Valley Sentinel - 10-20-2022

River Valley Middle School students explore conservation professions

On Tuesday, October 11th middle schoolers from River Valley took part in the Sauk County Conservation Day here at Upham Woods. This event was organized by the Sauk County Land Resources and Environment department in collaboration with the DNR, and the Sauk County Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). Throughout the day, students were exposed to different conservation professions to help them understand different jobs that they could have in the future.

Most of the day was filled with fun choice activities. Some students learned

archery with help from some of our local DNR conservation wardens. The wardens said many bullseyes were hit! Animals signs with the NRCs staff was also popular! After learning about different types of animal signs, students hiked along the Riverbend trail to put their observation skills to the test. Some kids even found a skull! Students are excited to continue to look for animal signs back at home. Other activities included water ecology, fishing, and nature art.

After choice activities, every student participated in a service learning project: building a trail. Erosion ruined our last trail, so we rerouted

the trail to reduce its effect. During this project, students were taught the proper use of trail-building tools such as a rake, shovel, and McLeod. After gearing up with hard hats, they were put into small groups to clear debris and to re-establish a critical edge along that stretch of trail. This critical edge serves to mitigate erosion and is of the utmost importance when building a trail. When the session wrapped up, a lot of the kids wanted to keep working even though it was tiring. With the assistance provided by the River Valley Middle schoolers, we were able to finish over 80% of this trail.

Thank you River Valley!

Riverway board to co-host open house on new Lower Wisconsin State Riverway map

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board (LWSRB) met at the Prairie du Chien Library on October 14 to conduct a regular monthly meeting. A presentation on the reconstruction of STH 60 between Gotham and Muscoda, currently scheduled for 2027-2028, was provided by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Jewell and Associates. The new road will include wider lanes and shoulders with curb and gutter in the unincorporated village of Orion where a new speed limit of 35 mph will be posted. Further east where the roadway is close to the river, there will be rock cuts on the bluff side of the highway. The curves west of the intersection with CTH TB will be softened and there will be a new alignment in that area. Some structures will be taken at various locations in conjunction with the project. More information can be found at: wisconsindot.gov/Pages/ projects/by-region/sw/wis60/default. aspx#contact

In other action, the board approved issuance of a structure permit to Nancy and Doyle Lewis for construction of a new house on land visible from the river in the Town of Woodman, Grant County. The structure will replace an existing house and will conform with the Riverway performance standards regarding screening vegetation, colorization, height, glass and slope. Mark Cupp, Executive Director, reported the agency’s biennial budget request for 2023-2025 had been submitted to the Department of Administration. The budget request is for $266,000 for each year of the biennium. Cupp said he attended a meeting in Prairie du Sac on the proposed recreational bridge over the Wisconsin River at Sauk City and will work with the design team moving forward. The next meeting of the work group is slated for October 27th.

The next meeting of the Riverway Board is slated for November 10th and will be held in Avoca.

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway

Board (LWSRB) and Cultural Landscape Legacies, Inc., will co-host an open house for the public to review the draft of a new map showing the cultural and natural history of the lower Wisconsin River valley. The open house will be held at the Riverway Board office, 202 N. Wisconsin Ave., in Muscoda, from 10:00 to noon, on Saturday, October 29th.

Christina Dennis, a recent University of Wisconsin – Madison graduate, is creating the map as her senior capstone project. Her faculty advisor is Dr. William Gartner of the UW-Madison Geology Department. The new map will be available online for area residents and travelers to download and will point to sites of interest from natural features and public access points to archeological and historical sites in communities from Prairie du Sac to Prairie du Chien. When completed, limited paper copies of the map also will be available. Public comment and input are appreciated. See the map at https:// geography.wisc.edu/lower-wisconsin-

riverway-map/.

In addition to reviewing the map, individuals are invited to ask questions about ancient peoples, area effigy mound sites, rock art, early European explorers and Euro-American settlers, local historical sites, and folks may bring artifacts for possible identification.

Mark Cupp, Riverway Board Executive Director, said, “Christina Dennis has created a beautiful map with a wealth of useful information about the Riverway. She is sincere in wanting input from the public to make certain there are no errors so that the final product is accurate and will stand the test of time. For those who are unable to attend the October 29th open house, please visit the website and offer feedback on the easy to use comment tool.”

For further information, contact Mark E. Cupp, LWSRB Executive Director, at (608) 739-3188 or by cell phone at (608) 739-2179 or by e-mail at mark. cupp@wisconsin.gov.

Spring Green,

Photo vis the UW Extension RVMS students work on trail building.

Matt Becraft, WisCorps Service Member

More Letters to the Editor: Election season never ends Community Calendar: Costume contests, live music

Mark Cupp, LWSRB Executive Director

The (not so) Plain and Simple Correspondent: Be Kind

Green, Columnist

Suddenly, all over the countryside we are seeing multitudinous yard signs that urge us to BE KIND. While the origins of this movement are sad and a hard topic to discuss, it gives us an opportunity to think broadly about how we treat one another.

Of course I believe in being kind – don't I harp on a general lack of kindness every issue of this rag? But I also swing the shillelagh frequently, too, as a feisty daughter of Ireland. We ought never be kind to those who mess up our environment carelessly or for profit, abuse and cheat the poor or persecute anyone who is thought “different”. What kindness is owed to those who disenfranchise voters, lie about their wealth to the tax man, cause fatal accidents by running the red lights and speeding dangerously on the roads? I could never face my sainted mother, the nutritionist, when we meet in the Great Beyond if I were kind to manufacturers who denatured food, poisoned or starved children (Nestle Corp. comes to mind here). This violent streak in pursuit of a righteous philosophical viewpoint is natural to my people: my father claims to have started a fire under the bed where his mother lay with her second-born, a daughter, he not wishing a rival. He grew fond of my Aunt Doris eventually. She took to cigarettes when young, perhaps enjoying the smell of smoke that was in the air as she drew in her first breaths, but that's another speculation for another day.

Besides wondering whether or not to be kind, and to whom, I have gotten suspicious in my old age. While walking in the park across the street from where

On the

I live, on a day with wind so strong that I was literally almost blown off my feet, I saw a white car driving back and forth repeatedly in the nearby deserted office building's parking lot. It then parked at the far end. This unusual activity aroused my suspicions, so I took a photo that brought an image close up enough that when I enlarged it on my computer I could read the license number...and the stickers on the car. One read “Tell your dog I said Hi”, another said “Know your farmer, support your butcher” and a third was a take-off on the oft-seen Child on Board sticker found on windows of cars, showing a couple and a large dog. So I relaxed, supposing such a person would not possibly be up to no good. But what do I know, really? What if it was sly camouflage and the driver is really an axe murderer? I trust I'll never find out to my detriment. Meanwhile, a little healthy suspicion lingers on.

One conspicuous kindness is to listen courteously to the stories of whomever you encounter. You may have to filter the tales for “truth”, but be they tepidly ordinary or wildly dramatic, it is the

respectful listening that is important. If your fellow travelers on this earth plumb their memories for your benefit it's because the events were often pivotal to their life...maybe are an attempt to explain their character to you at a time in life when youth has fled and friends and family no longer pay them much attention... or are exaggerated or simply imaginary to supply something they feel is missing in their life. This strikes close to home, since I fibbed a lot when I was a youngster, preposterous fantasies that were so outlandish that my mother was gentle with her reproofs. The “truth thing” isn't too important unless the mendacious individual maligns others and causes harm. That I did not do. A tolerant, empathetic listener is always worth a pirate's chest of gold and jewels to a faltering ego.

Too often I'm a notoriously poor listener myself, eager to jump in and express my two cents' worth on any subject you could name, but this bad habit is on the list of Needful Improvements. I am certainly aware of it in other folks. Next time you listen

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

While politics rarely brings optimism these days, I am excited about a committed candidate, Leah Spicer, who is running for a seat in the 51st Assembly District. Even though she is currently the owner of a successful restaurant in Spring Green and the clerk of her town board, she has courageously stepped forward to oppose the extreme direction the Wisconsin legislature is taking. She cares about the future of our rural communities and our rights that are increasingly under threat.

Leah has made the point that free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy. But the Republican-

Dear Editor, 4PeteSake Charity held another successful and fun golf outing at the House on the Rock Golf Course on the picture-perfect afternoon of Friday, September 16. The event would not be successful without the support of sponsors, assistance of volunteers and the enthusiasm of the golfers. This year 19 teams participated. They played with great heart for good cause! Thank you to our generous sponsors: Cardinal Glass

controlled Wisconsin legislature does not see it this way. It is so intent on reversing the legitimate outcome of our last election that it spent a million dollars in a futile attempt to overturn it. The Republican-controlled legislature wants to hamper voting access in the name of reducing voter fraud when in reality virtually no fraud exists. It has drawn the outlines of the voting districts so that elections are now heavily skewed to favor Republicans. We need a candidate who will push to make elections fair.

Another right Leah is fighting for is the right of women to make difficult decisions about their health and future. It saddens me to think that the medical care

CG, Cardinal Rotar, Flexion, Inc, House on the Rock Resort & Golf Course, Robert Lang, and Wis-Coat (Event Sponsors); American Family Insurance, Arcadia Books, BMO Harris Bank, Kraemer Brothers and People’s Community Bank (Hole Sponsors); and JF Ahern (Putting Sponsor). Volunteers Vicki Bindl, Kathleen Bach, Cindy Helbert, Bob Birkhauser, Jeff Alt, Enie & Jamie Haas,

in on a conversation, notice how often people talk over or past each other. Interviews on radio, TV or in person reveal this rudeness more often than not. Remember how our then soonto-be 45th President paced back and forth behind his opponent, distracting and disrupting the nationally-televised presidential debate before he was elected in 2016? His manners haven't changed since then (nor those of his followers) and, I imagine never will. If anything, they have gotten worse and drifted into the thorny territory of insurrection and making off with secret government documents. I imagine the documents are really quite boring, frankly, and I'd prefer to read a wellconstructed biography, novel, or book of poetry any day, but is this the model we really aspire to in our leaders if we hope to keep our democracy whole?

Ponder that in your heart, because soon we'll have an opportunity to vote

for dog catcher and all manner of public officials. Some candidates are souls of rectitude and others are fear mongers, cheaters, gerrymanderers, femaleravishers, anarchists, and worse. Let's hope that the poet Yeats' brooding observation in “The Second Coming” does not manifest in November: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”

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.

required by my wife after a miscarriage is now considered illegal in Wisconsin and would continue to be illegal under proposed changes by Republicans. Do we really want the Government stepping into this deeply personal area?

Let’s put an end to this increasingly aggressive attempt to push extreme views. We need a public servant like Leah Spicer who has a desire to improve our healthcare, our public schools, our small businesses and farms and all that makes for a vibrant and prosperous 51st District.

Erik Johnson Spring Green, Wisconsin

and Rob Doyle helped to make the day run smoothly —thank you! Your support of the golf outing and 4PeteSake allows the organization to assist our River Valley neighbors who are experiencing financial hardship due to a medical or health condition.

With sincere gratitude, 4PeteSake Committee

“Spooky Season in the Valley” (2022) Photos, by Taylor Scott and Nicole Aimone

pumpkins

Pecks, Hecks

traversing

Halloween.

Pictured above are some of Hecks' selections of pumpkins and below is one if several haunted houses that Pecks - East features.

Katie Green

Photo contributed by Katie Green Peggy Liegel sharing a Be Kind sign at the Harrisburg/Troy Schoolhouse Museum.

Our Fragile Democracy — Part 7: The Wealth Gap

“Our Fragile Democracy” is a series of thought-provoking columns by retired local professor Beverly Pestel exploring the history and struggles of our nation's form of government from its founding to our current social, cultural and political tensions — looking at solutions and means of learning to work with one another, in hopes of preserving our democracy.

Update to Part 6: On Sept. 23, 2022

Gov. Evers called on the Legislature to meet in special session by October 4 to vote on an amendment that would allow Wisconsinites to change state law through referendum. This would make Wisconsin state number 25 to allow citizens to propose direct democracy initiatives – don’t hold your breath. Gavel in/gavel out is almost certainly coming…yup, it took them a full 15 seconds to avoid doing the people’s business.

As I write this, we have just celebrated Labor Day, and serendipitously I have reached the point in the book I am reading about the labor union struggles of the 1890s. But then, I wonder whether serendipity actually exists or if there is directionality to the universe as Robert Wright suggests in his book “Nonzero.” Either way, the combination has brought me to this topic.

The reality of laborers being taken advantage of by rich business owners has been a hallmark of our Nation since its beginning. The struggle of the working class to have the business class honor their labor has been a central and constant component of our politics. The winner has too often been the business class - often because of politician’s actions. Is that constitutional? Maybe that is the wrong question. Is it right? Is this how a democracy is supposed to work? More to the point, as Michelle Obama asked at the portrait ceremony at the White House recently, “Where does

that ‘supposed to’ come from? Who determines it?” That is a really good question.

According to a report from the Economic Policy Institute, the ratio of CEO-to-worker pay in 1965 was 20-to-1, between 1978 and 2021 CEO pay skyrocketed by 1,300% compared to just 18% for the typical worker. Why do we care? Well, in addition to general fairness, we need to care because inequality can weaken democracy and give rise to authoritarian movements.

In Federalist Paper No. 10, James

privileged. But – we voted them into office, so who actually determined this state of affairs?

According to a 2022 report from the Council on Foreign Relations, many experts attribute a significant component of the wealth and income gap to the country’s legacy of slavery and racist economic policies. Policies regarding slavery and race were influenced significantly by the economic interests of those in political positions of authority. Without discounting the horrors of slavery and racial discrimination, focusing on economic policies is the point here. Economic policies that allowed the rich to get richer and the workers to fall further and further behind, discriminated groups bearing the greatest harm. The result of an increasing wealth gap is worker discontent leading to unrest, protests, and often violence. The impact on the political system is a weakened democracy and an open door to authoritarianism.

voted against it. The bill went nowhere in the Senate.

If this is a bill that would benefit workers and consequently strengthen democracy, one has to wonder why it appears to be a partisan issue. Also, policy proposals to reduce inequality include a more progressive income tax, higher minimum wage, and expanded educational opportunities. So, it is also worth asking who among our elected representatives are supporting these issues?

And that brings us back to who determines. Who determines whether our fragile democracy continues to crack or begins to mend? Who is supposed to do what to determine that result? Madison continues:

Madison writes about domestic factions and insurrection: “…the most frivolous and fanciful distinction have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts. But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society.” Yet, our political system has often functioned as if income inequality is the way it is supposed to be, but “[w] here does that ‘supposed to’ come from? Who determines it?”

Here I am back to Alexander Hamilton and that “certain class of men” who are compelled to hang on to the power they hold. That “certain class of men” have enabled this wealth gap because they are the ones who have dominated our politics throughout our history. Men who were/are white and

It has been unions and union organizers that have been some of the most persistent fighters in the battle for wealth equality. Consequently, it can be argued that unions have played a hand in strengthening our democracy and an attack on unions as a threat to our democracy.

The most recent threat to unions has been the Right-to-Work Laws. Currently, 27 states have Right-toWork laws which prevent unions from collecting fees from all members. Wisconsin became the 25th in 2015. In 2022, Axios issued a report on the impact of these Right-to-Work laws. Wages in right-to-work states are 3.1% lower than non-right-work states. States with these laws also see lower political participation, especially for the Democratic Party. In March of 2021 the House of Representatives voted on “The Pro Act” which would override the state Right-to-Work Laws. It passed with 220 Democratic votes and 5 Republican votes, 205 Republicans

“The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principle task of modern legislation…” So, how do we get this legislation? Might it be voters carefully scrutinizing those they vote for and why, and then those elected representatives abiding by the will of their voters? (Am I beginning to sound like a broken record?)

In ‘A Crisis Coming’: The Twin Threats to American Democracy (New York Times, Sept. 17, 2022) David Leonhardt says that democracy is threatened because “[t]he power to set government policy is becoming increasingly disconnected from public opinion.” Or more simply, it is threatened by representative democracy running amok. The second of the twin threats may actually be a different manifestation of the same breakdown in representative democracy: “a growing movement inside one of the country’s two major parties…to refuse to accept defeat in an election”

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.

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Katie

conflatum

in

Beverly Pestel

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor, As the November election approaches, I am excited that we have a candidate to vote for, Leah Spicer, who truly represents our community! As a

Dear Editor, Soon it is time to vote again. November 8th is an important election that will have far reaching impacts for years to come. For a better future for all, I am confidently casting my vote for

Dear Editor,

Flexibility with kindness. A nice way of saying it is “things happen.” Out of our control we continue to face epidemics like COVID, wars, tornados, high food prices, and stray female cats dumping their litters on our back deck.

Twice during the past five years a stray female cat deposited her kittens on our doorstep. Last winter a stray female cat was strolling between our place and the lot across the highway. This cat had long hair, a crinkled ear and a stub for a tail. She was not a cat one wanted in their house.

Sure enough a stray male cat of ours and the tailless cat got romantically

Dear Editor,

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could talk politics with family and friends again, without campaign admen and social media manipulating us, and dividing us?

My home mailbox and inbox is full of messages from the GOP, claiming to know what I stand for. Speaking as a Mother, Grandmother, a Democrat, and a Healthcare provider here in Southwest Wisconsin, I would like to set the record straight.

We support our sheriff, police, their staff and the rule of law. We have some of the best, including our own Micheal Peterson. We all need excellent, safe policing. We support reasonable gun safety measures and expanded mental health care. It is no secret that untreated mental illness and drug addiction fuel crime. We support national law enforcement's effort to bring to justice

Dear Editor,

My husband and I moved to Spring Green with our baby daughter in 2017, with the dream of planting our roots in this community and growing as a family. Since that time, we have become connected to this vibrant community and have welcomed a son, with another on the way. I have been lucky to connect with other young mothers in the area to discuss our hopes for this community’s growth and prosperity in the coming years and what we can do in our community to turn those hopes into reality.

Leah Spicer is one of these women that I have been fortunate to connect with. She is building her family on the farm where she was raised, running a crowd-pleasing local restaurant with her husband Kyle, and now (I am thrilled to say), running to represent

parent and local business owner, she's passionate about the issues that are most important to me — protecting healthcare rights, affordable, highquality care for both our young

representatives that really care about us, our children, and all aspects of our lives - including the economy, health care, quality education, voting rights, climate change, women's rights, and our local communities.

involved and on May 26 of this year she delivered a male kitten. In order to keep my words under 500 my male cat, Bear Junior and the tailless cat were spayed and neutered by an area vet. The mother cat, named Mama and the kitten named Mickey are receiving 4-5 meals a day of the best food, living inside and outside our cabin style home and both are being loved and petted.

We are all being called to show flexibility and kindness to the planet and all our neighbors. The question that haunts me is why are we ready to show compassion, mercy and kindness upon a tailless, crinkled eared cat and ignore people fleeing for their lives

those that attacked the Capital and assaulted our rule of law.

We support small businesses, farmers, the return of manufacturing to the USA and inflation control. Inflation is worldwide, and the reasons are complex. We need protection from price gouging from corporations raking in billions in profits, especially at the gas pump.

We support affordable health care insurance for all. Half of all personal and family bankruptcies are still due to illness. It is heartbreaking when families lose their homes because they can’t pay medical bills. I know from my medical practice that small problems left untreated can become big problems, and result in visits to the ER or hospitalization. I can not understand why Howard Marklein and Todd Novak vote against Badgercare expansion?

Our own tax dollars stay in Washington

the 51st District in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

The past few years have painted a bleak picture of what is possible in America when we allow politicians to become comfortable in their seats, without straying from the party line or truly fighting for the needs of, and providing a voice for, their constituents. Leah is not running to obtain a comfortable seat or to become another party-line voter at the Capitol. If you know Leah, you know she is the type of person who gets things done. She is not just telling you what she will do as your representative of 51st Assembly district, she has a track record demonstrating her ability to work together with others and achieve results.

Leah has the work ethic of a farmer, the old-fashioned values of a highly successful small business owner serving the community, and the modern

to the Editor

N O T E S A H E A D O F T H E E L E C T I O N

from page 2

children and elder adults, fully funded and innovative rural schools, and promoting a thriving rural economy while protecting our environment. Todd Novak has had his turn — it's time for

I will be casting a vote for Tony Evers (Governor), Mandela Barnes (US Senate), Josh Kaul (Atty General), Marc Pocan (Congress), Pat Skogen (WI Senate) and Leah Spicer (Assembly). The future of our communities and

through Mexico, and Central America. We continue to lack compassion upon African Americans, Native Americans, the poor, our insistence upon destroying our rich top-soil with poor farming practices and gays and lesbians?

The older I get the less flexible my bones are. So, I try to exercise more, take vitamins and eat right. When it comes to people living different lifestyles than our own, we need to exercise our brain, read more, talk more to others from other cultures or ideas and yes, a few vitamins might help. Let us stop throwing shoes at stray cats and people and show a little compassion, mercy and love. Shifting

because of their refusal. This is cruel and causes needless suffering and expense.

We support Medicare and social security. It’s OUR money, saved from OUR paychecks. Multi millionaires like Ron Johnson don't have a clue. Middle class folks depend on both for retirement.

We support secure borders, and common sense Ag work visas to hire the year round workforce needed for local dairy farms and cheese factories. Many undocumented workers help keep these going in SW WI and they deserve to live without fear.

We support excellent public schools and teachers. What better investment than our kids?

We support free and fair elections and our dedicated poll workers. The handful who commit voter fraud deserve jail time.

aspirations of a mother with three young kids who knows that it takes a mix of creative ingenuity and action to build a better future. She has seen and experienced the needs of the 51st District since her childhood. Now, while raising her own children here, and attempting to run a small family farm and business, she is keenly aware of the challenges facing our communities and what makes them so unique and special. I know she will not be a representative who simply waits for issues to arise but will bring them to the floor herself, fighting for high-quality childcare and senior care, affordable housing, more funding for our rural public schools, support for our small businesses and farms, women’s rights, rural internet access, protection for our natural resources, and so much more.

Watching Leah connect with voters

new ideas and new representation for the 51st district!

Sarah Alt Spring Green, Wisconsin

democracy are at stake. We need representatives who will strive for a better world for everyone.

Lauren Thuli Dodgeville

into the kindness gear is no easy thing to do but in order to right the American ship that is way off course we all need to show more kindness to all and become more flexible in our grounded, ship -wreck thinking.

The Bible talks about “those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them,” “love being patient and kind,” and “loving your neighbor as yourself.” The Dalai Lama said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Dennis Siebert Sylvan Township, Wisconsin

We are proud patriots who support our veterans and men and women on active duty. We support reproductive freedom, especially access to birth control, which the supreme court is considering banning.

We support clean water, clean air, tackling climate change and keeping wild places wild for hunting and fishing. This election, ignore the sleazy ads with their crappy photos, lies and misquotes. The campaign fliers and emails sent by Assemblyman Todd Novak are disrespectful, false and disgusting. We are smarter than that.

Vote on November 8th for Leah Spicer, Pat Skogen, Tony Evers, Mandela Barnes and Mark Pocan. Sensible, hard working Democrats that will work for all of us.

Liz Bothfeld, Dodgeville, Wisconsin

has been inspiring. She has a genuine vibrancy when she speaks with each new face she meets, and it is clear she wants to make a difference here—she wants to represent us. We cannot be certain of what the next few years will bring, but with Leah Spicer as our voice, we can be certain that we will have a dedicated, hard-working, compassionate, and resilient representative, who will always provide a listening ear to her constituents and who will work to find real solutions to the issues we face here in the 51st. We are lucky to have Leah and her family as part of our community, and I know we could not choose a better person to represent us during these turbulent times. Please join me in voting Leah Spicer for the 51st Assembly seat.

Rachel Bradley Spring Green, Wisconsin

We have received several letters, emails and inquiries about letters to the editor ahead of the 2022 general election. Our next edition, November 2, is the last edition before the election. Our letter to the editor policy includes the following: "Letters of a political nature, without chance of rebuttal, will not be published the week before an election."

To that end, you are welcome to submit letters regarding candidates and items on the ballot if they meet our guidelines and do not solicit or necessitate obvious rebuttal.

Letters in support of a candidate will be accepted only if they do not disparage or speak against other candidates. The time for that has passed for this election as there is no chance for rebuttal from the candidate you are not voting for. This opportunity is a chance to speak to why you intend to vote for your chosen candidate only.

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Valley Sentinel believes in a robust community forum of respectfully sharing and debating ideas with a compelling local community interest. Don't know what's on your ballot or where to vote? Go to: myvote.wi.gov

Reflections from Lost Horizon Farm — Nomenclature & Chores

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.

Why Lost Horizon Farm?

A farm is sometimes named to honor a favorite animal, specific blood line, a singular goal or wishful thought; on occasion, it is a merger of the farm couple's given names, or, perhaps, is descriptive of the local geography or reminiscent of the natural phenomenon of an area. This farm drew its name from its location in a valley between two forested ridges running north to south. Because of the hills in this unglaciated sector of Wisconsin, no definitive horizon line to either the east or the west can be seen from our farm buildings; hence, Lost Horizon Farm

To officially record a farm name in the State of Wisconsin, one must choose a name that does not yet exist on the register. So, each registered Wisconsin farm's name is as unique as its position on Planet Earth.

Daily Chores

Persons operating a small dairy like Lost Horizon Farm have a plethora of activities to work through each day. Daily chores are just as the adjective implies: daily and that includes all 365 days of the year regardless of weather or holidays, sickness or health. Even though the milking routine is pretty standard (twice a day ideally with the same number of hours between milkings), no day on a farm is ever quite the same. With varied large animal personalities ever testing their boundaries, an abundance of machinery and specialized equipment needing to be in perfect working order for flawless daily operation coupled with vagaries in weather patterns, there is ample opportunity for the unexpected to occur, and it usually does.

Income on a dairy farm comes primarily from milk production, so it pays the farmer to have cows that are well fed and well cared for. The first activity of each day was a visual inspection of the cows. A good farmer really knows each herd member and is savvy to even the most subtle of changes in looks or behavior.

Morning Chores

Following a visual inspection of the animals, the walkway would be cleaned of accumulated manure and urine by using a stainless steel barn scraper to push the animal waste into the gutter.

Then the manually-operated lime spreader would be loaded with the contents of a bag of barn lime and pushed down the walkway and up again to create a pleasingly white tractable surface. A person learned to attain a certain cautious limespreading stance and pace because the moment the lime spreader would plug up, it would come to a dead stop. The unmindful operator would either have his hands bent up at a painful angle by the handle of the halted spreader or collide with it. A collision was a guaranteed way to startle both the cows and the operator!

The next job was to "clean barns." That meant running the barn cleaner, a series of very heavy duty chains hooked together with horizontal paddles that would carry the contents of the gutter out of the barn and into the manure spreader parked under the exit.

History taught us to check a number of things before starting the barn cleaner. Gutter contents would drop from the end of the barn cleaner through space and end up forming a big pile outside on the cement drive if the manure spreader was absent. The cardinal rule was never to assume that the spreader was where it was supposed to be!!

Another thing was to look for foreign objects that might have fallen, gotten nudged, or worked their way into the gutter; those might include barn tools, feed scoops, plastic pails, newborn calves, kittens, or basketballs!

Once the gutter was clean, a person had to "bed gutters." That meant forking loose hay, straw or com cobs delivered from the hay mow through an opened chute down onto the walkway and then forking small amounts of the bedding material along the entire length of the gutter's base.

Bedded gutters not only had a fresher

smell, they also aided in keeping the cows cleaner. (When a cow lies down in her stanchion, her tail switch will move like a pendulum in and out of the gutter, and whatever the switch connects with gets painted on her side.)

Cows will hump their backs when urinating or defecating. The idea of an electrified cow trainer hanging over each stanchion was to remind the cows to take a step back before humping to relieve themselves. In a perfect world, the cows would step back, hump up, and then deposit waste directly into the gutter. Of course, this did not always happen. There were cows that would stay very clean; others made halfhearted humps and deposited their eliminations right in their bedding; others would step back too far, get their hind feet in the gutter and then bring manure up and out of the gutter when stepping back onto their stanchion space. So, removing soiled bedding and adding new bedding behind cows and sometimes half way up their body length was necessary throughout the day. Forking bedding around the cows was done with the end of the fork in mind because should a tine poke a cow, she would respond to this insult very quickly with a swift kick. Clean bedding and clean cows equated to better udder and overall health, and that led to the best quality milk production. Hoof and foot health was always better when a cow stood on a clean surface.

Whatever feed (hay, silage or grain) was left scattered about in the manger overnight was swept up to the cows. The feed cart would be loaded, and the cows would be fed their ration of grain. Each cow received a certain number of scoops of grain depending upon where she was in her lactation. “Fresh” cows (cows that had just calved) would be eased up to quite a high amount of grain, while cows going “dry” (a cow was "dried up'' 60 days before her calf was due) would be receiving an ever abbreviated amount. Cows going dry could be quite

obsessively focused on consuming any extra grain, so centering the ground feed in front of each cow was important and took a practiced hand. Once again, it was amazing to what lengths a dry cow would go to obtain even a morsel more of grain: the most popular posture was for the cow to get down on her knees and stretch every fiber of her front section to try to reach a neighboring cow's grain. A dry cow might also try hooking the passing feed cart with her head and so direct the contents to herself.

During the feeding time, drinking cups would always be checked and cleaned out if necessary. In the process of drinking, some cows would eject partially masticated feed into their drinking cups; other exuberant cows might have grasped a section of baled hay and shaken it, giving their heads and also the drinking cups nearby a coating of alfalfa leaves and chaff. Still other cows were "lappers;" they would lap their water like a dog, and in so doing dribble and spill water on the manger. Feed grain under the "lapper's" water bowl would spoil rapidly: the wet spots had be scraped up, carried away, and deposited in the gutter. Wet grain could be slippery underfoot for anyone walking in the mangers.

Tardiness in morning chores would be duly noted by all the cows. With 40 different voices of varying intensity, the cows would bellow for their grain ration or broadcast the uncomfortable fullness of their udders. Even the cats would notice and get underfoot trying to get any human to notice the empty state of their food dish…

Barb has called Lost Horizon Farm, just north of Spring Green, her home for the past 42 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.

or more, we’d be happy

Email: editor@valleysentinelnews.com or call

Barb Garvoille

Barb Garvoille

Photo contributed by Barb Garvoille The breeding chart and calendar.

Photo contributed by Barb Garvoille Vince loading up the wheelbarrow for silage feeding.

COmmunitycalendar

COmmunitycalendar

Fall Storytime 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM 234 N. Broadway St, Lone Rock. For more info look up Lone Rock Community Library on Facebook Join us at the Lone Rock library for fall story time and crafts!

Taliesin Speaker Salon: Anderson Japanese Gardens 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM . Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center at 5607 County Rd. C in Spring Green taliesinpreserva tion.org $10 per person Join Taliesin Preservation and Tim Gruner, Anderson Japanese Gardens Curator, for an evening dedicated to Japanese Garden design. Gruner explores the history, patterns, and rhythms of nature that inspire Japanese garden design – and the reasons why so much energy and resources are expended in the Gardens‘ ongoing evolution. Wine, beer, and snacks will be available for purchase Space is limited and registration is required, so sign up today!

Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 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. Pre-or ders are recommended. Visit our Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMar ket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact into.

This & That Fall Craft and Vendor Market 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM 214 Broadway St, Lone Rock. For more info look up Lone Rock Community Library on Facebook Join us this Fall season with our This & That Craft and Vendor Market. Stop by and shop our local crafters and vendors.

Driftless Landscape Tour 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, 5607 Cty. Rd. C, Spring Green www.taliesinpreservation.org Join us for a conversa tion about land and culture while enjoying a 1-mile walk across the Taliesin estate. This outdoor tour will speak to the natural history of the estate, using Frank Lloyd Wright as the connecting theme. Guests will explore the landscape that Wright felt drawn to and learn about the geology, ecology, and agricultural history of SW Wi.

Abstract Landscape Watercolor 2:30 PM Homecoming, 242 N. Lexington, Spring Green ruralremedy.com $35 per person Join Caitlin Hatch in exploring the joy of watercolors! This workshop will cover some of the basic techniques of watercolor painting, and give participants a unique opportunity to experience a more playful style of painting. Learn to create landscapes with card edges and sprayed water. Participants will leave with small tubes of paint to take home for further play.

LIVE MUSIC: Luke Callen and the Band / Dandy Freling 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green slowpokelounge.com Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door Join us for an evening of Strange Country and Cosmic Folk featuring Luke Callen and the Band (MPLS) and Dandy L. Freling. Combining a touch of the high and lonesome hollers of the Appalachian hill people with the low-down, dusty grooves of the cosmic cowboys, Dandy L. Freling has created a unique sonic banquet sure to satisfy the hunger of any weary passerby. So don’t be afraid to stop awhile. And fill up your plate, there's plenty to go around

Sunday,

Sunday Series — Yoga For Rural Bodies: All the Small Joints 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM Classes held North of Plain in a private studio space ruralremedy.com Contact Emily for pricing at embenzgmail.com This series will help you build a regular movement and mobility practice based in the yoga traditions. Regular mindful movement can reduce your susceptibility to injury, contribute to your longevity, help you find some freedom, and just feels darn good.

Geometry and Nature Patterns Workshop 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Ars Lab, 143 S. Washington Street, Spring Green artslabspringgreen.org This workshop will cover the beauty of simple geometric shapes and grids as they generate pattern for composi tions of all kinds. Nature Patterns will be introduced and paricipants will use geometric grids to explore a natural subject. Nature Patterns is a Taliesin tradition begun by Louis Sullivan and furher developed by Frank Lloyd Wright. No previous knowledge of geometry or math is required. Bring pencils, pen, compass, triangle.

Monday, October 24

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!

YOGA: Yin Yoga 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM S7163 County Road G, Hill Point 608.250.0966, lark@radiantspiritretreats.com Cost varies Adults only North of Plain in a private Yoga Studio with vaulted ceilings and large picture windows overlooking 25 acres. Yin Yoga is a gentle, restorative style of yoga in which poses are held for 3-5 minutes, deeply releasing the connective tissue in the body. Join in-person OR virtually (live or via recording). Every monday except 10/31.

Tuesday, October 25

Family Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain kraemerlibrary.org Fun stories, songs, and themed activities each week for children and their caregivers. Stories and songs 20-30 minutes followed by craft/activity. Children under 6 must be accompanied.

Community Potluck 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Spring Green Community Center, 117 S Washington St, Spring Green springgreen.com Bring a dish to pass! All are welcome! Ending time is an estimate only and varies.

River Valley Middle and High School Choir Concert 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM . River Valley High School, West Gymnasium, 660 Varsity Blvd, Spring Green . rvschools.org . Come out and show support for the middle and high school choir concert!

River Valley Broadband Coalition 4:00 PM Virtual event rivervalleycommons.org Chapters 5-8 of the Digital Inclusion Manual from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and next steps for digital inclusion/literacy. Register for the discussion online.

Storytime at the Library 10:30 AM Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green springgreenlibrary.org (608) 588-2276 Register in advance Join Ms. Grace for storytime at the library. We'll have stories, songs, and fun! We ask that people sign up in advance online, as storytime will not be hosted if less than 3 families sign up. Families are still welcome to attend if they have not signed up, but be sure to check the website or Facebook page to ensure we have not cancelled for that day.

YOGA - Slow Flow Yoga 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM . S7163 County Road G, Hill Point . 608.250.0966, lark@radiantspiritretreats.com . Cost varies Adults only Slow Flow yoga is a gentle to mid-tempo paced yoga class perfect for both beginners and intermediate yogis. This class will help you reduce stress, increase flexibility, improve posture, relax and rejuvenate.

Thursday, October 27

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.

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.

The Friends of the Kraemer Library Presents: Plain Reads with Michael Perry 7:00 PM Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain For more information look up Plain Kraemer Library on Facebook Interested readers can pick up a free copy of Michael Perry’s humorous and heartfelt 2002 memoir, Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren At a Time throughout October. Michael will discuss this book about his hometown of New Auburn, Wisconsin. This is a great opportunity to meet a very popular Wisconsin author and learn how his experiences compare to life in Plain. Refreshments will be served.

Friday, October 28

COSTUME CONTEST: Baron Brooks’ Halloween Party 6:00 PM - CLOSE Baron Brooks, 122 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green Must be in attendance by 10PM for the costume contest, best costume takes home $150. Happy hour and drink specials.

Saturday, October 29

Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 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. Pre-or ders are recommended. Visit Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact into.

Driftless Landscape Tour 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, 5607 Cty. Rd. C, Spring Green taliesinpreservation.org Join us for a conversation about land and culture while enjoying a 1-mile walk across the Taliesin estate. This outdoor tour will speak to the natural history of the estate, using Frank Lloyd Wright as the connecting theme. Guests will explore the landscape that Wright felt drawn to and learn about the geology, ecology, and agricultural history of SW Wi.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green springgreenlibrary.org (608) 588-2276 Come by the library for a spooky scavenger hunt! Prize bags will be available for everyone who completes it!

LIVE MUSIC & COSTUME PARTY: Don Helix & The Champagne 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green slowpokelounge.com Suggest ed donation of $5-10 at the door It's almost Halloween, and we're ready to put on our costumes and shake our stuff. So put on a costume and join us for a night of rockabilly, boogie woogie, psychobilly, glam, kitschy and catchy to shake a da booty. Prurient, irreverent and wiggly. If you have a pulse, Don Helix & The Champagne have a little somethin’ for ya.

LIVE MUSIC: Halloween Costume Party 8:00 PM - 2:30 AM . Keg and Kettle, 104 S Oak St, Lone Rock For more information look up Keg and Kettle on Facebook Join us for a night of fright, costumes, and music!Live music by Sit Kitty Sit and Abaddon’s End. Costume Judging at 10 PM!

Sunday, October 30

Psychic Readings with Dianne Walters-Butler 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM North Earth Crystals & Gifts, 124 W. Jefferson St, Spring Green northearth.com Dianne Walters-Butler is a Psychic Medium of over 30 years. Besides connecting with your loved ones on The Other Side. She is gifted with insight into such issues as relation ships, business, addiction, and untimely deaths. $60 per half hour session. Walk-in appointments will be taken as availability allows. Time slots fill up quickly, so please call 608.588.3313 to set up an appointment.

Sunday Series — Yoga For Rural Bodies: Putting it All Together 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM Classes held North of Plain in a private studio space ruralremedy.com Contact Emily for pricing at embenzgmail.com This series will help you build a regular move ment and mobility practice based in the yoga traditions. Regular mindful movement can reduce your susceptibility to injury, contribute to your longevity, help you find some freedom, and just feels darn good.

Monday, October 31

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green slowpokelounge.com Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door What better time for a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show than Hallow een Night? We’ll screen it on the back wall behind the stage, and let the ruckus begin. Put on a costume, jump up on stage, be part of the show. But don’t expect a clean quiet viewing of your favorite movie. This is a party.

Wednesday,

Spooky season Special Section

Spooky Season in the valley

Boo!

Just kidding! — Or are we? As Halloween (spooky season) and Autumn (flannel season) creep more and more into August and into one another — most likely to make room for Christmas creeping into October in big box stores — we felt the need to break up spooky season and flannel season this year, although ideally we'll do both A BIT earlier next year. Spooky season can exist within flannel season, ideally it does, but flannel and harvest are distinct from spooky season, unless you only wear a flannel for show — because that's spooky!

In the rush of life, an impending election, uncertainty at the pumps and the pocketbook, we understand the want for both spooky distractions and a hygge desire for coziness, perhaps wrapped up in flannel with a spooky book?

In putting together this section this year we emphasized free community goings-on for the kids and young families, as well as events for young adults and books to buy at our local book store to curl up with.

All these things are welcome and have their place as we navigate this world and this community we call home.

Nicole Aimone

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Tuesday, November 1

Family Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain kraemerlibrary.org Fun stories, songs, and themed activities each week for children and their caregivers. Stories and songs 20-30 minutes followed by craft/activity. Children under 6 must be accompanied.

Wednesday, November 2

Fall Storytime 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM 234 N. Broadway St, Lone Rock. For more info look up Lone Rock Community Library on Facebook Join us at the Lone Rock library for fall story time and crafts!

Storytime at the Library 10:30 AM Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green springgreenlibrary.org (608) 588-2276 Register in advance Join Ms. Grace for storytime at the library. We'll have stories, songs, and fun! We ask that people sign up in advance online, as storytime will not be hosted if less than 3 families sign up. Families are still welcome to attend if they have not signed up, but be sure to check the website or Facebook page to ensure we have not cancelled for that day.

Thursday, November 3

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.

Teen Game Day 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . springgreenlibrary.org . Come try out video games, board games and more! Designed for middle and high school aged teens.

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.

WHAT’S HANGINg ? ongoing art exhibitions

Local Art at the Library: Esther Hill and John Kabot Hours Vary Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green Throughout October, John Kabot is exhibiting his assemblage in the Glass Case Gallery. John is currently working on three-dimensional pieces using wood and found objects. Inspiration comes from the wood itself and dictates the final theme of the object, i.e. animals, birds or, in some cases, robots. This exhibit is available for viewing at any time during regular library hours. In the Community Room Gallery, Esther Hill is presenting recent artwork made with her own paint that she mixed from iron oxide. Esther decided to revive the practice of making rust paint to help represent the rural landscape outside her home in Dodgeville. This exhibit can be viewed during regular library hours when the Commu nity Room is not already in use. Please ask for the key to the room at the circulation desk Monday-Thursday: 10 AM - 7 PM Friday: 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday: 9 AM - 1 PM

MEETING: River Valley School District Annual

Spring

7:00

. River Valley High School, Little Theater, 660 Varsity

MEETING: Village of Spring Green Board Meeting 7:00

Virtual event vi.springgreen.wi.gov

MEETING: SG Library Board Meeting 5:00 PM Commmunity Room, Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green springgreenlibrary.org The Library Board of Trustees meets each month, typically on the first or second Tuesday, at 5 PM. Changes to this schedule are posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. The meetings are open to the public.

MEETING: Rolling Hills/Viroqua Toastmasters Bimonthly Meeting 7:00 PM9:00 PM Kelly’s Coffee House, 196 West Court Street, Richland Center Please join our members representing communities within 60 miles of Richland Center — including Viroqua, Plain, Spring Green, Boscobel, Gays Mills and towns in between — in an exciting, fast-paced two-hour meeting where we delve into the art of communi cation and leadership. We meet every other week at 7-9 p.m - typically on the second and fourth Tuesdays.

MEETING: Arena Village Board Meeting 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Village Hall, 345 West Street, Arena villageofarena.net Arena typically holds board meetings the first Tuesday of the month.

MEETING: Lone Rock Village Board Meeting 7:00 PM Village Office, 314 E Forest St, Lone Rock

November 2:

GIVE: Blood Drive at River Valley High School 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM River Valley High School, 660 Varsity Bvld., Spring Green www.redcrossblood.org Friends of Governor Dodge Annual Meeting 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Park Mainte nance Building, Governor Dodge State Park, 4175 WI-23, Dodgeville Contact FriendsofGovDodge@gmail.com

MEETING: Village of Spring Green Board Meeting 7:00 PM Virtual event vi.springgreen.wi.gov

The Community Calendar is curated and designed by Julianna Williams. Events are subject to change, always check ahead for up-to-date information on any events you are interested in.

The Sauk County Gardener

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

― Albert Camus

The hubby and I spent this past weekend camping at Pattison State Park to enjoy the last of the fall color and explore some of the neighboring waterfalls at Amnicon Falls State Park and other nearby locations. We woke up to a light snow on Friday morning and it was a reminder that with winter just around the corner, I need to do some garden bed cleanup. It’s always a struggle for me as by this time of year, I’m really done with outdoor gardening. However, I know that if I don’t take care of a few things this fall, I’m going to regret it come next spring.

Just like the song “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, decide what plants are

October Gardening Tasks

This past weekend I took a break from my gardening tasks to enjoy the spectacular fall color in the Baraboo Bluffs area. Unfortunately, that means I will have to try and squeeze in some gardening tasks after I get home from work this week. Even though we’ve had some frost, there are still plenty of gardening tasks to be done before the snow flies. Hopefully, this pleasant weather will last a few more weeks so I can get things down without having to work in the cold. Here are just a few of the gardening tasks to accomplish before it gets too cold.

In your perennial beds, finish planting spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, crocus, and tulips and summer-flowering bulbs such as Asiatic and Oriental lilies. You might want to consider saving some for indoor forcing. Bulbs can be planted

going to be more trouble now or later if left standing in the garden until next spring. After a killing frost, there are a variety of large leaved perennials, such as hostas, and various annuals that should be cut down, removed, and sent to the compost pile. It’s better to do it now, as it will most likely be too wet next spring. Other plants that should be cut down are bee balm, peonies, bearded iris, and garden phlox to avoid overwintering of diseases. Always cut back any infected or diseased foliage. However, don’t put the plant material on the compost pile as they will just spread the diseases such as powdery mildew. Instead, bag it up with your regular garbage or place it on a pile that won’t be used for future compost. Other plants to cut back in the fall are ones that flower in the early spring or summer.

Once you’ve cleared the obvious plants,

up to six weeks after the first fall frost so there is still plenty of time. If you have existing bulb beds, fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer. You can also seed perennials such as Oriental and Iceland poppies, primrose, scabiosa, phlox, pansy, and penstemon. Just make sure you mark where you plant them so come next spring you don’t accidentally weed them.

If you saved a poinsettia from last Christmas, you can get the bracts (or leaves) to change color by placing the plant in darkness for 15 hours (overnight) for eight weeks. Keep it cool (55 degrees F) at night and the soil moist. By Christmas, you should have a lovely red poinsettia.

Start cleaning up the vegetable garden so it’s ready for spring planting. After you finish harvesting your various vegetables, remove the old stalks to prevent insect and disease problems next year. You can also spread fresh manure, incorporate

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carefully consider what you cut back next. Technically, there are very few plants that must be cut back each fall. Fallen leaves and old plant material help insulate the plant during the winter freezes and thaws. As it breaks down, it becomes compost for the plant as well. Certain plants, such as mums, anise hyssop, and red-hot poker, have a much better survival rate if you wait until spring to cut them back. They need their foliage to protect the root crowns over the winter. Consider leaving plants such as coneflowers, black-eyed Susan, grasses, and other plants as their seed heads provide food for visiting birds and provide winter interest. Many times, what you leave behind will also provide a habitat for beneficial insects to overwinter safely. You can prune back these plants if you don’t want them to reseed. Certain perennials, including evergreen perennials, should not be

it into the soil, and mulch with straw. This is the only time you should apply fresh manure as it will have time to break down before planting next spring. You can always use composted manure if you don’t have access to fresh manure. Mulch Brussel sprouts to prolong the harvest. Divide rhubarb plants into quarters and replant to rejuvenate them. Water any other plants you still want to keep in the ground to help improve their cold tolerance. It’s also time to plant garlic. You’ll want to plant them in rich, welldrained soil about 5 inches apart and 1 to 2 inches deep, pointy end up. Crack them apart into individual cloves and choose the largest cloves if you want larger bulbs. You can plant either hardneck or softneck, but hardneck varieties tend to be more winter hardy. Once you’re done planting, cover them with 4 to 6 inches of straw.

Resume pruning oak trees without

cut back. Plants on this list include epimediums, hellebores, heucheras, moss phlox, hardy geraniums, hen and chicks, and candytuft.

Do a final weeding before the ground freezes. The more weeds you remove, especially those with seeds, the fewer weeds you’ll have to deal with next spring. You can add compost, but don’t fertilize as it will encourage new growth that will get killed off when it gets colder. If you have some newly planted perennials, you can mulch around them to provide additional protection but wait until the ground is frozen. Remember the more work you do this fall, the less you’ll have to do next spring.

If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to trripp@wisc.edu or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608-355-3250.

the worry of oak wilt. Rake, chop, and compost leaves. Consider running them over with the lawn mower and leave them on the lawn to break down and fertilize the lawn. You can still plant dormant deciduous trees and shrubs until the ground freezes. If you do plant a tree or shrub, spread a 2-inch layer of mulch to reduce root damage from freezing and thawing. Water evergreens and foundation plantings before the ground freezes. Finally, protect your wood ornamentals and fruit trees from mice and other rodents. Rodent guards need to placed at the base of the trees but also tall enough to account for snow fall. Rake and dispose of any fallen fruit around your fruit trees to prevent future pest problems.

The list may seem long, so remember to take a break every now and then and enjoy the glorious autumn color. It’ll be gone before you know it.

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Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener

Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener

Hickory tree tells story

Hardie, Columnist

In the middle of one of my ridgetop clearings stands a large shagbark hickory tree that’s nearly 100 feet tall. Those in the know are no longer with us, but I believe the tree was left there for a purpose. It was likely the anchor tree used when the land was cleared nearly 100 years ago.

Some conjure images of acres and acres of flat and fertile prairie fields when they think of farming, but that was not the case for much of the Driftless Region of Wisconsin. Our numerous ridges and valleys meant that settlers wanting to farm had to create much of their tillable land. Many of the 50 acres or so of the ridgetop fields on our farm were created without the benefit of a tractor. Using horses and a grubber, the stumps were pulled out and placed on a stone boat to be pulled away. It was hard and slow work.

The basic principle of the stump puller was two horses hitched to the end of the sweep log or beam. They were driven in a circle to turn the cable drum on the stump puller -- which was anchored to another stump or a tree.

The drum cable was attached to the stump and became tighter and tighter. The tremendous force applied at a very slow rate eventually pulled up the stump. Softwood trees pulled out much easier compared to oak trees, which had a deeper tap root.

Several years ago I came across the remnants of the 1906 stump puller used by my ancestors. But a key part of the stump-pulling operation was to have an adequate anchor tree. There are still a few of those trees standing in the middle of fields – like our hickory.

The average lifespan of a shagbark hickory is 200 years. Our hickory has been as massive and impressive as today for the 50-plus years that I can

remember.

Shagbarks are easy trees to identify, with their gray, ridged and rough bark that curls outward to give them their shaggy appearance. The trees reach maturity and start producing seeds when they reach 40 years old.

Recently my wife Sherry and I checked the tree for nuts. This was a light year of production for the big tree, but we found a bumper crop on some nearby trees at the edge of the clearing which probably grew from squirrels burying nuts from the large tree.

It was a gorgeous fall afternoon as Sherry and I gathered up the nuts that had fallen to the ground. Hickory nuts still on the tree are not yet ripe. We collected nearly 2/3rds of a grocery bag.

Hickory nuts are double-shelled, with a green outer husk that dries to a brown color as the nuts ripen. The husk splits after ripening, revealing the hard and woody nutshell inside.

The real work after the husks dry down will be later when we try to break open the nutshell to get to the treasure inside – a flavor similar to pecans or mild walnuts that can be used for baking like any other caloriedense nut.

We will try a nutcracker but I suspect a hammer and stone may be involved.

There is a reason hickory nuts are not grown commercially.

But as my late father always said, sometimes the solution is a bigger hammer. I am a bit stubborn, so we’ll see what nut will be the hardest to crack.

Seasons are just a guideline

Chris Hardie, Columnist

I learned a long time ago that we don’t live in a black-and-white world and the choices between right and wrong or good and evil are often veiled in shades of gray – no matter what the political ads say. The same can be said about nature and the seasons in Wisconsin. Aside from a date on the calendar, there are really no clear-cut dividing lines between our seasons. That is especially true in the shoulder months of March, June, September and December and any month on either side of those months.

For those doing the math at home, that’s every month of the year. For example, the only months in the La Crosse area where it has never snowed are June, July and August, according to National Weather Service records. The earliest snowfall was on Sept. 23, 1928 and the latest was on May 28, 1947. That’s darn near June.

A little further north and winterlike weather is closer to year-round.

Rhinelander has had snow every month except for July and August. Trust me, I combed through 179 pages of weather data to come up with that meteorological gem.

In my neck of the woods near La Crosse the first snowflakes of the season usually occur in October but measurable snows normally don't develop until November.

I do remember that the fall of 1991 was snowy. It was Oct. 10 of that year when the official measurement at the National Weather Service office in La Crosse was a trace, but northern portions of the county had an inch or two.

Why do I remember that (other than the fact that I am a weather nerd)? We lived in Mindoro at the time and I worked

the night shift at the La Crosse Tribune. I stopped between Mindoro and West Salem and stopped to take a photo of the snow, which was published in the next day’s paper.

Yes, it was in black and white taken with a manually operated 35 mm film camera. Somewhere I still have a copy of the print, which showed snow atop the road sign for Walker Road.

The official earliest inch in La Crosse was eight days later on Oct. 18 when 1.2 inches fell, which was just a dusting compared to 6 to 10 inches that fell across the area on Nov. 1, 1991. It was part of the record-breaking winter storm that dropped 28.4 inches of snow on the Twin Cities and pummeled Duluth with 36.9 inches of snow. Those totals remain a single-storm record for the Twin Cities area and the Duluth total is the largest single storm in Minnesota history.

All of this long preamble is to explain that I was not shocked when we had a trace of snow that was enough to cover the ground on Oct. 14. It created a colorful seasonal juxtaposition as the mix of white blended in with the peak fall colors. The same thing happened four years earlier with snow in the middle of October.

This cruel seasonal mixing thankfully only lasted for a few hours. It may be months before the real snows set in. But it was a reminder that more wood needs to be cut and the snowplow needs to be put on the truck, among many other fall chores.

So I will again remind you of one of the favorite sayings of my great-grandfather. Winter will be here before you know it.

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.

Chris Hardie

Photo by Chris Hardie

The bottom of Chris Hardie's sweatshirt makes a good gathering spot for hickory nuts.

Photo by Chris Hardie Snow also fell on Chris Hardie's farm in mid-October 2018.

Dear Editor, This year I had the pleasure of taking my grandson to his first Pecatonica Homecoming. As in so many of our small towns, dozens of people contribute to the organization of our Blanchardville event. Lots of graduating classes come back home to create floats and throw candy to the kids lined up along the parade. I’m so grateful for all who contribute. It’s always a terrific time, and a great opportunity to celebrate our home-town spunk, pride and energy.

One of my favorite parts of this year’s parade was seeing 51st Assembly Candidate Leah Spicer there, marching down Main Street with a baby on her

Dear Editor,

There’s a certain political attack ad that’s as commonplace as cancer, and just as corrosive.

It goes like this: Open with candidate’s name and unflattering photo.

Insert ad hominem attack that has nothing to do with their policies, governing credentials or leadership

Dear Editor,

Given all of the dysfunction going on within our political system, it can be very tempting to opt out of voting. It often seems as though candidates are more concerned with smearing their opponents than they are with presenting their ideas, which can leave one feeling discouraged and uninspired. So it was refreshing to hear the candidate for State Assembly, Leah Spicer, speak about things that matter to us all.

Leah Spicer is young, energetic, and, as a mother of two small children, she is full of concern for the future. She is pro-family in her support for the repeal of the criminal abortion ban, recognizing

back and two little ones in tow, along with her mother, who was carrying a banner while Leah shook hands and gave out balloons to eager kids. Noticeably absent from our little parade was Todd Novak, the incumbent assemblyperson, who is also the (perhaps overly-busy) mayor of Dodgeville.

It got me thinking about whether I’d seen Mayor Novak in any other parades this year, or whether I’d seen him out and about at any other local functions lately. I haven’t. I haven’t seen him out knocking on doors either. Have you?

I know he’s refused Spicer’s invitation to a debate, and in fact the LAST TIME Novak agreed to debate a challenger

fitness.

Close with “Paid for by” the group no one has heard of or one so generic as to be effectively invisible.

Watch neighborliness and civility unravel from a distance.

Republicans have mastered this dark art. They’ve poured millions in outside spending into state and local races; flung violent political speech and seeded

that family planning is not a matter for the state to decide, but something that each family must determine privately.

She supports reasonable concealed carry laws to protect the lives of our children, and she wants to protect our drinking water from PFAS and to clean up existing pollution. She wants to expand Medicaid eligibility and our access to affordable care; she is against gerrymandering, and she supports legalizing recreational marijuana – something that the majority of Americans favor, regardless of which side of the political spectrum they land on.

In one hour, I learned a great deal about Leah Spicer and what she hopes to

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Office Market (131 W Jefferson St, Spring Green) owner Deniece Carver recently announced she will be retiring. The store, open since 1989, will close Oct. 31. The store is holding a closing sale right now, with 50% off almost everything and lots of office equipment.

Have

Please

was when he debated Jeff Wright, right here in the Pecatonica auditorium. That was seven years ago. I don’t know about you, but I want to be represented by someone who’s confident enough and respects voters enough to get in front of constituents and show them what he or she believes in.

But debate preparation, parades, and door knocking take work, lots of it, and that’s what I like best about Leah Spicer. She knows how to work. She’s raising three small children, helping out on her parents’ farm in Iowa County, preparing the budget as the Clyde town clerk, and running a farm-to-table restaurant she owns with her partner. All of this while knocking on doors every day and

ads with coded identitarian or racist messages on TV, over the airwaves, in the mail.

You can see this up and down the ballot, from Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes being compared to a window-smashing rioter to 51st District Candidate Leah Spicer being likened to a Welfare Queen (an ad that preys on anti-poor resentment.)

The problem: these tactics make us

accomplish as a Wisconsin State Assembly representative, and I am convinced that she is the best candidate for the job. I am impressed by her energy and willingness to have actual conversations with people. When talking with her, I came to believe that she is a person who is deeply

Dear Editor, Concerned about crime? Me too. That’s why I’m voting for the lawabiding candidate, Mandela Barnes, rather than Ron Johnson, who continues to support a violent overthrow of the United States government.

Republicans can show all the dramatic videos they want in TV ads, but Barnes supports law enforcement, while Johnson supports people who injured 114 police

Dear Editor,

As I sat down to write a letter in support of Leah Spicer for the 51st Assembly District, I thought about her roles as a restaurant owner and mother, and what seeing someone who is both of these things run for office has meant to me.

I work for Leah and her husband, Kyle, at Homecoming Restaurant in Spring Green. I can speak to her unfaltering support of her employees, offering fair compensation, jumping in to work when someone needs a night off, leading by example, and listening, always, to feedback. No task is beneath her— from washing dishes to wiping tables, often with baby Esther on her back.

As a 23-year-old member of Gen Z, I’m very aware that many people my age have all but written off their goals of working a satisfying job and becoming a parent. With Leah, I see a bit of hope, a reason to believe that I won’t have to choose between having a fulfilled life of my own, with the daily pleasures that come with living in Spring Green, or saving every extra dollar for a somewhat secure life for my future children.

In Leah’s campaign thus far, I’ve seen her use the same approach she uses at Homecoming to a role in politics:

marching in parades big AND small. If you want an assemblywoman who will produce results, then you want someone who has already produced them in the form of something as wildly successful as Spicer’s restaurant, Homecoming, which opened to rave reviews in the midst of COVID and continues to have lines out the door of the historic White School building in Spring Green. I want success for Blanchardville and all of Southwest Wisconsin, so on November 8, I’ll be voting for Spicer and success instead of the same tired status quo. It’s time to up our game!

Kriss Marion Blanchardville, Wisconsin

sick. They don’t get us to agree with a candidate. They get us to hate the other. As a young person invested in Wisconsin, I worry how these petty attacks ricochet around our culture. I worry because we’re so much better than this.

Nick Hiebert, Black Earth

passionate about the issues that matter most to everyday people, and I am satisfied that she would be a positive force for change.

Joylynn Graham Dodgeville, Wisconsin

officers and tried to murder Vice President Pence.

Our country, and all that “we the people” hold dear, is dependent on people like Mandela Barnes, who believe in the law. Join me and vote for him on November 8th, so that he can fight to keep our democracy alive and well.

Patricia McConnell Black Earth, Wisconsin

knocking on doors, engaging in genuine conversation, and listening, always, to her fellow community members. I have the sense that she will fight for not only my right to choose when and if I have a child, but also the rights of those with far fewer resources and support.

She will prioritize your right to places where you can access quality healthcare, where you can age and be taken care of, where you can be sure that you have local food from farmers who are being paid fairly, where the water you drink is clean and the energy you use doesn’t contribute to the rapidly changing climate. Whatever you are most worried about, for yourself and for your neighbors, Leah will truly try to change. And she will do it with heart, compassion, and the utmost care.

I hope this letter and its words truly reach you. I hope that in it, you see someone young in your community not giving up and instead putting her trust in a candidate who believes in democracy and conversation among equals. Ultimately, I hope that your response is heading to the polls in November to vote for Leah Spicer as your state representative.

Hannah Feller Spring Green, Wisconsin

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An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Columnist

Hello friends, This week my “old” buddy Jeff Moll and I lived in our boats and hunted ducks out of my canoe on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Iron County. We had some serious adversity and we overlapped that with a whole bunch of fun.

Friday, September 23rd High 72°, Low 50°

It was 49 years ago that my dad, the late Robert Walters, took Jeff and I here and we camped on an island and caught lots of walleye for the opener. That was Jeff’s first trip with the gang and I guess you could say he has come a long ways in the world of being an outdoorsman, but in reality, it was my dad that included Jeff in the “Walters World of hardcore outdoors” and got him started. These days my brother Mike calls him “Master Guide Extraordinaire” my title for many years and it almost makes me puke when I hear these two love birds.

So, our plan is simple. On the Flambeau you can only camp at a designated campsite. We wanted to be close to our hunting and there was no designated campsite. We decided to anchor our boats and sleep in them. Holy moly this ended up being fun! Moll would be in his 16-footer, and I would be in the 18.6 War Eagle. My rig would be the kitchen and place for social gatherings.

The last hour before daylight, I showed Mr. “Master Guide Extraordinaire” (MGE) my duck honey hole and it was impressive. Of course, I had to teach him the

difference between a crow and a woodie but like what dad witnessed 49-years ago, I understood and was my usual quiet self. I might add that walking to “Duck Paradise” was brutal with a capital B. It was maybe 200-yards and every step in the chest waders you sank knee deep in the muck and wild rice was constantly trying to trip you. The social hours began at dark, and we were on top of the world knowing that we were going to put a whacking on some waterfowl in the morning. Our world came raining down on us about 11:00 a.m. when a solid rain began. We did not care as we were wearing chest waders and had rain gear and we knew the rain would cease in a matter of minutes.

Saturday, September 24th

High 76°, Low 53°

When is the last time you laid in the floor of your boat with a tarp on top of you and every time you moved the puddles that formed on top of you came down on you? Both of us slept (or tried to) in our chest waders and life was perfect.

Best description for today: rain an hour, no rain for an hour. Intense sweat from slogging in the mud, Ruby was fantastic with most of her retrieves and the hunting was epic. Other than lunch and a nap, we hunted from dawn to sunset. Sometimes we made incredible shots and sometimes we could not have hit a duck if it was sitting on the end of our barrel.

I will tell you about Ruby, she is not trained for hand signals but what she does is no matter how challenging the conditions, she watches the sky, and even if she does not see where a duck falls, she figures it out, her mother Fire

had that same gift, and it is very cool to watch.

So, when the clouds/rain/sun hit the eastern horizon, both Jeff and I had our limit of six ducks. We were both soaked from sweat, as well as rain, and we made the slog back to the boats and - believe it or not - it quit raining. We were set to have a first-rate social extravaganza, did not take off one iota of our gear, lit the propane lantern, turned on some music and I was ready to listen to my mentee tell me what a great guide I am and how it was the best day of his life.

Instead, another steady rain began, we actually laughed about it and sat up until 1:00 a.m. and gave each other crap. It was another wonderful night underneath the tarps and at 4:00 a.m. it was a slog back to the canoe for more ducks and more memories.

I remember the look dad gave me 49-years ago when Jeff was Jeff a few times and about all l can say is, you were right dad!

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 on a weekly basis. He hopes you enjoy reading about his adventures!

Want to read more? Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com

Photo contributed by Mark Walters Jeff Moll and Ruby living large on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage

Turtle Flambeau

Photo contributed by Mark Walters The War Eagle and it’s crew at the conclusion of another adventure.

Photo contributed by Mark Walters A nice limit of ducks harvested by Jeff Moll