Like all unexplainable things, thereis no satisfying answer for why Sarahand I decided to use the prescriptionpain medicine Oxycodone in the sum-mer of 2012.

Nor is there much of an answer for

why we continued using it in spite ofthe increasing number of warningspopping up around us, like red flags ontip-up poles.

You may wonder: How could twosmart people have been so foolish?

A few months after moving to Es-pañola, New Mexico, where I wrote forthe local newspaper, Sarah met ayoung professional couple - affection-

ately known as the Fruities - whoquickly became frequent guests at ourcasita.

Our friendship with the Fruitiesspelled the end of our social isolation,itself a special kind of misery. Throughthem we befriended others, no smallfeat in northern New Mexico, whereAnglos, who are few, tend to be dis-trusted, if not outright disliked.

One evening, while drinking arounda bonfire we lit in our yard, the Fruitiesshared with us their recent strugglewith opiate painkillers, known in theValley as candies, on account of the as-sortment of colors they came in. Inturn, I shared my brief struggle withpills and heroin 13 years earlier, and

VOL. 123, NO. 16 THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 SINGLE COPY PRICE: $1.25

www.MiddletonTimes.com

‘Peanuts’ Esser honored

by NATHAN J. cOmp

Times-Tribune

by DEB BIEcHLER

Times-Tribune

Rod “Peanuts” Esser will celebratea very special anniversary on Saturday,April 18 at the Middleton PerformingArts Center.

Esser, a custodian at Park Elemen-tary School, will be honored for his 50years with the Middleton-Cross PlainsArea School District during a concertfeaturing Maggie Mae and Her Heart-

land Country Band. Esser has heardMae perform more than a dozen times,including in December for his 75thbirthday.

“I am honored and humbled thateveryone is making such a fuss overthis,’’ he said. “I love Maggie’s con-certs. Everyone who comes will have agreat time. She provides good, whole-

some entertain-ment.’’

As of April 11,574 tickets had beensold for the concert,MCPASD EducationFoundation execu-tive director PerryHibner said. The

PAC can hold approximately 900 peo-ple.

“We’re thrilled that so many ofPeanuts’ friends are planning on spend-ing this evening with him,’’ Hibnersaid. “He is a great friend to so manypeople in our communities and it’s niceto do something for him.’’

Tickets for the show, which begins

at 7 p.m., are $26 for orchestra seatingand $21 for mezzanine seating, plus asmall fee. All seats are reserved.

Tickets can be purchased throughthe Brown Paper tickets website(www.brownpapertickets.com) or bycalling 1-800-838-3006. Tickets will

Maggie Mae concert will thank 75-year-old custodian for 50 years with school district

Mae

Photo by Rebecca Van DanYoung punksLocal teens celebrated all things steampunk at the Middleton Public LIbrary on Wednesday of last week. Steampunk is a neo-Victorian genre/move-

ment that imagines a Victorian world with modern, steam-driven technology. Teens like Anna Baker and Elora Doxtater (above) gathered to discussthe book “Mortal Engines” and make steampunk crafts as part of the library’s Donuts and Dystopias program.

Growingfood forthose whoneed it

In 2014, the Middleton OutreachMinistry (MOM) food pantry gardensyielded more than 8,000 pounds offresh produce for food pantry clients.In the past, those yields began asseedlings that were purchased or do-nated, and from seeds sown directly inthe ground once all danger of frost hadpassed.

This year for the first time, MOMgardens, along with other member gar-dens affiliated with the Madison AreaFood Pantry Gardens Association(MAFPG), are renting greenhousespace in Middleton to start their ownseedlings.

“Dan Johnson, coordinator of theMOM gardens, approached me aroundChristmas time. Our building needs

Anatomy of addictionPart of an ongoing series by a Middleton High School graduate

See ESSER, page 5

See GARDEN, page 9

See HEROIN, page 3

THE HEROIN BLUES

The Middleton Common Councillast week discussed the possibility ofcreating a water and sewer utility dis-trict for the Community of BishopsBay and beyond for future develop-ments extending into the Town ofWestport. 

No action was taken, but the discus-sion appeared to address the concernsraised by city officials, staff and resi-dents.  

The Community of Bishops Baymust build the necessary infrastructureto support already approved develop-ments.  As ald. Hans Hilbert pointedout, the surrounding area is Middle-ton’s targeted growth area.  Extendingthe utility beyond what is needed forBishops Bay makes the land more de-velopable, Hilbert contended.

“Much of this surrounds the BishopsBay development, which we haveworked on a long time to make sure itis the type of development we want inthis community,” Hilbert stated.“There is going to continue to be de-mand for growth in this area.  Sincewe’ve been doing comprehensive plan-ning we’ve been calling for this area tobe our growth area especially for resi-dential.”

Under the proposed funding mecha-

nism the City of Middleton would fi-nance the entire project estimated tocost as much as $14 million.  Develop-ers would then pay a special tax deter-mined by a deferred specialassessment.  Bishops Bay, the only de-velopment currently underway, wouldcover a significant portion of the spe-cial tax.  As other developments comeon board they would pay an assed taxuntil all costs have been recovered bythe city.  

“If we don’t put the infrastructure inthere and we are dealing with a devel-opers with deep pockets who want tojust put it in somewhere else, they aregoing to go further out, they’re goingto go to perhaps Waunakee where theydon’t have as strong of intergovern-mental agreements and just pay to haveit put in,” explained Hilbert.  “This atleast gives us a pretty strong positionto stick to our plans and to carry outwhat we see as smart growth in thearea.”

Typically the developer is responsi-ble for financing the sewer and waterutilities.  The major difference in thiscase is a large undeveloped portion ofland will be serviceable.  In the originaldeveloper proposal for Bishops Bay a12-inch water main would have beenused.  In this proposal a 16 inch mainis used.

Ald. Gurdip Brar asked if the citycould make a shorter route or savemoney by covering less area.  Hilbertresponded by noting the leverage theutility would give the city in dealingwith future developers.  

“If we start looking at a less expen-sive or shorter route, I will remindeverybody that we had a developercome and propose putting septic tanksand wells in the city as a mechanism toavoid costs such as these,” Hilbertsaid.  “This a great example of wherewe can show we will back developerswho do the right thing and follow ourordinances.”

Brar said his major concern with theproposal was shifting the financial riskto the taxpayers.  City attorney LarryBechler claimed that while there willbe some risk, the proposal is framed togive taxpayers as much protection aspossible.

“I have never said this is risk freeand I won’t say it now,” Bechlerstated.  “But we will do everything wecan to provide a legal framework thatgives us as much protection as we canlegally get and we will have that dis-cussion independent of the discussionon any phase of the development tak-ing place.” 

“If this goes the way it is intendedwe will have a reserve fund quicklythat will cover debt service paymentscoming from the development,” Bech-ler added.  “The payments to supportthe utility district will come from en-tirely within the district.  The whole

goal here and why we’re doing a utilitydistrict is to move this risk as far as welegally can away from the general tax-payers of the city.”

Terrence Wall, of T. Wall Enterprisesand the Community of Bishops Bay,spoke before the council to address theconcerns raised.  He said the proposalwas a win-win for the city and futuredevelopers.  He said while the city willinitially finance the project, the devel-opers, including himself, will eventu-ally entirely pay for it.  

“We’re the first to go over the hilland now that we’re going over the hillyou have a choice,” Wall said.  “Wecan just build what we want, what weneed, which is a fraction of this or wecan build greater efficiency.  We canbuild a larger infrastructure that has asavings by: one, you don’t pay for anyof it.  You are financing it but really thelandowners pay for all of it and two,

we are already building a portion of itanyway.  We have to dig that trenchanyway so to put in a bigger pipe isgoing to have a marginal savings.”

Wall emphasized the demand forhousing in Middleton, pointing out thatthe housing inventory of Dane Countyis currently at only 3.6 months.  Thatmeans when a house goes on the mar-ket it is sold in an average in 3.6months.  He said taking that into ac-count should ease the concerns ofrisk.  

PAGE 2 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

Council mulls utility district

Times-Tribune photo by Cameron BrenDeveloper Terrence Wall addresses the Middleton Common Council last week.

by cAmERON BREN

Times-Tribune

Sarah copped to popping painkillers onthe occasion they were available to her.

But the conversation graduallychanged and before long we were talk-ing cost and quantity. The Fruities, ev-idently still struggling, had brought acouple of 30mg oxycodones withthem. We declined their offer to sharethe candy. In our casita, they crushedone of the baby blue pills, split it intotwo equal, parallel lines they thensnorted through a rolled-up dollar bill.

After that night, the Fruities crushedand snorted oxys each time they vis-ited, sometimes dropping by becausethere wasn’t another safe house avail-able to them.

I don’t recall the first time me andSarah succumbed to the temptation,perhaps because it seemed so inconse-quential at the time.

But I recall our excitement at havingmade a local connect, since drugs hadoften seeded the friendships and mem-orable moments that made life worthliving. We had gone from being just an-other Anglo couple to being invited tocookouts and parties.

Suddenly, Española seemed like aplace we could call home.

Primed for disasterThe paper I worked for in Española

aggressively covered the area’s heroinepidemic. For me this meant filing re-ports on every overdose death in RioArriba County.

This prompted office visits fromparents, many of whom insisted theirchild didn’t use drugs, despite medicalinvestigator ruling opiate toxicity asthe cause of death.

The stigmas ran deeper there thanthey do here. Last year I had the oppor-tunity to speak with parents who hadrecently lost children to heroin over-doses. The conversations were muchdifferent.

Unable to reconcile memories oftheir children with the drug that killedthem, they hoped I might be able to ex-plain the allure their kids saw in heroin.They wanted a satisfying answer toWhy?

People don’t one day wake up want-ing to use heroin. They try it becausesomeone they’re close to has tried it; oroffers a taste in a vulnerable moment;or maybe they meet someone who sellsit and, working off their experiencewith other drugs, mistakes heroin for arecreational narcotic.

Or maybe life was painful and theywanted an escape.

Either way, it’s too late once you re-alize you hurt without it. Even thoughyou know it’s only going to get worseif you keep on like this, something in-side you, something akin to an alterna-tive personality impervious to yourbetter judgment, takes charge.

I’ve struggled with this duality myentire life, which comes as no surpriseconsidering drugs have been a part ofmy life since conception, when I inher-ited 23 chromosomes from my biolog-ical father who, following a drug dealgone bad, would later spend years inhiding.

My adoptive father had his own is-sues with alcohol and cocaine, in addi-tion to being a chronic weed smoker.So when I had an opportunity at 12 tosmoke weed for the first time it didn’tseem like much out of the ordinary.

Two years later, my 35-year-oldneighbor, Marvin, introduced me tocrack, which led to my first stint inrehab. Not long after becoming a Mid-dleton High School student my sopho-more year, I discovered psychedelicsand cocaine.

But I didn’t run into much troubleuntil after my sister died in April 1999,when a girl I began seeing turned meon to hydrocodone, which stifled mygrief. Unfortunately, the popularity ofpainkillers like OxyContin had yet toblow up, making pills difficult to findon the black market.

So we doctor shopped until beingblacklisted from every hospital and ur-gent care within 50 miles of Madison.Switching to heroin was a no-brainer.

After a few months on the smack, Idecided I wanted more out of life. I en-tered a Methadone maintenance pro-gram, returned to college, andeventually quit the relationship. As forher, she continued to use and wound upserving two-years in prison on drug-re-lated charges.

Today she is clean and happily mar-ried.

The heroin plungeThrough the Fruities we met Jewelz,

who had an oxy prescription, as did hersister and two previous generations ofher family, including mother andgrandmother. And through Jewelz, wemet Lupe, who visited Española a fewdays each month to sell her boyfriend’s

oxys. Lupe and Severo used the moneyto gamble and buy heroin.

In addition to Severo’s oxys, Lupealso sold Subutex, a Narcan-free ver-sion of Suboxone given to pregnant orbreastfeeding mothers. Sarah likedSubutex best because she didn’t vomitas much after taking them.

By the time Lupe and Severo movedto Española in late January, 2013,Sarah and I were plowing through oursavings and spending most of our pay-checks trying to keep up with the pay-ments on the payday loans we hadtaken out.

The reason for us denying theFruities early offers to share their can-dies was coming true. We’d gone fromtaking the occasional 15mg oxy toneeding upwards of 90mgs just to feelwell. With a going rate of $1 per mg,our tolerance was getting mighty ex-pensive.

But pills were always around, exceptwhen they weren’t. It was early Febru-ary when, for the first time since webegan using, that the Valley’s illicitpainkiller market was as dry as itsdrought-stricken landscape.

We had money to spend, but therewas nothing to spend it on. When Sat-urday morning arrived, our bodieswere cramped and fatigued. Weyawned and sneezed and tried gettingcomfortable to no avail. I slept insteadof going into the office as I hadplanned, while Sarah debated whethershe had the energy to make it througha busy night of waitressing.

She made it through her shift, barely.Her first question when I picked her upwas whether I had found anything. Ihad in fact received a few texts frompeople who had a line on some candies,but their scarcity meant they wereheavily taxed. Although we hurt, wedidn’t hurt enough to pay nearly doublethe regular rate.

Instead, we decided to buy heroin.After 13 years I found myself suddenlyjonesing for a taste and Sarah con-fessed to wanting to at least try it.

We acknowledged it was an escala-tion of what we openly admitted was aproblem, but were unconvinced it wasa point of no return. We told ourselveswe could still quit any time, eventhough it was clear something inside ofus, something stronger than our out-

ward desires and better sense, wasworking against us.

We drove to Lupe and Severo’splace on Old San Pedro Road and pur-chased a gram of black tar heroin thatwe freebased on a square of aluminumfoil. All of our problems fell away likebooster rockets from a space shuttleuntethered to Earth’s gravity.

Back in reality, our lives had justgone from bad to worse. The heroincraving that laid dormant inside me for13 years was suddenly awake, whileSarah’s curiosity about heroin sealedher fate. In less than 10 months shewould be dead.

Road to relapseIn 2005, I attended a seminar in Tuc-

son, Arizona, underwritten by theWake Forest School of Addiction Stud-ies. The semi-annual program wasaimed at schooling journalists on thevagaries of addiction science so theycould in turn better educate the publicwhen reporting on drug-related issues.

The seminar filled in a lot of blanksin my own understanding of addictionrelative to its hold on me six years ear-lier. Between 2005 and my move toNew Mexico in early 2012, I watchedseveral people close to me strugglewith the same painkiller addiction I hadovercome, the hell I went through notbeing enough of a deterrent for them toavoid making the same mistakes.

It felt like penance in a way, since Isaw it as my turn to deal with the end-less parade of aggravations, lies, andoverdoses I had similarly perpetratedon those who loved me.

Loving an addict, or being one your-self, are both special kinds of hell. Andhaving been an addict, I knew therewas no magical word to compel the ad-dicts in my life to start living right.

One of the programs at the addictionseminar dealt with how long-term druguse changes the brain’s physical struc-tures and chemical compositions. Oneof the studies we looked at highlightedthe differences in pre- and post-addic-

tion brains of monkeys that had beengiven cocaine over a one-year period.

Five years after the monkeys re-ceived their last dose of cocaine, theirbrains had yet to return to their pre-ad-diction states.

I had been off the smack for morethan five years and seeing my lovedones go down that same road made mehappy that my life was no longer con-sumed by hustling up enough cash toscore a little dope. I was grateful for allI had accomplished since my last taste,while making a point of showing themthere is life after addiction.

Those who’ve never experiencebona fide addiction have little clue asto what it takes to overcome it. It isn’tmerely a choice, but choices - hard,painful, sorrowful choices. It meanscutting ties with friends, avoiding fa-vored hangouts, coping with lonelinessand intrusive thoughts, not to mentionwithdrawal.

It requires all of the painful thingsyou’ve avoided and coming to termswith every crappy thing you’ve done orthat was done to you.

I had beaten heroin 13 years earlier,so our move to Española wasn’t anybig deal. I was a reporter, after all, andmore than capable of keeping a criticaldistance between my subjects and me.If anything, my experience would givemy reporting an edge or perspectivethat previous walkers of the cops andcourts beat lacked.

My past troubles were a lifetimeago, in a previous century even, a post-script to a long-gone immaturity. Be-sides, Sarah and I had each other. Wewere tight as tight can be and wouldnever let the other stray too deep intotrouble. Our want of a future togetherwould guide our every decision.

Still, you wonder how we couldhave been so foolish. Why, after all weknew and had seen in our lives, wewould see a few hours of pleasurebeing worth the long-term risk?

There is no satisfying answer.We just did.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 3

HEROIN continued from page 1

PAGE 4 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

Photo contributed

Planet to headline Jazz TracsJanet Planet will headline the Jazz Tracs Festival Concert at Middleton

High School on Friday, May 8.  The concert will be held at 7:30 pm in theMiddleton H.S. Performing Arts Center.   This annual jazz concert featuresthe Middleton H.S. Jazz Ensembles in collaboration with guest professionalartists.

Jazziz Magazine hailed Ms. Planet as a “Voice of the New Jazz Culture ...amazingly powerful with seemingly limitless expression.”

In her career, she has performed with legends such as Jackie and Roy,George Benson, and her mentor Nancy King, and shared the stage with manyother accomplished jazz artists including Ellis Marsalis, John Harmon, GeneBertoncini, and Marian McPartland.  

Planet frequently shares with students and others her knowledge of vocaltechnique, jazz history, performance careers, and the music business, bring-ing to this experience her perspectives as a woman and artist. A busy concertschedule has taken her to performing arts centers, opera houses, colleges,universities, jazz festivals and jazz clubs across the USA and internationally,with appearances in Europe and Japan where she co-founded the First Fra-ternity of Musicians in the city of Nagasaki in 2000.

She will perform a set with longtime friends John Gibson-bass, Tom The-abo-guitar and Tom Washatka-tenor sax.

Planet will also collaborate with the Middleton High School Jazz Ensem-bles.   The bands will accompany her as she shares music from her most re-cent project, music from the Bob Dylan Songbook.

General admission adult tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at thedoor.  Student tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door.

To obtain advanced pricing tickets or for more information, call 608-829-9679.  

Grant application window is open againThe Middleton Community Endow-

ment Committee (MCE) is again ac-cepting grant applications fromcharitable organizations located in theMiddleton area for its 2015 springcycle.

The MCE Advisory Committee con-siders grant applications twice eachyear, and the next deadline is April 30.MCE expects to have approximately$3,500 to hand out this spring. Grantrecipients will be announced at theMiddleton Chamber of Commerce’smonthly Get Moving Middleton break-fast meeting at the Hilton Garden Innon Thursday, June 4.

MCE awarded five grants worth$3,300 to the Alzheimer and Dementia

Alliance of Wisconsin, Clark StreetCommunity School, Middleton HighSchool, Middleton United Soccer Cluband the Middleton Youth Center duringits 2014 fall cycle. The five grants werethe most MCE has handed out in a sin-gle cycle.

MCE typically awards grants in the$250 to $1,000 range. Since 2009,MCE has handed out more than$31,000 in grants to more than 30 or-ganizations.

MCE is dedicated to enhancing thequality of life in the Middleton area forpresent and future generations. Appli-cation materials for grant requests canbe found at www.madisoncommunity-foundation.org/MCE.

“I am proud of the contributionsMCE has made to the Middleton area,’’MCE chair Dan Loichinger said. “Weare poised to have an even greater im-pact in the future thanks to the generos-ity of our many donors.”

MCE is an affiliate fund of MadisonCommunity Foundation. Since its in-ception in 2009, MCE has raised morethan $150,000 for its endowment fundand has established a goal of raising anadditional $100,000 over the next fouryears.

Besides Loichinger, other membersof the advisory committee include Ce-cile Druzba, Jack Hemb, Perry Hibner,Andy Lewis, Adrianne Machina, JoshMarron and Ray Riddle.

Matheny performs in OKC bombing playLauren Matheny, an Oklahoma City

University student from Middleton,was cast in “The 20th AnniversaryOklahoma City Bombing Project,” aninnovative theater production that isrecognizing the 20th anniversary of theterrorist attack.

The play is being presented free tothe public from  April 16 to 19  inOCU’s Burg Theatre, located in theKirkpatrick Fine Arts Center at N.W.

24th Street and Blackwelder Avenue.The play is incorporating an emerg-

ing form of theatre art called the ver-batim process to reveal untold storiesfrom the 1995 bombing of the AlfredP. Murrah Federal Building. OCU the-atre students will perform the originalplay that is based on interviews withmore than 45 family members of vic-tims, survivors, local officials and firstresponders.

OCU commissioned an award-win-ning playwright from England whospecializes in verbatim, which is a doc-umentary for the stage usually basedon personal interviews and transcripts.Some of the interviews were conductedby the cast members.

For more information or to reservetickets, visit the “20th AnniversaryOklahoma City Bombing Project” Webpage at okcu.edu/okcbombingproject.

On Tuesday, May 5th at 6:30 PM theMiddleton Public Library will bring its“Read Together Middleton-Cross-Plains” community reading program toa close with a special performance ofscenes from the stage adaptation of ToKill a Mockingbird, starring RichardGanoung as Atticus Finch.

The performance is being staged byChildren’s Theater of Madison, whichwill feature Mockingbird in their 2016

season. Read Together MiddletonCross Plains, the library’s inauguralcommunity reading program, is cen-tered around the classic novel byHarper Lee. Starting in January of thisyear, the library has hosted a series ofprograms for all ages exploring thethemes of justice, respect, and couragein the novel.

This performance, which will in-clude a talk-back Q&A session with

the actors, will be held in the library’slower level Archer Room. For moreinformation or to register for this pro-gram, visit midlibrary.org/events, emailinfo@midlibrary.org, or call 608-827-7403.

A second performance will be heldon Thursday, May 7th at 6:30 PM atthe Rosemary Garfoot Public Libraryin Cross Plains.

Read ‘Mockingbird’ together

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 5

also be sold the night of the event start-ing at 5 p.m., Hibner said.

In addition, more than 30 area busi-nesses have also agreed to sponsor theevent.

“We are so grateful for the supportof the many businesses and individualsin our community for this wonderfulevent,” Foundation board chair Court-ney Ward-Reichard said.

All ticket proceeds from the eventwill benefit the MCPASD EducationFoundation. The Foundation has raisedmore than $150,000 for its endowmentfund since its inception in 2011 and hasanother $150,000 in pledges alreadysecured over the next three years. TheFoundation has also handed out 32grants worth more than $20,000 in thepast two years. Every school in theDistrict, along with one 4K site, has re-ceived at least one grant.

The Lions Club of Cross Plains, the

Cross Plains Optimist Club, the ParkPTO and St. Francis Xavier CatholicChurch will sell food, beverages anddessert before the concert. The PACwill open at 5 p.m. and Mae and Esserwill be available to meet with peoplebefore and after the show. A shortvideo tribute to Esser will begin at 6:45p.m.

Mae, a home-grown talented coun-try singer and Nashville recordingartist from Oxford, has been entertain-ing crowds with her country music andyodeling and promises enjoymentthroughout her shows since taking upthe guitar in 2002.

She has become one of the biggestMidwestern names in pure countrymusic. She is a favorite performer onRFD TV’s “Midwest Country Show”on Saturday nights, which has madeher a familiar face in millions of homesacross the country. She also makes ap-

pearances on The Virginia DreamsCenter Stage Show and the ShotgunRed Variety Show on RFD TV.

In 2012 her gospel album “Walkingin the Son’s Light” received a Grammynomination. She has recorded seven al-bums and has sang with such greats asThe Riders in the Sky and recorded aduet with country great Doug Stone aswell as opened up shows for manyartists.  In 2011 Maggie’s album“Cooking Up Country’’ won the RuralRoots Music Commissions pick forContemporary Country CD of the YearAward.

She is accompanied by the Heart-land Country Band, which includesEric Nofsinger (fiddle), Steve Nelson(lead guitar), James Lau (bass), RayChambers (drums), Loren Nelson(steel guitar) and Stuart Thayer (piano).

Photo contributedPark Elementary custodian Rod “Peanuts” Esser with country singer

Maggie Mae.

ESSER continued from page 1

Pheasant Branch Creek relocation work is underwayThe Pheasant Branch Kromrey Mid-

dle School Stream Relocation Projectwill relocate approximately 480 linearfeet of stream channel away from erod-ing streambanks and a steep erodedslope by creating a new channel usingecologically-sensitive techniques inorder to mitigate erosion created as aresult of increased stormwater inputsinto Pheasant Branch in the City ofMiddleton.

Relocation of this section of streamwill also increase flood flow capacityat the site allowing flood flows to riseup out of the bankfull channel and

spread out over the newly createdfloodplain, dissipating energy, and of-fering increased protection at the toe ofthe steep slope above which a new ad-dition to the Kromrey Middle Schoolhas been built. This project is fundedby TIF funds and is not a City of Mid-dleton Public Lands Department workitem. Construction is expected to last2-3 weeks.

For additional information orquestions about the project, pleasecontact Aaron Steber at aaron.ste-ber@cardno.com phone or 708-516-3317.

Slowdown!

When I was in the seventh grade, myteacher, Mrs. B, conducted an exercisewith our class. She didn’t tell us whatit was about right away. That would berevealed at the end.

Mrs. B walked around the room,placing a sheet of instructions upsidedown on our desks. She told us not toturn it over and read what “to do” be-fore she told us to begin. That, and thefact that she looked at the clock beforesaying, “Go!” made me think that timewas of the essence.

I loved speed games! In sixth gradeI was the class champion at diagram-ming sentences at the chalkboard. Sis-ter Ann Margaret was big on boy/girlcompetitions. She’d invite us to theboard, two by two and dictate a sen-tence.

When she said, “Go,” the contest-ants would design the correct diagramand insert the words in the right placesthen slam their chalk victoriously onthe tray.

The final competition pitted meagainst Scott Y. He was a formidableopponent, but not a fast enough writerto beat me.

So far, in 7th grade, I had not yet dis-tinguished myself. In the first two

months of school, Mrs. B never onceconducted sentence diagramming com-petitions.

So, I was particularly keen when wefinally seemed to be playing at some-thing that required speed. At her com-mand to start, papers flew up and over.

The first instruction was to readthrough the entire list before doinganything else. The second commandwas to write your name on the board.

I flew out of my chair, not wantingto be undone by speed readers. I’d juststart right in!

She nodded her head at me, eye-brows raised and lips almost smiling ina “just what I expected sort of look.”

Word of my speed prowess musthave preceded me.

There was no resting on my laurelsand basking in Mrs. B’s encourage-ment. Other students were in hot pur-suit as we made our way down the listof a dozen or more activities like putyour math book on your desk, clapyour hands three times, etc.

I led the pack and worked hard tokeep it that way. I raced around theroom, the first at everything on the list.Or so I thought.

When I finally reached the last line,well ahead of the others, my heart sank.The last item read, “Don’t do steps 1-11. Just sign this paper and put it onmy desk. If you already completedsteps 1-11, stand at the front of theclassroom.”

I just about died.As I walked slowly to the front of

the room, I glanced at Mrs. B. There

was the nod and look again. This time I read it for what it was,

not a congratulatory expression, butone that said, “Just what I expected.”

I had finally distinguished myself inher class. This time it was not as a“speed genius in parts of speech.” Itwas as the most impulsive studentwho’d rather be doing something otherthan just sitting there reading direc-tions.

Mrs. B got our attention in an effec-tive way, letting us know that there arethings that call for being speedy andother things that call for thoroughnessand taking the time to read directions.I wish that her lesson would have beenless embarrassing, but no one was forc-ing me to zoom around the room at halfthe speed of light.

Still, the encouragement that I gotfor going fast and doing more, weighedin heavier than the lesson that I wastaught in seventh grade. The faster thatI ran my errands, the more time that Ihad to hang out with friends.

The faster I could type and takeshorthand, the more marketable I wasas a secretary when I left high school.The faster that I could waitress, themore tips I earned. You get the drift.

I just finished the book about HarrietBeecher Stowe that I mentioned in mylast column. It said that in her lastyears of life, the late 1800’s, Harrietwarned people about the “speed ofmodern times.”

I wonder what she’d say now! So-ciety and technology feed whatevercompulsions we might have toward thequick and easy.

We resist waiting. Now there are cellphones to keep our minds engaged.Last week, during a break at a VusiMahlasela concert, I glanced up theaisle that I was sitting in. All 7 peoplestill in their seats had their cell phonesout. I admit to being one of them.

In her book, When the Heart Waits,Sue Monk Kidd writes, “Our innerclocks tick at a much slower speed thansociety. Slowing our feet, our minds,our desires. our impulses - stillingthose things that drive us into fasterand faster patterns of living - will helpopen us to the transforming experienceof waiting . . . . Here’s the paradox: weachieve our deepest progress standingstill.”

Last month I taught another sessionof Meditation and Mindfulness for Ed-ucators for Viterbo University. All ofthe people in the class were, principals,teachers, or teacher evaluators.

It’s common for them to “squeezethe seconds” to accomplish everythingthat needs doing in a workday. Noneof them had meditated before.

After their first 10-minute attempt tomeditate, one student spoke for themall when she said, “This is hard!!”

Making friends with our own still-ness is hard at first. But I’m finding,more and more, the value of makingthat effort.

In my mid-fifties I learned that myendocrine system was out of whack.My adrenals were tired, my cortisolwas high and my hormones were off.

One health practitioner put it thisway, “Deb, it’s like you’ve beenpulling a really heavy train up hill fora long time. Your body needs a rest.”

She was right. The faster I could dothings, the more I could do. Or so Ithought. Little did I realize the pricethat my body and mind were paying.

Now that the weather has warmed,we’ll be graced with butterflies again.It might seem cliche’ at this point toraise them up as the example of whatcan happen when you wait.

But, I’m going to do it anyway!Without the time of waiting, without

stopping all of that eating and crawlingaround, the transformation into a but-

terfly could not happen. So many people feel that they are

missing something if they are not con-stantly checking their phones or com-puters for Facebook posts, tweets andthe like. But what people are missingif they fill every second is their owninner wisdom and creativity.

Some of the most famous inventors,writers and theologians were medita-tors. Here are some that I know about,Thomas Edison (although he called hissessions “power napping”), BenjaminFranklin, Confucious, St. Teresa ofAvilla, Mahatma Gandhi, BenjaminFranklin, Ralph Waldo Emmerson,Henry David Thoreau, Ezra Pound,and of course, The Dalai Lama. Thereare many, many more.

Spring is a time when things cometo life. The wait of winter is over.Even with the lure of fine weather andlonger daylight hours, I hope that yougive yourself some time to slow downand recharge. Your body will thankyou!!!

PAGE 6 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

Well, the federal government just hi-jacked control of the Internet. I givecredit to those big companies, likeGoogle and others, that promoted theirdefinition of “Net Neutrality,” which isreally code for “now that we climbedup the ladder to the position of top dog,let’s get the government to pull the lad-der out from under any potential start-ups that might threaten us.” It’s not acoincidence that the biggest companiesin the tech world were in favor of this,and here’s why.

What the Federal CommunicationsCommission did was hijack control ofthe entire innovation / IT economywithout authorization from Congress,and without a law being passed, andsadly everyone just sits by and let’s ithappen.

On the face of it, net neutrality isbeing promoted as ‘necessary’ to pre-vent the big bad broadband companiesfrom charging different prices forspeed or content. In other words, theFCC is prohibiting differential pricingfor different products or services,which is the essence of capitalism.And since real history isn’t beingtaught properly in school any more,this new generation doesn’t rememberor doesn’t know the lessons of history

about how this story always, alwaysends...

Differential pricing is necessary forinnovation and progress. Why? Be-cause if the provider / owner of differ-ent products or services must pricethem all the same, then the owner can-not innovate, and worse, can’t charge aheavy user of the service more basedupon their use. The FCC doesn’t wantbroadband providers to charge differ-ent prices for short or long haul trafficor for more or less content or for fasteror slower traffic.

This has been tried in the past. TheSoviets tried pricing products all thesame, with the result being that a se-vere shortage of products and servicesquickly developed leaving everyonewith a shortage. In a capitalist econ-omy, differential pricing is essential toregulating demand for a particularproduct. Think of Apple iphone buy-ers. Some of them will pay top dollarto have the latest model first, beforeothers, while I am perfectly contentwith a past model that costs far less.

Maybe you forgot that the originaltelephone company, AT&T, had onlytwo prices, local and long-distance,which stymied innovation for decades.Only once AT&T was broken up did awave of differential pricing result inmassive innovation, spurring creativitythat eventually resulted in the moderntelecommunications era we now enjoy.

What the promoters of net neutralitydon’t realize is that they’re going to getexactly what they don’t want; heavyhanded government regulation of theinternet, forced sameness and margin-alization, and worse, taxation and moreregulation of the internet and web traf-fic.

Not convinced? Let me give you acouple of examples if the governmentapplied the same (perverse) logic toother areas of the economy. Take carsfor example. What if the governmentsaid that everyone had to drive thesame car, at the same speed? Peoplewho wanted to purchase more afford-able, smaller cars with better gasmileage couldn’t because that productwould not be offered for sale. Like-wise, drivers who could afford to buya luxury vehicle or faster or bigger carcouldn’t do that either, which would bea big blow to the economy since theprofits from luxury car sales dispropor-tionately support the auto manufactur-ers enabling them to build those lessexpensive cars. And all traffic wouldhave to drive at say, 25 mph, becauseno one could be allowed to drive fasterthan anyone else - on the highway oranywhere.

Likewise with office buildings. I al-ways charged more for office space lo-cated on the lobby or the upper floorsor if the tenant wanted their name on asign on the building. Why? First,

those spaces were in higher demandand there are companies willing to paymore to have a location in the buildingthat is superior to other locations. Thisallowed for the middle floor locationsto likewise accommodate tenants whocouldn’t afford the best spots in thebuilding. It’s no different than a fastfood chain paying top dollar to get thecorner location at Main and Main infront of a big box store vs. some off thebeaten path site that has far less trafficand visibility.

Think about this: Before there wasFacebook, there was MySpace, whichFacebook knocked off. BeforeGoogle, there was Internet Explorer,etc. The FCC’s illegal takeover of theinternet will freeze in time the presenttitans of the internet, allowing them tolobby for more regulations that willmake it impossible for innovators andstartups to threaten them, as they did tothose innovators before them.

The Internet wasn’t broken. It ex-isted for two decades without govern-ment control. Now the federalgovernment will micro-manage thefastest growing business in the world,and they’ll be doing it by looking intheir rear-view mirror. Does anyoneactually think a handful of older bu-reaucrats who never innovated a thingin their lives are capable of determin-ing what is best for the rest of us? Upuntil now, innovators could simply in-

novate; no permission from anyonewas necessary. Now every innovationwill require an application and ap-proval by the FCC. Those in powerwill stay in power.

And what broadband company willinvest and upgrade their system to pro-vide for more speed and capacity whenthey can’t charge differential pricing inorder to recapture their investment innew infrastructure?

And of course the mainstream media(the press) was in favor of the new reg-ulation, and that ought to convince youright there that it is wrong. The massmedia has taken a beating from the In-ternet, but now those in the media withhistoric connections to the power inWashington can use their influence tofight back and punish those internet in-novators known as bloggers.

So watch out Millennials - don’t besurprised that you get exactly what youasked for along with a whole host ofother unintended consequences, withthe number one unintended conse-quence being that you won’t have thesame opportunities that those whowent before you had.

Up Against the Wall is a monthlycolumn written by Terrence Wall andreflects his views and opinions. It doesnot necessarily reflect the views of theMiddleton Times-Tribune.

CHURCH NOTES

UUPP AAGAINSTGAINST THETHE WWALLALL

by TERRENcE R. WALL

Times-Tribune

How the federal government hijacked the Internet

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 7

Find Us On Facebook

“Lost Dogsof Wisconsin”

www.facebook.com/findfido

Chief ofpolice tospeak atOpen Mic

Open Mic Night Thursday April16,2015 at Craftsman Table & Tap,6712 Frank Lloyd Wright Ave. Middle-ton Hills, 6-8 p.m.

Guest Presenter Chief ChuckFoulke, Middleton Police Department,will speak on what he has learned in hisfirst years as chief and his plans for thefuture. The evening ends with peoplewho have signed up to rant, rave, recitepoetry, sing, perform music, comedy,each having 3 minutes.

Join them upstairs, order from themenu and enjoy the cash bar. Feel freeto bring a food item for Middleton Out-reach Ministry.

This event is sponsored by Middle-ton Action Team.

PAGE 8 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

Music students shine at WSMA events

Hundreds of Middleton High Schoolmusic students performed at theWSMA Solo/Ensemble Music Festivalon Saturday, March 7 in Oregon. Con-gratulations to all of the MiddletonHigh School performers for their hardwork, individual music learning andperformance.

The MHS bands and orchestras areat their peak this spring due to all of theindividual practice hours and increasedmusicianship through the solo/ensem-ble experience.

Steve Kurr, MHS Orchestra Teacher,said about the student participation insolo/ensembles: “Working on solosand ensembles teaches a whole differ-ent set of skills from large orchestra re-hearsal. Students work on independentmusicianship skills, they become moreindividually responsible, and they sim-ply spend more time with their instru-ments in the weeks leading up to thisfestival.  February is the month ofgreatest musical growth in our musicclassrooms.”

A total of 148 MHS music events areheaded to the state WSMA contest atUW Platteville on April 26: 79 bandevents, 26 orchestra events, 29 choralevents and 14 piano events.

The following students have quali-fied for the state solo/ensemble contest.

Band Solos:Melissa Ahn, timpaniMeghann Armstrong, fluteAnna Ashley, trumpetSophie Boorstein, clarinetMiranda Boyd, marimbaJames Buenfil, clarinet & alto saxAndrew Burandt, alto saxHenry Cryns, clarinetGrace Chen, flute & pianoChloe Cole, pianoHaiwen Dai, marimbaOliver Epstein, bassoonAlex Fagre, baritone saxIsaac Galang, euphonium, pianoAdam Goren, concert snare, marimba,timpaniJordan Gundram, fluteKirby Heck, tromboneSimone Hendrix, fluteAlex Kao, clarinetHeidi Knoche, clarinetKei Kohmoto, trumpetConnor Kooistra, tromboneKennedy Kooistra, French hornEdward Larson, trumpetAndy Lewis, trumpetMacs Mahal, marimbaBrennan Martin, tenor saxEllis Mayne, alto saxKylie Mueller, euphoniumWill Mueller, concert snareJJ Meyer, tuba

Anna Nordhaus, fluteRoyal Oakes, fluteAkash Pattnaik, fluteDylan Petersen, timpaniMorgan Pincombe, pianoAli Pollard, alto saxMadeline Pope, fluteKillian Powers, alto saxCaleb Randall, alto saxEric Schmidt, marimbaTitus Smith, tromboneSahil Soni, pianoJack Tibbetts, marimbaPhoebe Tuite, fluteMatthew Wakai, alto saxJessica Wang, fluteAlex Warholic - concert snare,marimbaMatt Wedekind, alto saxAnna Welton-Arndt, fluteTeddy Williams, marimba, timpani,pianoAdam Yeazel, alto sax, string bassLuke Zoroufy, parade snare, marimba

Band Ensembles:Brass quintet: Isaac Galang, KirbyHeck, Katy Jurgella, Kei Kohmoto &Declan MulkerinFlute duet: Vanesa Meneses & JamesBuenfilFlute trio: Akash Pattnaik, Anna Wel-ton-Arndt & Tammy ZhongFlute trio: Anna Nordhaus, MorganPincombe & Madeline PopeClarinet trio: James Buenfil, Alex Kao& Laura WilsonClarinet quartet: Sophie Boorstein,Molly Hoferle, Rachel Steiner & BrettWipfliConcert snare duet: Adam Goren &Luke ZoroufyMallet duet: Adam Goren & TeddyWilliams Miscellaneous trio: James Buenfil,Andy Jiang & Jack KimPiano duet: Alyssa Boss & KaleighJohnsonSax duet: Morgan Eder & Sahil SoniSax duet: Alyssa Boss & AshleyStahnkeSax duet: James Buenfil & MattWedekindSax quartet: Nick Friedl, Ellis Mayne,Carlos Pimentel & Jack StantonSax quartet: Brennan Martin, Ali Pol-lard, Adam Yeazel & Matthew WakaiTrombone duet: Titus Smith & EvanJoyceTrombone quartet: Derek Kalvin,Michael Kjentvet, Connor Kooistra &Genaro SarmientoTrumpet trio: Andy Lewis, BaileySpellman & Wesley WakaiWoodwind Quintet: James Buenfil,Oliver Epstein, Kennedy Kooistra, Au-drey Loomis & Tammy Zhong

Cardinal Band Percussion Ensemble:Sam Jaeger, Kaden Mettel, Tori Ko-vall, Jack Tibbetts, Ben Bucheit, DrakeVandermause Alex Warholic, HaiwenDai, Peter Opitz, Anton Tung, BrendanSteeleConcert Band White Percussion En-semble: Melissa Ahn, Adam Goren,Ben Lewis, Daicy Yu, Quinn Pierstorff,Will Mueller, Luke Zoroufy, MaxLandowskiConcert Band Red Percussion Ensem-ble: Jeremy Auenson, Macs Mahal,Miranda Boyd, Gagan Singh, SarahEngle, Anna ClarkWind Ensemble Percussion Ensemble:Tanner Tanyeri, Dylan Petersen,Kaitlin Conroy, Eric Schmidt, TeddyWilliamsWind Ensemble Brass Choir - All WindEnsemble brass playersWind Ensemble Woodwind Choir - AllWind Ensemble woodwind players

Orchestra Solos:Savannah Albrecht, violinArria Alton, celloKira Galang, celloBelle Gallegos, violinJahnavi Gali, violaCalvin Guse, piano, violaSimone Hendrix, celloKira Holmes, violinRussell Kjorlie, violin

Nikki Noughani, pianoAndrew Plumb, piano, violinTamara Scott, violinMaureen Sheehan, violaNitin Somasundaram, violaEllie Taylor, violinHannah Thompson, violaRachel Thornton, violinNathan Trinkl, pianoMichael Xie, piano, violaMichelle Xie, piano, violinAdam Yeazel, string bassKirstin Yu, piano

Orchestra Ensembles:Philomusica Alternative String Ensem-bleString quartet: Kira Holmes, SergioAviles, Hannah Thompson, KiraGalangViola quartet: Mareen Sheehan, CalvinGuse, Paige Wirth, Nitin Somasun-daramViolin quartet: Savannah Albrecht,Michelle Xie, Stephanie Yoo & NikkiNoughaniViolin trio: Belle Gallegos, Ari White,Veronica MurdochViolin trio: Tamara Scott, MeaganSheehan, Grace PierstorffViolin/Viola trio: Ellie Taylor, DaewonLee, Michael Xie

Choral Solos:Isabel Bernauer, alto, music theaterThomas Berthelon-Lathrop, tenor,music theaterKailey Boyle, alto, music theaterAnna Clark, altoChloe Cole, sopranoNicole Cushman, sopranoSarah Engle, sopranoAmanda Huff, soprano, music theaterHannah Joseph, altoOrion Krystosek, tenorKaelin Meicher, sopranoKylie Peters, sopranoJJ Meyer, baritone, music theaterKendra Rassmuessen, sopranoLydia Shaw, sopranoHannah Thompson, altoSarah Woody, soprano, music theater

Choral Ensembles: Duet: Amanda Huff and JJ MeyerDuet: Abigail and Ruth ThompsonSATB Mixed Quartet: Kendra Rass-mussen, Emily Zeimentz, ThomasBerthelon-Lathrop, Adam YeazelTTBB Quartet: Orion Krystosek, ChrisBurandt, Zach Robertson, James Ras-mussenTTBB Quartet: Thomas Bethelon-Lathrop, Sam Ropa, Richard Ra-manantsoa, Adam YeazelBristol Street a cappella groupMHS Chamber Singer’s madrigal

String quartet: Kira Holmes, Sergio Aviles, Hannah Thompson and KiraGalang.

Trombone quartet: Genaro Sarmiento, Connor Kooistra, Derek Kalvin, Michael Kjentvet

Photos contributedClarinet trio: Laura Wilson, James Buenfil and Alex Kao.

had shifted so we had some extragreenhouse space,” said Deborah Mc-Cown, president of Knight HollowNursery, Inc. “We charge MAFPG justenough to cover the cost of utilities.It’s a win-win situation.”

Savings to all member gardens areexpected to be huge. According toJohnson, “If bought, flats of seedlingscost $12 each. We can grow flats ofseeds for $3 per flat if we have volun-teer labor. Last year we bought around200 flats. We save almost $2,000 bystarting the plants ourselves.”

Volunteer effort is the key to the sav-ings. On the day that I visited thegreenhouse, five men, with a wealthof planting experience, were hard atwork.

I asked the men what moved them tovolunteer with this program.

“The fact that Wisconsin is ranked40th in job growth is connected to whatwe are doing. So is the high number ofstudents who receive free and reducedlunches at school,” said Mark Miller.“There is a need for food in our area.”

Gary Hoffman described himself as“an old farm boy.” When he was closeto retirement, he knew that he wantedto do some volunteering but wasn’tsure how.

The direction his volunteeringwould take, came to him during a Mis-sion of the Month presentation at As-bury Church. Ken Witte, who hadinitiated the idea of food pantry gar-dens in our area, was speaking aboutgrowing healthy local foods for areafood pantries.

Hoffman thought, “When I retire,that’s what I want to do.

Neil Vassau lives in Verona near thegarden named after Ken Witte. He’shad a vegetable garden his whole life.“Before planting here, I was asked tostart peppers and tomatoes for the

Witte Garden.” said Vassau. “I didthat with the help of students at theMiddleton High School greenhouse.”

Robert Gerber was plantingseedlings on behalf of Madison AreaFood Pantry Gardens (MAFPG) withwhich he’s had a long association.MAFPG gardens include; MiddletonOutreach Ministry Garden; Hersh-berger South Garden, Wagner GardenBlackhawk Church and the Ken WitteGardens of Verona; Uphoff Garden andthe Lacy Garden in Fitchburg.

Tom Parslow, the director ofMAFPG said, “The gardens are theirown entities, but we work togetherwhere it makes sense, like buying bulksupplies, equipment, recruiting volun-teers, and now, renting greenhousespace.”

MAFPG also coordinates the Glean-ers Program. Members of the groupjokingly refer to themselves as the“Geezer Gleaners” as all members arecurrently over the age of 60. DanJohnson said, “We’d love to have someyounger people join our ranks.”

Since the program’s inception eightyears ago, more than 450,000 poundsof produce have been rescued and dis-tributed to local food pantries by theGleaners.

Area producers contact MAFPGwhen they are finished taking all thatthey want out of a field or from an or-chard. Work days are planned andgleaners carpool to harvest whatever is

left. The yield is distributed to localfood pantries.

“Our primary source of funding isthrough churches and individuals. Wealso seek grants,” said Parslow.

Donations go toward renting green-house space, purchasing tools, seedsand insurance, and promoting publicrelations. “This is our first year to trya mailing. We’re sending a flyer to aspecific area. If it gets results, we’llexpand it.”

According to Parslow, “We’re not abackyard garden. We produce num-bers that a commercial farm produces.We need a constant flow of people.”

Those volunteers come as individu-als or as groups. Groups include, Mas-ter Gardeners, and church youth andscout groups. Ninety percent of thevolunteers are gardeners themselves.But, that is not a requirement to workin the MAFP gardens or as a gleaner.

“We gladly take fledgling gardeners.And, we love to have families come tohelp. If I know ahead of time, I can or-ganize projects for children as youngas four years old. We have child-sizehoes,” said Parslow.

The Middleton Outreach Ministrygardens could use more volunteers.There are opportunities to plant, weedand harvest in the two regular gardensor to act as a mentor to food pantryclients who are new to gardening at thementoring garden.

According to Johnson, “In the past,we had mentors working with two fam-ilies. This year, we’d like to have men-tors matched with only one family. It’smore convenient for the mentors’schedules that way.”

If you are interested in helping outat any of the MOM gardens by plant-ing, weeding harvesting or mentoring,call Dan Johnson at 608-836-1638.

Monetary donations, specifically forthe MOM gardens can be arranged ina variety of ways. For more informa-tion, go to their website donationspage: http://momhelps.org/give-help/donate/donate-money.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 9

Photo by Deb BIechlerMark Miller engages in the delicate work of planting one tiny seed in each

of section of the starter flats in the greenhouse rented by the Madison AreaFood Pantry Gardens (MAFPG). All three of the Middleton Outreach Min-istry gardens are members of MAFPG.

GARDEN continued from page 1

Anyone interested in volunteer-ing in one of the MAFP Gardenscan do so on the United Way Vol-unteer Your Time website. Mon-etary donations can be sent to:

Madison Area Food PantryGardens

c/o Jill Fredow, Treasurer532 S Owen DrMadison, WI 53711

Four Seasons Theatre will present“Rodgers and Hammerstein: FromBook to Broadway” at area librariesthis spring.

The show will come to the Middle-ton Public Library on Wednesday,April 22 at 7 p.m.

For more information or to register

for this program, visitmidlibrary.org/events, emailinfo@midlibrary.org, or call 608-827-7403.

It’s easy to think of the Broadwaysongwriting team of Rodgers andHammerstein as “classic” or “old-fash-ioned”, but when Rodgers and Ham-merstein began to work together in1943, they were radical. Together, theyrevolutionized what a Broadway musi-cal could be. Four Seasons Theatrepresents “Rodgers and Hammerstein:From Book to Broadway,” a programthat explores the development of the“book” musical and how Rodgers andHammerstein adapted books into mu-sical plays.

This hour-long program featuresa quartet of some of the best localsingers bringing you songs fromsuch well-loved musicals as Okla-homa!, South Pacific, The Kingand I, and The Sound of Music.Audiences will not only enjoywonderful music, they will learnabout how Rodgers and Hammer-stein adapted novels, short stories,and auto-biographies into Broad-way entertainment. For those inthe audience who like to sing,there will even be an opportunityto join the performers in beltingout a familiar R&H tune.

Developed by Four SeasonsTheatre as part of their ongoingcommunity outreach efforts, thisprogram is produced with supportfrom the Beyond the Page pro-gram, a joint effort of the DaneCounty Library Service and theMadison Community Foundationto create a permanent endowmentthat will support expanded human-ities programming in all 28 publiclibraries in Dane County.

PAGE 10 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

Easter fun!Local children had no shortage of Easter egg hunts to attend on Saturday,

April 4. The Downtown Middleton Business Association (DMBA) hosted itsannual hunt from 10-11 a.m. at Fireman’s Park. The Middleton Knights ofColumbus Council No. 4549 of Saint Bernardʼs parish hosted its annual huntat Lakeview Park at 11:30 a.m.

Above left, hundreds of kids lined up to take part in the DMBA hunt.Above, Eve Schlotthauer, 4, and Emma Schlotthauer, 8, displayed their eggsat Lakeview Park.

Photo by Marilyn Burke

Rodgers and Hammerstein showarrives Wednesday

Photo by Gene F. Summers/Countryside Images

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 11

They were so close, they couldsmell the hardware.

A putt here. A chip there. Had things gone just a tad differ-

ently last June, Middleton’s boys golfteam could have captured a state title.Instead, the Cardinals’ sensationalseason ended with a fourth place fin-ish at University Ridge.

But now, with Middleton’s newseason here, hopes are high for evenbigger and better.

Middleton returns three standoutsfrom last year’s team and added ahigh-level transfer. And while the statetournament remains nearly two

months away, the Cardinals seem tohave all the ingredients to hoist a statetitle.

“I truly believe we have all the ele-ments to make a deep run in the play-offs this year,” Middleton junior JoeyLevin said. “But the key is to not puttoo much pressure on ourselves likewe did last year.”

Junior Brady Thomas agreed.“I wouldn’t say that this year is a

state title or bust year,” Thomas said.“I think that if we don’t win this yearit would be very disappointing seeingas though we fell just short of a titlelast year.

“But we have a year of experienceunder our belt at U-Ridge, which willhelp us cap off our goal in the end —hoisting up the state trophy.”

Middleton seemed on its way tothat goal last season.

The Cardinals enjoyed a sensation-al regular season, winning the BigEight Conference dual meet title and

Follow RobReischel onTwitter at@robreischel

Miningfor gold

Boys golf teamhopes to chasea state titleby ROB REIScHELTimes-Tribune

File photo

Middleton junior Brady Thomas finished second for Player of the Year honors in the Big Eight last season.See GOLF, page 20

Off androlling

Girls soccer teamwins first two by ROB REIScHELTimes-Tribune

See SOccER, page 14

Times-Tribune photo by Mary Langenfeld

Kristen Reikersdorfer (15) and Middleton’s girls soccer team won their first two games of the year.

Roughstart

See BASEBALL, page 15

Baseball Cardsbegin season 1-4by ROB REIScHELTimes-Tribune

The baseball season has justbegun.

But Middleton has already dugitself a hole.

The Cardinals dropped a pair ofBig Eight Conference games lastweek. And Middleton fell to 0-2 inthe conference and 1-4 overall.

Janesville Parker drilled theCardinals, 10-1, last Tuesday. Veronathen toppled Middleton, 6-2, lastSaturday.

“We have not been able to squareup on pitches,” Middleton managerTom Schmitt said. “We knew ouryoung players lacked experience ofhitting the ball at this level, butthought they would be able to pro-duce more quality at bats at thispoint. We are working daily to getthe timing and mechanics necessaryto be a good hitting team.

“These hitters need to make someadjustments and it is coming slowly.Pitching-wise we need to locate ourpitches better. We are getting aheadof hitters, but then fail to execute anout pitch or allow the hitter to work

There were several questions,great uncertainty and manyunknowns.

Today, there’s far less doubt.Middleton’s girls soccer team,

which lost 12 seniors from last year’sBig Eight Conference championshipteam, had holes at many key posi-tions. But the Cardinals proved intheir opening weekend they’re morelikely to reload than rebuild this sea-son.

Middleton hosted a quadrangularlast Saturday and posted a pair ofimpressive wins.

The Cardinals defeated AppletonNorth, 4-1, in their first game of thetournament. Middleton then edgedKimberly, 1-0, later in the day.

“The girls exceeded my initialthoughts as to what would be pro-duced,” Middleton coach MaryDuffy said. “We were not sure whatto expect, where people would playor how rotations would work. Lots ofunknown factors at this beginningstage of the season.

“Pleasantly, I think this initialweekend went better than we havehad in the past few years. There were

PAGE 12 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

Perfect ending

It’s the best of both worlds, really,for Mitchell Herl and Alex Wood.

Before the two Middleton HighSchool seniors move onto the nextstage of their lives, they get to turnback the clock. And they get to helpothers in the process.

Both Herl and Wood were selectedto the Wisconsin Football CoachesAssociation All-Star Game.

The game will be held July 18 at 6p.m. at UW-Oshkosh’s Titan Stadium,and both Herl and Wood will play forthe South Divisions Large Schools.

The WFCA All-Star Game benefitsthe patient care programs atChildren’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Andboth Middleton players are excited todo their part and give back.

“The main motive for me, and allthe other players participating in thisgame, is to help children who maynever be able to play their favoritesport, those who deeply need thehelp,” Wood said.

Both Wood and Herl played thesport at an extremely high level in2014 — which is why they wereselected to play in this game.

Herl had a huge senior season inwhich he was named first-team all-Big Eight Conference and first-teamall-state.

Herl finished the year with 36receptions for 632 yards and seventouchdowns. Herl signed a letter-of-intent in February to be a preferredwalk-on at the University ofWisconsin.

“Yeah, it is quite an honor to beselected to play for this game and alsoto be given an opportunity to fundraisefor such a great cause,” Herl said.“Some great players have played inthis game in the past, and to now be atthis elite level that they were once atgives me hope for the success I willhave in college.”

Wood, a defensive back, was alsonamed first-team all-state last fall.

The 5-foot-9, 150-pound Woodwasn’t the biggest cornerback on thefield. But few could match his speed,athleticism, drive and heart.

Wood finished the year with fourinterceptions, one touchdown, onefumble recovery and 33 tackles. Woodalso averaged 17.5 yards per puntreturn and had one return touchdown.

“I am incredibly thankful to beselected to play in this years all-stargame,” said Wood, who will play atUW-River Falls. “I would have nevermade it to the game, however, withoutthe best defense in the Big Eight sur-rounding me. 

“The guys up front constantly werepressuring opposing quarterbacks.The linebackers stuffed the run andprovided great pass support. And therest of the secondary was outstand-ing. 

“Our coaching staff always had usin the correct spot. I am extremelyexcited to play in this game. For menothing beats a whole week solelydedicated to football.”

Every player competing in thegame must raise money for Children’sHospital of Wisconsin.

To donate for Wood, visit:http://www.firstgiving.com/fundrais-er/AlexwoodWFCA/2015-wfca-all-star-football-game

To donate for Herl, visit:http://www.firstgiving.com/fundrais-er/MitchellHerl/2015-wfca-all-star-football-game

For both players, the All-Star gamewill be a terrific ending to their sensa-tional high school careers.

“High school football is somethingthat I will never forget,” Herl said.“And it has been an imperative part tomy development, not only as an ath-lete, but as an individual.”

Wood agreed.“It is a very cool way to end my

high school career,” Wood said. “Inmy heart, my last game will be withmy brothers who got me to this point. 

“I can not wait to play against thebest competition in the state, and eventhe nation. It is nice to see 11 years ofhard work and dedication to the sportI love be rewarded. I can’t wait to getout to the field again.”

Wood, Herl namedto All-Star Game by ROB REIScHELTimes-Tribune

File photos

Middleton’sAlex Wood(far left) andM i t c h e l lHerl (left)will play inthe WFCAA l l - S t a rGame onJuly 18.

Cherie Hellenbrand believed herMiddleton girls softball team couldchallenge for a Big Eight Conferencetitle this spring.

Two games into the conferenceseason, the Cardinals are makingHellenbrand look prophetic.

Middleton rolled past MadisonEast, 11-0, last Tuesday in a gamestopped after five innings due to the10-run rule. The Cardinals also top-pled Madison La Follette, 9-2,Monday afternoon.

Middleton is now 2-0 in the BigEight and 3-1 overall.

“We are off to a great start,”Hellenbrand said. “We are starting tocome together with solid pitching,defense and setting the tone with ourbats.”

The win over La Follette Mondaywas extremely sweet for theCardinals.

Middleton fell to the Lancers, 2-1,in a controversial sectional semifinalgame last season. But this timearound, the Cardinals got somerevenge.

Middleton pounded out 15 hits andused a five-run third inning to breakopen a 2-2 game.

Shelby Ballweg had a huge daygoing 4-for-4 with a home run and sixRBI. Lauren Banke was 3-for-4,

Bianca Bockwinkel was 2-for-3 withtwo RBI and Rachel Everson was 2-for-4.

“Was it hard not to look at the endof our season and want a little pay-back? Absolutely,” Hellenbrand said.“The players remember how devastat-ing it was to lose that game in the sec-tional (semifinals) with such contro-versy. It was nice to see many of lastyear's seniors come back for thegame.”

Cardinals freshman MakenzieKopp allowed just six hits and noearned runs. Kopp struck out three andwalked two.

“For her first conference openershe was outstanding,” Hellenbrandsaid of Kopp. “She was able to keepthe batters on their toes utilizing manydifferent pitches.”

Middleton trailed, 2-0, in the bot-tom of the second inning whenBallweg belted a two-run home run totie the game.

“Ballweg's home run was amaz-ing,” Hellenbrand said. “It flew overthe left-field fence so fast and nevergot off the ground more then 15-feet.”

Then, the Cardinals broke thingsopen in the third.

Bockwinkel had a two-run doublethat scored Katie Fermanich andEverson and gave the Cardinals a 4-2lead. Bockwinkel later scored on anerror, and Ballweg had a two-run sin-gle that plated Amber Karn and AbbyHenke to make it 7-2.

Ballweg added a two-run single inthe sixth as the Cardinals continued topull away.

“I was happy to see the team comeback after being down two runs afterthe first inning,” Hellenbrand said.

Middleton also rolled past a solidMadison East team last Tuesday.

Everson had another big day, going3-for-4 with three RBI, whileBallweg, Karn and Morgan Schmittall had two RBI, as well.

Middleton pounded out 12 hits andscored nine runs in the fourth and fifthinnings to put the game away early.

“Perfect way to start the confer-ence,” Hellenbrand said. “East is avery good team. Their pitcher (Austin)has some speed and could move theball around.

“We made some adjustments afterthe first inning and then all the playersstarted hitting the ball. Our lineup, onethrough nine, all has the potential tohit the ball.”

Banke — Middleton’s other fresh-man pitcher — had a terrific day.Banke allowed three hits and no runsin five innings to notch the win.

“Banke did a great job of hittingher corners and the fielders did therest,” Hellenbrand said. “We had noerrors and that’s how we want to playsoftball.”

Middleton took a 2-0 lead in thesecond inning when Banke andSchmitt had RBI singles. TheCardinals made it 5-0 in the fourth onan RBI single from Schmitt and a two-run single by Everson.

Middleton then ended things with ahuge fifth inning.

Ballweg had a two-run double thatscored Henke and Banke to make it 7-0. Fermanich and Everson followedwith RBI singles.

Karn then blasted a two-run doublethat scored Everson and Bockwinkeland ended the game after just fiveinnings.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 13

Making a statementGirls softball teamrolls in first twoBig Eight games by ROB REIScHELTimes-Tribune

Times-Tribune photo by Mary Langenfeld

Morgan Schmitt and Middleton’s girls softball team are off to a 2-0 start inthe Big Eight Conference.

“Extremely proud how focused theteam was,” Hellenbrand said. “Theyhave all been working so hard and arefocused on playing to their potential.They want to win each inning of everygame.”

So far, the Cardinals are doing justthat, and they look like one of the

teams to beat in the conference.• On deck: Middleton was at Sun

Prairie Tuesday and is at MadisonMemorial Thursday at 5 p.m. TheCardinals are then at Verona Friday at5 p.m. and at Madison West Tuesdayat 5 p.m.

moments in each game where Ithought to myself, ‘Wow, this playerat this position is going to be an X-factor for us. I didn't see that com-ing.’ ”

Middleton opened with animpressive win over Appleton North.

Lia Passini struck first for theCardinals, scoring in the 19th minuteon an assist from Mady Warda.Macey Kalscheur had Middleton’ssecond goal in the 27th minute on anassist from Kristen Reikersdorfer.

Reikersdorfer scored in the 49thminute on an assist by Kalscheur.And in the 60th minute, MeganSullivan scored on an assist fromNora Edelen.

In Middleton’s win overKimberly, Sullivan scored in the44th minute on an assist from AriViscara

“Girls that played last year on var-sity came out with more experience,more confidence and a much biggerimpact,” Duffy said. “Players who

made the team for the first time thisyear have already made a hugeimpact on how we will play. All verypositive things to come from yourinitial weekend.

“The girls didn't play like it wastheir first games. They played likethey have been together for awhile— almost like a club team who seeseach other year round, and maybethat deals with the fact that we have12 seniors again who have played offand on with each other for so long.”

Duffy highlighted the play ofkeeper Belle Gallegos, who is new tothe team. The Cardinals’ defense wassolid throughout the lineup.

Duffy was also quite pleased withMiddleton’s offense, which attackedwith frequency and success through-out the weekend.

“I think it speaks more volumes ofthe players themselves,” Duffy saidof the two wins. “They are comfort-able with each other, have great pos-itive attitudes and are competitiveand coachable and respectful of eachother. They just want to play and becompetitive and do whatever theyneed to do.

“There was more communication,positive talk and cohesiveness thanwe initially get for beginning games.It is a great jumping off point — onethat we will continue to push so thatwe are even stronger going into thepostseason.”

• On deck: Middleton hostsJanesville Parker Thursday at 7:30p.m. and is at No. 3 Kettle MoraineFriday at 7 p.m. The Cardinals arethen at Verona Tuesday at 7 p.m.

PAGE 14 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

Middleton’s boys golfers are off to ahot start.

The Cardinals finished second at the16-team Wisconsin Dells Invite lastFriday and Saturday.

Middleton also rolled to a win at itsown triangular Monday afternoon.

White Bear Lake (Minn.) won theDells Invite with a two-day score of610. Middleton was second at 622.

The Cardinals shot a 322 at TrappersTurn on the first day of the tournament.Junior Nils Arneson led Middleton witha 78, while juniors Brady Thomas andEmmett Herb both carded 80s and jun-ior Joey Levin shot an 84.

The second day of the tournament

was held at Christmas Mountain andMiddleton fired a 300 — the low roundof the weekend.

Arneson again led the Cardinalswith a 72, while Thomas fired a 74.Levin shot a 75 and Gabe Garlough-Shah carded a 79.

Middleton then rolled at its own tri-angular Monday, posting a 313 teamscore in a match held at Pleasant View.Madison Memorial was second at 338,while Beloit Memorial was third at 359.

Herb led the Cardinals with a 74,while Levin carded a 79. Both Thomasand Arneson shot 80s.

• On deck: Middleton is at theWPGA Invite at Maple Bluff Mondayat noon. The Cardinals then meetMadison East and Sun Prairie in a trian-gular Tuesday at Yahara starting at 2p.m.

MHS golfersstart strongby ROB REIScHELTimes-Tribune

SOccER continued from page 11n

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 15

back to a hitters count.”The Cardinals managed just two

hits in the loss to Parker. Middleton’sonly run came in the third inningwhen Drew Finley Haag drew a lead-off walk and later scored on a sacri-fice fly by Joe Ludwig.

Meanwhile, Parker had nine hitsand benefitted from three Middletonerrors. Alec Morrison took the lossfor the Cardinals.

Middleton also fell to theWildcats in a game that was post-poned from Friday.

The Wildcats took a 5-0 lead afterfour innings and never looked back.Middleton starter Adam Nutting tookthe loss.

The Cardinals had just three hitsand also had three errors.

Middleton’s two runs came in thefifth inning and Liam Belleveau andIvan Monreal both scored. FinleyHaag had the Cardinals’ lone RBI.

“We have expectations that arenot being met by these kids, but witha positive attitude and good workethic we can reach the potential thisgroup possesses,” Schmitt said. “Weplayed two teams that I figuredwould be in the top half in the con-ference. So to have lost those gamesis not alarming, but it is how we lostthat made us disappointed in our per-formance.

“Better pitching leads to betterdefense and more plays made ondefense helps pitcher relax and throwstrikes knowing that the defense willmake plays and that pitches don'tneed to be perfect and get strikeoutsto get outs.”

• On deck: Middleton hostedMadison East Tuesday, then hostsMadison La Follette Thursday at 5p.m. Middleton is then at Sun PrairieSaturday at 2 p.m.

“Big week with three games,”Schmitt said. “Hoping ... to get amore consistent performance.”

BASEBALLcontinued from page 11

n

PAGE 16 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

SportsbriefsMHS gymnasts namedAcademic All-State

Several Middleton girls gym-nasts were recently named to theAcademic All-State team.

The list included EleanorMackey, Olivia Shoemaker,Chloe Young, MadelinePflasterer-Jennerjohn, DaniellaAranda, Tyler Benedict,Katherine Marshall, MeganLange, Lucy Bergenthal, MorganCharlton, Lauren Ace, KarleeKetelboeter and Marie Lawton.

Pflasterer-Jennerjohn was alsonamed first-team all-state on thebars and Bergenthal was namedfirst-team all-state on the vault.Marshall and Ace were bothnamed honorable-mention all-state on the beam.

“I am so proud,” Middletoncoach Kari Steck said. “Both aca-demic all-state and all-state teamare huge honors.”

Lacrosse team starts strong

Middleton’s boys lacrosseteam is off to a 2-1 start.

The Cardinals rolled past LaCrosse, 24-3, on March 31.

Middleton lost to Naperville(Ill.), 9-5, on April 3. TheCardinals cruised back SaukPrairie, 17-1, on April 7.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE PAGE 17

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the conference tournament.Middleton was also at, or near the topof every major invitational it playedin.

The Cardinals rolled to first placefinishes at the Middleton Regionaland the Baraboo Sectional. AndMiddleton entered the state tourna-ment ranked No. 1 in the state.

But the Cardinals had an off roundon the first day of state. And eventhough Middleton posted the lowestscore on day two, it settled for fourthat state.

This year’s group has set its sightson faring much better when stakes arethe highest.

“Well, they’re definitely motivat-ed,” Middleton coach Tom Cabalkasaid of his team. “If anything goodcame out of being fourth at state it’sthat these guys are really driven rightnow.

“They’re going to put in the work.I know that much. But like it is everyyear at state, you have to put togethertwo good rounds to have a chance.Hopefully we can do that.”

That’s certainly possible with thebevy of talent Middleton returns.

Thomas, who’s played varsitysince his freshman season, was a first-team all-Big Eight Conference selec-tion last season and finished second inthe league’s Player of the Year race.Thomas had an average of 77.0 lastyear, won four different events andhad 11 top-five finishes.

Thomas jumps to No. 1 in the line-up this season after the graduation ofJosh Haunty and certainly seems upfor the challenge.

“My game is feeling really goodright now,” Thomas said. “I’m hittingthe ball solid and making putts when Ineed to. I think I make a good No. 1guy. I’m confident with my game andI know my teammates and coachesknow that I’m going to come in with alow score.

“But when it really comes down toit, our team knows that it doesn’t mat-

ter what number you play. It just mat-ters that when the day is over,Middleton is on top.”

Junior Emmett Herb was alsonamed first-team all-conference lastseason. Herb averaged 80.6 and hadthe fifth-best average in Big Eightmeets.

“Emmett had a really good year,”Cabalka said. “But the key for him,like all of our guys, is knocking a cou-ple more shots off of his average.”

Levin was a second-team all-con-ference selection last season. Levinaveraged 79.50, improved his shortgame throughout the year, andremained one of Middleton’s longesthitters.

“My wood and iron game areextremely strong right now,” Levinsaid. “However my putter and I aregoing through a rough part in our rela-tionship.

“I am confident that this season Iwill get my touch back on the greens,which will elevate my game to theelite level. This season I have highhopes for myself, but ultimately I ammore concerned about bringing homea state title with my teammates.”

Middleton also welcomes standouttransfer Nils Arneson. Arneson playedNo. 1 for Madison East each of thelast two seasons, and should fit nicelyinto Middleton’s star-studded lineup.

Juniors Gabe Garlough-Shah andsophomore Colin Butler both playedNo. 5 in the lineup in Middleton’s firstmeet of the year and gave strong per-formances. Junior Jack Vincent andsophomores Colin Butler, Brett Wipfliand Ross Johnson all have terrificpotential.

And an outstanding freshman classalso has Cabalka excited.

“We do have some options,”Cabalka said of his lineup. “We havethree pretty good little freshmen and afew other kids. We have some choic-es.”

They’re certainly good choices,though.

Middleton’s top four players haveall been varsity golfers for two sea-sons. The program is deep and talent-ed, and most coaches would love toplug some of Cabalka’s JV playersinto their varsity lineup.

Only time will tell if that all adds

up to a state championship. ButCabalka knows this group should atleast have a chance to hoist gold comeJune.

“It’s not too often that we, or any-one else, has had four kids with twoyears of varsity experience,” Cabalka

said. “That’s a nice thing to have.“But at the end of the day, we still

have to play well to get there. Onpaper, we look pretty good. But westill have to put it together on the sameday.”

PAGE 20 MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

File photo

Joey Levin and Middleton’s boys golf team have high hopes this spring.

GOLF continued from page 11n