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September 2016
of the River Valley
A guide to people & events that inspire, inform and enrich life in the Lower Wisconsin & Sugar-Pecatonica River Basins
Arena ~ Avoca ~ Dodgeville ~ Lone Rock ~ Mazomanie ~ Mineral Point ~ Muscoda ~ Plain ~ Prairie du Sac ~ Richland Center ~ Sauk City ~ Spring Green
Welcome to September
T
hese days are magnificent,
and it feels they may last
forever. Any free afternoon
could mean a paddle on the river or
a wade in the creek if we made the
time, and the evenings are perfect
for al fresco dinners and music.
The farmer’s and gardener’s
work is yielding a glut of bounty,
and the ambitious ones have holed themselves
up in the kitchen preserving colorful
vegetables and fruits in jars, bottles and bags.
It can be easy to get lost in the assembly line
of processing all the late summer has to offer.
The trick is to remember to keep a focus on
the creative process by sewing the seeds of
surprise and joy in those jars to make the stuff
of memory and smiles all winter long.
But there’s much of this season left to
savor. The Iowa County Fair and Wisconsin
State Cow Chip Throw and Festival are back
over Labor Day weekend. As the autumnal
equinox approaches later this
month, we can look forward to the
return of Fermentation Fest — A
Live Culture Convergence — the
first two weekends of October. We
are reminded that the microbiotica
of our nook of the Driftless Area
nourish our plants and flavor the
delicious cheeses, beers, wines,
breads, pickles and sausages that define the
taste and character of our place.
This month’s “Driftless Terroir” column (p.
20) invites us to “Eat the Weeds,” and “Driftless
Dark Skies” (p. 22) welcomes us to “be at home
in the Milky Way.” Above all, lest we lose our
heads in all this magnificence, may this issue
of Voice of the River Valley help remind us, as
Stacey Feiner does on p. 3, to “keep it real” as
we live, learn and pursue our dreams.
Happy reading,
Sara Lomasz Flesch
Inside Voices
Keeping It Real on the Family Farm
by Stacey Feiner............................................3
Between the Lines
by Kathy Steffen............................................4
Living Well, Dying Well
by Mary Friedel-Hunt....................................6
Standing Community Events, Services.....7
Pedagogy Stew
by Marnie Dresser.........................................8
September Calendar of Events...........12-16
Driftless Terroir: I Eat the Dandelions
by Caitlin Hatch..........................................20
Driftless Dark Skies
by John Heasley...........................................26
On the Cover
September’s cover image, titled “River Evanescence,” was taken by Terry McNeill of
Dodgeville early morning this summer from Ferry Bluff, just west of Sauk City. Terry says,
“To me, it depicts the ever-changing mood of the beautiful lower Wisconsin River. I have
had a passion for photography for 38 years capturing images from Afghanistan to Zurich. I
believe southwestern Wisconsin is as beautiful as anywhere in the world.” Thanks to Terry
for contributing to our cover! Terry’s work has been featured in numerous books, calendars
and magazines in the Midwest. He can be reached at terrymc@mhtc.net. To share art or
photography for a future cover of Voice, contact info@voiceoftherivervalley.com.
V
2
Voice of the River Valley is a monthly independent arts and culture magazine
published by Wording LLC © 2016 All Rights Reserved. Circulation is 3,500
copies distributed to more than 160 distribution points in 21 communities across
southwestern Wisconsin. For submission guidelines, advertising options and
rates, and to submit events, please visit our website.
Editor & Publisher: Sara Lomasz Flesch
P.O. Box 745, Spring Green, WI 53588, (608) 588-6251
Founding Publishers: Mary Friedel-Hunt (2006-2012) & Bill Hunt (2006-2010)
E-mail: info@voiceoftherivervalley.com Website: voiceoftherivervalley.com
Printer: Advantage Copying & Printing LLC in Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Thank you,
Advertisers!
Business & Consumer Services
Mary the Tax, 18
Neider & Boucher, 18
Royal Bank, 18
Design Services & REAL ESTATE
Amber Westerman Building Design, 8
Sheila Landsverk, Realtor, 8
EDUCATION, CULTURE & OUTDOORS
Camp Woodbrooke, 8
Cornish Festival, 15
Folklore Village, 23
Pine River Paddle & Tube, 9
Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, 22
Taliesin Preservation, 24
Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts
Center, 16
FARMS, FARM Markets & PLANTS
Mineral Point Market, 21
Spring Green Farmers Market, 21
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Arthur’s Supper Club, 16
Brewery Creek, 16
Crossroads Coffeehouse, 23
Driftless Depot, 23
Enos Farms Harvest Moon Dinner, 12
Freddy Valentine’s Public House, 5
Gray Dog Deli, 16
The Shed, 14
The Shoppe at Herbs, Spices & More, 10
Spring Green General Store, 18
ART GALLERIES, STUDIOS & RETAILERS
43/90 North Earth, 4
A Janelle Creation, 4
aBoBoBook, 4
Arcadia Books, 4
Brewery Pottery, 10
Fall Art Tour, 10
Global View Gallery & Shop, 15
Johnston Gallery, 22
Nina’s Department & Variety Store, 18
The Shoppe at Herbs Spices & More, 9
Spring Green General Store, 18
Spring Green Retailers, 22
Taliesin Preservation, 24
Wantoot, 10
Wildwood Woodworks, 10
Wisconsin Artists Showcase, 22
HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY
43/90 North Earth, 4
Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care, 18
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, 6
Lyrea Crawford, Coherency Training, 6
Elemental Retreat, 6
Greenway Terrace, 9
Iowa County Aikido, 18
Upland Hills Health, 19
Wellness by Intention, 6
HOME & AUTO ESSENTIALS
Center Stove & Fireplace, 9
Hottmann Plumbing, 18
Specialty Auto, 14
Wertz Floor & Home, 11
MUSIC, THEATER & Film
American Players Theatre, 4
Arthur’s Supper Club, 16
Crossroads Coffeehouse, 23
Folklore Village, 23
Gray Dog Deli, 16
Pulaski Music Fest, 13
River Valley Players, 12
The Shed, 14
The Shoppe at Herbs, Spices & More, 10
Spring Green General Store, 18
White Church Theatre Project, 13
PETS & ANIMAL WELFARE
Ocooch Mountain Humane Society, 9
Editor’s Note: Stacey Feiner of My Fine
Homestead writes a weekly newsletter
for her family farm’s CSA members.
This essay appeared in her Aug. 10
newsletter.
B
LUE RIVER—The first week
of August was kind of a blur
to me as I spent several days
in Milwaukee welcoming the newest
member of our family — my niece,
Margot. With her black hair, soft sweet
skin, and ability to make her voice
heard, she’s a lovely melding of my
strong, intelligent, beautiful sister
Lauren and her sincere, always real,
responsible, darkly handsome husband,
Beau. A gentle, yet strong girl, Margot
will be the perfect yang to her alwaysin-motion 4-year-old brother’s yin. She
tested her mother’s patience in labor,
then in the end seemed to arrive ever so
quickly.
With tears in my eyes, I witnessed
Beau’s admiration for his wife’s calm
power and felt joy emanate from Lauren
as she met baby Margot for the first
time. This creature she had so intimately
cared for every moment of the last 40
weeks now in her arms intently gazing
at her while searching for a nipple. The
sun shining through the window seemed
to sparkle just a little more brightly just
then. Margot had arrived. She will rock
her older brother’s world in many ways
in the years to come while enriching it
in so many ways. Starting with choosing
Henrich’s birthday to be hers also!
What a privilege for me to be
present for her arrival and to watch
them make room for her in their hearts
as well as their home. I treasure hearing
Henrich proclaim, “Mom, baby Margot
is the cutest ever!” as he climbed the
stairs to bed her first night home.
It naturally reminded me of the
births of my children, Liam, Marlee and
Aidan, each with its unique story I never
tire of telling. Those big moments, lifechanging and charged with energy, carry
a lot of power. I know they have shaped
me and our family — ultimately how we
move through this life. On the long drive
home to Blue River, it felt satisfying
to get them out of my memory and sit
with them again. I was free-floating
on a cloud of love and happiness from
watching my sister’s family settle into
new routines and remembering doing the
same not so long ago.
Keeping It
Real
on the
Family Farm
by Stacey Feiner
Special to Voice of the River Valley
Courtesy of Stacey Feiner
Rows of promising green and purple bean plants color the 57-acre family farm.
I was welcomed home with hugs
and kisses from my husband, Bill, and
the kids. I felt missed and loved — what
more could I wish for. Bill had even
washed the dishes so the kitchen wasn’t
the disaster I expected! I changed into
my cutoff blue jean shorts and t-shirt to
head out to the fields and get dirty. I felt
my free-floating self become grounded
again as I pulled weeds, picked beans
and tasted my first sun-ripened cherry
tomato of the season.
Farming just keeps it real for me.
Just when thoughts in my head get too
big, I come upon a group of squash bugs
that need to be squished before they
scurry away. I do it, uttering a satisfied
“Ewww!” as I rub the resulting mess off
my fingers. I sit back while yanking out
quack grass because my legs scream from
squatting, and land squarely on a prickly
thistle. As I scramble up and away from
it, I am reminded again to pay attention
to the here and now. The little moments
are important, too. Life is happening all
around me, all the time. I am lucky to be
immersed in it and don’t want to miss
any of it. I want to build more precious
memories and feel more prickly thistles.
Memories and stories carry me through
darker times, and remind me how very
REAL Continued p. 27
3
Between the Lines
“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new
things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us
down new paths.” — Walt Disney
I began a new part-time job working in a local bookstore café.
(Seriously, what’s not to love — cookies, scones, cakes and
books!) I came in with no experience and in several weeks of
intensive training, transformed into a baker/cook. Wow, do
I love it! The interesting thing is my writing hasn’t suffered.
Trying something new has expanded my
creative muscles. I’m coming up with all sorts
of ideas for new books and characters, new
mosaic and sewing projects, new everything!
My job has given me a new spark for life,
creating and enjoying every minute of my day.
It’s something new. Something completely
different. And something inspiring.
According to Mayo Clinic, trying
Kathy Steffen
something new will increase your confidence
and self-esteem, reduce boredom and loneliness, improve health
and prolong longevity. What new thing have you wanted to try?
Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas. If any of these
make you stop and say, “Hey, I’ve always wanted to try that,”
take my advice and do it!
• Take a yoga or meditation class. Keep a journal on what you
discover about your body and internal landscape.
• Take a painting class. It doesn’t matter if you are any good
•
•
•
•
•
•
or not, in fact, it’s like writing a first draft. Paint lousy! Free
yourself from trying to be “good” and you will be, plus the
experience will be much more fun.
Take music lessons and learn how to play an instrument, or
sign up to try some voice lessons and sing your heart out!
The same “good” rule applies. You don’t have to be.
Take a dance, martial arts or archery class. Or any sport you
like but haven’t tried. Try something new, learn what your
body can do and get in shape all in one fell swoop.
Volunteer at an animal shelter, food pantry, home for the
elderly — the list is endless. You will connect to your
compassion and learn something about life and yourself.
Don’t forget to write about your experience!
Try some photography. You (probably) have a phone or
camera. If not, borrow one. Spend a few hours taking “art
shots” of images that catch your eye.
Join a book club. Can’t find one? Start one!
Take a writing, poetry or journaling class. Leave your fear
behind and try it. No one has to ever read what you write but you.
This list is just a start. Try something you’ve always wanted to do.
Don’t think you have time? What is in your life that doesn’t do you
any good? Dump it to make room for some new excitement. Get in
touch with your creativity, and see what happens.
Kathy Steffen is an award-winning novelist and author of the
“Spirit of the River” series: “First, There Is a River,” “Jasper
Mountain” and “Theater of Illusion,” available online and in
bookstores everywhere. She writes from her home in Spring Green
that she shares with her husband and three cats. Find out more at
www.kathysteffen.com.
4
Iowa County Fair Celebrates 160-Year Tradition of Agriculture Sept. 1-5
Courtesy of the Iowa County Fair Board
MINERAL POINT—The first Iowa County Fair was held in 1851
in Dodgeville and moved to Mineral Point in 1856. For the last
160 years, it has been providing agricultural, educational and
entertainment events to people from every town, village and
township in the Iowa County.
The fair draws approximately 12,000 attendees for the
five-day event. Many generations of Iowa County families have
been participating in the Iowa County Fair
and have made it an important part of their
family traditions. It brings together generations of grandparents helping grandkids with
their 4H projects, just as their grandparents
did before them.
The vision of the Iowa County Fair is to promote agricultural
and industrial education to the community. To fulfill this vision,
the Iowa County Fair Board focuses on fostering our local youth
4H groups to give them a foundation they can build on for a
lifetime. The 4H group participants have increased every year,
with new projects and programs. The Iowa County Fair serves
about 500 youth in Iowa County. The 4H participants placeholders receive back approximately $10,000 in premium payments.
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Within 4H, the livestock auction is where the community can
support the local youth with their projects.
4H is a large part of the Iowa County Fair, but in more recent
years, it has been an opportunity for other youth groups and community service groups also. The Iowa County Fair gives fundraising
opportunities to Boy Scouts Groups, Mineral Point Lions, Dodgeville Girls Basketball, Mineral Point VFW, Family Advocates,
Family Resource Center, Knights of Columbus, and Mineral Point
Rescue Squad. These groups raise money by assisting in the operations of the fair, working the gate, free ice cream serving, free
spaghetti supper, parking, grounds maintenance and food and
beverage concession stands. The Iowa County Fair typically pays
out over $14,000 to these groups for services for the five-day event.
These groups then turn these funds around and use them in other
community service functions that benefit Iowa County.
The Iowa County Fair has deep community history, youth
impact and economic impact on our community. The livelihood
of this organization depends greatly on the community.
The fair runs Sept. 1-5 at the Iowa County Fairgrounds, 900 Fair
St., Mineral Point. For gate fees and a full schedule of events,
see iowacountyfair.org.
Visit our calendar online at voiceoftherivervalley.com/events, which is updated throughout the month.
To submit your event to the calendar, e-mail events@voiceoftherivervalley.com.
5
Living Well, Dying Well
M
editation can change your life. I know this to be true,
and last month I spent three days deepening my yearsold practice. Sharon Salzberg comes to Madison quite
often and this is the third time I had attended one of her three-day
retreats. Of all the teachers I have experienced, I find her to be my
favorite. I always come away quieter inside, more committed to my
practice, and feeling more whole.
It is a powerful experience to sit in silence with 140 other
people, especially when we have agreed to do Metta for everyone in
the room. Metta is “lovingkindness” meditation
where a person sitting quietly or even walking
begins by saying to oneself phrases like this:
May I be safe and protected, may I be healthy
and strong, may I be peaceful and calm, may I
live with ease and compassion. One, of course,
can vary these according to their wishes. This is
my version. After we wish goodness to ourselves
(self compassion), we move on to wishing these
gifts to any or all of the following: someone
with whom we have a difficult relationship, a
benefactor (teacher), a good friend, someone in
pain and, finally, all beings everywhere.
Mary
We also practiced mindfulness at the retreat
Friedel-Hunt
where we focused on a primary object: breath,
and Bentley
body if walking, sounds, etc. In all we did this
for probably 12 hours and listened to and learned
from Sharon as she taught and answered questions. The weekend
was inspiring, uplifting, renewing and quieting.
I have been practicing meditation for many, many years and it
does indeed change one’s life. It changes attitudes and responses,
priorities and more. It does not do this quickly and sometimes it is
hardly noticeable, while at other times one gets surprised by how
they react or respond to something in their life. I do know that when
I do not practice, it shows up in my days. I overschedule myself, lose
my center, get more noisy and reactive.
For you who have never practiced meditation, I urge you to
consider learning about it. I know I keep coming back to the subject
of presence, awareness, silence, meditation. I do that because I can
offer you nothing more important than these gifts.
To assist you, I recommend Sharon Salzberg’s books and CDs,
especially “Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation, a 28-Day
Program.” This is a great book for beginners and those who wish to
refresh skills. Other teachers I like include Tara Brach and Jon KabatZinn. If you search YouTube for these names or guided meditation,
MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) among others, you will
be easily able to teach yourself the basics of mindfulness and Metta.
If you are interested in getting your name on the list for the Grief
Retreat Ritual next summer with Francis Weller, send me an e-mail.
We are half full and I have not tapped the Internet. It will go on line
this month.
Mary Friedel-Hunt MA LCSW is a psychotherapist, thanotologist
and certified bereavement counselor. Mary sees clients in Spring
Green and can be reached at mfriedelhunt@charter.net;
P.O. Box 1036, Spring Green, WI 53588; or
www.PersonalGrowthandGriefSupportCenter.com.
6
S T A N D ING C OMMUNI T Y E V E N T S & S E R VI C E S
Sundays Clyde
Sunday Morning Meetings, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
All are welcome to join for an hour of silent
meditation, a Quaker-style meeting, and an
hour of sharing, songs and tea. First Sundays
are potluck lunches. Clyde Community Center,
6281 State Road 130, (608) 532-6365.
1st/3rd Mondays Prairie du Sac
Baby Connections, 9-11 a.m. Breastfeeding
support group with Sauk Prairie Healthcare’s
certified lactation counselor on hand to answer
questions and guide open discussions. Blue
Spoon, 550 Water St.
2nd Monday Dodgeville
Gilda’s Club Cancer Support Group, 6 p.m.
A representative from Gilda’s Club provides
support and information to people facing the
challenges of cancer. Upland Hills Health, 800
Compassion Way, (608) 930-8000, http://uplandhillshealth.org.
2nd Monday Spring Green
La Leche League of Sauk and Richland
County, 10 a.m. Pregnant women, mothers,
partners, children and babies welcome. July’s
topic is the advantages of breastfeeding. For
more information about the meetings and about
breastfeeding, contact Gia at (608) 986-3420.
2nd Monday Spring Green
Bloomin’ Buddies Garden Club, 7 p.m. No
dues required, all are welcome. Spring Green
Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., (608)
588-2276, www.springgreenlibrary.org.
3rd Monday Richland Center
Autism Support Group, 7-8:30 p.m. Country
Kitchen/White House, (608) 588-2585, www.
angelautismnetwork.org.
4th Monday
Mineral Point Book Club, 1-2:30 p.m. All
welcome. Mineral Point Library, 137 High St.,
(608) 987-2447.
Tuesdays Dodgeville
Open Ceramic Studio and Instruction, 6-9
p.m. $15/evening; $12/bag of stoneware clay;
glazing and firing included in fee. Contact
jennifer@bethelhorizons.org or (608) 5748100. Adamah Clay Studios at Bethel Horizons,
4681 Cty. Hwy. ZZ, www.bethelhorizons.org.
Tuesdays Muscoda
Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, 8 p.m., west
door at St. John’s School, 116 W. Beech St.,
(608) 929-4970.
Tuesdays Spring Green
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings, 10 a.m.,
Christ Lutheran Church, 237 E. Daley St.
Tuesdays Spring Green
GriefShare, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Support group for
those grieving the loss of a loved one. Drop-ins
welcome. Spring Green Community Church,
151 E. Bossard St. (608) 588-2442.
1st Tuesday Dodgeville
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For more events information, see pp. 1216 and voiceoftherivervalley.com/events.
To submit events, e-mail
events@voiceoftherivervalley.com
All events subject to change.
Aging and Disability Resource Center of
Southwest Wisconsin Caregivers Support
Group, 10:30 a.m.-noon. All caregivers
welcome. Free. Iowa County Health & Human
Services Building, Room 1001, 303 W. Chapel
St. For more information, contact the at (608)
930-9835.
2nd/4th Tuesday Richland Center
Rolling Hills Toastmasters (previously
the Plain Toastmasters), 7-9 p.m. Crosscommunity group of members from Richland
Center, Reedsburg, Spring Green, Avoca,
Ithaca, Clyde, Viroqua, Arena and Gotham
enjoy fun, fast-paced speech and leadership
activities. Richland Hospital, Pippin 1, 333 E.
2nd St. For more information, contact Darlene
Waldsmith-Tagliapietra at driftlessareaink@
mwt.net.
3rd Tuesday Plain
Plain Page Turners Book Club, 7:30 p.m.
Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910
Main St., (608) 546-4201, www.scls.lib.wi.us/
pla.
3rd Tuesday Platteville
Southwest Wisconsin Photography Club, 7
p.m. Join local photographers to share photos
and thoughts on photography. Free to join
and open to all skill levels. UW-Platteville Art
Building, Room 109, magiclightphotography@
gmail.com.
Wednesdays Dodgeville
Free Hot Meal, 5-6 p.m. Dodgeville United
Methodist Church, 327 N. Iowa St., (608) 9355451.
Wednesdays Spring Green
Al-Anon Meetings, 10 a.m., Christ Lutheran
Church, 237 E. Daley St.
1st Wednesday Dodgeville
Memory Cafe, 1-3 p.m. The Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin sponsors a social
gathering place for persons with memory loss,
mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer’s,
or other dementia, and their family and friends.
Stonefield Apartments Community Room, 407
E. Madison St., deanna.truedson@alzwisc.org.
1st Wednesday Dodgeville
Uplands Garden Club Monthly Meeting, 7
p.m. Free, public welcome. Stonefield Apart-
2nd Wednesday Dodgeville
Heart Building 101, 10 a.m. A supportive
group for anyone with heart problems and their
families. Cardiac Rehab department, Upland
Hills Health, 800 Compassion Way, (608) 9307160, http://uplandhillshealth.org.
3rd Wednesday Dodgeville
Dodgeville Public Library Adult Book Club,
6:30 p.m. 139 S. Iowa St., (608) 935-3728,
www.dodgevillelibrary.com.
3rd Wednesday Mineral Point
Women’s Art Parties, 6:30-8:30 p.m. No
experience necessary. Shake Rag Alley Center
for the Arts Ellery House, 18 Shake Rag St.,
(608) 987-3292, www.shakeragalley.com/
womens-art-party
Thursdays Blue Mounds
Thursday Night Community Meditations,
7-8 p.m. Free, open to the public. Joyful Path,
11000 Division St., (608) 437-0520, info@
joyfulpath.org.
Thursdays Richland Center
Al-Anon support group for family and friends
of alcoholics, 12 p.m., Peace United Methodist
Church, 265 N. Church St., use Union St.
entrance.
Thursdays Richland Center
Miracles Study Group, 5 p.m. Brewer
Public Library, 325 N. Central Ave. For more
information, contact Bill at agape@mwt.net.
2nd Thursday Dodgeville
SOS, Survivors of Suicide Support Group,
7-9 p.m. For anyone who has lost someone to
suicide. Health & Human Services Building,
303 W. Chapel St., SPCICWI@gmail.com.
3rd Thursday Sauk City
Sauk City Memory Cafe, 9:30-11 a.m. The
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin
sponsors a social gathering place for persons
with memory loss, mild cognitive impairment,
early Alzheimer’s, or other dementia, and their
family and friends. Sauk Prairie Community
Center, Cafe Connections, 730 Monroe St.,
(608) 742-9055, janet.wiegel@alzwisc.org.
3rd Thursday Spring Green
Thank-you Note Thursdays, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
This is an experiment. Write a note. Mail it. See
what happens. All ages welcome. Free. Arcadia
Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., (608) 924-9234. Fridays Sauk City
Reformers Unanimous, 7-9 p.m. Open to
all adults who struggle with an addiction or a
“stubborn habit.” Calvary Baptist Church, 309
Water St., www.rusaukprairie.com, (608) 4489515.
Fridays Spring Green
Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, 7 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church, 237 E. Daley St.
7
Pedagogy Stew
I
believe in second chances. Maybe it’s because I tend to need
them. I’m not so much a perfectionist as I am a Let’s-TryThis-ist.
For example: My husband believes that when you get a new
piece of technology (computer, gaming system, camera), the first
thing you should do is read the manual. I would rather plunge right
in and then Google the problem when I get stuck
(which I always do). It’s interesting watching our
son, who seems to be in plunge-in, get-stuck,
forget-the-manual, ask-for-help mode. (It’s not
working all that well for him, but he’s only 11 —
hopefully not his permanent mode).
I spent part of the summer revising the course
I teach most often, the last in our first-year writing
Marnie
sequence in the UW Colleges, which I’ve been
Dresser
teaching at UW-Richland since 1992.
I’m finally switching to the portfolio model (in a big way, not
just approximating it) because it seems to be the best way to meet
the learning outcomes our department has for the course, but also
because it emphasizes the need for revision. Revision is the writer’s
version of a second chance (and third chance and more). Actually,
the portfolio model doesn’t so much emphasize revision as demand
it. Spotlight it. Parade it. Put it up on a throne and curtsy to it.
Here’s what the portfolio model looks like in my course:
Students will have to do four main essays, and during the course
of the semester, they’ll be turning in drafts. When they turn in
an essay draft on time, they’ll be able to earn up to 5 percent of
the total points for the course.
I’ll give them a basic grade for how they did overall, and
then specific feedback on the one or two things they most need
to work on.
The bulk of the points of the semester, though, will come
from portfolios. The midterm portfolio will be worth 25 percent
of the total points for the semester, and the final portfolio will
be worth 35 percent. In those portfolios, they’ll turn in multiple
revisions (based on feedback from me and other students),
analysis of sources, reports on how they got and gave feedback
on the semester, and reflections on what they’re learning.
If you’re picturing a big fat pocket-folder (maybe with a
picture of Hello Kitty on it), you’re possibly time traveling. When
I’ve done variations on the portfolio model in the past, that is how
students turned things in, but that Hello Kitty folder is now purely
metaphorical, because students will be turning things in digitally.
There’ll be an online drop box for everything, and they’ll need to
turn in the various chunks of the portfolios as the semester goes on
(otherwise the procrastinators will wait until finals week to work on
THE THING THAT IS 35 percent OF THEIR FINAL GRADE).
Once the fall semester is over, I’ll evaluate and revise
whatever didn’t work in the course.
Every new semester is a second chance. No wonder I love
teaching so much.
Marnie Dresser is a poet, creativity researcher and English
professor at the University of Wisconsin-Richland. She lives in
Spring Green with her husband and son. More of her reflections
on teaching theory and teaching reality can be found at
voiceoftherivervalley.com/archives.
8
Stage Is Set in RC for New Guinness World Record for Pumpkin Carving
Press Release
Richland Center—The place to be this Halloween season is Richland Center’s Krouskop Park where a Guinness World Records
judge will be on hand Oct. 30 to witness an attempt to set a new
world record for the most pumpkins carved in a line or chain.
The current record of 2,015 pumpkins is held by Eniwa Happy
Halloween Executive Committee in Eniwa, Hokkaido, Japan, set
on Oct. 31, 2015. The goal for Richland Center is 3,000 to bring the
record back to the United States. Each pumpkin needs to include
carved eyes, nose, mouth and eyebrows. They also need to be lined
up in a line or a chain and must be touching each other.
V
Richland Center will be executing this record along the dike
between Highway 14 and Seminary Street. Mayor Paul Corcoran
will escort an official Guinness World Record judge to the event
by helicopter. If the goal is met, Richland Center will be declared
the new record holder and presented with the official Guinness
World Record certificate. Then, it’s party time.
This event is open to everyone. To participate in breaking the
world record by donating pumpkins or carving them, sign up for the
great pumpkin carving event on at Volunteer Sign Up Day, 12-6 p.m.
Sept. 22, at the Richland Center Community Center, 1050 N. Orange
St. For more information, see www.richlandcentertourism.com.
To submit your event to our community calendar, visit voiceoftherivervalley.com/events or e-mail events@voiceoftherivervalley.com.
9
10
Nancy Giffey Plans
Retrospective
Exhibit in Arena
Press Release
ARENA—A retrospective exhibition
of Arena artist Nancy Giffey’s colorful
paintings, collages and mixed media will
be shown Sept. 9-Oct. 27 at The Shoppe
at Herbs Spices and More, 7352 Hwy 14.
Work spanning 1985 to 2015 by the
award-winning artist will be available for
sale. Giffey will give a brief presentation
discussing her art during a public reception 4-6 p.m. Sept. 24.
The artist is preparing a new body of
work to be showcased in 2017 at Colleen
Ott’s Gallery Art on 23, Spring Green, and at
River Arts on Water Gallery, Prairie du Sac.
The Shoppe at Herbs Spices and
More gallery is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday,
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday or by appointment
by calling (608) 753-9000.
Courtesy of Nancy Giffey
Nancy Giffey’s “Late Afternoon Wind at
the Pond,” acrylic on canvas, will be on
display Sept. 9-Oct. 27 at The Shoppe
at Herbs Spices and More in Arena.
11
VOI C E O F T H E R IV E R VA L L E Y C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S
Ongoing
Through September Arena
Pizza on 14, 4-8 p.m. Tuesdays (weather
permitting). Wood-fired pizza and live music.
Pre-ordering is encouraged. The Shoppe at Herbs
Spices & More, 7352 Hwy 14, (608) 753-9000.
Through September Spring Green
Meet the Maker: Jan von Stein, Mixed Media.
Mon. & Wed. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs. 12:307 p.m.; Fri. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-12:30
p.m. Community Room, Spring Green Community
Library, 230 E. Monroe St., (608) 588-2276, springgreenlibrary.org.
Through Sept. 11 Spring Green
APT Sunday Salon, 10-11 a.m. A casual, freeform discussion about all things American Players
Theatre between staff and patrons. Post House
Park, Jefferson Street behind The Shed. Free.
Through Sept. 18 Spring Green
Harrisburg One-Room School Open House, 1-4
p.m. 1st/3rd Sundays. Tour the historic one-room
school that’s on the National Registry of Historic
Places and includes a veterans display. Free,
handicap accessible. E7646 Cty Rd. B, www.
harrisburgtroyhistoricalsociety.org.
Through Sept. 25 Spring Green
Art Exhibit: “The Wisconsin Landscapes
of David Bielot and John McGee,” 11-5 p.m.
Wednesday-Sunday. Wisconsin Artists Showcase
at the Jura Silverman Gallery, 143 S. Washington
St., (608) 588-7049, jurasilvermangallery.com.
Sept. 9-Oct. 27 Arena
Art Exhibit: Nancy Giffey Retrospective, 9 a.m.-1
p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 9
a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday or by appointment by calling
(608) 753-9000. View or purchase some of the
artist’s work created from 1985 to 2015. The
Shoppe at Herbs Spices and More, 7352 Hwy 14,
(608) 753-9000. (See story, p. 11.)
Through Oct. 3 Prairie du Sac
Art Exhibit: Connie Morrison (painting and
collage) and Carol Naughton (functional
pottery), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
River Arts on Water Gallery, 590 Water St., info@
12
SEPTEMBER 2016
riverartsinc.org, www.riverartsinc.org.
Through Oct. 5 Spring Green
Live Music at The Sh*tty Barn. Doors at 6 p.m.,
music at 7:30 p.m. Dinner offerings from Enos
Farms, cash bar serves beer and wine. Music 7-9
p.m. Family-friendly event suitable for kids 6 and
older. For more information and to buy tickets, see
www.shittybarnsessions.com.
Through October Mineral Point
Pendarvis Tour Season, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Historic
Cornish settlement, a Wisconsin Historic Site, offers
reserved group and self-guided tours through May
14; guided tours available beginning May 15. 114
Shake Rag St., 608-987-2122, http://pendarvis.
wisconsinhistory.org.
Through October Mineral Point
Tours of Historic Gundry House Estate, 1-5
p.m. Friday-Sunday. $7 adults, $5 children 12-18,
children under 12 free. 234 Madison St., (608) 5581937, www.mineralpointhistory.org.
Through October Richland Center
A.D. German Warehouse Tour Season, 10
a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Tour the Frank Lloyd Wrightdesigned warehouse located in the city of Wright’s
birth. $10; site tours begin every quarter past
the hour, private tours available by appointment.
(608) 604-5034, 300 S Church St., www.
adgermanwarehouse.org.
Through October Spring Green
Taliesin Tour Season, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Taliesin
Preservation offers a variety of tours of Frank
Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin home and studio on the
Taliesin estate. Advance reservations strongly
recommended. Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center,
Highway 23 and County Highway C, (877) 5887900, www.taliesinpreservation.org.
Through October Spring Green
Live Music: Local Night, 5:30 p.m. Thursdays.
The Shed, 123 N. Lexington St., (608) 588-9049,
shedspringgreen.com. (See ad, p. 14.)
Through Nov. 20 Spring Green
American Players Theatre 2016 Season. For play
descriptions and tickets, see http://americanplayers.
org. 5950 Golf Course Rd., (608) 588-2361.
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For more events information, see the
community events & services listings on
p. 7 and voiceoftherivervalley.com/events.
To submit events, e-mail
events@voiceoftherivervalley.com
All events subject to change.
Through Dec. 5 Prairie du Sac
Art Exhibit: Impressions of Hamilton: 2009-16, 8
a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday. Learn about the history
of the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum,
the largest collection of wood type in the world, and
enjoy current works by the museum. Free. River
Arts Center, 105 9th St., (608) 643-5215, kcoopman@riverartsinc.org.
Through December 2016 Prairie du Sac
Exhibit: “Badger >< Home,” 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Tuesday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday and
by appointment. Through photos, artifacts and firsthand accounts, learn how a beautiful prairie dotted
with farms along the rolling Wisconsin River overnight became the largest producer of ammunitions
in the nation. Free admission in partnership with
Badger History Group. Tripp Heritage Museum, 565
Water St., (608) 644-8444, spahs@frontier.com,
www.saukprairiehistory.org.
Year-Round Dodgeville
Adamah Clay Workshops. Educational workshops for beginners through professional levels.
Adamah Clay Studios of Bethel Horizons, 4651 Cty
Rd. ZZ, (608) 574-8100, jennifer@bethelhorizons.
org, www.bethel-madison.org/adamah-clay-studios.
SEPTEMBER
1 Spring Green
Taliesin Fall Forum Lecture Series: Perry
Kulper, 7:30 p.m. The Frank Lloyd Wright School
of Architecture invites the public to this free event.
E-mail reservations to TaliesinForum@taliesin.
edu. Hillside Theater, 6604 Hwy 23, taliesin.edu.
1-5 Mineral Point
160th Annual Iowa County Fair. For a full
schedule of hours, events and attractions and
admissions costs, see www.iowacountyfair.com
or call (608) 574-6930. Iowa County Fairgrounds,
900 Fair St. (See story, p. 5.)
2 Dodgeville
Iowa County Astronomers Monthly Meeting,
7:30 p.m. Free and open to all astronomy
enthusiasts — the only requirement is the ability
to look up and say “wow!” Stargazing at Bethel
Horizons following the meeting if skies are clear.
Quality Liquid Feeds, 3586 Hwy. 23 N., http://
icastro.org. (See column, p. 22.)
2 Mazomanie
Live Music: Nath Dresser, 6-9 p.m. The Old
Feed Mill, 114 Cramer St., Mazomanie, (608)
795-4909.
2 Mineral Point
Live Music: Cupola, 8 p.m. ’til late (no cover).
Live music, gourmet pizzas, treats and beverages
available. Gray Dog Deli, 215 High St., (608) 9874000, www.graydogdeli.com.
2 Spring Green
Live Music: Shekinah Kay King at the Piano
Bar, 8 p.m. Celebrate the first Friday of the
month at Arthur’s piano bar enjoying hits from
the ’70’s, ’80’s, ’90’s and today. No cover charge.
Arthur’s Supper Club, E4885 Hwy 14, (608) 5882521, www.kauldine.com.
2-3 Prairie du Sac
2016 Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw
Festival. Join the approximately 40,000 people
who attend this annual event and compete to
best the state cow chip throw of 248 feet. Two
stages of entertainment, arts and crafts fair,
parade, food booths, 5k & 10k run and much
more! For a complete schedule, see www.
wiscowchip.com or call (608) 643-4317. Marion
Park, 145 1st St.
2-3 Spring Green
Feature Film: “The Penelope Complex,” 7
p.m. Shot over five years in the London studio
of the Theatre de l’Ange Fou, this film is part of
the exploration by the company of mythological
Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw (2015)
Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival
Kick off Labor Day weekend at the 42nd annual Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival,
which moves into Prairie du Sac’s Marion Park Sept. 2-3 with two stages of entertainment, an
arts and crafts fair, parade, food booths, 5k & 10k run and competitors aiming to best the cowchip throw record of 248 feet. For a complete schedule of events, see www.wiscowchip.com.
themes featuring movement theater with a cast of
25 actors. $10 suggested donation. White Church
Theatre Project at the Wyoming Valley Church,
6348 State Hwy 23, http://angefou.co.uk.
3 Yuba
Fire in the Hills Motor Show, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
1970 and older cars, trucks, hot rods, customs,
rat rads and tractors. Miss Firecracker PinUp Contest, Piston Toss Tournament, Flame
Throwers, beer and food and fireworks at dusk.
$10 pre-registration of vehicles required for prime
spots. Free admission for spectators. Downtown
Yuba, (608) 489-4311, fireinthehillsmotorshow.
com.
3-5 Richland Center
Camp Woodbrooke 2016 Family Camp.
Camping weekend for all ages. Hike, swim,
play, sing and prepare meals together. For
more information and to register, see www.
campwoodbrooke.org or call (608) 647-8703.
(See ad, p. 8.)
4 Spring Green
Live Music: Acoustic Jam, 1-3 p.m. Spring
Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., (608)
588-7070, www.springgreengeneralstore.com.
4 Spring Green
Live Music: Wyoming Valley Hymn Sing,
2-3:30 p.m. Rural Musicians Forum sponsors
this month’s hymn sing featuring Art and
Lorraine Carlson of Spring Green leading this
month’s hymn sing with Nita Enge of rural
Sauk City on organ. Wyoming Valley School
Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23,
ruralmusiciansforum.org.
Continued p. 14
13
Calendar Cont. from p. 13
4-5 Mazomanie
Mazomanie Historical Society
Museum Open House and
Exhibit, 1-4 p.m. Explore the
museum and enjoy the exhibit,
“A Sampling of Needlework
and Textiles” featuring the early
works of former and current local
residents, some dating back into
the mid-1800s. 118 Brodhead
St., (608) 795-4355, www.
mazomaniehistory.org.
5 Labor Day
6 Dodgeville
Folklore Village Open Mic, 7-9
p.m. Hosted by Mike Wolkomir with
sound from Scott Stieber. Donations
appreciated. Folklore Village, 3210
Cty. Hwy BB, (608) 924-4000, http://
folklorevillage.com.
5 Spring Green
Live Music: 8th Annual
BeatleFest 2016, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Free fun-filled, laid-back, family
friendly outdoor festival celebrating
the music of the Beatles with local
bands performing all Beatles’ music.
A special festival cafe menu will be
served. Bring a chair and maybe
even some bug spray. Spring Green
General Store,
137 S. Albany St., (608) 588-7070,
www.springgreengeneralstore.com.
8 Spring Green
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway
Board Monthly Meeting, 5 p.m.
Spring Green Public Library, 230
E. Monroe St., http://lwr.state.wi.us,
(608) 739-3188.
8-11 Richland Center
Richland County Fair. Carnival
rides, games, displays, animals
and much more. For more
information, watch http://fair.
co.richland.wi.us/, Facebook
and Twitter. Richland County
Fairgrounds, 23630 Cty Rd. AA.
9 Barneveld
Southwest Tech’s 50th
Anniversary Golf Classic, 11
a.m.-7 p.m. Charger Golf Classic
featuring 18-hole and 9-hole best
ball tournaments, volleyball and
bean bag tournaments. 4 p.m.
social and program featuring
the college’s 50th anniversary
celebration plans and vision for the
future. For more information and
to register, see https://www.swtc.
edu/calendar-events/golfclassic.
Deer Valley Golf Course, 7899 US
Hwy 151.
14
9 Hillsboro
Free Introduction to Coherency
Training, 7-8 p.m. Taught by Lyrea
Crawford at the Vitality Center,
18980 Cty Rd. D, (608) 383-3588,
lyreacrawford.com. (See ad, p. 6.)
9 Mineral Point
Live Music: Jammin’ on the
Porch at Orchard Lawn: The
Mascot Theory, 6-8 p.m. Enjoy
live music on the beautiful Gundry
House grounds. Bring family and
friends, blankets, chairs and picnics.
Food will be available for purchase.
Orchard Lawn, 234 Madison St.,
www.mineralpointhistory.org.
9 Mineral Point
Live Music: The Dang-Its, 8
p.m. ’til late (no cover). Live
music, gourmet pizzas, treats and
beverages available. Gray Dog Deli,
215 High St., (608) 987-4000, www.
graydogdeli.com.
9 Prairie du Sac
Live Music: House Concert
Series: Badger Honor Flight
Benefit, 7-9 p.m. Featuring Bob
Kelter, Marita Kelter, Willy Walter
and friends, this concert will benefit
the Heroes for Honor Operation
Wings raising funds to support a full
Badger Honor Flight this fall. Free,
donations appreciated. River Arts on
Water Gallery, 590 Water St., (608)
643-5215, info@riverartsinc.org.
9 Spring Green
Live Music: Better Daze, 8 p.m.
No cover charge. Arthur’s Supper
Club, E4885 Hwy 14, (608) 5882521, www.kauldine.com.
9-11 Dodgeville
Sustainability Weekend with
The Red Squirrel Chasers
(old-time string bands to 1940’s
bluegrass). Holistic, hands-on
festival celebrating sustainability
practices of all stripes and old-time
music/vocals and dance-calling
workshops. Special Saturday
Healthy Hoe-Down farm-to-table
dinner provided by Circle M Farm.
Full- and part-time weekend options
available; for Healthy Hoe-Down
only: $12 adults, $7 teens and
seniors, $5 kids, under 5 admitted
free. For more information and to
register, see www.folklorevillage.
com. Folklore Village, 3210 Cty.
Hwy BB, (608) 924-4000.
10 Spring Green
Live Music: Bluegrass Jam, 1:304 p.m. Come to play, come to listen.
Spring Green General Store, 137 S.
Albany St., (608) 588-7070. www.
springgreengeneralstore.com.
11 Baraboo
Devil’s Lake Bird Effigy Mound
Centennial Commemoration,
11 a.m.-12 p.m. The Wisconsin
Archeological Society and the Sauk
Calendar Cont. from p. 14
County Historical Society host a
joint celebration of the placing of
the marker plaque on the south
shore of the park. A brief ceremony
will be followed by a joint societies
potlatch-style picnic. To attend
the picnic, contact Kurt Sampson
at (414) 405-4367 or email
kurtsampson68@gmail.com. Red
Cedar Shelter near the bird effigy
mound, S5975 Park Rd.
12 Spring Green
Public Discussion: The Future
of K-12 Education, Part I, 6 p.m.
Free and open to the public. Spring
Green Community Library, 230 E.
Monroe St., (608) 588-2276, www.
springgreenlibrary.org.
16 Mineral Point
Live Music: Better Daze, 8 p.m. ’til
late (no cover). Live music, gourmet
pizzas, treats and beverages
available. Gray Dog Deli, 215
High St., (608) 987-4000, www.
graydogdeli.com.
16 Spring Green
Live Music: Karaoke, 9 p.m. The
Shed, 123 N. Lexington St., (608)
588-9049.
16-18 Monroe
2016 Cheese Days. Celebrate
cheese and the traditions of the
Swiss people who settled in Monroe
in the 1800s with a huge parade,
a cow-milking contest, music of all
types, plenty of cheese to consume
and purchase, and Cheese Days
royalty young and old. Free; food
and beer available for purchase.
For more information, contact
Noreen Rueckert at (608) 328-1838
or tourism@greencounty.org or see
www.cheesedays.com. Downtown
Monroe.
16-18 Spring Green
Live Theater: River Valley Players
Presents “Hot Flashes,” 7:30
p.m. Sept. 16-17, 2 p.m. Sept. 18.
Written by Dori Appel and Carolyn
Myers and directed by Bruce G.
Bradley. $12 tickets available at
Arcadia Books in Spring Green and
Changez Salon in Plain. The Gard
Theater, 111 E. Jefferson St.
17 Mineral Point
Live Music: Randy Sabien,
Bill Camplin and Rick Harris,
7 p.m. Mineral Point Opera
House, 139 High St., www.
mineralpointoperahouse.org.
17 Spring Green
Live Music: Gil Plotkin, 2-4
p.m. Guitar and vocals. Spring
Green General Store, 137 S.
Albany St., (608) 588-7070, www.
springgreengeneralstore.com.
17 Viroqua
Author Talk: Tim Fox, 9-10 a.m.
Wisconsin’s Ice Age comes to life
with the author of “Journeys: An Ice
Age Adventure.” Fox, of Cazenovia,
will lead a fun program of activities,
information and a reading from
his book. Gary’s Rock Shop, 317
S. Main St., garysrockshop.com,
journeysiceageadventure.com.
17-18 Clyde
Global View Gallery & Shop
Lecture on Himalayan and
Tibetan Culture by Marion
Nelson. Tibetan vendors and
refreshments all weekend. 6593
Clyde Rd., (608) 583-5311. (See
ad, p. 15.)
17-18 Spring Green
Enos Farms Annual Harvest
Moon Dinner. Intimate, multicourse progressive al fresco farm
dinner with paired beverages. For
more information, reservations and
directions, see www.enosfarms.
com. (See ad, p. 12.)
18 Arena
Papa Bob’s Sunday Dinner: A
Taste of Asia, 5 p.m. Delicious
curries, delectable stir-fries and
delightful drinks. $18/plate. Beer
and wine available for purchase.
For more information and
reservations, call (608) 753-9000.
The Shoppe at Herbs Spices and
More, 7352 Hwy 14.
19 Spring Green
Public Discussion: The Future
of K-12 Education, Part II, 6 p.m.
Free and open to the public. Spring
Green Community Library, 230 E.
Monroe St., (608) 588-2276, www.
springgreenlibrary.org.
22 Autumnal Equinox
22 Dodgeville
Live Music: Free Senior Concert
with “Stay Tuned’s” Paul Biere
and Yvonne McIntyre, 2-3 p.m.
Country classics. Folklore Village,
3210 Cty. Hwy BB, (608) 924-4000,
http://folklorevillage.com.
22 Richland Center
Richland Center Pumpkin
Carving Volunteer Sign-up
Day, 12-6 p.m. Help set a new
world record in pumpkin carving
by signing up for one of the
many opportunities that will help
make this event a success. For
more information, see www.
richlandcentertourism.com and
story, p. 9. Richland Center
Community Center, 1050 N.
Continued p. 16
15
Calendar Cont. from p. 15
Orange St. (See story, p. 9.)
22 Spring Green
Spring Green 101 & 102, 6 p.m. Part 1, 7 p.m.
Part 2. Sauk County Historical Society Executive
Director Paul Wolter will discuss the history
of Spring Green in this special free program
sponsored by the Friends of the Spring Green
Community Library. Spring Green Community
Library, 230 E. Monroe St., (608) 588-2276,
www.springgreenlibrary.org.
22 Spring Green
Taliesin Fall Forum Lecture Series: Brad
Lynch, 7:30 p.m. The Frank Lloyd Wright School
of Architecture invites the public to this free
event. E-mail reservations to TaliesinForum@
taliesin.edu. Hillside Theater, 6604 Hwy 23,
taliesin.edu.
23 Mineral Point
Live Music: Shekinah King, 8 p.m. ’til late (no
cover). Live music, gourmet pizzas, treats and
beverages available. Gray Dog Deli, 215 High
St., (608) 987-4000, www.graydogdeli.com.
23 Prairie du Sac
Art Exhibit Reception: Impressions of
Hamilton: 2009-16, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hamilton
Wood Type and Printing Museum Director
Jim Moran speaks about the history and
accomplishments of the museum, founded in
16
2000 in Two Rivers and home to the largest
collection of wood type in the world. Free.
River Arts Center, 105 9th St., (608) 643-5215,
kcoopman@riverartsinc.org.
Live Music: Free Senior Concert with the
Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, 2-3 p.m. Folklore
Village, 3210 Cty. Hwy BB, (608) 924-4000,
http://folklorevillage.com.
23-25 Mineral Point
24th Annual Cornish Festival. The Southwest
Wisconsin Cornish Society invites the public
to celebrate Cornish heritage in Cornwall,
Mineral Point and around the world. For more
information, see www.cornishfest.org. Downtown
Mineral Point. (See ad, p. 15.)
30 Mineral Point
Live Music: Psycherelic, 8 p.m. ’til late (no
cover). Live music, gourmet pizzas, treats and
beverages available. Gray Dog Deli, 215 High
St., (608) 987-4000, www.graydogdeli.com.
23-25 Prairie du Sac
Prairie du Sac Dam Tours, 3-6 p.m. Sept.
23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 24-25. Take a guided
90-minute tour of one of Sauk Prairie’s most
iconic structures. For reservations and $5 tickets,
see www.saukprairiehistory.org. Tours begin and
end at the Tripp Heritage Museum, 565 Water St.
24 Arena
Artist Reception: Nancy Giffey, 4-6 p.m.
Presentation by the artist and public reception
celebrating her 1985-2015 retrospective on view
through Oct. 27. The Shoppe at Herbs Spices
and More, 7352 Hwy 14, (608) 753-9000. (See
story, p. 11.)
24 Spring Green
Live Music: Snake Mountain Rounders, 2-4
p.m. Roots, rock, country and blues. Spring
Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., (608)
588-7070, www.springgreengeneralstore.com.
29 Dodgeville
30 Spring Green
Taliesin Fall Forum Lecture Series: Dan
Wheeler, 7:30 p.m. The Frank Lloyd Wright
School of Architecture invites the public
to this free event. E-mail reservations to
TaliesinForum@taliesin.edu. Hillside Theater,
6604 Hwy 23, taliesin.edu.
30 Spring Green
Live Music: Ray Hubbard, 8 p.m. No cover
charge. Arthur’s Supper Club,
(608) 588-2521, www.kauldine.com.
Sept. 30-Oct. 3 Richland Center
Center Color Fiesta. City-wide rummage sales,
Oakwood Fruit Farm Customer Appreciation,
UW-Richland Annual Brew Fest, Quilt Show,
7 p.m. Oct. 1 Canyon of Lights Parade
and more! For more information, see www.
RichlandCenterTourism.com or contact sherry.
klatt@richlandcenter.com. Downtown Richland
Center.
Sauk County Gets Ready to Host
6th Annual Fermentation Fest
Sara Lomasz Flesch (2014)
The Reedsburg Area Chamber of Commerce serves as
Fermentation Fest HQ for the Oct. 1-9 “live culture convergence.”
Press Release
R EEDSBURG —Wor mfar m
Institute, working with farmers,
landowners and communities of
central Sauk County, announces
the sixth annual Fermentation
Fest—A Live Culture Convergence running Oct. 1-9.
The Fest is a lively, multifaceted opportunity for rural
and urban visitors to experience
the land that sustains us in new
ways during the harvest season.
The Fest invites the public from
near and far to spend a day — or
a few — exploring temporary
site-responsive art installations
by nationally acclaimed artists,
a variety of pasture performances, 44 fermentation-focused
classes ranging from bread to
chocolate, yogurt to beer, and
presentations by best-selling
food writers Sandor Katz and
Peter Reinhart.
“The Fest is only 55 miles
northwest of Madison, and
midway between Chicago and
Minneapolis, perfectly situated
to bring together the region’s
most talented chefs, scientists,
artists, brewers, bakers, poets
and cheesemakers, each in their
own way celebrating abundance and transformation” said
Donna Neuwirth, Wormfarm
Institute executive director and
co-founder.
Beginning in Reedsburg,
the Fest’s signature attraction,
the Far m/Art DTour, leads
visitors out and through the
agricultural landscapes and
small towns of central Sauk
County. Last year 20,000 traveled the 50-mile self-guided
DTour through working farmland punctuated by temporary
art installations, pasture performances, educational Field
Notes, local food vendors and
FEST Continued p. 19
17
18
Fest Cont. from p. 17
roadside poetry.
“The DTour is a multi-sensory, leisurely, educational meander,” Neuwirth said. In past years,
DTourists have come across giant
straw animals leaping over fences, glowing corn cribs, crocheted
leaves engulfing a farmhouse,
and a mini circus wagon and
sideshow encampment.
Neuwirth recommends that
visitors begin at the Reedsburg
Area Chamber of Commerce,
which serves as Fermentation
Fest headquarters and resource
center. The chamber’s knowledgeable staff provide expert
guidance to the fest and the
surrounding area. Visitors will
want to pick up a free Visitors
Guide and purchase the comprehensive 2016 DTour Map that
describes the artists and their
installations, and other events
and attractions along the route.
Seasoned travelers may wish
to purchase a DTour Passport
to enhance their participation
with value-added surprises.
Proceeds from Passport sales
support the Fest, which remains
a free event. Maps are available
at the Reedsburg Area Chamber
of Commerce, and at the chamber/visitor bureaus of Baraboo,
Spring Green and the River Arts
Center in Prairie du Sac. Passport sales sites and extensive
detail for advance planning are
to be found the Fermentation
Fest website.
Featured 2016 Fermentation
Fest presenters include two
best-selling authors whose work
on fermentation is nationally
acclaimed: The Fest opening
weekend presents Sandor Katz,
a fermentation revivalist and
V
do-it-yourself food activist
whose books on fer mentation techniques and recipes
have earned him the moniker
“Sandorkraut” and the James
Beard Award for Reference
and Scholarship. Katz will be
special guest at the Oct. 1 Fermentation Feast, and will host a
fermentation Q-and-A session
the following morning.
The second fest weekend
features Peter Reinhart, the
three-time James Beard awardwinning author of 12 books
on baking and a fermentationfocused TED Talk reflecting
on the couplings of wheat and
yeast, starch and heat that produce our daily bread. Reinhart
will present a class on food
writing and will co-present
baking classes — from bagels
to gluten-free to rye sourdough
and sprouted grains — with
longtime fest instructor Shawn
Rediske of Water House Foods
in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
The second weekend will
also feat u re Fer ment ation
Fest’s third annual Mexican
spirits dinner. Lou Bank of
S.A.C.R.E.D., an organization
that uses rare agave spirits like
mezcal and raicilla to raise
money to build libraries, run
greenhouses and maintain water projects in rural Mexico,
will host the educational and
gustatory event.
Fermentation Fest classes
require advance online registration. Sessions range across 44
offerings from lacto-fermented
vegetables to gluten-free baking
to hands-on clay building your
own steins and mugs, or making
herbal beer.
For more information, see
fermentationfest.com and connect with Fermentation Fest on
Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Subscribe to Voice.
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by mail each month? Subscribe for $22 a year.
E-mail info@voiceoftherivervalley.com.
19
Driftless Terroir: How I Began to Eat the Weeds, Starting With Dandelions
Driftless Terroir is a series featuring guest voices celebrating the
intersection of land and culture — the essence of life in the Driftless
Area — with topics including art and architecture, farming and
gardening, cooking and eating, fermenting and drinking, and more.
I
’ve lived in the Driftless Region for nine years now and the
landscape never bores me. Each year it teaches me something
new and fills me with awe. I’ve recently become an avid
forager and can hardly contain my excitement when I come upon
something new and wild that I hadn’t noticed before. Every time
I round a bend in a road I scan the ditches to see what’s growing.
Every hike I take produces the chance to
discover more edible flora. But there is one
thing I love best.
Weeds. Weeds are everywhere, and only
a few years ago I was feverishly pulling weeds
out of my garden as fast as I could. Now I leave
Photos courtesy of Caitlin Hatch
most of them, because the majority of those
Many of our common “weeds” are not only edible and nutritious,
“weeds” are some of the healthiest, nutrientbut were a staple in our ancestors’ diets. Dandelion in particular,
Caitlin Hatch
dense foods in my garden.
pictured above in a pesto with cilantro, rhubarb and sunflower
Some of my favorite weeds include lamb’s quarter,
seeds, is delicious, easy to find and can be harvested all season.
chickweed, garlic mustard, violets, stinging nettle, burdock and
take a small handful of the leaves and mince them before adding
plantain, but I thought it appropriate to write about the weed that
to our nightly salad, or add them to smoothies, soups and pesto.
started it all for me. Taraxacum officinale, otherwise know as
The fall, when the plant has sent its energy back into its roots, is
the dandelion.
a great time to harvest the roots. But don’t wait too long or the
Dandelions, scourge of the suburban lawn and source of many
roots can become quite bitter and woody. Fresh dandelion roots
a childhood game. While they may not be distinctively unique to
are delicious when chopped and tossed into stir-fries, infused into
the Driftless Region, they do prefer rich, somewhat moist soil and
vinegar or dried and roasted to make a tea.
full sun. The Driftless has plenty of that and the dandelions that
Dandelions have a whole host of medicinal properties,
grow here, from my observations, are bigger and more tender (that
ranging from spring tonics supporting liver health, to clearing up
is, if you are not mowing them down every few weeks) than those
acne, to decreasing arthritic inflammation.
growing in less optimal climates and terrains.
However, just adding them to your diet
One of the things that I love most about the In the spring my kids
will, at the very least, boost your nutrient
dandelion is that they are tenacious. They have and I harvest the yellow
intake. Please make sure you are harvesting
the ability to survive and thrive no matter what.
petals
and
add
them
to
dandelions that have not been sprayed with
Just think about what that kind of strength and
muffins,
soups
and
salads,
chemicals for at least three years and that you
vitality in a plant could do to your own body if
have identified the plant with 100 percent
you were to consume it regularly.
and when the flowers go
before consuming.
Dandelions are chock full of vitamins and
to seed, we eat the seeds. certainty
Dandelions are tap-rooted, perennial plants
minerals. One cup of raw dandelion greens
that thrive in temperate areas of the Northern
has 25 calories and provides 1.5 g protein, 0.4 I like to add the leaves to
Hemisphere. They have toothy, deeply notched,
g fat, 5 g carbohydrates,
our nightly salad. In the
basal leaves. In fact, its name means
103 mg calcium, 1.7 mg iron, 7,700 IU
fall, we harvest the roots. hairless
“tooth of the lion.” The flower heads are yellow
vitamin A, 19 mg vitamin C and are quite
and open during the day and close at night. The
high in B vitamins. It also contains large
stems and leaves exude a white, milky latex when broken, which will
quantities of minerals such as sodium, silicic acid, sulfur and,
reportedly remove warts and acne with consistent application several
in the fresh leaves, a high content of potassium. Besides being
times a day for a few weeks.
high in micronutrients, dandelions are high in inulin. Inulin is
Here is a great recipe to infuse your own dandelion vinegar,
a carbohydrate that can help restore healthy gut flora. While we
which can then be used in any recipe that calls for vinegar. It’s
can’t break down inulin ourselves, eating it regularly provides
especially good in a honey-mustard vinaigrette. Following that is
food to the gut microbiome, thus inulin is often called a prebiotic.
a recipe for one of my favorite pestos. Yum!
Dandelions are also remarkable in that you can use every
part of the plant. In the spring my kids and I harvest the yellow
Caitlin Hatch is a mother of two, a watercolor artist and plant
petals and add them to muffins, soups and salads, and when the
flowers go to seed, we eat the seeds. Dandelion leaves have a bitter enthusiast. She and her husband co-own and operate Uplands
Cheese, just north of Dodgeville. Her website is caitlinleline.com.
flavor, as do most beneficial phytonutrients. Therefore, I like to
20
Dandelion-Cilantro Pesto
Dandelion Vinegar
Fill a glass quart jar loosely with chopped, fresh dandelion
roots. Pour room temperature, organic apple cider vinegar over
the roots to fill the jar, making sure you have covered the roots
by an inch or two. Cap your jar with a plastic lid. Label your jar.
Shake your jar every day for one week. Then let sit for five more
weeks (six weeks total).
Ingredients
Strain through a cheese cloth, squeezing the herbs to extract
as much liquid as possible. Store your glass jars in a cool, dark
location (I just keep mine the fridge). Will keep up to one year.
1 cup sunflower seeds
Try taking a teaspoon of dandelion vinegar straight or added to
some water before meals to stimulate digestion. It increases the
production of hydrochloric acid, which will help absorb nutrients,
especially calcium. I also like to add a little to soups and stews,
sauces, stir-fries or on top of steamed greens!
1 cup cilantro, packed tightly
½ cup dandelion greens
½ cup lambs quarter leaves (or more cilantro)
1 stalk rhubarb, chopped
½ cup olive oil
1 tsp salt
¼ garlic scapes, chopped or 2-4 cloves of garlic minced
Method
Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until relatively
smooth. Freeze or enjoy on pizzas, quesadillas or on toast with a
fried egg on top!
21
Driftless Dark Skies: Home in the Milky Way
“Why should I feel lonely? Is not our planet in the Milky Way?”
— Henry David Thoreau, “Walden”
L
ook up this month and you will see our Milky Way flowing
across the September sky. It starts in the northwest where
you find that brave couple, Cassiopeia and Andromeda,
now safe from the gorgon and sea monster;
flows high overhead where Cygnus the Swan
and Aquila the Eagle are flying; and arches
down to the southwest where Sagittarius the
Centaur still shoots his arrows. It helps to see
Sagittarius as a teapot with handle, lid and
spout. Look just above where the tea is pouring
and you will be looking into the center of our
galaxy. Look just to the right to find ruddy
John Heasley
Mars and creamy Saturn, bright planets shining
in the Milky Way just as Thoreau reminded us.
Perseus, Andromeda, Cygnus, Aquila and Sagittarius are
constellations, patterns of bright stars created by the people of the
Fertile Crescent and Mediterranean. Other people on our planet
pictured “dark constellations” in the Milky Way where the stars are
hidden by dust clouds. The Incas of South American saw a llama
and a serpent. The Aborigines of Australia found an emu. I am
looking forward to learning more about these dark constellations at
the Nov. 4 meeting of Iowa County Astronomers in Dodgeville.
For millennia, humans could only see thousands of stars,
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22
even under the darkest of skies. The Milky Way appeared
cloudy. Then in 1610, Galileo turned his telescope to the Milky
Way and discovered that the nebulosity was actually millions of
stars never before imagined. In his “Siderius Nuncius” (“Starry
Messenger”), he shares the awe and wonder that comes from
resolving the nature of the Milky Way and discovering that “the
galaxy is, in fact, nothing but congeries of innumerable stars.”
Now we know that there are hundreds of billions of stars in
our galaxy and that it is just one of the hundreds of billions of
galaxies in our cosmos. The beauty of the Scientific Revolution
is that you don’t need to trust Galileo. You can see it for yourself.
While most people now live in places where they cannot see our
Milky Way because of light pollution, we still can in the River
Valley. Find a dark spot on a clear, moon-free night away from
the lights of town. Make yourself comfortable in a reclining
chair or lying on a blanket. Scan the Milky Way with binoculars
and see the millions of stars. Create your own constellations,
find your own animals in the dark rifts and make your own
myths. Be at home in our Milky Way.
John Heasley is an astronomy educator and stargazer who
enjoys connecting people with the cosmos. He volunteers
with NASA/JPL as a Solar System Ambassador. For more
information about stargazing in southwestern Wisconsin, like
Driftless Stargazing LLC on Facebook and find out whenever
there’s something awesome happening in the skies above.
REAL continued from p. 3
lucky we are to know each
other and live the life we have.
So welcome, Margot,
to our family, and to this
complicated journey of life. I
have all the faith in the world
you will bring great joy to
many as you join us in trying
to figure it all out.
Stacey Feiner and her
husband, Bill Meyer, own
My Fine Homestead north
of Blue River. Their farm
products include produce,
pastured meats, free-range
eggs, maple syrup, honey,
vanilla and natural skin
care products, all available
through CSA memberships
and at the Spring Green
and Richland Center
farmers markets. For more
information, see www.
myfinehomestead.com, e-mail
myfinehomestead@gmail.
com or call (608) 588-5153.
23