American Players Theatre (APT) is thrilled to announce its 2025 lineup, to run June through October, with the shoulder season production opening in late October. The Hill Theatre will open with the play that seems specially crafted for APT’s Hill Stage, William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Core Company Actor David Daniel. Next up on the Hill Stage, famous wit Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels, followed by William Inge’s American Classic, Picnic. Rounding out the Hill Season will be Nilo Cruz’s award-winning homage to Anna Karenina, Anna in the Tropics, and Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, a little-produced play that hasn’t been on APT’s stage since 2009.
Next season in the Touchstone Theatre offers four productions never seen before on APT’s stages, including a world premiere by Core Company Member Gavin Dillon Lawrence: The Death of Chuck Brown. Also on stage in the
Touchstone, Yasmina Reza’s barbed comedy Art and Nina Raine’s family dramedy, Tribes. Fall in the Touchstone will see a very special production of the raucous comedy thriller The 39 Steps by Patrick Barlow.
Artistic Director Brenda DeVita said, “First, I’d just like to say that I’m so proud of the season we produced this
year. Our 45th season. The work was exquisite from beginning to end, and I’m so grateful to our artists and actors, and the staff that takes such great care of our amazing audience. An audience who comes to these shows, whether or not they’re familiar with the story, and puts their trust in us, and in the art we make here. It’s incredible the com-
9 checks the state of Wisconsin uses to prevent – and catch – voter fraud
Voter fraud is rare, in Wisconsin and nationally, but many checks exist to prevent and catch it, whether it be accidental or intentional.
In the 2020 presidential election, fewer than 0.003% of the nearly 3.3 million ballots cast in Wisconsin were submitted illegally by felons not yet eligible to vote because they hadn’t completed their full sentences, according to an investigation from the Associated Press. That’s the most common type of prohibited voting in Wisconsin, experts say.
After the 2020 election in Wisconsin, voter fraud charges were filed against at least 24 people in 12 different counties, according to the AP. Of those, 16 were
suspected felons not yet eligible to vote.
President Joe Biden won the state in the 2020 election by about 21,000 votes.
Because Wisconsin runs its elections at the municipal level, rather than county or state, it has one of the most decentralized election administration systems in the nation. The state has about 1,850 municipalities and nearly 2,500 polling places.
“What this means is that any attempted interference with the election process would have to entail widespread coordination and would have to target multiple systems that are run by different people,” said Aaron Weinschenk, a political science professor at UW-Green Bay.
The Badger Project talked to Weinschenk and Barry Burden, a political science professor and director of the Elections Research Center at UW-Madison, and also consulted the Wisconsin Elections Commission about the checks in place to deter and catch voter fraud in the state.
1. All voters are required to register Residents must register to vote online at www.MyVote.wi.gov, by mail, or at their municipal clerk’s office, though it’s too late to do that now. But anyone eligible can register at their polling place on Election Day also. Only voters with a valid Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID card can register online. To prove residency when registering by
munity that’s been created out here, in the middle of Wisconsin farmland – it consistently fills my heart and blows my mind.
This season has felt like a huge step in our growth as an organization. The company is gelling and maturing, which gives us confidence that the work we do here is special, and important, as well as being beautiful and engaging. We carry that confidence with us into 2025, when we will invite some exciting and new-tous directors – especially female directors, the most we’ve ever had directing in a season – to work at APT for the first time. Shannon Cochran, who is an actor and director, will do Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels, a playwright she is very familiar with, and can deftly play with that wit and language. Shana Cooper, the talented director who created that indelible, creative production of The Taming of the Shrew at APT in 2021 will return to direct The Winter’s Tale
continued on page 6
mail, at their municipal clerk’s office, or at the polls on Election Day, voters must bring an official document, like a bank statement or a state ID, that has their name and current address.
2. Photo ID is required to vote by mail, and absentee ballots require a witness Voters who request an absentee ballot must be registered to vote. For those who request a ballot online, most need to upload a copy of their photo ID if they haven’t done it previously. Wisconsin also requires the filling out of absentee ballots be witnessed and signed by another person.
continued on page 3
Photo via American Players Theatre The stage is set for American Players Theatre's 2025 season.
Patty Heaston, Contributed
Peter Cameron and Howard Hardee, The Badger Project
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Does anybody think that politics, or voting, doesn’t matter?
Do you know a senior? … a vet? … a health worker? … a patient? … a student? … an educator? … a poor person? Know anybody who uses birth control? … buys fuel? … breathes air? … drinks water? … needs food?
Yes, you do. Plus, you yourself breathe, drink, eat, have been a patient, and will be a senior. So, before 8:00 p.m., November 5th, please recognize the connection between life realities and politics. We all need to go mark a
Dear Editor,
These days there is so much information, fake news, and propaganda that it is difficult to make sense and what to believe. One of the ways we make sense is to hold tightly to a single way of looking and understanding. Another way is to pay attention to what the information we are getting does to our hearts.
Back Home
Dry weather speeds fall harvest
As we march through the end of October, the harvest season is earlier and going full throttle in farm country, thanks mainly to a long stretch of dry weather.
It’s a busy time of year, with tractors, combines, grain trucks and gravity boxes criss-crossing the roads and fields. As of Oct. 15, farmers in Wisconsin had 26% of the corn grain crop harvested, 10 days ahead of last year and nine days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean harvest was 83% complete, 23 days ahead of last year and three weeks ahead of average.
Farmers are taking full benefit of the dry weather which has put the entire state of Wisconsin in abnormally dry to severe drought. Northeast Wisconsin has the largest area of severe drought, covering almost nine counties.
The National Weather Service in La Crosse says there have been
ballot. And bring someone else along to experience helping democracy work. Luckily, in Wisconsin, we can register right at the polls, right on the big day. All you need is your ID and proof of address. Details are at myvote.wi.gov or 608-266-8005, or your local clerk.
The people we choose will be deciding whether to fund school lunches, internet access, rebuilding failing bridges, providing legal aid, dealing with forest fires, floods and hurricanes. They will discuss having a free press, an agency that tracks the periods of half the population, making it illegal to mention
If the information or news we are getting makes us dislike or hate “other” people, then it is useful to think about where accepting that information leads us. Does it lead to a better community, society, country if we are disliking or hating each other? One of our wise teachers talked about not throwing stones. When we throw bad names at
“climate crisis”, limiting price-gouging, and allowing judges and politicians to be ‘bought’ by corporations. Every detail of our lives - union membership, grocery prices, taxes, healthcare – is going to be on the table. Republicans have spent 4 years and 900+pages planning changes, and not one of them will help the un-wealthy. Personally, without food stamps (SNAP), energy assistance, and the internet discount; I will be – in a measurable time – on the street. I’m not the only neighbor of yours who is secretly this poor. Most seniors, or
people in poverty don’t brag about it. I know there are thousands that are in worse shape. For us, this election is crucial, decisive, essential. The effects may not be as gut-level bedrock for you, but certainly your life would change if you lost Head Start, PBS, overtime pay, ballot access, postal service, contraceptives, credit card regulation, and environmental standards. Please be a good citizen, help your country, and vote!
Peggy
Peckham Arena, Wisconsin
each other, are we not throwing stones? So, one way to make sense of all the information that is coming our way is to pay attention to what that information does to our hearts and if it makes us dislike others, to throw stones, then perhaps the agenda behind that information does not lead to a healthy community and society. Dear people, let us pay attention to whether the words we are hearing and reading make us want to throw stones, and what kind of world we want to live in and create. The choice of what future we create is up to us.
Moody Ahmad Richland Center, Wisconsin
precipitation deficits of 1 to 8 inches in my part of the state, with the greatest deficits of 4 to 8 inches south of Interstate 90. That has resulted in the dry and drought conditions for Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. There’s a silver lining in every cloud – even when we don’t get rain. If you could pick a time of year to have a drought, fall might be best. The dry weather has been excellent for drying down corn in the fields. Most farmers in the Upper Midwest are harvesting corn when it comes close to 25% moisture. The statewide average for corn moisture was 21% on Oct. 15.
When we have a wet fall with cool temperatures, farmers sometimes have to spend additional dollars drying down the corn for long-term storage. Any money farmers can save now is needed, as corn prices have been in a two-year decline, hovering in the $4 per bushel range – down 45% from 2022.
That’s the same year that soybean prices peaked – due to world instability because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Soybeans peaked at $17.69 per bushel in 2022 and have since fallen 39% to under $10 per bushel. Commodity prices – unless you grow coffee or cocoa (sorry Wisconsin) –are generally down across the board, with the exception of milk prices. Milk prices are up more than 40% since the beginning of the year and are hovering in the $23 per hundredweight range. Overall, milk production has declined. The prices are good news for dairy farmers and not so good news for holiday bakers, as butter prices are increasing.
In the smaller world of gardening, the dry weather has added some additional challenges to fall tasks. My wife Sherry and I recently transplanted some garden plants and my surgically replaced hips felt it when I had to stomp down on the
shovel to break up the hard ground. Our lack of rain also had me dragging hoses and moving the sprinkler around to provide some moisture for the tubers and other garden perennials entering the winter season.
Speaking of winter, there may or may not be relief from the drought. The National Weather Service’s forecast for the months of December through February gives the Upper Mississippi River Valley a 33% to 40% chance of a wetter-than-normal winter, which may or may not mean more snow. There are also equal chances for warmer, normal or colder than normal temperatures. With all due respect to our meteorological friends, that sounds like a political forecast in a political season and pretty much tells me that the winter will be what the winter will be. Which actually makes perfect sense, given the continued on page 3
THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 5. POLLS ARE OPEN IN WISCONSIN FROM 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. THAT DAY. IF YOU ARE IN LINE WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE YOU ARE STILL ABLE TO VOTE. WISCONSIN IS ALSO A SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION STATE. BRING YOUR ID TO VOTE, AND ADDITIONALLY PROOF OF RESIDENCE IF YOU NEED TO REGISTER. MORE INFORMATION AT: ELECTIONS.WI.GOV LOOKING FOR YOUR BALLOT? LOOKING FOR YOUR POLLING LOCATION? CHECK OUT MYVOTE.WI.GOV
“Journey Through the Glen” (2024) Photo, by Bonnie Ostrander
A pop of fall color in the middle of a Sauk county stream on October 24.
Chris Hardie, Columnist
Dry weather speeds fall harvest
continued from page 2
weather extremes we had this year. And speaking of atmospheric conditions, we’ve sure been treated to some spectacular nighttime shows this year with the frequent Northern Lights shows.
The Aurora Borealis has been more visible lately because we are nearing the peak of the 11-year solar cycle with more solar flares and eruptions. Solar winds carry electrically charged ions
towards earth and the ions collide with atmospheric gasses around our magnetic poles to create the aurora. I just wish I didn’t have to stay up so late to see them.
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.
WHERE'S THE ARENA COVERAGE?
We were off for a month working on admin and a project to improve local, independent journalism and A LOT happened in Arena during that time — and we're still getting caught up in a way that endeavors to result in the best, unparralleled in-depth coverage we can offer the community, especially as the Village and the Town of Arena duke it out over their joint fire & EMS agreement. For example, on Oct. 16 the Village of Arena convened a special closed session meeting that appears to have been held illegally as it didn't meet several respective standards of Wisconsin
9 checks the state of Wisconsin uses to prevent – and catch – voter fraud
continued from page 1
“It is not clear that this requirement is effective in inhibiting absentee ballot fraud, but it is an extra step that must be taken to cast an absentee ballot,” Burden said.
The state has online tools that let voters and election officials track ballots as they “wind their way through the system,” Burden said. “These tools are quite helpful for providing transparency and as a check on potential crimes such as theft of absentee ballots from mailboxes.”
3. Felons can’t legally vote until completing their entire sentence… Probation too
Safeguards are in place to prevent the most common form of prohibited voting — when a resident who is ineligible to vote due to a felony conviction attempts to cast a ballot. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is required by law to provide the commission with an updated list of people convicted of felonies on a continuous basis, as well as felons who have completed their entire sentence and are eligible to vote again.
If a person who hasn’t completed their full felony sentence — for example, someone released from prison who hasn’t completed their parole or probation — tried to register to vote on Election Day, they would most likely get flagged by an election worker. It’s not a foolproof system; sometimes individuals slip through. But those cases are usually discovered during a post-election audit
October 31: Publish
which is mandated by state law.
This type of illegal voting usually isn’t intentional, Burden said.
“People who are on parole or probation from felony convictions are often unaware of election laws and assume that they are able to vote once their incarceration ends,” Burden said. “Their attempts to vote can sometimes be labeled as purposeful vote fraud, but they are typically misunderstandings of the law.”
4. Dead people can’t vote
The state’s Department of Health Services, which issues death certificates, sends a list of deceased people to the Wisconsin Elections Commission each month, which is used to update voter registration information, Weinschenk noted. Also, local election officials regularly check death records (obituaries, funeral homes, etc.) to verify deaths, he said. When a registered voter dies, localities deactivate the person in the voter registration system, and a vote can’t be cast in their name.
“I think it is also important to note that if someone who has passed away got mailed a ballot and a relative completed it and mailed it in, there would be serious consequences,” Weinschenk continued. “If a person forged someone’s signature on a ballot, they would also need someone to sign as a witness in Wisconsin; both the person who forged the signature and the witness would risk facing fines, probation, or prison.”
5. Non-citizens can’t vote
November 14: Publish (Annual Gun Deer Hunting edition)
November 28: No publication due to the holiday
December 12: Publish (Local Holiday Gift Guide special section/Blaze Orange Board special section)
December 26: No publication due to the holiday
January 9, 2025: Publish (Tentative: Winter Wonderland special edition)
Contact us PO Box 144 Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA (608) 588-6694
Democracy, Society & Edu. Columnist Beverly Pestel
On certain topics in areas of great community interest, the editors of the Valley Sentinel may take positions they believe best repre- sent and serve the interests of the community. Any opinions or positions taken by the editorial board are separate and distinct in labeling and substance from the community journalism that ap- pears in the rest of the publication and does not affect the integri- ty and impartiality of our reporting.
Federal law clearly prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, Weinschenk said.
“It is not legal in any state for a noncitizen to cast a ballot in a federal election,” he added. “In Wisconsin, the state requires people to indicate whether or not they are citizens in the application process and doesn’t allow non-citizens to vote.”
6. Potential vote fraud is investigated
If voter fraud is suspected, municipal clerks will alert their county district attorney’s office for investigation. The Wisconsin Election Commission reports such cases to the Wisconsin State Legislature and posts them online for public viewing. The commission also checks to see if felons still serving their sentence have voted, in which case they would refer that case to law enforcement.
7. Voting equipment is doublechecked
After an election, officials assess the performance of electronic voting equipment by auditing a random sampling of ballots.
During this process, election workers hand-count paper ballots. The total is compared to the election night voting system results. Audit materials are submitted to the Wisconsin Elections Commission for review, and any discrepancies are investigated.
8. People can’t vote more than once
The Voting Rights Act, a federal law,
Open Meetings Law.
In order to best report on that story, and get everyone caught up, it'll take time — and we'll endeavor, again, to bring you those updates in our next edition. We weren't able to in this edition and we apologize.
In the meantime we're hoping to slowly become less spread so thin and able to cover each village in our area, at least in brief. If you are able to help please let us know.
Thanks for your understanding and for bearing with us.
prohibits a person from voting twice in federal elections, Weinschenk noted. If convicted, the person “shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both,” according to the law.
“So there is a high level of risk for trying to vote twice,” he said.
Also, Wisconsin is part of a 24-state organization known as the Electronic Registration Information Center that provides reports on potential duplicate registration records in different states and flags registrants who might have died or moved.
The Electronic Registration Information Center compares voter rolls with data from the post office, the Social Security Administration and driving records, Weinschenk said.
And the organization can detect when somebody tries to vote in more than one state.
9. Anyone (yes, you) can report suspected election crimes
If a person suspects they have witnessed an election crime, they can report it to local law enforcement or they can file a sworn complaint with the Wisconsin Election Commission. If you are unsure your complaint qualifies, you can ask the commission. The public’s eyes serve as another layer of protection for the integrity of the election.
The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.
Community Calendar: Our community calendar is the only comprehensive, curated community calendar in the area and we want to continue to build it and need your support to ensure we have all of the community’s events. Please continue to send us your events and check our website for updates. For the Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 editions, the calendar will be extended in print to cover the events of the next four weeks. So we’ll need any events for that time frame ahead of those publication dates:
• Please get us your events for Nov. 14 – Dec. 12 by Nov. 11.
• Please get us your events for Dec. 12 – Jan. 9, 2025 by Dec. 9.
Editorial Contributor & Literary
Journal Editor (At Large) Alex Prochaska
Crossword Contributor Nick Zaborek Columnist Barb Garvoille
Letter to the Editor Policy
Letters submitted for consideration are subject to fact-checking and editing for space and clarity. Submissions must have a compelling local community interest. Letters to the editor must fit within a 500-word limit, and include name, city and phone number. Phone numbers are for office use only and will not be published. Letters of a political nature, without chance of rebuttal, will not be published the week before an election.
Valley Sentinel is an independent, editor-owned, all-volunteer, free bi-weekly news publication, available on newsstands in the area.
Column Policy
Deadlines: The display and classified advertising deadline is Monday at noon for that week. If you would like our design team to design the ad then please allow extra time for the creative process and proofing.
Editors may feature opinion columns written by public figures, members of the public or other publication staff. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual contributors and do not represent positions of the publication. Guest columns of an anticipated length more than 500 words should seek prior editor authorization.
Community Discussion Policy
From time to time the editorial board may select letters to the editor of a particular compelling community interest where a public figure or accountable public action is the recipient of crit- icism and allow, in the same issue, the subject of the criticism chance for rebuttal, with expounded independent input. The format shall be point, counterpoint and expert analysis. This community discussion shall serve as a moderated dialogue that presents multiple views of important community topics.
Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire” Valley Sentinel is published in Spring Green, Wisconsin
Covering Arena, Lone Rock, Plain, Spring Green and the surrounding areas in Sauk, Iowa and Richland counties.
Upcoming Valley Sentinel Print Schedule
Thursday, October 31
COmmunitycalendar
COmmunitycalendar
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.
Events for October 31 - November 14
Storytime 10:30 AM • Lone Rock Community Library, 234 N Broadway St, Lone Rock lonerocklibrary.wordpress.com • 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 • FREE • The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.
Trick or Treat at Meadows in Spring Green 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Meadows, Assissted Living, 477 Rainbow Road, Spring Green • For more information, look up Meadows Assisted Living and Memory Care on Facebook • Bring your kiddos to trick or treat and visit with staff and residents!
Village of Spring Green: Halloween Trick or Treating Hours 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM • springgreen.com • Trick or Treat!
Trick or Treat at the Library 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Stop in the library for a Halloween treat!
Village of Arena: Halloween Trick or Treating Hours 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM • villageofarena.net • Trick or Treat!
Village of Plain: Halloween Trick or Treating Hours 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM • villageofplain.com • Halloween at the Fire Station during Trick-or-Treating hours. Village of Plain: Halloween at the Fire Station 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM • Plain Fire Station, 1045 Cedar Street, Plain • villageofplain.com • Halloween at the Fire Station! Free hot dogs, treats, and air brushed tattoos!
Village of Lone Rock: Halloween Trick or Treating Hours 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM • villageoflonerock-wi.gov •
Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St Spring Green • ninasdepartmentstore.com • FREE • Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.
LIVE MUSIC: 2nd Best Costume Contest 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com Suggested $15 donation at the door • Live music from Sugar Mama & the Rent Check! Prizes from Reunion, Shitty Barn, Slowpoke, Steadfast Acres, Violet Palms, Wilson Creek Pottery & Wander Provisions. Costume Categories Include: Best Duo, Scariest, Funniest, Most Creative, Best Pop Culture Reference, and Crowd Favorite.
Friday, November 1
Fused Glass Ornaments! 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Angel Dreams Studios, E216 Brace Road, Lone Rock For more information look up Angel Dreams Studios on Facebook $75 In the Fused Glass Holiday Ornament Workshop, everyone is able to make a variety of ornaments or sun catchers, such as trees, poinsettia, snowmen or anything you can think of! Creativity is limitless. In this workshop everyone will create 4 of their own one of a kind, fused glass ornaments. If time allows additional ornaments can be created for $15 each. For this 2 hour workshop, you will have guided instruction and learn the classic glass techniques of cutting and grinding glass to fuse together later in the kiln. Ornaments are ready within one week. Deck the halls! (Or your windows!) Class fee includes glass materials, tools, and kiln time. This is a very popular workshop, so please book ASAP! Call 608.350.9989 to make reservations before it fills up.
Saturday, November 2
Bake Shop and Breakfast 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM • First Lutheran Church, 250 W Richland St, Lone Rock For more information contact Judy Temby 608-583-4548 Breakfast with baked goods, jams are available for purchase. Everyone is welcome.
Heck’s Vendor/Flea Market 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM • Heck’s Farm Market, 7266 US Highway 14, Arena • For more information look up Heck’s Farm Market on Facebook • Various types of vendors to shop every Saturday and Sunday - weather permitting. Vendors must contact Heck’s Farm Market for free registration.
Simply Rooted’s Holiday Party! 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM • 334 E Daley St, Spring Green • For more information look up Simply Rooted & Co on Facebook Come get in the Holiday spirit and start celebrating on Saturday, at the Simply Rooted Holiday Party! Door Prizes! Enter to win hourly drawings when you spend $50 or more! Find the hidden Pickle ornament and win a prize! Re-hidden throughout the day! Samples from Finch&Fennel and MUCH MUCH MUCH more! Pie Chart Pizza truck in the parking lot from 11am-7pm! They have the BEST wood fire pizza! Stop in and enjoy some pizza on the porch! Stay tuned for more fun announcements!!!
Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 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.
The Wandering Rae Barn & Venue presents a Barn Sale 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM • The Wandering Rae, E4233 Horseshoe Rd, Spring Green For more information look up The Wandering Rae on Facebook • Back again this fall! Come enjoy fall heading into the Christmas season with unique, upcycled & hand-made goods. Whether you are looking for a gift for someone or something for yourself, decorating for fall or the Christmas holiday, you will find what you didn’t know you needed! Along with furniture & charming accent pieces, there will be Pampered Chef goodies, and Janea Dax with Ava-Roo Designs bringing lots of gift giving items & more helping to make your holiday decorating & shopping easier! Dress for the weather & bring the kiddos along to paint ornaments & write a letter to Santa!!
Pop Up Shop with Meghan Ores of “Luludi” 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 South Albany Street, Spring Green For more information look up Spring Green General Store on Facebook • Meet Meghan from Baraboo who makes soaps, candles, bath bombs, and bubble bath made with all natural ingredients (plus love and care) She will be selling her wares!
Saturday, November 2 cont.
Barn Quilt Painting Workshop 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM • 6008 Irish Valley Rd, Plain • For more information look up Barn Quilt Painting Workshop on Facebook • Paint your own barn quilt or create a holiday gift. Perfect for indoor or outdoor decorating! Sign up with a friend for a fun, creative experience. $50 due by Nov 1st to ensure your place in the class, and to select paint colors.
Wine Saturdays: Chardonnay Exploration 2:00 PM • Convivio, 122 N. Lexington St., Spring Green enableyourtable.com This is definitely a grape which people love, or hate, or love to hate. But because it's the widest planted white wine grape in the world, and is loved by winemakers for it's flexibility, we need to dive in and learn more about it! Join us and try a half glass, full glass, or choose your flight and explore the range of flavors that can be part of the chardonnay experience. Starts at 2 o'clock. No reservation needed.
EVENT FULL: Sandhill Crane Viewing 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM • East of Spring Green, Troy Village Rd, Troy driftlessconservancy.org Every year, thousands of sandhill cranes gather on the Lower Wisconsin River as they prepare to migrate south for the winter. An opportunity for a prime view of this incredible natural spectacle from a bluff above the river, and learn about the history and conservation of sandhill cranes from Jeb Barzen, who directed the Field Ecology Department at the International Crane Foundation for many years.
ACT Fall Harvest Pot Luck 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM • Ewing-Olson VFW Post 9336, 514 Willow Street, Arena For more information, email arenacommunityteam@yahoo.com
The Arena Community Team (ACT) invites all residents of the Village and Township of Arena to a community potluck dinner. Join friends and neighbors for an evening of food and connection.
LIVE MUSIC: Ben Mulwana and The Village// Zach Pietrini 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Tickets $10 in advance / $15 at the door • Ben Mulwana is a Ugandan-born and raised artist residing in Wisconsin. With songs about love, loss and everything in between, Ben’s band project “Ben Mulwana and the Village” is made of a groovy, rock and soulful sound from a group of amazing musicians. Despite being a Chicago transplant, The Zach Pietrini Band has become a recognized name around town playing featured spots at SXSW, Summerfest, and Mile of Music. At the forefront of the Americana resurgence in the north country, Pietrini quickly distinguished himself with his fearless vulnerability, prolific writing, and dynamic live show.
Halloween Party at Keg & Kettle Bar! 9:00 PM • Keg & Kettle, 104 S Oak St, Lone Rock For more information look up Keg & Kettle on Facebook With the amazing DJ Cody and the lovely Angel as well as Kaity bartending! It's going to be an amazingly fun time. Costume contest will bring in three prizes to win! You're not going to want to miss this! All the fun, games, drinks and dancing! Is going to be an all around Monster Mash! So mark your calendars and come on down. This is going to be epic!
Sunday, November 3
Heck’s Vendor/Flea Market 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM • Heck’s Farm Market, 7266 US Highway 14, Arena • For more information look up Heck’s Farm Market on Facebook • Various types of vendors to shop every Saturday and Sunday - weather permitting. Vendors must contact Heck’s Farm Market for free registration.
Plain Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM • Plain Fire & EMS, 1000-1110 Cedar St, Plain • Come enjoy a delicious family style dining experience with all proceeds going to purchase new equipment.
Monday, November 4
Film Screening: Join or Die 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM • Gard Theater, 111 E Jefferson St., Spring Green • morilllectures.org • Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it. In this feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis. Flanked by influential fans and scholars — from Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker — as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Bob as he explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly... What can we do about it?
Trivia Night 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM • Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Join us for a night of Trivia! Kyle Adams will host as we put teams together for a contest of trivia. Come for the prizes, stay for the fun! First Question at 7:00 - and it should last about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Tuesday, November 5
Plain EMS Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM • Plain American Legion,1225 American Legion Drive, Plain • For more information look up Plain Fire and EMS on Facebook $13 • Children under 7 $5 • 608-678-0394 • Dine in or Pick up. Home delivery within City Limits. Join for All-You-Can-Eat spaghetti, garlic bread and dessert. Plain EMS will be celebrating 50 years of service in 2027 and plan on providing fireworks at our 3 Day Celebration in 2027. All proceeds will go towards funding fireworks.
SESSION FULL: Moving Senior Bodies 4:00 PM Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com Join Upland Hills Health professionals for weekly classes focusing on balance and strength training to promote healthy aging.This session is full.
Afternoon Fall Family Storytime 4:30 PM • Plain Kraemer Library, 910 Main St., Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Join us for Themed Stories, Songs & Crafts ! Running from September 17- December 17 at 4:30PM. All are Welcome. Aimed at ages 0-5.
Events for October 31 - November 14
Wednesday, November 6
All Ages Storytime 10:30 AM • Spring Green Community Library, Community Room, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Share stories, songs and crafts with library friends. Our theme for October is "Spooky," but very mildly. Halloween stories will be more sweet than scary. Is your little one fidgety or noisy? No worries! We have quiet toys so busy bodies can listen to stories and wiggle at the same time!
Thursday, November 7
Storytime 10:30 AM • Lone Rock Community Library, 234 N Broadway St, Lone Rock lonerocklibrary.wordpress.com Join us every Thursday for storytime!
Victorian Christmas Grand Opening! 11:00 AM • Victoria Sterling Antiques, 100 N Lexington St, Spring Green For more information look up Victoria Sterling Antique and Estate Jewelry on Facebook Step into a world of holiday magic at our Vintage Christmas Grand Opening! Join as they launch their festive season with a touch of Victorian English charm. Wander through our enchanting shop filled with antique selection of vintage holiday décor, and high-quality gifts- from woolens to ceramics- sure to make your season sparkle! Come browse the coveted 1970s Holland Mold and Atlantic Mold ceramic Christmas trees, vintage ornaments, and handpicked curiosities to get your home ready for the holidays. Discover unique gifts, festive displays, and the spirit of Christmas Past!
Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • FREE • The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.
Tech Drop-In 2:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Whether you're grappling with setting up email accounts, navigating social media platforms, or troubleshooting software issues, knowledgeable volunteers or library staff will be on hand to lend a helping hand.
Lone Rock Farmers Market 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM • Lone Rock Community Building, 214 N Broadway St., Lone Rock • For more information look up Lone Rock Farmers Market on Facebook • Lone Rock Farmers Market. Sandwiches will ber served by the farmers market committee while market is held indoors. Vendor fee is $10. Pre-registration is required, as at least 8 vendors are required to hold the indoor market.
Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St Spring Green • ninasdepartmentstore.com FREE Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.
Friday, November 8
Southwest WI Seeds of Hope Celebration 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM • Round Barn Lodge, E4830 US-14, Spring Green • foodfaithandfarmingnetwork.org • Registration Deadline is Nov. 6th. If you have any questions about registration, please contact Zaria Whitacre, at 123zariamarie@gmail.com • This event is free and open to the public. A suggested donation of $20 will help offset the cost of lunch • Join us for our annual Seeds of Hope Celebration in Southwest WI to hear about the work of our 2024 Seed Money recipients and share a meal featuring locally sourced ingredients. We look forward to hearing about our recipients' achievements and how they helped us realize our goals of expanding access to local food, educating on sustainable farming, addressing food security, and bridging the rural/urban divide.
LIVE MUSIC: Zakk Jones Trio 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Tickets $10 in advance / $15 at the door • Zakk Jones is an Ohio based guitarist, bandleader, composer and educator. Currently, he is the Coordinator of Guitar Studies at Truman State University, and a faculty mentor for Sonora Guitar Intensive. He is a member of Doc Robinson, the Tony Monaco Trio, and Third Shore Collective. Zakk has also played with The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider, Lou Marini Jr, Ryan Keberle, John Fedchock, Jaleel Shaw, Dwight Adams, Jon Irabagon, and Bobby Floyd. He has multiple records under his own name, and can be heard as a sideman on over a dozen acclaimed projects.
Saturday, November 9
Heck’s Vendor/Flea Market 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM • Heck’s Farm Market, 7266 US Highway 14, Arena • For more information look up Heck’s Farm Market on Facebook • Various types of vendors to shop every Saturday and Sunday - weather permitting. Vendors must contact Heck’s Farm Market for free registration.
Battle of Wisconsin Heights Tour 9:00 AM - Various Locations • Starting at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights Site, STH 78 near Sauk City • clli.org • Reservations Required • Cultural Landscape Legacies presents its annual tour featuring an in-depth exploration of the Black Hawk War of 1832, led by Black Hawk War scholar David Gjestson. The tour includes a visit to the Native American burial grounds, a hike to Ferry Bluff, and a tour of the shot tower at Tower Hill State Park. A Wisconsin State Park sticker is required for Tower Hill. Limited to 15 participants. For reservations, contact Mark Cupp at (608) 739-3188 or mark.cupp@wisconsin.gov
Mindfulness: Discussion and Practice 9:30 AM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.org • Our meetings will include discussions and short mindfulness exercises/practices.
Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 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.
Wine Saturdays: Traditional Reds 1:00 PM • Convivio, 122 N. Lexington St., Spring Green enableyourtable.com There will be limited seating for this event. Please reserve your spot at one of the two seatings, 1 or 4 o'clock. $30 per person • If you're looking for a complex big red to pour for a holiday or as a special gift for a friend - or - if you'd just like to learn more about some of these pricey and special traditional wines, this is your chance. We'll be pouring a Barolo, an Amaroné, and a Châteneuf de Pape for openers. Email mary@enableyourtable.com If you're interested in purchasing any of these wines, they will be available at a special price.
LIVE MUSIC: Bluegrass Jam 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • 608-5880-707, karin@springgreengeneralstore.com • All ages welcome! Bluegrass Jams will be held on the second Saturday of each month. While the weather permits they'll be held on our back deck. Bring your instrument and play along or come to listen; all are welcome.
Wine Saturdays: Traditional Reds 4:00 PM • Convivio, 122 N. Lexington St., Spring Green enableyourtable.com There will be limited seating for this event. Please reserve your spot at one of the two seatings, 1 or 4 o'clock. $30 per person • Email mary@enableyourtable.com If you're interested in purchasing any of these wines, they will be available at a special price.
Walk/Hike—Spring Green Preserve-East 2:00 PM • Spring Green Preserve, East segment, West entrance • wisconsinriverfriends.org• Join us for an afternoon walk/hike. We will walk the old road in the preserve. There is some uphill at the beginning and then slight elevations changes as we walk along the ridge. This walk will be what we make it. There are a number of options. Those who attend can choose what they want to do--a shorter walk or a longer walk. There is small game hunting and archery deer this weekend. Wear orange if you have some. See online for full directions. We will meet and park at the intersection of Hwy 23 and County Road WC, on WC.
Saturday, November 9 cont.
Antique Road Show Expert 10:30 AM • Ridgeway Volunteer Library, Ridgeway Village Hall, 208 Jarvis Street Suite A, Ridgeway ridgeway.wi.gov $15 per item Vintage? Antique? Or just old? Have your items appraised by an Antique Road Show Expert: Mark Moran!
Arena VFW Steak Feed 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM • Arena VFW Hall 514 Willow Street, Arena • For more info look up Ewing-Olson VFW Post 9336 on Facebook • $15.00 Steak (done the way you like) $8.00- 8 ounce chicken breast. 608-753-2225 for carryout.
Trivia Night at St. Johns 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM • St John The Evangelist Catholic Church, 129 Daley St, Spring Green • stjohns-springgreen.org • Team Registration starts at 6:30 PM. Limit: 6 People Per Team. Trivia begins at 7. Prizes: 1st Place Team: $150, 2nd Place Team: $75. Walking tacos, beer, soda, and water included in admission price!
The Empty Pockets 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM • Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door • The Empty Pockets ignite a bright flame of their own by harnessing a joyful friction between Americana, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll spiked with roots soul. The Chicago Quartet lean on an unspoken, yet airtight musical dialogue honed by countless miles on the road, performances alongside the likes of Kenny Loggins, a procession of fan favorite releases (including a #1 debut), and a wealth of memories together.
Sunday, November 10
Heck’s Vendor/Flea Market 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM • Heck’s Farm Market, 7266 US Highway 14, Arena • For more information look up Heck’s Farm Market on Facebook • Various types of vendors to shop every Saturday and Sunday - weather permitting. Vendors must contact Heck’s Farm Market for free registration.
Beginning Astrology - The Big 6 with Jodie 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM • North Earth Crystals & Gifts, 124 W. Jefferson St, Spring Green • northearth.com $20 per half hour. Pre-registration is required. Please provide time and place of birth at time of registration. Please call 608-588-3313 to reserve your spot In this introductory class Jodie will cover "the Big 6" in your astrological natal chart. You will learn what they are and why they help paint a deeper understanding of your personality and why they can help you have a better understanding of yourself. She will help you to discover how to co-exist with others in all types of relationships.
LunART presents “Winds of Change”: Launching the Eighth Season of Celebrating Women in Music 2:00 PM • Hillside Theater - Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, 6604 Hwy 23, Spring Green • lunartfestival.org Tickets are $30 for general admission and $15 for students. Visit lunartfestival.org/windsofchange for advance purchases • Join LunART Chamber Music Collective for their 2024-25 season opener, Winds of Change, featuring bassoonist Eleni Katz, flutist Iva Ugrcic, and pianist Alyona Waldo. Held in Taliesin’s historic Hillside Theater, this program celebrates women composers across the last 150 years, blending influences from African-American spirituals, Welsh folk music, and Eastern traditions. Doors open at 1:30 PM.
River Valley Film Club Presents... 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM • Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green • For more information look up River Valley FIlm Club on Facebook • Join us once a month on Sundays (and occasional Mondays) as we screen a movie selected by the River Valley Film Club. Movie titles remain under wraps until showtime, so follow RVFC on Facebook for details. Come 30 minutes before showtime to grab a drink and meet fellow movie-lovers. Bring your own popcorn (or dinner).
Monday, November 11
Lego Builders 1:00 PM • Plain Kraemer Library, 910 Main St., Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Join us for Lego Builders Club each month for a fun challenge or to free build your own masterpiece! Open to all ages. Children under 6 must have adult at program. We will be meeting in the library's community room.
Tuesday, November 12
Movies, Munchies, and More: Mystic Pizza 1:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Every Tuesday at 1pm, come to the Spring Green Community Library for a sweet treat and a movie. We are going to continue watching some movies that haven't quite made it to DVD yet. Movie Summary: "Mystic Pizza" charts the lives and loves of three unforgettable waitresses in a little town called Mystic. For sexy Daisy Araujo (Julia Roberts), her sensible sister Kat (Annabeth Gish) and their wisecracking friend Jojo (Lili Taylor), the summer after high school is a summer they'll never forget. Slinging pizza at a local restaurant, the three girls share their hopes, dreams and plans for escaping their small town (R, 1hr 42 min, 1988).
SESSION FULL: Moving Senior Bodies 4:00 PM Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com Join Upland Hills Health professionals for weekly classes focusing on balance and strength training to promote healthy aging.This session is full.
Afternoon Fall Family Storytime 4:30 PM • Plain Kraemer Library, 910 Main St., Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Join us for Themed Stories, Songs & Crafts ! Running from September 17- December 17 at 4:30PM. All are Welcome. Aimed at ages 0-5.
Puzzle Night 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, Community Room, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Join in on the puzzle fun at the Library! On the second Tuesday of the month from 6-8, the Community Room will be full of puzzles just waiting to be completed. You can work together on 300-500 piece puzzles (you may time yourselves if you'd like!) There will also be ongoing rounds of puzzle chess, an exciting new way of challenging a puzzler! Puzzle chess uses a 100- or 200-piece puzzle and two people play against each other. Together the players complete the border, then start a chess timer (a free phone app.) One piece at a time, back and forth, the players complete the puzzle. When the puzzle is finished, the fastest player is the winner! We have lots of puzzles at the Library, and will have puzzles of all sizes available to use, but bring any from home to share as well!
Wednesday, November 13
Intro to Zazen Meditation 8:00 AM Wyoming Valley School, 6306 State Road 23, Spring Green choseizen.org • wyomingvalleyschool.org Please join for an introductory meditation class at Wyoming Valley School. Zazen is a style of seated meditation that emphasizes breath, posture, and gravity. No prior meditation experience is necessary. Please arrive 5-15 minutes early. We recommend wearing loose-fitting pants (eg, sweatpants). Meditation cushions and chairs will be provided.
All Ages Storytime 10:30 AM • Spring Green Community Library, Community Room, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Share stories, songs and crafts with library friends. Our theme for October is "Spooky," but very mildly. Halloween stories will be more sweet than scary. Is your little one fidgety or noisy? No worries! We have quiet toys so busy bodies can listen to stories and wiggle at the same time!
Lego Challenge 3:15 PM • Spring Green Community Library, Community Room, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • All ages welcome to tackle a creative Lego engineering challenge, and have their projects displayed in the library.
Continued on page 6
Events for October 31 - November 14
Thursday, November 14
Fall Tea Party with the Animals 11:00 AM • Spring Green Community Library, Community Room, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Come as you are or dress up fancy- we’ll have fun with music and treats either way!
Tech Help 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM • Lone Rock Community Library, 234 N Broadway St, Lone Rock • lonerocklibrary.wordpress.com rvbroadband.org/techhelp • Come on in with any devices or technology you need help with! No appointment necessary.
Silent Book Club 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM • Convivio, 122 N Lexington St, Spring Green readinutopia.com Bring your own book and settle in for a relaxed session of silent reading with other book lovers. We'll gather around 5:30, grab a drink from the bar, and share what everyone is reading for the first 30 minutes. Then enjoy 1 hour of silent reading together. And finally we'll finish up with some visiting (or more reading).
Library Trivia 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, Community Room, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Are you up for the challenge? Come by yourself or bring a team of up to 4 teens or adults to see if you can beat the Spring Green Community Library's Trivia. Themes will change with each session. Bragging rights to the winners!
CIVICS & SERVICES
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
October 31:
Eye Screening for Homeschool Families 10:30 AM • Lone Rock Community Library, 234 N Broadway St, Lone Rock For more information, look up Ithaca Lions Club on Facebook• The Lone Rock Community Library will host the Ithaca Lions Club, who will provide eye screenings for our homeschool kids!
November 2:
Friends of the Library Book Collection 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Commmunity Room, Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org The Friends of the Spring Green Community Library will accept donations of gently used books, DVDs, and CDs for resale. Donations of no more than four boxes are preferred. Proceeds from book sales help support library programs and other amenities. Damaged books, encyclopedias, textbooks, and instruction manuals are not accepted, and the Friends reserve the right to limit the quantity of items accepted and/or refuse donations that do not meet library needs.
November 3: Daylight Savings Time Ends 2:00 AM • Be sure to turn your clocks back!
November 4:
Spring Green Library Board Meeting 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green springgreenlibrary.com The Library Board of Trustees meets each month, typically on the first or second Monday, 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: Clyge-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!
November 5:
2024 General Election Day 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM myvote wi.org Various Polling Locations
November 6:
Spring Green Community Blood Drive 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Wyoming Valley School, 6306 WI-23, Spring Green redcrossblood.org For an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter Sponsor Code: SpringGreen November 8:
VOLUNTEER: Ridgeway Pine Relict Workday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Help us care for some of our state's most pristine public lands, State Natural Areas. Encourage native plants and animals to thrive by cutting brush, controlling invasive species, collecting seeds, monitoring rare species, and preparing fire breaks. Contact Bob Scheidegger 608-319-2083. November 11: Wildlife Forever ATV Club 6:30 PM Arena VFW, 514 Willow St, Arena For more info look up Wildlife Forever ATV Club on Facebook. Village Of Arena Regular Board Meeting 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Village Hall, 345 West Street, Arena villageofarena.net
November 12:
Lone Rock Community Blood Drive 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM Lone Rock Community Building, 214 Broadway Street, Lone Rock redcrossblood.org For an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter Sponsor Code: LoneRockWI Village of Lone Rock Board Meeting 7:00 PM villageoflonerock.com Village Hall, 314 E Forest St, Lone Rock See full agenda online.
November 13:
Public Hearing: Dane Iowa Wastewater Commission Facility Planning 6:00 PM • STEP Room, Wisconsin Heights High School, 10173 U.S. Highway 14, Mazomanie • The Dane Iowa Wastewater Commission invites the public to a hearing to review the Facilities Planning Document for wastewater treatment facility upgrades. Topics include population projections, permit requirements, project approach, and user charge impacts. The plan aims to meet current and future needs for the Villages of Arena, Black Earth, and Mazomanie. Written comments are accepted until 15 days after the hearing. For questions, contact consulting engineer Ben Heidemann at (608) 273-3350. Plain Village Board Meeting 6:30 PM 510 Main Street, Plain villageofplain.com
The Community Calendar is curated and designed by Julianna Williams. Events are subject to change, always check ahead for
SENTINEL'S LITERARY JOURNAL SUBMISSIONS OPEN Works can be submitted at: valleysentinelnews.com/literary-journal/. Questions about submissions can be directed to: editor@valleysentinelnews.com
Submissions will remain open until enough journal-quality submissions are received.
+ ARTS & CULTURE SECTION
Lexington & Jefferson
Arts In Brief
Tickets for Two Crows Theatre 2025 season go on sale Friday, November 1. The season begins with David Cale's "Harry Clarke" directed by artistic director Marcus Truschinski and starring American Players Theatre's core company actor Nate Burger. The play is about a shy Midwestern man who feels more himself when adopting the persona of a cocky Londoner. He moves to New York and presents himself as an Englishman who charms his way into a wealthy family's life, romancing two family members as the seductive Harry with more on his mind than love. This is a one-person play with the actor playing all roles. It opens January 16 and runs through January 26 at the Slowpoke Lounge and Cabaret on Jefferson Street in Spring Green.
The second play is Caryl Churchill's "A Number" directed by Dee Dee Batteast and starring APT's core company actors David Daniel and
Marcus Truschinski. Human cloning is the subject of this hour-long psychological thriller that blends topical scientific speculation with a stunning portrait of the relationship between fathers and their sons. The play opens February 20 and runs through March 2 at the Touchstone Theatre on the APT campus.
The final play is Jennifer Voster's one-person play "Songs Without Words" directed by Michael Cotey starring Jennifer Vosters. The play is the funny, tragic and heartfelt story of one artistic soul inhabiting two very different artists, Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn. The story wrestles enduring questions of gender and genius, family and fame, siblinghood and the power of art. The performance runs April 17 through April 27 at the Hillside Theatre at Taliesin.
To purchase tickets and for more information, go to twocrowstheatrecompany.org.
American Players Theatre announces 2025 season
continued from page 1
And additionally, we continue to expand and grow the talents of our company. David Daniel, a member of the Core Company, and our education director, who directed Oedipus for us in 2021, will direct this Midsummer Night’s Dream Gavin Lawrence, another Core Company member – he directed Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom for us this season – will direct a play he has written – The Death of Chuck Brown. And John Taylor Phillips who you’ve seen on stage at APT in Private Lives and Born Yesterday and many other plays, will be back to direct The 39 Steps. And we have a number of wonderful returning directors – John Langs on Tribes, Robert Ramirez on Anna in the Tropics, I’ll be directing Picnic, which has been a dream project of mine. We’re already getting started, and I believe it’s a lineup that fits our foundation, while allowing the organization to continue to grow and evolve.”
fect lives into a tizzy. It appears a man with whom they’d each had a passionate tryst in the past is planning a visit, and they are both questioning whether they can – or want to – withstand his charms. As the husbands golf, the ladies plot and plan over copious glasses of champagne, with some “help” from a very worldly housekeeper, while awaiting the arrival of their former lover in this decadent and utterly entertaining comedy. Contains adult themes
Picnic
The 2025 schedule will be available in January, and tickets will go on sale to returning patrons in March. More information at americanplayers.org.
The 2025 Plays In the Hill Theatre
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By William Shakespeare, Directed by David Daniel
Love weaves a tangled web in this iconic Shakespearean fairy tale. Hermia and her beloved Lysander flee into the forest to avoid Hermia’s arranged marriage to Demetrius. They’re pursued by Demetrius himself, along with Helena, who is, in turn, in love with Demetrius. In that same forest, Oberon and Titania – king and queen of the fairies – are having a quarrel of their own. And when Oberon enlists his accomplice Puck, aka Robin Goodfellow to throw some magic into the mix, everyone - including a hilarious group of “rude mechanicals” led by Nick Bottom – gets caught up in the spell.
Fallen Angels
By Noël Coward, Directed by Shannon Cochran
Noël Coward’s sparkling wit returns to the Hill for the first time since 2015.
Jane and Julia are happily married to charming men when a message arrives from a former flame, sending their per-
By William Inge, Directed by Brenda DeVita
It’s almost time for the annual Labor Day picnic in Independence, Kansas. But the town buzz is all about Hal – the young handyman hired by sweet Helen Potts. Her neighbor, Flo, is less than enthusiastic about having Hal in the vicinity of her daughters, Madge and Millie. When it turns out Madge’s steady guy, the steadfast Alan, is an old friend of Hal’s, Flo relents, and plans are made for Hal to stick around town more permanently. But young love may have other ideas, and hearts will be filled and broken in this play about desire, expectations and the sacrifices and settlements people make when it comes to love. Contains adult themes & language Anna in the Tropics
By Nilo Cruz, Directed by Robert Ramirez
In the heat of Florida, a Cuban-American family spends long days rolling cigars for a factory. They carried with them many traditions from Cuba, including employing a lector to read to them as they work. But with automation on the rise, money is tight, and there are differing opinions on whether that tradition should continue. Still, matriarch Ofelia hires a new lector, Juan Julián –a charismatic young man who captures the attention of her daughters, Marela and Conchita. Juan Julián begins his reading sessions with Anna Karenina. As the book’s story unfolds, the family’s lives run parallel, bringing secrets and lies to the forefront and threatening their livelihood and relationships. Contains adult themes
The Winter’s Tale
By William Shakespeare, Directed by
continued on page 7
Two Crows Theatre Tickets On Sale November 1
The Sauk County Gardener
“Oh, that miracle clove! Not only does garlic taste good, it cures baldness and tennis elbow, too.”
— Laurie Burrows Grad
Can you believe this weather? It was nearly 80 degrees this past weekend, making it very difficult for me to start putting my vegetable garden to bed. I still have tomatoes that weren’t harmed by the frost and my August planted zucchini is just starting to produce. In fact,
we enjoyed a nice dinner Sunday night that used fresh cherry tomatoes and zucchini– straight out of the garden. Even the onions were harvested earlier this summer. I took some cuttings of my coleus and geraniums which I will pot up this weekend and potted up a few herbs for my kitchen windowsill. That means this weekend, I need to clean out my tomato bed so I can plant my garlic.
Garlic is a great addition to any gar-
Employmentopportunities
den, especially if your family eats a lot of it. The first step is to decide what variety to plant – hardneck versus softneck. Softneck is the kind that you typically find in a grocery store. They tend to have smaller cloves and will store longer than hardneck. Hardneck garlic has fewer and larger cloves compared to softneck garlic and like colder climates. Early to mid-June, they produce a tall stalk, known as a scape, that should be cut when they are about 10” long. The scapes are delicious and can be used to create a delicious garlic scape pesto. Here in Sauk County, the hardneck variety is a good one for us to grow.
If you are planting garlic for the first time, you can purchase garlic online, but an even better option is to purchase some at your local farmers’ market as they will most likely be selling the hardneck variety. They can also tell you about the flavor profile and how well it grows. As I plant garlic every year, I simply set aside my biggest bulbs to use for my fall planting.
The next step is to prepare a bed to plant the garlic. As our climate is getting warmer, I have found it best to plant garlic in late-October through early November. No matter what, you do need to plant it before the soil freezes. Select a location that didn’t just have
onions or other alliums planted in it. It works great if you rotate your crops so that after a frost has killed off your warm weather crops, it’s ready to have the old vegetable debris cleared out and the soil prepped for planting your garlic. I break up the soil and add some compost to the bed as the previous vegetables took out nutrients out of the soil over the summer. You can also add fertilizer now or in the early spring by side dressing after the leaves emerge. Next, you’ll need to break apart the bulbs into individual cloves. Most of my larger bulbs have 5-6 large cloves in them so I try to save enough bulbs so I can plant about a hundred cloves. Keep the paper on them as it offers additional protection after they’re planted. Plant the cloves pointy side up, 4-6 inches apart and 4-6 inches deep. I have a couple wood measuring sticks that I lay on the ground so I can easily see the spacing and use a bulb dibbler to make the hole deep enough. Place the clove in the hole and then cover, ensuring it’s covered completely. Finally, cover with a 4–6-inch layer of mulch or straw to protect your soil, minimize early sprouting, and help retain moisture. That’s it – once you’ve planted your garlic, you just have to wait for spring.
American Players Theatre announces 2025 season
continued from page 6
Shana Cooper Shakespeare’s sweet and complex romance returns to the Hill. When King Leontes suspects his pregnant wife Hermione of having an affair with his good friend Polixenes, he jealously hides Hermione away in the palace. He has become so enraged that Leontes orders their infant daughter to be abandoned in the wild, leading Hermione to die of a broken heart. But all may not be as dire as it first appears, as a shepherd saves the young girl to be raised as a shepherdess, with help from a pair of ridiculous clowns, setting in motion a series of events that opens up paths to forgiveness, love and redemption.
CROSSWORD
In the Touchstone Theatre
The World Premiere of The Death of Chuck Brown By Gavin Dillon Lawrence, Directed by Gavin Dillon Lawrence
A local icon’s death signals the end of an era and the beginning of a new look for a once-predominantly African American neighborhood in Washington, DC. A barbershop is the backdrop for conversations about gentrification, race and family as the owner, Kofi, considers selling his beloved establishment while keeping his son Prince on the path to success. A funny, touching and devastating world-premiere from APT Core Company Member Gavin Dillon Lawrence. ... and more.
Find the rest at: americanplayers.org.
We were recently told "any newspaper worth its salt has a respectable crossword" — and to be clear, we're pretty salty
Give us feedback at editor@valleysentinelnews.com, as we've never made a crossword before, much less a respectable one, and it's surprisingly difficult. Especially (maybe) with the goal of only including words or themes from the previous edition.
We're hoping to tighten up the grid over time and shift from an "indie" style to a respectable New York Times style with rotational symmetry — and we think we've done a good job of that. Which is why we've expanded our word pool and enlisted the help of passionate community members, who have created this crossword. This puzzle and section will absolutely change. Especially if you can help. We appreciate all the feedback and suggestions so far.
What about chess puzzles next? We're not joking.
Crossword appearing in the October 31, 2024 edition of Valley Sentinel does not exclusively use words printed in the previous edition of Valley Sentinel — October 17, 2024, if any. The clues may or may not use the same definition as the words were used in the previous edition, if any words appear from the previous edition.
Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener
Planting Garlic
Puzzle by Nick Zaborek Edited by Jen Zaborek
An Outdoorsman’s Journal
Mark Walters, Columnist
Hello friends,
I think that you will find this week’s column a tad bit different with an interesting point of view thrown into it. If you disagree, that is fine, but be nice.
Wednesday, October 16th
High 63°, Low 27°
My plan was simple, drive to the Durand area for a 3-night, 4-day bow hunting trip on the backwaters of the Chippewa River. This is a remote, very hard to get to location
and if you are blessed with harvesting a deer, getting it out of the swamp can be a challenge. First set back, I am driving on the interstate and my mood is excellent when I realize that I am one day off on the date that I have to leave for my Montana elk and mule deer hunt. Staying three nights on this hunt would only give me 48 hours at home before I have to leave. This hunt is now cut short to 2 nights.
Here is the zinger for this hunt. On my elk and deer hunt, both Selina and I have deer and elk tags, I am thinking we are going to make some meat. What I would like to harvest on
my Chippewa River hunt is a buck or a very young deer. Why a young anterless deer? Because the quality of the meat is absolutely incredible. Think about it this way, the taste of a 27-inch walleye compared to a 15-incher. A rooster compared to a young fryer, a steer compared to an old bull.
On this hunt I paddle to where I set up my portable stand and I have seen some beautiful bucks here. On my afternoon hunt, I saw very little sign of the rut but was well past due to sit in a tree and watch the world. A half hour before dark, I had a very large doe cross a marsh and come right at me. I made and stood by the decision that she was going to live because I want a young deer or a buck.
Thursday, October 17th
High 72°, Low 35°
I recently rebuilt my 14-foot duck skiff that had way too many leaks. Unfortunately, it still has a leak but as long as I pull it out of the water when I get to my stand and back to camp, I am fine. For myself the adventure is what I seek in my bow hunts, I am pretty sure that by this point in my life I could have found a cush situation for bow hunting and put a hurting on some big bucks but that would bore me.
This morning I did not see a deer. This afternoon a humongous doe offered me an easy shot at 17-yards. She was actually smelling where my shoulder had brushed up against a tag alder branch, no matter what you think or do, they can smell you. This doe was the largest that I would have harvested in my life but she was given a free pass and I had no regrets.
Friday, October 18th
High 73°, Low 41°
My paddles to the stand are either going to the stand in the dark or back in the dark and as I have written in the past, I paddle by a beaver lodge and it is crazy funny and interesting how the local beaver family attacks me by splashing their tails in the water as loud as they can and in some cases I even get water on me. In the dark you have to have nerves of steel and keep on paddling.
I am always on my stand a half hour before daylight and I have to admit that for this hunt, I was simply too early for the rut but had no choice as I am heading west. Just after daylight a young deer appeared from out of nowhere and was 7-yards away. It was too close to pull back on and then was in the brush. I had no cares, but it was the kind of animal that I am looking for, the big, old stuff will come in Montana. About an hour later I give a grunt on my grunt call and a deer comes at me pretty steady from across a marsh and I am thinking, tasty critter. At 10-yards I let an arrow fly that made
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perfect contact and thus my goal of a young deer was met. I hunted another 2 hours for a buck and had no luck. I dressed my deer, paddled it back to camp and in 45 minutes had it skinned, quartered and iced. In the future I am going to harvest more young deer as no matter what anyone try’s to say, the quality of the meat is supersedes the “I’ve gotta shoot the old, tough as leather goat”.
Montana and mountain adventure, here we come!
Sunset
Want to read more?
Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com
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!
Photo contributed by Mark Walters
A very curious pine squirrel.
Pre Rut Bow Hunt and Camping Trip
Photo contributed by Mark Walters It’s always a rewarding feeling bringing meat back to camp.
Photo contributed by Mark Walters Despite a leak, this old duck skiff got the job done.
