Middleton bears brunt of winter storm

VOL. 120, NO. 52 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012 SINGLE COPY PRICE: $1.25 www.MiddletonTimes.com
by MaTT GEIGER
Times-Tribune

A massive white tempest set up shop in Middleton on Wednesday of last week and didnt leave town until Friday morning. Multiple media outlets reported that Middleton experienced markedly heavier snowfall than many of its neighbors during the storm, with estimates hovering at around 19 inches when it was all said and done. Middleton Police Chief Brad Keil said that, despite the size of the blizzard, there were no serious accidents within city limits and the Emergency Operations Center at the police station was not forced to open. Since 9:30 p.m. Wednesday evening our officers, and the community services manager,responded to 47 assist motorist calls for vehicles that were stuck in the roadway or slid off of the road into ditches or drifts, Keil re-

Times-Tribune introduces new online presence

See STORM, page 6 by JOhn DOnalDSOn
News Publishing Co.

ported late Friday morning. We responded to multiple calls of trees or branches blocking the roadway, three motor vehicle accident calls, two calls of damage to vehicles in parking lots where branches and/or trees had fallen on vehicles, and two calls [for] wires down across the road. Keil said dangerous road conditions prevented many officers and dispatchers from either driving to work or driving home from work. Several either slept at police headquarters on Donna Drive or at the EMS building on Parmenter Street. Many worked multiple shifts in order to help maintain minimum staffing levels, according to Keil. Some worked up to 16 hours straight. The police chief went on to say he was pleased by cooperation between his department and others in the Good

Mary Jo Ayers contributed this photo of a tree, located on the 1300 Block of Stratford Court, that succumbed to last weeks storm.

Image contributed

The Middleton Times-Tribune has a new website. MiddletonTimes.com is currently live, and Matt Geiger, the newspapers sales manager and news editor, said the site is designed to serve as a digital hub for community news. The site features selected news items from each weeks print edition, as well as up-to-the-moment updates and follow-up articles. It includes live Twitter feeds from Geiger and sports editor Rob Reischel, so readers who want to know the score of a tournament game or what the common council is up to can find out right away. Important crime, traffic and weather updates are also available on the site.

MiddletonTimes.com also offers an easy way for readers to submit announcements and letters to the editor, as well an opportunity to purchase a full e-edition of the weekly newspaper. (Whenever customers pay for a print subscription, they have the option of getting the e-edition for an additional $1.) Geiger said News Publishing Co.s goal was to create a site that is easy to visit and simple to navigate. I knew wed achieved that goal when I visited MiddletonTimes.com using my Kindle Fire, he said. It was really important that it work with different browsers and look good on tablets and other mobile devices. First and foremost, we wanted it to be user friendly, Geiger continued. Sitting down and reading a print newspaper is an immersive experience many of our readers like to go through their paper as they relax on a Saturday morning, catching up on what local kids are doing in school, how their government is spending money, and what entertainment events are coming up at the PAC. With our website, our goal was to create something entirely different; something that compliments our core product and can thrive in a symbiotic relationship. MiddletonTimes.com will give readers an opportunity to easily share important local stories with friends and family, using social media including Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Functioning without space limitations, the site will allow an opportunity for readers to see expanded versions of certain stories, including the awardwinning Geiger Counter column. There are a lot of things that will re-

An image of the Middleton Times-Tribunes new website while still under construction. main exclusive to the print edition and the identical e-edition, said Geiger. But both the print newspaper and the website are focused solely on hyperlocal news coverage. For the past 119 years weve covered the Middleton community. We dont do Madison, and we dont try to compete with regional news sources. MiddletonTimes.com is also intended to work as a place where local residents can reconnect with Middletonians who have traveled elsewhere. For starters, its an easy way to access the Feral Scribe, a site run by Middleton High School graduate Nathan Comp. Nathan and I have actually worked together at two different publications,

Times-Tribune photo

said Geiger, at Coreweekly magazine and here at the Times-Tribune. He departed several years ago and hes honed an affable Gonzo style of journalism as he moves around the country. I jumped at the chance to help people re-connect with one of the most tal-

Turville Bay Medical Clinic breaks ground. Page 3

Local:

Sunset Ridge blanket program grows. Page 8

School:

A look back at 2012. Page 12

Sports:

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Dining Guide . . . . . . 11-12 Classieds . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Inside this issue:

See WEBSITE, page 6

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and officials from the Town of Springfield on Thursday, Dec. 13 announced an agreement they say will help keep families farming and protect thousands of acres in the town for decades to come. Springfield is moving forward with implementation of a transfer of development rights program, that will help focus where any future development occurs and preserve the towns agricultural heritage. According to a statement issued by the country executive, the town has been working on such a proposal for years and Parisi helped bring it to reality through a new agreement he offered for how the county can work with the town on future county led land acquisitions and easements in Springfield. Farming is a multi-billion dollar a year part of our economy and a rich part of the heritage of the Town of Springfield, Parisi said. This agreement ensures that as our county continues to grow, there will be family farms proudly working the lands and cows grazing the countryside just a short drive from the west side of Madison. Parisi noted the Town of Springfield is between two of the countys fastest growing areas - the Village of Wauna-

Springeld moves ahead with development rights program

PAGE 2 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Hunting and trapping will be allowed in most Wisconsin State Parks from Nov. 15 through Dec. 15 and from April 1 through the third spring turkey period, under a plan the State

From a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) press release:

More hunting, trapping at most state parks, but not Nelson

Natural Resources Board approved Tuesday. In addition, deer hunting with bows will be open Nov. 15 until the end of the archery season in early January. However, bullets wont be whizzing around Governor Nelson State Park, which borders Middleton, anytime soon. That park is classified as being in an urban area and will not allow the new hunting. The board modified and approved a plan the Department of Natural Resources presented to carry out a new state law Act 168 known as the Sporting Heritage Act the legislature approved last spring that expanded hunting and opened trapping on state park properties. The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2013, allows the DNR to prohibit hunting and trapping within 100 yards of a designated use area, such as a campground, picnic area, or beach, or where there are public safety concerns, or to protect unique habitat. The final proposal opens more than 62,000 acres, about two-thirds of state park properties, to some form of hunting and to trapping. The plan keeps some smaller parks and ones located in urban areas such as Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee, Heritage Hill State Park in Green Bay and Governor Nelson State Park north of Madison closed to hunting and trapping. It also

kee and City and Town of Middleton. This agreement is an opportunity for the town of Springfield to work with Dane County and neighboring municipalities to preserve, protect and promote the agricultural nature of the town of Springfield, said Springfield Town Chairman Don Hoffman. The Springfield Town Board is looking forward to working with Dane County and Joe Parisi with mutual respect on land issues and development rights of our Town residents in the future, said Jim Pulvermacher, Springfield Town supervisor. The Town of Springfield has worked long and hard to come up with a program to allow willing farmers to use some of their land value without having to sell their land for development. Many of our farms are multi-generational and want to be able to pass on their land to the next generation and still gain some land value to retire. Springfields leadership will be felt across the county and perhaps the rest of the state, added Jim Welsh, executive director of the Natural Heritage Land Trust. There isnt nearly enough government funding available to protect our high-quality farmland through our traditional program of purchasing development rights the towns market-based approach will help farmers

permanently protect their farm land and give them an infusion of capital to invest in our agricultural economy. It will be a great model for other towns to consider.

The fields that cover the Town of Springfield stand in stark contrast to the heavy development in nearby Middleton and Madison. Implementing the new program will require a modification to the Town of Springfields Comprehensive Plan which will be reviewed by the Town Board and eventually the Dane County Board. The Town of Springfield Board has already approved pursuing the transfer of development rights program.

Times-Tribune photo by Matt Geiger

allows only archery hunting at some parks that receive heavy year-round use, such as Peninsula State Park in Door County and High Cliff State Park on Lake Winnebago. A determination to prohibit hunting and trapping in any other areas of a state park, a portion of a state park, or during certain time periods had to be approved by a majority of the Natural Resources Board. See PaRKS, page 6

Turville clinic breaks ground

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

POLICE BEAT

Monday, December 10 4:36 p.m. Theft, 2200 block of Middleton Beach Rd. 5:03 p.m. Fraud, 2000 block of Mayflower Dr. 5:38 p.m. Domestic disturbance, 3400 block of Roma Ln. 7:15 p.m. Domestic disturbance, 5100 block of Churchill Ln. Tuesday, December 11 2:58 a.m. Noise disturbance, 3900 block of Patrick Henry Way. 9:11 a.m. Malicious mischief, 2100 block of Bristol St. 5:00 p.m. Property damage, 1800 block of Deming Way. Wednesday, December 12 3:31 a.m. Theft, 6200 block of Century Ave.

Deaths Door Punch: An opportunity to drink local

by MaTT GEIGER
Times-Tribune

S PIRITS

PAGE 3

At the groundbreaking ceremony, from left: Nick Crompton, John K. Livesey, Dave Childers, Mike Graffin, Barb Thiermann, Kevin Boren, Kurt Sonnentag and John Seamon. Barb Thiermann, Executive director of Turville Bay MRI & Radiation Oncology Center, recently announced plans for a new Turville Bay MRI clinic. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Thursday of last week, and work began in earnest Tuesday on the newest location for Turville Bay MRI. Thiermann noted Turville Bays current locations at Meriter and St. Marys hospitals and at 1104 John Nolen Drive will continue to serve patients. The additional center at 2275 Deming Way adds convenience for patients requiring MRI diagnostics, she said. Turville Bay MRI & Radiation Oncology Center is the Madison areas community heath care technology center, Thiermann said. State-of-the-art imaging is part of our mission, and serving the far west side of Madison, Middleton, and the surrounding communities enables us to further that mission. Turville Bay MRI uses 1.5T and 3T Siemens MRI magnet technology in its hospital and freestanding locations. All of Turville Bays technologists have advanced certification in MRI from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), noted a company press release. Turville Bay MRI & Radiation On-

Image contributed

Library ushers in New Year

The Middleton Public Library will host a Kids New Years Party Friday, Dec. 28, from 10-10:45 a.m. Say goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013 with fun books, activities, and a short film. Donuts will be served. All ages are welcome. Stop by the Main Level Help Desk or call 608-827-7402 to sign up.

cology Center has been a collaborative effort of Meriter and St. Marys Hospitals since 1986. In addition to diagnostic imaging, the center at 1104 John Nolen Drive offers radiation therapy to patients for the treatment of cancer. At the groundbreaking ceremony last week were representatives from Meriter Hospital including Kevin Boren, CFO; Dave Childers, Director of Clinical Operations and Specialty Clinics; Nick Crompton, Construction Manager/Facilities Management; Turville Bays Barb Thiermann, executive director; Mike Graffin, MRI Manager; John K. Livesey, developer; Middleton Mayor Kurt Sonnentag; Dale Hensen, Vice-President of Construction; and John Seamon, Architectural Director, Iconica. The groundbreaking for the addition to this building is also breaking ground for the patients that will be served, said Meriter representative Dave Childers. Turville Bay MRI expects to complete the 4,200 square foot center next spring.

Saturday, December 15 9:41 a.m. Assist citizen/ motorist, 2100 block of Parmenter St. 10:18 a.m. Burglary occurred, 2000 block of Allen Blvd. 5:20 p.m. Theft, 2600 block of Pleasant View Rd. Sunday, December 16 1:45 p.m. Theft, 3500 block of High Rd.

Friday, December 14 10:32 a.m. Theft from auto, 2500 block of Middleton Beach Rd. 12:57 p.m. Theft, 2100 block of Bristol St. 2:43 p.m. Theft, 6500 block of Cooper Ave.

Thursday, December 13 5:43 a.m. Substance control, 3500 block of Salerno Ct. 9:34 a.m. Trespass, 2100 block of Bristol St. 7:38 p.m. Burglary occurred, 2100 block of Gateway North.

Getting started: Do you have a punch bowl? You know. That item you received for your wedding that wasnt on your registry? If so, when was the last time you used it? More specifically, when was the last time you used it without putting orange sherbet or some sugary, sweet soda in it? Punch doesnt mean having to sacrifice the next morning due to a sugar hangover, said Kinder, who added that punch was first conceived by British officers stationed in India centuries ago. The word punch is derived from the Hindu word for five, he said, because thats the number of ingredients used in making the concoction: 1) alcohol, 2) sugar, 3) fruit (including citrus), 4) water and 5) spices. Punch was made to drink like wine, said Kinder, so that means it shouldnt be overly sweet nor overly high in alcohol. It needs to be balSee PUnCh, page 4

With snow on the ground and December coming to an end, chances are most Middletonians will be making merry with friends and family in the coming days and nights. Many are even gearing up to host or attend a New Years Eve party. Those who wish to make holiday punch using spirits produced here in the Good Neighbor City are in luck, because John Kinder, National Brand Manager with Deaths Door Spirits, provided the Times-Tribune with a recipe for Squirrel Mittens Punch. He also offered a historical perspective on the holiday drink.

In Neena, Carmichael nds business success and sense of home

PAGE 4 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

by naThan MaBIE
Times-Tribune

Deneen Carmichael visited Madison with her family on a cold, snowy day in March to look for a new home, to start a new life. The outlook wasnt great. Madison was not her first choice. She moved early in 2008 and by summertime her feelings toward Madison had warmed. Moving into a beautiful colonial on a wooded lot helped. She felt connected to her Virginia roots and a sense of belonging took hold. For all the change she experienced in such a short amount of time, one significant carry-over for Carmichael was her interest in dance. Before the move to Wisconsin Carmichael began dancing lessons. She was a natural. Beginner lessons quickly turned to advanced lessons, ultimately landing Carmichael in national dance competitions and even an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Carmichael kept up her lessons through the move to Wisconsin. She worked well with John Abrams, her new instructor, but lamented the threehour round-trip from Madison to his studio in Milwaukee. Carmichael wasnt the only Madison dancer interested in a shorter commute to dance lessons. And so in 2009 Carmichael combined her public relations experience with Abramss dance expertise to form Tempo Dance Studio in Madison. Running a business was exciting and spending time with like-minded dancers felt good to Carmichael. But the demands of the business required long hours, mostly weekends and evenings. The costs outweighed the benefits. Carmichael wanted to see her daughter more. In 2010 she sold her stake in the company to Abrams. Carmichael was young and jobless. She needed to provide for a daughter she was committed to seeing more. She contemplated her future and what she

wanted it to look like. I knew [after selling Tempo] I wanted to open another business, Carmichael said. Sitting at Villa Dolce on a beautiful evening in early October, Carmichael looked into the empty windows across Parmenter Street and felt a connection to the vacant historic space. She walked up to the former Opera House and felt a jolt of excitement run through her. This is the place, Carmichael remembered thinking. Looking through the glass she saw unending possibilities. And a whole lot of pink. Dormant for three years, the former tenants, Tickled Pink, had painted the entire interior bright pink. Carmichael doesnt like pink. But she loved the space. Next she had to decide what to put inside. Fashion interested Carmichael. And like the dance studio, this area didnt have a clothing store Carmichael loved. She wanted to shop at a local clothing boutique that catered to her fashion sensibilities and styles. Carmichael decided to fill her store with clothes. After deciding to open a clothing boutique, Carmichael called up Ronni Levine, her former store manager at Tempo, to plan out the new business. That week Carmichael filed her articles of incorporation papers with the state. On October 9, 2010 the business Neena was born. Neenas beginning marked the end of Carmichaels leisure time. No longer a distant admirer of fashion but a clothing buyer, she began furiously researching fashion trends and changes in style, both online and through store visits. Two weeks after incorporating, Carmichael and Levine drove down to Chicago for their first market. Just to look. [At market] Ronni came up to ask if I had seen anything I liked, Carmichael recalled, I told her, I bought seven lines. Carmichael was ready to begin. Opening the store she had always wished existed meant each season

there are five seasons in fashion: Spring/Summer, Summer, Fall, Holiday, and Resort Carmichael bought clothes she loved. And to this day, there are very few pieces [I buy] that I wouldnt wear. Trusting her personal connection with the location proved to be a good business decision. Since Neena officially opened on January 22, 2011 the business has grown steadily. To continue sustained sales growth,

Deneen Carmichael, left, and Ronnie Levine.

Times-Tribune photo by Nathan Mabie

anced. In fact, if you break down the ingredients used for the original punches, youll see that they bear similarities to many popular drinks enjoyed today. For example, if you looked at a Mojito through the lens of punch making, this is what youll see: 1) Rum (alcohol), 2) Sugar (sugar), 3) fruit (limes), 4) Water from shake and club soda (water) and 5) Mint (spices). For those looking to impress their friends, Kinder will be giving punch making demos at an open house at Deaths Door Distillery (2220 Eagle Dr., Middleton) on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is $5 and includes

PUnCh

Carmichael is undergoing a 21st century retail business expansion shes building an online store. Slated to open early in 2013, the online store will allow Carmichael to enlarge her reach without altering the community shes fostered at Neena. Five years ago Carmichael could never have imagined her life as it is today living in Wisconsin, owning Neena. The road to 1827 Parmenter

Street has been difficult and her future is still far from certain. But one thing is for certain. Carmichael has found, in Neena, what everyone who has moved desires a sense of belonging. Standing behind the antique ice cream counter that serves as her sales counter, Carmichael cant think of anywhere shed rather be, stating: Im home here. continued from page 3

Roman Candle pizza, Wisconsin cheese, soda, distillery tours and $5 cocktails and punch. The Recipe: Squirrel Mittens Punch Punch Bowl (1-1/2 or 2 gallon size): 2 btls (750ml) Deaths Door Gin or Deaths Door Vodka 8 oz. (1 cup) Sugar 16 oz. (2 cups) Amaretto 16 oz. (2 cups) Lemon juice, fresh (appx. 12 medium lemons) 48 oz. (1 qts) Rooibus Tea, brewed and cooled 16 oz. (1/2 qt) Ginger Beer (or spicy Ginger Ale)

Combine sugar, amaretto and lemon juice in punch bowl and stir to thoroughly dissolve sugar. Add Deaths Door gin or vodka, rooibos tea and ginger beer and stir to thoroughly combine. Garnish with lemon slices and cranberries. If serving immediately, add approximately four cups of ice to chill and ladle into punch glass (8 oz.). Otherwise, leave out ice in punch bowl and ladle into ice-filled glass during the course of evening. This recipe makes 28 to 32 servings.

Garnish: Cranberries and thin slices of lemons

Drinks on him: The man behind Barriques

by naThan MaBIE
Times-Tribune

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

C OFFEE

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

PAGE 5

Most wine collectors die with stockpiles of vintages held safely in storage. But not Finn Berge, wine enthusiast and owner of Barriques Market cafs. When Berge is gone he wants people to remember him and think, At least he drank well. He buys bottles of wine to be used. In Berges opinion, wine is meant for drinking, ideally with great food and friendly company. And 22 years of tasting and buying wine has only cemented this belief. Today Berge is a successful businessman - he owns six Barriques throughout the Madison area including one in Middletons Cayuga Court - but this wasnt always the case. His success is more than two decades in the making, with ups and downs and turns unforeseen. The first Barriques, on Madisons Monroe Street, opened in 1998 as a wine-only shop. But the story of Barriques begins much earlier, in the spring of 1990 with the opening of a small, new restaurant on the Capitol Square. Long-time residents of Middleton will remember the Square in the early nineties. It was dead, Berge recalls. Berge and three other enterprising young restaurateurs saw opportunity where others did not. Twenty-two-year-old Berge joined his brother and two friends as partners in the Blue Marlin, an upscale seafood restaurant. Berge was the bartender and wine buyer for the young restaurant. He began learning about wine, tasting wine, and visiting vineyards in the States and abroad. Business was good. Berge and his brother opened another eatery, Restaurant Magnus, in 1998. This was when Berge said he, lost the concept of a work week. Working long days and even longer nights at Blue Marlin, Berge watched couples, families, businessmen and

learner. By the end of the year he added a third Barriques in Fitchburg. Since then Berge has opened three more Barriques locations throughout Madison. The sixth and newest location, opened in August 2011 on Park Street, is especially unique. The back half of Barriques Park St. is devoted entirely to coffee bean roasting. Headed by Rob Jeffries, Berges full-time roaster, the Park Street location now supplies each of the six Barriques with all their coffee beans. In addition to supplying his own stores with coffee, Berges now sells his beans, wholesale, to other coffee shops, restaurants, and businesses. He believes wholesale business is where future growth within his company lies. Looking ahead, Berge plans to continue selling wholesale beans and op-

erating his six Barriques locations. A husband and father, he appreciates his current work and life schedule after years of working long nights, early mornings, and practically every holiday and weekend. Last year I went skiing on New Years Eve, Berge said, it was my first time not working New Years Eve in 25 years. Berge expects to continue to enjoy some weekends and holidays with his family, a privilege in the food service business hes earned thanks to hard work and years of sacrifice. Enjoying life outside of work is consistent with who he wants to be, he reflects. Berge understands what long-term success looks like for him and it doesnt include stockpiling anything. He has the wine, and he plans to drink well.

businesswomen enjoy good company over expensive wines. Stuck behind his bar in an effort to maximize seating capacity Berge was blocked in all night Berge had an epiphany: good wine and good times need not be an extravagance. He wanted to enjoy the wine he loved so much, with kindred spirits, without breaking the bank to do so. Berge guessed he wasnt alone. Later that year, Berge and his partners remodeled the space that became Barriques Wine Cave, on Monroe Street. The centerpiece of the Wine Cave was, and remains, the Wall of 100 100 wines from all over the world, all under $10. Berge and his brother-in-law, Matt Weygandt, ran the Wine Cave for five years before they

Middleton resident Finn Berge, wine enthusiast and owner of Barriques Market cafs.

Times-Tribune photo by Nathan Mabie

decided to expand. Berge and Weygandt sought a new model for the second Barriques, one that could expand the customer base and maximize the space. The two landed on a simple solution: coffee in the morning and wine in the evening. Berge and Weygandt leased the spec space on the corner of Cayuga and Elmwood, in Middletons then newly built Cayuga Court. Originally the endeavor was a partnership between Berge and a coffee company, but the bean people walked away before the doors even opened. Berge pressed on. Thirteen years after learning wines on the fly, Berge began his crash coarse in coffee with the 2003 opening of Barriques in Middleton. He was a fast

PAGE 6

The DNR received more than 2000 comments on a draft proposal that was presented to the public at five listening sessions across the state. In response to the public comments, the DNR moved back the opening date on additional properties and closed additional areas around popular recreational trails on some properties to protect public safety. More than 60 people spoke during Neighbor City, including Public Works, Public Lands, Fire and EMS. We were able get roads and intersections cleared in a timely manner in order to get stranded motorists moving or, in the case of the fire department, get them out of their cars and moved to a safe location, he said. Our citizens should be pleased with the hard work and dedication of our city employees during this snow incident. Keil added that the Middleton Fire District responded to multiple calls outside the city, and that many of their volunteers brought in personal snowmobiles that allowed them to respond to emergencies that would be otherwise inaccessible. Middleton Fire Chief Aaron Harris said his department responded to 17 emergency incidents along with numerous citizen assists, [including] shoveling out driveways, freeing stranded cars [and] clearing blocked vent pipes. The Middleton Fire District had as many as 23 volunteers staffing in-house with a multitude of additional volunteers on standby during the storm. During events such as this, MIFD personnel generally assist by bringing ented writers with whom Ive had the opportunity to work. The site also offers a link to Seeking Shama, a site run by Middleton

PaRKS

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

STORM

the public participation portion of the board meeting. In response to concerns expressed, the board voted to further reduce the amount of time open to hunting and trapping, and also closed Governor Nelson State Park north of Madison to hunting and trapping. The DNR plan proposed opening hunting and trapping from Oct. 15 through the Thursday before Memorial Day on most state properties, with an in personal all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and 4x4 trucks. The MIFD plow truck, operated by Assistant Chief Gary Gillitzer, was utilized on numerous occasions throughout the district to gain emergency access to citizens in medical distress and to guide the transporting ambulances from Cross Plains, Waunakee and Middleton to their various destinations. Harris praised everyone who helped out within the fire district during the storm. Over this three day blizzard event Im left in awe as I witnessed first hand the combined emergency services efforts of the Middleton Police Department, Dane County Sheriffs Deputies, Dane County911 Dispatch Center, Middleton Paramedics, Cross Plains Fire Department, Cross Plains EMS, Waunakee EMS, Middleton Department of Public Works, Dane County Highway Department and the Town of Middleton, Westport and Springfield road crews, Harris said Friday. As the storm passed it became clear to me that the consolidated proactive/reactive efforts put forth by everyone, citizens included, is what made the overall response to this winter emergency a success. native Kee Kee Buckley, whose writing has been feature by the Huffington Post. A local birding site, the Middleton Chamber of Commerce and the

opening date of Nov. 15 on seven properties with a high volume of late fall visitors and horseback riders. The board amended the plan to open hunting and trapping on Nov. 15 on all properties and to close firearm hunting on Dec. 15, and then reopen hunting and trapping April 1 through the end of the third spring turkey hunting season, which ends in late April or early May. The board voted to allow archery Staff at Middleton City Hall reported snow removal crews began clearing roads when the storm hit, working until 5 p.m. Thursday. They were back on the roadways again at 2 a.m. Friday In the nearby Town of Middleton, clerk Sara Ludke said workers teamed up with the Dane County Sheriffs Office to clear roads. Our road crew has been out working continuously trying to clear the roads, Ludke wrote in an email to residents on Friday. Providing access to emergency personnel has been [a] top priority [as] several residents are dealing with a gas leak and power outages. We have all available employees, along with additional resources including tractors and end-loaders clearing the streets as fast as possible. Town administrator David Shaw put it simply: Obviously, with almost 20 inches of snow, we have faced some real challenges getting to everyones driveway and we want to thank all of you for your patience. We have all five of our trucks, plus a large tractor and an end-loader out to get the snow taken care of as quickly as possible. The storm caused most schools and Middleton Tourism Department can all be quickly accessed through the website as well. Municipal governments have

hunting to continue in state parks through the late archery season, which ends the first week of January and for archery hunting to continue at Buckhorn State Park near Necedah on its historical schedule of mid-September through the end of the archery season. The board also limited the types of traps used at state parks to those that would prevent catching dogs. A representative of the Wisconsin Trappers businesses to close, as well as altering some trash and recycling pickup times. However, the Middleton Community Orchestra reported strong audience turnout Wednesday night at the Middleton Performing Arts Center despite the gathering storm, according to orchestra co-founder Mindy Taranto. Casey Slaughter Becker, the communications specialist for Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, said the storm made many county roads impassible, downing power lines and trees as it howled across the region. Parisi said the Dane County 911 Center experienced a nearly 60 percent increase in call volume Thursday. Heavy snow has fallen throughout the day and didnt change to rain as initially forecast[ed], said Parisi last week. Those snows combined with high winds have left many east-west roads difficult to drive on and in some cases impassable due to drifting. Parisi said the state of emergency declaration that went into effect would allow the county to seek federal disaster reimbursement for recovery costs related to the blizzard. Dane County shut down non-essential services and offices through Friday. With the holiworked increasingly hard in recent years to provide digital information to citizens. Both the City of Middleton and the Town of Middleton make an effort to reach out to residents through electronic means. Still, said Geiger, its nice to

Association appeared during the public participation portion of the meeting and demonstrated the dog-safe traps and said they were the traps endorsed by the organization for use in parks. The board also directed the DNR to begin work on an emergency rule that would prohibit shooting across state trails and trails within park boundaries. continued from page 1

continued from page 2

WEBSITE

day this week, that meant normal county operations were scheduled to resume Wednesday, December 26. An array of county highways were still impassible well into Friday, including Highway Q from Middleton to Waunakee, where abandoned vehicles littered the sides of the roadway. Middleton EMS director Steve Wunsch said his department responded to nine calls during the storm, including one for cold exposure suffered by a stranded motorist. Overall it went very well, said Wunsch. Volume-wise there wasnt a lot of traffic, but there were still and this always puzzles me some people who didnt have to be out on the roads but decided to drive anyway. We had roads where snowdrifts were so high they were over the tops of the plows. For some reason some citizens decided to try them in their front wheel drive cars. They got stuck, and we had to go try to get them out safely. Wunsch urged citizens to heed warnings to stay home whenever future winter storms come rolling into Middleton. continued from page 1

know there is a community newspaper out there run by people who arent being compensated by local government keeping tabs on them. The fact that we are here both in print and online does help me sleep a little better at night.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Acker, Eric J, 23, Cross Plains, WI 53528, 12/26/2011, FTS/Improper Stop at Stop Sign, $88.80 Alongi, Betty J, 53, Baraboo, WI 53913, 12/27/2011, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Andersen, Erin M, 29, Reedsburg, WI 53959, 01/02/2012, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $114.00 Barman, Laurie Lynn, 26, Lexington, SC 29072 7361, 12/23/2011, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.10 Bedward, Lyle Dean III, 19, Verona, WI 53593, 12/03/2011, Method of Giving Signals, $76.20 Boyd, Brittaney M, 24, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/03/2012, Disorderly Conduct, $114.00 Brand, Robin, 24, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/22/2011, Criminal Damage Property, $1311.00 Brummer, Christopher R, 44, Mount Horeb, WI 53572, 12/24/2011, Improperly Attached License Plates, $0.00 Bujniewicz, Tracy S, 41, Verona, WI 53593, 01/09/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Byrd, Kaci A, 20, Lodi, WI 53555, 01/08/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $114.00 Capps, Jill E, 51, Poynette, WI 53955, 01/06/2012, Auto Following Too Closely, $114.00 Chapman, Anna R, 35, Madison, WI 53711, 03/02/2010, Issuance Worthless Checks, $57.30 Dasiyici, Mehmet Celal, 28, Madison, WI 53719, 01/04/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.80 Diels, Gary R, 65, Waunakee, WI 53597, 01/10/2012, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Diels, Gary R, 65, Waunakee, WI 53597, 01/10/2012, Seatbelt Required Oper/Pass, $10.00 Driese, Ricky T, 46, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/02/2011, Vehicle Registration Revoked/Suspended/Cancel, $88.80 Driese, Ricky T, 46, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/02/2011, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 Driese, Ricky T, 46, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/02/2011, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Dudek, James D, 46, Columbus, WI 53925, 12/27/2011, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Dugan, Danielle M, 22, Waunakee, WI 53597, 01/03/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.80 Dugan, Danielle M, 22, Waunakee, WI 53597, 01/03/2012, Operating while Suspended, $88.80 Dugan, Danielle M, 22, Waunakee, WI 53597, 01/03/2012, Operating vehicle without insurance, $0.00 Elgebaly, Mohamed A, 62, Madison, WI 53719, 01/10/2012, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Erickson, Christopher L, 27, Mazomanie, WI 53560, 01/06/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Erickson, Diana J, 66, Oregon, WI 53575, 01/06/2012, Non Registration, $0.00 Eytalis, Sarah Ann, 31, Rockford, IL 61114, 01/10/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $164.40 Eytalis, Sarah Ann, 31, Rockford, IL 61114, 01/10/2012, Operating after revocation, $114.00 Fuller, Mark K, 51, Baraboo, WI 53913, 10/14/2011, Failure to Properly Obtain a salvage title, $88.80 Fumusa, Vincent P, 46, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/26/2011, FTS/Improper Stop at Stop Sign, $88.80 Gallagher, Nicole M, 25, Madison, WI 53704, 01/10/2012, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80

IN COURT (Finding Date: 2/2/12)

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

PAGE 7

Gessel, Jenna A, 22, Madison, WI 53711, 12/26/2011, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.80 Gessel, Jenna A, 22, Madison, WI 53711, 12/26/2011, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 Givens, Phillip B, 28, Madison, WI 53704, 01/10/2012, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Gleeson, James T, 53, Madison, WI 53705, 01/06/2012, Non Registration, $0.00 Gleeson, James T, 53, Madison, WI 53705, 01/06/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Gottlieb, Benjamin C, 40, Madison, WI 53703, 12/30/2011, Private Use/Sale Firework, $88.80 Griffin, Chad A, 29, Madison, WI 53711, 12/29/2011, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Hanna, Reema F, 21, Verona, WI 53593, 01/10/2012, Unsafe Lane Deviation, $88.00 Hanna, Reema F, 21, Verona, WI 53593, 01/10/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Haralampopoulos, Arthur G, 35, Fitchburg, WI 53711, 01/06/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Haralampopoulos, Arthur G, 35, Fitchburg, WI 53711, 01/06/2012, Non Registration, $88.80 Haraldson, Eric P, 56, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/10/2012, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Hellenbrand, Steven John, 46, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/05/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $114.00 Heneghan, Lynne M, 19, Madison, WI 53703, 08/17/2011, Operating vehicle without insurance, $154.00 Heneghan, Lynne M, 19, Madison, WI 53703, 08/17/2011, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Hill, Guy A, 51, Black Earth, WI 53515, 01/05/2012, Ride in Vehicle without seatbelt, $10.00 Johnson, Shad M, 36, Black Earth, WI 53515, 01/05/2012, Operating w/o a Valid Drivers License, $0.00 Johnson, Shad M, 36, Black Earth, WI 53515, 01/05/2012, Operating ve-

hicle without insurance, $0.00 Johnson, Shad M, 36, Black Earth, WI 53515, 01/05/2012, Seatbelt Required Oper/Pass, $10.00 Joncas, Michael P, 22, Madison, WI 53715, 10/22/2011, Operating While Intoxicated, $731.00 Joncas, Michael P, 22, Madison, WI 53715, 10/22/2011, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $114.00 Kraemer, Teresa L, 40, Madison, WI 53716, 01/07/2012, Non Registration, $88.80 Kraemer, Teresa L, 40, Madison, WI 53716, 01/07/2012, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 Kraemer, Teresa L, 40, Madison, WI 53716, 01/07/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Lucas, Terrance Kinard, 32, Black Earth, WI 53515, 01/05/2012, Ride in Vehicle without seatbelt, $10.00 Mc Conkie, Sandi S, 54, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/30/2011, Non Registration, $88.80 Mc Conkie, Sandi S, 54, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/30/2011, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Mc Conkie, Sandi S, 54, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/30/2011, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 Mc Dermott, Michael J, 57, Sun Prairie, WI 53590, 01/02/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.80 Mccarty, Jill A, 29, Janesville, WI 53548, 01/09/2012, Non Registration, $88.80 Mccarty, Jill A, 29, Janesville, WI 53548, 01/09/2012, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 Mechelke, Michael J, 28, Black Earth, WI 53515, 12/30/2011, Method of Giving Signals, $88.80 Murphy, Brian Harlan, 21, Verona, WI 53593, 01/05/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Park, Shannon M, 24, Waunakee, WI 53597, 01/12/2012, Method of Giving Signals, $76.60 Pierick, Jacob D, 26, Madison, WI 53711, 01/05/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $114.00 Pitts, April D, 38, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/06/2012, Motor vehicle lia-

bility insurance required, $10.00 Resch, Noy, 35, Madison, WI 53705, 12/27/2011, FTS/Improper Stop at Stop Sign, $88.80 Resch, Noy, 35, Madison, WI 53705, 12/27/2011, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 Resch, Noy, 35, Madison, WI 53705, 12/27/2011, Non Registration, $88.80 Ruiz, Rosalino Antonio, 40, Middleton, WI 53562, 12/10/2011, Obstructing Traffic, $114.00 Schmidt, Misty R, 27, Sauk City, WI 53583, 12/27/2011, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Schnelle, Sara Elizabeth, 17, Middleton, WI 53562, 11/10/2011, Method of Giving Signals, $88.00 Schumacher, Lynn A, 52, Madison, WI 53714, 01/02/2012, Non Registration, $88.00 Shackleton, David J, 47, Mazomanie, WI 53560, 01/10/2012, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Shackleton, David J, 47, Mazomanie, WI 53560, 01/10/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Solt, Michael A JR, 31, Arlington, WI 53911, 01/04/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.80 Stalkol, Eran, 27, Madison, WI 53713, 01/10/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.80 Stalkol, Eran, 27, Madison, WI 53713, 01/10/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $0.00 Strand, Matthew A, 39, South Beloit, IL 61080, 08/13/2011, Refusal, $0.00 Tarrant, Christine A, 61, Madison, WI 53726, 12/28/2011, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $164.40 Thao, Khue, 29, Madison, WI 53704, 12/31/2011, FTS/Improper Stop at Stop Sign, $88.80 Thompson, Joy L, 43, Cottage Grove, WI 53527, 01/10/2012, Speeding 55 MPH Zone, $88.80 Thompson, Quintina M, 28, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/03/2012, Disorderly Conduct, $120.00 Touray, Abdou, 41, Madison, WI

53714, 01/06/2012, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 Traxler, Aaron L, 19, Madison, WI 53716, 01/08/2012, Operating while Suspended, $114.00 Traxler, Aaron L, 19, Madison, WI 53716, 01/08/2012, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 VanDoros, Takis S, 77, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/08/2012, Traffic Control Signal Violation red, $88.80 Wagabaza, Sara A, 30, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/01/2012, Disorderly Conduct, $240.00 Walker, Charles E JR, 41, Madison, WI 53713, 12/31/2011, Operating vehicle without insurance, $114.00 Walker, Charles E JR, 41, Madison, WI 53713, 12/31/2011, Non Registration, $88.80 Walker, Charles E JR, 41, Madison, WI 53713, 12/31/2011, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Walker, Charles E JR, 41, Madison, WI 53713, 12/31/2011, Operating while Suspended, $114.00 Walters, Chantea D, 26, Middleton, WI 53562, 05/12/2011, Operating while Suspended, $154.00 Warren, George E, 68, Madison, WI 53705, 12/31/2011, Traffic Control Signal Violation red, $88.80 Warren, George E, 68, Madison, WI 53705, 12/31/2011, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.80 Way, Jeremy S, 19, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/03/2012, Non Registration, $0.00 Way, Jeremy S, 19, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/03/2012, Failure to Apply for a Transfer of Title, $0.00 Way, Jeremy S, 19, Middleton, WI 53562, 01/03/2012, Motor vehicle liability insurance required, $10.00 Zahid, Fatima, 38, Madison, WI 53719, 11/28/2011, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $114.00 Zander, Ashley R, 20, Madison, WI 53703, 01/06/2012, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $88.80 Zhang, Allen Fan, 22, Madison, WI 53703, 12/07/2011, Exceeding Zones and Posted Limits, $114.00.

PAGE 8

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Finally, success for the long-term un-, underand self-employed

This 4-part column represents excerpts of an extensive online conversation on a jobs board, hoping recruiters, HR folks, fellow professional job seekers and others on LinkedIn might address the stigma on long-term un/under/self-employment. For 60 days, hundreds of us pursue the question of stigma. The major takeaways and life lessons from a 31-page transcript may be tightly summarized:

Part 4 of 4

HR folks agree a stigma is held against the unemployed; it is systemic, not just self-imposed: (a) the unemployed are viewed as a flight-risk, always leaving for greener pastures;(b) the unemployed have lost competitive skills; (c) if a true A-gamer, the un-

employed would have secured employment, or something is wrong with them. The reality of stigma assigned is shocking, even offensive, to many; this can block future success. A recruiter would sooner hire away from another organization or competitor than take a risk on the unemployed. Ageism runs rampant and prevents baby boomers from continuing to work. The stigma is worldwide, with feedback from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, India, South Africa, and others. Yet HR has also takes on blame regarding the stigma; HR wants better tools to clearly identify qualified candidates. HR recommends that unemployed individuals stay active through volunteering, continuing ed, association with professional groups, and consulting. The un- and under-employed have a voice, blogging at a grassroots level;

e.g., see www.thewilltowork.com. We must convince organizations, big and small, to adjust to a new economy that will heavily depend on the experience and innovation that the long-term un- under- and self-employed can bring. I close with a related hospice incident, one that shows how debilitating this stigma can be, even to the point of wanting to end ones life. It happened over Thanksgiving weekend. Im called to the bedside of a dying man. There I found myself not only comforting the family in their imminent loss, but also confronting and overcoming this same stigma of long-term un- under- and self-employment. Not just in myselfbut in the 45-year-old son of this dying man. The son is feeling societal and family pressure to succeed in business, yet his 10-year career as a trucker ends in bankruptcy. Feeling like a total failure in his dads eyes, useless and a burden to his family, he is threatening to end his life with a gun. The tears and self-doubts coming from this son were familiar to me, but not just as a reflection of my own. You see, my dad in his last days was also thinking his life had not amounted to much, that for all his 55 years of working for one company, he would not be leaving much of a legacy. Bah, hum-

bug! I had told Dad. I then proceeded to assure him of what every dying man wants to knowthat he did right by his kids, that we are Dads proudest achievement, that he raised us the best he could. So I asked the son crying on my shoulder what self-doubts his dying dad might be having at this point, and what final reassurances he might want to hear from his one and only son. The grieving son raced into the other room to tell his dad what an outstanding job he had done raising a son. Further, he promised Dad that he would honor him with his life and take care of Mom, soon to be widowed. This end-of-life talk with Dad was also, in effect, a sorely needed self-talk and a suicide-prevention pledge by the son. Meanwhile, I direct this conversation to our heavenly Father, as well. With wisdom from above, I help this distraught son unhook his identity and sense of worth from what he earns. It is, rather, the work of Christ, not ours, which vindicates. We consider our good works and Gods justifying grace. God makes no junk, including this son, I remind him. We are the apple of Gods eye, who loves us for who we are, no matter what, and not for what we do. Further, I tell my friend (and my-

self), our contribution to others exceeds any compensation we may receive. It is more blessed to give than to receive (Paul, quoting Jesus). No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another (Charles Dickens). To illustrate my point, Im going with church friends, December 15-23, to Staten Island, NYC, a place hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy. Well help those without livable homes to make it home for the holidays. The stigma is lifted, for one and all, as this conversation now comes full circle. What began as a crowded online discussion group and self-talk about stigma is ending up as a quiet conversation and action plan with this hospice family, with people in job transition feeling useless, with New Yorks homelessand now with you dear readers. Amen. If you want to capture and share with friends any or all four weeks of this case for the long-term un- underand self-employed, see my blog at www.thegruengroup.weebly.com. If you want to meet others in the same boat, and get help for your job search, come to the Madison Area Job Transition group; we meet 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Kramer was reading pioneer Park school

by PERRy hIBnER
MCPASD

Students give heartwarming gift

by PERRy hIBnER
MCPASD

Former Park Elementary reading specialist Clifford J. Kramer, 61, died Nov. 17. Kramer earned a bachelors degree in education from UWOshkosh and a masters in curriculum and instruction and administration from UW-Madison. He joined the school district in February 1985 after previously working in the Sheboygan and Hartford school districts. In 1988 he did a study on the preferences of students toward Basal readers as opposed to childrens novels and chapter books. At the time, it was very cutting edge and I suspect that this was about when our district began to make that turn in reading instruction, Director of Employee Services Tabatha Gundrum said. He published articles in professional journals and newspapers, books for use by teachers, and a remedial reading screening test. He also received a Congressional Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1993. He was ahead of his time as far as data analysis, Assistant See KRaMER, page 9

A year ago Sunset Ridge teacher Cindy Wolfinger and her secondgrade students decided to make tieblankets and give them to children at American Family Childrens Hospital. The program grew by leaps and bounds this year. Eleven teachers and more than 200 students participated in the voluntary program this year. Wolfinger estimates more than 115 blankets will be completed by the students. The children are loving it, firstgrade teacher Wendy Judd said. In fact, two second-grade classes visited St. Marys Hospital last week for a field trip and brought some blankets with them, Judd said. The inspiration for the project resulted when a former student of Wolfingers missed the first week of school because she was in the hospital having surgery. When the student arrived for her first day, she shared with our class her experiences in the hospital, including receiving a blanket. The feedback has been amazing from the students, Wolfinger said. Many teachers are finding that students want to keep tying and tying blankets and they never get tired of it. Many of the students are now understanding the message of how good it feels to give rather than receive. Room parents collected money in advance for each class that was par-

ticipating. A few teachers then went to Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts just before Thanksgiving to get the fabric cut for each of the classrooms. This was a huge favor, Wolfinger said. We would have been in the cutting line for hours and hours had we needed to wait for Black Friday to start the process. The discounted fabric was picked up the day after Thanksgiving. It was the longest receipt Ive ever seen. It seemed like it was 20 feet long, she said. The students began tying blankets the Monday after Thanksgiving. Students will tie before school, during recess or over their lunch hour, Wolfinger said. The response has been overwhelming. The students in my class have been begging to come in to help with blankets, first-grade teacher Karin Koenig said. We randomly pick four students each recess and almost every child wants to be chosen each day. I have heard my students bragging about it to othersI think they really get it as to what these blankets are for and why it is important to help others. Wolfinger planned to distribute the blankets on Dec. 22 to American Family Childrens Hospital, Gios Garden and Ronald McDonald House. She plans to continue the tradition for many years to come and hopes it will grow even bigger. It is the gift that keeps on giving, she said.

The blankets went to American Family Childrens Hospital, Gios Garden, and Ronald McDonald House.

Photo contributed

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Superintendent for Educational Services George Mavroulis said. Jane Conaway first met Kramer when she joined the district as a reading specialist at Elm Lawn in 1987. The reading specialists would meet one afternoon every month to discuss curriculum and assessment. We thought he was the voice of reason regarding reading instruction philosophies, not influenced by the latest, she said. Students, staff and parents were drawn to him because of his charm, warmth and courage. Kramer retired from the district in June 2006. He was passionate about working with elementary school kids, and helped them grow into successful readers, said Jeanne Heindel, a reading specialist at Kromrey. He was also very knowledgeable about reading research, and I enjoyed discussing issues with him.

KRaMER

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

PAGE 9

Numerous staff members shared how Kramer loved to give his students a piece of broccoli after they were done working with him. He had an old shoe box on his table, Conaway said. He would ask if you wanted some broccoli that was in the box. Most said, No, and he would laugh and open the box. There was candy inside! Even if you said no, he gave you candy. That was one of his favorite jokes. He laughed every time. Whenever a Park family had a baby, Kramer would give them a copy of Dr. Seuss ABC book. He said it should be the first book a child has to become a reader, Conaway said. Park kindergarten teacher Amy Callies spoke at a celebration that held at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg on Nov. 23. I vividly remember the very first time I met Mr. Kramer, she told a

packed house at the celebration. He took me to the enormous wall of worksheets that was used for every grade level. This was during my first week at Park in 1991. I had a sinking feeling of, Oh no, what have I done? As many of you know I am not a worksheet type of gal. ... As it turned, out Cliff was not a worksheet type of guy, either.

Cliff was the catalyst for the grand book room we have today. Cliff loved teaching kids how to read. I can hear him saying right! He always said his whole job was to convince each child he worked with that they were a great reader! If you would like to make a donation to purchase books at Park, please contact MCPASD Community

Relations-Education Foundation Specialist Perry Hibner at 829-9014.

continued from page 8

CHURCH NOTES

PAGE 10

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

The Middleton Public Lands, Recreation & Forestry Department on Dec. 19 celebrated the Grand Opening of the Quisling Park Off Leash Dog Exercise Area at 8780 Airport Road. The new off leash park includes more than three acres of fenced area, with picnic tables and trails. There is ample parking, and its conveniently located near Middleton neighborhoods, said Middleton Public Lands manager Penni Klein, far right. The park will provide a fine excuse to get some exercise for the whole family and your dog!

Dogs days of winter

Times-Tribune photo by Matt Geiger

Mark Walther, community services director for the City of Middleton, issued a statement this week reminding residents and property owners it is their responsibility under Middleton ordinance 8.07(1) to clear public sidewalks and handicap ramps adjacent to their properties of all snow and ice within 24 hours of the end of snow and iceaccumulation. Walther said it is less well known that it is also citizens responsibility under the same ordinance to dig out fire hydrants adjacent to their properties. A properly dug out fire hydrant will aid responding fire fighters to more quickly locate and connect to fire hydrants to fight a fire on your or your neighbors property, said Walther. There are too many fire hydrants for Middleton work crews to dig out in a

Ordinance requires citizens to clear sidewalks, hydrants

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

timely manner. Instead, the ordinance requires you to dig out adjacentfire hydrants - usually just one - within 24 hours of the end of any snow accumulation. Walther said it is not necessary to dig out a fire hydrant down to ground level; it is only necessary to dig out a radius of two feet and only down toat least four inches below the lowest outlet hydrant cap. Connecting fire hoses can simply lie atop the surrounding snow. While it is the responsibility of adjacent property owners to dig out the fire hydrant, it is in everyones interest to see that it is done, said Walther. Neighbors in the Good Neighbor City are welcome to dig them out to get it done as soon as possible. This can be especially helpful to neighbors with less ability to do this.

The Middleton Community Orchestra concert last week attracted a good crowd, according to organizers, despite taking place on the brink of a major storm. Pictured above, soprano guest artist Emily Birsan.

The show must go on

Photo contributed

The Madison-based Madison Marimba Quartet (MMQ) will perform the 17th annual Our Gift To You free concert on Saturday, December 29 at 1 p.m. in the afternoon at Mills Concert Hall on the UW campus. Quartet members Laura Guse, Tim Gruber, Tom Shaver and Jim Latimer team together to rehearse and perform this between the holidays concert as their way to give back to the community something this quartet has been doing since 1996. Guse has played with the quartet since 2003. She, husband Berkley and sons Calvin and Jonah live in Middleton. Guse has an extended career in music performance, electrical engineering and is currently Doctor of Physical Therapy at UW Hospital and Clinics. Weve played together for a long time even though Im relatively new in the groups 30-year history, Guse said, indicating that weekly rehearsals are intense but fun and a stress-reliever from usual day-to-day activities even though juggling the activities of work and family life can be a challenge.

Middletonian Laura Guse featured in Saturday concert

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

PAGE 11

Other quartet members are Jim Latimer (Oregon WI) who is Professor Emeritus from the UW-Madison School of Music, conductor of Madisons own Capitol City Band and founder of the quartet; Tom Shaver, Portage resident and band director at Portage High School and Tim Gruber 0f Madison, a free-lance percussionist and music teacher in the Madison Schools. MMQ was founded in 1980 and has played throughout Wisconsin and on WI Public Radio; from Rockford IL and Tulsa OK to Bethesda MD and Washington DC. They delight audiences of all ages with their combined talents, virtuosity and personalities and perform regularly by invitation for a fee. MMQ promises an exciting program of music from the classical Beethoven Finale-Allegro from Quartet No. 13, Opus 130 to A Shot in the Dark or Inspector Clouseau by Mancini. The program is also likely to include one movement from Quartets by Alice Smith and Felix Mendelssohn, CanCan by Offenbach, Theme and Varia-

tions on Simple Gifts by Copland as arranged for the quartet by Madison composer, Frank Ferriano. A little jazz completes any MMQ concert - it could be Satin Doll, Freedom Jazz Dance, Take Five, So What or something else. As in the past, the quartet will play the traditional Sleigh Ride to celebrate the season. The concert will last about 75 minutes with a brief intermission. The music is the message according to Latimer, the Quartets founder, who went on to say that folks are usually looking for positive, creative and family things to do between the Christmas and New Years holidays. For MMQ the past sixteen concerts billed as Our Gift To You have been exciting and successful. Mills Concert Hall is located at the UW School of Music, Mosse Humanities Building at the corner of University Avenue and N. Park Street in Madison. The concert is free and open to the public. Nearby parking is available at the Lake Street and Southeast Area Parking Ramps (enter from Lake Street from University Ave. or W. Johnson);

Middleton resident Laura Guse performs. at Grainger Hall (enter on Brooks Street from W. Johnson or University Avenue) or Helen C. White Hall (enter from N Park Street across from the Memorial Union Theater).

Photo contributed

For addition information visit www.mmqccb.org, email jhlatime@wisc.edu or call 608 8359861.

Follow Rob Reischel on Twitter at @robreischel

Another memorable year

Boys soccer coach Ken Burghy (left) and girls basketball player Madeline Staples (right) were part of Middletons top two sports stories of 2012.

Times-Tribune photos by Mary Langenfeld

IDDlETOnS

EaR

PORTS

Thrilling victories. Magnificent individual performances. Memories to last a lifetime. These are the norm inside the remarkably successful sports programs at Middleton High School. And 2012 was certainly no different. MHS provided area sports fans with a bevy of highlights this past year. Heres one persons view of the top-10. The losses were extreme. Expectations werent high. When Middletons girls basketball team began the 2011-12 campaign, few believed they would continue their recent run of success. I think going into the year, people were like, Middleton, theyll have an average year. Theyre not going to be as good as they were last year, Middleton guard Mika Passini said. But I think going into the season with that mentality motivated us a lot

On field successes, off field departures headline 2012

1. The beat goes on

more. It showed. To the surprise of many, Middleton put together its typical sensational season. The Cardinals won the Big Eight Conferences outright championship with a 16-2 record. That marked the sixth straight year Middleton won at least a share of the league. The Cardinals had three winning streaks of at least four games, highlighted by an eight-game run from late-January to late-February. And to top it off, Middleton reached the WIAA Division 1 state tournament for a fifth straight year. The Cardinals became just the seventh program in state history to accomplish that. Middletons year ended in disappointment when it lost to Milwaukee King, 78-73, in a state semifinal game at the UW Kohl Center last Friday. But considering where the Cardinals began and where they finished there was far more pride than disappointment. I dont think a lot of people thought wed be back here one more year, said Middleton center Madeline Staples, whose team finished the year 21-6. I think that motivated us, especially the seniors, from day one of the

Rob Reischel

season. We got back here and the disappointment is the loss, but were not disappointed about the season. We accomplished a lot this year. Middleton lost all-state point guard Kerry Gardner and all-Big Eight Conference forward Rachael Eklund from its 2011 state finals team. But the Cardinals had several players emerge as big-time players. Staples was as good as any post player in the league, and as Middleton head coach Jeff Kind said, she carried us to state. Passini was one of the areas most complete and versatile players. Passini moved from small forward to point guard at midseason when the Cardinals needed help there, and brought stability to the position. Senior guard Kirsten Gunderson was one of the leagues more explosive scorers and one of the Cardinals top athletes.

Perhaps the biggest lift, though, came from sophomore forward Liz McMahon, who emerged as an inside force and finished as Middletons leading scorer. Middleton proved once again that even in what many considered a rebuilding year, its foolish to overlook the Cardinals. How can you be disappointed? Kind said moments after the state semifinals. Its momentary disappointment, but I cant be prouder of the group and the accomplishments they had this year. To lose as many players as we did off of last years team our seniors just kind of took control of the team and kind of refused to lose and we just got better as the season went on. They accomplished a lot. It was a little bit unexpected, I think.

The going away party was supposed to take place in Milwaukee. Maybe with a second state championship for outgoing coach Ken Burghy. Most certainly with a trip to the WIAA Division 1 boys state soccer tournament. But the best laid plans dont always go the way theyre supposed to.

2. Bye, bye Burghy

Middletons boys soccer team fell to Madison Memorial in a shootout in the WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinals. And that ended Burghys sensational run as Middletons head coach. Im disappointed of course, said Burghy, whose team was ranked No. 2 in the state heading to the postseason. But Im more disappointed because this team and these players had their run cut short. This was one of the best teams weve ever had at Middleton. But sometimes things just dont go your way, even when youre the better team. Burghy finished with a 515-139-49 overall record. He led the Cardinals to 12 state tournaments, 18 conference championships, won a state title in 2004 and was the state runner-up in 2000. Afterwards, though, he longed for one more win. That game was one we did not take for granted by any means, Burghy said. Certainly I thought we could handle them and for the most part we did. And if we dont run into some bad luck, we beat them nine out of 10 times. But things dont always go your way. See 2012, page 14

Basketball teams and hockey squad all dealt losses

by ROB REISChEl
Times-Tribune

Rough week for Middleton

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

PAGE 13

Offense has been a problem for Middletons girls basketball team at times this season. And that was the case once again last Saturday. Host Verona slowed the pace and slowed the Cardinals in a 37-22 Wildcats victory. Middleton fell to 3-3 overall and 32 in the Big Eight Conference. Verona improved to 5-3, 4-1. Janesville Parker leads the league with a 5-0 mark, while Verona, Sun Prairie and Madison La Follette all have one loss. It was disappointing, Middleton coach Jeff Kind said. Verona did a very good job of dictating the pace of the game both offensively and defensively. They played sound fundamentally and capitalized on our mistakes. The Wildcats used a 7-0 run between the first and second quarters to go ahead, 14-4. Verona then held a 16-6 lead at halftime. Things didnt improve much in the second half, as Verona stretched its lead to 27-11 through three quarters. The Wildcats then maintained a comfortable advantage throughout the fourth quarter. We had some open looks against their zone, but failed to knock them down and we were very sluggish with our offensive attack, Kind said. Defensively, without scoring, we had trouble getting into the press, and they did a good job of pulling the ball out and making us play extended possessions. We must learn how to dictate our tempo versus teams like Verona.

Sophomore forward Cole Jordee led Middleton with nine points, while senior guard Natalie Staples added seven. Middleton is now at the eight-team Rathke Memorial Tournament at Franklin Thursday through Saturday. The Cardinals open against Racine Case Thursday at noon. The rest of their schedule will be determined by how they fare in the quarterfinals. Boys basketball: Finding a branch of consistency to grab ahold of has been a tough thing for Middleton this winter. And that was the case again last Saturday. The Cardinals dug a 15-8 hole after the first quarter, played catch-up all day, and fell to host Fort Atkinson, 4945. Middleton shot just 4-of-19 from three-point range and 11-of-19 from the free throw line. Tough one, Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. At some point you have to make some shots. Demond Hill, Kade Schultz and Max Oelerich all scored eight points to pace the Cardinals. Middleton fell to 4-4 on the year and remained 4-3 in the Big Eight Conference. Fort Atkinson improved to 5-2 overall. The game was tight throughout. Fort led, 21-17, at halftime and 34-28 through three quarters. Middleton kept charging in the fourth quarter, but never could seize control. Middleton next faces Madison Edgewood Friday at 7:30 p.m. Hockey: It was a rough week for Middleton. The host Cardinals dropped a 3-1 decision to league-leading Verona Saturday. Middleton also fell, 5-1, to Madison West last Tuesday. Middleton, which is 6-3 overall, has now slipped to third place in the Big Eight at 4-2. Verona (7-1, 6-0) leads the league.

Max Waelti and Middletons boys basketball team fell at Fort Atkinson last Saturday. Middleton took a 1-0 lead against Verona when senior defenseman Jake Bunz had an unassisted goal less than nine minutes into the game. But the Cardinals didnt score again. And Verona had one goal in every period to eventually prevail. Against West, Middleton trailed, 10, midway through the first period. Then Bunz got the equalizer with assists from Nico Campbell and Ethan McLeod. But the Regents took a 2-1 lead

Times-Tribune photo by Mary Langenfeld

after the first period, tacked on two second period goals and another in the third. Middleton is now off until Jan. 4 when it hosts Onalaska.

PAGE 14

Most things certainly went Middletons way this season. The Cardinals went 19-3-3 overall and won the Big Eight Conference with a perfect 9-0 mark. Middletons path to the state finals certainly seemed manageable, too, as it wouldnt have met No. 1 Marquette until the title game. Thats why the loss was so hard to take. Its tough to look back on this year, junior defender Jack Hagstrom said. We really had something special that ended earlier than we wanted. We had a great schedule, playing almost every team in the states top 10, and winning the Big Eight. Senior forward Derek Ott agreed. It was a great year, Ott said. Dominating the conference like we did was a huge success and is something that was very important to us. What I will remember most is that we had an amazing group of personalities that made practices, games and free time so much fun. As for Burghy, hell always remember the wins from his storied career. But more importantly, hell remember the people, the relationships, and ultimately the friendships that will last for years. I hate to sound trite, but Ive just got to look back and realize how lucky and great this has been, Burghy said. Its been great. When it comes to going away presents, this was perfect. Middleton cross country coach Joe Spolar announced his retirement this season after a terrific 20-year run. The Cardinals girls team then went out and finished fourth at the WIAA Division 1 state meet. The ride home was definitely a fun one, Middletons Delaney Foster said. We were so excited and we exceeded our expectations and the coaches expectations. No one was happier with the final chapter than Spolar himself. We exceeded even my expectations, Spolar said. Unlike other years that weve been at state, this was really the first year that I could say up and down the line that the girls all ran their best race of the season at one of the tougher courses at the state meet. The fact Spolar had his team peaking shouldnt have been a surprise. That was the norm for the Cardinals during his time. When Spolar took over in 1993, there were 20 total kids in the program. This season, there were 106 between the boys and girls teams. Sure winning was always the goal, and Middleton did a lot of that. The Cardinals girls won three straight state titles between 1995-97 and also won the 2006 crown. In addition, Middleton was second at state in 2005 and finished fourth in both 2007

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MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

3. Spolar exits in style

and 2012. Middletons boys were always among the Big Eights top teams and finished as high as sixth at state in 2001. But those that knew Spolar best understood it wasnt just about the wins and losses. It was about keeping everyone involved, achieving the unachievable, and turning running into a lifetime sport for as many kids as possible. Joe had a policy that no runner was more important than any other, and he actually lived it daily in practice, said Cardinals assistant coach Isaac Mezera said. He loved working with the non-varsity runners, helping them set goals and work to their next PR. From a whole team perspective, were going to miss Joe quite a bit. He was able to make each runner feel special and therefore bring out the best in all of them. Several athletes that competed for Spolar still rave about him today. Coach Spolar was always my biggest encourager and my biggest fan, said Liz Reusser-Black said. He had a calming effect before races and a great way of bringing perspective after a disappointing race. He wanted everyone to succeed and was always there cheering for every single runner. I could always hear the cheers of his booming voice from about a mile away and it gave me that extra motivation that I needed. He was such a positive role model for me and his passion for the sport was contagious. He has helped give me a lifelong passion for the sport of running.

continued from page 12

The day Dewey Stendahl was laid to rest was packed with immense sadness, remarkable stories, a handful of laughs and an outpouring of love. Mike Zimmerman gave a moving tribute. Son Derek recapped Stendahls remarkable life. And a jam-packed church smiled and cried. Stendahl was one of the finest coaches in the history of Middleton High School athletics. And remarkably, Stendahl was a better person. So when Stendahl died Nov. 1 from pneumonia at the age of 64, it wasnt just a blow to MHS. It was a gigantic loss for the entire community. Mr. Stendahl was the definition of a class act who always led by example, said Jill Ries, a 2002 MHS graduate who played four years of golf under Stendahl. The influence he had on my life as not just a student-athlete, but as a person, I will carry with me forever. Ill never forget his smile and how he found the good in every situation. He was a tremendous man to See 2012, page 15

4. Saying goodbye to a Middleton legend

Middleton cross country coach Joe Spolar (top) retired in October after 20 years. Middleton legend Dewey Stendahl passed away on Nov. 1.

Times-Tribune photos by Mary Langenfeld

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

those of us who were lucky enough to call him our teacher, coach, and friend. He touched so many lives positively by just being himself; caring, kind, and warm-hearted. Becky White, a standout golfer for Stendahl from 1995-98 and a girls golf assistant at MHS today, agreed with Ries. I could go on about coach Stendahl for days, White said. He was so much more than a golf coach. He became my mentor and friend. He is the reason for my wanting to coach girls golf for Middleton. I saw the commitment that he made to us girls to make us better players and individuals both on and off the course. He turned Middletons golf program into a program that other schools admired. My goal is to continue his legacy in my coaching at Middleton. I hope every year to be able to inspire and teach the girls in the MHS girls golf program the way that Coach Stendahl did for me. Inspire is certainly something Stendahl did. Stendahl was a standout football and baseball player at UW-La Crosse. And after his graduation in 1970, Stendahl had tryouts to kick for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. When the NFL didnt work out, Stendahl came to the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District in 1971 as an elementary physical education teacher. From 1971-94, Stendahl was a varsity football assistant and was part of the Cardinals state championship teams in 1983 and 87. Stendahl also coached freshman baseball and sophomore basketball. But Stendahl became best known for his success with Middletons golf programs later in his career. Stendahl was Middletons boys coach from 1990-2004, and in that time, he led the Cardinals to four WIAA Division 1 state championships, two runner-up finishes and 11 overall state appearances. Middleton won the 1993 state title, then captured three straight championships between

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MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

PAGE 15

continued from page 14 1997-99. In Stendahls 15 seasons, Middleton went 107-9-3 in dual meets. The Cardinals also won 15 conference championships in that time. Stendahl also resurrected Middletons once-defunct girls golf program and led it to lofty heights. From 1994-2001, Stendahl guided Middleton to five state appearances and a second place finish in 2001 the best in school history at the time. That success isnt what many people remembered, though. It was the class which Stendahl and his team conducted themselves that often stood out. He always taught his players to be very respectful and courteous of others, said Mike Turner, a key member of Middletons three title teams in the late 1990s and a later standout at UWEau Claire. After every match that we played, Coach had all his players personally thank the staff and host team. Its a tradition that he made at Middleton. It showed us how to treat and be considerate of others. His motto was the Golden Rule.

Sheenagh Cleary will be the first to tell you that this was simply the appetizer. The main course promises to be a doozy. Middletons girls golf team went to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament at Cherokee Country Club and tied for sixth place. A year from now, the goals will be even higher. I think well be one of the teams to beat next year, said Cleary, a junior. I think next year is going to be a lot of fun. This season certainly turned out to be a blast. Middleton, which admittedly didnt play its best on a pair of days that featured heavy winds and later rain, tied for sixth with New See 2012, page 16

5. Girls golfers bounce back

Middleton freshman Loren Skibba led the Cardinals girls golf team to a sixth place finish at state.

Times-Tribune photo by Mary Langenfeld

Richmond at 714. Homestead won its second straight state title, posting a two-day score of 671, 11 shots ahead of runner-up Kettle Moraine (682). Green Bay Notre Dame (683), Milton (694) and Arrowhead (701) rounded out the top five. Im pretty happy how it went, said Cardinals freshman Loren Skibba. I wanted to do better, but these were tough conditions and we had a really good year. A lot of schools will lose a lot of seniors and were not losing anybody. So I think next year could be really great. This year will be remembered quite fondly, as well. One year after failing to qualify for state, Middleton played with both passion and precision. The Cardinals won the Big Eight Conference dual meet championship, then won regional and sectional titles for the first time in head coach Jeff Kenas six years. The Cardinals then capped that with a solid showing at state, one that will leave them battle-tested for 2013. There is absolutely nothing we can complain about, Kenas said. This was such a great experience for next year. With everything well have coming back, I think well be disappointed if we dont finish in the top two or top three. That will be a goal well set. We cant just be happy to get here. The girls improved a lot and really played great golf. But theyre still capable of a lot more. Weve come a long way, but theres a lot more we can do. I think were already excited about next year.

n 2012

continued from page 15

Sports
Times-Tribune
1 2 3 4

Thursday, Dec. 27 Friday, Dec. 28

TBD Girls varsity hockey at Culver Cup Noon Girls varsity basketball vs. Racine Case at Franklin Holiday Tournament 3:30 p.m. Girls JV basketball at Franklin Holiday Tournament

calendar
5 6 11 12 13 14

Saturday, Dec. 29

TBD Girls varsity basketball at Franklin Holiday Tournament TBD Girls JV basketball at Franklin Holiday Tournament TBD Boys JV hockey Invitational at Hartmeyer TBD Girls varsity hockey at Culver Cup 9:30 a.m. Varsity wrestling at Bi-State Classic at La Crosse 5:45 p.m. Boys sophomore basketball vs. Madison Edgewood 5:45 p.m. Boys freshman Red basketball vs. Madison Edgewood 5:45 p.m. Boys freshman White basketball vs. Madison Edgewood 7:30 p.m. Boys varsity basketball vs. Madison Edgewood TBD Girls varsity basketball at Franklin Holiday Tournament TBD Girls JV basketball at Franklin Holiday Tournament TBD Boys JV hockey Invitational at Hartmeyer TBD Girls varsity hockey at Culver Cup 9:30 a.m. Varsity wrestling at Bi-State Classic at La Crosse 10 a.m. Boys JV basketball at Madison La Follette Tournament 11 a.m. Girls varsity hockey vs. Alumni

Monday, Dec. 31 Friday, Jan. 3

There were times when things looked bleak. A three-game losing streak early in the season. Trouble against the top teams in the Big Eight Conference. And a late-season loss to Madison Memorial. But Middletons baseball team got hot when it mattered most, and turned its 2012 campaign into a memorable one. The Cardinals reached the state tournament for the 11th time in school history and sixth since 2002 before falling to Hartford, 5-1, in a WIAA Division 1 quarterfinal. Really good year, said Middleton manager Tom Schmitt, whose team ended the year 20-8. Itll be one where you tell the guys when youre down to keep plugging away because this is what can happen. Middleton, like many teams, spent much of the year looking for answers in certain spots. But the Cardinals overcame a lot, strung together six straight wins early in the year and compiled an eightgame winning streak later in the season. In the postseason, Middleton outscored its three foes, 21-5, before falling to the Orioles. The season was very successful in my mind, junior shortstop Brian Lochner said. The Cardinals, of course, hoped for more success at state. But no one could argue their year was a terrific success.

6. Baseball heads back to state

Saturday, Jan. 4
Times-Tribune photo by Mary Langenfeld

5:45 p.m. Girls sophomore basketball vs. Janesville Craig 7:30 p.m. Girls varsity basketball vs. Janesville Craig 5:45 p.m. Boys sophomore basketball vs. Verona 7:30 p.m. Boys varsity basketball vs. Verona

Its hard to lose, Middleton senior pitcher Drew Haack said. But it was huge for our program to get back here after how hard we worked. We really worked hard. We thought we had momentum. We played our best ball all year at sectionals. But things just didnt go our way. We beat ourselves. But it was a good year overall.

Middletons Drew Haack and the Cardinals baseball team reached the state quarterfinals. ance, Middleton coach Kari Egan said afterwards. We knew going into state that the competition was going to be tough, so I was extremely proud of the girls for their sixth place finish, Egan said. The team goal was to have fun and enjoy the meet, and the girls definitely accomplished that. Aryn Skibba, a sophomore, was making her first-ever state appearance and performed admirably. Despite battling shoulder and back injuries, Skibba posted an impressive score of 36.416 and finished fourth overall. See 2012, page 17

It was a memorable year for Middletons girls gymnastics team. The Cardinals won the Big Eight Conference dual meet season, postseason crown, then captured the Waunakee Sectional. To top it off, Middleton finished sixth at the WIAA Division 1 team state meet. The combined team of Franklin/Muskego/Oak Creek/Whitnall was first with a new state record of 147.6480. Middleton was sixth at 137.8320. I felt the girls overcame a lot of adversity to get to state and pulled through strongly with a conference championship, sectional championship, and an awesome state appear-

7. Gymnasts swing to sixth

Clockwise (from top) gymnast Aryn Skibba, tennis player Emily Oberwetter, swimmer R.J. Leiferman and boys volleyball player Connor Zimmick all helped their teams to memorable seasons.

Times-Tribune photo by Mary Langenfeld

Bailey Fitzpatrick of Burlingtons co-op won the meet with a 37.350. Madison Memorials Caroline Smith was second (36.833) and Molly Benavides of Burlington was third (36.650). It was awesome going to individual state and especially because it was my first time going, Skibba said. The atmosphere was cool, and I liked rotating event to event and cheering on my new teammates for that Friday night like (Memorials) Caroline Smith and (Veronas) Mari Schroeder. I was happy with my meet and getting fourth. In general I had a great meet. In the end, I was happy with the results. Skibbas top showing came on the floor routine, where she was second with a 9.383. Skibba was also seventh on the balance beam (8.933) and uneven bars (8.967), and 10th on the vault (9.133). Junior Bianca Bakkar also had a big night and finished 18th in the allaround with a 34.499. Bakkar was ninth on the uneven bars (8.933) and 12th on the balance beam (8.750). Aryn and Bianca had amazing performances during the individual competition, Egan said. Individual (state) is so different for the girls because the team focus is no longer there. Bianca had been to state before, but for Aryn, it was a whole different meet. The pressure is extremely strong and both Aryn and Bianca did

2012

extremely well under it. I am so proud of them.

It was a banner year in the pool for Middletons boys and girls swimmers. The boys finished fourth at state last February. The girls followed that up with a fourth place finish of their own in November. My primary goal was to be top five, Middleton boys coach Luke Lengfeld said. Coming into state, with the guys that we have, we should be able to be a top five team. We finished fourth and Im very happy with that. We accomplished our goals. I challenged the guys at the beginning of the year and a lot of the guys, when they set goals, a lot them were saying we want to be top eight, top six and we got fourth. We just came up short of third place, but fourth place is just as good as third to me. Middleton senior R.J. Leiferman stole the show for the boys by winning a state title in the 100-yard butterfly. I didnt have the best sectional time so I didnt get right where I wanted to be going in, said Leiferman, whose sectional time ranked 10th best. So I was in the second heat and I just tried to go as hard as I could because I knew that the race was going to be in the next heat. I just tried to get a time that could compete with the times they were going to go in the next heat. On the girls side, Ashley Aegerter led the way with a third place finish in

8. Swimmers shine at state

the 100 yard breaststroke and a fourth in the 200 individual medley in a school record time of 2:06.31. When I dove in the water everything went out of my mind and I just swam as hard as I could, Aergeter said. It was just really fun, it was such a rush.

Middletons tennis programs have joined the states elite in recent seasons. And this year was no different. Middletons boys reached the state quarterfinals in June before losing to eventual state champion Milwaukee Marquette. The Cardinals girls also reached the state quarterfinals, where they fell to eventual state champion Mequon Homestead. We were a true team this season and whenever we needed someone to step up, they did, Middleton boys coach Bubba Schultz said. When it wasnt looking like things were going to go our way, someone came up with a big upset to help us win. This is just a great group of kids that like to work hard, have fun, and compete. I couldnt have asked for a better group of kids and this was a perfect season for me as a coach. I cant thank these guys enough. Despite heavy graduation losses, Middletons boys reached the state tournament for a fourth straight year, won the Big Eight Conference dual meet title and the conference tourna-

9. Tennis teams both reach state

ment. This was a fantastic season for us, Schultz said.We knew it wasnt going to be easy this year and our guys really stepped up to the challenge and came out on top in just about everything. We were so excited when we defeated Verona to win the conference dual title, but we didnt stop there and went on to win the conference tournament.Then we were able to come out on top for a third time this season and win the sectional title as well. Unfortunately we had a tough draw at state, but that is how it goes. Middletons girls went unbeaten in the Big Eight Conference dual meet season, then won the conference tournament. The Cardinals then rolled through sectionals, sent two singles and doubles flights to individual state, and reached the state team tournament for a third straight year. At state, Middleton ran into a Homestead team that would go on and win a fifth straight state title. Ill remember this season forever, definitely for the accomplishments, but also for the team members, Middletons Lindsey Heidel said. The thing that really helped us exceed expectations this year was the team dynamic we have. Not only are we all involved in this team together, but we are friends off the court too. Being able to share these memories with some of my best friends has really made this season my best.

Middletons boys and girls volleyball teams accomplished a rarity: both won Big Eight Conference titles. Middletons girls won the Big Eight Conferences regular season with a perfect 9-0 mark. The Cardinals also fared well in several high-profile invitationals throughout the state. Middleton eventually fell to Waunakee in the WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinals. But even though the Cardinals missed out on their ultimate goal of reaching the state tournament, the year was a giant success. Even though our goal was state I couldnt have asked for a better team, senior Dee Dee Maier said. The past three years on varsity will always be a part of who I am. I learned so much from this experience. I couldnt and would never forget the memories that have come out of playing volleyball. Middletons boys reclaimed the Big Eight Conference title after having its five year streak atop the league snapped in 2011. Middleton went 248 overall. And the Cardinals reached the sectional final for the first time since 2009, where they fell to Kettle Moraine. It was a great year, boys coach Ben White said. We only had one loss to an unranked team. All-in-all it was a huge positive.

10. Spikers roll

continued from page 16

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MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

What a year

Photo submitted

M i d d l e t o n s sophomore football team enjoyed a terrific season, finishing 7-1 overall and sharing the Big Eight Conference title with Janesville Craig.

team teaching, and providing- in approve at this time. and Continuous Improvement Spe boys and onegroup of girls will 8. benefit from this experience. Don ITEMS FOR INFORMATION/DIS struction at the level students cialist MaryBeth Paulisse need.(Exhibit B) shared that Nancy Wyngaardis re - CUSSION 3. RECOGNITION - None 1. School Improvement Team- Re 2. Elementary School Projections tiring. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES by 2. Open Enrollment for 2013- ports - Sunset Ridge, Northside, Building MOVED by Green SECONDED by George Mavroulis distributed in Park 2014 Hesselbein to approve the Regular - formation on the updated enroll Don Johnson stated that admin Roz Craney, principal of North and Closed Minutes of November ment side 26, 2012. Motion carried unani istration is recommending that the Elementary, shared information projections for the 2013-2014 school year. Adminis about the state report card data, district does not accept any open mously, 7-0. MIDDLETON-CROSS PLAINS tration shared several possible one concerns and areas to work on, and enrollment at our buildings. The 5. COMMUNICATIONS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT year thegoals for Northside. The School options to help with over 1. Correspondence/Board Com district will accept open enrollments Regular Board of Education munication Improvement Team at Northside crowding at the elementary schools. at 4K and the 21st Century eSchool. Meeting Minutes of The has gone through theentire report board discussed possible- op There is a possibility we may accept Anne Bauer stated that she Monday, December 3, 2012 tions card and analyzed the data results. and ideas. They will continue open hastoured several of the 4K sites enrollment students at Clark to have this conversation at future They will use the data to determine Street Community School. Wewill and has scheduled to see several 1. BOARD CANDIDATE ORIENTA- more. Ellen, Annette and several ad board meetings. en - accept siblings of current open the school s focus. TION TIME @ 6:30 P.M. ministrators are attending the con - rollment students. The board will Monica Schommer, principal of 3. Report on Elementary Report 2. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR BOE ference prepared by the Urban vote on this at the December 17 Park Elementary,presented infor - Card MEETING @ 7:00 P.M. MaryBeth Paulisse presented the mation on the state report card and League of Greater Madison later Regular Board Meeting. this The regular meeting of the- Mid board with background on the- de VARC data for Park. There is- a dis week. Ellen Lindgren, Diane Hor 7. CONSENT AGENDA dleton-Cross Plains Area School nungand Jim Greerwill be running velopment of the elementary report MOVED byGreen, SECONDED by crepancy between math and reading District Board of Education was for the board again. Several citizens cards. Educational Services has bee scores, which is similar to most of Hesselbein to approve the following called to order at 7:07p.m.- by stopped in during the Board - items for consent agenda: 7.1.a. Pres working with curriculum renewal the elementary results. The goals Orien ident Ellen Lindgren. teamson common curriculum Approval of Bills Payable,7.2.d. Ap - and focus for Park were also shared tation time. Present: President Ellen Lindgren, Citizen Comments - None andthe districtneeded to develop with the board. proval of Staff Retirements, and 2. Clerk Annette Ashley, Treasurer Bob SUPERINTENDENT S REPORT common report card. This report Todd Mann, principal of Sunset 9.2FinalApproval of Policies IV6. Green, and Board Members Anne Gthrough IV-H.Motion carried Ridge Elementary,presented the card will allow teachers to evaluat 1. Upcoming Events and Updates Bauer, Leeanne Hallquist, Bob Hes Don will attend a United Way unanimously 7-0. plaque thatthe schoolreceived students with consistency across in selbein, and Terry Metzger the elementary levels. These report Washington D.C. as a Blue 1. Administrative/Business- Serv meeting regarding achievement Not Present: Vice President Diane on Thursday morning. Don will cards will be on Infinite Campus ju RibbonSchool designee. Todd ices gaps Hornung and Board Member Jim like shared school report cardand VARC 4K, middle and high school. 2. be sharing our district experiences Employee Services Greer data. One of the main focuses for 4. Survey of Public on Referen 3. with other schools in Dane County. District Consent Items Others Present: Superintendent dum a. Don announced that thedistrict will Approval of Bills Payable Sunset Ridge is towork on closing Don Johnson, Assistant Superin beteaming up with BigCity Ellen Lindgren distributed a draf - the achievement gaps at their build Moun Computer check num tendent Tom Wohlleber,Assistant of bers225624 through225738 total - ing. Sunset Ridge has seen a large a public survey regarding- the No taineers, a group that Bob Weitzel Superintendent George Mavroulis, commu was raising money for when he ing $91,485.79 were reviewed by transition in their student - vember referendum. The board had Principal Roz Craney, Principal passed away. We will be sponsoring Board Treasurer and approved Todd brief discussion on items and sev nity.Several big things Sunset ais the Mann, Principal Monica Schommer, to doing: analyzing data, utilizing re suggestions were given - im - eral under two trips this summer. Onegroup of consent agenda. (Exhibit A) prove the survey.Joe Donovan s source time for student practice, b. Approval of Treasurer s Report company will create the survey, col problem solving groups, support, There is no Treasurer s Report to lect and analysis data for the dis trict. 5. Review Policy IV-I through IVL The board reviewed the policies and made several changes. This item will be brought to the Decem ber 17, 2012Regular Board of Edu cation meeting for initial approval 9. ITEMS FOR ACTION 1. Initial Approval of Policy IVMOVED byGreen SECONDED by Bauer to approve to Initial Approva of Policy IV-H.1. Motion carried unanimously, 7-0. 2. Final Approval of Policies IVthrough IV-H The board approved under con sent agenda the Final Approval of Policies IV-G through IV-H. (Exhibi C) 3. Resolution Authorizing Disso lution of Post-Employment Benefits Trust MOVED by Green SECONDED by Hesselbein to approvethe Resolu tion Authorizing Dissolution of Post-Employment Benefits Trust.Motion carried unanimously, 7-0. (Exhibit D) 4. Resolution Authorizing the Adoption of the Wisconsin OPEB Trust MOVED by Bauer, SECONDED by Green to approve the Resolution Authorizing the Adoption of the Wisconsin OPEB Trust.Motion- car ried unanimously, 7-0. (Exhibit E) 10. CONVENE IN POSSIBLE CLOSED SESSION UNDER S.S. 19.85 (1)(e) MOVED byGreenSECONDED by

P ROCEEDINGS

S CHOOL B OARD

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012