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1/32

VOL. 121, NO. 48 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 SINGLE COPY PRICE: $1.25

www.MiddletonTimes.com

Inside this issue:Local: Fashion: Sports:

City council honors

Boehmke. Page 3Plus-size boutique open at

Cayuga Court. Page 8Girls basketball has big

plan. Page 16

Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6- 7

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Times-Tribune photo by Matt Geiger

Rebel with a blogLocal photographer Derrick Look lined up the perfect shot of blogger Jessica Brant in front of the MiddletonDepot recently. Brant is a self-described candy-loving vegetarian who writes on www.unassumingrebel.com about80s pop music, old-school hip-hop, puns, glitter, fairy tales, big cities, date nights, international travel, Indian food,mind-bending movies and the sound of wind through trees. Creative Look Studios is located at 1835 Parmenter St.

City budget hearingtakes place next week

With the deadline to finalize the

2014 budget quickly approaching, cityleaders continue to grapple with ad-

dressing financial constraints and sus-taining programs.

Recent Middleton Common Councilmeetings focused on determining 2014

priorities within the limitations of thecurrent economic climate.

The need to balance necessary citymaintenance costs, support community

projects, and finance numerous con-struction plans strained officials strug-

gling to decide what objectives aremost essential for Middletons prosper-

ity. The result, according to the latestnumbers, will likely be another mill

rate increase for local taxpayers.Local issues such as weekend bus

operation, sidewalk and road recon-struction, as well as youth program-

ming all faced the chopping block.While conversations surrounding

budget priorities emphasized the im-portance of protecting city services,

how leaders would preserve publicamenities, move forward with con-

struction, and maintain programming

Terms of four alders,mayor expire in spring

In December, nomination papers can

be distributed for Middleton alder-

manic districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 as well asfor the mayors seat.The mayor serves a three-year term

and the district representatives servetwo-year terms. While nomination pa-

pers are distributed in December, the

elections will be held in spring 2014.Incumbents are Mayor Kurt Sonnen-

tag as well as alders Gurdip Brar (Dis-trict 2), Jim Wexler (District 4), Susan

West (District 6) and Mark Sullivan(District 8).

Even numbered districts are electedin even numbered years and odd num-

bered districts are elected in odd num-bered years.

Nomination papers can begin to be

distributed and completed in Decemberand must be turned in by the January 7,2014 deadline at the City Clerks Of-

fice on Hubbard Avenue. In order to

Behind Gods Back a powerful debut

Growing up in Milwaukee, en-

sconced in an ethnic neighborhood,

Miki Knezevic heard the stories. Her

parents were immigrants from former

Yugoslavia before two wars engulfed

the world, yet still, there were the sto-

ries.

Milwaukee is big on celebrating

ethnic diversity, through festivals,

dance, music, folk fairs, and I was al-

ways in contact with people who have

come here as refugees after every con-

flict, she remembered.

One woman in particular piquedKnezevics interest, an inspiring rela-

tive born in 1899 who had lived in Bel-

grade.

Her stories and others sat for

decades, finally breaking forth in

Knezevics debut novel,Behind Gods

Back. This epic work of historical fic-

by FRANCESCA MASTRANGELO

Times-Tribune

by KATHERINE PERRETH

Times-Tribune

by RALPH ZAHNOW

For the Times-Tribune

See BUDGET, page 26

See FORMS, page 14

See GODS, page 29

Tax rate expected to rise 8.44%

Those who wish to run

for office can circulate

papers in December

Miki Knezevic will read from

Behind Gods Back on

Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.

at Alicia Ashman Library

Feeding those in needMiddleton Outreach Ministry

(MOM), an area non-profit working toprevent homelessness and end hunger,

continues a heartwarming and impor-

tant initiative this Thanksgiving sea-

son.

During three separate events, MOM

is distributing all the goods needed to

celebrate a traditional Thanksgivingmeal.

On two separate Wednesdays the

weeks before Thanksgiving, MOMs

Mobile Food Pantry took a truck filled

with Cornish hens, fresh produce, and

Thanksgiving dinner items to Voss

Haus and Segoe Terrace, where nearly100 low-income and mobility-chal-

lenged residents of these two apart-

ment complexes were treated to a free

See NEED, page 29

Miki Kneze-vic, left, will readfrom BehindGods Back onWednesday, Dec.

11 at 7 p.m. atAlicia Ashman li-brary branch.

Times-Tribune photo

by Katherine Perreth

A public hearing on the

2014 budget is scheduled

for Tuesday at 7:35 p.m.

at Middleton City Hall


2/32

Trash pick upRemember that all items of trash set

out for collection must be in the pro-vided carts. Items placed at the curb

outside of carts will not be picked upand are a violation. Large items can be

broken up and placed in the cart oversuccessive weeks. Call Pelliteri Waste

Systems 257-4285 in advance toarrange for pickup of large items that

wont fit into carts or make otherarrangements. There is a charge for

this additional service.

LeavesPlease place leaves and branches on

the terrace (the space between thestreet and the public sidewalk) and not

in the street where they block thestreet, clog storm sewers and feed the

lake algae.

Snow removalPlease remove snow and ice from

sidewalks, handicap ramps to the street

and fire hydrants within 24 hours fol-lowing the accumulation. Snowshould be removed from the full width

and down to the surface of the side-walk. Ice is to be sprinkled with salt,

sand or a combination of both until itcan be removed. Do not put snow or

ice into the adjacent street.

Snow must also be removed fromaround a fire hydrant down to 4 below

the lowest outlet by the adjacent prop-erty occupant/owners. Note that it is

not necessary to dig down to groundlevel as the connecting fire hose will lie

atop the surrounding snow.

Hall closedMiddleton City Hall will be closedon Thursday, November 28 and Friday,November 29 for Thanksgiving. We

will reopen on Monday, December 2 at7:45 a.m.

PAGE 2 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013

Times-Tribune photo by Jeff Martin/JMAR Foto-Werks

A late autumn sceneSure, it feels like winter this week, but technically it is still autumn in

Middleton. It wasnt long ago that photographer Jeff Martin captured thisimage of a bigtooth aspen on a windy day in the Pheasant Branch Conser-vancy.

Fall, winter

reminders for

city residents

See TREE, page 9

The Downtown Middleton Business

Association (DMBA) will be sponsor-ing an Open House and a Tree Lighting

event on Saturday, November 30.The Open House will go from 10

a.m. to 5 p.m. To end the day, there willbe a Tree Lighting from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

at City Hall, 7426 Hubbard Avenue.The day will start with many of the

businesses offering hot chocolate,treats and specials for your holiday

shopping. The DMBA will sponsor

City hall tree

lighting is

Saturday


3/32

At the latest Middleton Plan Com-

mission meeting the city moved for-ward on a couple proposed

developments.There will be a discussion with a

public hearing on a proposed ordinancefor creating a conservation subdivi-

sion. This ordinance would affect thedevelopment of the proposed Pleasant

View Ridge subdivision. There willalso be a public hearing for a condi-

tional use permit local businessmanBuzz Menz needs for converting aproperty of his into a boat building

school.The conservation subdivision ordi-

nance spells out the procedures for fu-ture land development in the city. It

would play a key-role in the outcomeof the 164-acre Pleasant View Ridge

subdivision. In mid-September thecouncil approved annexation of theland while insisting that the approval is

in no way an approval for any furtherdevelopment.

The decision sparked public outcryand comments from environmental ad-

vocate organizations. The neighbor-hood would use community and

individual septic tanks despite countyofficials strong efforts in recent yearsto prevent any new developments from

utilizing septic tank systems. Theclaim is that they give way to sprawl

because they are free from routing tocity plumbing.

This makes developers less likely todo in-fill or rebuilding as it is often

more costly, claim critics. There arealso concerns that septic tanks may

leak hazardous materials and chemi-cals into the Black Earth Creek water-

shed.Middleton planning director Eileen

Kelley noted the ordinance may needmore review.

We might as well, agreed Mayor

Kurt Sonnentag. It could not hurt.The commission voted unanimouslyto set a public hearing and refer the or-

dinance to the Public Works Commit-tee, Water Resources Management

Commission, Sustainability Commit-tee, and Parks/Recreation/Forestry

Commission. The hearing is set forTuesday, December 10 at 7:15 p.m.

Approval of the ordinance would be

contingent upon whether it endurespublic scrutiny as well as the revisions

and approval from the various boardsand committees.

Another public hearing was set for aconditional use permit Buzz Menz

hopes to attain so he can establish aboat building school on his Middleton

property.Mr. Menz has explained to me that

as he eases into retirement he has ahobby with boat building he wants to

expand and teach other people how tobuild these boats, said Mark Opitz, as-

sistant city planning director. He

wants to do a 720 square foot additionto the garage.The hearing will take place the same

date as the ordinance hearing on Tues-day, December 10 at the time of 7:05

p.m.

Dane County executive Joe Parisisigned the countys 2014 budget Nov.

20. As he inked the $509 million pack-age, he declared it creates opportunity

and stability for children from birth toadulthood.

Parisi made no vetoes. The Dane

County Board adopted the budget onNov. 18.

The county board has adopted abudget that embraces the future, said

board chair John Hendrick, increasingsustainability and decreasing racial dis-

parities. We will continue addressinghomelessness, promoting public safety

and cleaning up our lakes and

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 3

CC ITYITY GGOVERNMENTOVERNMENT

City honors Boehmkes contributions

At last weeks Middleton Common

Council meeting, the City of Middletonremembered Louan Mike Boehmke,

who passed on November 18.A Milwaukee native and graduate of

the NW Institute of Medical Technol-ogy in Minneapolis, MN, Boehmke

made her mark on the Good NeighborCity by serving as a charter member of

the Volunteer Middleton EmergencyMedical Service (MEMS). Boehmke

continued on as a regular MEMS

backup for 27 years and often re-

sponded from her home or job to fill

the first or second ambulance crew.She was a cornerstone during the

first chapter of MEMS, serving as a

mentor for many and a friend to all.She humbly donated her time and sup-

port to the MEMS organization and ex-emplified all of the compassionate

traits of the emergency medical profes-sion, stated Mayor Sonnentag. She

helped preserve life, alleviate suffer-ing, promote health and safety in the

community and show respect forhuman dignity.

The City honored Boehmkes mem-

ory by issuing a proclamation declar-

ing November 21st to be LouanMike Boehmke Day.

In the City of Middleton, and we

urge all Middleton area citizens tohonor her memory as a trusted public

servant for the community while wepass along our condolences and well

wishes to her family and friends. Wejoin them in mourning the loss of this

great life which was lived in the truespirit of the Good Neighbor City,

reads the City proclamation.

Decisions made by the Common

Council at last weeks meeting:

- The City approved a purchaseagreement for the Department ofTransportation site for the Municipal

Operations Center. The DOT is sellingthe property as is and the staff be-

lieved that an environmental study isnot needed to necessitate the purchase.

A Park and Ride maintenance agree-ment with the DOT was also approved

as an appendix to the aforementionedpurchase agreement.

- The Council considered a redevel-opment site access concept which

would link High Point Road with the

property north of the railroad tracks

and west of the Highway 12 Beltline.Developer Jeff Kraemer expressed in-terest in building a multi-family hous-

ing development at this location. Whileno construction plans were made on

Tuesday, City Administrator MikeDavis urged the Councils approval so

that this project can be added in withthe 2014 Terrace Avenue Project fund-

ing.- A request to fill the vacant Public

Works Engineering Technician posi-tion was approved.

Plan commission sets hearings on development proposals

by FRANCESCA MASTRANGELO

Times-Tribune

by CAMERON BREN

Times-Tribune

by JOHN DONALDSON

News Publishing Co.

CCOUNTYOUNTY GGOVERNMENTOVERNMENT

County exec Parisi signs

the $509 million budget

See COUNTY, page 28


4/32


GG IVINGIVING

Want to

helpthose

in need

over theholidays?

When most Middletonians think of

the holidays, their thoughts tend to veertoward warm memories of family shar-ing a spectacular home-cooked meal,

and of course, gifts spilling out frombeneath an ornate tree.

But for many friends and neighbors,the holidays mean something entirely

different. For many, this time of yearcarries an unmanageable financial and

emotional burden. Children and par-ents alike go without gifts, and many

go without food.Middleton Outreach Ministry

(MOM) would like to change that real-ity for hundreds of families in its serv-

ice area, and everyone in thecommunity is invited to help.

Ways to help

Run a Holiday Food Drive. Gather

your friends, family, and collect food

to stock our Food Pantry. Especially

needed this year are hams.

Purchase gifts for a family

through the Sharing Christmas Pro-

gram. Donor individuals or groups are

matched with a family for whom they

purchase gifts. In its 14th year, the pro-

gram matches donors with hundreds of

local families who have successfully

registered through MOM. Each family

will be screened and will be matched

with donors who are willing and able

to spend $50 per family member to en-

sure that each receives something spe-cial for the holidays. Donors may

deliver their gifts directly to the family

with whom they have been matched or

may drop them off at the MOM office

for the family to pick up. Register on-

line!

Assemble a Baking Kit. Include

your favorite Christmas Cookie recipe

and all of the ingredients and tools

needed to bake them. You can bring

your kits to the Distribution Center

during their regular business hours. A

list of kit items and other needed kits

can be found online.

Join MOM at the Creating for

Causes: Holiday Art Fair, which will

take place December 7 & 8, 2013, atthe MOM Distribution Center.

Shop MOMs new Gift Catalog for

all gift-giving needs. Connect your

wish to honor friends, family or busi-

ness associates with a gift that MOM

links to those in need.

Donate Warm Clothing, Linens,

Bedding and Blankets, and other

Winter Gear to the Distribution

Center.

You can find out more about all of

these opportunities and more at holi-

days.momhelps.org.

Meridian donates to MOMEach year the employees of Meridian Group, Inc. have an annual confer-

ence at which they hold an auction for charity. Meridian takes the proceedsfrom the auction and donates it to charities at various locations throughoutthe state of Wisconsin. The auction this year raised over $5,500 all fundedby employees who bid on wonderful items donated by local vendors, with atotal of $1,100 to Prevent Homelessness and End Hunger throughMOM. Pictured: Al Ripp, MOM Executive Director; Diane Sefcik, Vice

President, Kishia Peters, Regional Manager and Josh Dilley, Activity Coor-dinator, all from Meridian Group, Inc.

Thanksgiving givingShurfine Food Centers and Certco sponsored Middleton Outreach Min-

istrys 2013 Thanksgiving Basket Program. Pictured above, Middleton Out-reach Ministry executive director Al Ripp receives an envelope full of checksfrom Stephanie Pederson.

Photo contributed

Photo contributed


5/32

Beginning November 28, theMiddleton Fire Department will be

initiating its holiday fire safetyprogram, Keep the Wreath Green.

To encourage Middleton FireDistrict residents to have a fire safe

holiday season and develop fire safetyawareness regarding holiday

decorations, the Middleton FireDepartment will hang a wreath on the

outside of both Fire Stations. Theprogram will conclude on January 1,

2014.The holiday wreath, decorated with

green lights, will be symbolic of a

holiday season free from accidentalfires related to holiday decorations. Ifthe Middleton Fire Department

responds to a fire attributed to holidaydecorations, a light in the wreath will

be changed from green to red.

Christmas TreesChristmas trees can be a beautiful

symbol of the holiday season.Unfortunately, they can also be deadly.

Do not let this holiday season leaveyou homeless from a fire because you

and your family did not practice firesafety. Here are a few safety tips to

keep you and your family from beinga fire statistic this holiday season:

* Natural trees should be cut flat at

the base and placed in water.* Check for freshness.

* A fresh tree is deep green in colorand has a strong sent of pine.

* The needles of a fresh tree arehard to pull from branches and do not

readily fall from the branches;moreover, the branches should bend

easily.* The trunk of a fresh tree is also

sticky with resin, and when tapped onthe ground, the tree should not

lose many needles.* Trees should be securely fastened

in the holder.* Keep the tree in an area away

from a radiator, fireplace, or other heat

sources.* Place the tree out of the way of

traffic and do not block doorways.

* Because heated rooms dry livetrees out rapidly, be sure to keep the

stand filled with water. Wateryour tree often.

* When the tree becomes dry,discard it promptly. Do not store the

tree on the balcony of yourapartment or near your home

* Never put tree branches in afireplace or wood-burning stove.

Lights* Indoors or outside, use only lights

that have been tested for safety by a

recognized testing laboratory,

which indicates conformance withsafety standards.

* Do not overload outlets. Be carefulhow many items you plug into a

receptacle.* Check each set of lights, new or

old, for broken or cracked sockets,frayed or bare wires, or loose

connections, and throw out damagedsets. Do not use damaged lights.

* Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension

cord* Do not knot or tangle the wires.

* Do not leave lights on unattended.* Use only lights designated for

outdoor use, outdoors.

Fake Trees* When purchasing an artificial

tree, look for the label Fire Resistant.Although this label does not mean

the tree will not catch fire, it doesindicate the tree will resist

burning and should extinguish quickly.* Never use faulty or damaged

electric lights on a metallic tree. Thetree can become charged with

electricity from faulty lights, and aperson touching a branch could be

electrocuted.* Always follow the same safety

tips listed above regarding decorations.

Using these simple rules coupled

with common sense will lead your

family through a happy holiday season

and help prevent a tragedy from

happening in your home. The holiday

season is a time for special celebrations

among families and friends. The

Middleton Fire Department wants you

to enjoy the holiday season safely.

If you have any questions regarding

fire safety, please call the Middleton

Fire Department at 827-1090 and we

will be glad to assist you.


PPUBLICUBLIC SSAFETYAFETY

Town leaders, EMS director work toward new contract

Avoid holiday blazes to help Keep the Wreath Green

Steve Wunsch, city of Middleton

Emergency Medical Services director,updated the Middleton Town Board

last week on drafting a new agreementbetween the town and city to replace

the 34-year-old EMS contract.The existing contract is ancient and

no longer relevant, Wunsch told theboard.

A draft contract was nearly com-pleted but was on a computer that crash

halting further work until the documentcan be restored, he said.

The town paid $182,000 this yearfor EMS provided by the city and the

cost next year should be nearly un-changed, Wunsch said.

The increasing cost of EMS and de-creasing communications between the

town and Middleton EMS has the

board looking at Ryan Brother Ambu-lance Service as a possible provider.

Town Administrator David Shaw

said it is too late to change EMSproviders for 2014 and a little early for

2015, but its better to be early thanlate.

Nothing has been decided yet,Shaw said Tuesday.

Middleton EMS serves the city andtown of Middleton and part of the town

of Springfield. Its annual operatingbudget is approximately $1.5 million

but collects much of its operating rev-enue in user fees paid by individuals

and insurance companies, said Wun-sch.

The three municipalities in the EMSdistrict contribute between 33-40 per-

cent of the districts budget and the

town of Middletons annual contractcontributes about 24 percent of thattotal, Wunsch has said.

As it considers renewing the EMScontract, the town board has talked to

Ryan Brothers Ambulance Service inan effort to control its EMS annual

cost.The towns portion of its EMS cost

is based on its population relative to thedistrict. Board members asked how the

cost would change it if was based onassessed property evaluation or call

volume by municipality.There would be little difference in

cost to the town since assessed evalua-tion and population track closely, said

Wunsch.A bigger change would result if

EMS cost was based on call volume

because of the EMS districts approxi-mate 1,500 annual calls only 132 weregenerated within the town.

While about 55 percent of EMScosts are recovered from users or their

insurers, Town Chair Milo Breunigsaid the cost recovery percentage was

probably higher in the town due to itsdemographics.

We have 18 people in the town inelderly housing. I think that deserves a

little consideration, he said.However, when calculating EMS

expense after netting out revenue fromusers, fewer calls can mean more costs

to the town, Wunsch notes.

Call volume for the two Middleton

EMS ambulances could reach 1,650

this year, but labor and equipment ex-

pense continues when the ambulances

are not in use. Those down time costsneed to be recovered through one basis

or another, Wunsch said.

EMS costs are borne by users and

taxpayers. The city of Middleton sets

costs charged to EMS users. Tradition-

ally, EMS is operated with roughly 33

to 40 percent of its costs paid by tax-

payers and the balance from users, he

said.

Compared to other services, were

on the high end to keep costs accept-

able to taxpayers, he said.

The town would negotiate a new

contract with the city, said Wunsch.

by KEVIN MURPHY

Times-Tribune


6/32


MMUSICUSIC

Ye Ole Madrigal Dinner is fast approachingThe Middleton High School

Chamber Singers and drama pro-

gram are pleased to present Ye OleMadrigal Dinner, Saturday, Dec.

14 and Sunday, Dec. 15, beginningwith Hors doeuvres at 5:00 p.m.

and royal procession and fanfare at5:15 p.m.

You wont want to miss thestrolling minstrels and carolers,

trumpet fanfare, and the royal re-galia sure to warm your spirit this

holiday season! The dinner theaterperformance for the evening would

not be complete without Renais-sance-style music, pageantry, and

the frivolity of this years masqueentitled The Royal Wedding

which highlights a cast of charac-ters from the royal court including

knights, court jesters and royalty!The festivities will take place in

the Middleton High School Court-yard located at 2100 Bristol Street.

The Madrigal Dinner Celebra-tion menu will include Creamy

Butternut Squash Soup with herbbread and whipped butter, Shep-

herds Chicken Vegetable Pie (veg-etarian option available), Apple

Compote, Gingerbread, whole ap-ples and cheese along with coffee

and tea. Tickets for the dinner andtheater performance are $25 for

adults and $20 for students.Madrigal Dinner Reservation

forms can be found at www.mid-dletondrama.org. Tickets are sold

on a first-come, first-served basis.To guarantee reservations, please

return the form with payment byDecember 7. For questions or ad-

ditional information, contact JohnStampen at 831-2252 or at jstam-

[email protected] Middleton High School

vocal program is under the direc-tion of Mr. Tom Mielke; the drama

program is directed by Ms. KendraDando.

At right are Tina Bouril andStephen Kolison in last yearsMadrigal Dinner performance.

Photo contributed


7/32


DD ININGINING

Pasta Nuovo: A place for culinary adventurers

Long before John Marks was exec-

utive chef at Pasta Nuovo in downtown

Middleton, he was a young culinary

student who would intentionally mean-

der through poor neighborhoods on his

way home from work in San Francisco.

I would catch the trolley and pur-

posely walk back through the bad side

of town so I could go into all the shops

in Chinatown, recalls Marks. Idshop for new ingredients all the way

home.

That sense of adventure has perme-

ated Marks life in the business of food,

as he has inhabited the kitchens of in-

timate fine restaurants and large-scale

institutions and resorts. From veal

mouse to Carpaccio with truffles and

black Hawaiian salt, from North Car-

olina to California, he knows his way

around a kitchen.

Sipping the sudsy head off of a rich

amber Autumnal Fire beer, Marks

looks right at home overseeing the re-

cently opened Pasta Nuovo, which of-

fers something genuinely new in a

community known for its glut of food

options, not all of them very good.

His Beef Osso Bucco featuresbraised shanks from local farms laid

over creamy polenta. The Wood

Roasted Chickens poultry aroma min-

gles with the smell of a blazing wood

oven that runs perpetually in the

kitchen. Many types of pasta are made

by hand, as are meatballs and sausages.

The menu is eclectic, including fig

prosciutto pizza and a wide range of

seafood.

A burly chef with an emphatic tenor,

Marks doesnt look like the sentimental

type. But when it comes to the protein

he serves, he is unabashed about his

feelings.

I know it sounds hokey, he says,

but when you cook and eat meat, I

think its important to never forget that

an animal gave its life. Thats why we

focus on locally-sourced, organic in-

gredients, and thats why were so ded-

icated to the whole-animal

philosophy.

Marks takes his food so seriously

that he removed all of the salt shakers

from Pasta Nuovos tables when the

restaurant first opened, in what was a

short-lived attempt to encourage diners

to actually taste their dishes before

dousing them with sodium chloride.

I realize now that it made it seem


Executive chef John Marks at work in the Pasta Nuovo Kitchen. The recently-opened eatery is located at 1900Cayuga Court, Suite 101. It can be reached by phone at 608-821-4700.

by MATT GEIGER

Times-Tribune

Family owned and

dedicated to natural,

local ingredients, PastaNuovo breathes life

into local dining scene

See NUOVO, page 9


8/32


FFASHIONASHION

Whats the big idea?

The average woman in the United

States is a size 14, according to some

studies. So why are most fashion de-

signers seemingly bent on making

clothing that would be snug even on a

Dickensian waif?

Zoe Schuler, owner of Z.Bella Bou-tique, thinks it has a lot to do with a

stereotype.

Something like 67 percent of

women are a size 14 or higher, yet the

fashion industry simply doesnt cater

to those women, she said. I think the

reason is they believe, for whatever

reason, that plus-size women dont

want to be fashionable.

Schuler and fellow shop owner Mar-

vel Felton, who happens to be her

mother, are out to prove the stereotypewrong.

Their goal is to provide women fash-

ionable, flattering and well-made

clothing sizes 12 and up. Z.Bella car-

ries exclusive brands not found any-

where else. The shop has everything


I was always frustrated by the lack of options for plus-size women, saysZ.Bella owner Zoe Schuler. It was as if you always found yourself having todig through some bin of frumpy outfits.

by MATT GEIGER

Times-Tribune

See BELLA, page 26

The people behind Z.Bella

Boutique believe all women,

not just petite ones, deserve

fashionable clothing


9/32

Bundle Up!Tis the season for hats, mittens,

coats, scarves, and even boots! Soon,well be digging out snow pants and

long underwear. Brace yourself for thechilly winter weather by checking out

a few books about outerwear!

Simms Tabacks Caldecott Awardwinning book, Joseph Had a Little

Overcoat, has been delighting readersfor over twenty years. The story is

about Joseph, the owner of a worn-outovercoat. When the coat gets too

shabby to wear, he makes it into ajacket. The resourceful Joseph contin-

ues to turn the ever-shrinking remain-

der of the overcoat into something use-

ful. When hes finally left with just abutton, readers may think theres noth-

ing else to make but Joseph has asurprise in store! Clever illustrations

featuring die-cut holes, each of which

becomes a key part of the illustrationon the following page, make this bookan enduring favorite.

The most recent Caldecott Awardwas also given to a book about outer-

wear; This is Not My Hat by JonKlassen is narrated by a little fish with

a big confession: the hat hes wearingisnt his! He took it from a big, sleep-

ing fish. The little fish knows thiscould spell trouble for him, but hes

convinced that the big fish wont haveany idea what happened to his hat.

Hes sure hell never get caught. The

hat was too small for the big fish any-

way, or so rationalizes the little fish.Meanwhile, readers are clued in to the

approaching big fish. I wont giveaway the ending, but I will tell you that

the big fish swims away with his hat on

his head. Simple text, lots of subtlehumor, and illustrations that flow to-gether like water make this a great

choice for sharing.In Red Knit Cap Girl by Naoko

Stoop, readers are introduced to RedKnit Cap Girl, who lives in an en-

chanted forest with her friends, all ofwhom are animals. The forest is a

wonderful place to live, and there isplenty to see and do, but what Red Knit

Cap Girl really desires is the ability totalk to the moon. With the help of her

owl friend, she realizes that she isprobably too far away from the moon

to talk to it. She has no way to get tothe moon; can she possibly entice the

moon to come closer to her? This book

is charming and thoughtful, featuringrich, natural colors. Good news for

fans of this book:Red Knit Cap Girl to

the Rescue was published on Novem-

ber 5 of this year.

The Mitten by Jan Brett is a classicwinter story about a stray mitten andthe new life it takes on. One by one,

forest animals find the mitten andsnuggle inside. First a mole burrows

in, then a rabbit, a hedgehog, and sev-eral more, including a bear. The final

animal to find a cranny in the alreadyovercrowded mitten is a little mouse,

who just might be the one to stretch themitten past its limits. Bretts signature

detailed illustrations with borders pro-vide hints about the story beyond the

text. Look for additional retellings ofthis classic tale, including Alvin Tres-

selts well known version.


A Thankful

HeartIn October, I led a four week jour-

naling workshop for members of theFirst Unitarian Society (FUS) in Madi-

son. The title of the workshop wasJournaling Your Way to Joy.

Writing has been a huge part of mylife since I was a child. My inspiration

was the Diary of Anne Frank. Early en-tries chronicled the every day happen-

ings of my life, true diary form.For a very brief period I drove my

mother crazy by starting a Three-Di-mensional Diary.

I collected things from special daysto remind me of the event.

We lived in a first floor flat withoutmuch extra room. On top of that, my

mother was an immaculate, clutter-freehousekeeper. The Three-Dimensional

Diary was a very short-lived phase.

Later I wrote more about my feel-ings, journaling to release the ups and

downs of life as a teenager. There werea lot of poems tucked between the en-

tries, mostly about love or lack thereof.I filled volume after volume during

my late forties and early fifties. It wasa time of incredible change and loss.

In a period of several years, my onlychild went to college four hours away,

my mother died after a long battle withcancer, the dog that I loved for fourteen

years died, the rural school that I taughtat, also for fourteen years, closed, and

I divorced my husband and friend oftwenty-six years.

I wrote to reflect, and as a means ofmaking sense of everything that was

happening.It was during that time, that I discov-

ered the healing and empowering prac-tice of gratitude journaling.

One night, I was feeling desperatelysad and lonely. It was almost claustro-

phobic. There seemed no way out.

By some grace, it came to me tomake a list of the people who I loved.

The list went on for pages and pages.I stopped because I was exhausted and

needed to sleep, rather than having ex-hausted the list.

As I closed my eyes to sleep, the ter-rible feeling of aloneness and sadness

had lifted because as I wrote thosenames, the feeling in my heart had

switched to one of gratitude, ratherthan loss.

For many months, I slept with ajournal and pen on my bed. Id wake in

the middle of the night, sometimeswith deep understandings or even

poems that felt like song lyrics. Othertimes, I woke in a panic and Id start

writing about things or people who Iwas grateful for, not just as a list, but

with detailed reasons why.When I was house-sitting in France

for eight months, my days were quitebusy, but my nights were often alone

times. I didnt see the gift in that atfirst, but after awhile, I relished the

times that I had at the dining roomtable, a candle lit and my notebook

open.Being away from everything famil-

iar created a sort of buffer zone aroundme. I felt anonymous and emotionally

safe to write from the depths of my

being and to release what I didnt evenrealize until then, that I had been hold-

ing in.I wrote out healing conversations.

And, most importantly, I owned andfaced the choices that I had made in my

life. It was both empowering and bywriting those things out of me, made

room for more joy.Holding onto old hurts and confu-

sion takes energy. Science is beginningto measure the ways that our emotions

and thinking influence our physicalhealth and quality of life.

When I was preparing for the jour-naling workshop at FUS, I read many

studies about the ways journaling pos-itively impacts our lives. These are in

addition to physical health.Writing occupies the left side of our

brains. That frees the right side to becreative and to make associations.

Research shows that writing helpsto: reduce stress, resolve disagree-

ments, problem solve, clarify thoughtsand feelings, track patterns and trends

and helps keep the brain supple. Jour-naling is recommended for baby

boomers as a means to ward offAlzheimers and other dementia.

Cultivating a grateful heart is an-other healthful practice. When you

combine writing and gratitude, you

have a double winner!Many of the dozen people who were

signed up for my workshop said thatthey enrolled because just making lists

of things they were grateful for becameboring after awhile.

So in the class, we explored moreways to gratitude journal.

Whether you do it in writing, inprayer or meditation, in conversation

or reflection isnt as important as justdoing it. Giving yourself the time and

space to feel the gratitude is key.It doesnt work to just thank and

run. Lip service is show rather thansubstance. To have the healthful and

life-altering benefits, it is important toconnect your head and heart as you

give thanks.Theres a song that goes, If every-

day, could be just like Christmas, whata wonderful world, it would be. Im

not bashing Christmas with this nextstatement. But, I think, that if everyday

could be filled with true thanks-givingwe would have an even more wonder-

ful world. In my experience, a gratefulheart is a happy heart.

I hope that the lists of what you aregrateful for this year, are much, much

longer than your holiday wish lists.Happy Thanksgiving!

by Amanda Struckmeyer

Middleton Public Library

like I thought my food was perfect, he

laughs, adopting his best impression ofa supercilious French accent. But I

just wanted people to taste thei r food

before they salted it.

The shaker experiment was quickly

called off by Marks wife, Trish, who,

along with their teenage daughter,

Cheyenne, make Pasta Nuovo a true

family business.

I love to dance, says Trish, whooriginally hails from Brazil. Thats

why I love my husband: I always eat

well and have plenty to burn off on the

dance floor.

His advice for diners is to become a

culinary adventurer, just like that

young chef who made his way through

the bad neighborhoods all years ago

in the hopes of finding new flavors.Order something you wouldnt nor-

mally try, he says. I guarantee youll

find something you like.

Pasta Nuovo is located at 1900

Cayuga St., Suite 101. It can be

reached at 821-4700.

horse and wagon rides and marshmal-

lows roasted over an open fire from 11

a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Tree Lighting event will begin

with carolers singing outside City Hall

from 4:30 until 5 p.m. The lighting of

the tree will take place around 4:30

p.m., followed by an opportunity tovisit with Santa and have your picture

taken inside City Hall. Hot chocolate

and coffee from Starbucks andsome

treats from Hubbard Avenue Diner will

be served.

Organizers are asking that everyone

bring a canned good for Middleton

Outreach Ministry, in doing so, they

will have a chance to win a family

overnight stay at theStaybridge Hotel

& Suites indowntown Middleton.

The first 200 kids will be given aspecial bag filled with some treats

sponsored by several downtown busi-

nesses.

NUOVO continued from page 7

TREE continued from page 2

CHURCH NOTES

Need something for your

bundle of joy?

Stroller? Toys? Clothes?

Furniture?

Check the classifieds...

you never know what

youll find!


10/32

Local author, Times-Tribune reporter

and mother extraordinaire Katherine

Perreth has been awarded a silver

medal in the Readers Favorite Interna-tional Book Award contest. She was in

Miami over the weekend to receive the

honor, which her book, Making

Lemonade with Ben: The Audacity to

Cope, won in the Non-fiction: Inspi-

rational category.

Lemonades story begins when Per-

reths seven-year-old son, Ben, is

found in a coma. He suffers myriad

disabilities and, later, mental health is-

sues. Yet love wins. Narrated with irre-

pressible humor, this tale culminates

with Bens victorious invitation to

Washington D.C., to represent Madi-

son Childrens Museum at a national

award ceremony.

Perreth said she entered the ReadersFavorite International Book Award

contest on a whim.

I wondered how Id stack up, and

tried, pretty much unsuccessfully, to

keep my hopes in check, she com-

mented. Yeah, I was holding my

breath.

So now I get to say my award-win-

ning book, and Ill never tire of that!

she exclaimed. Or of seeing the silver

medallion on my book it makes me

so happy to have this validation.

Do I want someone to hand me a

medal for writing that book? the

added. Yes, I do believe I do!

Perreth said that even if she had not

won the award, the responses shes re-

ceiving from readers on her website

and in person are making the labor of

writing the book worthwhile.

Its being used as a tool, as Id

hoped it would be. And people are en-

trusting me with precious cargo: their

own hearts, she said. Besides telling

me they didnt expect to laugh so hard

given my subject matter, they tell me

how the book has helped them or will

help others. From explaining their own

mental health challenges to loved ones

and professionals, to telling me they

dont feel so alone, to saying all parents

should read the book, to thanking me

for writing. Thanking me? People are

honoring the sacrifices I made to tell

our story, the sacrifices my family

made, and, really, to be thanked is the

greatest award of all.

I couldnt be happier with the re-

sponses and reviews Im receiving onAmazon, Goodreads, and other sites,

and with the local support from book-

stores The University Book Store,

Mystery to Me, and A Room of Ones

Own, as well as Middletons Prairie

Caf and The Regal Find, she said.

As a self-published author, the chain

bookstores wont carry my book on

their shelves, but they can still order

copies. Any library can too, and the

local libraries in and just outside Dane

county have been phenomenally sup-

portive, ordering copies and having

me speak. Next year, Ill be venturing

farther afield, presenting at the

Wauwatosa Library (my husbands

hometown), as well as in multiple

communities close by.

At her public debut in April at the

Middleton Library, 70 people showed

up. It blew away the librarian and Per-

reth, too.

People from every decade of my

life were there it still makes me

choke up and shake my head in grate-

ful disbelief, Perreth said. The sup-

port from my hometown has been

crucial, giving me kudos and courage,

and I am so thankful I live in the Good

Neighbor City.

So far, she has donated partial pro-

ceeds to Walbridge School, Yahara

House, REACH a Child, and in De-

cember shell be selling and signing to

benefit Middleton Outreach Ministry.

Ben will be there with her, doing what

he does best: juggling, hugging,

schmoozing, and signing books.

In March, Ben and her will bekeynote speaking at NAMI Dane

Countys annual banquet and also do-

nating partial proceeds.

E-versions for any device are avail-

able on smashwords.com; Amazon

carries both paperback and Kindle

versions. Barnes & Noble online car-

ries paperback and Nook versions.

And Im still selling from the back

of my car, she added with a grin.

The perpetual 80 pounds of books

will keep me from fishtailing this win-

ter.

For additional information, visit

www.katherineperreth.com.


Katherine Perreth wins International Book Award

Photo contributed

Award winning author Katherine Perreth, pictured at left with Readers'Favorite International Book Award contest founder Debra Gaynor in Miami,will appear at Creating For Causes, a Holiday Art Fair Benefit for MOMat 3502 Parmenter St., Saturday, December 7, 1 - 7 p.m. and Sunday, De-cember 8, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

by MATT GEIGER

Times-Tribune


11/32

CindyHerbst

Meet Cindy Herbst, Executive Di-

rector and Co-Founder of the RestoringHope Transplant House, a nonprofit or-

ganization that seeks to create a homefor individuals coming to Madison for

bone marrow and organ transplants.A Wisconsin native, Cindy was born

in Door County and lived in severalcities before returning to her birth-

place. While working in the resortbusiness in Door County, Cindy met

her husband, Brian. The couple firstmoved to the Madison area when Brian

became a student at the UW. Cindy hastwo children from a previous marriage,

Eric and Karen, and she and Brian havetwo children together, Stefanie and

Brittany. Cindy also has two infantgrandchildren, Piper and Griffin.

Cindy has spent nearly 30 years ofher life as a Middleton resident. She

chose the Good Neighbor City as herhome because it seemed similar to

Door County: scenic, with a welcom-ing and small-town feel. These feelings

carried over as the main reason behindopening Restoring Hope in Middleton.

We certainly have the best neighbors.Without the city of Middleton, we

would not be open, Cindy proclaimed.Cindy has had several personal ex-

periences that make her a perfect fit asthe Executive Director of Restoring

Hope. She grew up in a family with alot of illness, so she learned early on

how to understand illnesses and becompassionate. She also has pastoral

care and hotelier backgrounds, whichallow her to understand the residents

from both care and customer serviceperspectives.

The idea of starting a transplanthouse first formulated when Cindys

father-in-law was diagnosed with mul-tiple myeloma, a blood cancer, and re-

quired a bone marrow transplant. Afterreceiving the transplant at the Mayo

Clinic in Rochester, MN, Cindy andBrian stayed with her father-in-law at

a large transplant house in the area to

better facilitate his recovery. Thistransplant house set the foundation forRestoring Hope.

Since opening in December 2012,the five bedrooms of Restoring Hope

have accommodated over 40 families.Cindy disclosed that construction plans

are in the works to add on to the house,increasing kitchen space and adding on

11 bedrooms with connected bath-rooms.

The Restoring Hope TransplantHouse is a member of the Middleton

Chamber of Commerce. Cindy person-

ally is affiliated with the Middleton

Lions and Madison Downtown RotaryClub, and also serves on the Patient

and Family Advisory Council for UWHospital.

When she can find the time, Cindy

enjoys traveling domestically, reading,

walking around Middleton and eating

at the variety of restaurants in down-

town Middleton.

Stay tuned to meet more of your

Good Neighbors! In the meantime, if

you know someone who you think is a

Good Neighbor and deserves recogni-

tion, email me [email protected].



Happy to be aliveThe Summit Credit Union Haunted Hustle, a Halloween-themed series of

running events in Middleton each October, is supposed to be a little spooky.But its not supposed to be this scary. Kevin Nelson, above, second from right,dropped to his knees just seconds after crossing the finish line this year. Thenext thing he remembers is waking up in a hospital, the survivor of a heartattack. Luckily for Nelson, Middleton EMS paramedics Tom Landgraf andBryan Adler were stationed just a few yards away from the finish like, thanksin part to extensive planning on the part of marathon organizers. They allreunited on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Middleton EMS station, located at 2020Parmenter St. The first time I met him he wasnt smiling, said Landgrafto Nelsons friends and family, who gathered with race organizers and firstresponders. Im glad to see his is now.

Nelson, who is a 44 years old and is the father of young children, was at aloss for words. I dont even know what to say, he said. Landgraf, Adlerand Nelson are pictured above with Jen Anderson, director of operations forCapitol View Events, which organizes the Haunted Hustle.

By Alissa Pfeiffer

Meet Your

Good Neighbor

Photo contributed

Cindy Herbst co-founded Restoring Hope Transplant House, a nonprofitorganization that seeks to create a home for individuals coming to Madisonfor bone marrow and organ transplants.


12/32

OPERATIONS DIVISIONIn September, Middleton Officers

handled 1,584 calls for service, 609were field initiated, 975 were dis-

patched, issued 415 citations and 74written warnings, made 11 criminal ar-

rests and investigated 37 accidents.In October, Middleton Officers han-

dled 1,454 calls for service, 528 werefield initiated, 926 were dispatched, is-

sued 376 citations and 74 written warn-ings, made 11 criminal arrests and

investigated 45 accidents.Significant Events in October:

Numerous case numbers, weekendof 10/5-6/13, Industrial Park, Thefts:

Numerous thefts were reported occur-ring over the first weekend in October

in Middletons Industrial Park. In mostcases, trailers and vehicles associated

with the businesses were broken intoand items taken.

MI13-6874, 10/06/13, 12:35 AM,6600 block of Century Avenue, Bat-

tery/Attempted Strong Armed Rob-bery: A 22 year old woman reported

she was walking on the sidewalk on thesouth side of Century Avenue, ap-

proaching Branch Street when threesuspects came out of the tree line and

one punched her in the face. She wasstruck in the head area at least two

other times and her coat pockets wererifled through, although nothing was

taken. The suspects then fled into thewoods. No suspects have been devel-

oped, but there are similar incidents inMadison adjacent to bike and walking

paths.MI13-6940, 10/09/13, 1600 block of

Blackwood Court, Burglary: Residentsmistakenly left the garage door open

overnight and the door leading fromthe garage to the residence unlocked.

Overnight, unknown suspect(s) enteredthe house and took a purse and wallet,

including credit cards, cell phones andcash.

MI13-6989, 10/10/13, 10:00 AM,7700 block of Westchester Drive, Un-

lawful Trespass: A woman was up-stairs in her home and heard her dog

barking. She went to the stairs and ob-served a male who she did not know in

her residence. He mentioned some-thing about looking for his dog and

left. It appeared he entered the housethrough the garage door, which was

open.

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENTDuring the month of October, there

were 42 reportable accidents of which

nine were in parking lots. This com-pares to 2012 which had 35 accidents

of which six were in parking lots.Officers assisted on several special

events with traffic control and direc-tion. On the 10/11/13, officers closed

off streets and directed traffic for theAnnual Middleton High School Home-

coming Parade. On 10/13/13, officersassisted with the Annual Gildas Run

hosted by the Middleton Chapter ofGildas Club. On 10/26/13 and

10/27/13, officers assisted with the An-nual Haunted Hustle runs. Halloween

on the 31st had officers assisting withthe Middleton Hills Annual Halloween

Parade. Officers also spent extra patrolhours in residential neighborhoods dur-

ing the Halloween trick or treatinghours.

There were two deployments of thespeed awareness trailer during the

month. In addition, the traffic displaysigns were deployed on several occa-

sions to educate the public about vari-ous traffic laws and activities that

could affect regular traffic route.Approximately 24 hours were spent

on directed traffic patrols during themonth. Sixty- two enforcement actions

were taken: 36 citations for Speedingwith five warnings, eight Insurance re-

lated citations, five Registration relatedcitations, two citations for Seatbelt vi-

olations, one citation each for No Dri-vers License and Operating After

Suspension, and two warnings each forFailure to Obey Sign and Failure to

Yield to Pedestrian. Roadways targetedwere: Hwy 12, Hwy Q, Bristol Street,

Century Avenue, Clovernook Road, NGammon Road, N High Point Road,

Parmenter Street and Pheasant BranchRoad.

INVESTIGATIVE UNIT REPORTTraditionally as the leaves begin to

fall and as the cooler temperatures ar-

rive, the Police Department receivesfewer calls for service. As everyone

prepares themselves for the upcomingwinter months, outdoor activities de-

crease and our citizens spend moretime indoors in the comforts of their

home, resulting in fewer opportunitiesfor criminals. As a result of fewer calls

for service, the Investigative Unit re-views a few less cases during the fall

and winter months. For the month ofOctober, the Investigative Unit re-

viewed a total of 62 cases, approxi-mately 20 fewer cases then in

September of 2013, with 25 of thesecases being assigned to a detective for

further follow up.A summary of some of the cases as-

signed to a detective for follow up in-clude: 4 domestic incidents; 1 battery

complaint; 9 larceny investigations; 3burglary reports; 2 heroin overdoses; 4

fraud complaints.Additionally, as recently reported in

the Times-Tribune , Detective Kakuskemade an arrest of a local resident and

former employee of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District.

After a very thorough and time inten-sive investigation, Detective Kakuske

arrested Middleton resident Todd An-derson on multiple counts of posses-

sion of child pornography. An investi-gation involving Mr. Anderson was ini-

tiated after the Police Departmentreceived some concerning information

from the local school district. Based onDetective Kakuskes investigation and

interviews, Mr. Anderson was arrestedin October and charged with six counts

of possession of child pornography.This investigation is still ongoing.

In October, another significant caseinvestigated by the detective division

came to a conclusion as former St.Lukes Music Director James Alex

Gillespie was sentenced for two countsof 2nd degree sexual assault of a child.

Detective Faust spent a great deal oftime investigating this case from earlier

in the year and based on this investiga-tion, Mr. Gillespie, after pleading no

contest, recently received a one yearjail sentence and 15 years of probation

for his actions.Lastly, a human trafficking case,

which started in late 2011 and early2012, came to a conclusion with the re-

cent plea agreement for Alvin Siller.Mr. Siller received a 20-year prison

sentence for orchestrating a very in-depth and disturbing prostitution busi-

ness involving multiple victims,weapons and drugs. Detective Jessica

Quamme spent countless hours work-ing on this investigation and based on

her hard work and determination, wasable to build a very successful case re-

sulting in the imprisonment of a veryunscrupulous individual.

COURT ACTIVITY

Dane County Adult Criminal Refer-rals: 19 Adults, 46 Criminal Counts, 2

Civil Forfeitures.Dane County Juvenile Criminal Re-

ferrals: 4 Juveniles, 5 Criminal Counts,0 Civil Forfeitures.

CRIME PREVENTION/COMMUNITY RELATIONS

On Tuesday, October 1, Middleton

Police went to the Little Red Preschool

to talk about Halloween Safety to the4k class and gave a tour of the police

car.On Friday, October 4, Middleton Po-

lice went to the Justice for a Cure eventin Madison.

On Saturday, October 5, MiddletonPolice hosted the first annual bowling

event to raise money for the Commu-nity Awareness Fund which supports

all community awareness programs.On Thursday, October 10, Middle-

ton Police gave two kids a ride toschool, which was won in a silent raffle

for charity.On Wednesday, October 16, Middle-

ton Police gave a presentation to all ofGreenway Station on retail theft pre-

vention.On Friday, October 18, Middleton

Police gave a tour of the police stationto the MOMS club of Middleton or-

ganization.On Saturday, October 19, Middleton

Police, along with the Middleton Sen-ior Center and Middleton Ford, came

together to provide a great communityservice for senior residents by prepar-

ing their vehicles for Wisconsins win-ter. The event was held at Middleton

Ford and was dedicated to ensuringthat vehicles were in good operating

condition and letting the owners knowof any potential problems their vehicle

might have.

On Friday, October 25, Middleton

Police participated in the Middleton

downtown trick or treating event.

On Tuesday, October 29, and

Wednesday, October 30, Middleton

Police talked on the news about Hal-loween safety tips for the community.

On Wednesday, October 30, Middle-

ton Police gave several tours of the Po-

lice Department to students from Sauk

Trail Elementary.

If you would like more information

or would like to involve the Police De-

partment in a community presentation

or event, please contact Community

Awareness Officer Jill Tutaj at 824-

7323 or [email protected].


CCRIMERIME

Calls for service are down in MIPDs October Report


13/32

Q: While youve written severalsuccessful books about the Packers,

this one is a little different because you

have a co-author. How did you end up

writing alongside LeRoy Butler?

A: Triumph Books wanted to pairme with a former Packer that not only

had a lot of stories to share, but still hada presence in the state of Wisconsin.

LeRoy Butlers name was the firstone that popped into my head, and I

dont think we could have found amore engaging ex-Packer.

Hes a sensational storyteller, heshonest and hes entertaining. On top of

that, he truly loves the fans and meet-

ing people in general.Butler has an amazing connection to

people for both the Lambeau Leap, and

his role in bringing a Super Bowl titleto Green Bay in 1996. Working with

him was a thrill.

Q: In the introduction you pointout that Butler wasnt just a dynamic

player; he was also honest, account-

able and loquacious. How do Butler

and the other Packer greats whose sto-

ries are told in the book compare to

todays NFL stars in that regard?

A: LeRoy says in the book: I al-

ways mingled with the fans. If youmingle with the fans, the fans will pro-tect you. The only time I wouldnt do

a lot of the stuff was when I was withmy kids because they require a lot of

attention. But if Im by myself, Heyman, fans we can talk. Because you

cant have it both ways. You cant tellsomeone you want them to buy your

jersey and then blow them off.Thats always been Butlers mantra.

He felt the fans that pay his salary, thefans that keep the league running and

buy anything and everything on themarket, deserve answers. And hes

right.When the Packers lost at 0-10 Indi-

anapolis in 1997, most players ranfrom the locker room afterwards like

there was a fire. Butler stayed and tookevery question. He gets it.

Most of todays players believe lessaccess is a good thing. Many feel

theyre above answering questions andtelling the fans what truly happened.

Butler wasnt like that and fans re-spected that. Thats why he remains

one of the most popular players fromthose 1990s Packers.

Q: The book contains a wide rangeof stories, and I think you said you in-

terviewed about 70 sources while

doing your research. How did you de-

cide which memories made the final

cut?

A: I looked for some of the betterstories in team history and tried track-

ing down the key figures from thatgame. It wasnt easy, as many are now

deceased or simply hard to find. But Ithink we did a good job covering all of

the eras in Packers history.I learned a lot myself, the stories be-

hind great games, where players aretoday, and how being a Green Bay

Packer helped so many of them later inlife.

All in all, the book was extremelytime consuming, but fantastically en-

joyable.

Q: Youve written a lot about thisteam over the years. Did you learn

anything new while researching this

book?

A: I did. A lot. LeRoy told somefascinating stories about Brett Favre,

Reggie White, Ron Wolf and others hewas closely associated with throughout

the 1990s.Of Favre, Butler says: Heres why

theyll never be another Brett Favre.

When Brett Favre got there, you hadblack guys playing a game of spades,white guys playing backgammon, the

younger guys playing video games, theolder guys playing hearts. And Brett fit

in with every culture.Hed go over to the brothers and

listen to hip-hop. Hed go over to thewhite guys and listen to country. Hed

go hang out with the hunters, hed gohang with the young guys. There was

no guy that ever did that. Hell, I neverdid that.

He didnt even know how to play

spades, but hed be yelling, I gotnext. He didnt even like hip-hop, but

he would dance to it. He didnt want toget up at 4 in the morning to go hunting

before practice at 9, but he did it. Hedidnt want to go to some of these

functions with us, but he did it becausehe loved his teammates.

Of Reggie White, he said: WhenReggie White got there, our culture

was losing. We had no idea how to win.And I remember Reggie saying he

wanted guys to go to bible study. It was

on Fridays at 6 oclock in the morningand no one wanted to go, of course.Then he wanted to do it an hour before

games at 7 in the morning on Sundays.Now Reggie and I were very close

and I was kind of a clown and Reggiewas pretty serious. And I said, Reggie,

if you want these guys who go to theclubs or hang out, the younger genera-

tion to come to bible study, you haveto come down to their level.

So every Thursday night, every-body in the league goes out, drinks, has

some wings. Just be a guy. So Reggie

went to a watering hole that we wouldalways go to and he never did that. Hell

no. Reggie was in bed at 7 oclock.But he got to that establishment

early, one of the first guys there at like6 or 7 oclock and he stayed until like

9. And the guys, they saw that and now

there was an incredible connection.Well, the next morning, there were like40, 50 guys at bible study. Before that,

he probably had five guys, maybethree-to-five. And thats when I knew

we were a team.Then there were some interesting

stories from other ex-Packers along theway.

I learned that Don Beebe has the ballfrom Super Bowl XXXI and how he

got it. I heard some fun stories abouthow Paul Hornung, Max McGee and

others used to tear it up off the field.Bart Starr told me the biggest mistake

he ever made in his life was returningto coach the Packers in 1975. Bob Hy-

land told the story of how he broke theleg of former Packers coach Dan

Devine.Really, every chapter has something

new and exciting. No matter how muchyou think you know about the Packers,

I think youll learn something elseevery few pages.

Q: When you wrote the AaronRodgers book, it came in the afterglow

of the Super Bowl win. The Mike Mc-

Carthy book came after a 15-1 season.

Have you perceived any diminished ap-

petite for Packers content since, or do

you anticipate that this book will match

the success of your first two?

A: A friend of mine recently said,The Packers have a license to printmoney. And I think that sums it up

perfectly right now. People simplycant get enough of the Green Bay

Packers, and really the NFL in general.When I was a kid in the 1980s (yes,

Im old), you read the paper, watcheda game on Sunday and hopefully Mom

would let you stay up for MondayNight Football. Today, football goes

24-7-365 and it still seems fans areclamoring for more.

So I certainly dont anticipate or be-

lieve the appetite for the Packers willwane. This is one of the most loyal, de-

voted fan bases in professional sports,and even during a 4-12 season like

2005, the passion rages on.

Q: What is your favorite Packersmemory?

A: I grew up a diehard Packers fan,and their journey to the 1996 Super

Bowl championship was something Illnever forget. I could still recite to you

every score, every stat, every key playfrom that season. Their journey in

reaching the NFC title game in 1995,then putting it altogether the following

season was remarkable. The state hadsuffered for three decades with that

team. To now write a book with one ofthe stars of that team and talk to sev-

eral legends from that squad waspretty exciting.

Q: You cover some pretty leg-endary pro athletes, but you also write

about our local high school sports. Do

you need to switch gears when you go

back and forth?

A: Without question. I love highschool sports. Absolutely love them.

The kids are in them for all the rightreasons. They dont make a nickel.

Theyre sacrificing an enormousamount of time. Win or lose, I try to

keep the overwhelming theme andmessage pretty positive when it comes

to preps.Professional sports are the epitome

of big business. Every move, every

play, every game deserves intensescrutiny from media and fans alike.That means a lot of negativity, analysis

and questioning when things dont goright. Athletes and coaches dont al-

ways like that, but its the nature of thebeast.

For a signed copy of Packers

Pride, email Reischel at robreis-

[email protected].


Reischel teams up with Butler for Packers Pride

Photo contributed

People simply cant get enough of the Green Bay Packers, and really theNFL in general, says author Rob Reischel, pictured at right with Leroy But-ler. Their book, Packers Pride, is available now. Reischel is the MiddletonTimes-Tribunes sports editor.

by MATT GEIGER

Times-Tribune

MTT editor talks

about his latest book


14/32

In the 1964 New York Worlds Fair

a six-year-old Kim Stanfill-McMillanstared transfixed at a potter. She knew

one day she wanted to make her own

pottery. At the age of twelve shelearned how to throw pottery andbegan selling her work a few years

later. Now she is sharing her passionwith the community and seeing how

far she can reach out.Stanfill-McMillan is the local entre-

preneur behind Fired Up Pottery. Peo-ple who visit the store can paint their

own pottery, make a fused glass piece,or take a pottery wheel class. The pot-

ter has locations in Monona in the LakeEdge Shopping Center and a new sea-

sonal satellite store neighboring theWilly Street Co-op in Middleton. The

seasonal store will be open in Novem-ber and December only.

It is a really happy, high energy

place, but you can also chill out, saysStanfill-McMillan, giving an accountof the atmosphere, When families

come they say, we have not had sucha good time as a family in a long time

and they might be here for two or threehours creating and nobody has to get

up.She points out if a group wants to

get together they may not have thesame bonding time if they went out to

eat or to see a movie.When your meal is done you have

to leave, but when you are here you cankeep hanging out, says Stanfill-

McMillan.She allows people to bring in or

order food as well, so you wont haveto pass on a meal altogether. Stanfill-

McMillan wants to grow her businessand says a permanent store in Middle-

ton could be her next step.I did not think I could afford to go

out there yet to pay rent on two stores,she spells out, Then I got to thinking,

they have those Halloween Expresses,where you just move into a temporary

location for like 2 months then you dis-appear again.

The store owner says whether shedecides to make the satellite store a

permanent location will depend on her

sales during the two months its open.If our sales are strong enough then Iwill surely be talking to the landlord

and if it is not strong enough thenmaybe we will do the pop-in location

again.The businesswoman chose Novem-

ber and December strategically. Thesemonths tend to be her biggest in sales.

There store attracts Christmas shopperswho want to give a gift they actually

made or painted. Customers can selectfrom a menagerie of clay items. Then

they can choose from a myriad of paintcolors and brushes to create any design

they like. These items are perfect forChristmas gifts that hold a sentimental

value.Kim Stanfill-McMillan wants to her

business to grow so she can share herhobby, but she also wants to make a

difference. There are 12 of us whowork here now, she says, and that

started from zero, it started from justme, in eight years I think that is pretty

awesome.Stanfill-McMillan has also made

giving a primary focus of Fired UpPottery. The store tries to have at least

one fundraiser a week, My real goalis to have one a day but I will take one

a week. When a group holds afundraiser 30 percent of proceeds will

go to the cause. Groups can do this toraise money for their own organiza-

tions or others.If you are reading this thinking you

would like to make a personalized giftfor someone this holiday season, get in

there and start creating. December 15is the latest one can submit their piece

of pottery to be fired and get it back be-fore Christmas.


Fired Up Pottery opens seasonal store in Middletonby CAMERON BREN

Times-Tribune

Photo contributed

It is a really happy, high energy place, but you can also chill out, says Kim Stanfill-McMillan.

run, 20 signatures are needed on nom-ination papers. Signing a nomination

paper does not represent a vote or evensupport - it just gives the candidate the

right to run for office. Past campaignworkers advise getting a few extra sig-

natures in case some are invalidated.200 signatures are needed to run for

mayor. All candidates need to firstcomplete the registration form GAB-1

and declaration of candidacy formGAB-162. Forms are available on the

Government Accountability Boardswebsite at gab.wi.gov/forms or the

City of Middletons website.If you are unsure which district you

are in, detailed maps are available onthe Middleton website as well.

The mayor and city council are Mid-dletons highest-ranking elected offi-

cials. They craft and approved policiesand decide the budget and tax levy.

FORMS From page 1


15/32


NOTHING ELSE HERE -- RITA WILL FILL UP THE REST OF

THE SPACE.....


16/32

The players have changed evenmore than expected.

There will be new lines, rotations,and combinations.

But despite some heavy turnover,one thing wont change inside

Middletons hockey program andthats expectations.

The Cardinals began their yearTuesday night against Beloit

Memorial. And despite a bevy of per-sonnel changes, Middleton will be

aiming high once again.We have high expectations, said

Middleton veteran co-coach Steve

Libert. We expect to compete for con-ference titles and state.

With a large turnover from last

year there will be some growing pains,but we have the capability. We have a

lot of work to do.Middleton went 18-6 last season

and finished second in the Big EightConference at 11-3. The Cardinals

reached the sectional semifinals,before losing to Madison Edgewood.

Middleton has reached the WIAAstate tournament three times in the last

decade. And the Cardinals have fin-ished at or near the top of the league

for more than a decade, now.If Middleton hopes to remain a

force, it will have to find a goalie.

The Cardinals expected to have

standout Max McConnell back for hisjunior season. Instead, McConnell left

the program and is playing with theMilwaukee Junior Admirals.

I did not expect to lose Max,Libert said. As I have said before,

good goaltending can hide flaws. Butat the same time good team play can

cover up for a goalie. Bottom line isthis team will have to develop their

own identity.

Senior Zach Kasdorf and sopho-more Tony Wuesthofen who both

backed up McConnell last season will vie for the starting position.

We play three games next weekand they will each get a chance to

play, Libert said. It will be new foreverybody having a different team-

mate between the pipes.While goaltending is suddenly

Middletons greatest question mark,

the rest of the positions appear in goodshape.

Senior forward Jordan Carey wasMiddletons second-leading scorer last

season, with 11 goals, 15 assists and 26total points. And Carey figures to

headline what appears to be a stronggroup of forwards.

Jordan is the most skilled forward,but needs to develop his ability to sup-

port and use his support this year,

Libert said. If Jordan develops thatability he will be hard to stop.

Senior forwards Brendan Sheehan(3-5-8) and Ryan Dohmeier (4-4-8)

both have some experience and shouldbe poised for big senior seasons.

Ryan and Jordan are better at scor-ing, but Brendan is the guy that creates

turnovers and crashes the net, Libert


Hopes are high for hockey Cards

Gunningfor the top

Many teams across the state would

love the type of girls basketball sea-son Middleton enjoyed last winter.

The Cardinals went 15-9 overall.Middleton was a respectable 12-6 in

the Big Eight Conference and fin-ished fourth. And the Cardinals

reached the WIAA regional finals,where they fell in overtime to

Madison La Follette.All in all, it was a solid season.

But the Cardinals have becomeaccustomed to being more than solid.

Theyve been special.And this years outfit could be

exactly that.Middleton returns the majority of

its key players from a year ago andpicked up a talented foreign

exchange student. Now, the Cardinalsare aiming to move back atop a

league they had dominated for years.That journey begins Friday, when

the Cardinals face Oak Creek theNo. 1 team in the state at 7:45 p.m.

at the Brookfield CentralThanksgiving Shootout.

I think well have some pieces,an understated Middleton coach Jeff

Kind said. We just need to figure outwhere they fit. Whos better at what

role and things like that.Between the 2006-07 season and

the 2011-12 campaign, Middletonhad its most dominant stretch in

school history. The Cardinals won orshared six straight Big Eight

Conference titles and reached theWIAA Division 1 state tournament

five years in a row.Over those six years, Middleton

was a remarkable 94-10 in the BigEight Conference (.904). The

Cardinals also went a stellar 129-24(.843) overall.

This years team has the potential

Middleton has

many questions

to answer

File photo

Davis Bunz and Middletons hockey team opened their season Tuesday night.

by ROB REISCHEL

Times-Tribune

See HOCKEY, page 22

See GIRLS BB, page 23

File photo

Liz McMahon (15) and Middletons girls basketball team are hoping to reclaim the Big Eight Conference title thiswinter.

Follow RobReischel onTwitter at@robreischel

Middletons girls

basketball team

is thinking bigby ROB REISCHEL

Times-Tribune


17/32


Tim Simon was borderline giddy.

And really, who could blame him.

Simon, Middletons football

coach, recently learned that 17 of his

Cardinals received some form of all-

Big Eight Conference recognition.

And after a year in which Middleton

went 7-2 in the league and tied for

second place, Simon knew that his

team was extremely well represented.

Only league champion Sun Prairie

(22) had more all-conference picks

than Middleton.

Overall, Im very pleased,

Simon said. To get 17 on there isreally good.

Middleton senior offensive line-

men Hayden Acker and Jack Mayers,

senior running back Charles Braxton,

senior defensive end Derek Rogeberg,

senior linebackers Matt Hong and

Elliot Tanin, and senior cornerback

Luke Schafer were all named first-

team all-conference.

The Cardinals second-teamers

included senior wideout Derek

Rongstad, junior tight end Mitchell

Herl, junior defensive lineman Chase

Jollie and senior safety Max Oelerich.

Rongstad was also named second-

team at kicker.

Middletons honorable mention

all-conference players were senior

quarterback Kasey Miller, senior

wideout Demond Hill, senior offen-

sive lineman Lon Yeary, junior offen-

sive lineman Derek Ramsey and jun-

ior defensive tackle Nikko Miller.

Acker and Mayers were two major

reasons Middleton averaged 190.8

rushing yards per game and 6.0 yards

per carry.Acker benefitted greatly from

Middletons offseason conditioning

program. And after working as the

Cardinals No. 6 offensive lineman in

2012, Acker became a force at right

tackle this fall.

He met all of our expectations

and was very consistent, Simon said

of Acker. He spent a lot of time last

winter reconstructing his workout

and at first he wasnt sold. But in less

than three weeks, we started seeing

the difference.

Mayers added 20 pounds of mus-

cle between his junior and senior sea-

sons, and played left tackle this fall at

a sturdy 240.

Hes a kid who put the time in theweight room and reaped the benefits,

Simon said. He was a real pleasant

surprise. He has a long frame and

long arms, and when hes locked on

you, forget about it.

Braxton played very little as a jun-

ior, but he erupted with a huge senior

season. Braxton ran for 1,275 yards,

13 touchdowns and averaged 5.8

yards per carry.

We knew he was gifted, Simon

said. But with Charles, it was a mat-

ter of being all in. But he bought in

and he was all in and he had a great

season.

Strength innumbersMiddleton lands

17 football

players on all-

Big Eight teamby ROB REISCHEL

Times-Tribune

See FOOTBALL, page 24

File photo

Middleton senior defensive end Derek Rogeberg (11) was named first-teamall-Big Eight Conference and honorable-mention all-state.


18/32


p rts briefsKiddie clinic

The Middleton High School cheerleading team is offering a kiddie

clinic on Dec. 14. Sign-in is at 2:30 p.m. and the program begins at 3

p.m.

Grades will be split up for one-on-one practice with the MHS cheer-

leaders. All participants will then be part of the halftime performance at

that nights boys varsity basketball game against Madison East.

Pizza and T-shirts are included with the $30 registration fee.

Participants are reminded to wear tennis shoes and shorts and bring

water bottles.

Only personal checks are accepted. They should be made out to MHS

Cheerleading.

Email questions to [email protected].

Dance team teaching routine to kidsThe Middleton Dance Team will teach participants a routine to be

performed at halftime of the boys varsity basketball game on Jan. 4.

Kids will be divided into different age groups and each group will learn

and perform a different routine. The older the kids are, the more difficult

the routine.

Kids will play games, get pizza and fruit, and receive a T-shirt to

wear and take home. Parents will also receive two tickets for admission

into the game.

More detailed information will be e-mailed to registered parents prior

to the clinic. Registration is due Dec. 20.The cost is $30 per child and checks can be made payable to the MHS

Dance Team. Any questions can be emailed to

[email protected].


19/32


All-Big Eight ConferenceBoys Soccer

First TeamPos. Name Yr. SchoolF Sean Surtees Jr. Madison Memorial

F Woo Jin Jeon Sr. Madison WestF Luke Miller Sr. Madison West

M Alex Young Jr. Madison MemorialM Ghedi Omar Sr. Madison West

M Garrett Grunke Sr. VeronaM Sasa Yodkerepauprai Jr. Madison EastD *Jack Hagstrom Sr. MiddletonD Teon Fountain Jr. Madison Memorial

D Trevor Stewart Sr. Madison WestD Kye Hanson Jr. Verona

G Connor Rortvedt Sr. Verona

Second TeamPos. Name Yr. SchoolF Trent McKinnon Sr. MiddletonF Ty Pelton-Byce Jr. Madison Memorial

F Santiago Azcarate Sr. VeronaM Jose Barron Soph. Beloit MemorialM Devin Ott Jr. MiddletonM Jake Wilkins Sr. Sun Prairie

M James Bon Jr. Madison La Follette

D Nick Kielty Sr. Sun PrairieD Kurt Schneider Sr. Madison La FolletteD Keifer Kubly Sr. Madison East

D Zach Thal Sr. Madison WestG Paul Koebke Barsic Jr. Madison Memorial

Honorable MentionPos. Name Yr. SchoolF Joaquin Rodriguez Sr. Sun Prairie

F Alhagi Dukuray Sr. Sun PrairieF Aaron Weber Sr. Beloit Memorial

F Emmerson Kovacs Sr. MiddletonF Ziyad Sultan Sr. Madison La Follette

F Ian Reinicke Jr. Janesville CraigF Hozai Ceballos Soph. Janesville Craig

M Dan Swales Sr. Janesville CraigM Muhammed Jarjue Jr. Madison East

M Dominick Mesdjian Soph. Madison Memorial

M Will Salmon Sr. MiddletonM Jacob Asbjornson Soph. Madison La FolletteM Declan Schlichting Jr. Madison East

M Conlin Bass Jr. VeronaM Alexis Solache Jr. Madison West

M Michael Bliss Sr. Madison MemorialM Casey Thompson Jr. Verona

M Pedro Gonzalez Sr. Beloit MemorialM Simon Weaver Sr. Madison West

D Troy Lipker Sr. Janesville CraigD Jeremy Gottlieb Sr. Madison Memorial

D Quenton Nauer Sr. Janesville ParkerD Tanner Maier Sr. Madison La Follette

D Devin Vandermause Sr. MiddletonD Brady March Jr. Janesville Craig

D Jake Boebel Jr. Sun PrairieG Andy Mengelt Sr. Sun Prairie

G Connor Schlichting Fr. Madison East

G Luis Pedroza Jr. Beloit Memorial

* unanimous selection

Ben Kollasch would have lovedgreater representation.

Who wouldnt?

But even though Kollasch Middletons boys soccer coach felthis Cardinals deserved more than five

all-Big Eight Conference players, heunderstood the process.

The parity in the Big EightConference makes it tougher and

tougher to get players recognized,said Kollasch, whose team finished

the year 12-8 overall. The relativelylow amount of Middleton players

compared to previous years ismuch more a function of the rest of the

league getting better as opposed toMiddleton getting worse.

(Madison) West finished fifth inthe conference standings, but tore

through the playoffs up to the state

semis. The Big Eight is becoming oneof the hallmark soccer conferences inthe state.

As it was, the Cardinals fared justfine.

Senior defender Jack Hagstromwas a unanimous first-team selection

and an honorable-mention all-state

pick.Senior forward Trent McKinnon

and junior midfielder Devin Ott werenamed second-team all-league. And

senior midfielder Will Salmon, seniorforward Emerson Ko

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