow that most people stay away from it with boats. I was out here for exactly 22 hours before I saw another person.

Today as soon as I started paddling, I put my crankbait out hoping to catch my supper. Instead of a fish I got a snag. I was in such hard current that not only did I lose crankbait number 2, I lost all of my line.

This left me with the rig I found in the tree yesterday, but it had one problem and that is that the only way it would release line is if I completely opened up the drag. Over the next 2 hours I lost 2 more baits, expensive bummer. So I put one on that my stepson Travis Dushek made and within five minutes I was fighting a 20-plus inch smallmouth bass that after several jumps got away. Long story short, by dark I caught 5 smallies,

a sauger, and a walleye on a broken reel and one of the smallies made for a delicious supper.

Let me tell you about my 15-monthold pup Red. A year ago, when Michelle passed away Red, her mom Ruby and me all went into a tailspin of depression. I could not get Red to swim or fetch a ball and I simply did not care. These days Red has no fear, no matter how strong the current is, she has to be in the water, and she loves to play fetch.

I felt if I did not push it she would work out and this fall we will find out with ducks.

Anyways, I have used all my space, the last 24 hours of this adventure was spectacular just like the first 30 and I am glad I do not have enough money

in my retirement to retire cuz I am having too much fun to give up this way of life!

Sunset

Follow along the adventures of Mark Walters, a syndicated outdoor adventure columnist who lives in Necedah, Wisconsin. He began writing his column, An Outdoorsman’s Journal, in 1989. It includes hunting, fishing, lots of canoeing and backpacking. He currently writes for around 60 newspapers. He hopes you enjoy reading about his adventures!

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Photo contributed by Mark Walters

Dinner on the Wisconsin River, with Ruby and Red.

Wisconsin River Canoe Trip

Photo contributed by Mark Walters Red and Ruby, thoroughly enjoying life.

Photo contributed by Mark Walters

The pups and Mark Walters home on the first night of their Wisconsin River canoe trip.