Lodi WI | Lodi Valley News

Town of West Point 2009 Citizen of the Year

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, Wisconsin
July 17, 2009

Patti receiving her award from Town of Westpoint Chairman Dean Schwarz

West Point – The West Point Area Historical Society and Commission is pleased to announce that one of its founding members, Patti Schuknecht, was recently awarded the Town of West Point ’s 2009 Citizen of the Year award during a ceremony at the town’s monthly board meeting on Wednesday, July 8th, 2009. A certificate recognizing the contribution Patti has made to the Citizens of the Town of West Point and to all who have an interest for the history of and the genealogy of former residents of the West Point area, was presented.

Patti was one of the driving forces behind organizing and instituting the West Point Area Historical Commission and Society. Patti and her husband, Bob, live on Chrislaw Road . http://www.townofwestpointareahistoricalsociety.org/.

Lodi Area Needs Network (LANN)

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/16/2009

We are Jon & Chris Plumer. We own and operate the Karate America karate school here in Lodi. We have recently formed a charitable organization called the Lodi Area Needs Network or LANN. What we plan to do with LANN is organize periodic
food drives to help supply the local food pantry here in Lodi. Our other main activity will be to host an annual Thanksgiving dinner for those who either can’t afford to, have no family in the area or for elderly folks who are not capable of preparing such a mean any longer. We will also be offering delivery that day to older folks who are unable to join us. Paster Mike Lee has so generously offered to let us use the kitchen and dining area at First Luthern Church on Pleasant Street. What we are in need of is donations for food and help in getting the word out to those in need. We’re hoping to have them call with reservations so we have some idea of how much food and help we’ll need. Please contact us if you can help in any way.

A Market – A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Goldie The Chicken visits Lodi Valley Farmers Market

7/15/2009
Lodi, WI Wisconsin

By Gail Lamberty

Last Friday’s Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market was your chance to “Talk to the Animals.” In conjunction with the Lodi Fair, we thought we might have some critters join us for the afternoon. Many folks stopped by the market table to chat with Two Toes, Flap Jack, Goldie and Peanut. The chickens and the pygmy goat at the market stole the hearts of big and little kids alike.

Two Toes, Flap Jack and Goldie are 8 week old chicks with glorious plumage. The “chicken whisperer” was there to reassure them there were there to be admired for their beauty. The chicks seemed to like the pretzels almost as much as Will and Tyler their handlers for the day. Pam, our master gardener, raided her own chicken coop to give them a day at the market. Many thanks, Pam, to you and your grandsons. Read more »

Fishing Has No Boundaries and the Take an Adult Fishing Event

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Nice Smallmouth Bass

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/14/2009

This past weekend was the fourteenth annual Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) event for physically challenged and disabled individuals. FHNB was started in 1986 in Hayward, Wisconsin and now has over two dozen chapters nationally in 23 states. There are Wisconsin chapters in; Hayward, Eagle River, UW-Oshkosh, Chippewa Valley, Madison, and Fond du Lac.

Fishing Has No Boundaries took over Governor Nelson State Park with almost 100 participants and over 300 volunteers who are the one’s who make this great event possible. The participants pay a nominal fee with a portion of the fee going to the national organization for the development of new chapters. The disabled anglers get two days of fishing and fun on the water with experienced guides and anglers, boats and pontoons that can accommodate wheelchairs, bait, boxed lunches and beverages for two days, adaptive fishing gear for those who need it, safe dock loading, FHNB hats and T-shirts, and fish cleaning. After Saturdays fishing, the Yahara Fishing Club puts on its fabulous fish fry for all the participants and volunteers using many of the fish caught that day. Read more »

Property Assessments in a Declining Market

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/14/2009

FROM: WI Dept. of Revenue website http://www.dor.state.wi.us/ – July 10, 2009
Property Assessments in a Declining Market

Everything I read and hear in the news media tells me housing values have dropped over the past year so why hasn’t my assessment dropped?
Wouldn’t my property taxes go down if the assessor lowered home values in our community?
The family across the street was foreclosed on by the bank who sold their home for a lot less than the assessed value. Isn’t that proof my assessment should be lowered?
Why am I paying taxes on an assessment that’s higher than my property is worth? Read more »

A Market – A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Is that Larry beneath the Hat?

Lodi WI, Wisconsin
7/8/09

By Gail Lamberty

The wagon came and circled. It wasn’t followed by war whoops or shooting. It was surrounded by generosity and kindness instead.

Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market and the Lodi Area Food Pantry have been partners for a number of years in providing fresh produce to the elderly, shut-ins and those among our community who are experiencing rough times. Donations from the market on Friday are stored in two coolers in the market barn and distributed on Saturday am. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Gary's New Puppy

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/7/2009

My New Roommate and Companion

Many of you readers have sent me wonderful and heart-touching letters and emails over the years when I have had to put a dog down and more recently when my last Labrador, Bo, passed away last December. Dogs and their stories, many of them sad and tear-jerking, strike a common bond with many people from many different walks of life in today’s world.

I have written about my Labs and their escapades both good and bad over the last two decades. My dogs are my family and only dog owners can feel the heartache and joys that they bring to you in a life that is way too short. Throughout all my writing, stories about losing a companion bring me more emails and letters than anything that I do in the world of the outdoors. Dogs of all breeds and kinds are a common thread between so many of us. Losing a life-long pet is one of the worst things that can happen to a dog owner and brings all of us to tears when facing this terrible time. You never completely get over the loss of a dog that you have raised and spent year’s together hunting and enjoying the outdoors. The bond is a strong one and many who don’t have dogs don’t understand this powerful relationship. Read more »

Lodi’s Dynamic Duo

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi Valley Farmers Market Fridays 2pm to 6pm

7/6/2009
Lodi, WI Wisconsin

Lodi Area Food Pantry + Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market = One Fabulous Dynamic Duo for Lodi.

Last Friday at the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market, donations and vendors filled two huge coolers with fresh produce for the elderly, shut in and folks in need for the Lodi Area Food Pantry. That alone is outstanding generosity and only in Lodi can the story get even better!

For a mere $10, you can buy a very classy market bag. Last Friday Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market /Lodi Area Food Pantry bags were introduced as a fund raiser for the market and the pantry. Read more »

A Market – A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/1/2009
By Gail Lamberty

When we scheduled the “get grilling” market for Friday June 25^th were not thinking of grilling our own hides. It was a scorcher! Never to be called “wimps” our vendors showed up in good spirits with garden goodies galore! The first beans and (probably) the last asparagus were at the vendor booths. As always, you can get the expected and unexpected at the Lodi market. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Hanson's 52" Madison Chain Muskie

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
6/30/2009
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

Understand Fish Movement Through the Seasons for Success

Last week’s hot weather has raised local water temperatures to mid summer temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees. The warmer water has allowed all fish species to finish their spawning and recuperate for the rigors of this annual ritual. Even the last fish to spawn (largemouth, catfish, bluegills, and sunfish) are recovered and feeding heavily in local lakes and rivers.

What warm water, weed growth, and post spawn fish when all put together mean that fish are active, aggressive, and hungry. The metabolism of fish has been raised and most fish must regularly feed just to maintain their weight. The young fish of the year are trying not to be eaten themselves while feeding non-stop for their own growth. If you can now find fish, they should be willing biters! Read more »

BioBlitz Summary Gibraltar Rock

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
6/23/09

A wide variety of citizens enjoyed the BioBlitz event at Gibraltar Rock Natural Area.

Approximately 20 citizens joined six biologists for the “BioBlitz” held at Gibraltar Rock on Saturday June 13^th. Although the biologists are still finalizing their reports, they were very happy with the results of their species inventories. The DNR-owned Gibraltar Rock and adjoining private lands (with landowner consent) were surveyed for plants (including lichens) and animals (birds, mammals). Citizens from the area were invited to join the biologists as they undertook their species surveys.

Gibraltar Rock and adjoining lands houses a variety of habitats, including deep woods, meadow, prairie remnant, shrubby field, bluff face, woodland edge, and leatherleaf bog. This variety of natural communities provide habitat for a wide diversity of plant and animal species. A total of 58 bird species were identified at the site. The DNR ornithologists (bird specialists) Mike Mossman and Sumner Matteson did the breeding bird survey starting at 5am. Mossman reported, “Most unusual breeding birds were Acadian Flycatcher (state-threatened) and Broad-winged Hawk (common up north but in southern WI breeds only in large upland forest tracts). Overall, we found a good complement of forest interior and generalist birds (e.g., Broad-winged Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker) a good community of shrub-loving species in the old fields and woods edge (Alder Flycatcher, Blue-winged Warbler, Field Sparrow, Black-billed Cuckoo, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee), and a few open-country and grassland obligates (Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow). A good mix of birds responding to a good mix of habitats embedded within a pretty healthy landscape of forest, shrub habitat and agriculture. Read more »

Teenagers & Sex: Slow Down Your Son or Daughter

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, Wisconsin-5/11/09

How did your parents talk to you about sex and intimate decision-making? Do you remember those awkward conversations often referred to as “The Talk” (if your parents even had the “The Talk” with you at all)? What if you could have a truly effective and meaningful conversation with your teen – AND know your teenager is actually listening?

As a parent, you know today’s teenagers are exposed to much more sexual imagery and pressures than you ever imagined at their age. You know more teenagers are engaging in high-risk behaviors (such as oral sex) at alarming rates. Even if your child has not participated in any sexual activity, his or her peers have – which means your teenager is hearing about sex from other teenagers (not a good source). Read more »

Ferry Tourism Season Celebration

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI-5/6/09

Tourism Season Kickoff at Ferry Park, Lodi, WI

Help us celebrate the opening of the 2009 Tourism Season in Columbia County

Ferry wayside,
Highway 113, Lodi
Saturday May 9, 2009 • 11:00am

Come have Lunch and Cake with us then hop on the Ferry for a scenic ride across the Wisconsin River

Pick up your copies of the 2009 Columbia County Travel Planner, the 2009 Sauk County Travel Planner, and other Columbia & Sauk County information.

COME HELP US CELEBRATE!

www.TravelColumbiaCounty.net

Can I Kiss You?

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI-5/1/09

Mike Domitrz nationally renown speaker on healthy dating and consent will be
speaking at Lodi High School on Tuesday May 12 from 10:15-11:15am. Through a
community education grant, Hope House was able to co-sponsor Domitrz’s “Can I
Kiss You?” assembly and Train the Trainers student leader program in 3 Columbia
County High Schools. Community members are welcome to attend, we just ask that
you RSVP to Jess at Hope House, 608-356-9123. To learn more about Domitrz’s
programs, please visit www.canikissyou.com.

A Market-A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI-4/29/09
by Gail Lamberty

Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market opening last Friday created quite a “stir.” I’m not sure if it was the whirlwind of weather, the friends’ reunion, the one hundred tree give-away, the garage sale treasure hunt or the simple springtime delight. My vote would go to all five options.

Larry the Leek

I had been promised a warm welcome to the market family by Lyn, Beverly and Gary. They weren’t kidding–80 degrees in late April moves it to the almost hot level. Most impressive was the welcome from vendors and friends of the market. They took me in like a member of the family. I noticed that gracious hospitality is not reserved for me alone. Everyone coming to the market is treated that way. Vendors are more than helpful to the shoppers. Conversation and information are attached at no cost.

Each market is special in its own way, but this Friday May 1st we’ll be “bringing in the May” with the annual May Day market. May Day makes me think of flowers and frolic. Flowers and bedding plants along with the usual items will be waiting for you Friday afternoon.

Is there any other farmers’ market that is going to the dogs? In Lodi we do it proudly. Two-legged and four-legged critters from the Lodi Veterinary Hospital will stop by around 4:00pm to invite folks to join the Doggie Dash on Saturday to raise funds for the hospital‘s Second Chance Fund.

Speaking of second chances, do you think my love Larry the Leek (or is it Larry the Leaker) deserves a second chance? He stood me up last Friday. He was a no show. Once again people admired his visage on the poster. He really is becoming more than popular according to the comments I hear. I don’t know about him. Do you think Larry the Leek might show up this week to dash with a dog or dance around a Maypole?