your family spring 2016

8/20/2019 Your Family Spring 2016

1/36

Day TripShopping and strolling Cedarbur

SPRING2016

Fostering

successHow Dane County groupsare boosting animal adoptions

SENIOR LIVING:CAREGIVERS NEED CARE, TOO

5 ways to take aparents night ou

Find spring surprise

at UW Arboretum


2/36

For Alyssa and Kindt Nielson of Clinton, Wisconsin, these words were hard enough to say the rst

time. That was in 2011 when their son Channing (left in photo) was diagnosed with leukemia.

Three years later, Channing’s 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 Children’s 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.”

Say it twice:“My Child Has Cancer.”

44509-16 uwhealthkids.org


3/36

FAMILYLIFE

Things I learned from my animals

INSIDE YOUR FAMILY BY LEE BORKOWSKI

When I found out that our feature

story this month was about pet-

rescue organizations, I found

myself being bombarded by memories.

I’ve had pets my entire life, and it’s true

what they say – they bring a new dynamic

to a family. It’s 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… let’s 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.

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 he’d 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. It’s a skill that’s served me

well my entire life.

And my cat, God forgive me, I’ve

forgotten her name, taught me a very

special lesson: that cats don’t 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 aren’t 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

since Dawn, my dog, easily weighed 60

pounds, there was no way I could get her

my basket.

It’s hard to teach a cat anything,

especially when they don’t want to learn.

I’d pick the cat up, place her in the basket

pedal about 5 feet and she’d 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, I’d ride close t

them, take the cat with my left hand, and

place and hold her in the basket. Then I’d

continue to successfully navigate my bike

with my right hand.

I was sure my cat would relax and begi

to enjoy the ride. Oh, the places we would

go!

Sadly, that only happened in myimagination, and that day was the end of

my cat training sessions. I’ve been strictly

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.

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4/36

4 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2016

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5/36


CONTENTSYOUR FAMILY Spring 2016

ON THE COVERFOSTERING 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 bee

meeting over the years, including finding familie

who will foster or adopt animals.

Photo by Samantha Christia

page

20

is published by

UNIFIED

NEWSPAPER GROUP

133 Enterprise Dr. PO Box 930427

Verona WI 53593(608) 845 9559

...................................GENERAL MANAGER

Lee Borkowski

[email protected]

EDITOR

Jim Ferolie

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ellen Koeller

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,

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...................................CONTACT US

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Please call (608) 845-9559 for more information.

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Family FunFive ways to take a parents night out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Day Trip Cedarburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Year-round surprises at the UW Aboretum . . . . . . . . . . 14

Now Enrolling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Hockey team settling in to its small-town home. . . . . . . . 24

Calendar of events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Outdoor Treasures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Family FoodMy Blood Type is Coffee Let it snow, please! . . . . . . 19Recipes Rockin’ red velvet trifle,

Irish soda bread, Cottage pie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Family HealthPlanning for college Value of a satisfying career . . . . . 27Senior Living Giving caregivers a break . . . . . . . . . 26

Family LifeLove WI accentuates the positive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8To Your Health Working with a picky eater . . . . . . 31


6/36


FAMILYFUN

A nyone with kids – especially

if there are no grandparents

nearby – knows how difficult

it can be to find time to get away and

jus t 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 hasn’t gone unrecognized.

Just as many kid-focused businesses

and nonprofit groups have cast theirlot into summer camps, they’ve 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 they’re 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.

Specialty sports spotsThere 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 F itchburg but

on occasional Fridays it’s 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 Academy’s website

promises they’ll 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 churchesThis isn’t really what it sounds

like, but nonprofit groups like school

PTOs and church groups often take

advantage of their knowledge of kids

by Jim Ferolie

5 ways to

T a k e a n i g h t o f f

Photo courtesy Pump it U


7/36


FAMILYFUN

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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 WisconsinWhitewater gymnastics team. Check

locally for them.

Members onlySeveral 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 onlineParents night offerings change

frequently, and there are often new

plans, so it ’s always good to check.

Madison Mamas, Moms Club of

Madison, Mom’s in Madison and

Madisonwithkids.com and Hulafrog

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. It’s an aggregator

website, with a national backing in

select communities (100 markets in 28

states). l

Photo courtesy Gymfin


8/36


FAMILYLIFE

Four months after launching aFacebook 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 seriescomprises videos of kids like Caleb,

an Appleton 12-year-old who wants to

create an airplane that doesn’t burn

fossil fuels, and Lucy, a Wausau 7-year-

old 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 wishesat community centers or art centers

around the state.

But it’s 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 voiceThe 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 couldtell any story they wanted through

illustrating it themselves.”

A recent event at the Madison

Children’s Museum highlighted what th

pair hopes the Wish For WI pro ject can

become.

After the project had uploaded some

of its videos filmed with kids around th

state, the founders talked with friends

who work at the museum and got them

to host an exhibit of children’s artwork

and art drop-in sessions for children to

draw their wish for the state.

In early February, the pair, alongwith 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 tha

may not always get an opportunity to d

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.

Months-old projectshares ‘positive things

about Wisconsin

by Scott Girard

Submitted photos

Spreading the

Jet Waller and Megan Monday founded the Love WI Project.


9/36


FAMILYLIFE

Posts of children from the event

holding their drawings and explaining

their wishes have flooded the group’s

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 theworld to have clean water” (Varanika, 6,

Madison).

“That’s 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.

“It’s really open to the children’s

experiences of what they’ve 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.

“We’re 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 thereally 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 children’s

artwork and what they’re saying,” Waller

said. “The community isn’t just fromMadison or Dane County, they’re from

all over the state.”

Stories galoreThe 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 th

HONY founder takes photos of people

in New York and includes a quote abou

something in their life or their day – an

apply it to Wisconsin.

That’s what they did with the

Wisconsin Portraits portion of the Lov

WI Project.“What does it mean to be from here

Waller said. “It’s just a portrait and a

quote … and it’s incredibly powerful.”

Beyond that and Wish for WI, the

founders have created WI Generations

and most recently Wiscostyle.

“There’s many series and there’s lot

of different directions,” Monday said.

“It’s 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 there’s a lot of state

pride,” she said. “We just wanted to

explore what that meant to people.” l

Gretyl, age 5Madison

“I wish we had more museums

for kids.’’

Harper, age 6Madison

“I wish every child can have

their own bike.’’

Varanika, age 6Madison

“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.

Photos by K


10/36

FAMILYFUN

D a y

T r i p...


Strolling through Cedarburg’s

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 mak es you utter the phrase, “I want to, but just don’t feelup 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 energeti

nephew starting walking) and my sister’s 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 thi

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

Avenu e Historic Dis trict , vis it charming shops in an old mil l,

walk through Wisconsin’s last covered bridge and order

drive-in food from a carhop on roller skates.

BRIDGINGBRIDGING

generations

Before you

plan your trip,

visit

cedarburg.org

for a list of

upcoming

eventsand festivals.


11/36

FAMILYFUN


Picking a pace After taking the scenic route by Holy Hil l, we arrived short ly

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, considerguided 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 didn’t 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.

City with character Cedarburg may be home to Downtown Dough (featuring ov

2,500 cookie cutters), but the city is anything but cookie-cutteWhile a quick drive down Washington Avenue will reveal

some of its character, you’ll 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 store

selling 21st-century goods were once the homes and businesse

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. It’s also a neat place to pic

up a toy for little ones or furry friends. There my mom founda zip-up hoodie that will be stylish yet functional when she’s

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 crac

up when you see an assortment of recycled scrap metal lawn

ornaments – especially the frenzied monster feasting on a pink

flamingo.

Jimmy Fortunato, known as Jimmy the Popcorn Man, greets a customerhis old-fashioned popcorn car t along Washington Avenu

Erika Langecker, of Fox Point, browses a selection of antiques aGenerations Consignment, located in an 1890s Victorian home at W62

N556 Washington Ave

If you have some time to spare, follow the “scenic route” to Cedarburg on less-traveled roads. After winding past Erin Hills Golf Course on Hwy. 167, driverswill 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 tower’s 178 stairsfor a magnificent view atop one of the highest points in southeastern Wisconsin.

Continued on page 1

The Ozaukee Interurban Trail and Interurban Bridge cut throughdowntown Cedarburg.


12/3612 YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2016

FAMILYFUN

Kitty-corner from Lillies is Generations Consignment, a

Victor ian house built in the 1890s that has evolved into acollector’s delight. We took turns sitting in a burgundy andgold wing chair, imagining how nice it would be to curl up

in it while reading a book by a fire.If you don’t find the treasure you’re 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 putit 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 tosit where one can observe human behaviors, appearancesand conversations … or perhaps just take a nap.

With its close proximity of stores, sheer number of visitors and availabili ty of all-weather seating (displayed atthe Amish Craftsmen Guild II), Cedarburg is a fine settingfor such an activity.

For my dad and others who aren’t particularly keen

on searching for trinkets, there are plenty of other thingsto do. Consider reading the historical markers placedthroughout the city (over 100 downtown buildings are

historically significant) or peering into the old lobbies ofbed and breakfasts like the Washington House Inn.

Those with some extra time on their hands could geta haircut at McCutcheon’s Barber Shop (you can’t miss

the revolving red, white and blue pole) or catch a movie playing at the Rivoli Theatre , which was once a generalstore in the 1840s and is now the last single-screen theaterin Ozaukee County.

Tempting tastes As noon approached, our time was up to move our

vehic le … and we were getting hungry.We swiftly sifted through hangers of vintage and eclectic

clothing at a resale shop before parking near the library onHanover Street. Behind us on the corner of Center Street

was Morton’s WisconsInn. Jovia l conversations were had among retirees at the

bar while a young family next to us dined on burgers andfries. We were tempted to order a fish fry but curbed our

appetite with a cocktail instead. Their Bloody Mary is

spiced with your choice of garlic or jalapeno and speared

with a pickle, olive, plump shrimp and chunk of sausage.You won’t be twiddling your thumbs at Morton’s corner

tavern; there’s too much to look at. Magazine clippings, jokes and beverage adverti sements are plastered on

its walls, ceiling and even the restrooms, making thisestablishment one you won’t soon forget.

But we were only a quarter of the way through our

destination with five hours left of daylight, so we decidedto move on to the next stretch of stores.

After checking out chalk paint and Wisconsin-madehome decor at Bohemia, we popped into the Cedarburg ToCo., 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 wer

pulled in another direction. A rich, sweet smell wafted over us, and as we turned

around, our eyes met rows of giant apples drizzled withnuts and Belgian chocolate. So we floated into Amy’sCandy Kitchen – just to look, of course – and minutes lateleft with a dark chocolate dipped apricot and coconut

haystack. We banished guilt from our heads because, hey,it’s 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, Wayne’s Drive-In, closed for the seaso

Nov. 15 and won’t reopen until April 4, so we’ll just have tcome 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 c ity denied

Nick Schuh Tavern permission to add a second floor, theowner raised the building up on stilts and built a first floounderneath instead.

We were seated at a tall bistro table near the frontentrance and ordered meals from the land and sea: alobster BLT & E (topped with a sunny-side up egg) and ahtuna arugula salad. When we paid our bill around 2:30 p.mnot a crumb was left on our plates.

The restaurant marked our halfway point alongWashington Avenue. Only a few hours remained beforemost stores closed for the evening, and I still wanted tomake another stop on the outskirts of town before dark.

BRIDGING GENERATIONSContinued from page 11

A car zooms past the Rivoli Theatre, W62 N567 Washington Ave., whichwas restored to its 1936 art deco appearance after the Cedarburg Landmark

Preservation Society purchased the building in 2006.

Morton’s WisconsInn, N56 W6339 Center Street, is full of ecleccharacter from floor to ceilin


13/36


FAMILYFUN

Venturing northWe 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 spotat 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 city’s 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 Wisconsin’s 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 wasthe perfect break from the hustle and

bustle downtown.

On our way back into the city we

drove past Firemen’s 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 what’s known as Cedar

Creek Settlement – a restored former

textile mill along the water.

There you’ll find dozens of specialty

shops and restaurants, including

Cedar Creek Pottery and Cedar Creek

Winery (I recommend their cabernet

sauvignon). If you’re not sure where it’s

located, look for the towering chimneyof the 19th century blacksmith’s 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 Sprig’s many varietiesof 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 retur

trip – perhaps in a few years with my

sister and her kiddos. l

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Snow gently falls around Wisconsin’s last covered bridge, built in 187


14/36


The forest in the cityFrom birds to blooms,

spring in the arboretum is a new surprise every day

by Jacob Bielanski

Photos courtesy UW Arboretum

Back 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 ofconservation and natural restoration

give children and adults alike a space

to walk, breathe and learn.

As springtime comes upon us,

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

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 change’s 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 visitor’s center holds regular

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 bloomsInitially, watch for the branches to

change color as the forest wakes up

from a winter slumber, Carpenter saidYou read that right: the branches.

“Before the leaves have even come

on, you’ll 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 flow

with a fuzzy silver pods will take over

the landscape early before the growin

leaves block out the sunlight.

Certainly, flowers and plants seize

on the readily available sunlight of the

early spring to do some close-to-the-ground 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 Dutchman’s

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 emergin

leaves will change the face of the

forest floor, and the more prominent

FAMILYFUN

Quince in Longenecker Horticultural Gardens.Quince is one of several shrubs and trees that

blooms before leaves emerge.

Spring in the Native Plant Garden (foreground) andLongenecker Horticultural Gardens (background).


15/36


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 birdsEvery spring, migrating birds will

find their way back from warmerclimates through, or sometimes to,

Wisconsin. These migration calendars,

however, are not set in stone. Weather

variat ions, 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 it’s particularly good

when the leaves are not yet on thetrees. 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 wil l

engage in a mating ritual often calledthe sky-dance. Full-moon walks, held

monthly in the arboretum, or stops at

the visitor’s center around April, will

help new and experienced birders alike

to find the latest on this bird’s 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

Male wild turkeys strut in spring to assert domi-

nance and attract females.

Sandhill cranes in Curtis Prairie. Sandhill cranes matefor life and stay together year-round. The arboretum is

a seasonal habitat to several nesting pairs.

FAMILYFUN

UW ArboretumTrails 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.

VolunteeringSpring offers some of the best volunteer opportunities for families at the

UW Arboretum.Arboretum gardener Susan Carpenter said there are volunteer needs tha

can accommodate virtually any age group, from clearing invasive speciesto 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 arboretumEvery spring day can bring something new to the arboretum.From bird migrations to ower blooms, the day-to-day weather can

change the timing of these natural cycles.To get the most up-to-date information on what’s going on in the forests

and marshes, connect with the arboretum through its social mediachannels:- Instagram: @uwarboretum- Twitter: @uwarboretum- Facebook: facebook.com/UWMadisonArboretum

Taking toursThere 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 arboretum’s visitor center, but family-specic walks

are scheduled on the second Sunday, focusing on topics of interest toyoungsters.Garden tours are also set to begin in April every Saturday afternoon fro

1-3 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. until dark.Even if you’re a beginning birder or amateur ecologist, the visitor’s

center has you covered with a birder’s backpack that can be checked ouat any time for your walk.


16/36


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18

YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2016

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19/36

MY BLOOD TYPE IS COFFEEBY RHONDA MOSSNER

This year, Phil the Groundhog

didn’t even need to chomp on the

ear of his mayor friend in Sun

Prairie to predict the weather.

Even the “other” Phil, in Gobbler’s

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 chisel-

toothed rodents not seen their shadows.

Aft er thi s strange winter we’ve 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, we’ve 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

we’ve 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. Ihaven’t 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 Sow’s Ear with my

quilting friends.

Where did all of our snow go? We

know where.

We tried to be nice as we witnessedendless feet of snow cascading down all

along the East Coast in areas that didn’t

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 doesn’t 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 tow ard

the NCAA basketball tournament and

we’re 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 winnerwould 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, boi l, scramble or fry for

any meal. The bread will enable you to

make regular toast, French toast andsandwiches, or you could tear up into

pieces and make a bread pudding should

you find yourse lf 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 it’s time to prepare for the worst.

Or two inches of snow. Whichever might

come first upon their doorstep.

I can’t remember a time when I ever

ran to the grocery store to prepare for

weather emergencies. I usually gathere

quilt supplies at the fabric store instea

There’s no real emergency until a quilte

has run out of thread.

When that happens, no amount of

snow will keep me from the nearest

store.

After eight years, we’re 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 an

wonder if the weather folks are correc

in their 12-inch snowfall predictions by

morning.

We can only hope.

Until it finally comes, you won’t

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 professionalspeaker, quilter and chef. She is

known as The Quilter Cook and

travels throughout the area sharing

her quilts, stories and recipes.

Might as well bring on spring

FAMILYFOOD


SWEET SNOWDAY TREATS

1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed

6 Tablespoons Nutella

1 egg, beaten

Powdered sugar for dusting

1) Unfold puff pastry; cut into six

rectangles. Place on a greased bakin

sheet. Spread 1 Tablespoon Nutella

over half of a rectangle; fold dough

over filling. Press edges with a fork

to seal. Repeat for remaining pastrie

Brush with egg; prick tops with a for

2) Bake 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 Hom Bakeshop Favorit


20/36


FAMILYLIFE

Foster parents rarely have to

deliver babies in their livingroom, but that’s the situation Cait

Berry found herself in while caring for

a dog from the nonprofit organization

Fetch Wisconsin Rescue.

Delivering puppies wasn’t 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 themseveral 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 programswere scarce, shelters euthanized 24

million “healthy and treatable” animals

Today, the ki ll rates are less than 10

percent of that number, according to

the California-based animal rescue

organization, Maddie’s Fund, and many

organizations avoid euthanizing animal

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

Savinggracefully

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 rescat the pet supply store in east Madiso


21/36


FAMILYLIFE

and rescue groups, compared with 27

percent in 2008.

Fostering, though, represents only

one facet of the services Dane County’s

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 lovinghome to animals in need.

Those paths frequently intersect,

whether they’re 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.

“We’re trying to be a conduit so that

we can all work together,” Buddy of

Mine founder Larry Eifert said. “Instead

of duplicating services … let’s just all

work together and make sure that we’re

taking care of the pets, and at the sametime, taking care of the people that

have those pets.”

‘Failures’ that workFostering pets doesn’t 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 involvedwith the organization, and has fostered

around 25 dogs in addition to serving

on the group’s 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 they’re 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

out of every two new foster homes”

ends up keeping the pet they take

home.

Wojtasiak founded Underdog in

2012 after volunteering for nearly adecade 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

(MADAC), rural shelters like the Adam

County Humane Society and even

shelters in the southern United States

that regularly experience overcrowdin

and euthanize at a higher rate.

Wojtasiak attributed the success an

sustained growth of those adoptions to

Underdog’s foster homes, explaining

that it enables organizations like hers

to get to know animals at a level that

would be hard to accomplish in a

typical shelter setting.

“Fostering makes our adoptions stic

better, because we’re getting to know

what the animals are like in a real-lifesetting,” Wojtasiak said.

Lindsey Decker, who has fostered

about 30 animals for Underdog, said sh

still “babysits” some of the animals tha

have since been adopted after being in

her care.

“It’s very rewarding work,” Decker

said. “You’re saving these animals from

from shelters where they’d possibly be

euthanized and giving them a home, an

your pets a friend, as well.”

“I think you have that really personal

connection when you adopt your dog from a

rescue … because they’re the ones that made it

possible to bring that dog home into your life.”

Cait Berry

Continued on page 2

9-week-old Rory (pictured) and his sibling Majors, live together in a Fetch foster home, and both have adoptions pending.

Helena Analla, 2, of Madison, plays with Gabby, a 9-month-old domestic shorthair mix, at Angel’s Wiadoption and resource center in Veron


22/36

22

YOUR FAMILY SPRING 2016

Home for the misfitsBecause 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 Angel’s Wish,

however, have formal shelters in addition to their own foster

programs.

Amy Good, president of the board of directors of Angel ’s Wish,

called fostering the “ideal” system.

“People are drawn to the fact that our cats are fostered andwe know everything about them, and it’s 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 we’re

pull ing from humane societies we’re 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 society’s cats that don’t 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.“It’s 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.

DCFoF’s 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.”

Adoptions and population controlDCFoF helps truly feral cats, as well. It’s a proponent of

the TNR method, or “Trap-Neuter-Return,” to help control the

population. Using TNR, and with the assistance of the Spay MeClinic, 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, Angel’s 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.

“I’d bring cats up to the cage and I literally had a group of

people following me,” she said. “By the time I’d come out with

the next cat, another one had already gone into a visiting room

with a family.”

The level of growth at Angel’s Wish is prompting the

organization to configure its shelter space, and after 15 years o

operation, Good said she’s encouraged to see more foster-based

organizations cropping up in the area.

“Dane County is very generous to groups like ours,” she

added.

Making a matchWhile Steinke, Berry and Wojtasiak all described their

respective organizations as matchmaking services for people an

their prospective pets, they have different approaches to sealin

the deal.

Steinke said that DCFoF has followed the humane society’s

lead in making their adoption process easier and “more inviting

in recent months, decreasing the cat’s average length of stay in

the shelter as a result. This helps keep the animals healthier, an

– especially in the case of outdoor cats – returns them to a mor

comfortable environment once they’re adopted.“We’re offering a public service, but at the same time we’re

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 organizatio

holds weekly adoption fairs at MadCat pet supply store on

Madison’s 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 you’re 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 exci ting process that makes you feel

good about what you’re 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 it’ll 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 they’re healthy and

ready.

Animals that come from the southern shelters especia lly

benefit from this, she added.

“They might have been sitting for months down south, and

they’re adopted within less than a week of being vetted up here

Wojtasiak explained.

Fetch also takes in animals from out-of-state shelters,

SAVING Continued from page 21 FAMILYLIFE

Lindsey Decker says goodbye to Bella, the dog she fostered for UnderdogPet Rescue, before Bella goes home with her new adoptive family.

Steve Stone (right) and wife Jamie greet one of the cats up for adoptioduring a weekly adoption fair for Dane County Friends of Ferals at MadCon Madison’s far west side. The Stones had recently experienced the loss

their 22-year-old cat, and were exploring the idea of adopting a new p


23/36

particularly from Chicago, Indiana and southern states, but

“(stands) by” the effectiveness of its more lengthy adoption

process, Berry said. After putt ing in an appl ication 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 they’re 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 petsDespite 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 sti ll

need to be filled.

The biggest, she said, is a better infrastructure for “short-

term 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 thei r pets .

The organization, which started in fall 2011 and is named for

founder Larry Eifert’s 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 lookingfor 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 McKinley’s 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,

they’ll follow up “the next day, next week, next month” and

beyond to see how they’re coping, providing assistance as long as

it’s 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.

“There’s other people giving away pet food, and there’s 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 organization’s take on that goal.

“They (cats) are our mission, but at the same time, so are

people, and it’s all encompassed in just trying to find the best

outcome for everybody,” he said.l


Fetch Wisconsin Rescuefetchwi.orgContact: 608-561-3827, [email protected] dog rescue; fostering availableAdoption fees: $325 for puppies, $275 for adults (spay andneuter, microchip and basic veterinary exam included)

Dane County Friends of Feralsdaneferals.org

Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]/indoor and feral/outdoor cat rescue; fosteringavailableAdoption fees: $20-125 (indoor cats); $10 plus tax (outdoocats)Weekly adoption fairs Saturdays from noon-3:30 p.m. atMadCat Pet Supplies, 7820 Mineral Point Road

Underdog Pet Rescueunderdogpetrescue.orgContact: 608-224-0018, [email protected] animal rescue; fostering availableAdoption fees: $250 (adult dog), $325 (puppies under 5months); $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; andnoon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Angel’s Wishangelswish.orgContact: 608-848-4174, [email protected] animal rescue (mostly cats); fostering availableAdoption fees: $100 (kittens 9 months and under), $75(adults), $100 (two adults)Visit the Angel’s Wish adoption and resource center, 161Horizon Dr., Verona, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.

Country Animal Havenfacebook.com/countryanimalhaven/All-breed cat sanctuary; adoptions and fostering availableContact: 608-212-8729

Fisher Valley Felinesshervalleyfelines.com

Contact: 608-516-3034, [email protected]

All-breed cat rescue; fostering availableAdoption fees: $90To meet adoptable cats, visit PetSmart West, 8210 Plaza D

in Madison, from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Heartland Farm Sanctuaryheartlandfarmsanctuary.orgContact: 608-230-5352, [email protected] for homeless farm animals (adoptions andsponsorships available); offers animal-assisted therapeutactivities for adults and youth

Buddy of Minefacebook.com/BuddyOfMineContact: info@[email protected] services for low-income pet owners; annualrabies and heartworm clinics

FAMILY LIFE


24/36

FAMILYFUN

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 Madison’s 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, thre

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,” McDermo

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 bee

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. Mos

people had never heard of them.

“They are like, ‘Oh hey, I like hockey. I didn’t 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 som

advertising out so people know the Whalers are here.”

The puck

ST PS hereOn 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


Remaining home gamesDate 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


25/36


FAMILYFUN

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INDEPENDENT CONDOMINIUMS Low-maintenance residence designed for carefree

living oering a wide variety of comforts andconveniences.

ASSISTED LIVINGProviding assistance with the activities of daily livingwhile oering the security of having licensed nursingsta available 24-hours a day.

THERAPY AND WELLNESS CENTER In-patient and out-patient therapy services forpeople of all ages, following an illness, accidentor surgery. Wellness programs tailored to meet eachindividual’s personal tness goals.

SKILLED NURSING Rehabilitative and restorative care to meet eachindividual’s need for long-term or short-term residency.

Skaalen

RETIREMENT SERVICES

400 North Morris Street • Stoughton, WI 53589 • 608.873.5651 • www.skaalen.com

Whalers look to make arun at the 2015 Silver CupThe Wisconsin Whalers have

clinched a North American 3 Hockey

League playoff berth and are nowhoping to get home-ice advantage for

at least the rst 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 ve 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 ve 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.

But despite these early roadblocks to even more

success for the club, local volunteers like Kingsley are a

step in the right direction.

“We are not just a hockey team renting ice,”

McDermott said. “We are a hockey team trying to be a

part of the community.”

With an 8-year-old that plays youth hockey, Kingsley

became interested in the position after receiving an

email from the Whalers asking for anyone who could

help house players not from the area during the season.Kingsley had extra room and decided to help house

some of the players. She has housed as many as five

athletes at one time.

Since then, she has helped other players find homes

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 don’t necessarily have

to be an Oregon-type team. Hockey is bigin the entire state, so we can go around

to other communities as well,” Kingsley

said. “And that is great for the Oregon

community because that is going to bring

in some tourism dollars.”

But the main goal is to do what is best

for the athletes, which is why the move to a town like

Oregon is what was always wanted, McDermott said.

Kingsley said she has “yet to meet a bad kid on the

Whalers team,” and that everything she does is for

them.

“We would like to see the kids succeed, so if they

move up a level … that is rewarding to see, knowing the

Whalers developed those skills in order to move on to

the next level.”

As for gaining a larger fanbase, McDermott said thatwill just happen with more time.

“Once people see the action and the level of play,

they want to come back,” McDermott said. “We would

like to see more people in the stands, but it has been a

positive move all -around.” l


26/36

FAMILYHEALTH

M 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 toher folks in their later years. If it hadn’t

been for Mary’s 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 co

your family spring 2016

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