Tursday, April 30, 2020 — A5 ArtCAMBRIDGE & Life Deerfield Marren Food Pantry named Q&A By Karyn Saemann pantry [email protected] coordinator Te Deerfeld Community Center’s Food By Madeline Westberg Pantry continues to adapt to COVID-19 [email protected] and related public health orders and economic disruption. DCC Program For Cambridge resident Manager Julie Schwenn answered some Kerry Marren, joining questions posed by the Cambridge News the staf of the local & Deerfeld Independent, about how the food pantry was about pantry is currently operating. supporting a community that means a lot to her. Q: Who can currently use “I love Cambridge,” Marren said. “It’s the DCC’s pantry and what are the frst time I’ve ever lived hours that the pantry is open? anywhere this long.” Do you need an appointment? Marren was hired as the A: Te Deerfeld Food Pantry serves Cambridge Food Pantry Deerfeld residents in need. At this time, to and Resource Center avoid large crowds, we are serving clients coordinator in early March. by appointment only. You can call 764- She’s following longtime 5935, ext. 2, on Tuesdays between 8 a.m. coordinator Nancy Brattlie, and 2 p.m. to schedule an appointment for who recently retired from Wednesday pick-up. During the COVID-19 the position. pandemic, we have been instructed by Te pantry is run by the Karyn Saemann our food pantry partners that income Cambridge Community Deerfeld residents Mike and Linda Carney set out a table of non-perishable items and a sec- guidelines do not apply. Activities Program in ond table with comfort foods on their driveway on Terrace Road on Thursday April 23. Nikolay Middle School, 211 Q: If you are in an South St. emergency food situation and Marren has worked in education for about ffteen it’s not pantry day can you call years. She served as a DCC and get food? para-educator at Nikolay Little free pantries Middle School for about See Q&A, Page A6 fve years, and now works as a resource coordinator for a virtual academy. Marren stepped in at rise up in Deerfield CAMBRIDGE By Karyn Saemann Te Carneys began putting their table out on the pantry during a hectic [email protected] April 16 and say they’ll keep doing it as long time, she said. She began as a need is apparent. working businesses and Little free libraries have been around for And on South Atwood Lane on the June concerts schools began to close . years, with a simple mission as street-side village’s south side, Rochelle Elliott and “Now more than ever cabinets to leave and take books. her family have flled a retroftted glass- you see people who are not Te COVID-19 pandemic is reinventing door entertainment cabinet they found on canceled able to get to work,” Marren the idea as a place to leave food or get it in- Craigslist with food and personal care items. By Madeline Westberg [email protected] said. “Tere’s more of a between food pantry or grocery store visits. It’s now on their front lawn 24/7. need now than there ever Tree free little pantries have popped up Te frst two outdoor concerts in was before.” in Deerfeld in recent weeks, two outside the Terrace Road Te pantry shifted to homes of local residents and one at Deerfeld Cambridge’s annual summer concert Linda Carney, who’s semi-retired, a wellness a drive-through at that Lutheran Church. series have been canceled due to the consultant and a self-proclaimed foodie, said time. Clients fll out a Until about three weeks ago, the small coronavirus. “feeding people is my love language. Tat is shopping list online or over wooden cabinet on a post in the church’s Te Cambridge Arts Council has hosted how I help people I care about. ‘Here, I made the phone, and pick up front lawn on South Main Street was a a series of outdoor concerts with local this for you, eat this.’” groceries without leaving longtime little free library. musicians since 2012 in Veterans Park. She said baking the “comfort foods” like their cars. On Terrace Road on the village’s north side, Two concerts were scheduled in June. quick breads for the table is helping her fll “Te drive-up has been Mike and Linda Carney are putting out two Te series was supposed to kick of June her time in isolation. really great,” Marren said. tables for a couple of hours every afternoon 5 with Gomers and Friends, a Madison- “Tis gives me a chance to keep myself Te pantry is open lined with canned goods and baked goods based band with Cambridge members, and other comfort foods. Tey’ve invited See LITTLE, Page A6 See MARREN, Page A6 local residents to both take and leave items. See JUNE, Page A6

UPCOMING FOR GOOD MEASURE Livestream concert 30 from 1-2:30 p.m. Te during the closure, and Madison County, a class including safe habits chat with people in the Cambridge-area country and what to do during comments. band, is doing a live emergencies. Cost is $30 Hunting for good local tunes performance on the band’s for residents and $35 for Sunday, May 3: By Madeline Westberg great music you normally get to hear in Facebook page at 7 p.m. on non-residents. To register, Deerfeld Farmers [email protected] a bar or club or summer festival. And visit CAP website. Market meeting it’s a chance for the musicians to stay Wednesday April 29. Amid all of the chaos and uncertainty creative. Because they’re missing you CAP C.A.R.E. Te Deerfeld Farmers surrounding COVID-19, I’m hearing Market will hold its right now. Safe at home Community members more and more stories of people turning 2020 annual meeting at Tere is no shortage of talent nearby, Te Cambridge can catch up with the CAP to art for comfort and meaning. 2 p.m. Sunday May 3, many bands with a direct connection Community Activities C.A.R.E. teachers on the We look for distraction, for jokes to via teleconference. To to Cambridge and Deerfeld. Look at Program is ofering an CAP C.A.R.E. Facebook make us smile, songs that move us and participate, please email: Te Gomers, Madison County, Driftless , online class for children Page on April 27, 29 stories that show us we’re not alone. deerfeldfarmmarket@ Roadhouse Chiefs. ages 9 to 13 of how to be and May 1 at 1 p.m. Te While we have so much on our minds, gmail.com. Tere’s also amazing talent from the safe when home alone. teachers will be sharing we can’t underestimate the power that greater Madison area. Te workshop is April what they’ve been up to the arts have in our daily life. Check out Wheelhouse, Mark Croft, I am a musician in my spare time, Twang dragons, Beth Kille , Angels and Located within singing in a hilariously fun band with BAR “N” River Bend RV Resort Outlaws, Mackenzie Moore. my older brother and a gaggle of lifelong Now is also a great opportunity to friends. seek out music you haven’t listened to BENDER We are practicing social distancing GRILL before, or seen live. right now, so we’ve stopped playing Many of these bands have played in Benderz Bar “N” Grill in Watertown, WI is now BENDERZ BAR “N” GRILL together in person. And while I know it’s Cambridge and Deerfeld. Some haven’t. accepting applications for the following positions: the right decision, my life is missing a Either way, they have great music bit of music without them. accessible online. Competitive Cooks Dishwashers/Bussers Tat’s why I think it’s incredible that Even if your favorite band isn’t Wages Wait Staff Bartenders musicians, both huge stars and local livestreaming new material regularly, talent, are turning to the internet to they often post videos on their social Wait Staff and Bartenders starting @ $8/hr PLUS TIPS continue making music. Experience is preferred but we will train the right candidate. media pages from live shows, so you Many musicians now are can go back and relive your favorite If interested apply in person or or go to livestreaming performances, sometimes moments from their concerts. riverbendrvresort.com for an application. Mail or e-mail it to: as often as every week. It may be Tere is nothing like a big crowd through venues and production River Bend Resort rocking out at a live show. But until it’s companies, like Frank Productions safe to see music live again, we can fnd W6940 Rubidell Rd – Watertown, WI 53094 in Madison, or through their own some company and good music online. 920-261-7505 • [email protected] Facebook pages. Happy listening. It’s a chance for you to listen to the A6 Cambridge News & Deerfeld Independent Tursday, April 30, 2020

By MadelineDeerfield Westberg suspendshiatus short-term. its Citizensbegan in 2008, Advisoryand a four-year operating Committeeyear, simply because there are lots of [email protected] Jensen said Wisconsin schools are referendum starting in 2013. things not happening,” Jensen said. facing an uncertain future because of Since 2008, all referendums have Jensen and Treuden will lay out the Te Deerfeld School District may not the virus. It’s unclear how much funding allowed the district to exceed the revenue district’s fnancial options without an pursue an operating referendum this schools will receive in the state budget for limit by $400,000 per year, for the length of operating referendum at the May 11 fall, and has put its Citizens Advisory the 2020-21 school year, Jensen said, or if the referendum. Committee of the Whole meeting. Committee meetings, an ad-hoc School students will return to school in-person Without a new operating referendum, School Board member Sandy Fischer Board committee studying a possible this fall. the district expects a $291,000 budget agreed with Jensen’s comments. referendum, on hold. “I think it’s important for us to get more shortfall in the 2020-2021 school year. “It’s just too much right now for people Superintendent Michelle Jensen information on what’s really going to Tat amount, said Business Manager to take on,” Fisher said. “If you’re telling us told the School Board on April 27 she’s happen,” Jensen said. “I’m not quite sure Doreen Treuden, is based of an estimated you think we could get through a year...we concerned it’s not the right time to if this is the right time or the best time to 1.36 percent increase in expenditures in do have our fund balance.” pursue a November referendum, given the continue forward with this survey.” 2021. Board treasurer Nathan Brown economic impacts of COVID-19. “I’m a little concerned about how it Jensen said district staf think they expressed concern over tax rates, saying “Tere are a lot of unanswered would appear to the community if a can get through the 2020-21 school it would be “good to see the tax levy questions,” Jensen said. “A lot of things survey showed up in your home, to ask year fnancially without an operating stable.” have changed over the course of the last you if you were willing to support an referendum. “You still have the ability to do that as fve weeks.” operating referendum this November,” she Tat would require the tapping into the a board without the referendum,” Jensen While the School Board didn’t decide said. district’s fund balance, Jensen said, which said. to forgo a referendum completely, Jensen Te district currently has an operating is doable for one year, though she said she If the district does decide to hold a called it a “very distinct possibility,” that referendum, which went into efect in wouldn’t recommend it more than one referendum in November, they would Deerfeld wouldn’t have one in November. 2016 and sunsets June 30, 2020. year in a row. need to approve the referendum question Te advisory committee began meeting Operating referendums allow school She added that the district will likely in August, Jensen said. in February. It was created to evaluate districts to exceed revenue limits and levy see fnancial savings from the 2019- School Board president Jim Haak gave district needs, survey the community and additional funds from taxpayers to cover 20 school year, because buildings are the directive to district staf to table the advise the School Board about a possible costs. closed. It expects to see savings on utility, CAC meetings temporarily. fall operating referendum. Deerfeld has had several referendums transportation, food and spring sports Te CAC had started a survey to send to Jensen said the CAC had a meeting in the past. Te school district had a costs. district residents. Jensen hopes to circle scheduled for April 28, but that has been fve-year operating referendum that It’s likely “we will be under budget this back to that this fall. canceled, and the committee will be on

situation very seriously and sometimes. Maybe some Deerfeld Lutheran donors not leave items ensuring that health and Continued from Page A5 people are more ashamed Church member on the church doorstep if Q&A safety are a priority. ContinuedLITTLE from Page A5 or embarrassed to admit Mary Wagner said she the pantry cabinet is full. A: Families in need may it, but at some point in our approached the church Come back, instead, in a doing something that I call 764-5935, ext. 2, at Q: With DCC shut to lives everyone is there.” council about three weeks day or two, and add see if like,” she said. “It’s keeping any time to get help with the public, how can Elliott said her family ago about temporarily there’s available space, she my hands busy, which is food or be referred to initially stocked its converting its little free said. you donate? therapeutic and stress- appropriate resources. little free pantry with library into a pantry. Te Wagner also asked that A: At this time, we have reducing for me. If I can a few things and three council was supportive, cash donations not be left been instructed not to use this to help myself and Q: What steps donations quickly came she said. inside the pantry. receive food drive items. for other people to beneft, in, making for a selection Te hope is to stock it For more information, is DCC taking to Please save those for I consider that a win-win.” one recent day of boxed with more than just food, call the church ofce at make using and when we can safely handle “It’s way for me to meals, bread and fruit, Wagner said. (608) 764-5566. donations again. Monetary express my gratitude and volunteering at the canned pasta, toilet paper “A family might need donations are accepted by pay it forward a little bit,” pantry safe? and baby items. diapers and baby food and mail, on our GoFundMe Carney added. Deerfeld Little A: At this time, we have page — gf.me/u/xw5sm9 “We’ve even got one toothpaste, stuf like that,” Free Pantries moved away from our — or by dropping your can of dog food out there; she said. • Elliott family pantry: Choice Pantry model, in South Atwood donation of in our white I’m hoping to get some So far, items have gone 302 South Atwood Lane. which clients are able Lane drop box on the east side diapers,” Elliott said. out faster than they’ve Available 24 hours a day. to shop for themselves. Elliott said she had (near the pharmacy) of our Tere are plastic grocery come in, proving that • Carney family We have been instructed heard on social media building. shopping bags users can “there is obviously a need,” pantry: 630 Terrace Road. by our food partners about a little free pantry fll to take home, she said. Wagner said. Available Monday through and the Department of efort in a Madison Q: What kind of Te Elliott family “I’ve gone up there three Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Public Health to limit neighborhood. She decorated the cabinet times and flled it,” she • Deerfeld Lutheran in-person contact with user demand are thought there might be a with an “Imagine” theme, said. Church pantry: 206 clients. For this reason, you seeing? need here, in addition to inspired by the John Wagner said she hopes South Main St. Available clients currently receive A: At this time, our the need being flled by Lennon song. the community embraces 24 hours a day. pre-packed boxes of foods food pantry demand has the Deerfeld Food Pantry. “Tis is the time to the church’s efort, including meats, shelf- remained steady. We “Even if someone is come together,” Elliott helping to keep the pantry stable items and cooler expect to see a spike as working that doesn’t said. “Tis is kind of where stocked. items. Clients remain in stimulus checks run out mean they don’t need we are right now.” “I think the community their cars and we put their and families start to feel help. Or, maybe they can as a whole can play a part,” items in their trunk. We are more of a sting from being make it down (to DCC Deerfeld Lutheran she said. also limiting the number of laid of or having wages during pantry hours),” she Church Wagner asked that households coming at each decreased. Tat’s exactly said. “We all need help pick-up time. While being a who we are here for — Choice Pantry is something families that have fallen on we have always been hard times and need a little move necessary. a Cambridge-based August or September, but very proud of, we need extra help to make their “It is a fuid situation Americana band that no concrete plans have to put the health of our money stretch further. ContinuedJUNE from Page A5 and I hope people anchors the series every been set. volunteers and clients frst. We hope our community understand,” she said. year. Te concerts are free We look forward to the members feel comfortable and continue on June 19 Te fate of the Struss said she will to the public and funded days of allowing our clients reaching out for our help, with Oak Street Ramblers, remaining summer decide around June 1 by the council through to shop through our aisles knowing our clients’ a fve-piece bluegrass concerts is still in whether to continue with donations. Struss said again. In the meantime, we privacy is something we band from Madison. question. the July shows. She said that funding raised for are taking the COVID-19 emphasize at our pantry. Arts Council President Te Cambridge Arts she’s waiting for more concerts will only be used Laurie Struss decided Council was scheduled information as it get for concerts. last week to cancel both to host music by the Mad closer, before making any “We are so grateful to shows. City Jug Band, a Madison decisions. our patrons that sponsor ContinuedMARREN from Page A5 “With the large Americana/Folk band, “We are relying on the the concerts,” Struss said. Mondays from 5:30-7 p.m. for shopping, and is stafed on population of older adults on June 3. Tere was also science and will follow “If we aren’t allowed to Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-5 p.m., Wednesdays that attend, we do not a concert on July 17 by guidelines set by the CDC, reschedule in 2020 we from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Tursdays. From 8 a.m. to want an enjoyable evening Small Blind Johnny, a WHO, and Gov. Evers,” would hope to have an 3 p.m. of music out (to) put them Madison blues band. Struss said. expanded series in 2021.” Because of high demand right now, both food and at risk,” Struss said. Te concert series Struss did say there is a monetary donations are crucial, Marren said. Struss said she is was set to wrap up on possibility of rescheduling “I want Cambridge to know how much we appreciate disappointed, but felt the Aug. 7 with Driftless, those two concerts in everything,” Marren said. Marren said her immediate concern is making sure clients get what they need during the pandemic. Long- term, she sees the pantry working on digitizing some of NOW HIRING its systems, and seeking grants. People can contact the food pantry at (608) 423-8142. EXPERIENCED ACTIVITY DIRECTOR/ DEERFIELD POOL SUPERVISOR GREENHOUSE EVENT PLANNER In charge of pool operations • scheduling • staff • CPO certifi cation preferred for resort campground • 30 minutes from Madison Don’tDon t fforgetorget MMother’sother s DDayay oonn MMayay 1100 th! 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