2009 November | Lodi Valley News

A Thanksgiving Poem

Rating 4.33 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/30/09

Let Us Give Thanks

By Max Coots

Let us give thanks for a bounty of people:

For children who are our second planting, and, though they grow like weeds and the wind too soon blows them away, may they forgive us our cultivation and fondly remember where their roots are.

Let us give thanks:

For generous friends…with hearts as big as hubbards
and smiles as bright as their blossoms;

For feisty friends as tart as apples;

For continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers, keep reminding us we had them;

For crotchety friends, as sour as rhubarb and as indestructible;

For handsome friends, who are as gorgeous as eggplants and as elegant as a row of corn — and the others — as plain as potatoes, and so good for you.

For funny friends, who are as silly as brussels sprouts and as amusing as Jerusalem artichokes, and serious friends as complex as cauliflowers and as intricate as onions;

For friends as unpretentious as cabbages, as subtle as summer squash, as persistent as parsley, as delightful as dill, as endless as zucchini, and who — like parsnips — can be counted on to see you through the long winter;

For old friends, nodding like sunflowers in the evening-time, and young friends coming on as fast as radishes;

For loving friends, who wind around us like tendrils, and hold us despite our blights, wilts, and witherings;

And finally, for those friends now gone, like gardens past, that have been harvested – but who fed us in their times that we might have life thereafter;

For all these we give thanks.

Robert Davis Wins 2009 Downtown Revitalization Award from CCEDC

Rating 4.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/19/09

At the Annual Meeting of CCEDC (Columbia County Economic Development Corporation) on Thursday, November 12th, Lodi resident Robert Davis won the 2009 Downtown Revitalization Award. Judges admired his vision and tenacity with a project of this magnitude. The following is the letter nominating Robert that was submitted by Rog Severson on behalf of L.O.D.I.

Robert Davis
Spring Creek Business Center, Lodi, WI
Entrepreneur of the Year

Rescuing a building that may have seen a wrecking ball in its future is no small feat! But that’s the story of the Spring Creek Business Center, formerly the Lodi City Hall. It is located at 113 S. Main, Lodi, WI.

A number of years ago, the Common Council of the City of Lodi was struggling with how to revamp the old City Hall. Specifically, more space was needed for a growing staff, meeting rooms, the police department and everything needed to address handicap accessibility. The existing City Hall was analyzed and determined to be way too involved to overhaul. With plans confirmed, the city began the lengthy building process and the old City Hall went up for sale. No one really wanted it because of the renovation required to make it usable, except one person. Read more »

Lake Wisconsin Late Fall Muskie

Rating 3.67 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/18/09

Garry Johnson caught this large muskie on Lake Wisconsin on Monday, Nov. 9th. It was 47 1/2 inches and 32 lbs. 2 oz. Photo courtesy of Nancy Mitchell

Curl to End Cancer Bonspiel

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/17/09

Dear Curlers & non-curler friends,

A "Curl to End Cancer" Bonspiel will be held at Lodi Curling Club this coming weekend.

We would like to host an open Bonspiel “Curl to End Cancer”. The Bonspiel will be in memory of family and/or friends that were members of our club who have died of cancer. The date of this spiel will be Nov. 20 (Fri.) & Nov. 21 (Sat.) with the spiel running 4-end games, 16 team limit, and brooms will be provided by the club, entry fee $100.00/team. A team will consist of two experienced and two new curlers, age limit a minimum of 12 years old.
We currently have six families who have generously offered to sponsor a Prize Basket in memory of their loved one. Prize Baskets are welcomed from other families who have lost a curler to cancer. If you would like to contribute to a Prize Basket already formed, please contact the captain/sponsor.

Below is a list of Family Prize Basket Sponsors:

Lori Cook Lloyd captain/sponsor: Tykie Wescott 444-4320
Joyce Dolson captain/sponsor: Theresa Dolson 592-7801
Gary Markgraf captain/sponsor: Donna Markgraf 592-4160
Bob & Laurie Reese captain/sponsor: Ron Reese 592-3547
Suzanne Weber Klopp captain/sponsor: Jane Geeslin 347-2456
Bernie Zeman captain/sponsor: Belinda Zeman 592-5716

We will sell Prize Basket raffle tickets at the Chili Feed and the Spiel, so we need to know as soon as possible what your Prize Basket will include prior to the Chili Feed. The money raised for each Prize Basket will go towards a charity of the family’s choice. Prize Baskets on display and raffle tickets for sale at the Lodi Curling Club, 704 Fair Street, Sat. Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., stop by to get your tickets. Good Luck!

All proceeds from raffle ticket sales go to several CANCER organizations.
$1/ticket $5/6 tickets

In addition it is our intent to promote & recruit new members interested in curling. Another idea is to have a ladies Wednesday night 5:00 draw, 6 or 8-end games. We hope again that members and friends will donate towards the events.
Most of us have been touched by cancer in some way and your support will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please contact:

Colleen Deans 849-3199
Donna Markgraf 592-4160
Chris Ness 592-3492
Tykie Wescott 444-4320

Also, don’t forget to check out the Lodi Curling Club’s new website at: lodicurling.org

LHS International Education Week Presentation

Rating 3.50 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/16/09

Hello Lodi Community Members,
You are invited to attend the Keynote address of Lodi High School’s International Education Week (IEW). In its fourth year, IEW opens students’ eyes to the world beyond US borders through international music and dance, films, advocacy and fundraising projects, and presenations by over 40 different speakers. This year’s keynote address will be presented by Chris Duncan, award winning documenarian and activist. He will be speaking on his book, Enough to Go Around (available for purchase or check out at the high school library) that focuses on finding hope in war torn areas of the world, specifically Afganistan and Darfur. He will also share infomation about his not-for-profit organization, Relief International.

Here is the link the LHS’s International Education Week http://lodiinternationaledweek.weebly.com/

Here is the link to Relief Interantional: http://www.ri.org/

Attached is the brochure for the evening keynote address, Thursday, Nov.19th at 7:00pm in the LHS Performing Arts Center

We hope to see you at this exciting event. Spread the word!
Thank you,
Paula Tonn

Chip Duncan

A market A musing Adieu

Rating 4.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/13/09

28 Friday afternoons, sometime sunshine, sometime rain, hot weather, cold weather, over 500 vendor visits, shoppers, shoppers and more shoppers–that’s just a small sketch of the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market for 2009. Our 9^th season provided you with the best local and freshest garden goodies you could possibly hope for. We started with plants in April and finished with pumpkins in October. In between we had everything from apples to zucchini, with bison, honey, fish, maple syrup, organic pizzas and meat added. Who could say we lacked in variety?

We gave trees away, we gave market dollars away, we sampled salsa, Susie sweets, and pressed apples. We sang to you and brought you goats and chickens to play with. We searched for Larry the Leek and found him missing. We filled the barn week after week with our vendors and your generous donations to the food pantry.

And like the fields and farmers, we’re going for our “long winter’s nap.”

We worked hard to serve you well. We’ll rest well to serve you again next year. We’ve got our 10^th anniversary coming next season and we’ll be planing various celebrations to share with you and our vendors. Send your ideas–the wilder and crazier the better. We’d love to hear them. We think there is no limit to what we can do.

Thank you for your support of the market farmers, your most gracious welcome to me (the new kid on the block), and your support of our efforts to make the Lodi Valley Farmers’ market the best we can bring you.

See you next April at the market!!

At the last market of the season, Rob Nurre owner of the 1900's apple press gives Gavin Schroeder a sample of the fresh pressed juice being pressed by his brother Lawson. The Schroeder boys are sons of Larry Schroeder regular market vendor. Photo by Cindy Miller

Dinner Honoring Brisky is Scheduled

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/12/09

2009 Lodi Citizen of the Year is Darlene Brisky.The banquet to honor Darlene will be Thursday, November 19th at the Lodi Sports and Recreation Center (LSRC) and catered by Downtown Coffee Grounds. Tickets are $18 and available at Associated Bank or the Chamber Office starting Monday, Nov. 9th. Everyone is invited – but tickets at the door will be limited, so please purchase in advance.

Questions? Please call the Chamber office at 592-4412.

Family is Forever: Children and Divorce Awareness Week

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/11/09

Governor Jim Doyle signed a Proclamation declaring the week of November 9-14, 2009 as Family is Forever: Children and Divorce Awareness Week in the State of Wisconsin. Governor Doyle encourages all state residents to recognize the importance of this public education event highlighting the needs of Wisconsin children experiencing divorce.

The Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin (CFLCW) is the proud sponsor of Family is Forever: Children and Divorce Awareness Week. CFLCW is a statewide association of lawyers, mental health professionals, and financial advisors, who work together for the peaceful resolution of family law matters.

Experienced collaborative divorce professionals are available for public speaking events and newspaper, television, and radio interviews to talk about:

- The revolution in divorce: why collaborative divorce is one of the fastest growing alternatives to traditional, conflict-centered divorce
- Reducing the negative impact of divorce on children and families
- Creative, child-focused solutions to divorce during these difficult economic times

On November 12, 2009, CFLCW will sponsor a workshop for professionals and the public: “Taking the War Out of Our Words” with national speaker Sharon Ellison at The Delafield Hotel.

For more information contact:

Attorney: Susan Hansen at (414) 273-2422 or sah@h-hlaw.com
Psychologist: Dr. Nancy Cannon at (414) 803-9967 or ncannon2@wi.rr.com
Financial Advisor: Garrick Zielinski at (414) 294-4755 or garrick@divfinsolutions.com

Columbia County Democrats Listening Session At Okee School

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/10/09

Mike Tate, newly elected chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party will join Columbia County Democrats for a listening session on November 12, 6:30 at the Okee School Community Center. He will be joined by Peter Rickman, chair of the 2nd congressional District of the Democratic Party, and Ray Frey, chair of the Columbia County Democratic Party. These leaders will discuss the upcoming 2010 elections approach and ways for ordinary citizens to become engaged and effective in the political process. They are primarily interested though in hearing how the Democratic Party itself can better serve its membership, how it can wage better campaigns, and what it needs to do to be attuned to the concerns of the voters “The Democratic Party is only as strong as its membership,” Tate has noted. “We’re committed to a day to day, month to month dialogue with our members and supporters. I” m pleased to hear from the folks in Columbia County.”

In this time when our country and state are experiencing so many fiscal problems, we need to let our politicians be aware of our ideas, questions, and views. This meeting is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend

Wisconsin Treasurer to Auction Collectible Coins and Currency

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/09/09

On Monday November 9, at 12:00pm (CST), Wisconsin State Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass will auction more than 15 lots of abandoned collectible coins and currency on eBay.

“The State Vault has limited space and we continue to receive abandoned items,” said Treasurer Sass. “There are some valuable coins in this lot. While I would rather give the property back to the owner or heir, these items have been abandoned for eight years or more and we are running out of room to store them.”

Each year, the Wisconsin State Treasurer’s Office receives the contents of safe deposit boxes from banks and other financial institutions that have been abandoned for at least five years. The names of the contents’ owners are published in local newspapers and entered into Wisconsin’s Unclaimed Property online database. The contents are then stored in the state’s vault for two to three years.

If the owners or their heirs do not come forward to claim the contents, the Treasurer’s Office holds an auction. The proceeds from the sale are held for the rightful owners or heirs for an indefinite length of time.

This month’s eBay auction includes: an 1856 Small Head Indian Princes Gold Dollar; several lots with a variety of Silver Dollar coins from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s; United States Proof Sets; silver bars; foreign coins and much more. To see a list of the items, please visit www.statetreasury.wisconsin.gov . Click on the “eBay” logo at the
bottom of the home page.

“We have a lot of interest from around the country and the world when we hold these auctions. It’s exciting to see these items bought by avid collectors,” said Treasurer Sass.

The auction starts Monday, November 2009 at 12:00pm (CST) on eBay and ends the following Monday, November 16th.

To find out if you or a relative might have unclaimed property from a safe deposit box, search Wisconsin’s Unclaimed Property database by visiting the State Treasurer’s website.

All Military Invited To Eat Free At Applebee’s On Veteran’s Day

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/9/09

Vets and Active Duty Saluted with Free Entrée at 41 Applebee’s across Wisconsin

WAUWATOSA, WI – (November 4, 2009) – Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar ® restaurants throughout Wisconsin are inviting all U.S. veterans and active duty military personnel to come in and pull up a chair at their favorite neighborhood restaurant for a delicious entree and heartfelt “thanks” this Veterans Day. With gratitude for their service and sacrifice, warm wishes and hot food will flow freely for these local heroes from lunchtime through the dinner hours for dine-in guests at all Applebee’s locations in Wisconsin. Family and friends are also invited to come join the celebration and gather to tell stories, share laughter and raise a glass in salute to these local heroes.

On Veterans Day (November 11), veterans and those on active duty with proof of United States military service will be able to select one complimentary entrée from a selection of delicious favorites: 7-ounce House Sirloin, Three-Cheese Chicken Penne, Fiesta Lime Chicken®, Fire Pit Bacon Burger, Chicken Tenders Platter or Oriental Chicken Salad.

Not only will these heroes receive a delicious entrée for free, but also the traditional sides that come with each entrée will be served “on the house.”

“It’s an honor to host an event that helps the neighborhood come together and say ‘thanks’ to our veterans and active servicemen and women,” said CEO of Wisconsin Hospitality Group (WHG), owner and operator of 41 Applebee’s in Wisconsin. “We feel a special connection to everyone who wears or has worn our nation’s uniform to protect our freedoms. We’re proud of their courage and happy to have this opportunity to offer a meal free of charge.”

This is not the first time Wisconsin Hospitality Group and Applebee’s have served area veterans and active duty personnel. In 2008, WHG served over 24,000 veterans and active duty military personnel free entrees along with sincere appreciation for past and present service to our country.
Please visit www.whgonline.com for a list of the 41 Wisconsin Applebee’s that are participating in this event.

Wisconsin Hospitality Group, LLC, currently develops and operates 41 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants in the state of Wisconsin. Additional information on Wisconsin Hospitality Group can be found at the company’s website, www.whgonline.com.

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

November is Big Fish Time

Author with a big walleye caught on Lake Erie during late November.

November is the best month of the fishing season for the angler looking to catch a trophy fish of any species. The largest fish of the year are usually caught from the beginning of November until freeze-up which varies from lake to lake. Many anglers put their boats away for the year around Labor Day and a few others wait till sometime in October. But, the hard-core and serious fishermen wait till sometime in November (and sometimes later) and just before the area’s lakes freeze solid for the ice fishing season to store their boats.

When and Where

Every year there may be a “little” variance in the exact time that the local lakes freeze solid. The variables that affect a lake freezing over include; the size of the lake, the lake’s depth, and if there is any current or flow that runs through the lake from any rivers and creeks that enter and exit the lake. Large lakes, like Madison’s Lake Mendota, usually don’t freeze until December and there have been some years when Lake Mendota isn’t frozen till Christmas time. But, Lake Mendota is 10,000 acres, over 80 feet deep, and has some current running through it from the Yahara River that enters and exits the lake. A smaller lake, such as Madison’s Lake Wingra, will freeze weeks and even a month before some of the other area waters because it is only 345 acres, has a depth of roughly 15 feet, and only a little flow from Murphy’s Creek.

There also are waters, like Lake Wisconsin, which is actually a flowage much like the Petenwell and Castle Rock Flowages, which are actually impoundments of the Wisconsin River. These lakes or flowages have dams at both ends that control the current and flow throughout the year. The current is less during the winter months, but never worth the risk of ice fishing over its deeper water. The point is that most lakes in southern Wisconsin are open for fishing throughout the month of November. When fishing late in the season, try to find any green weeds because these are fish magnets this time of year. Read more »

Library Fundraiser Scheduled

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/5/09

One day only – huge sale of all things Christmas: Hallmark ornaments, Coca-Cola, Santas, trees, collectibles and more. Sunday, November 15, 11 am to 4 pm at the Lodi Area Middle School, 900 Sauk St. Lodi.

All proceeds go to the Peg Hilliker Memorial Endowment Fund at Lodi Public Library.

Farmer’s Market Wraps Up Season

Rating 4.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/4/09

The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market wrapped up its 2009 last Friday. The market had a great year and would like to extend a hearty thank you to all who attended or vended. We are already looking forward to next year!

Rob Nurre looks into his 1900's apple press while Gavin Schroeder (son of Larry Schroeder, regular market vendor) turns the handle to "squish" Hazard's (regular market vendor) apples into juice. (Photo by Cindy Miller)

Ice Age Trail Extends Thanks

Rating 4.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
11/3/09

Dear Friends of the Ice Age Trail,

Ravine behind the Lodi Schools prior to bridge construction

Thanks to all of you who helped out this past weekend on the “Roctober” Wildcard Weekend project.

Over 80 volunteers build tread, trail, rock walls, bridge bracing, a camp site, trail reroutes, moved about 100 wheelbarrow loads of gravel, and installed posts with signage!

Thanks to you, they were well-fed and slept well, energized to accomplish a ton of great stuff! The bakers, cookers, cleaners, servers, sweepers, counters, and register-ers supported all that work.

The (mostly) completed bridge project

From Ron Wolf’s first presentation to our chapter to Al Trienen’s first holes for the poles and footings to Tim Malzahn’s nailing the last yellow blazes and IAT shields on the trail posts, many of you have given you time and talent to see this dream come true. Thank you!

In the next few months the Lodi Valley Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance will be coordinating with all our partners a celebration and dedication of the bridge. Before then, some landscaping and cosmetic aspects of the bridge still await completion. But right now, if you want a premier experience, hike through the city of Lodi on up past
the golf course, and out through the prairie above the middle school, along the newly worked trail tread down around the school’s orchard to the bridge. Enjoy the results of your hard work!

See you one the trail.

Bill Beers
IAPTA Lodi Valley Chapter Coordinator
608-963-1625
williambeers@verizon.net