Your Family Spring 2016

SPRING
2016
Fostering
success
How Dane County groups
are boosting animal adoptions
SENIOR LIVING:
CAREGIVERS NEED CARE, TOO
5 ways to take a
parents night out
Find spring surprises
at UW Arboretum
Day Trip:
Shopping and strolling Cedarburg
Say it twice:
My Child Has Cancer.

For Alyssa and Kindt Nielson of Clinton, Wisconsin, these words were hard enough to say the first
time. That was in 2011 when their son Channing (left in photo) was diagnosed with leukemia.
Three years later, Channings twin brother, Jakob (right), was diagnosed with the same type of cancer.
We were crushed, says Alyssa, but having been through it all with Channing, we knew that Jakob
would also receive incredible care at American Family Childrens Hospital in Madison.
Both boys, now 8, are doing great. Channing completed his treatment and Jakob is now in the less
intensive part of his chemotherapy.
The support and care we receive is incredible, Alyssa says. We are doubly grateful for everything
this hospital has done for our boys.
CH-44509-16
uwhealthkids.org
FAMILYLIFE
Things I learned from my animals
INSIDE YOUR FAMILY

BY LEE BORKOWSKI
We got him the summer I turned 5. I was

determined to learn how to ride that
summer, but my expertise was falling off.
That pony knew every trick in the
book for removing a rider from his back
bucking, crow-hopping and brushing up
against a fence or tree were among his
favorite methods. There seemed to be no
end to the depths hed sink to knock me off.
This went on for years, but because I
wanted to ride, I kept getting up and back
in the saddle. Its a skill thats served me
well my entire life.
And my cat, God forgive me, Ive
forgotten her name, taught me a very
special lesson: that cats dont like to ride on
bikes.
I learned this lesson about the time I was
9, and I also learned that no matter how
determined you are, they arent going to
learn to like it, either.
For Christmas that year I had gotten a
blue Schwinn bicycle with a wire basket
on the front. Sometime that summer, my
family watched The Wizard of Oz, and I was
delighted to see how Dorothy was able to
have her little dog, Toto, ride on the bike
with her in the woven basket.
What an awesome idea, I thought. But
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since Dawn, my dog, easily weighed 60

pounds, there was no way I could get her in
my basket.
Its hard to teach a cat anything,
especially when they dont want to learn.
Id pick the cat up, place her in the basket,
pedal about 5 feet and shed jump out and
run away.
This went on for several days before I
created a foolproof system: I would ride
around the yard on my bike while my
brother Allan held the cat. Once I was able
to maintain a steady speed, Id ride close to
them, take the cat with my left hand, and
place and hold her in the basket. Then Id
continue to successfully navigate my bike
with my right hand.
I was sure my cat would relax and begin
to enjoy the ride. Oh, the places we would
go!
Sadly, that only happened in my
imagination, and that day was the end of
my cat training sessions. Ive been strictly a
dog person ever since.
But my learning still continues. l
Lee Borkowski is the general manager
of Unified Newspaper Group, which
publishes Your Family magazine.
Brian Cornell
1928 Koshkonong Rd.,
Stoughton
Cell 608.669.3017
adno=451411-01
hen I found out that our feature

story this month was about petrescue organizations, I found
myself being bombarded by memories.
Ive had pets my entire life, and its true
what they say they bring a new dynamic
to a family. Its also true that they teach
children valuable lessons, most notably
responsibility.
The routine of feeding and caring for
our pets helped me develop a strong level
of responsibility, but I learned other things
from my pet, too bravery, perseverance
and lets call it wisdom.
My dog, Dawn, a beautiful tri-color
collie, taught me to be brave.
Dawn was deathly afraid of
thunderstorms, and we had a lot of them
during the summers of my childhood. As
thunder shook our house, Dawn would
come into my room whining and trembling.
It was my job to comfort her and calm her
down.
I was probably as afraid as she was, but
I tried not to show it. For her, I could be
brave.
My pony, Poco, taught me to never give
up.
Poco was a spirited Shetland pony.
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SPRING 2016 YOUR FAMILY 3
Pick up your FREE copy today at these locations!

Senior Centers: Fitchburg, Oregon, Stoughton & Verona
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1 S. Park and 20 S. Park, Broadway, University Station, Middleton, Oregon, Stoughton & Verona
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St. Marys: Madison Urgent Care, Janesville
Stoughton Hospital: Oregon and Stoughton
Mercy: Janesville Health Mall, Hospital, Clinic East, Emergency North, Evansville
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YMCA: East, West
Fitchburg
Fitchburg Chamber
Fitchburg City Hall
Fitchburg Senior Center
Starbucks Coffee
Ten Pin Alley
Stoughton
Doctors Park Dental
Karate America
McGlynn Pharmacy
Stoughton Chamber of Commerce
Stoughton Senior Center
Viking Lanes
Verona
Miller & Sons Supermarket
Verona Area Senior Center
Verona Hometown Pharmacy
Oregon
Firefly Coffeehouse
Oregon Area Senior Center
Oregon Library
Oregon Pharmacy
Oregon Pool
Zone Fitness
Evansville
Allen Realty
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Remax
Symdon Motors
Madison
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Gymfinity
Little Gym
Princeton Club East
Swim West
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And many more
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Unified Newspaper Group publisher of:

Fitchburg Star - 133 Enterprise Dr., Verona (608) 845-9559
Oregon Observer - 125 N. Main St., Oregon (608) 835-6677
Stoughton Courier Hub - 135 W. Main St. #102, Stoughton (608) 873-6671
Verona Press - 133 Enterprise Dr., Verona (608) 845-9559
4 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2016
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CONTENTS
YOUR FAMILY Spring 2016
is published by
UNIFIED
NEWSPAPER GROUP
133 Enterprise Dr. PO Box 930427
Verona WI 53593
(608) 845 9559
ON THE COVER
FOSTERING SUCCESS
...................................
Buff, a FIV-positive 3-year-old cat, is looking for

a home through Dane County Friends of Ferals.
Treating feral cats is one of the many niche
needs that nonprofit pet organizations have been
meeting over the years, including finding families
who will foster or adopt animals.
GENERAL MANAGER
Lee Borkowski
lborkowski@wcinet.com
EDITOR
Jim Ferolie
Photo by Samantha Christian
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Ellen Koeller
20
page
PHOTO EDITOR
Jeremy Jones
...................................
YOUR FAMILY STAFF
Jacob Bielanski, Samantha Christian,
Scott De Laruelle, Scott Girard,
Nancy Garcia, Anthony Iozzo,
Donna Larson, Bill Livick,
Kate Newton, Sandy Opsal,
Angie Roberts, Carolyn Schultz,
Catherine Stang and Laura Young
...................................
CONTACT US
Send all questions or submissions to
yourfamily@wcinet.com
...................................
YOUR FAMILY
is printed four times a year by
Woodward Printing Services
If you would like to have a copy of Your Family
delivered to your home, the cost is $8.00 for 1 year.
Please call (608) 845-9559 for more information.
Family Fun
Five ways to take a parents night out . . . . . . . .
Day Trip Cedarburg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Year-round surprises at the UW Aboretum . . . .
Now Enrolling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hockey team settling in to its small-town home. .
Calendar of events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outdoor Treasures . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Family Food
My Blood Type is Coffee Let it snow, please! . . . . . . .

Recipes Rockin red velvet trifle,
Irish soda bread, Cottage pie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Family Health
Planning for college Value of a satisfying career . . . . . .

Senior Living Giving caregivers a break. . . . . . . . . 26
Publishers of the
Oregon Observer
Stoughton Courier Hub
Verona Press
Great Dane Shopping News
Fitchburg Star
19
27
Family Life
Love WI accentuates the positive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To Your Health Working with a picky eater. . . . . . 31
FAMILYFUN
5 ways to
a
e
k
Ta o f f
t
h
g
ni
by Jim Ferolie
nyone with kids especially

if there are no grandparents
nearby knows how difficult
it can be to find time to get away and
just be adults.
Even worse, if you manage to find
a baby sitter, you might spend the
whole time away worrying whether
your kids are fixed on the boob tube or
engrossed in video games.
This need hasnt gone unrecognized.
Just as many kid-focused businesses
and nonprofit groups have cast their
lot into summer camps, theyve also
begun offering opportunities to drop
off the kids into a social environment.
Most run between $15 and $25 for
three to five hours, usually on Fridays
and Saturdays, and in most cases they
require kids to be potty trained.
Usually theyre called Parents Night
Out (PNO) or Parents Survival Nights,
and typically they involve movies,
active play, structured activities and
often dinner.
Gymnastics
Easily the most common option,

there are several gyms in Dane County
and the surrounding areas that offer
some form of PNOs. Gymfinity, the
Little Gym and Stoughton Tumblers all
host regular parent nights, as often as
twice a month.
These places are generally
experienced with training kids for
safety and corralling the little ones and
often use events like these, along with
day camps and open gyms, as a way to
promote their gymnastics programs.
Photo courtesy Pump it Up
Specialty sports spots
There are plenty of other places that

will try to treat the limits of your kids
seemingly boundless energy.
Pump it Up normally offers daytime
open gyms and birthday parties at its
inflatable wonderland in Fitchburg but
on occasional Fridays its open
for evening drop-offs. And Keva
Sports Center, in Middleton, hosts
monthly PNOs at its gigantic sports
complex.
Other kids programs come and
go. Madison Swim Academys website

promises theyll be starting parents
nights soon they have locations
in Fitchburg and Sun Prairie and
AniMart, on the east side of Madison,
was offering such programs at its pet
store until recently.
Schools and churches
This isnt really what it sounds

like, but nonprofit groups like school
PTOs and church groups often take
advantage of their knowledge of kids
FAMILYFUN
and ready access to adults with kids by
offering occasional nights out.
Kids Best Day Camp, offered by
Midvale Baptist Church, hosted several
of these events last fall.
Sometimes high school groups, such
as leadership or home skills classes,
will hold events, and occasionally
college groups, such as a program last
fall run by the University of Wisconsin
Whitewater gymnastics team. Check
locally for them.
Members only
Several fitness centers and similar

facilities offer parents nights for their
members. The YMCA of Dane County
has a variety of drop-in programs for
its members.
Harbor Fitness in Middleton also
offers members monthly drop in
programs.
Find them online
Parents night offerings change

frequently, and there are often new
plans, so its always good to check.
Madison Mamas, Moms Club of
Madison, Moms in Madison and
Madisonwithkids.com and Hulafrog
Photo courtesy Gymfinity
are some of the big ones around here,

offering blogs, support groups and
event listings. The Madison Moms blog
even hosts its own date nights.
None usually had a complete listing,
so it can be good to consult all of
them.
Hulafrog is another option to find
such offerings. Its an aggregator
website, with a national backing in
select communities (100 markets in 28
states). l
Programs for kids 4 months

through 12 years. Try us out
today!
Building
friendships,
fun, & confidence

one giggle
at a time
Fitchburg
www.tlgfitchburgwi.com
608.442.0608
Middleton
www.tlgmiddletonwi.com
608.836.3028
Parent/Child Classes Pre-K Gymnastics

Grade School Gymnastics Dance Karate
Sports Skills Awesome Birthday Bashes
Parents Survival Nights Camps
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FAMILYLIFE
Spreading the
Months-old project
shares positive things
about Wisconsin
by Scott Girard
Submitted photos
Jet Waller and Megan Monday founded the Love WI Project.
our months after launching a

Facebook group to share positive
stories around Wisconsin, Megan
Monday and Jet Waller are making sure
kids voices are part of the project.
The two women founded the Love
WI Project, which as of Feb. 17 had
more than 18,000 Likes on Facebook,
to share examples of ordinary people
doing extraordinary things, Waller
explained to Your Family.
They now have a website, lovewi.
com, and have started a campaign
that shares wishes for the future from
children around the state. The series
comprises videos of kids like Caleb,
an Appleton 12-year-old who wants to
create an airplane that doesnt burn
fossil fuels, and Lucy, a Wausau 7-yearold who thanked her teacher for helping
her learn to read and wishes that
we always have really great schools
and really great teachers like Ms.
Romanski.
The most exciting part about the
new venture, called Wish For WI, the
founders said, is that it will take place
offline as well as online, with the
hope that kids can share their wishes

at community centers or art centers
around the state.
But its the online component that
originally inspired the founders.
Social media and your online
community offer this great opportunity
to bridge across geographic distance,
Waller said.
Bridging that distance with positive
stories from different angles they have
three other series under the umbrella of
the Love WI Project is something the
two former documentary makers said it
special to them.
The broader goal of the project is
to represent the diversity of the whole
state, Monday said.
Giving kids a voice
The idea for the Wish For WI series

came when Monday was spending time
with her 6-year-old son, who began an
elaborate drawing of scene after scene
that became this swirl of action and
total narrative, she recalled.
I realized this is sort of stop
animation, Monday said. Kids could

tell any story they wanted through
illustrating it themselves.
A recent event at the Madison
Childrens Museum highlighted what the
pair hopes the Wish For WI project can
become.
After the project had uploaded some
of its videos filmed with kids around the
state, the founders talked with friends
who work at the museum and got them
to host an exhibit of childrens artwork
and art drop-in sessions for children to
draw their wish for the state.
In early February, the pair, along
with two of the kids already featured in
videos, went to an open house night at
which they shared the idea and helped
kids illustrate their ideas.
Eventually, the founders hope to
receive a grant to do similar events
elsewhere, especially communities that
may not always get an opportunity to do
a project like this, Waller said.
We would still do a lot of
collaboration with them, but it would
be something that other organizations
could run themselves, she added.
FAMILYLIFE
Posts of children from the event
holding their drawings and explaining
their wishes have flooded the groups
Facebook page recently. The ideas range
from more museums for kids (Gretyl,
5, Madison) and a clean beach to go
to (James, 5, Watertown) to a wish that
every child can have their own bike
(Harper, 6, Madison) and another that
we will find a way for everyone in the
world to have clean water (Varanika, 6,
Madison).
Thats really important today, so I
really loved that one, Monday said.
The founders each said they hope
others can recognize that kids have a
lot of wisdom to share, as Monday said,
and recognize the project as a way for
them to share it.
Its really open to the childrens
experiences of what theyve had in their
short lives here in our state, she said.
You really get a wide variety.
Celebrating the positives
The idea for the overall Love WI

Project came from seeing too much
negativity.
Were moms, we want our kids to be
growing up celebrating these types of
stories and not so much stories that are
negative, Waller said. We thought we

could be part of the solution.
It was easy to find, they said, as there
are plenty of positives about Wisconsin
and people from the state. Waller and
Monday can vouch for that neither
was born here, so they recognize the
differences with other parts of the
country.
We have been able to pick out the
really interesting, quirky, cool things
about Wisconsin because we have an
outsider perspective, Waller said. We
can see all of the really positive things
about the state.
Sharing those positive things and
having so much immediate feedback via
Facebook has connected people across
the state.
You see a lot of adults and
grandparents and people just really
getting excited about the childrens
artwork and what theyre saying, Waller
said. The community isnt just from
Madison or Dane County, theyre from
all over the state.
Stories galore
The idea for the overall project came

from a well-known Facebook page that
has turned into two books: Humans of
New York.
Waller and Monday said they wanted
to explore the same idea in which the
HONY founder takes photos of people
in New York and includes a quote about
something in their life or their day and
apply it to Wisconsin.
Thats what they did with the
Wisconsin Portraits portion of the Love
WI Project.
What does it mean to be from here?
Waller said. Its just a portrait and a
quote and its incredibly powerful.
Beyond that and Wish for WI, the
founders have created WI Generations
and most recently Wiscostyle.
Theres many series and theres lots
of different directions, Monday said.
Its kind of a big documentary project
to tell the story of our state.
The generations program explores
the different experience of living in
Wisconsin depending on how many
generations of a family has lived here.
The Wiscostyle series focuses on
celebrating the quirky things about
Wisconsin, Monday said.
We have a really, really unique
culture here and theres a lot of state
pride, she said. We just wanted to
explore what that meant to people. l
Photos by Ka Lok
Gretyl, age 5
Madison
I wish we had more museums
for kids.
Harper, age 6
Madison
I wish every child can have
their own bike.
Varanika, age 6
Madison
I wish we could find a way
for everyone in the world
to have clean water.
To see all of the Wish For WI videos,

visit the Love Wi Project website at lovewi.com.
FAMILYFUN
BRIDGING
D
.
.
.
p
i
r
ay T
Before you
plan your trip,
visit
cedarburg.org
for a list of
upcoming
events
and festivals.
generations
Strolling through Cedarburgs

historic shopping district along the water
Story and photos by Samantha Christian
Exploring Cedarburg a quaint, artsy city north of Milwaukee has been on my
to-do list for nearly two years.
The trip was envisioned as a girls day-cation with my older sister, Katie, and our
mom, Carol, but our plans changed when life happened literally.
Apparently pregnancy makes you utter the phrase, I want to, but just dont feel
up to it, to almost everything. The months flew by and we missed the short window
between not worrying about lugging a stroller through cute stores (when my energetic
nephew starting walking) and my sisters aversion to certain types of food (thanks to
baby No. 2), so I stopped pestering her about coming along.
My mom and I finally put a date on the calendar in January rushed, in part, by this
story deadline and also before her neck surgery and Cedarburg lived up to the hype.
Take a step back in time when you stroll past the architecture of the Washington
Avenue Historic District, visit charming shops in an old mill,
walk through Wisconsins last covered bridge and order
drive-in food from a carhop on roller skates.
FAMILYFUN
If you have some time to spare, follow the scenic route to Cedarburg on lesstraveled roads. After winding past Erin Hills Golf Course on Hwy. 167, drivers
will get a few chances to see Holy Hill, a huge basilica, near Hubertus. From
May 1 to Oct. 31 (weather-permitting), drop by to climb the towers 178 stairs
for a magnificent view atop one of the highest points in southeastern Wisconsin.
Picking a pace
Erika Langecker, of Fox Point, browses a selection of antiques at

Generations Consignment, located in an 1890s Victorian home at W62
N556 Washington Ave.
City with character
After taking the scenic route by Holy Hill, we arrived shortly

after 10 a.m. and were greeted by some lake-effect flurries.
Most businesses open right around that time and parking
spots are generally only for two or four hours, so plan
accordingly.
Our first stop was the General Store Museum (closed
Sundays) on the south end of Washington Avenue. The restored
1860s building which houses the visitor center and chamber
of commerce is a fitting place to begin a day trip in such a
historic place.
There we plucked brochures from stacks, and a friendly
gentleman behind the counter answered our dining questions and
handed us a map of area attractions and shops. This tool proved
to be helpful in tracking our progress as we zigzagged north
along the main drag.
For those looking for a more structured schedule, consider
guided walking or bus tours that make specific stops at the
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, Cultural Center
Gallery and Cedarburg Art Museum destinations we didnt have
time to fully explore.
Adventurous types looking for more natural views of the city
can bring a bike and pedal onto the Ozaukee Interurban Trail
(based on the old rail line) that crosses Cedar Creek downtown.
We, on the other hand, just followed our eyes, ears and and noses.
Cedarburg may be home to Downtown Dough (featuring over

2,500 cookie cutters), but the city is anything but cookie-cutter.
While a quick drive down Washington Avenue will reveal
some of its character, youll have to open a few doors or
venture down side streets to really discover its charm.
The buildings in the downtown district (often made from
locally-quarried limestone and fieldstone) were designed
in Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and vernacular
architecture styles, as noted by a historical marker. Many stores
selling 21st-century goods were once the homes and businesses
of early German and Irish settlers in the early 19th and 20th
centuries.
Ivy is sprawled along the side of some of these buildings,
including Lillies which sells eco-friendly, fairly traded goods
and organic, natural fiber clothing. Its also a neat place to pick
up a toy for little ones or furry friends. There my mom found
a zip-up hoodie that will be stylish yet functional when shes
restricted in a neck brace for weeks on end.
Lillies has a sister store just up the block called Weeds,
which offers green home and garden products. Browse
through a huge selection of loose-leaf teas, and try not to crack
up when you see an assortment of recycled scrap metal lawn
ornaments especially the frenzied monster feasting on a pink
flamingo.
Continued on page 12
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail and Interurban Bridge cut through

downtown Cedarburg.
Jimmy Fortunato, known as Jimmy the Popcorn Man, greets a customer at

his old-fashioned popcorn cart along Washington Avenue.
BRIDGING GENERATIONS
FAMILYFUN
Continued from page 11

Kitty-corner from Lillies is Generations Consignment, a
Victorian house built in the 1890s that has evolved into a
collectors delight. We took turns sitting in a burgundy and
gold wing chair, imagining how nice it would be to curl up
in it while reading a book by a fire.
If you dont find the treasure youre looking for, there
are other antique stores scattered throughout town.
To determine whether Cedarburg would appeal to
someone with vastly different interests from ours, we put
it through the W.W.J.D. test: What Would John (my dad)
Do?
Over the years, he has tagged along with us on several
shopping excursions, and one of his favorite pastimes is
people watching. That is, to find a comfortable place to
sit where one can observe human behaviors, appearances
and conversations or perhaps just take a nap.
With its close proximity of stores, sheer number of
visitors and availability of all-weather seating (displayed at
the Amish Craftsmen Guild II), Cedarburg is a fine setting
for such an activity.
For my dad and others who arent particularly keen
on searching for trinkets, there are plenty of other things
to do. Consider reading the historical markers placed
throughout the city (over 100 downtown buildings are
historically significant) or peering into the old lobbies of
bed and breakfasts like the Washington House Inn.
Those with some extra time on their hands could get
a haircut at McCutcheons Barber Shop (you cant miss
the revolving red, white and blue pole) or catch a movie
playing at the Rivoli Theatre, which was once a general
store in the 1840s and is now the last single-screen theater
in Ozaukee County.
Tempting tastes
As noon approached, our time was up to move our

vehicle and we were getting hungry.
We swiftly sifted through hangers of vintage and eclectic
clothing at a resale shop before parking near the library on
Hanover Street. Behind us on the corner of Center Street
was Mortons WisconsInn.
Jovial conversations were had among retirees at the
bar while a young family next to us dined on burgers and
fries. We were tempted to order a fish fry but curbed our
appetite with a cocktail instead. Their Bloody Mary is
A car zooms past the Rivoli Theatre, W62 N567 Washington Ave., which
was restored to its 1936 art deco appearance after the Cedarburg Landmark
Preservation Society purchased the building in 2006.
spiced with your choice of garlic or jalapeno and speared

with a pickle, olive, plump shrimp and chunk of sausage.
You wont be twiddling your thumbs at Mortons corner
tavern; theres too much to look at. Magazine clippings,
jokes and beverage advertisements are plastered on
its walls, ceiling and even the restrooms, making this
establishment one you wont soon forget.
But we were only a quarter of the way through our
destination with five hours left of daylight, so we decided
to move on to the next stretch of stores.
After checking out chalk paint and Wisconsin-made
home decor at Bohemia, we popped into the Cedarburg Toy
Co., filled with wooden blocks, puzzles and games. Just
when we pushed the crosswalk button for Columbia Road
(that audibly instructed us when to wait or walk), we were
pulled in another direction.
A rich, sweet smell wafted over us, and as we turned
around, our eyes met rows of giant apples drizzled with
nuts and Belgian chocolate. So we floated into Amys
Candy Kitchen just to look, of course and minutes later
left with a dark chocolate dipped apricot and coconut
haystack. We banished guilt from our heads because, hey,
its still fruit.
It was then we realized we needed a full lunch in order
to focus on the remainder of our trip.
Our first choice, Waynes Drive-In, closed for the season
Nov. 15 and wont reopen until April 4, so well just have to
come back during one of its summer cruise nights to see
its retro wait staff on wheels and get a taste of nostalgia.
We agreed to try The Stilt House, a gastro bar that
specializes in small plates, craft beers and over 30 wines.
The story goes that in the 1900s, when the city denied
Nick Schuh Tavern permission to add a second floor, the
owner raised the building up on stilts and built a first floor
underneath instead.
We were seated at a tall bistro table near the front
entrance and ordered meals from the land and sea: a
lobster BLT & E (topped with a sunny-side up egg) and ahi
tuna arugula salad. When we paid our bill around 2:30 p.m.,
not a crumb was left on our plates.
The restaurant marked our halfway point along
Washington Avenue. Only a few hours remained before
most stores closed for the evening, and I still wanted to
make another stop on the outskirts of town before dark.
Mortons WisconsInn, N56 W6339 Center Street, is full of eclectic

character from floor to ceiling.
FAMILYFUN
Photo by Sean Drews

Waynes Drive-In, 1331 Covered Bridge Road, is a popular dining spot,
especially on Thursday cruise nights in summer when carhops on roller skates
deliver meals to car windows.
Venturing north
We temporarily split up so I could

cover some more ground while my
mom walked back to pick up the
vehicle. On the way to our meeting spot
at Birchwood Wells vintage home decor
store, a few fixtures near the sidewalks
north of the bike trail caught my eye.
First was a wide water dish and
bowl of dog treats outside of Advent
Lutheran Church, which instantly
warmed my pet-loving heart on such a
wintry day. And across the street near
City Hall was an old-fashioned popcorn
wagon, where Jimmy the Popcorn Man
continues the citys tradition of serving
flavorful kernels year-round.
But I had a frozen treat (or rather its
packaging) on my mind. Having grown
up with the image of a covered bridge
on cartons of Cedar Crest Ice Cream, I
always wondered what it would be like
to see Wisconsins last in person.
Five minutes later, I found out.
The bridge built in 1876 is the
focal point of a quiet park at the corner
of the aptly named Covered Bridge
and Cedar Creek roads. Going there
to walk through the sturdy pine logs
(the surface of which has been etched
with initials, plus signs and hearts over
the years) suspended over water was
the perfect break from the hustle and
bustle downtown.
On our way back into the city we
drove past Firemens Park, which will
come to life during the 157th Ozaukee
County Fair one of the last free fairs
in the Midwest from Aug. 3-7.
As we circled back to the north end
of downtown, we spotted a group of ice
skaters behind whats known as Cedar
Creek Settlement a restored former
textile mill along the water.
There youll find dozens of specialty
Snow gently falls around Wisconsins last covered bridge, built in 1876.
shops and restaurants, including

Cedar Creek Pottery and Cedar Creek
Winery (I recommend their cabernet
sauvignon). If youre not sure where its
located, look for the towering chimney
of the 19th century blacksmiths shop
that has been converted into the Anvil
Pub and Grille.
We had less than an hour in the
rustic enclave, but I would guess some
people could spend an entire day there.
Knowing we still had the drive home,
we briskly walked around the block

and poked in a few more stores.
In an unexpected turn of events,
we ended our day taking shots of
oil. The Olive Sprigs many varieties
of extra virgin olive oils and aged
balsamic vinegars were satisfying
enough for us to leave Cedarburg
without an evening meal.
But it still left us hungry for a return
trip perhaps in a few years with my
sister and her kiddos. l
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FAMILYFUN
The forest
in the city
From birds to blooms,
spring in the arboretum is a new surprise every day
by Jacob Bielanski
Photos courtesy UW Arboretum
ack when it was just two square

miles of derelict farmland, Aldo
Leopold laid out the vision of
the University of Wisconsin Arboretum
as a place where the serious-minded
can learn, by looking at them, the
difference between a white and black
spruce.
Today, the UW Arboretum has more
than quintupled in size, but its purpose
still traces back to those roots a
space where the then-radical ideas of
conservation and natural restoration
give children and adults alike a space
to walk, breathe and learn.
As springtime comes upon us,
Spring in the Native Plant Garden (foreground) and

Longenecker Horticultural Gardens (background).
the forests and marshes of the

UW Arboretum will undergo rapid
transformations, offering at different
times an ideal outlet for bird
watching, taking in the flowers or
simply exploring. These changes are
made that much more drastic by an
tours throughout the season, and can

keep you updated on the latest bird
sightings and flower blooms. Whether
you come with a pair of binoculars or
running shorts, here is what visitors
can expect from the UW Arboretum
through the spring.
In blooms
Quince in Longenecker Horticultural Gardens.

Quince is one of several shrubs and trees that
blooms before leaves emerge.
unusual winter and the uncertainty of

what the spring months will bring.
Moisture and temperature will
change a number of factors, including
the date and length of flower blooms,
when and if monarch butterflies flutter
through and even whether birds nest
in the mashes or keep moving north.
Climate changes impact is not always
apparent from year to year, UW
Arboretum gardener Susan Carpenter
told Your Family, but the general trend
is that these seasonal occurrences
happen earlier every year. Year to year,
however, migrations and growths still
depend on short-term forecasts.
This can make it hard to know
when is best for your arboretum trip.
Thankfully, making the most of the
arboretum during spring is made easier
by the staff that helps maintain the
forest.
The visitors center holds regular
Initially, watch for the branches to

change color as the forest wakes up
from a winter slumber, Carpenter said.
You read that right: the branches.
Before the leaves have even come
on, youll see just kind of a different
color to the willows and maples, she
said.
In the early months, the forest
will also see the emergence of pussy
willows. These iconic plants that flower
with a fuzzy silver pods will take over
the landscape early before the growing
leaves block out the sunlight.
Certainly, flowers and plants seize
on the readily available sunlight of the
early spring to do some close-to-theground growing. Arboretum-goers who
get in after the snow has melted, but
before the leaves begin blocking out
the sun, could receive a treat of early
spring flowers, such as Dutchmans
breeches or rue anemones.
Spring is particularly good for the
forests, as the prairies and marshes
are largely undergoing a greening
Carpenter said.
As springtime goes on, the emerging
leaves will change the face of the
forest floor, and the more prominent
FAMILYFUN
wildflowers will begin to sprout,
such as lilacs and black-eyed susans.
Carpenter said a rainier, cooler spring
generally extends the wildflower bloom
time, while a drier, hotter spring will
make the blooming period short.
For the birds
Every spring, migrating birds will

find their way back from warmer
climates through, or sometimes to,
Wisconsin. These migration calendars,
however, are not set in stone. Weather
variations, both in Wisconsin and down
south, will dictate when the arboretum
will come alive with the sound of
chirping.
At the peak of it, you might see up
to 50 species of birds, Carpenter said.
She recommended the Wingra Oak
Savannah, just off of Monroe Street,
for some of the best bird viewing.
Carpenter said its particularly good
when the leaves are not yet on the
trees. Though experienced bird
watchers typically search by song, the
lack of leaves opens the experience up
to the less knowledgeable.
Amateur birders are apt to try to
see the birds, she said.
Sandhill cranes, for example, are one
of those majestic fowl that, depending
on many factors, may simply pass
through the arboretum or, on occasion,
choose it as its nesting ground.
Other birds
to look out for
include
the
woodcock, a
Wisconsin stalwart
that Carpenter said begins
making its appearance in April.
Around that time, these birds will
engage in a mating ritual often called
the sky-dance. Full-moon walks, held
monthly in the arboretum, or stops at
the visitors center around April, will
help new and experienced birders alike
to find the latest on this birds activity.
Though some species will choose
Wisconsin to nest, Carpenter said
that many more will continue to nest
further north, leaving a small window
to do the best bird watching.
She
recommended eBird
website for finding the
latest user-submitted sightings, to
determine when residents should plan
their own birding trip.
Once you spot the birds, the same
website can be used to help others. l
UW Arboretum
Trails open daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Visitor center open Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Saturday and
Sunday from 12:30-4 p.m.
Volunteering
Spring offers some of the best volunteer opportunities for families at the
UW Arboretum.
Arboretum gardener Susan Carpenter said there are volunteer needs that
can accommodate virtually any age group, from clearing invasive species
to collecting seeds for replanting.
To set up an opportunity for your family to volunteer learning about
conservation and Wisconsin ecology in the process call volunteer
coordinator Judy Kingsbury at 262-5604.
The social arboretum
Sandhill cranes in Curtis Prairie. Sandhill cranes mate

for life and stay together year-round. The arboretum is
a seasonal habitat to several nesting pairs.
Male wild turkeys strut in spring to assert dominance and attract females.
Every spring day can bring something new to the arboretum.

From bird migrations to flower blooms, the day-to-day weather can
change the timing of these natural cycles.
To get the most up-to-date information on whats going on in the forests
and marshes, connect with the arboretum through its social media
channels:
- Instagram: @uwarboretum
- Twitter: @uwarboretum
- Facebook: facebook.com/UWMadisonArboretum
Taking tours
There are many ways to enjoy the arboretum by yourself or as part of a

group.
Public tour walks are held every Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.,
beginning at the arboretums visitor center, but family-specific walks
are scheduled on the second Sunday, focusing on topics of interest to
youngsters.
Garden tours are also set to begin in April every Saturday afternoon from
1-3 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. until dark.
Even if youre a beginning birder or amateur ecologist, the visitors
center has you covered with a birders backpack that can be checked out
at any time for your walk.
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Come Swim With Us This Spring!

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stjamesschool.org | 268-9935
A VALUES-BASED
EDUCATION COMMITTED
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located near
meriter hospital
Scouting is
about
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The Scouts strive to achieve leadership and character development and maintain the core values of the
Scout Law:
A teaching staff who prepares

lessons that are engaging,
challenging, and diverse to
meet the needs and abilities of
the students and who interacts
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Students who feel safe, loved,

and challenged.
Parents who feel support and

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Contact us for registration

information or to schedule a tour:
(608) 873-3343 or stanns@stanns-school.org
A Scout is...
trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
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FAMILYFOOD
Might as well bring on spring

MY BLOOD TYPE IS COFFEE
BY RHONDA MOSSNER
his year, Phil the Groundhog

didnt even need to chomp on the
ear of his mayor friend in Sun
Prairie to predict the weather.
Even the other Phil, in Gobblers
Knob agreed. No shadow. Brace
yourselves: Spring is coming in only six
weeks!
Then again, it would still be coming
in six weeks had those two chiseltoothed rodents not seen their shadows.
After this strange winter weve had
this year, we might as well call it done
and wrap it up. This was the year of no
winter for the snow lovers in Wisconsin.
We have been cheated, folks. We
should complain.
Granted, weve had a little snow.
There was that evening in the dark a
couple of weeks ago driving to my quilt
guild meeting that was a little dicey. And
weve had a couple of minor snowfalls.
But there was no real snow.
I have missed my morning time with
my shovel and bucket of ice melt. I
havent lost any mittens or gloves, slid
to an almost stop and called it good,
taken my life into my own hands on
the Beltline during a snow emergency
or even seen the city snow plow driver
more than twice this whole season!
I want to commiserate and complain
about my face being so frozen that my
only chance of defrosting it is over a hot
cup of coffee at The Sows Ear with my
quilting friends.
Where did all of our snow go? We
know where.
We tried to be nice as we witnessed
endless feet of snow cascading down all
along the East Coast in areas that didnt
have plows to push it around. We envied
our Southern neighbors as they found
themselves stranded at home for days.
We watched them empty grocery store
shelves and stand in gas lines to get
through it all.
They panicked. We were jealous.
It only goes to prove that snowstorms
should be left in the hands of
Midwesterners.
First of all, we know to keep at
least a few days of food and emergency

supplies in the cupboard during the cold
season that doesnt require refrigeration
along with other general supplies you
might need should your power go out.
No self-respecting Wisconsinite would
be seen running to or from a grocery
store in a panic before a snowstorm.
We just deal with it. A few books,
food, quilts, batteries and a snow
shovel. Give us the Packers in the
playoffs and the Badgers headed toward
the NCAA basketball tournament and
were good to go.
My husband and I lived in an area
south of here for a few years, and
it was hilarious watching the locals
race around gathering supplies before
each snowfall. They stood in gas lines,
grocery lines and lottery ticket lines
before a snowstorm was predicted.
We never met one person who won
the lottery during a snowstorm or
any other time but to each his own.
I always wondered how the winner
would drive to collect on their winnings
if the roads were impassable, but I am
guessing they would have found a way.
The locals also introduced us to
the French Toast Survival Theory. The
idea is that all you need are the three
basic ingredients to survive any snow
emergency bread, milk and eggs.
You need milk to drink for the
protein and it can also be used with
the eggs to make breakfast. The eggs
you can poach, boil, scramble or fry for
any meal. The bread will enable you to
make regular toast, French toast and
sandwiches, or you could tear up into
pieces and make a bread pudding should
you find yourself in a baking mood.
Needless to say, these three
ingredients are the most sought-after
items in the state once the declaration
of frozen precipitation is made over the
air.
Schools are closed, work is cut short
and its time to prepare for the worst.
Or two inches of snow. Whichever might
come first upon their doorstep.
I cant remember a time when I ever
ran to the grocery store to prepare for

weather emergencies. I usually gathered
quilt supplies at the fabric store instead.
Theres no real emergency until a quilter
has run out of thread.
When that happens, no amount of
snow will keep me from the nearest
store.
After eight years, were happy to
be back among our own snow-loving
friends in Wisconsin. We like to sit
next to the fire and watch the snow
come down, then go to bed at night and
wonder if the weather folks are correct
in their 12-inch snowfall predictions by
morning.
We can only hope.
Until it finally comes, you wont
find me at the grocery store. I am
well stocked in French toast supplies
already. Thanks. l
In addition to her blog,
TheDanglingThread.blogspot.com,
Rhonda Mossner is a professional
speaker, quilter and chef. She is
known as The Quilter Cook and
travels throughout the area sharing
her quilts, stories and recipes.
SWEET SNOW
DAY TREATS
1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed

6 Tablespoons Nutella
1 egg, beaten
Powdered sugar for dusting
1) U
nfold puff pastry; cut into six
rectangles. Place on a greased baking
sheet. Spread 1 Tablespoon Nutella
over half of a rectangle; fold dough
over filling. Press edges with a fork
to seal. Repeat for remaining pastries.
Brush with egg; prick tops with a fork.
2) B ake at 400 for 10-14 minutes
or until puffy and golden brown.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar if
desired. Serve warm.
(Makes 6 servings)
*Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home
Bakeshop Favorites
FAMILYLIFE
Saving
gracefully
Pet rescue organizations expand services, fill niches to find homes for animals
Story and photos by Kate Newton
Bad Dog Frida employee Stephanie Schultz cuddles with 9-week-old puppy Majors during a meet-and-greet for Fetch Wisconsin rescue
at the pet supply store in east Madison.
oster parents rarely have to

deliver babies in their living
room, but thats the situation Cait
Berry found herself in while caring for
a dog from the nonprofit organization
Fetch Wisconsin Rescue.
Delivering puppies wasnt part of
her skill set, though, and after a frantic
phone call, a veterinarian advised not
to move the dog. So rather than panic,
Berry sought moral support from
her fellow Fetch fosterers, or Fetch
Nation, in her words, via Facebook.
Within minutes, several of them
watched together as Izzy gave birth to
seven healthy puppies. And when Izzy,

a puppy herself, lost interest in them
several weeks later, Berry stepped in,
mixing a special blend of food several
times a day and feeding the puppies,
one by one, with her pinky finger.
It was an interesting experience, to
say the least, she said with a laugh.
In spite of the occasional surprise
like signing up for one dog and
getting eight instead people who
foster rescue animals represent a
growing trend that has played a part
in drastically reducing the amount of
homeless animals euthanized in the
United States in recent decades.

In 1970, when foster programs
were scarce, shelters euthanized 24
million healthy and treatable animals.
Today, the kill rates are less than 10
percent of that number, according to
the California-based animal rescue
organization, Maddies Fund, and many
organizations avoid euthanizing animals
altogether.
Adoption rates have risen, as well.
A 2016 survey by the American Pet
Products Association found that
more than 40 percent of pets had
been adopted from animal shelters
FAMILYLIFE
and rescue groups, compared with 27
percent in 2008.
Fostering, though, represents only
one facet of the services Dane Countys
independent pet rescue organizations
provide. Working in conjunction with
larger shelters in the state, and one
another, these groups have carved their
own paths in their efforts to provide
shelter, care or, in many cases, a loving
home to animals in need.
Those paths frequently intersect,
whether theyre adoption-focused like
Fetch, or, in the case of organizations
like the Stoughton-based nonprofit
Buddy of Mine, aim to address the
needs of pets as well as the people who
care for them.
Were trying to be a conduit so that
we can all work together, Buddy of
Mine founder Larry Eifert said. Instead
of duplicating services lets just all
work together and make sure that were
taking care of the pets, and at the same
time, taking care of the people that
Helena Analla, 2, of Madison, plays with Gabby, a 9-month-old domestic shorthair mix, at Angels Wish
adoption and resource center in Verona.
have those pets.
Failures that work
Fostering pets doesnt always

work out as planned. Occasionally,
foster homes unintentionally become
permanent, and are known as foster
fails.
Berry herself is a foster fail (or,
as she prefers, a foster win). After
adopting both of her dogs rat terrier
mixes Sophie and Stan through Fetch,
Berry wanted to get more involved
with the organization, and has fostered
around 25 dogs in addition to serving
on the groups board of directors as its
vice president of public relations.

I think you have that really personal
connection when you adopt your dog
from a rescue because theyre the
ones that made it possible to bring that
dog home into your life, Berry said.
Another foster fail is Lauren
Wojtasiak, executive director and
founder of Underdog Pet Rescue. She
estimates that within the group, one
(MADAC), rural shelters like the Adams

County Humane Society and even
shelters in the southern United States
that regularly experience overcrowding
and euthanize at a higher rate.
Wojtasiak attributed the success and
sustained growth of those adoptions to
Underdogs foster homes, explaining
that it enables organizations like hers
to get to know animals at a level that
I think you have that really personal

connection when you adopt your dog from a
rescue because theyre the ones that made it
possible to bring that dog home into your life.
Cait Berry
out of every two new foster homes
ends up keeping the pet they take
home.
Wojtasiak founded Underdog in
2012 after volunteering for nearly a
decade with other animal organizations,
including the Milwaukee Animal
Resource Center and Wisconsin
Humane Society. She said she had a
goal to perform five adoptions in the
first year and ended up doing 100.
Underdog has now performed more
than 700 adoptions, with about 45 foster
homes sheltering its animals.
At Underdog, foster animals mostly
come from the Milwaukee Area
Domestic Animal Control Commission
would be hard to accomplish in a

typical shelter setting.
Fostering makes our adoptions stick
better, because were getting to know
what the animals are like in a real-life
setting, Wojtasiak said.
Lindsey Decker, who has fostered
about 30 animals for Underdog, said she
still babysits some of the animals that
have since been adopted after being in
her care.
Its very rewarding work, Decker
said. Youre saving these animals from
from shelters where theyd possibly be
euthanized and giving them a home, and
your pets a friend, as well.
9-week-old Rory (pictured) and his sibling Majors, live together in a Fetch foster home, and both have adoptions pending.
Continued on page 22
SAVING Continued from page 21
FAMILYLIFE
Home for the misfits
Because both Underdog and Fetch lack a centralized

location to serve as a shelter, the animals they take on must be
transferred directly to foster homes. Rescue organizations like
the Dane County Friends of Ferals (DCFoF) and Angels Wish,
however, have formal shelters in addition to their own foster
programs.
Amy Good, president of the board of directors of Angels Wish,
called fostering the ideal system.
People are drawn to the fact that our cats are fostered and
we know everything about them, and its much easier to make a
match, she added. The ones coming straight in from humane
societies that never get into our foster homes, at least were
pulling from humane societies were really comfortable with.
DCFoF also maintains a close relationship with more
traditional shelters. The nonprofit started in the barn of the
Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) 15 years ago, and their
relationship has continued, as the organization accepts many of
the humane societys cats that dont meet its adoption standards.
While cats on the fence between feral and tame may need
a little more time at the shelter, DCFoF director Colin Steinke
said other cats particularly kittens and shy cats who need
more socialization are moved into foster homes as quickly as
possible after undergoing a full veterinary intake exam.
Its a good opportunity for cats to get out of the cage, get the
care that they need and be in an environment that is much more
friendly than the shelter, he said.
DCFoFs intake also includes outdoor cats from Elmbrook
Humane Society in Brookfield, as well as some public surrenders.
Steinke said shelter transfers remain their priority, though,
because those typically are cats that just have no other option.
Lindsey Decker says goodbye to Bella, the dog she fostered for Underdog
Pet Rescue, before Bella goes home with her new adoptive family.
Adoptions and population control
DCFoF helps truly feral cats, as well. Its a proponent of

the TNR method, or Trap-Neuter-Return, to help control the
population. Using TNR, and with the assistance of the Spay Me
Clinic, which performs low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, the
organization neuters about 50 cats per month.
But its focus, like so many other groups, is adoptions. Steinke
said DCFoF performed more than 820 adoptions last year, a 15
percent increase from 2014.
Meanwhile, Angels Wish was having one of its best months
ever this January, Good said. She recalled the scene during a
recent intake day at the shelter, as four of the 15 cats brought in
one day were adopted within the hour.
Id bring cats up to the cage and I literally had a group of
people following me, she said. By the time Id come out with
the next cat, another one had already gone into a visiting room
with a family.
The level of growth at Angels Wish is prompting the

organization to configure its shelter space, and after 15 years of
operation, Good said shes encouraged to see more foster-based
organizations cropping up in the area.
Dane County is very generous to groups like ours, she
added.
Steve Stone (right) and wife Jamie greet one of the cats up for adoption
during a weekly adoption fair for Dane County Friends of Ferals at MadCat
on Madisons far west side. The Stones had recently experienced the loss of
their 22-year-old cat, and were exploring the idea of adopting a new pet.
Making a match
While Steinke, Berry and Wojtasiak all described their

respective organizations as matchmaking services for people and
their prospective pets, they have different approaches to sealing
the deal.
Steinke said that DCFoF has followed the humane societys
lead in making their adoption process easier and more inviting
in recent months, decreasing the cats average length of stay in
the shelter as a result. This helps keep the animals healthier, and
especially in the case of outdoor cats returns them to a more
comfortable environment once theyre adopted.
Were offering a public service, but at the same time were
trying to connect people with their next animal, and that can be
a really rewarding thing, he said.
Because its shelter is not open to the public, the organization
holds weekly adoption fairs at MadCat pet supply store on
Madisons far west side. On a recent Saturday, two kittens were
quickly adopted, and a father and son who had been driving
by the store stopped by and left minutes later with two more
kittens.
If youre getting a mortgage, you should for sure be
scrutinized, and all of your finances should be looked at,
Steinke said. Adopting an animal should not be the same
process it should be an exciting process that makes you feel
good about what youre doing.
Underdog takes a similar approach. When people interested
in adopting put in an application for an animal online,
Wojtasiak consults with the foster home caring for that animal
to determine if they think itll be a good fit. If they agree, a
meeting is set up, and if things work out from there, the animal
can go home with them that same day if theyre healthy and
ready.
Animals that come from the southern shelters especially
benefit from this, she added.
They might have been sitting for months down south, and
theyre adopted within less than a week of being vetted up here,
Wojtasiak explained.
Fetch also takes in animals from out-of-state shelters,
FAMILY LIFE
particularly from Chicago, Indiana and southern states, but
(stands) by the effectiveness of its more lengthy adoption
process, Berry said. After putting in an application for a dog,
potential adopters undergo a background check and must submit
multiple references.
If no red flags turn up, and if a subsequent home visit with
a volunteer goes well, the person or family becomes an active
adopter and are eligible to meet animals theyre interested in.
Berry said that while some people are eager to get a dog right
away, most recognize that having a dog is a lifelong commitment
worth waiting for. The process also allows Fetch to get a feel
for applicants needs and lifestyles, she added, which ultimately
results in a better match.
Helping people help pets
Despite their differences in protocol, representatives of

each organization praised the extensive network of pet rescue
organizations in Dane County that pool resources towards a
shared goal: helping homeless pets within and beyond its borders.
And yet, Wojtasiak said there are voids in the community that still
need to be filled.
The biggest, she said, is a better infrastructure for shortterm foster care for the pets of people who are hospitalized or
experiencing difficult transitions like rehab or homelessness.
Increasing pet food and medical care access for low-income pet
owners is another need, she added.
Buddy of Mine is one such organization attempting to help
people better care for their pets.
The organization, which started in fall 2011 and is named for
founder Larry Eiferts 13-year-old border collie, conducts two
clinics a year one for free heartworm testing and another for
rabies vaccinations. It also partners with veterinary clinics in
Stoughton and Oregon that provide discounted services, including
Chalet Veterinary Clinic and the Oregon Veterinary Clinic.
Buddy of Mine also runs a no-interest grant and loan program
to help people pay for their pets emergency medical bills and
distributes free pet food during its annual holiday fundraiser.
Eifert said he and his small team of volunteers are always looking
for new ways to get involved, rather than duplicate services that
already exist.
Their next venture (named Gentle Benevolence in honor of
a board member Kelli McKinleys late pet, Ben) aims to support
pet owners who are having to put down a pet alone or for the
first time. Eifert and McKinley plan to recruit volunteers who
can help walk the person through the process before it happens
and accompany them to the vet if they need support. Afterward,
theyll follow up the next day, next week, next month and
beyond to see how theyre coping, providing assistance as long as
its needed.
Eifert added that because Gentle Benevolence is the only
service of its kind in the area, it might end up being the most
important resource Buddy of Mine provides.
Theres other people giving away pet food, and theres people
that do rabies clinics and heartworm clinics, he said, But this
might be an area that we can make an impact on.
Eifert thinks that while the pet rescue infrastructure in Dane
County is great, he hopes to see further collaboration between
groups in the future, as well as a greater sense of community built
around their shared goal: to provide resources to people who,
in turn, help create a better environment for the animals in their
lives.
Steinke agrees, and offered his organizations take on that goal.
They (cats) are our mission, but at the same time, so are
people, and its all encompassed in just trying to find the best
outcome for everybody, he said. l
Fetch Wisconsin Rescue
fetchwi.org
Contact: 608-561-3827, fetchwirescue@gmail.com
All-breed dog rescue; fostering available
Adoption fees: $325 for puppies, $275 for adults (spay and
neuter, microchip and basic veterinary exam included)
Dane County Friends of Ferals
daneferals.org
Contact: info@daneferals.org or adoptions@daneferals.org
Tame/indoor and feral/outdoor cat rescue; fostering
available
Adoption fees: $20-125 (indoor cats); $10 plus tax (outdoor
cats)
Weekly adoption fairs Saturdays from noon-3:30 p.m. at
MadCat Pet Supplies, 7820 Mineral Point Road
Underdog Pet Rescue
underdogpetrescue.org
Contact: 608-224-0018, info@underdogpetrescue.org
All-breed animal rescue; fostering available
Adoption fees: $250 (adult dog), $325 (puppies under 5
months); $50 (adult cat), $100 (kittens under 5 months)
To meet adoptable animals, visit Underdog at 231 S.
Fair Oaks Ave. in Madison from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays,
Tuesdays and Thursdays; 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays; and
noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Angels Wish
angelswish.org
Contact: 608-848-4174, info@angelswish.org
All-breed animal rescue (mostly cats); fostering available
Adoption fees: $100 (kittens 9 months and under), $75
(adults), $100 (two adults)
Visit the Angels Wish adoption and resource center, 161
Horizon Dr., Verona, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
Country Animal Haven
facebook.com/countryanimalhaven/
All-breed cat sanctuary; adoptions and fostering available
Contact: 608-212-8729
Fisher Valley Felines
fishervalleyfelines.com
Contact: 608-516-3034, info@fishervalleyfelines.com
All-breed cat rescue; fostering available
Adoption fees: $90
To meet adoptable cats, visit PetSmart West, 8210 Plaza Dr.
in Madison, from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Heartland Farm Sanctuary
heartlandfarmsanctuary.org
Contact: 608-230-5352, info@heartlandfarmsanctuary.org
Sanctuary for homeless farm animals (adoptions and
sponsorships available); offers animal-assisted therapeutic
activities for adults and youth
Buddy of Mine
facebook.com/BuddyOfMine
Contact: info@buddyofminestoughton@gmail.com
Financial services for low-income pet owners; annual
rabies and heartworm clinics
FAMILYFUN
The puck
ST PS here
On their third home in 12 years, the Whalers are hoping to
become ingrained in their small-town community
Story by Anthony Iozzo
Photo by Bill Sergenian
It has been a long journey for the Wisconsin Whalers.

For nine seasons, the North American 3 Hockey
League team played in Davenport, Iowa. For the first six
years, the team was called the Quad-City Express, and
later they were the Quad-City Junior Flames.
When the team moved to Madison and changed
its name once again for the 2013-14 season, it was to
broaden its image in the league while also giving more
opportunities to the players high school graduates
looking to sharpen their skills and knowledge of hockey
before attempting to play at the college level.
Now based in the suburbs, at the Oregon Ice Arena,
after two years at Madisons Hartmeyer Ice Arena, the
team has been working hard to make Oregon its home,
increase attendance and make not just the team but its
individual players part of the community.
On the ice, the team has been successful. The
Whalers qualified for the playoffs for a third straight
season this year, and while they have yet to win a
championship, they fell one just win short of making
the six-team NA3HL Silver Cup pool in 2015.
A more important measure of success, however, is
the bridge the team provides to Division I and Division
II universities for aspiring hockey players in the
Midwest, and sometimes from around the world. The
2015-16 roster has 27 players from the Midwest 11

from Illinois, five from Wisconsin, four from Iowa, three
from Minnesota, three from Michigan and one from
Ohio and also has a player from North Dakota and
from Sweden.
General manager/head coach Tom McDermott said
that is the true reward of supporting the Whalers
helping young athletes get closer to their goals.
You have these kids here trying to get better and
make it to college. That is the reason we wanted to
come to small community rather than be in a place like
Madison that already supports the Badgers, McDermott
said.
Much more difficult has been building awareness
of the team, including in Oregon, a village of less than
10,000 people.
Attendance in their first year in Oregon has not been
what the Whalers would like, but volunteer marketing
and housing coordinator Melissa Kingsley is optimistic.
Kingsley discovered one of the main reasons for
the lower numbers after she was attempting to sell ad
space in the Whalers program to local businesses. Most
Remaining home games

Date
Opponent Time
Saturday, Feb. 27
St. Louis
7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 28
St. Louis
1:30 p.m.
Friday, March 11
Rochester
7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 12
Rochester
7 p.m.
Playoffs TBA TBA
people had never heard of them.
They are like, Oh hey, I like hockey. I didnt know
it was out there, she said. We really want to try and
focus for the remainder of this year, and for next year
as well, to get more people out to the rink to get some
advertising out so people know the Whalers are here.
FAMILYFUN
for the athletes, which is why the move to a town like
But despite these early roadblocks to even more
success for the club, local volunteers like Kingsley are a Oregon is what was always wanted, McDermott said.
Kingsley said she has yet to meet a bad kid on the
step in the right direction.
Whalers team, and that everything she does is for
We are not just a hockey team renting ice,
them.
McDermott said. We are a hockey team trying to be a
We would like to see the kids succeed, so if they
part of the community.
move up a level that is rewarding to see, knowing the
With an 8-year-old that plays youth hockey, Kingsley
Whalers developed those skills in order to move on to
became interested in the position after receiving an
the next level.
email from the Whalers asking for anyone who could
As for gaining a larger fanbase, McDermott said that
help house players not from the area during the season.
will just happen with more time.
Kingsley had extra room and decided to help house
Once people see the action and the level of play,
some of the players. She has housed as many as five
they want to come back, McDermott said. We would
athletes at one time.
like to see more people in the stands, but it has been a
Since then, she has helped other players find homes
positive move all-around. l
while they play for the Whalers.
Kingsley said that there are
communities around the Madison area
that can also bring their families to
games.
She added that if out-of-towners start
to watch the team, then it could mean
added dollars for local businesses.
The Whalers dont necessarily have
to be an Oregon-type team. Hockey is big
in the entire state, so we can go around
to other communities as well, Kingsley
said. And that is great for the Oregon
Skaalen is located in a quiet residential neighborhood.
community because that is going to bring
The beautiful campus offers walking paths and
in some tourism dollars.
But the main goal is to do what is best
comfortable outdoor spaces. Skaalens continuum
Skaalen
RETIREMENT SERVICES
The Wisconsin Whalers have

clinched a North American 3 Hockey
League playoff berth and are now
hoping to get home-ice advantage for
at least the first round of the playoffs.
It is about getting healthy and getting
everyone on the same page, so we are
ready to go, General manager/head
coach Tom McDermott said.
The top four teams from each
division make the playoffs and are
seeded one to four. The top seed
plays the fourth seed, and the second
seed plays the third seed in the
opening round.
The five teams that win both
divisional series make the Silver Cup
series, and a sixth wild card is chosen
based on the the regular season point
totals of the five teams that lost the
Divisional Finals.
The Silver Cup is broken up into
two pools with three teams. Those
teams all play three games with the
winners of each pool playing in the
championship. The Silver Cup series
is March 29 to April 3 at Canlan Ice
Arena in Romeoville, Ill.
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Low-maintenance residence designed for carefree
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ASSISTED LIVING
Providing assistance with the activities of daily living

while offering the security of having licensed nursing
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400 North Morris Street Stoughton, WI 53589 608.873.5651 www.skaalen.com

FAMILYHEALTH
Family caregivers need your support

SENIOR LIVING
BY STEPHEN RUDOLPH
y wife Mary has been the

primary caregiver for both her
mom and dad for many years.
Because she is the oldest, a registered
nurse and lived closest to her parents,
she had over time taken on the mantle
of responsibility.
Truly, she wanted to be there for
her mom and dad, and we even built
a duplex so she could be next door to
her folks in their later years. If it hadnt
been for Marys attention and nursing
skills, her dad would have probably
died much earlier than he did and had a
lower quality of life.
But spending so long as a caregiver
has taken its toll on her.
Before she retired, she would
sometimes miss work or be late for
work because she had to attend to the
needs of her parents. Even after her dad
died suddenly, she continued to remain
on duty for her mother, who is now 88
and a brittle diabetic.
Caregiving can be complex, stressful and overwhelming.

Now that shes retired, she can spend
the time with her mother to care for her
in her home as she continues to age in
place. But even though Mary is one of
seven children and four of her sisters
live in the area, the burden of providing
care remains primarily hers.
That is unfortunate, because
caregiving can be complex, stressful and
overwhelming.
Family caregivers often feel
unprepared to provide care, have
inadequate knowledge to deliver proper
care and receive little guidance from

the formal health care providers. And
caregivers often have trouble balancing
these responsibilities with work, family
and leisure time.
Over time, even the most adept
family caregivers can get burned out
and develop depression, illnesses and
health problems. While most elders
and disabled have family members who
are providing some level of care and
support, sometimes particularly with
older adults and people with chronic
What is a family caregiver?
What do they do?
The term family caregiver refers to an unpaid family

member, friend or neighbor who provides care to an
individual who has an acute or chronic condition and needs
assistance to manage a variety of tasks, from bathing,
dressing, and taking medications to tube feeding and
ventilator care.
Recent surveys by AARP estimate there are 44 million
caregivers over the age of 18, or one in five adults. The
economic value of their unpaid work is enormous.
Most caregivers are women who handle time-consuming
and difficult tasks like personal care. But at least 40 percent of
caregivers are men.
Those caring for someone 50 years or older average 47
years old and working at least part-time. If they are providing
care to an elder who is 65 or older, they average 63 years old
themselves and are caring for a spouse with one-third in fair
to poor health themselves.
In many cases, they do all the caregiving work alone and
are unpaid. In the last decade, the proportion of older persons
with disabilities who rely solely on family care has increased
dramatically nearly two-thirds of older adults who need help
get no help from formal sources.
Family caregivers spend a substantial amount of time

interacting with their care recipients, while providing care in a
wide range of activities. Caregiving can last for a short period of
post-acute care, especially after a hospitalization, to more than
40 years of ongoing care for a person with chronic care needs.
On average, informal caregivers devote 4.3 years to this work.
About 40 percent spend five or more years providing support,
and 20 percent have spent a decade or more. More than half
provide at least eight hours of care every week, and one in five
provides more than 40 hours per week.
The care that family members provide to their loved ones
include assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and
instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).
There are six basic ADLs: eating, bathing, dressing, toileting,
transferring (walking) and continence.
IADLs are the complex skills needed to successfully live
independently, usually learned during the teenage years. They
include managing finances, handling transportation (driving
or navigating public transit), shopping, preparing meals, using
the telephone and other communication devices, managing
medications, housework and basic home maintenance.
Together, ADLs and IADLs represent the skills people usually
need to be able to manage in order to live as independent adults.
disabilities this informal care can

be substantial in scope, intensity and
duration.
Family caregivers are sometimes
referred to as secondary patients,
who need and deserve protection
and guidance. Their health and safety
needs to be safeguarded because their
caregiving demands place them at high
risk for injury and adverse events. And
they also often need help to learn how
to become competent, safe volunteer
workers.
Assisting with bathing can mean
bathing a person who is resisting a bath.
Helping with medications can involve
multiple medications several times a
day, including injections, inhalers, eye
drops and crushed tablets. Even the
need to make decisions on behalf of
family members who are unable to do
so is contrary to the caregivers normal
role.
Some of the serious responsibilities
can also be more than a family member
is capable of doing well.
They are often unable to interpret
the meaning or the urgency of signs
of problems, such as medication side
effects, particularly when supervising
people with dementia. The medical
technology that is now part of home
care and the frustrations of navigating
the health care system for help of any
kind is not even part of the standard
definition of caregiving.
While novice nursing students can get
anxious about procedures like managing
urinary catheters, skin care around a
FAMILYHEALTH
central line, gastrostomy tube feedings

and ventilators, such responsibilities
become routine for those chronic
illnesses living at home.
Caregiving responsibilities can
have a negative effect on a marriage
relationship or work roles as caregivers
adapt to employment obligations to
manage and meet care demands. More
than half of adult children who provide
parent care are employed, and many of
them report missed days, interruptions
at work, leaves of absence and reduced
productivity.
On the other hand, employment
provides some caregivers respite and
can serve as a buffer to distress.
These stressors can make it difficult
for some to focus on the positive aspects
of caregiving and experience negative
reactions, such as an increased sense of
burden. This is often proportionate with
the amount of the recipients functional,
cognitive and emotional status.
And caregivers may suffer severe
fluctuations in sleep patterns over
time, which can affect depression
and exacerbate symptoms of chronic
illnesses.
Yet they are the primary mainstay of
those who are elderly or disabled. And
they deserve all the kudos, credit and
support we can provide them.
If they dont take care of themselves,
they cant continue to be helpful to their
needy family member.
In fact, as many as 13 percent
of caregivers die before their care
recipients do. While the causes of death
vary, the chronic stress associated

with caregiving has been cited as a
contributor to this statistic.
Caregivers cant go it alone and no
one who cares about them should expect
them to. They need to honestly identify
their needs and accept having to rely on
others to help them.
And those of us who know and love
caregivers need to be aware, attentive
and ready to step up when needed
even to the point of being pushy so these
overcommitted people take a break
when they need it.
In my wifes case, her sisters and
other family members have stepped up
so she and I could take a three-week
vacation this winter. The sisters set a
schedule with each of them taking turns
being at their moms home.
This provided peace of mind for my
wife, her mother and an opportunity for
a needed respite.
There will always be people who
will expect a caregiver to be fine no
matter what theyre going through. But
if theyre honest with themselves and
others in their lives, the more theyll find
people who really do want to know how
they are doing and do want to help. l
Stephen P. Rudolph is the owner
of Comfort Keepers of South Central
Wisconsin, a home care agency that
provides skilled nursing and personal
care services for aging adults, those
with disabilities and others needing
assistance.
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FAMILYLIFE
Peace despite
pickiness at the dinner table
TO YOUR HEALTH
BY KARA HOERR
arents often come to me in

desperation, trying to find
something nutritious their picky
children will eat.
They dread the dinner hour, something
that can make the situation worse.
Its important to have family meals,
but its just as important to set the right
atmosphere, as it can shape how a child
feels about food. If dinner is stressful
with persuading, bribing and negotiating
children are likely to try to escape, and
that wont be enjoyable for anyone.
Parents should consider relaxing some
of the responsibility they understandably
but unnecessarily take to making sure
their children eat. Sometimes, we need
to trust our children and show that we
believe in their ability to eat.
Over time, theyll feel less pressured
and be more likely to try the food on their
plate.
The key to a peaceful meal time is the
division of responsibility between the
parent and child. Its your job to decide
what and when your child eats. Its your
childs job to decide whether he or she
eats it and how much to eat.
There may be days when your child
eats like a champ and other days when he
or she picks at food for an entire meal.
Rather than stress about it, let it be and
keep the mealtime positive.
Parents of picky eaters need to have
several techniques handy to use at the
right time. Not every strategy will work
for every family or situation.
A learned skill
As adults, we tend to forget that kids

are often still figuring out what to do with
the strange food set before them. If you
had a plate of something foreign, like fried
grasshoppers, served to you, you might
not want the meal, either.
It takes time. When your child says, I
dont like it, it might actually mean, Im
not ready. Try asking, What can we do to
make this meal yummier for you?
Often it can be as simple as taking off a
topping or adding a condiment.
Many exposures
It can take years of exposures before a

child will try or like a new food, so dont
give up hope. Continual exposures allow
kids to expand at a pace that is right for
them.
As a parent, its common to worry
whether your child will widen his or her
food choices beyond chicken nuggets
and macaroni and cheese, but it will
happen. After a while, kids will get tired
of even their favorite foods and appetites
increase.
A single meal
Your job as a parent is prepare a meal

that most of the family is likely to enjoy,
not become a short-order cook.
Always have available something you
know your child will eat, such as bread
and butter or a side. When your child
doesnt feel pressured to eat and with
enough exposures, you might find yourself
surprised.
No to the no, thank you bite
The common rule of having kids eat

one bite of the food they are refusing
automatically gives them the idea its
probably not something theyll enjoy in
the first place.
Rather, encourage your kids to explore
new foods by asking them questions like:
What does this food smell like? Does it
look like anything youve seen before or
eaten before? That way, theyre not forced
into trying it, but if they do take a bite and
decide they dont like it, let them politely
spit it out in a napkin.
We shouldnt expect kids to want to try
something if they think they may have to
swallow it whether they like it or not.
No more two more bites
Parents often ask children to try just a

little bit more when they say theyre full.
Its a bad idea.
So are, Eat this much and you can be
done, Theres a cookie for when you

finish, or Youve only had a few bites
you cant be full!
Those phrases indicate to kids they
dont really know when theyre full. This
can lead to kids eating based on external
cues rather than their internal hunger
cues.
Simply remind your child when the
next snack or meal will be and leave it at
that. Trust your child to know when he or
she is full and allow your child the chance
to decide how much to eat.
Enough is enough
Whether your child has eaten enough is

understandably one of the top concerns of
parents.
Kids ages 2-6 tend to become more
resistant to foods, even ones they used to
enjoy. Part of it is kids triple their birth
weight in the first year, but dont continue
at this rate. This change can show up at
meals when they seem disinterested in
food.
Kids need fewer calories and nutrients
than adults do. Think back to how they
ate at breakfast and lunch or whether they
had a large snack. Many times, kids will
eat better earlier in the day. If this is the
case, focus on these meals and consider
whatever they eat at dinner as a bonus.
As long as your childs growth is on
track, your child is eating enough.
Serve dessert with dinner
You dont have to have a dessert with

every meal, but if you have a dessert
planned, serve a small portion alongside
the meal rather than after. This takes the
attention off the dessert and is treated as
another enjoyable food that isnt the star.
It also takes away the effects of using
food as a reward. l
Kara Hoerr, MS, RD, CD, is the

registered dietitian at the Fitchburg
Hy-Vee. This information is not intended
as medical advice. Please consult a
medical professional for individual advice
Rockin Red Velvet Trifle
Irish Soda Bread
Cottage Pie
Irish Soda Bread
Rockin Red Velvet Trifle
3-12 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1-14 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sea salt
1-23 cups buttermilk (roughly)
Nonstick baking sheet, lightly dusted with flour
Preheat the oven to 425.
Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a large bowl and make a well in the
center. Pour the buttermilk into the well and mix it into the dry ingredients with
a round-bladed knife or your hands to make a soft, slightly sticky, rough-looking
dough.
Turn out the dough on a lightly floured work surface and shape it into a ball.
Set the dough onto the baking sheet and gently flatten it so it is about 1-12 inches
high. With a table knife, score the dough with a cross. Dust with a little flour, then
bake for about 35 minutes until a good golden brown. To test if the loaf is cooked,
tap underneath with your knuckles. If it sounds hollow, it is ready. If it gives a dull
thud, bake it for a few minutes longer and test it again.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Wrap well to store or freeze for up to 1 month.
1 packet hot cocoa mix with 20 to 25 calories

2 Tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
12 cup moist-style devils food cake mix
12 cup moist-style yellow cake mix
14 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute
12 Tbsp. red food coloring
Dash of salt
4 ounces fat-free cream cheese
2 Tbsp. Jell-O sugar-free fat-free vanilla instant pudding mix
2 Tbsp. Splenda no calorie sweetener (granulated)
14 tsp. vanilla extract
1 8-ounce container Cool Whip (thawed)
4 cups chopped strawberries
Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8"x8" baking pan with nonstick spray.
Place the cocoa mix and 1 Tbsp. chocolate chips in a glass. Add 14 cup very
hot water, and stir until mostly dissolved. Add 13 cup cold water.
In a large bowl, combine the cake mixes, egg substitute, food coloring and
salt. Add cocoa mixture, and whisk until smooth.
Pour batter into the baking pan, and sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp.
chocolate chips.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, 26-28 minutes.
Let cool completely, about 30 minutes in the pan and 30 minutes out of the
pan on a cooling rack.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir cream cheese until smooth. In another
medium bowl, combine pudding mix with Splenda. Add vanilla extract and 14
cup cold water, and vigorously stir until mostly smooth and slightly thickened.
Add cream cheese and 1 cup Cool Whip, and stir until uniform. Cover and
refrigerate. Cut cake into 1-inch cubes.
In a large glass bowl or trifle dish, evenly layer half of the cubed cake. Spread all
of the pudding mixture over the cake layer. Evenly top with half of the strawberries.
Continue layering with remaining cubed cake, Cool Whip and strawberries.
Makes 1 medium loaf
Send your favorite recipe(s) to aroberts@wcinet.com
Makes 8 servings
Cottage Pie
Serves 6
For the filling:

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 cups diced yellow onion
1 cup diced carrot
1 cup diced celery
3 cloves garlic, minced
2-12 pounds ground round
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 Tbsp. unbleached all-purpose flour
14 cup Pinot Noir (or any good dry red wine)
2 cups beef broth
14 cup Worcestershire sauce
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1-12 tsp. kosher salt
12 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
12 cup frozen peas
For the mashed potatoes:
3-12 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large pieces
Kosher salt
1-14 cups whole milk
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
34 cup grated sharp white cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves
To make the filling:

In a Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the onion,
carrot and celery. Stir to coat the vegetables in butter, cover, and cook, stirring
occasionally, for 15 minutes, until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes
more. Use a spoon to transfer the cooked vegetables to a bowl.
In the Dutch oven, cook the ground round over medium heat, breaking it
into small crumbles as it cooks, until cooked through. Return the vegetables to
the pot and stir in the tomato paste and flour. Pour in the wine and cook for 2 to
3 minutes. Pour in the broth and Worcestershire sauce and add the thyme sprigs
and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30
minutes. Stir in the peas and pour the filling into a 3- to 4-quart baking dish.
While the filling is cooking, make the mashed potatoes. Preheat the oven to
400.
Place the peeled potatoes in a pot and add cold water to cover by about 2".
Add a generous pinch of salt, cover, and bring to a boil. Crack the lid and cook
the potatoes for 15-20 minutes, or until fork-tender.
With the lid askew, carefully drain the water from the pot with the potatoes.
Return the pot to the stove over low heat. Add the milk and butter to the potatoes,
cover, and simmer the potatoes in the milk and butter for 10-12 minutes. Season
the potatoes with 34 tsp. of salt and mash with a potato masher or mix with a
hand mixer. Add the cheddar and stir to combine. Taste and season with more salt
if needed.
Use a spatula to spoon the mashed potatoes over the filling in the baking dish
and spread them out evenly. Use a fork and drag it along the top of the mashed
potatoes to make ridges. These will crisp up and brown in the oven.
Place the cottage pie on a rimmed baking sheet and slide it into the oven.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top of the potatoes is golden and crispy and the
filling is bubbling.
Combine the minced parsley and thyme.
Serve large spoonfuls of the cottage pie in bowls with a sprinkle of the parsley
and thyme.
FAMILYHEALTH
The value of creating

a satisfying career
BY ROBERT DECOCK
And have for thirty years.

Many of our dance, music and drama
students have gone on to successful
careers in the performing arts.
The benefits acquired through this training
carries into many other fields as well.
PLANNING FOR COLLEGE
oming out of Costco one

Saturday, I chatted briefly with
a mom about her junior at
UW-Madison.
Her son had played football with my
son in Middleton a few years earlier.
She shared that her son was majoring in
environmental engineering.
What was notable was something
I hear often from parents that hes
taking his time. His older sisters,
who also attended UW-Madison, had
encouraged him to do so, as after
school, all he has to look forward to is
working 40 hours a week.
While Im not an idealist, I sure
would hate to wake up each morning
and not thoroughly enjoy the kind of
work I am about to be engaged in. And
that makes me wonder a bit about his
two older sisters. Perhaps they are not
happy doing what they are doing.
From my perspective, our work
should actually be something we look
forward to most of the time.
But parents often have a tough job
creating a desire for their children to
get involved in the workforce. This is
especially true when they themselves
are in a career that does not inspire and
motivate.
Parents also struggle when their
children do not have an idea of what
they want to do some day. Some
children do not express even an interest
in figuring out what they might be
We Create
Futures
A former SCPA dancer

pictured below; signed a
three year contract with
Jennifer Lopezs show
in Las Vegas!
passionate doing.
As one can imagine: the best way to
pass on enthusiasm of ones future is to
be passionate for ones own future.
And thats also part of the puzzle with
planning for college. It isnt only about
finding a good fit or simply improving a
standardized test scores, like the ACT or
SAT. We as parents need to see beyond
the immediate college years; we want to
help our students get off to a great start
in life doing something meaningful in
a field related to what was studied.
Often parents just need a little help
from the outside in assisting their
children in this regard.
In this context, the cost of a college
education has an added dimension. How
much is it worth to not be a disgruntled
worker? How valuable is it to get our
kids off to a good start?
If you have to go back to school in
order to become qualified for a better
career field, there is not only the cost of
that additional education, but also the
time and effort involved. So from that
perspective, career satisfaction is a very
valuable part of affording college. l
Robert DeCock, certified College
Planning Specialist, founded the
Parents Planning 4 College, LLC
(Formally Quest College Program)
in Middleton. For information, visit
parentsplanning4college.com.
Dont provide just any

performing arts education,
provide them with the best!
Summer
Registration
Opens Soon!
Call, email or stop by
2320 Jackson St., Suite 1

Stoughton, WI
608.873.0717
busmgr@stoughtonperformingarts.com
Stoughtonperformingarts.com
adno=451217-01
FAMILYFUN
SPRING 2016 CALENDAR

Feb. 25-April 10
Peter Pan, Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson, firesidetheatre.com
March 3-5
WIAA boys and girls hockey tournaments, Alliant Energy Center, Madison,
wiaawi.org
March 4-5
WIAA team state wrestling tournament, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Fieldhouse, wiaawi.org
March 5
Madison On Tap beer festival, Alliant Energy Center, Madison,
madisonontap.com
Music Can Beat MS benefit festival, High Noon Saloon, Brass Ring and
Brink Lounge, Madison, charityjamboree.com
Cabin Fever Campfire, Devils Lake State Park, dnr.wi.gov
24-Hour Arts Festival, UW-Rock County campus, janesvillecvb.com
Brooklyn Area Veterans Memorial benefit concert, Oregon High School:
brooklynveteransmemorial.org
Science Saturday Aldo Leopold Day, Wisconsin Institutes of Discovery,
Madison: bird watching, fishing, tracking, activies and games,
aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Wollersheim Winery open house, Sauk Prairie, wollersheim.com
Farm Toy Show, Monroe: Pedal pull, silent auction, food stands:
Search Monroe FFA on facebook page
24-Hour Arts Festival, UW-Rock County (Janesville): Art displays, poetry
and theater, janesvillecvb.com/events
Sips and Sounds, Janesville: Beer and wine tasting including hors
doeuvres, live music and silent auction, agrace.org
March 5-6
Spring Into the Arts, Watertown: visual, musical, theatrical, literary arts,
watertownartscouncil.com
Madison Kids Expo, Alliant Energy Center: madisonkidsexpo.com
March 10-12
WIAA girls basketball tournament, Resch Center, Green Bay: wiaawi.org
March 11-13
Canoecopia and Bike-O-Rama Sale, Alliant Energy Center: canoecopia.com
and bikeorama.com
March 12-13
South Center Wisconsin Builders Association Home Show, Holiday Inn
Express, Janesville: scwba.com/home-show
March 12
YMCA Celtic Run Before You Crawl, Monroe: Annual Run Before You Crawl
5k and Kids Fun Run event, ymcaceltic5k.weebly.com
Irish Jig Jog, Watertown: 5K, kids run, food, live music,
watertownjigjog.com
Celtic pub crawl, Mount Horeb: 1 mile, 8 pubs, celticcrawl.com
St. Patricks Day pancake breakfast, Stoughton: Trinity dancers perform,
stoughtonkiwanis.org
Shamrock n Run for Kids, Janesville: 5K run/1-mile walk benefiting the
Boys and Girls Club of Janesville, bgcjanesville.org
History Makers Gala, Janesville: Inaugural gala and silent auction of the
Rock County Historical Society, rchs.us/historymakers
March 13
St. Patricks Day Parade, Capitol Square, Madison: stpatsmadison.org
March 16
Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Barrymore Theater,
Madison: wisconsinrivers.org
March 17
St. Patricks Day Parade, Monroe: downtownmonroewisconsin.org
March 17-19
WIAA boys basketball tournament, Kohl Center, Madison: wiaawi.org
March 18-19
U.S. Speedskating national age group short track championships, Eagles
Nest Ice Arena, Verona: teamusa.org
March 18-20
Swedish Music and Dance Weekend, Folklore Village, Dodgeville:
workshops, dance parties, performances, folklorevillage.com
March 19
Madison Area Doll Club Show and Sale, Alliant Energy Center, Madison:
Madison Area Doll Club Facebook page
Spring thaw walk, Horicon Marsh Education Center: dnr.wi.gov
Picture Perfect Hike for Families, Devils Lake State Park: dnr.wi.gov
Garden Getaway, Shake Rag Alley, Mineral Point: Garden art, lectures,
workshops, shakeragalley.com
Easter Egg Hunt, SwimWest Madison: Donations for mission trip,
swimwest.com
Picture Perfect Hike for Families, Devils Lake State Park, dnr.wi.gov
March 20
Mad City Bridal Expo, Monona Terrace, Madison, madcitybridalexpo.com
March 22
Great EGGspectations, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona: Learn
how to dye eggs and make baskets from natural materials,
aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
March 25-26
Wisconsin Kids Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament, Alliant Energy Center,
Madison, wiwrestlingfederation.com
March 26
Seasonal Scavenger Hunt, Devils Lake State Park, dnr.wi.gov
Cottontail Classic and Easter Egg Hunt, Fitchburg: 5K and 10K run,
cottontailclassic.com
Great Egg Hunt and Spring Spectacular, Aldo Leopold Nature Center,
Monona, aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch, Winnequah Park, Monona: mymonona.com
Easter Egg Hunt, DreamBank, Madisdon: dreamfearlessly.com/dreambank
Maple Syrup Fest, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona: Family-style
festival with maple syrup tastings, learning how to tap trees, pioneer
cooking demonstrations and more, aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
April 1
Field and Stream Deer and Turkey Expo, Alliant Energy Center, Madison,
deerinfo.com
April 2
Janesville Performing Arts Center Family Festival, janesvillecvb.com/
events
Maple Syrup Festival, MacKenzie Center dnr.wi.gov
April 2-3
Woofsconsin Spring Fling, Jefferson: Dog show, worldcaninefreestyle.org
Lambing Days, Eugsters Farm Market, Stoughton: Weekends through
April, eugsters.com
April 3
Fondy Vintage Auto Club Swap Meet, Fairgrounds, Fond du Lac, fdl.com
April 4
Milwaukee Brewers home opener (day game), Miller Park, brewers.com
April 8
Young Talent Cabaret, Janesville Performing Arts Center,
janesvillecvb.com/events
April 8-10
Wizard World Comic Con, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, wizardworld.com
April 9-10
Gem Mineral and Fossil Show, Monroe: Displays, speakers, presentations,
plus vendors selling specimens, carvings and jewelry, badgerrockclub.
org
April 14
Fitchburg Chamber Spring Expo, Fitchburg, fitchburgchamber.com
Spring business expo, Community Center, Fitchburg: fitchburgchamber.com
April 14-16
UW Varsity Band Concert, Kohl Center, Madison, badgerband.com
April 14-21
Wisconsin Film Festival, various Madison theaters, wifilmfest.org
April 14-May 29
Sister Act, Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson, firesidetheatre.com
April 15-17
Midwest Horse Fair, Alliant Energy Center, Madison: Equine clinics and
demonstrations, shop for horse supplies and watch horse-riding
contests, midwesthorsefair.com
April 16
Dane County Farmers Market opens outdoor season, Capitol Square,
Madison, dcfm.org
April 16-17
Sheep Shearing Days, Rainbow Fleece Farm, New Glarus: Demonstrations,
presentation, fiber sales, rainbowfleecefarm.com
April 22-24
Madison Classics Spring Car Show and Swap Meeting, Jefferson County
Fair Park, Jefferson, madisonclassics.com
Cajun Music and Dance Weekend, Folklore Village, Dodgeville: workshops,
dance parties, performances, folklorevillage.com
Art Glass and Bead Show, Alliant Energy Center, Madison,
beadshowmadison.com
Wisconsin Dells Polka Fest & Expo, Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells,
dellschamber.com
April 23
Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, Dodgeville: Professionals
compete for prizes, live music, drinks, activities for all ages,
grilledcheesewisconsin.com
Rockin for a Cure, Sheraton Madison Hotel: live music event supporting
ALS patients, rockinforacure.org
Frog Safari, Devils Lake State Park, dnr.wi.gov
April 24
Share the Road, Watertown: Duathlon or 5K, watertownsharetheroad.com
April 28
Taste of Culture, UW-Rock County, janesvillecvb.com
April 29-May 1
Capital City Jazz Fest, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Fitchburg: Jazz musicians
from all over the country, madisonjazz.com
English Music and Dance Weekend, Folklore Village, Dodgeville:
workshops, dance parties, performances, folklorevillage.com
April 30
Crazylegs Classic, Capitol Square: 8-kilometer run and 2-mile walk,
proceeds benefit UW athletics: crazylegsclassic.com
Kayak with the naturalist, Kettle Moraine State Forest - Loews Lake Unit:
dnr.wi.gov
April 30-May 1
The Clay Collective Spring Potters Tour, Cambridge: cambridgewi.com
Wisconsin Paint Horse Association Show, Jefferson County Fair Park,
Jefferson: jcfairpark.com
May 1
Spring Concert, Sun Prairie Area Community Band: sunprairiechamber.com
May 5
MIXPO Business Expo, Mount Horeb fire station: trollway.com
May 6-8
Dairyland Classic Dog Show, Jefferson County Fair Park: jcfairpark.com
May 6-9
Horicon Marsh Bird Festival, Horicon, horiconmarshbirdclub.com
May 7
Lions Trout Days, Cross Plains: Fishing contest, garage sales, food, hiking,
nature activities, crossplainschamber.net
Lake Monona Run: 20K/5K, Winnequah Park, Monona, mymonona.com
Janesville farmers market begins, Janesville: weekly farmers market in
downtown Janesville, janesvillefarmersmarket.com
May 7-8
Bloody Lake Rendezvous, Woodford: Pre-1840s re-enactment camp
and battle, with knife and hawk-throwing and primitive shooting
competitions, Fur Trade Era food, yellowstoneblackhawkpark.webs.com
Clay in May, Mineral Point: Throwing demonstrations, kiln and studio
tours, clayinmay.com
March 12-13
Antiques Show and Sale, Mariott West Conference Center, Middleton, with
pottery, Victorian, deco, cut glass and more, madisonantiqueshow.com
FAMILYFUN
SPRING 2016 CALENDAR

May 13-15
State polka festival, Oconomowoc: Celebrating the offical state dance of
Wisconsin with live music, dancing, fish fry, wisconsinpolkaboosters.com
Syttende Mai festival, Stoughton: Colorful festival celebrates citys
Norwegian heritage with run, parades, features canoe race, 17-mile
walk/20-mile run, two parades, art fair, quilt show, exhibits, food,
demonstrations, entertainment, stoughtonwi.com
Syttende Mai festival, Stoughton: celebrating Norwegian culture with arts,
demonstrations, live music, dancing, kids activities, stoughtonwi.com
May 14
Fiesta Cultural LatinoAmericana: 5K run, ballet folklorico, Mexican
crafts, food, live music, dancing contest, soccer games, Riverside Park,
fiestacultural.org
Spring Fling, Monticello: Pig roast, tournament, beer stand, entertainment:
monticellow-wi.com
May 14-15
Morel Mushroom Festival, Muscoda: Events revolving around sales of the
hard-to-find delicacy; carnival, games, flea market, fireworks, muscoda.
com
May TBD
Renaissance Faire, Traxler Park, Janesville: Performers and exotic vendors
in a middle-ages event that benefits local charities, jvlfaire.com
May 20-22
Fitchburg Days, Fitchburg: Live music, fireworks, Irish dancers, carnival,
fitchburgdays.com
May 21
Dairy Breakfast, Jefferson County Fair Park, jcfairpark.com
Spring Fungi Hike, Kettle Moraine State Forest Pike Lake Unit, dnr.
wi.gov
Wisconsin Folks: Masters of Tradition concert, Stoughton Opera House,
stoughtonoperahouse.com
Run to the Rescue, Edgerton: Benefits Friends of Noah WI (one-mile walk,
5K and 10K run, 1/2-mile Kids Fun Run), friendsofnoah-wi.org
May 21-22
Automotion, Noahs Ark Waterpark, Wisconsin Dells: Swap meet of 1989
and older cars, parts and more, dells.com
Beads and Bangles, Shake Rag Alley, Mineral Point: jewelry classes,
workshops, networking, shakeragalley.com
May 22
Greek Fest, Fond du Lac: Food, music, games, dancing, fdl.com
May 27-28
Spring Dirt Fling, Sauk City: FFA tractor pull competition, saukprairieffa.
com
May 27-30
Chocolate Fest, Burlington: Carnival, fireworks, parade, games, contests,
entertainment, music, chocolatefest.com
Yesteryear Days, Albany: Street dance, parade, duathlon, chicken
barbecue and Memorial Day commemoration, albany-chamber.org
Worlds Largest Brat Fest, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, bratfest.com
May 28
Green County Breakfast on the Farm, Jeglum Farm, Blanchardville:
Breakfast, farm tours, arts and crafts, entertainment,
greencountyagchest.com
All Wheels car show and tractor pull, Brooklyn: Remote control car pull,
antique tractor pull, vendors, music, food, bacoc.org
May 28-29
Fort Koshkonong Rendezvous, Fort Atkinson: 1800s re-enactment, black
powder shooting, pioneer demonstrations, horse-drawn carriage rides,
fortchamber.com
Spring Madison Marathon, Capitol Square: Twilight 10K and halfmarathon, madisonmarathon.org
May 30
Cambridge Memorial Day Parade, Cambridge: Firemens all-you-can-eat
breakfast, parade, memorial service, enjoyjeffersoncounty.com
Memorial Day Parade, Janesville, janesvillecvb.com
40th Annual Oregon Horse Society Memorial Day Open Horse Show,
Oregon, oregonhorseassociation.org
June 2-5
Hometown Days, Verona: Festival celebrates communitys nickname,
Hometown USA, with a carnival, parade, music, food, free activities for
kids, fireworks, veronahometowndays.com
June 2-July 17
Rockin At The Fireside, Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson, firesidetheatre.
com
June 3
Cars on the Square, Historic Courthouse Square, Monroe: Classic cars on
display, prizes, food, travelwisconsin.com
June 3-5
Festa Italia, Fitchburg: Live music, Italian food, cultural exhibits, sporting
events, iwcmadison.com
Spring Art Tour, Verona-Mazomanie-Blue Mounds area: Open art studios
all over the area, springarttour.com
Festa Italia, McKee Farms Park, Fitchburg: Italian food and culture, live
entertainment, bocce tournament, spaghetti-eating contest, carnival.
festaitaliamadison.com
June 3-4
Artistry in Motion, Janesville: two evenings of dance performances for all
ages, janesvillepac.org
June 4
Yellow Brick Road 5K run/walk, Oconomowoc, oconomowoc.org
Komen Race for the Cure, Alliant Energy Center, Willow Island: Fundraiser
for breast cancer research includes a 5K run, 5K walk and 1-mile
course, madisonraceforthecure.com
Dragon Art Fair, Market Street, DeForest: Arts and crafts from dozens of
area artisans. dragonartsgroup.org
Super Hero Cows kickoff, Monroe: Cow sculptures, tractor parade, games,
farmers market, steel drummers, downtownmonroewisconsin.com
June 4-5
Free Fishing Weekend and Wisconsin State Parks Open House Day, all
locations, dnr.wi.us
Burgers and Brew, Capital Brewery, Middleton: REAP fundraiser with local
chefs, brewers, reapfoodgroup.org
June 5
Robs Sugar River Ramble, Mount Horeb: Bike, canoe to Paoli, return by
bus for drinks and food, usrwa.org
June 9-12
Summer Frolic, Mount Horeb: Beer tent, food, entertainment, lumberjack
competition, fireworks, parade, carnival, tournaments, Norsk Run,
trollway.com
June 10-12
Roger Bright Polka Festival, New Glarus: Polka bands from Wisconsin and
the Midwest in the big tent downtown, plus Beer, Bacon and Cheese,
swisstown.com
PrideFest, Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee: Largest gay/lesbian,
bisexual and transgender festival, pridefest.com
Rockerbox Motofest, Plymouth: Motorcycle show and party, 920-8924576
Walleye Weekend, Fond du Lac: Live music, childrens entertainment,
sports and national walleye tournament, fdlfest.com
C Scow National Championships regatta, Monona:
Four Lakes Yacht Club Facebook page.
June 11
Grogg 5K run/walk, Watertown, berresbrothers.com
Downtown Beach Party, Middleton: Art fair, music, kids activities,
downtownmiddleton.com
Taste of the Arts Fair, Sheehan Park, Sun Prairie: Arts and crafts, food
vendors and entertainment. Sunprairiechamber.com
Sauk Prairie Airport fly-in, Prairie Du Sac: open-air exhibits, music, food,
kids entertainment, saukprairieairport.com
June 11-12
Columbus Carriage Festival, Columbus: One of the largest horse and
carriage pleasure driving shows in the country,
columbuscarriagefestival.org
Marquette Waterfront Festival, Yahara Place Park, Madison,
marquette-neighborhood.org
Taste of the Dells, downtown Wisconsin Dells: American and ethnic
delicacies, beer tent featuring Wisconsin microbrews and live
entertainment, tasteofthedells.com
June 13-16
Wisconsin FFA Festival, Alliant Energy Center, wisconsinffa.org
June 16
Strawberry Fest at the Farmers Market, Fitchburg, fitchburgchamber.com
June 16-19
Firemans Festival, Cottage Grove: Carnival, beer tent, water fights, tractor
pull, baseball, all to benefit the fire department and youth groups,
cottagegrovefire.org
June 17-18
North Fondy Fest, Fond du Lac: Music, crafts, model train display, games, fdl.com
Stoughton-McFarland-Oregon Relay for Life, Mandt Park, Stoughton:
Overnight walk/activities honoring cancer victims and survivors,
relayforlife.org/stoughton-mcfarland-oregonwi
June 17-19
Lake Front Fest of Art, Milwaukee: festival features 189 national artists
who display and sell, travelwisconsin.com
June 18
Robert Wellnitz Memorial Air Show, Fond du Lac, fdlaa.com
Taste of Wisconsin, Beaver Dam: Craft beer and cheese tasting of
Wisconsin-made products only, tasteofwisconsin.net
Waterslide-athon, Wisconsin Dells: Benefits Ronald McDonald House, wisdells.com
16th Annual Pie Ride, Janesville: Family-friendly bicycle event featuring
20K, 50K and 100K rides, janesvillemorningrotary.org
June 19
Fathers Day Antique Car and Truck Show, Fond du Lac, fdl.com
June 20
Concerts at McKee Farms Park, Fitchburg, facebook.com/ConcertsAtMcKee
June 18
Horribly Hilly Hundreds, Blue Mounds: Grueling bike ride results in
10,000-foot elevation gain in Driftless Area, horriblyhilly.com
June 18-19
Arts in the Barns, Fitchburg and Oregon: fine arts and crafts fair,
thehayloftgallery.com
June 23-25
Village Auto Tour, Mount Horeb: backroadkruizers.com
June 23-26
Town and Country Days, Lake Mills: Carnival, parade, sidewalk sale and
live entertainment, lakemills.org
Oregon Summer Fest: Carnival, parade, music, fireworks, tug of war,
hot air balloon rides, parade of bands, tournaments,
summerfest.oregonwi.com
June 24-26
Heidi Fest and Music Fest, New Glarus: Heidi drama performances, chicken
BBQ, run/walk, auction, volleyball tournament, craft fair and mini
expo, swisstown.com
June 25-26
Worlds Fair, Cross Plains: Carnival, midway, beer tent, baseball, softball,
fireworks, crossplainsworldsfair.com
Spring Green Arts and Crafts Fair: Refreshments and entertainment
provided, springgreenartfair.com
June 26
Lions car show, Albany: food, music, greencounty.org
June 29-July 4
Stoughton Fair, Stoughton Fairgrounds in Mandt Park, stoughtonfair.com
June 30-July 3
National Womens Music Festival, Middleton: Workshops, concerts, comedy,
theater presentations, marketplace, wiaonline.org
If you know of an event

that should be
in this calendar, e-mail
yourfamily@wcinet.com
FAMILYFUN
Deer and anglers stay active in winter

OUTDOOR TREASURES
BY JIM FURLEY
n winter, fishermen and white-tail

deer are both actively looking for
their next meal. Anglers will be
heading to the ice, while white-tail deer
may end up in your front yard if other
food sources are unavailable.
According to the University of Illinois
Extension, A hungry deer in the winter
will eat about any vegetation and puts
away four pounds or more of twiggy
branches a day. Damage to trees and
shrubs can be extensive, affecting
plant shape and exposing bare wood to
disease and insects.
If you want to save your expensive
landscaping from winter deer
decimation, there are a number of
options you can try.
Some people hang bars of soap from
trees and shrubs. Sprinkling human or
pet hair is another trick that some folks
say will work. And of course there are
sprays, commercial and homemade
liquid deer repellents. A farm dog is
the best choice for scaring deer out of
your yard, said an elderly southwest
Wisconsin farmer.
Other than the canine option, weve
tried all the above solutions, most with
limited success. We finally resorted to
building deer fences around our apple
trees.
Although a deer repellent salesman
may argue this point, the best resolution
to protecting your shrubbery may be as
simple as not planting trees and shrubs
that attract deer.
From experience, deer love to nibble
on our Autumn Blaze Maple (cross
between a Red and Silver Maple tree)
but they leave our other maple tree
alone. Last spring, deer knocked down
fences surrounding our Honey Crisp
apple trees to eat stems and buds, then
knocked down the same fences in early
summer to devour its green leaves. But
they left the limbs and leaves of our
McIntosh apple tree untouched, even
though its just a few feet away.
Deer absolutely love White
Cedar, said Chris Kaplan, of Tallgrass
Restoration, a prairie restoration
company near Milton. Kaplan said deer

will chew everything they can reach on
White Cedar. Its one of their favorite
treats, he said.
White Cedar, also known as
arbor vitae, is an evergreen many
homeowners plant as a hedge.
The Michigan DNR reports that deer
really like to dine on pine trees and
prefer White Pine over other pines. They
said deer prefer Red Maple over Sugar
Maple. Other favorites include Yellow
Birch, Dogwoods and Sumac, they
noted.
Deer will eat almost any tree if they
are in starvation mode. These include
Spruce, Beech, Red (Norway) Pine,
Balsam fir and Tag alder, none of which
are preferred.
Just like deer, ice-fishing anglers
from Chicago to La Crosse have been
out in droves the past couple of months
looking for their favorite meal.
After a recent cold snap, I jumped
in the truck and logged 340 round-trip
miles driving across southern Wisconsin
to check on ice fishing success.
As I drove along highway 60 between
Gotham and Bridgeport, a group of
anglers were spotted catching bluegills
and crappies in the shallow backwaters
of the Wisconsin River. The ice was
questionable in places, but the locals
who knew how to navigate through the
dangers were putting fish in the bucket.
My next destination was the
Mississippi River, Pools 9 and 10.
I traveled from Prairie du Chien
to Stoddard, checking on several
Mississippi River backwater spots along
the way. There are thousands of acres
of slack water on the Mississippi to fish;
these spots are away from the hazardous
currents of the big river and are popular
places to wet a line, especially in the
winter.
There were anglers everywhere. It
seems there is a pent-up desire to get
out ice fishing this year. Better late than
never is what some people said. Some of
the popular fishing towns on these pools
are Prairie du Chien, Lynxville, De Soto,
Genoa and Stoddard.

Out on the ice near Genoa, I bumped
into Wes Hardman of De Soto. Hardman
had caught several bluegills up to 8
inches. Hardman said he saw lots of fish
on his underwater camera, but many
would not take the bait.
While there I talked to a gentleman
from Indiana who just arrived. I drove
over 300 miles to get here, the eager
fisherman said.
I pushed on to Stoddard. While on
the ice outside of town I talked with
Jim Webster of Mauston. Webster said
he was catching about one quality fish
per hour. Hed caught bluegills up to
9.5 inches that day. Others were talking
about of a 14.5-inch, 2.42-pound perch
caught recently.
Some of the other fishing reports
I heard from Stoddard were the type
of reports we all hear too often: You
should have been here yesterday.
As I headed southeast I drove
through Madison, but rather than trek
out on one of the several frozen lakes in
the area, I called (608) 244-3474 for the
D&S Bait and Tackle up-to-date fishing
report. This detailed phone recording
will give you the fishing scoop on lakes
Monona, Waubesa, Mendota and other
waters on Madisons Yahara chain.
When I returned home to Fort
Atkinson and near the waters of Lake
Koshkonong, I was greeted with a report
that an ice fishing group had 25 flags
and iced a dozen walleyes on the big
lake. However, no walleyes were kept as
none of the fish met the minimum size
limit of 15 inches for that body of water.
My phone rang as I was in the office
finishing up this story. A friend of mine
asked me if I wanted to go ice fishing
this week. I said certainly, and he then
asked, What day?
I thought about that for a moment
and responded: Lets go yesterday. l
Jim Furley is a self-syndicated
columnist who distributes to small
newspapers in Wisconsin and northern
Illinois.
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SPRING

CAREGIVERS NEED CARE, TOO

Shopping and strolling Cedarburg

My Child Has Cancer.

Things I learned from my animals

INSIDE YOUR FAMILY

We got him the summer I turned 5. I was

DANE COUNTY WEST April 1-3

Alliant Energy Center New Holland Pavilion - Madison, WI

shop. sell. save. smart!

FREE ENTRY WITH AD--Cash, Visa, MC & Discover accepted

since Dawn, my dog, easily weighed 60

hen I found out that our feature

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YOUR FAMILY Spring 2016

Buff, a FIV-positive 3-year-old cat, is looking for

Photo by Samantha Christian

My Blood Type is Coffee Let it snow, please! . . . . . . .

Planning for college Value of a satisfying career . . . . . .

SPRING 2016 YOUR FAMILY 5

nyone with kids especially

Easily the most common option,

Photo courtesy Pump it Up

Specialty sports spots

There are plenty of other places that

go. Madison Swim Academys website

Schools and churches

This isnt really what it sounds

Several fitness centers and similar

Find them online

Parents night offerings change

Photo courtesy Gymfinity

are some of the big ones around here,

Programs for kids 4 months

fun, & confidence

Parent/Child Classes Pre-K Gymnastics

SPRING 2016 YOUR FAMILY 7

our months after launching a

hope that kids can share their wishes

Giving kids a voice

The idea for the Wish For WI series

animation, Monday said. Kids could

Celebrating the positives

The idea for the overall Love WI

negative, Waller said. We thought we

The idea for the overall project came

To see all of the Wish For WI videos,

SPRING 2016 YOUR FAMILY 9

10 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2016

Strolling through Cedarburgs

Erika Langecker, of Fox Point, browses a selection of antiques at

City with character

After taking the scenic route by Holy Hill, we arrived shortly

Cedarburg may be home to Downtown Dough (featuring over

The Ozaukee Interurban Trail and Interurban Bridge cut through

Jimmy Fortunato, known as Jimmy the Popcorn Man, greets a customer at

Continued from page 11