Community Voice Summer 2014

Benton Community Voice
July 2014
From the BCDC
By Aaron Erdenberger, President
It’s another beautiful summer here in Benton! As I drive through town I see so many things that make living here
special. The improvements to the Village Park, the construction of the VFW Memorial, the new and growing businesses,
and the beautiful flowers and new light poles on Main Street really proves that Benton will continue to grow and thrive!
The BCDC has been working hard to assist in improving the lives of those that call Benton home, and even though we
have had a busy year already, we still have some big events coming up!
The Ground Hog’s Auction held in February was such a huge success. Words
cannot describe how thankful we are to those that donated items, those that helped
collect them, and for everyone that showed up to buy them! We raised $9,462.00
which allowed us to donate $5,000.00 to the Benton Music Department to assist in
purchasing new band uniforms, and to bring Bucky and the Badger Band back for
our Labor Day Celebration. Just another reminder of how a small community can
do great big things!
The Annual Garage Sales were held in April and we found ourselves in a position
to help another group in our community. The BCDC had traditionally sold hamburgers and brats in the Village Park
with profits going into our general fund. Since this was an established event that made us money each year, we decided
to offer the event to the VFW. They held a Brat Sale and used the profits to support the Memorial Project Fund. Another
win for the BCDC and our community!
In August we will start Music in the Park. Each Sunday evening throughout the month from 6:00-7:30 pm we will
feature a different musical act on the stage at the Village Park. Here is a list of this year’s performers:
Aug 3 – Roy Schroedl
Aug 10 – Scott Layde
Aug 17 – Tom Black
Aug 24 – Fever River String Band
We will be serving hamburgers, brats, popcorn, candy and beverages during the performances and donations are always
welcome to help cover expenses.
Our 2014 Labor Day Celebration will again bring hundreds, if not thousands of people to our beautiful town as the
BCDC and the Benton Fire Department host the largest celebration of the year! On Sunday you can stop by the Village
Park and have a chicken dinner prepared by Benton’s finest grill masters! Proceeds from this event fund the Gary Neis
Community Involvement Scholarship Program! This is a great event which takes many volunteers to make it a success.
Any adult or student applying for this scholarship that would like to help with this event please contact Randy Neis.
The BCDC will host a street dance from 8-midnight with Wheelhouse again gracing the stage as this year’s
entertainment! Their energetic style of Americana, Blues, and Country Rock appeal to all ages and cover many genres,
guaranteeing a good time by all. There will be a $5.00 donation to get through the gate, with beverages available from
McCarthy’s, Lawrence’s, GG’s Tap, and the VFW. Please remember there is no one allowed under 21 inside the gates
during the dance. We will also be collecting and donating all of the aluminum cans from this event to the Benton Senior
Class to be used towards their class activities so please help us keep glass bottles and garbage out of the recycle containers that will be provided outside in the gated area.
On Monday morning Bucky and the Badger Band will join us in the Labor Day parade and will again wow the crowd
with a 5th Quarter performance immediately following the parade. After the parade the Fire Department will be cooking
hamburgers and hosting bingo and other games. There will be music on the BCDC stage throughout the day, along with
a craft sale guaranteeing a fun filled day for everyone.
I hope everyone has a safe and fun summer! I encourage everyone to attend a BCDC event this year and support the
great big difference that a small group of volunteers can do in our wonderful community!
B E NT O N C O MM U NI T Y V O I C E
PAGE 2
J U LY 2 0 1 4
From the Village President
By Gary McCrea
Now that warm weather is finally
here and the long, harsh winter
that we just experienced has gone,
street repair work will begin. The
winter took its toll on several
streets where there were water
main breaks.
Patching with
blacktop will be done.
The Village Employees along with
members of the Village Board have
been working with VFW members
on plans for the new veterans’
memorial in the village park.
Groundbreaking was held at the
Memorial Day Service.
The
addition to the present monument
will be a great asset to the
residents of Benton along with
visitors stopping by. Construction
has begun and hopefully will be
completed by Labor Day.
With the school year ending,
please drive with caution. Watch
for children with bicycles,
skateboards, crossing streets, etc.
Main Street in particular has a lot
of traffic during daytime hours.
I wish everyone
summer.
an
enjoyable
Swindler’s Ridge Museum
By Sandy Scanlan
Were you ever in Swindler’s Ridge
Museum? When was your last
visit to the Museum? We do add
new items all the time. We have a
nice collection of items from
Benton and the surrounding area,
but, if we don’t have more people
visiting and financially supporting
the museum, we may have to close.
We have cut the hours that we are
open. We are now open Saturday
thru Monday from 11 AM to 3 PM.
We would appreciate people
volunteering to help run the
museum during those hours.
If you want to visit the museum at
other times, please call one of
these four numbers and someone
will be able to help you.
Vicki
Renee
Bill
Leo
759-5431
608-697-2128
759-2088
759-2722
We need your help. If you want
Swindler’s Ridge Museum to
remain open, please visit, donate
financially and volunteer.
Thank you Benton State Bank
Member
FDIC
The BCDC would like to thank Benton State Bank
for their generous donation of time and money to
make the Community Voice possible. The Benton
State Bank has been a large contributor to the BCDC
since our inception in 1992.
This is the ONE!
Due to stricter mailing regulations, there will
NOT be a separate Alumni Association
mailing or raffle this year.
BENTON ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION HAS A
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS.
PLEASE CONSIDER
MAKING A DONATION
TO THE
SCHOOLHOUSE
MUSEUM OR THE
SCHOLARSHIP FUND.
86TH ANNUAL BANQUET
HONORED CLASSES: 1964 - 50 YEAR CLASS, 1979, 1989, 1999,
AS WELL AS CLASSES 1953 AND EARLIER.
The banquet will be held at Banfield's Swiss Haus on Saturday,
August 30. Cost for the family style meal is again $14.50.
Doors open at 4:00, with dinner at 6:00.
CLASS REUNIONS ARE WELCOME!
Spouses and friends are encouraged to attend. Please complete
and return the reservation form below by August 15.
Make checks payable to the Benton Alumni Association.
Reservation forms should be mailed to:
Jim Sysko, Box 33, Benton, WI 53803
ALUMNI AND FRIENDS ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT!
Cole Acres - August 30, 2014
Call 744-2476
Shotgun Starts at 8:30 and 12:30
Members - $15.00
Non-members - $30.00
RESERVATION FORM - 2014 BENTON ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION BANQUET
Name ___________________________________ Maiden Name ________________Class of _____________
Mailing Address ___________________________________________________________________________
City _______________________________________ State ___________________ Zip ___________________
Number Attending ________________ x $14.50/person = $ _____________________
Tax-Deductible Donation: ____________________________
Check preference: _____ Schoolhouse Museum
_____ Scholarship Fund
_____ General Fund
Remember Clete's words, "You can take people out of Benton, but you can't take Benton out of
the people."
J U LY 2 0 1 4
B E NT O N C O MM U NI T Y V O I C E
PAGE 4
Tree of Love Ceremony
By Kay Brink
Each year the Benton Community
Development Corporation (BCDC)
invites you to honor and/or remember
special people who have touched your
life. For a $5.00 donation, you can
accomplish two great deeds…the
first is to honor or memorialize your
loved one and the second is to help a
deserving young student pursue their
college education. A short message
which you submit is placed on a
laminated ornament as a tribute to
your loved one. The ornament is then
placed on a special Christmas tree on
Main Street. At a ceremony normally
held the first Sunday of December, the
memorial/honorariums are read to the
group that gathers. To conclude the
ceremony, the tree is lit and continues
to glow during the entire month of
December.
The “Tree of Love” concept began in
1999. Two funds, “The Tree of Love”
and the “Keith Farrey” scholarship
were created from 100% of the
donations received. Since the “Tree of
Love” began 15 years ago, we have
received just under $17,000 from your
donations.
ceremony, please complete and
return the form on the back page
along with a $5.00 donation per
name. Your donation will allow your
loved one’s memory to live on
through a deserving young student
of Benton High School.
Keith Farrey was a graduate of Benton
High School and served as Benton’s
Village President. Keith was a great
visionary for our community and a very
strong “leader” of the BCDC for many
years prior to his death in 1999. Myah
Ihm was the 2014 recipient of this
scholarship. Ben White received the
“Tree of Love” scholarship.
Congratulations to both of these
deserving young adults!
If you would like to donate to the 2014
Halloween
By Jessica Polfer
Fall is just around the corner…
which means Halloween will be here
and little “ghosts” and “goblins” will
be knocking at your door for treats.
As in years’ past, the BCDC will
kick-off Trick-or-Treating on
Halloween at 5:15 in the central lot
where the Pumpkin Tree is located
with safety lights and treats. Trick
or Treating will run from 5:307:30pm on October 31st.
The BCDC Annual Pumpkin
Carving contest also continues! Please
bring your creative designs to display
on the Pumpkin Tree. The contest is
open to all ages and some great prizes
including 4 UW Men’s Basketball
Tickets, iTunes cards and movie
packages will be awarded. Judging
will take place during Trick-orTreating and prizes will be awarded at
7:30pm.
Crystal Apple Award
By Kyle Luedtke
NBC Channel 15 of Madison
along with Toyota presented
Benton School District’s very own
Rhonda Wildes with a 2014
Crystal Apple Award. Each year
Channel 15 awards 5 educators
from their 17 county viewing area
this prestigious award. The
selection committee receives
between 100 and 200 nominees
annually from students, former
students, colleagues, parents and
community members.
personal issues and scheduling of
high school students courses. Ms.
Wildes also monitors students’
progress towards graduation and
assists with their future plans.
Rhonda Wildes is our K-12
guidance counselor and has a
countless set of responsibilities
with her position. Some examples
are teaching guidance lessons to
the elementary grade levels, assisting students with various
Ms. Wildes is a Benton High
School graduate and has been in
education for over 30 years. This
is the nineteenth year Channel 15
has presented the Crystal Apple
Awards and Ms. Wildes is
Benton’s very first recipient.
PAGE 5
B E NT O N C O MM U NI T Y V O I C E
J U LY 2 0 1 4
Benton Community Fund
a charitable endowment for the Benton area
SAVE THE DATE – Saturday, November 8th. BCF Trivia Night Fund Raiser
at Banfield’s Swiss Haus!
Renowned author and poet Maya Angelou recently passed away. She was known for many things including
her inspiring words and oratorical skills. One example of Maya’s words that may resonate with philanthropic- minded folks is
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw
something back.”
The Benton Community Fund was established three years ago to benefit the community of Benton “Forever”. The 2014 grant
recipients will be announced at the Alumni Banquet on Labor Day weekend. Grant awards totaling nearly $12,000 have been
distributed to the following area non-profits over the past three years:
Benton Booster Club – Bleacher project
Benton Public Schools BACPAC – Area rug & games
Benton Public Library – Shelving upgrade
Benton Bible Church – Benton Food Pantry
BCDC – Swindler’s Ridge Museum Windows
Benton Public Schools BACPAC – refrigerator
Road Crew – Funds for new van
SW CAP – Lafayette County Food Pantry
Village of Benton – Veteran’s Memorial Project
Sinsinawa Dominicans – Native Spirit Productions
Benton Public School – Two I-pads 2nd Grade
Benton First Responders – Defibrillator
Why do you give to the Benton Community Fund?
"Giving back to the community where I live and where my children were raised is in a sense a "Thank You" for all it’s
given us. It’s money going to better an already unbelievably awesome community!” Lori Droessler
“I give to the Benton Community Fund because I want to give back to my hometown. I don't live there anymore to
volunteer time, so donating to a Fund run by friends that I know and trust who still live in the community seems the best
way to make sure I am still doing something good back home. My thanks to those operating the fund and still doing good
works to make Benton the great place it is. “ Tom Wilson
“Ten years ago, after 40 years of urban living from Washington DC to Honolulu, my wife Mary and I arrived in Benton.
For Mary Dugan it was a return to her home; for me a return to the Mid-West; for both of us a (re)introduction to
community, a civic community that we wanted to help support. “…Dr. William and Mary Foltz
Our Trivia Night Fund Raiser has been scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2014 at Banfield’s Swiss Haus. For
the past two years, crowds in excess of 100 people have enjoyed a fun filled night of Trivia and helped raise over
$3,000 for the Benton Community Fund. This event will be facilitated by Fun N Games Company of Dubuque, IA.
We are hoping for a great turnout again this year – Save the Date and get your team of family members,
co-workers, neighbors, classmates, etc… together for a fun time! The cost to participate is just $10.00 per person.
I am pleased to show my support of the Benton Community Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of
Southern Wisconsin.
Please accept this donation of $ ________________________ ⧠ Special Projects Fund (immediate needs)
⧠ Endowment Fund
If no box is selected, 20% of your gift will go to Special projects and 80% will go to the Endowment Fund
Your Name ___________________________________________________
E-Mail ___________________________ Phone _____________________
Address ____________________________City________________________________________ State _____ Zip __________
This donation is made (circle one) in honor or memory of:
Benton Community Fund
PO Box 253
Benton, WI 53803
All donations to the Benton Community Fund are tax deductible.
To reserve a table for your team please contact Jill Knight at bentonwi79@yahoo.com.
Benton Community Fund
a charitable endowment for the Benton area
We are grateful to our donors who have helped plant the seeds that will benefit the
community of Benton for years to come. Charter members (represented with an *) have
contributed/pledged to contribute $1,000 or more. We’ve made every effort to include each
donor’s name. If we have missed your name, please let us know and accept our sincere
apology.
BENTON COMMUNITY FUND DONORS
Businesses or Organizations:
Baer Insurance Services
Benton Booster Club
Benton Community Development Corp.*
Benton State Bank*
Casey Funeral Home
Gardiner Appraisal Services
Gulers Corners
Johnson Block & Company
Kraft Foods Foundation – Matching Funds*
Lori Droessler Real Estate
M. Robbins & Company
Nemitz Family Chiropractic
Priority Insurance Agency
Prudential Foundation – Matching Funds*
Quality Motors
Republic Services
Slater-1 Electric
The Milestone Agency
Top Notch Plumbing, Heating & Electrical
Village of Benton*
Benton Feed & Farm
Individuals:
Alexander, Carol
Alexander, Linda
Amweg, Eric & Denise
Aurit, Cindy
Aurit, Nancy *
Austin, Mike & Diane
Behrens, Dan
Burns, George & Lorna
Carter, John & Elaine
Cohen, Kurt & Becky
Copeland, John & Anne
Cruse, Scott
Curwen, Theda
Curwen, Randall
Dare, Robert & Isabel
Daresh, Stephanie
Dawson, Dennis
Dixon, Phyllis
Driscoll, Lee & Pam
Eckstein, C.R.*
Individuals (continued):
Farrey, Harold
Rupp, Ambrose & Lois
Farrey, Jon
Savatski, Jeff & Michelle*
Farrey, Ken & Sharon*
Savatski, Megan
Farrey, Wendy
Scanlan, Leo & Sandy
Foltz, William & Mary Dugan*
Schleifer, Jeannette
French, George & Virginia
Smythe, Ann
French, Lynn
Stanton, Terry & Mary
Glindinning, Verlea
Steffen, Jeanne
Goffinet, Ruth
Swift, Steve
Halverson, Charles & Ruth
Sysko, Mollie
Hamm, Jean Milner *
Sysko, Jim & Myrna
Jamieson, Jeffrey
Troy, Ronald
Keleher, Dave & Marie*
Vaughn, Mick & Judy*
Kisting, Janice
Voight, Chuck & Sandye
Kisting, Marcy
Walkup, Lucy
Kluge, Al & Mimi*
Wartner, Chuck & Renee*
Knight, Casey
Welsh, James & Mariann
Knight, Bob & Jill *
White, Jeff
Knight, Kyle
Wilkinson, Donald
Knight, Ryan*
Wilson, Steve & Judy
Kruser, Eldon*
Wilson, Tom & Alicia *
LaBarbera, Mark & Constance
Wright, Ron
Lawrence, Rick & Lisa*
Zagdronik, Michael
Lewis, Jennifer
McCrea, Gary & Marlene
McCrea, Michael & Ann Marie In-Kind Donors for Trivia Night:
McCrea, Phoebe*
Banfield’s Swiss Haus
Monahan, Jim & Retta
Benton State Bank
Morrow, Lavon
Culver’s of Galena
Nankee, Jan
GG’s Tap
Neis, Gary & Ann*
Gile Cheese
Newman, Andrew & Ruth
Gulers Corners
Nichols, Marilyn
Julie’s Hair Studio
Paquette, Rebecca
Lawrence’s Pub & Eatery
Pedley, Scott & Ronda*
McCarthy’s Bar
Peetz, Mary V.
Steve’s Pizza of Cuba City
Peetz, Donald & Mary
Subway of Cuba City
Perkins, Gary & Rose*
Zephyr Depot
Perkins, John *
Probst, Donald*
Redfearn, Larry
Rhoades, Marvel
Richards, John & Peggy*
Veterans’ Memorial at Village Park
The ground breaking for the new
veterans’ memorial was held on
May 26.
The committee has
worked hard on this memorial,
but still has a ways to go. The
memorial will honor all veterans
who have lived in the Benton
School District at any time during
their life. All veterans will be
included whenever they may have
served. If you are a veteran,
related to one, or just know one,
please contact the Memorial Committee so we can make sure that
they are properly listed on the
memorial. The veterans name
and dates served will be helpful.
Call 608-759-6008 for more
information
or
e-mail
bentonveterans@gmail.com
Left: Donation to the Veterans’
Memorial Fund pictured from
left to right: Vicki Farrey,
Crystal Erdenberger, Aaron
Erdenberger, Eldon Kruser,
Kenneth Hammill, Jim Kruser,
David Kane and John Brant.
Right: Donation of $1000 to the SUN
Program, who provide meals to the
elderly. Pictured from left to right, Rose
Walton and Vicki Farrey of the BCDC
and Marion Calvert of the Benton SUN
Program.
Left: Donation of $5000 to the Benton Music
Department for new Band Uniforms.
Pictured from left to right is Jessica Polfer of
the BCDC, Cody Clayton; Band Teacher at
Benton High School, Aaron and Crystal
Erdenberger of the BCDC and Kyle Luedtke
Benton Schools Administrator.
Benton’s 118th Annual
Labor Day Celebration
Benton, Wisconsin
Aug. 30 –Sept. 1, 2014
Saturday Aug. 30
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday Aug. 31
Monday Sept. 1
Monday Sept. 1
Alumni & Friends
Fever River Puppeteers
Street Dance
UW Marching Band
Ridge Rangers
Golf Tournament
“The Leadminer’s Daughter”
Shotgun Start
8:30 & 12:30
Wheelhouse
11:00 AM on Saturday
&
1:30-4:30 PM
Bucky
8-Midnight
After Parade
2 PM Saturday & Sunday
Saturday, Aug. 30
Fever River String Band
5:00-7:00 PM
Sunday, Aug. 31
Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament (Shotgun Start)
Cole Acres Country Club………….8:30 & 12:30 PM
Swindler’s Ridge Museum
Main Street……………………….11:00 AM-3:00 PM
1851 Village School House Museum
Village Park……………………...10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Fever River Puppeteers (“The Leadminer’s Daughter”)
Hazel Green Opera House….11:00 AM & 2:00 PM
Benton High School Alumni Banquet
Banfield’s Swiss Haus…..Doors Open at 4:30, Meal at
6:00
For updated information check out web site:
www.bentonwi.us
Swindler’s Ridge Museum
Main Street…………….……………....11:00 AM-3:00 PM
1851 Village School House Museum
Village Park…………………………....10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Fr. Mazzuchelli’s Rectory/Historical Display
Near St. Patrick’s Rectory……..by appoint 759-2131
Fever River Puppeteers (“The Leadminer’s Daughter”)
Hazel Green Opera House….….….…………....2:00 PM
Chicken BBQ
Village Park…………………...………….…4:00-6:00 PM
Street Dance --Wheelhouse
Main Street………………….…..……..8:00-Midnight
Must be 21 to attend. No exceptions
Labor Day
Monday, September 1
Village Park
Book Sale at Library
Main Street……….…….9:00 AM –1:00 PM
Parade
Main Street……………...………….9:30 AM
UW Marching Band & Bucky
Village Park………….…..………...After Parade
Bingo
Mazzuchelli’s Rectory/Historical Display
Near St Patrick’s Rectory…….1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Swindler’s Ridge Museum
Main Street…………….………..11:00 AM-3:00 PM
Duck Races
Horseshoe Bend Bridge…………..…………3:00 PM
1851 Village School House Museum
Village Park…………….10:30 AM-7:00 PM
Craft Fair
Village Park…………….10:30 AM-5:00 PM
Inflatables & Midway games … all day
Village Park……………….…….10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Ridge Rangers
Village Park……………..…..…….1:30 PM-4:30 PM
Fever River String Band
Village Park………………..………….5:00-7:00 PM
Pasty Dinner
St. Patrick’s Hall …………………11:00 AM
Drawings & Parade Winners Announced
Village Park……………......……7:00 PM
WHERE
This event will be held at Nemitz Family Chiropractic 188 E
Main St. Benton, WI
REGISTER*
You MUST pre-register and call for this event by Monday,
July 21st. Call 608-759-6152 to register.
SPEAKERS
This event will be presented by Dr. Steffanie Nemitz of Nemitz Family Chiropractic, a Wellness Way Clinic here in
Benton, WI.
Then this FREE class is for you! Still not decided? How
about FREE and HEALTHY snacks? That’s right! You just
come, relax, and enjoy an evening of learning and some
yummy food.
Do you suffer with any of these conditions?
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Thyroid issues
• Heart disease
• Autoimmune disease • Migraines
• Allergies
Is inflammation the root of your illness? How harmful is
chronic inflammation? How do you correct the problem
naturally?
Inflammation... you hear the term a lot but really...what is it?
What is going on in the body when something gets inflamed?
HOW HOT ARE YOU?
BCDC
PO Box 241
Benton, WI 53803
Change Service Requested
Current Resident
Visit us at
www.bentonwi.us
2014 Tree of Love Ceremony
$5.00 donation
In Memory of :________________________________________________________________________________
Or
In Honor of:_________________________________________________________________________________
Special Message (please keep short):___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Contributor’s name and address________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Return to:
BCDC
PO Box 241
Benton, WI 53803
I wish to donate to:
□ Tree of Love Scholarship
□ Keith Farrey Memorial Scholarship