SELL YOUR HOME EASIER! Local, Experienced & Trusted Get the RIGHT Real Estate Advice... Get Geiger JASON GEIGER It’s your paper! (608) 277-2167 Friday, July 11, 2014 • Vol. 1, No. 5 • Fitchburg, WI • ConnectFitchburg.com • $1 Office Next to Great Dane - Fitchburg GeigerRealtors.com adno=358758-01 Inside Library ‘pulled this town together’ Fitchburg native chases songwriting But at its third birthday, dreams Page 10 supporters say there’s still lots of work to do SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group Kathleen Martens has lived in Fitchburg for 28 years, but until three years ago, she had to go to Oregon to get her fix of nonfiction books. Flea market creates “I read a lot,” said Marten, one of 12,000 Fitch- camaraderie burg residents who had a library card in another community before the library was built, based on statistics given by library supporters in 2009. Page 7 Marten was on hand when that changed, on June 29, 2011, with the opening of Fitchburg’s own library. Three years later, she and her two grand- Sports sons were back to celebrate the building’s third birthday. “I think (the library’s) what has pulled this town together,” Martens said. “It’s become such an important part of our life.” Becoming an important part of community life is what the ultimate goal for the library was, in a city that has no downtown and no school district of its own, said library board member Pauli Niko- lay. VAHS boys win “We’d like the heart and soul of the community state lacrosse to be the library, and provide functions for babies all the way up through grandparents and senior championship citizens,” Nikolay said. While many think of classic, hardcover books Page 14 when they think of a library, in Fitchburg it’s much more, whether a meeting place, a fun pro- gram for children or using the computers to check Business email. But for those most heavily involved, from Library Board members to director Wendy Row- son, their work is far from over. They still have much to do to reach the entire Fitchburg commu- nity, especially those who might not have a way to access the Lacy Road facility. “How do we create more and more partnerships and relationships?” Nikolay said. “That is criti- cally important, because we still have people who don’t know there’s a library.” A long road Sandwich shop Before a 2008 referendum that approved fund- brings new flavor Photo by Samantha Christian ing for the library’s construction (and even soon David Yi, 12, of Fitchburg, reads a comic book in a bean bag chair while Danielle Scott, left, and Nina Kajian, 13, after), it wasn’t always clear Fitchburg would of Verona, right, search through the stacks in the teen section Tuesday at Fitchburg Public Library. Page 22 Turn to Library/Page 12 City Fitchburg arborist Council confirms Shelly two-station plan Out on a Limb Wollerman Steven R. Bassett, Inc., a landscaping com- works in a Page 3 Arborist readies for international pany in the Town of Verona. honey locust tree for her tree-climbing championships Four years later, the Fitchburg resident has clearly conquered her fear. employer, On Aug. 2, Wollerman will represent Verona- Schools SETH JOVAAG based Steven Star Correspondent Wisconsin for the fourth consecutive year Bassett, Inc. OSD: Teachers, at the International Tree Climbing Cham- She will par- pionship in Milwaukee. Previous competi- union hope for Shelly Wollerman admits she was ticipate in an “freaking out” the first time she worked on tions have taken her to Australia, Portland, international quicker resolution the “tree crew.” Ore. and Toronto, Canada. climbing “I was 15 feet off the ground and was In a sport and vocation dominated by men, competition Page 9 like, ‘What the hell am I doing?’” she Wollerman said she became the state’s first next month recalled of working for her employer, Turn to Tree/Page 23 Photo submitted PRSRT STANDARD ECRWSS Holistic Grooming Holistic Doggie Daycare US POSTAGE PAID Healthy Diets Dog Training UNIFIED NEWSPAPER GROUP Tabby & Jack's. For Your Healthy, Happy and Balanced Pet 2 locations: 2970 Cahill Main, Fitchburg, (608) 277-5900 www.tabbyandjacks.com 6925 University Ave, Middleton, (608) 841-1133 adno=358741-01 2 July 11, 2014 The Fitchburg Star ConnectFitchburg.com Photos by Victoria Vlisides Above, Mike Barry purchased a 16-year-old Clydesdale horse that will pull a four-seat carriage. Below, Barry, his son Pat Barry, and Stacey and Dave Anderson hitch Silas to the cart last Thursday morning in the Barry Stables inside arena. Silas takes Stacey and Dave Anderson of Oregon for a ride June 19 morning. The Clydesdale horse came from New York and was pur- chased by Mike Barry of Barry Stables, 5556 County Hwy. M in Fitchburg. New addition to stable is hard to miss VICTORIA VLISIDES nicely to his new home. that.” are friends of Barry’s and Unified Newspaper Group Barry described him as a Barry also said he have worked with Clydes- “kind” and “gentle” horse thought it’d be nice to give dales for 30 years, helped Mike Barry of Barry Sta- with a lot of experience carriage rides with Silas Barry get the horse hitched bles got a new horse that pulling carriages. He is to clients who house their up to the carriage that’s comes with a lot of history used to being one of the two horses there and friends. black and has red leather and is hard to miss. “lead” horses on the eight- On June 19, he was seats and took him for a Silas, the 16-year-old, horse hitch, Barry said. hitched up for the first time spin around the arena. 1,800-pound Clydesdale “It’s kind of neat,” said to a four-wheeled carriage Barry’s son, Pat, who has horse, hails from New Barry, who celebrated in the indoor arena at the worked at the stables all his York. this 80th birthday in June. stable that houses about 35 life, took a drive, too. Silas came to the Coun- “I don’t know, we might horses. “He’s really responsive ty Hwy. M horse stable even put him in a couple of Oregon residents Stacey for a big horse,” said Pat, as last month and is adjusting parades or something like and Dave Anderson, who he drove the carriage. 9 HOLES... $9... EVERY DAY UNTIL NOON THIS VOUCHER GOOD FOR ONE FREE ROUND OF 9 HOLES OF GOLF when a SECOND ROUND OF 9 HOLES OF GOLF of equal or greater value is purchased at regular price (VALUE UP TO $14.00) Valid Sunup to Sundown 7 DAYS A WEEK. Only one voucher valid per foursome, per day. Not valid for league or tourna- ment play. Not valid on holidays or holiday weekends. Not valid with any other discount, special, mobile app or Bucky Book offer. Offer valid Through September 30, 2014 MONTHLY GOLF PASSES Photo by Samantha Christian ONLY Full of magic Fitchburg Public Library hosted magician Jim Mitchell on Tuesday, July 8. The family fun 2201 Traceway Dr.Fitchburg, WI 53713 $165 magic show included audience participation and Call (608) 271-5877 or visit comedy for all ages. Above, Mitchell’s green- winged macaw Toby flies from one arm to www.ninespringsgolfcourse.com Open Golf 7 days/week the other at the end of the magic show. Right, Sun-up ’til Dark-thirty Mitchell, left, brings volunteer Anthony Velasco, adno=358738-01 7, of Madison, up to the stage to be a part of his balloon- popping act. Townhome Rentals - Reserve Yours Today More TOWNHOMES OPENING JULY 2014 photos online LUXURY LIVING IN UPTOWN FITCHBURG 5152 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Fitchburg For more photos from this and other events around 608.441.9999 the city, visit Connect Brought to Fitchburg.com you by www.avanteproperties.com adno=358728-01 Photo by Kat Chew ConnectFitchburg.com July 11, 2014 The Fitchburg Star 3 Council moves forward with two- CARPC questions station plan for fire department Fitchburg developments Staff to bring If you go First station could final plan to What: CARPC meeting open late 2015 commissioners on on Fitchburg expansion When: 7 p.m. Aug. 14 MARK IGNATOWSKI two neighborhoods Where: TBD, possibly Unified Newspaper Group in Fitchburg SCOTT GIRARD Info: Visit Although specific loca- Unified Newspaper Group capitalarearpc.org tions haven’t been selected, the Common Council gave After getting some initial the nod to staff to contin- comments from a regional Commission. ue pursuing a two-station planning body, plans to In order for a proposal to plan for the Fitchburg Fire prepare the city for devel- get a recommendation from Department. opment on its eastern and the commission, eight of its As the city builds its Capi- western fringes will go 13 members must vote in tal Improvement Plan, the back for approval next favor. group tasked with oversee- month. That vote is likely to hap- ing the fire station building The Capital Area Region- pen at the commission’s process continues to seek the al Planning Commission, Aug. 14 meeting, where right sites that will provide which advises the state on staff will deliver its final fast response times to inci- extensions of sewer service, presentation on the neigh- dents. heard preliminary presen- borhoods after addressing No land has been acquired Map courtesy SEH, Inc. tations from staffers at the the questions at the June yet for the two stations – A map shows the 5-minute response times from the potential east and west fire station locations.