Community

“Village elves” from Black Earth put together cookie trays for seniors in the community. Village and Library staff made cookies and treats and assembled 57 trays. All nursing home residents received trays, as well as many residents. Officers Michelle Viney and James Kartman delivered the trays. Pictured, Dani Franco, Village of Black Earth Deputy Clerk, in a room full of cookies.

On display now at the Black Earth Historical Society’s Depot Museum is a handcrafted rustic wood art display depicting a 100-year-old farm and sawmill. The set affectionately known as “Works of Art” by Arthur Moen, formerly of 1438 Center Street, Black Earth was recently donated by John Trager of Mazomanie. Trager also donated two shopping carts with baskets from Simley’s Grocery. One cart can be seen behind the farm set display and contains some old grocery products and a crock from Simley’s. Outside viewing from the window on the ramp--Day time only, no lights--and you may have to walk through a little snow at times to get to the window. Displays at the Black Earth Historical Society had been stymied the past year by COVID-19, but the opportunity to display the historic Barber Sister’s Christmas nativity scene and village in the Children’s Museum this past Christmas season has encouraged us to look for other ways to display. The Christmas display at the Children’s Museum is still available to see until January 8th. Another new display will be coming to a depot window in February.

Kaitlyn (Kaitie) Brickle, a senior at Sauk Prairie High School, and daughter of Faye and Scott Brickl was honored at the January 6 Optimist Zoom meeting. Via Zoom, Assistant Principal Shane Been, shared why she was selected as the December Optimist SPHS Student of the Month. “Kaitie attacks whatever she chooses to do in life. She lifts those around her. In the classroom, she has four Advanced Placement classes and she is second in her class. She is a three-year member of the varsity volleyball team that went to state this year. Kaitie is a leader during adversity and when they virtually lost their entire coaching staff due to illness, she did a fantastic job as team captain. Her National Honor Society project this year was to set up a “virtual buddy system” with Grand Avenue students. She has been very involved in two mission trips to Joplin, Missouri,” shared Mr. Been. Next year, Katie said that she intends on attending UW-Madison majoring in human development and child studies next Fall. (Kaitie and her mom Faye were part of the Zoom meeting.) SPHS Assistant Principal Shane Been, right, presents Kaitlyn Brickl, left, with her Optimist Student of the Month certificate, Optimist pen and Culver’s gift certificate prior to the Zoom Optimist meeting January 6.

The Free Congregation of Sauk County will be celebrating their 169th annual Painesfest holiday, honoring the life of Thomas Paine, on January 17 via Zoom. The invited guest speaker is Michael Johnson, the President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County who led the agency on an amazing journey of change – transforming the organization from a local children’s charity to a change agent for children and families while driving high standards of excellence in financial transparency, community engagement and governance; all with the goal of making a significant, measurable impact in the lives of children and their families. Johnson will be speaking via Zoom January 17 beginning at 10:10 am on the topic “The 10 Characteristics of Effective Leadership During Times of Civil Unrest” via the Free Congregation of Sauk County’s website. To access the Zoom presentation, the meeting link will be on this page: https://freecongregation.org/sunday-programs.aspx. The meeting is open to the public and accessible on dial-up phone, computer and smart devices. Michael earned a BA in Business Education from Chicago State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He also holds a certification in fundraising management from the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University, a certification in human resource management from Cornell University and an Advanced Leadership Certification from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business.

Mickelsons-Martin American Legion Post 313 Black Earth honored WWII Veterans and their families on December 7th, commemorating the 79th year since the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Pictured, Chaplain Bill Rettenmund and Commander Dennis J Wood, laying a wreath for WWII Veterans and families.