Walworth County News of The Week

Venetian festival highlights Lake Geneva's summer

2008-08-14T12:15:00.003-05:00

By Donna Wright Lenz Wright

Record-breaking rains during last year's Lake Geneva Venetian Festival put an extreme damper on the annual celebration.

"That makes it awful important that we have a good year," said David Broaden, president of the Lake Geneva Jaycees, who have sponsored the event since 1946.

It is so important because it's the largest revenue generator for the multitude of good things the Lake Geneva Jaycees do all over Walworth County each year with beneficiaries including police and fire departments, scholarships, Cub Scouts, United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, VIP Services, Special Olympics and many more.

So they've planned five days and nights filled to the brim of must-see events.

"We've made some pretty big refinements," Broaden said. "Our everything-handmade craft fair is going to be something really special. It's a juried event and of over 400 applications and chose only 120 of the best and most diverse crafters for the show.

"People will get to see a real mix of all kinds of eclectic arts."

The festival centers around Flat Iron Park in downtown Lake Geneva and draws over 30,000 people to take in the carnival, craft fair, water ski show, live musical, fireman's water fight, local cuisine and the festival's traditional lighted boat parade followed by a fireworks display high above Geneva Lake.

On a special note, firework fans should get an extra comfortable seat for the show because it's going to be double the show that is customary for Venetian Fest, according to Broaden.

Top 10 favorites of Walworth County

2008-08-06T09:47:00.002-05:00

By Kelly Guzman/The Week

Walworth County is my home and has been for most of my life.

There are people, places and things I'd driven by every day and never gave them a second glance until I started working for The Week.

The more I found out about this county, the more exploring I did.

So in this, my final issue as editor of the Thursday edition of The Week, I've settled on the best of what Walworth County has to offer.

Of all the places, events and things to do that we've published over the years, I've discovered a few that make Walworth County unique.

Here is a farewell top 10 list of my favorite things about Walworth County:

1.The 159th Walworth County Fair (Aug. 27-Sept. 1) 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn (262) 723-3228 www.walworthcountyfair.com

The Walworth County Fair has been proclaimed by some as the best county fair in the state, and for good reason. There are the 4-Hers and their animals, the midway, displays, live music, concessions and so much more.

On the grandstand this year will be: Wednesday Aug. 27, the tractor and truck pulls 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday Aug. 28, Little River Band at 7:30 p.m.; Friday Aug. 29, Little Big Town at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday Aug. 30, Billy Ray Cyrus at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday Aug. 31, Huey Lewis and the News at 7:30 p.m.; and on Monday Sept. 1, the demolition derby at 1:45, 4:30 and 7:00 p.m.

2. Alpine Valley Music Theater 2699 Highway D, East Troy

This concert venue, which opened in 1977, can hold nearly 36,000 concert fans. It is located in a natural valley and has a pavilion covered with a wooden roof.

Those who have graced the stage at Alpine Valley over the years include the Grateful Dead, Phish, Cold Play, Ozzie Osborne, Boston, Jimmy Buffett and Madonna.

Stevie Ray Vaughan played there on Aug. 26, 1990 and after the concert, his helicopter crashed into the ski hill and he was killed.

Still up for the summer is Dave Matthew Band Aug. 9-10 and Projekt Revolution Tour featuring Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, The Bravery and Ashes Divided on Aug. 16.

3. Yerkes Observatory 373 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay (262) 245-5555

//astro.uchicago.edu/yerkes/

Yerkes Observatory is open for free public tours every Saturday throughout the year. Regular Saturday tours are designed for families and other small groups. Programs begin at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon and last about 45 minutes.

During the tours, the tour guide provides a brief talk on the history of Yerkes, astronomical research and the universe. He will also take visitors into the 90-foot dome, one of the largest of its kind ever built. Here, visitors look at the famed 40-inch refractor, the world's biggest lens-type telescope, and its impressive 73-foot diameter elevator floor.

Yerkes Observatory is a facility of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Chicago. It was established in 1897 on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay. Until the mid-1960s, Yerkes Observatory housed all of the department's activities. Today the 77-acre site provides laboratory space and access to telescopes for research and instruction. A substantial fraction of the university's library holdings in astronomy are housed at Yerkes.

On Aug. 9, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28 and 30, Yerkes will host evening sessions beginning at 10 p.m. The cost is $25 per person.

4. The Young Auditorium on the UW-Whitewater campus 930 W. Main St., Whitewater (262) 472-2222

www.uww.edu.youngauditorium

This year marks the 16th season of the Young Auditorium. Residents can see big city productions, without the big city prices.

As always, this season has something for everyone. Music lovers can look forward to "Revolution: A Tribute to the Beatles" on Oct. 4, the Kingston Trio on Nov. 1 and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 11, just to name a few.

Theater-goers can watch for "The Comedy of Errors" on Oct. 15, "Hairspray" on March 14 and "To Kill A Mockingbird" on April 28.

Those looking for something for the family can see "Charlotte's Web" on Nov. 9 or "Annie" on Feb. 11.

These are just a sample of the wonder productions that the Young Auditorium is offering this season. Get your tickets now.

5. The lakeshore path

There is a 21-mile public walking path that goes around Geneva Lake. By law it's accessible to the public, even though it runs across the backyards of lakeside mansions. The path was created by the early settlers who declared that the 20 feet of land directly up from the shoreline be deemed public domain.

You can hop on the trail at a variety of places, including in front of the Lake Geneva Public Library, Big Foot State Park, the Fontana Beach and Williams Bay Beach.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and be warned, bathrooms are few and far between.

If you want a purpose to walk the lakeshore path, consider taking part in the first annual Lake Geneva Hope Walk on Saturday, Sept. 27. Proceeds will go to the Deanna Favre's Hope Foundation. Register before Sept. 10 for $30. Meet at Lake Geneva's Library Park for registration from 7-9 p.m. For more information, log on to www.lakegenevahopewalk.com

6. The lakes

Geneva Lake is the second-deepest lake in Wisconsin at 135 feet deep; it's 5,262 acres, 21 miles around, 2.1 miles wide and 7.6 miles long.

Geneva Lake offers boat, canoe and kayak rentals, fishing, parasailing. Also scattered around Geneva Lake are three great beaches: Fontana Beach, Williams Bay Beach and Lake Geneva Beach.

If you're out on the water on the weekends, there's a lot of company out there, so please be careful.

Lake Delavan has been called one of the state's best overall fisheries at 1,774 acres and a maximum depth of 52 feet.

This lake can produce bass up to six pounds, walleye caught nearing 10 pounds and northern pike over 45 inches. Boat rentals and fishing guide services are also offered around the lake. This is more of a fisherman's lake than it is a swimmer's lake, but you'll still see folks out there on jetskis and recreational boats, so again, be careful.

7. The festivals

You may have missed Model A Day, the Fourth of July festivals and Chocolate Fest, but still coming up around the county are Venetian Fest in Lake Geneva (Aug. 13-17), Darien's Corn Fest (Sept. 5-7), Delavan's Scarecrow Fest (Sept. 13) and Lake Geneva's Octoberfest on Oct. 11-12. Each has unique offerings and worth a day of exploring.

Each community around the county puts out the welcome mat for residents and visitors alike. There's nothing like hometown pride.

8. Black Point

Visitors can step back to the 19th century with a visit to the Black Point estate on Geneva Lake.

This is one of the oldest mansions on Geneva, built in 1888 as a summer home for its owner, Conrad Seipp, and his large family. He came to America from Germany in the mid 1800s, eventually establishing himself in the brewing business in the south side of Chicago. He became esuccessful, particularly after the Chicago fire of 1871, because so many of the other breweries burned down, and his was far enough south to escape the fire. In 1888, he arranged to build two homes, one a stone mansion on the south side of Chicago near his brewery, and one on the south shore of Geneva Lake

The summer cottage which became known as "Black Point" had 13 bedrooms, and 20 rooms overall. Its four-story tower can be seen from many points on the lake. In the home are furniture and furnishings which go back prior to 1888 and which have been carefully preserved by each generation of the Seipp family.

The original land, having been divided up among succeeding generations, now consists of some seven acres on 600 feet of lake frontage. This architecturally unique home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home has been donated by fourth generation owner Bill Peterson as a museum, available for tour via the Geneva Lake Cruise Line.

Black Point opened to the public in June 2007.

Tours depart daily (mid-May through Oct. 31), seven days a week at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and return and 2:45 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. respectively.

For more information or reservations, contact the Lake Geneva Cruise Line at (800) 558-5911 or visit www.cruiselakegeneva.com.

9. The Webster House Walworth County Historical Society, 9 E. Rockwell, Elkhorn (262) 723-4248

Hours of operation: Wednesday-Saturday (mid-May to mid-October) 1-5 p.m. or by appointment

The Webster House is the home of Joseph Philbrick Webster, who wrote the famous Civil War camp song "Lorena" and the popular hymn "The Sweet By and By."

The family lived in the house from 1857. Webster's youngest son and his wife returned in 1930 to renovate the house. He died in 1948 and his wife died in 1951. Relatives of the Websters were not interested in keeping the home and sold it to the county in 1955. It was then leased to the Walworth County Historical Society for $1 per year.

After further restoration, the home was opened as a museum in 1956. On Aug. 8, 1970, the Webster House Museum was named a Wisconsin State Landmark and an official marker was placed at the home.

10. The people

The folks who live in this county are truly a special bunch. There's so much talent and genuine kindness out there.

Over the years, the Thursday Week has covered a multitude of high school and local theater productions, bands, artists, authors and just everyday people. There's something special about this county. That's what keeps us here.
ooo

A monk's embrace: Marching for a free Tibet

2008-08-01T14:10:00.002-05:00

By John Halverson

He pulls me toward him, folding me in his arms. My hand grips his bony back as he engulfs me in boundless warmth.

As our embrace loosens, his hands cup mine and he searches my face as though it were eternity.

His name is Palden Gyatso, but those who know him preface it with "Venerable."

I like, many Americans, maintain a healthy skepticism toward leaders of all kinds, especially those wearing vestments.

At a church in Elkhorn Thursday night the 77-year-old Buddhist monk told us, through a translator, stories of his 33 years as a political prisoner in Tibet and explained why he wants his nation free of Chinese rule (see related story).

But as someone who has grown up on made-up violence, one example of real-life evil sounded a lot like the next.

And then his ready smile, which had merely entranced me, turned into a tragicomic mask when he pulled the false teeth from his mouth while explaining that his real ones had been destroyed by torture.

His greatest fear, it turns out, was not physical, but that he might lose his faith. It never happened.

He doesn't hate his captors--only their policies.

Despite these telling stories and his sad-happy smile, I maintained my reporter's emotional distance until after his speech when I approached him for a handshake.

His unasked-for embrace made my 33 years of reporting experience no match for his 33 years of hell on earth.

And so it was that this 77-year-old Buddhist monk hugged new life into a common man whose name he didn't know, whose language he didn't speak, in a city thousands of miles from his home.

He made me feel like the only person in the room--an emotion, I'm sure, which I shared with everyone else who shared such a close encounter.

Can Tibet ever escape the clutches of the Chinese?

Until that moment, I was skeptical.

Then I realized that his home may be held hostage by a country so large, it can only be dwarfed by one thing.
Indomitable spirit.

The author is general manager of The Week.

Animal ICU: Gentle care for wild animals

2008-07-31T14:25:00.002-05:00

Yvonne Wallace-Blane in the X-Ray room of Fellow Mortals Animal Hospital in Lake Geneva.

By Donna Lenz Wright
Photographs by Terry Mayer

Most of us have been there. For me it was just last month during the torrential rains. A baby bird was crying hysterically in the grass in my back yard. The noisy downpour couldn't drown out his loud cries.

I watched and waited for his mother to show up. I could barely see him through the rain even though he was just a few yards away from my back door.

As he cried, rain poured into his mouth and he'd cough, shake his head and resume his wailing. Within a few minutes he stopped calling out and hung his head.

I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed a clean kitchen towel and scooped him up. He immediately began to cry again but was shivering so badly even the towel was quaking.

I tried to keep him warm and within a few minutes he settled down, which I thought was good. Then he died.

After that round of rain passed I laid him back on the ground where he had fallen so that at least his mother would know what happened to him.

It's impossible to go through an experience like that without feeling guilty. Is there anything I could have done better? What would I have done if he had made it? I didn't even know what kind of bird he was.

This is exactly when people call Fellow Mortals Animal Hospital in rural Lake Geneva. They will tell you exactly what-and what not-to do. If they feel your critter-in-distress needs their attention, they'll take him right in and do everything possible fix him up and release him back to the wild.

Fellow Mortals is tucked into the trees in non-descript outbuildings at the home of Steve and Yvonne (Wallace) Blane. It's such a peaceful place as you approach that it's very hard to believe there are over 400 healing animals inside today, and over 2,000 pass through each year.

That's just how they want it because many of those 400 animals are outside in perfectly planned habitats in the latter stages of their rehabilitation.

The stories run deep in a place like this. There are lots of wonderful success stories and, of course, lots of heartbreaking ones too. The stories range from natural accidents to people being cruel.

Fellow Mortals itself began with one of the stories. Yvonne accidentally ran over a nest of baby rabbits in 1985 with a lawnmower. She and Steve cared for and released them.

Now, 23 years later, here's what a typical day at about noon looks like behind the scenes:

It's buzzing like a busy urban ICU. In the infant bird ward, summer interns take turns continually feeding the youngest of the hospital's patients.

It seems that the June rains that cost my little bird's life took a very big toll on adult birds too, leaving scores of orphans.

It's a loud room. Imagine a hospital nursery filled with over 100 newborns and a lot, lot, lot of them crying at once.

"She does nothing but feed them," Yvonne says as we watch. "Food goes straight through these little ones so when she gets to the end, she has to start over again."

Interns have come from all over the country to work with Steve, Yvonne, Karen McKenzie and Jessica Massaro, the in-house licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

In another ward-at this point in the rehabilitation they're in habitats-young ducks and other waterfowl, about halfway to health and freedom, happily play in their pools and eat-a lot.

Passing through the new kitchen at lunchtime you see today's menu. Three bowls filled with squirming grubs and lots more filled with specialized healing mixtures.

The new X-ray and examining rooms are a godsend for the staff.

"It saves so much all around," Yvonne said. "We don't have to take all of that extra time and money taking them to the vet every time. Just as importantly, we don't have to put the animals through the stress of it-that's very hard on them."

The squirrel ward is full of activity. Happy squirrels play in their rooms, not seeming to mind their confines. As they rehabilitate they move to an outside habitat where they are given their own nest box. When it's time for them to go, their own personal nest boxes go with them.

Next to the outside squirrel habitat is the deer habitat. Four deer-victims of the CWD outbreak in 2004. No they weren't sick, but in the panic many deer were put down "just in case." They are the survivors of one of many black marks on human's negative imprint on nature. To this day, our laws don't allow us to rehabilitate deer.

Many of these critters are victims of similar negative human imprints. Red-tailed hawks, herons and so many others are there because they've been shot.

They glare at you as they heal in the very quiet isolation ward, as far from human activity as possible. It's a simultaneous heartbreaking and heartwarming rush. And it helps you understand why they do this demanding, unforgiving and even sometimes dangerous job.

"It's their world too," Yvonne sums it simply. "It's not their fault that they get hit by our cars, injured by our fishing lures or poisoned by us."

There's a wide range of people who bring in animals in trouble, from people who've just hit a woodchuck with their car to hunters who happen upon a sick or injured animal.

"Every one of these animals are brought here by someone with compassion. Every one of these animals is important in their own right."

Future plans include installing a live video feed in the gift shop so visitors can see what goes on behind the scenes. Human visits beyond the caregivers are really too disruptive for the injured and ill animals. The other key reason for limited tours is to keep these animals as wild as possible in anticipation of their release.

Steve has built the entire sanctuary as green as possible, complete with a hydraulic-powered electrical system. But not surprisingly, their constant need for funds is as much work as saving thousands of lives each year.

At about $100 per animal multiplied by 2,000 per year, those expenses alone are tough for the non-profit group to cover. Add to that upkeep of the facility and you're looking at some serious cabbage.

"We're always looking for donations, of course," said Yvonne. "We can always use more of everything, including landowners' permission to release our animals on their land."

If you ever find yourself in the position of needing the help of Fellow Mortals, call them right away at 248-5505. While you'll probably get an answering machine, leave a message and they will return your call promptly. In the meantime don't feed them, just keep them as safe as possible and wait for Walworth County's wildlife heroes to call you back.

Fellow Mortals can accept a wide range of animals. But if they can't due to their careful balance of species, they will help you find someone who can.

For more information, visit www.fellowmortals.org.

ooo

Today: July 29, 2008

2008-07-29T11:31:00.003-05:00

WEATHER: Rain around 3 p.m. NEWS: Virginia governor frontrunner as Obama's VP. SPORTS: Cubs 6, Brewers 4. Same two teams tonight at 7 p.m. CELEBRITY: Trial of the former dorm matron at Oprah Winfrey's South Africa begins today.

Buntrocks win Amazing Race

2008-07-28T15:05:00.005-05:00

Brett & Danielle Buntrock, in photo at left, pose after finishing first in the Geneva Lakes Amazing Race extreme edition. More photos by Matt Mason HERE.

News release

Contact persons:
Matt Mason, 262.745.4000, Rob Keefe 262.903.4492, Sharon Clark 262.745.5249, Tim Schnake 262.275.6131

Who?
Rob Keefe, Matt Mason, Sharon Clark, and Tim Schnake were the Event Organizers. There were 48 Volunteers, and 28 participants. Photos from the event can be found by clicking here or visiting the race website: www.genevalakesamazingrace.com

Teams and racer names:

The Fighting Faners
Jessica & Eric Fane

The Pace Makers
Dane Clark and Adam Kuchnia

Team Roadrunner
Carroll & Moller Gunderson

Team: "Wait up guys!"
Matt Sattersten and Paul Schwartz

Team Geneva National
Todd Baior & Jen Myers

Team Bunty
Dee & Brett Buntrock

Team Fauth
Eric Fauth & Ashley Westerlund

Team Graffke/Kane
Michael Kane & Jeanine Gaffke

Team Gordy's
Sheila Keefe & Rallee Whollel

The Hortons
Rebecca Larsen & Hanna Schnake

Team Wachovia Securities
Joe Troast & Seth Tost

Team Keefe
Mike & Jen Keefe

Team Hallerud
Craig & Kristen Hallerud

Team Payson
Chelsea and Ronnie

What?
The Geneva Lakes Amazing Race is an action packed one-day adventure based on the hit TV show, "The Amazing Race." On July 26, 2008 fourteen two person teams participated in challenges and competed to find clues and solve puzzles and overcome physical obstacles. Visit http://www.genevalakesamazingrace.com to learn more details about the race which had two versions, the recreational edition and extreme edition.

The extreme race included a wheelchair race at Inspiration Ministries, a navigation challenge at Kishwauketo in Williams Bay, a run/kayak challenge at the Delavan Boat launch, a water balloon launch and orienteering challenge at Sugar Creek Preserve, a "triathlon" in Springfield which included a one hour + river tubing expedition, cycling and running, a karate challenge in Lake Geneva, and many other crazy and challenging activities.

When?
The race started at 8 a.m., Saturday July 26, and ended with the last extreme race finisher around 6PM

Where?
Walworth County. In and around the Geneva Lake area.

Why?
To support two important charities. TS Alliance and Inspiration Ministires. www.tsalliance.org , www.inspirationministries.org

Sponsors
Aquanut Ski Team
Caribou Coffee
Clearwater Outdoors
Gage Marine
Grand Geneva
Gordy's
Ideal Impressions Photography
Impressions Count
Keefe Real Estate
Korean Martial Arts Center
Melka Roofing, LLC
Patti Zurla/REMAX
Potbelly's
Target
Wilmot Stage Stop

Longtime Relay for Life leader becomes cancer survivor

2008-07-24T13:33:00.002-05:00

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

She's been teaching people the signs of cancer and how to prevent it for 29 years as a family physician in Whitewater.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Dr. Griffiths continues to work and to educate others about the signs of cancer.

She's also been the chairperson for the Relay for Life in Whitewater for the past decade.

But this year is different for Dr. Anne Griffiths. This year she is the honorary chair--the title nobody wants to hold.

This year's relay begins this coming Friday, Aug. 1.

After last year's relay, Griffiths left town for a well-earned trip of scuba diving, beaches and rest.

"I felt great," she says. "I felt great when I got home, but I wasn't."

As a doctor, Griffiths knows the signs of different types of cancer in her sleep. Even so, she was surprised at the subtleness of the symptoms that she was experiencing--and that it was ovarian cancer.

"I know well enough not to ignore these things," she said. "They're easy to ignore sometimes."

Griffiths remains rather flippant about her becoming a cancer survivor after all of these years of advocacy, but that's just her nature. She knows the very serious reality of her situation, as of those of others in her shoes in the past, present and future.

After all, she's been one of the primary people in Whitewater educating others about how not to become a cancer victim, both in her medical practice and by example.

"It's tough to explain to my patients that sometimes even if you do everything right, it can still happen," she says, shrugging and rolling her eyes slightly. It's the closest thing to feeling sympathy she can show for herself, and instead she directs it toward her patients.

So after all of these years as chairperson for the Whitewater Relay for Life, Griffiths will be serving as honorary chair for the relay, a position held by a community member who has been diagnosed with cancer in the past year.

"It's a good time to point out some important points," she says, ever the doctor. "Breast, ovarian and colon cancers seem to run together. For example, a person with a family history of one type of cancer should be extra vigilant about the other two types as well.

"But the best way to be sure is to get checked regularly," she stresses.

Women in their 20s and 30s should perform a monthly breast self-exam and have an annual physical, pelvic and breast exam performed by a doctor. Men in their 20s and 30s should have an annual physical and testicular exam performed by a doctor.

Women 40 and over should add a mammogram to the earlier list. And men 40 and over should keep the same routine.

Beginning at age 50, everyone should add a colonoscopy ensuring colon health.

Those with a family history should follow their own doctor's check-up recommendations.

And everyone should see a doctor if they feel different from normal--extra tired, discomfort or pain, changes in appetite or sleep, etc.--for more than a few days.

Relay for Life

The Relay for Life is an international two-day fund-raising event where teams hold a walk-a-thon supporting the research and treatment made available through the American Cancer Society.

Walworth County's relay events have placed in the top five fund-raising categories nationwide and would love to do it again.

Between laps there is massage, health screenings, live music, games and the all-new Relay Idol Contest, a special talent contest, rather than vocalists only. If your talent is dance, juggling, joke telling, baton twirling, playing an instrument, singing or something else, show it off at this year's Relay Idol contest. Sign-up will begin at 4 p.m. near the stage. Contestants will be performing on the hour beginning at 5 p.m.

Even if you're not part of a relay team, come and enjoy the fun, music, entertainment and food to help support the fight against cancer.

Ooo

Whitewater Relay for Life

World For A Cure

Friday, Aug. 1

4 p.m. First lap. Jean Bleser on bagpipes

4-5:30 p.m. International cure finders lap--country attire

4:30-5:45 p.m. Music by The Bartabs--acoustic folk/variety

5-10 p.m. Chartwell's Food Court, variety of menu choices

6 p.m. Opening Ceremony

6:20 p.m. Survivor Lap and Reception

6:30 p.m. WHS Latino Dancers

6:30-7:30 p.m.-Jungle lap--jungle/island attire

7-10 p.m. Stateline Clown Ministry sponsored by Home Lumber Co.

7 p.m. Kehoe Irish Dancers

7-10 p.m. Healing Touch therapy and massage

7:30 p.m. Lincoln World Drummers

7:30-8:30 p.m. Many hats lap--most creative hat

8:45-9:15 p.m. Evening yoga

9 p.m. Story and craft time for children ages 5-12 (sponsored by the Irving Young Library)

8:30-10 p.m. Live music TBA

10 p.m. Luminary Ceremony with music by St. Pat's Choir

10 p.m.-1 a.m. Knead a Massage by Crystal Grainger

10:30-11 p.m. Quiet time to remember our survivors and loved ones who have passed on

10:45 p.m. Relay Idol top three finalists announced/perform

11 p.m. Pizza Party, $1 slices

11 p.m. Midnight. Music by Jaci Davis--concert pianist/vocalist

11 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Team Up to Find a Cure lap, use a favorite sport and to show that teamwork will help find a cure

Saturday, Aug. 2

1-9:30 a.m. Guest DJ music by relay teams

1-2:30 a.m. Walk the Plank for a Cure lap--pirate or sailing attire

2:30-4 a.m. Rest hours with quiet music

4-5:30 a.m. Pajama Party

6-10 a.m. Stateline Clown Ministry

6-7 a.m. Sunrise in Tokyo lap--oriental attire

6-9 a.m. Breakfast by Bonnie

7-8 a.m. Friends are Forever lap

7:30-9 a.m. Fort Health Care screenings

7:30 a.m. Relay Olympics, teams of four participate in fun activities for a prize of mini golf for four

8 p.m. Relay Idol finalists perform last time/winner announced

8 a.m. Morning Yoga with Nancy Bauer

8:30-9:30 a.m. Country fun lap--western attire

9 a.m. Line dancing

9:45 a.m. Closing Ceremony

ooo

'A Magical Night with Disney' and the Summer Elk Players

2008-07-23T08:37:00.004-05:00

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

The Summer Elk Players are ready once again to entertain the socks off of area families with this year's production, "A Magical Night With Disney-A Music Revue."

Terry Mayer/The Week

Margaret Koss practices a song for the Summer Elk Players production this weekend.

This time around, the Summer Elk Players, under the direction of Jeff Kleist, have put together a wonderful show filled with everyone's favorite Disney songs from some of their most popular movies.

"It's all of the songs everyone loves," Kleist says.

They are "The Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas; "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King; "Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride" from Lilo and Stitch; "Reflection" from Mulan; "Little Mermaid Melody," a compilation of four songs from The Little Mermaid; and three songs from High School Musical, "That's How You Know," "Breaking Free" and "We're All in this Together."

This high-energy show has no dialogue, so the 50 students making up this summer's Summer Elk Players cover a lot of ground throughout the show.

There are plenty of duets and solos allowing individual actors and actresses a time to shine while remaining an important part of the entire ensemble.

"It's nice that some more of the kids have the chance to shine," said Chris Ghilani, music director.

As the performers rehearse, the support they give each other is evident and something that gives Kleist's show an edge, no doubt.

Bags, books and bottles of water are strewn across the front of the stage. While Amber Wuttke, choreographer, works with one small group, other groups are independently practicing steps or discussing numbers. Their focus doesn't wane or stray from what's at hand.

Then it's time for a run-through.

"OK, let's go with The Lion King," Kleist calls out. Within 30 seconds everyone is in place and ready to go.

Just as the number begins, the young actress at center stage glances nervously at those who aren't in the number sitting in the audience.

"Make it your song," a supporter encourages. "You can do it."

She nods from the stage and begins her solo dance.

Considering they've had just eight days of rehearsal, they're incredibly in sync. A few missteps here and there are recovered quickly while the directors stand back and discuss parts that need more work or changes.

"Energy!" Kleist yells. "Energy! You need to have fun."

The kids react immediately with whoops and hollers and the energy elevation is palpable. Within seconds, they're off again, now with much more energy and clearly have a blast.

"This show is really a challenge," Wuttke says. "But I must say that I'm really proud of them and how they're polishing up these big numbers."

Wuttke is working toward a bachelor of arts degree in drama at UW-Stevens Point and has choreographed this entire show herself.

"A big challenge for this year's cast is that they have to do all of their acting through singing and dancing because there is no dialogue.

"And because they're Disney songs, almost everyone knows the words and audiences are encouraged to sing along."

"A Magical Night With Disney-A Music Revue" runs July 25-26 at 7 p.m. at the Elkhorn Area High School. Admission is free, but donations are welcome to finance next year's show.

Ooo

Cast

Sophomores: Rebecca Krueger (six years), Sam Keller (three years) and Bailey Mahon (four years.)

Freshman: Chelsea Briere, Emily Clement, Hannah Hoyt, Rebecca Jensen, Laurana Johnson, Hayden Kyle, Megan Lockwood, Jessica McGuire, Shauna McIntire, Kaitlyn Russel and Connor Selvey

Eighth Graders: Linnea Baas, Danielle Braun, Brianna Brueggemann, Alexis Burns, Rebecca Haase, Caleb Holte, Tiffany Kiepert, Margaret Koss, Corinne Maddix, Ruth McLeod, Peter Meylink, Kenna Miller, Ryan Neumann, Tanner Norton, Shane Pogorzelski, Adam Prince, Eva Schmidt, Nichole Svita and April Williams

Seventh graders: Michael Bailey, Anna Berry, Greg Christian, Jennifer French, Anne Gahart, Mackenzie Krauklis, Sally Lesniak, Jessica Nehs, Gage O'Laughlin, Monserrat Padilla, Enrique Quijan, Bryce Rambinand Jacob Sawyers

Crew

Student Directors: Amber Billings, Stephen Brellenthin, Nathan Russell, Brady Norton and Isabella Virrueta

Painting crew: Anna Clement and the Clement family

Director: Jeff Kleist

Music Director: Chris Ghilani

Choreographer: Amber Wuttke

Set Construction: Tom Kleist

ooo

'God makes these kids for a reason'

2008-07-17T14:24:00.005-05:00

Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

Zoe Orcutt's sweet smile and warm blue eyes make it impossible not to instantly fall in love with her.

Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

Zoe takes a little break during her tiring therapy workout.

At only 21 months old, she displays just a few of the symptoms that will likely be big challenges later due to Angelman Syndrome (AS).

Her head and arms tremor ever-so-slightly at times as she smiles brightly at you and reaches for the toy you offer. And at just 18 pounds, Zoe cannot sit, crawl or speak yet. But because she’s so adorable and pure, the red flags are easy to overlook.

Zoe's mom, Cyndee, began noticing them about a year ago.

AS symptoms include seizures, stiff jerky arm and leg movements, speech impairment, movement and balance disorder, frequent laughter and smiling, excessively happy demeanor, easily excitable, microcephaly (smaller than normal head size), attention deficits and short attention spans, but all symptoms need not be present for a diagnosis.

As she grows up, the symptoms will become larger obstacles as the need to talk, walk and master skills become more important.

Zoe's parents, Dustin and Cyndee, of rural Elkhorn, want to share their story for two reasons.

First, they want to get the word out that children with disabilities aren’t different or scary.

"Especially other children are sometimes afraid to approach them or play with them," Cyndee said. "Other times people just stare."

That's why she's planning a section in her upcoming vacation Bible School class at the Southern Lakes Evangelical Free Church about children with disabilities.

"I'm planning to make it part of the 'serving the community' section," she said. "A lot of times other kids are afraid of kids with disabilities and don't want to try to play with them because they think they're different--but they're not.

"I want to drive home the fact that God chose her to be this way long before she was born. I believe that God puts these children in the appropriate homes."

Dustin is a personal trainer, and is extremely knowledgeable about the muscle groups his daughter needs to strengthen to accomplish each goal.

Cyndee teaches a variety of dance classes at the Dance Factory in Delavan and the Mercy Fitness & Whitewater Aquatic Center.

Zoe loves to attend the classes with her mom and has become everyone's adopted daughter/playmate in the process. Photos of her in tutus and ballet slippers couldn't be more precious.

Second, they're hoping that getting the word out about AS may bring more awareness, therefore more support in finding a cure and/or treatment(s).

"People have causes," she said. "Athletes and stars adopt causes. I'm hoping maybe that can happen with AS."

Actor Collin Farrell's 4-year-old son, James, has been diagnosed with AS, she said.

"At the AS Walk-A-Thon, I heard that they still haven't earned their first $1 million. Then I think of all of the millions that have already been spent by politicians trying to get elected," she said, annoyed.

But nailing down AS as a specific diagnosis is in its very early years, and it's quite rare, present in only an estimated one in 15,000-20,000 births, according to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Inc.

So the determination of people like the Orcutts will undoubtedly benefit the cause. Meanwhile, they're counting their blessings and loving their beautiful little daughter.

"Zoe is my first child, so I have nothing to compare her to--so she's perfect," Cyndee said.

"When I take her to Children's Hospital I see sick kids. They're so very sick.

"She's not sick."

The Orcutts moved to Wisconsin from Lake Tahoe, Calif., to start a business, KD Bros. Construction Co., LLC, (608) 883-2147, specializing in residential construction.

But Cyndee didn't like the idea in the beginning.

"I came kicking and screaming," she says. "I didn't want to leave my home--I lived there all of my life.

"But then we got here, I got pregnant and Zoe was born with this; then I find out all these things we have here like the Birth-3 Program, our physical and speech therapists, S.M.I.L.E.S.--and Lakeland School, if we end up needing it. To top it off the Angelman Foundation (headquarters) are just down in Aurora (Ill.).

"We were meant to be here."

For more information about AS, visit www.angelman.org. Feel free to make a gift in Zoe's name.

ooo

Angelman Syndrome

Dr. Harry Angelman published the first article about AS in 1965. The topic fell into obscurity with cases being undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy, autism or other childhood disorders until modern genetic testing gave us the ability to identify it in the early 1980s.

In 1997 the exact chromosomal cause was identified as a deletion in chromosome 15 in most cases.

Estimates are that one in 15,000-20,000 births will have AS, though it's not usually recognized until 3-7 years of age.

*Source: Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Inc.

ooo

Alpine's gone green this summer

2008-07-16T09:45:00.002-05:00

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

The area's largest music venue has taken the green movement to heart and made some really big changes to be more eco-friendly.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Jack Johnson performed the first concert at Alpine Valley this year on Saturday, June 21.

To begin with, Alpine Music Theater in East Troy has replaced more than 2,000 light bulbs from the stage to the parking lots with energy efficient light bulbs.

"That was a big job," said David Shaw, general manager of the Alpine Music Theater. "That took a while, but we're there now."

They've also replaced their bathroom fixtures with low-flow models that use up to two-thirds less water.

And that's not all they're doing on the topic of water.

"We're collecting as much of the rain water as possible to reuse to water plants and flowers around the grounds," Shaw says.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Jimmy Buffett will play at Alpine Valley on Saturday, July 19 for a sold-out crowd.

Another change already in place is a VIP parking lot as close to the theater as possible for carpoolers of four people and more and folks driving hybrid cars.

"The largest carbon footprints from concerts are the cars driving to the facility," Shaw said. "So we're hoping that we can offer reasons for people to carpool."

Finally, they've made recycling a top priority, hiring extra hands to make sure the garbage is separated and anything recyclable is removed and recycled.

"Each year were going to do our best improve our practices as much as possible," Shaw says.

The decision to turn the inner workings of Alpine Valley in this direction wasn't taken lightly or a split-second decision.

"We felt it was time to do our part for the greening effort and for the environment."

Live Nation, of which Alpine Valley is a member, is making similar changes to all of their buildings across the country.

"We're going to keep doing the best we can, and as things need to be improved we'll improve them keeping the environment in mind."

The efforts at work are trickling out to the homes of employees as they learn what they can do to help the planet and save their hard-earned money.

"A lot of employees say because of our efforts they're doing more at home and work.

"I feel great about this," he adds. "It's been along time coming. Alpine Valley has a small window to make a large impact. We have 120,000 to 140,000 people over the course of five shows, so there's only five days a year we can make a huge impact.

"It's so important and I'm very excited that we can do our part."

ooo

Alpine Valley 2008

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band with the Juke Joint Duo (Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm)

Saturday, July 19

Tickets: Limited seats available

Dave Matthews Band with The Black Crowes

Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10

Tickets: Available

Projekt Revolution Tour, featuring Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, Atreyu, Hawthorne Heights, 10 Years, Armor for Sleep, Ashes Divide and The Bravery

Saturday, Aug. 16

Tickets: Available

Are farm kids as safe as they could be?

2008-07-10T12:20:00.001-05:00

--- Walworth County program one of the best in the nation

Story by Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

Summertime in Wisconsin--sunshine, blue skies and miles and miles of green fields as far as you can see.

Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

Paul Brockmeyer tests the driving portion of the final exam through 25 students.

But those bucolic-looking farm fields disguise a hidden danger.

"The No. 1 cause of farm fatalities are tractor accidents," says Paul Brockmeyer, a local farmer and farm safety instructor.

The focus may be on tractors, but there's a lot more to farm safety than learning how to operate a big piece of machinery.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes those multi-ton monsters with tires bigger than our cars are being driven by kids no older than 13?

How old do they have to be before they can drive tractors on the highways? And who teaches these kids how to control those dinosaurs of the road?

Answers to those questions and many more can be found at the Walworth County youth tractor and machinery safety program, one of the best in the country.

So good in fact, that people have come from as far away as Arkansas to have their children educated here, according to Brockmeyer.

Brockmeyer has been the instructor for the past six years, owns and operates his farm in Whitewater, is active with the Walworth County Dairy Promotion Committee, is an agricultural instructor and last month his family served as host for the 2008 Walworth County Farm Bureau Dairy Breakfast.

It's misleading to call it tractor safety, though.

"We talk about farm safety, not just tractor safety," Brockmeyer said. "It includes tractor, livestock, lawn mowers, machinery, ladders, electricity--everything on the farm that can be dangerous.

Wisconsin laws require drivers of farming equipment on the highways to be at least 16, or 12 and certified by a program like this one sponsored by the UW-Extension of Walworth, Racine and Kenosha Counties.

"I teach through a lot of cause and effect," Brockmeyer says. "If you show them why something is, then they can see for themselves why they should do something a certain way."

And it's far more than a driving lesson. Students receive 12 hours of classroom learning plus 12 hours of hands-on driving experience.

Different parts of the course rang bells in students for different reasons. Several students got a lot out of the 360 degree checklist.

"This is really helpful," said Brandon Hedrington, 15, of Yorkville, quickly producing it from his pocket.

The laminated reminder list reminds drivers to make sure they're in compliance with road laws depending on the load they're transporting.

"I'm so glad I can drive a stick shift now," said Andy Ninneman, 13, of Franklin. "We can drive every kind of tractor there is now."

Brockmeyer strongly promotes starting new drivers out with the course, rather than taking it after they've been working at their home farm or an employer's.

"When I compare the kids who haven't driven to the kids with five years under their belts, newer ones learn much faster because they don't have a bunch of bad habits to break."

The course is as all-inclusive as possible, beginning with the right way to get in and out of a tractor to the volatility of various farm chemicals.

Parents need to bear in mind that just because they've passed the certification tests, they're not immediate pros. Just like automobile driver's education, the program is designed for parents to reinforce good habits, especially by example.

"We give them the knowledge, but there's another important part--experience," Brockmeyer said. "We encourage parents to question the kids after the course--and kids to question if their parents are doing something wrong."

Other programs have just the classroom portion of the course, hands-on learning on the last day only or the use of only one type of tractor.

But this program, thanks to donations from Triebold Implement, Inc., in Whitewater, and Proven Power, Inc., in Burlington, gives drivers experience on every kind of tractor there is.

"When these kids get their certification, they can operate any piece of farm machinery on the highway."

The classroom portion of the program includes presentations by a nurse teaching first aid, a fireman teaching fire extinguisher use and the students themselves present an important farm safety area that they've experienced or heard about.

"The time to think about these things is now, not after your 'check underwear' light has already gone on--as a teacher I know used to say.

Brockmeyer has seen the gamut of students who have come through the program, from those who are afraid of the big machines to those who think they're already masters at age 14.

"I had one little girl who tried about six times to back the tractor into that stall. But I let her keep trying because if I'd have stopped her then, she would have lost faith in herself, but if I let her go until she gets it, she'll have confidence. And she did.

"Then I get the other kids who have been driving for five years who need to understand that they are not immortal--that they could get hurt or killed.

He has a special way with teaching that not all teachers possess. He has a way of talking to his students so they're not intimidated but receptive to what he's teaching.

"Imagine if you were holding it by hand," he explains to a student about driving a tractor with an attached wagon in reverse.

"Just watch that pinhole and push it the way you want it to go."

He makes it sound easy and logical, but the truth is, this is a very difficult part of tractor driving, especially if the pressure is on because you're holding up traffic on a road.

"You've got as much right to be on the road," he tells students. "But you don't have the right to operate over center line or obstruct traffic."

If a car has been unable to pass you for a few miles or if traffic is backing up behind you let, them by, pull over and let them by.

"When people drive like that it angers people toward the agriculture industry as a whole."

So you can worry much less about the skills of those young kids driving those gigantic tractors on the roads with us. They've got what it takes--in our area, anyway.

Ooo

Country Thunder is on its way

2008-07-09T08:42:00.002-05:00

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

Three stages filling the air with country music, vendors selling everything under the sun, all the food you can crave and space to camp out for four days and nights-what more can you ask for?

Terry Mayer/The Week

Carrie Underwood will play at Country Thunder on Wednesday, July 16.

Country Thunder is lined up and ready to entertain, July 16-19 in Twin Lakes. Campgrounds are set up and ready for music-lovers to move in for a long weekend of fun.

Come for some or all of the fun, but stay long enough to see all there is to see, encourages Glenn Starnes, Country Thunder general manager.

"It's the overall experience," he says. "It's all of it-the camping, the music, they food, the wares, the experience of a craft or an art-everything.

"And it's the people. We have a lot of people who come back year after year because they've made friends here and this is where they meet and see each other again."

With three stages going continuously, country stars big and small are as close as a short walk away.

The artists range from area favorites like Chasin' Mason, who performs two shows each day, to international headliners including Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Sugarland, Sara Evans and Jessica Simpson, who has just released her first country single, "Come on Over," with plans to stay country for the rest of her career, according to her Web site.

The music begins at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, around noon every day after that and continues past midnight each night, giving day and night people every chance to enjoy the event.

"If you haven't been, you need to come out and see it, experience it," Starnes said. "It's what you want to make it. Some come just for music, others for the overall experience."

Don't take somebody else's word for it. Get out of the house and enjoy a day-or four."

Single day tickets in advance are $35 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free. Four-day tickets in advance are $139 for adults, $30 for kids 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free. One day VIP tickets in advance are $130-$160 for adults and four-day VIP tickets are $450-$600 for adults.

For more information, call 279-6960 or visit www.countrythunder.com.

ooo

Country Thunder '08 lineup

Wednesday, July 16

3 p.m. - Fisher Stevenson

4:30 p.m. - Laura Bryna

4:30 p.m. - Trailer Choir

5:45 p.m. - Lady Antebellum

6:30 p.m. - Trailer Choir

7 p.m. - Joe Nichols

7:30 p.m. - Chasin' Mason

8:30 p.m. - Taylor Swift

9 p.m. - Chasin' Mason

10 p.m. - Carrie Underwood

10:30 p.m. - Harry Luge

12:30 a.m. - Harry Luge

Thursday, July 17

11:30 a.m. - Chasin' Mason

12:30 p.m. - Halfway To Hazard

2 p.m. - Ashton Shepherd

3:30 p.m. - Heidi Newfield

4:30 p.m. - Trailer Choir

5 p.m. - Keith Anderson

6:30 p.m. - Harry Luge

6:30 p.m. - Trailer Choir

7:30 p.m. - Rio Grand

7:30 p.m. - Chasin' Mason

7:45 p.m. - Emerson Drive

8:45 p.m. - Miranda Lambert

9 p.m. - Chasin' Mason

9 p.m. - Halfway To Hazard

10:30 p.m. - Dierks Bentley

10:30 p.m. - Harry Luge

12:30 a.m. - Harry Luge

Friday, July 18

12:30 p.m. - Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband

1:30 p.m. - Shawn Hammonds

2:30 p.m. - Rio Grand

4 p.m. - Heartland

5 p.m. - One Flew South

5:30 p.m. - Jason Michael Carroll

6:30 p.m. - One Flew South

7 p.m. - Randy Owen

8 p.m. - Rio Grand

8 p.m. - Chasin' Mason

8:30 p.m. - Clay Walker

9:30 p.m. - Chasin' Mason

9:30 p.m. - Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband

10:30 p.m. - Sugarland

11 p.m. - Harry Luge

12:30 a.m. - Harry Luge

Saturday, July 19

1:30 p.m. - Veronica Ballestrini

2:30 p.m. - Bluefield

4 p.m. - Danielle Peck

5 p.m. - One Flew South

5:30 p.m. - Luke Bryan

6:30 p.m. - One Flew South

7 p.m. - Kellie Pickler

8 p.m. - Chasin' Mason

8 p.m. - Jessica Simpson

9:30 p.m. - Rio Grand

9:30 p.m. - Chasin' Mason

10 p.m. - Sara Evans

11 p.m. - Harry Luge

12:30 a.m. - Harry Luge

ooo

Grow local, eat local

2008-07-02T14:04:00.002-05:00

By Margaret Plevak/Contributor

At a time when "fresh" has become the buzz word for everything from coffee beans to sub sandwiches, Katie Bjorkman has the real goods. Bjorkman, who runs Earth Harvest Farm near Lake Geneva, sells her produce at two Walworth County farmers' markets, to a few area restaurants and to 28 subscribers of a community-supported agricultural program (CSA) she started this year.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Sandy Fisher-McKee, left, and Margaret Kowaleski, co-owners of the Wildflower Café in Elkhorn use produce from area growers.

When subscribers--who pay an up-front fee for 20 weeks of organically grown produce--pick up their weekly share of assorted vegetables from her farm, they know their lettuce, radishes and broccoli were picked only a matter of hours earlier and grown in fields that are mere yards away.

By their participation in a CSA program, subscribers are supporting local, sustainable and small-scale farmers, says Bjorkman, who holds a bachelor's degree in ecological agriculture. That subscriber shares in Earth Harvest Farm's own CSA have already sold out for 2008 is testament to a growing interest in eating locally.

Peg Reedy, agribusiness agent with Walworth County's UW Cooperative Extension, finds buying local makes sense for many reasons, including fresher food. Because most supermarket produce travels an average of 1,500 miles before it reaches store shelves, fruits and vegetables generally get to consumers days or weeks after being picked, losing flavor and nutrition along the way.

"Since the produce has to withstand the long trip, it is often harvested before it's ripe, and a lot of varieties grown for truck shipment have been developed specifically to stand up to shipping and long shelf life," Reedy said. "When you buy locally, you can often purchase heirloom varieties and those bred for great ripe taste."

The high cost of fueling trucks packed with long-distance produce is also taking more cash out of shoppers' wallets, Reedy believes.

"As food prices continue to climb, I think the argument that locally grown food costs more will be a less persuasive one and our local farmers will be more competitive with the mega farms from California who have the mega transportation costs," she said.

For Reedy and others, buying locally makes good financial sense overall, because money is circulated within the community and helps keep neighborhood farmers afloat.

"People really do feel good about supporting their local businesses, especially a family farm," said Colleen Henningfeld, who sells naturally raised beef, chicken and free- range eggs at Romari Farms in East Troy, now in its third generation of family ownership. "We also feel our customers understand they are supporting a way of farming, too, that's more sustainable and less factory-like."

Local producers have long contributed to the menu at Wildflower Café in downtown Elkhorn. Buffalo meat is purchased from Sorg's Meats in Darien and produce comes from area growers.

"We'll even make a run for beets to Michael Fields (Agricultural Institute in East Troy) in the middle of winter," said Wildfower co-owner Margaret Kowaleski.

During the summer, some of the herbs and vegetables featured in restaurant entrees come from co-owner Sandy Fisher-McKee's own half-acre garden. She even sells her organically grown produce to customers under the "Double Hoe Gardens" name.

Jack Kaestner, executive chef at the Oconomowoc Lake Club, uses area producers--including Delavan's Pinn-Oak Ridge Farm, which sells lamb, for about 35 percent of his restaurant's meals on a daily basis. Because he knows many chefs hesitate to take on the work of finding local producers, rather than simply contact a national food supplier like Sysco, he's also co-chairman for the Farmer Chef Connection, an organization which helps restaurant chefs find area farmers with produce or meats to sell.

"The one thing I tell people is that local food means local farms. I think people forget that. We lose that connection," Kaestner said. "But we're building those relationships again, and once chefs make that step, they don't go back."

The Farmer Chef Connection holds educational events for members that highlight local foods, such as a 2004 meal created by Walworth County chefs. At meetings, often held on farms, chefs may learn the differences between cage-free and free-range chickens, or grass-fed and grass-finished beef.

Education is a good idea for consumers, too, said Bob Van De Boom, who raises and sells lamb, chicken and eggs at VDB Organic Farms in Delavan.

Consumers should know how their food is raised, and buying locally lets them question producers directly on hormone or chemical use and livestock confinement.

"These are questions we are asked and can answer," he said. "Try doing that with meat bought at a supermarket."

Van De Boom worries some producers may be jumping on the "buy local" bandwagon for the sake of profit and will end up giving all local producers a bad reputation.

"I wouldn't buy local knowing that producers use genetically modified organisms, spray for weeks, abuse the land and mistreat their animals," he said.

"We started our farm to educate consumers. We arm them with what questions to ask other producers as to how they produce their products."

Reedy said consumers benefit by talking to growers at farmers' markets or even arranging to visit a farm where they buy meat or vegetables.

"With all of the food-borne illnesses, like the salmonella scare in fresh tomatoes, I like knowing my local farmer and how he raises my food," she said.

For more information, call 308-0335 or visit www.earthharvestfarm.com.

ooo

Crews working to restore phone lines

2008-07-02T09:44:00.003-05:00

People in Walworth County should be able to use their home phones and cell phones by 3 p.m. this afternoon, officials said.

Residents in parts of the county have been without phone service since a construction crew on Highway 50 damaged an AT&T Corp. fiber optic cable this morning, Walworth County Sheriff's Capt. Jay Maritz said.

Most of the home phones affected are in Delavan and Elkhorn, Maritz said. Phones in Whitewater, Lake Geneva and Pell Lake are working.

Depending on where a person is located and which company provides them with service, cell phones in Walworth County also are affected, he said.

"It's real hit and miss right now," Maritz said.

People can call 911 from their cell phones if they're getting service, he said.

Residents with land lines can call 911 from Elkhorn and Lauderdale Lakes -- even if their phones can't call anywhere else -- but the call is routed to the Walworth County Sheriff's Office, Maritz said.

Delavan residents can only call 911 from their cell phones, if they're working, he said.

Walworth County's 911 center uses Delavan's center as a backup, but Delavan also is down, Maritz said.

"It's kind of a double whammy," he said.

George Carlin's first and last show in Lake Geneva

2008-06-27T14:24:00.003-05:00

Dan Plutchak/Editor

George Carlin, the stand-up comedian who made legal history with his trademark seven dirty words, died last Sunday at the age of 71.

But those seven words weren't the only ones that got him in trouble during his long career, according to Fontana resident Jerry Pawlak.

Pawlak was the maitre d' at Lake Geneva's Playboy Club, now the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, when Carlin was nearly thrown out of town after a show.

It was Nov. 27, 1970, when the 32-year-old comedian was hired to perform in the Penthouse Room.

Carlin was still a relatively unknown comic, and as the story goes, he made a string of jokes about the Vietnam War that were not going over well with the predominantly conservative crowd.

Pawlak says he wasn't really paying attention to the act when someone came up and told him the audience wasn't responding well to the show.

Pawlak says he turned around just in time to see Carlin flip off the group and leave the stage.

"I've only had three people walk off stage on me," Pawlak said. "Joan Rivers, Buddy Rich and Carlin."

It got really nasty, Pawlak remembers. He says there was a Marine who wanted to go back stage after Carlin. Pawlak had to intervene to settle the serviceman down.

That night, Pawlak says, Playboy fired Carlin and he was never hired to play a Playboy Club again.

"It was terrible," Pawlak said. "We had to comp everyone for the show."

During its heyday in the 1970s, the Playboy Club's Penthouse Room hosted performers from Bob Hope to Sonny and Cher.

Pawlak, who is originally from Milwaukee, got his first job at the Playboy Club in 1968 as a bartender.

He worked his way up to become maitre d' of the Penthouse Room where he would make sure the right people got the 'ringside seats" to the stage show.

After leaving the Playboy Club, Pawlak worked at the Abbey for a while.

Now retired, he helps beautify Fontana by planting flowers.

Carlin's famous monologue, "The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," led to a 1978 Supreme Court case that affirmed the government's right to regulate indecent material on public airwaves.

Carlin's underground comedy eventually thrust him into the mainstream.

In later years, he was known for such gems as when he wondered,"If the black box in an airplane always survives a crash, why don't they make the whole thing out of the same material?"

Or, "What was the best thing before sliced bread?"

For his part, Pawlak says he doesn't like to speak ill of the dead, but he was no fan of Carlin's that night over 30 years ago. But he does wonder who else in the packed Penthouse Room remembers the show.

If you were there, add your recollection as a comment below

ooo

The easy way to get away to Walworth County

2008-06-18T08:58:00.000-05:00

As you read this issue of The Week, there's a better than average chance you are in sitting somewhere in Walworth County.

That should come as no surprise, because The Week is Walworth County's newspaper. We've covered Walworth County happenings and the people who live here for 30 years.

This past Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m., The Week launched another addition to our family of publications that includes our twice-weekly newspaper, seven magazines, four special sections and a Web site.

Our new site, WalworthCoGetaway.com, has taken nearly a year to create. WalworthCoGetaway.com is all about Walworth County: events, lodging, dining, things to do, communities and trip planning.

Trip planning?

Yes, trip planning--to Walworth County.

Consider this:

Only five other Wisconsin counties have more tourism revenue than Walworth County: Milwaukee County, Dane County, Waukesha County, Sauk County (Wisconsin Dells) and Brown County (Green Bay). Think about these areas and their draw. Do you know what attracts so many to Walworth County?

Research done during the process of building WalworthCoGetaway.com showed that nearly 85 percent of those who travel begin their planning online. They want a simple and complete tool to make their plans. How do you make your travel plans?

How have gas prices changed your plans? How do you think they will change the plans of others?

The results of a Walworth County economic impact study from 2007 further emphasize the importance of a county-wide approach to promotion.

The Week has the photography, the news gathering resources, the financial resources attached to the advertising resources and a significant interest in Walworth County, making us uniquely qualified to tell this area's story.

Putting all of the facts together, revenue opportunities became apparent. Conversations with most area chamber and visitor bureau leaders early in the process generated additional support for a unified approach to tourism.

The Week will now tell Walworth County's story to those outside our borders.

Overseeing this project for the last 10 months has been an incredible adventure for me.

The launch on Monday was only the beginning. There's plenty of work still to be done to keep the site fresh and increase the number of advertising partners.

WalworthCoGetaway.com will be a tool to create and share an itinerary, write and read reviews, send e-cards, request additional information, view photo galleries and more. Go to WalworthCoGetaway.com. It's simple, it's complete and it's attractive. When you find a local getaway online, take the next step. Go! Be a tourist in one of the top six destinations in the state, Walworth County. I'll see you there.

The author is director of sales and marketing for The Week.

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Suspects held in Whitewater stabbing incident

2008-06-18T08:57:00.000-05:00

--- Altercation involved roommates

By Ted Sullivan/The Week

Two men remained in Walworth County Jail Thursday after two teens were stabbed in Whitewater earlier this week during an alcohol-infused argument that escalated throughout the night.

Jesus Hernandez Vargas, 25, and Orlando Loyo Montes, 26, appeared in Walworth County Circuit Court and were ordered held in jail on $10,000 cash bail. Both men are accused of attacking their roommates Tuesday night near their duplex on 214 S. Esterly St.

Officers went to their home at about 7 p.m. for a reported dispute, Whitewater Police Chief James Coan said Thursday. After the officers left the home, the roommates continued arguing.

One suspect grabbed a large butcher knife and speared an 18-year-old man several times in the chest and back, then stabbed the 16-year-old boy in the thigh and upper back, Coan said.

The second suspect is accused of beating the 16-year-old boy, Coan said.

After the attack, the alleged victims fled the duplex and went to a gas station on East Milwaukee Street near their home, Coan said.

Police went to the gas station at about 9:50 p.m. and found the 18-year-old man with wounds that appeared life threatening, Coan said. The 16-year-old boy had stab wounds and bruises on his face.

Both teens were taken to Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital, Coan said.

The suspects also fled the duplex, Coan said, and Hernandez Vargas and Loyo Montes were arrested in a nearby backyard a short time later.

In court Thursday afternoon, Hernandez Vargas and Loyo Montes appeared on video from the nearby jail. Both men spoke to the judge through a Spanish-speaking interpreter.

"I didn't grab any knife," Loyo Montes said through his interpreter. "I didn't do anything."

Este Hart, with the Walworth County District Attorney's Office, told the judge the four roommates involved in the incident had lived in the duplex for a week. She said witnesses saw the attack, including men throwing kitchen pots at one another.

The attack remains under investigation, Coan said.

Hernandez Vargas and Loyo Montes face possible felony battery charges, and are expected to enter pleas after complaints are filed at a future date.

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New Lakeland School benefits from donations

2008-06-18T08:55:00.000-05:00

--- Community support upgrades new facility

By Ted Sullivan/The Week

When the new Lakeland School of Walworth County opens for summer school in July, the generosity of the community will be felt throughout the building.

Sure, a pool is nice, but how about a therapy pool for students with physical disabilities? A gymnasium scoreboard is a necessity, but wouldn't it be great to give the kids a first-class wireless scoreboard like those at universities?

Lakeland School's $16 million budget is enough to provide the basics, but donations from area businesses and foundations are what provide the students with the extras, said Tracy Moate, director of special education for Lakeland School.

On Tuesday night, when the Walworth County Board of Supervisors met for their monthly meeting, more than $356,000 was donated to Lakeland School.

The supervisors, two of whom thanked the donors and the school for their outstanding work, voted unanimously to accept the money.

The donations included televisions, scoreboards, a recumbent bicycle, a therapy pool and a voice and data communications system. Many of the items will be used in the new school.

"I think this is another example of the outstanding support for Lakeland School," said Supervisor David Weber, who recently toured the school and called it "outstanding."

Nancy Russell, chair of the board, thanked the donors for supporting the school.

"That's one of the things I really love about Walworth County," she said. "All the people have a really generous heart."

Jim Drescher, president of the Geneva National Foundation, said Lakeland School is extraordinary.

He said the foundation supports organizations that provide help for people with disabilities. He added that people all over the world might someday look at Lakeland School to learn how to build a facility for children with disabilities.

"It's truly amazing," Drescher said.

In recent years, donations have helped the school add new technologies, benches, a courtyard and other perks, Moate said.

"It gives our kids the opportunity to have the extras in life," she said.

The donations for Lakeland School presented at Tuesday's meeting included the following:

--- The Geneva National Foundation donated $257,078 to expand the aquatic center to include a therapy pool.

--- The foundation donated $75,805 to upgrade the voice and data communications system at the new school.

--- The foundation also donated a recumbent bicycle to the school. The bike is worth $4,780.

--- The Friends of Lakeland School and the staff at Lakeland School donated $11,600 to upgrade the televisions at the new school.

--- All American Scoreboards, A.J. Phillips and the Kachel Family Foundation donated two scoreboards to the school. The scoreboards are worth $7,200.

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Upload: Learning, family and today's technology

2008-06-18T08:47:00.002-05:00

--- Eastview teacher scores big

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

Eastview Elementary teacher Karie Huttner hit a home run with her idea of using MP3 players to bridge the language and literacy gap for English language learners and their families.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Lizbeth Valladolid, left, and Samantha Orwell listen to stories recorded in both English and Spanish.

Her idea, Cuentories, is so noteworthy that it was awarded the Murdock-Thompson Center for Teachers Summer Fellowship for Innovative Teachers Award and a $2,000 scholarship to take it to the next level.

"This has a lot of potential for students whose parents speak Spanish and students whose parents want them to learn Spanish," Huttner said.

Huttner's program uses MP3 players, slightly larger than credit card-sized digital audio recorders especially popular with kids and teens because they can listen to music through headphones without disturbing those around them.

Here's how it works:

Huttner's second grade students record stories in Spanish and English. Huttner uploads them onto MP3 players that kindergarten students take home and listen to with their parents through headphone splitters.

"MP3s are what kids are using," she said. "It's very important that parents be active in their children's education and this makes that possible with parents who speak only Spanish."

While the program was designed to help kindergarteners develop their reading skills, an unintentional benefit emerged when Huttner realized that Cuentories were also helping the second-graders' reading skills.

"The process also showed me what my students needed in their reading levels.

"They really enjoyed helping the younger students learn. It made them feel important that they were really helping them. Many times they were recording stories for their own younger brothers and sisters, and they really liked that too."

By the end of the year, Huttner had acquired 45 MP3 players and a bank of about 60 stories, some written by students themselves.

Rather than taking the $2,000 scholarship and buying more MP3 players, Huttner has opted to put it into savings and give it some thoughtful time before deciding where to spend it.

"I like to see this program expand to other schools," she said. "This has been one of the most inspirational programs for me as a teacher.

"And it's important knowing that what we're doing will be there for many years."

For more information, visit www.lakegeneva.eastview.groupfusion.net.

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After years of silence, a veteran remembers D-Day

2008-06-18T08:43:00.001-05:00

--- Veteran honored during D-Day ceremony in Lake Geneva

Kayla Bunge/The Janesville Gazette

Kenneth "Whitey" Weiss firmly saluted the American flag, bright sun illuminating its colors whipped by the wind.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Weiss looks over a display of his medals

Sunglasses hid tears welling in his eyes, and the shadow cast by the brim of his black World War II veteran hat muted his smile.

Until recently, Weiss didn't talk much about June 6, 1944, when he and thousands of other troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, in the invasion that signaled the beginning of the end of World War II.

"All these years, I kept this all in," he said. "I couldn't talk about the war."

Weiss, 82, was honored a week ago Friday, the 64th anniversary of D-Day, by residents of Geneva Crossings senior living community, where he lives. Members of the American Legion raised a flag in his honor.

Weiss admits that he's emotional--prone to "breaking down"--but he doesn't let the tears or his mild Parkinson's disease meddle with his memories.

The son of working class parents in Milwaukee, Weiss enlisted in the Navy in May 1943 to help support the family. He had just turned 17.

"At that time, there were many people on the county (welfare rolls)," he said.

Weiss boarded LST-47, one of more than 1,000 landing ship tanks designed for amphibious operations, such as the invasion of Normandy. The hulking, flat-bottomed ships carried cargo and troops directly onto the shore.

"We would go in as far as the tide would take the ship," Weiss said. "Then the doors would open and we would drop the guys in the water and they'd go onto the beach."

But Weiss, who served as a cook aboard the vessel, wasn't allowed off the boat. He had to stay back and help with loading and unloading.

"They only gave us so much time while the tide was in," he said.

When the Germans attacked, Weiss abandoned his apron and manned a 20mm anti-aircraft gun. He positioned the weapon before another crew member fired.

LST-47 made 10 trips between the ports of southern England and the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion, and as Allied forces advanced, the ship hauled away captured German prisoners of war.

After a brief return to the United States, LST-47 was transferred to the Pacific theater of the war for the assault on Okinawa, Japan, from June 26-30, 1945.

Weiss still served as a cook on the boat, where troops ate from a menu created by the chief petty officer.

"Baked beans every Saturday was a must," Weiss said with a chuckle. "Really, we had good meals aboard ship."

Weiss was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, but he was called back into service at the start of the Korean War in 1950. This time, he was on dry land at the Naval base in San Diego.

"I was cooking for all the recruits," he said.

Weiss, a petty officer second class, was in charge of the recruits who were on rotating duty as mess cooks.

Weiss again was honorably discharged in 1952.

For decades, he held inside the horrors he witnessed as comrades were shot on the beaches of France and later buried.

Weiss said he was "one of the lucky ones" who returned home after the war.

He doesn't boast about his experience; instead he wears a modest hat that identifies him as a World War II veteran.

"I wear the cap all the time," he said. "I wear it because I'm proud. There were a lot of them that didn't make it back."

As fellow veterans saluted him and friends hugged him Friday, tears rolled down Weiss' cheeks. He said he didn't deserve the special recognition.

"I did what I had to do," he said. "You get called into service ... you do what you're told to do, and you do the best you can.

"That's what I did."

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From pasture to palate

2008-06-18T08:39:00.002-05:00

--- Walworth County Farm Bureau Dairy Breakfast is June 21

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

Paul Brockmeyer is just finishing the day's first of two rounds of milking his 43 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows at 10 a.m. on his rural Whitewater farm. Each round can take anywhere from one to four hours apiece.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Paul Brockmeyer, and Dounut, will be at the 32nd Annual Dairy Breakfast bright and early next Saturday morning as hosts of this year's event.

His right and left hands, Daisy the Australia brown heeler and Molly the border collie, wrestle and play nearby now that they're off duty for a little while.

Daisy is the veteran Brockmeyer herder and has been teaching Molly the ropes for the past year. Molly nips at Daisy's jowls until she's had enough and gives her a stern nip back.

Spring calves call out from their pens for more bottles for their ever-hungry bellies and a few of his 43 milking heifers--Slice, Lynette, Dounut, Anna and Silver--remain in the barn, chomping hay in their stanchions.

Brockmeyer is happy to take some time to talk about his farm and the dairy industry to anyone interested in a lesson about Wisconsin's leading farm industry.

"You have to promote yourself or people will forget about you," Brockmeyer says. "There are fewer people in farming with every generation."

Not too long ago most of the kids in school lived on farms, he said. Now it's their grandparents who were the last in their families who grew up on farms.

That's just the reason he was honored to be chosen as the host family for this year's Walworth County Farm Bureau Dairy Breakfast, to be held at the Walworth County Fairgrounds June 21.

"We were happy to be the host family," he said. "I'll stand and talk to people as long as they want to stay and ask questions."

And he's not kidding--he's a walking fact-filled encyclopedia of information.

Did you know the Holstein breed became popularized during World War II because their milk was best in making dehydrated milk, a staple in American kitchens?

Did you know cows' tails are often cropped in larger dairy operations so other cows can't step on them?

And did you know that organically labeled milk isn't any more organic than non-organically labeled milk?

"Every truckload is tested," he said. "And if yours has antibiotics, you don't just buy your milk back, you have to buy all the milk in that truck. And nobody wants to buy a truckload of milk."

He enjoys talking to people and is pleasantly surprised at the types of questions he gets from people who have never even been in a barn.

"They ask very intelligent questions. I made a video of our whole process and people really watch it closely."

Brockmeyer started farming in 1971 in cash grains, adding the milking herd in 1984. His 43 milking cows and 30 replacement heifers are rotationally grazed on about 50 of his 180 acres and milked with individual milking machines by himself, daughter Meghan and/or Noah Meilke, Brockmeyer's "very helpful and competent" part-time employee and high school student.

"Meghan is at Platteville getting a pre-vet degree," he said. "She'll probably be the one to come back and run the farm."

The average age of the milking herd is six years, he said. "And by then they've paid for themselves many times over."

The farm is a member of the Swiss Valley milk cooperative and their milk is shipped to one of many locations in Wisconsin and Illinois to become mainly cheese and milk as end products.

Along with sharing his vast knowledge of the industry inside and out at the dairy breakfast, Brockmeyer will also be bringing his own cows for the milking contests and as life-sized show-and-tell examples.

"Which one do you want to milk you, a Republican or a Democrat?" he playfully asks Dounut.

"People are surprised at how big they are," he says, getting back on topic. "And my cows aren't as big as some of those who breed for size. I breed mainly for disposition."

While this is Brockmeyer's first time as host family for the Dairy Breakfast, he's no stranger to teaching about farming.

"We've hosted lots of farm tours and taken cows and calves to various schools in Wisconsin and Illinois for many years."

Brockmeyer is active with the Walworth County Dairy Promotion Committee, is an instructor with the Walworth, Racine and Kenosha Counties Tractor Safety Program and occasionally does long-term teaching assignments in agricultural education.

He's married to Kathy, a medical technologist at Fort Health Care and they have three grown children, Kyle, Lindsey and Meghan, who were all active in showing cattle through 4-H and FFA.

The Dairy Breakfast menu is scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, coffee cake, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and of course, lots of milk. There will also be 10- and 15-mile bike rides. For more information, call 723-3228 or visit www.walworthcountyfair.com.

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To Do

What: 32nd Annual Walworth County Farm Bureau Dairy Breakfast

Where: Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn and Featured Dairy Farm of Paul and Kathy Brockmeyer, N7617 Engel Road, Whitewater.

When: June 21, 6-10:30 a.m.

Tickets: $5 in advance, $6 at the gate

More info: 723-3228 or www.walworthcountyfair.com

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Police continue search for Delavan bank robber

2008-06-18T08:33:00.003-05:00

By Ted Sullivan/The Week

A man used a threatening note to rob a downtown bank Friday afternoon and escaped on foot with an unknown amount of cash.

This is a photo from the bank's security camera of the robber.

Delavan Police Chief Tim O'Neill said the suspect walked into Anchor Bank, 500 E. Walworth Ave., at about 2 p.m. and "threatened the use of force" against a bank clerk.

The man was not armed, O'Neill said, and he was handed large bills before leaving the bank in an unknown direction.

No arrests have been made, but police have pictures of the suspect from the bank's video cameras, O'Neill said.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Walworth county offers and K9 unit searching for the robbery suspect of Anchor Bank in Delavan of nearby residents.

The suspect was described as being white, 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10, with dark hair. He was wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt with a Chicago Bears logo, a gray baseball cap with a Dodge logo, blue jeans and bright white shoes.

One block of Fifth Street was closed from Walworth Avenue to McDowell Street after the robbery. Yellow police tape surrounded the bank. About 10 patrol cars and other police vehicles responded to the scene.

A Walworth County Sheriff's Office police dog followed tracks from the bank down Fifth Street. Deputies also knocked on doors in the neighborhood.

Dozens of residents in the neighborhood walked outside to watch the commotion. People interviewed on the street hadn't witnessed the suspect running away.

A representative of Anchor Bank declined to comment.

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High water prompts lake restrictions

2008-06-12T14:33:00.001-05:00

--- Beaches remain open

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

Rising water following a week of heavy rains has forced officials of four Walworth County lakes to issue slow, no wake restrictions.

Terry Mayer/The Week

A launch closing at Lauderdale Lake is one of the consequences of the heavy rainfall lately.

They include the Lauderdale Lakes chain, Delavan Lake, Whitewater Lake and Rice Lake.

Geneva Lake and Lake Beulah have no restrictions as of last Thursday.

"A slow, no wake is (boat speeds) just fast enough to maintain steerability in a boat--slightly above idle speed," said Scott Mason, chairman of the Lauderdale Lake Management District.

"With the high water throw in, the big boats we have nowadays make huge waves that damage shoreline structures and vegetation," Mason said.

Mason said biological and bacterial content also increases in times of flooding.

"All inland lakes in Walworth County will have higher levels until the waters subside," Mason said.

While there are no plans to restrict swimming in area lakes, people with compromised immune systems, the very young and the very old may want to restrain from swimming until things get back to normal.

While it's an inconvenience for many boaters not to be able to boat as usual right now, the health of the lakes and surrounding lands are worth the sacrifice, Mason said.

On the bright side, Mason said "it makes things very peaceful and tranquil."

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New teen driving laws are working

2008-06-12T14:09:00.002-05:00

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

It's been nearly eight years since the graduated driver's license law went into effect for young drivers.

Terry Mayer/The Week

With both hands on the wheel, Amy Matthews faces the next turn with driving instructor Jim Fischer giving directions.

In that time, injuries for 16- and 17-year-old drivers have dropped roughly 30 percent, according to statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The law puts nighttime driving and passenger and other restrictions on drivers 16 and 17 years old.

Statewide, in the five-year period before GDL in 16- and 17-year-olds, there were 6,269 auto accidents with driver injuries. In the five years after, there were 3,999, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

There were 59 auto accidents with driver fatalities in the five-year period before GDL in 16- and 17-year-olds, and 51 in the five years after.

One change with the most impact on individual driver's is the rule that allows only one passenger. For the first nine months after earning a probationary drivers license, drivers can have only one non-immediate family member in the car with them while they're driving.

"More than one parent, guardian, brother, sister or step-family member are OK," said Jim Fischer, instructor at Trident Drivers School, Elkhorn. "But not grandmas, grandpas, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, cats or dogs."

Fisher instructs driver educations courses in many Walworth County high schools and rattles out this rule fluently enough to know he's said it hundreds of times, at least.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Driver ed student Amanda Knapp just completed her "class" with driving instructor Fischer as Amy Matthews waits her turn.

Amy Matthews, a Delavan-Darien High School senior, agrees with the vast majority of students interviewed that the "only one friend rule" is the biggest drag of all of the changes.

"I get frustrated," she said. "If a group of us want to go somewhere we have to take like five cars."

She doesn't feel that having another friend or two in the back seat would add enough distraction to be dangerous, especially since she's completed the entire driving course successfully and her skills have improved over time.

"I'm a lot better driver than I was in the beginning," she says. "And if they're just riding like they should, it wouldn't make a big difference."

Another high-impact change is the six-month minimum between the time a driver is issued a learner's permit and the time they can get their probationary license.

"Before that point in time you could conceivably take the class and get a license in three weeks," Fischer said. "And we would have kids and their parents who would literally try to get it done in three weeks.

"There's no real practice time in there," he continued. "So what's the point? In that amount of time new drivers still think that driving only consists of steering and braking."

This common-sense change is thoroughly a good one in Fischer's opinion.

"Now that it's six months no matter what, I believe we're all safer on the roads."

Along the same lines of high-impact changes is the provision that mandates if a probationary driver gets stopped by the police for any traffic violation, they have to wait an extra six months before getting their regular license.

"For a teen, that's a long time," Fischer says. "But it helps them take their licenses seriously once they do get them."

Fischer says the GDL has markedly changed students' attitudes and skill levels compared to beginning drivers of the past.

"Once the new laws kicked in, kids started coming in much better prepared for the test and as better drivers than the kids we had before," he said.

While it's frustrating that more complete statistics aren't readily available (injury/fatality rates of passengers of teen drivers; injury/fatality rates of drivers and passengers in other cars involved in accidents with cars driven by teen; statistics before 2000; etc.), it still remains quite clear nearly eight years out that the GDL changes have improved beginners' driving skills and lowered the number of young drivers--and all drivers and passengers--being injured and killed in those first inexperienced years behind the wheel.

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GDL provisions for drivers under 18

--- Must hold instruction driving permit 6 months before getting probationary license.

--- More practice time (30 hours) before instruction permit holders can receive a probationary license.

--- Instruction permit holders must be free of driving violations for six months before getting probationary license.

--- Probationary drivers are taken off of the road more quickly for multiple driving offenses and have to wait longer before getting their standard drivers license.

--- Probationary drivers can drive alone or have only one non-immediate-family passenger for first nine months.

--- Probationary drivers may not drive midnight-5 a.m. except commuting between home, work and school for first nine months.

*Source: Wisconsin Department of Transportation

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Lake Geneva Paint-In's interactive art

2008-06-11T09:33:00.005-05:00

By Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

White market umbrellas will dot the downtown Lake Geneva cityscape this weekend for Lake Geneva Art Association's 8th Annual Paint-In.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Bonnie Siegel, painting along the sidewalk at last year’s Paint-In.

Underneath each umbrella, distinctly separate worlds will be created by artists whose works are as different as their personalities. They invite art appreciators to chat with the artists, get pointers for your own art projects, take home a painting that may catch your eye and even spread a little paint yourself.

"It's a way for people to see art being created and even try it themselves if they want to," said Anne Sperry Connors, event chair.

"We want to connect with people who appreciate art, show them what we're doing and invite them to get involved if they'd like."

The invitation to participate goes out to everyone and Sperry Connors will paint fluffy creatures on children's faces to involve all members of the family and maybe even spark an interest in the arts in possible future artists.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," she said. "We hope people from all over come to Lake Geneva this weekend and join in."

To celebrate the event, downtown businesses will offer specials on merchandise and munchies as GLAA members reach out to anyone interested in appreciating the art of others' or creating art of their own.

Artist Profiles

Anne Sperry Connors

Anne Sperry Connors has been an artist at heart since her childhood in Aspen, Colo. She was writing and illustrating her own children's stories by the time she was in high school, majored in commercial art in college and landed an internship with architect Cabell Childress.

Terry Mayer/The Week

Jeffrey Ladow was at last year’s Paint-In and will be back again this year.

She worked as an interior designer in Chicago and earned a spot with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and MFA program member before opening the Lighthouse Christian Montessori Preschool in Williams Bay in 2004.

Sparky Dog Custom Pet Portraits by Anne Connors capture critters' personalities as she finishes them off with fingernail polish, giving them a truly special touch, and are available by order.

Lynne Railsback

Lynne Railsback earned a degree in graphic design from the University of Illinois and worked in commercial graphic design. Her wall murals became very popular in the 1970s and in the 1990s she was finally able to create art of her own whim after retiring. Her intricate paintings of the natural world are of extremely clean design devoid of esoteric meaning.

Railsback's watercolor creations are gorgeously detailed and have been in dozens of shows around Illinois, Missouri, New York, California and Oregon.

Brad DeLaurentis

Brad DeLaurentis studied art at the Chicago Art Institute and creates gorgeous stippled paintings of wildlife, landscapes and other scenes. Stippling is a compilation of dots densely, sparsely and both becoming incredible portraits of a keenly intense tiger, a comfortable detailed cabin and everything in between.

Diane Ross

Diane Ross studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, taught art to pre-school children and has shown her works in the Wisconsin Regional Art Program; Lakeland Art League, Woodruff, Wis.; Howard Young Medical Center, M&I Bank, Ashland, Wis.; Manito Art League Show, Manitowish Waters, Wis.; GLAA Gallery, Lake Geneva; Moonstone Gallery, Lake Geneva; and The Back Drop, Woodstock, Ill.

Ross creates paintings in watercolor, acrylic, clay and handmade paper in vivid colors from portraits to abstracts.

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Artist Lineup

Mary J. Abbott, oil and mixed media

Susan Alby, jewelry

Bill Bishop, oil and acrylic

Marcie Calkins, acrylic

Anne Sperry Connors, nail polish/acrylic

Ken Cottingham, oil

Maria DeCaprio-Sunta, watercolor

Brad DeLaurentis, stipple

Andy Dolejs, mixed

Astrid Enskat, oil

Judi Greenwood, watercolor

Pat Heintzelman, watercolor

Barbara Duer Johnson, watercolor

Dawn Kist, photography

Sybil Klug, acrylic, watercolor

Marcia Koehler, watercolor

Jeff Ladow, oil

Jane Lenz, watercolor

LaMarr Lundberg, watercolor

Sherry Michelic, oil

Nancy Newcomb, watercolor

Lynne Railsback, watercolor

Carol Railton, watercolor

Carol Smith, watercolor, collage

Charlene Southworth, watercolor, pen

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To Do

What: 8th Annual Lake Geneva Paint-In

Where: Broad and Main streets, Lake Geneva

When: June 14-15, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.