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Voice
FREE
May 2022
of the River Valley
C E L E B R AT I N G L I F E I N T H E L O W E R W I S C O N S I N A N D S U G A R - P E C AT O N I C A R I V E R B A S I N S
voiceoftherivervalley.com 1WELCOME T O M A Y
E
ach spring is a rebirth, beautiful miracle of this magazine is its
full of potential. Some quintessential grassroots nature that
opportunities are for nearly 16 years has sustained it
found in creation, others in month after month. The miracle Volume 17 • Number 5
reinvention or closure. of this publication is you: you the May 2022
This month, as she makes contributor (writer, photographer,
her farewell, we say thank you artist, poet), you the advertiser, you the Voice of the River Valley is a monthly
once more to Mary Friedel-Hunt, volunteer distributor, you the subscriber, independent arts and culture magazine
Voice founding publisher and editor published by Wording LLC.
you the reader — and perhaps there’s a you
who passed the torch of this magazine to us Since 2006, Voice of the River
out there who is now ready to take up the torch Valley has been a guide to people
in 2012 and returned as a contributing writer
as editor or even publisher as we leave off and events that inspire, inform and
in 2015. At first monthly, then every other enrich life in the Lower Wisconsin and
printing Voice in August. That issue will mark
month, Mary’s wisdom in “Living Well, Sugar-Pecatonica River Basins of
our 10th anniversary dedicating our nights and Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.
Dying Well” has grounded us. We’re grateful
for her sustaining support. weekends to this labor of love. This all-volunteer publication
We also want to recognize other If you’re reading this and thinking is made possible by the creative
you can’t imagine this nook of the Driftless voices of our region and the generous
significant contributing voices to Voice of support of area advertisers. For
the River Valley who remained committed Area without a magazine dedicated to submission guidelines, advertising
through much of the wild ride of the the nature, culture, people and events and subscription options, and to submit
pandemic. Jennifer Moore-Kerr brought that inspire, inform and enrich life in the events to the calendar, please visit our
website at voiceoftherivervalley.com.
much depth to these pages and connections Lower Wisconsin and Sugar-Pecatonica
River Basins, please get in touch. Contact Copyright © 2022 by Wording
among neighbors in her “Building Bridges”
LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction
and “Time Capsules” columns. Last year you us at info@voiceoftherivervalley.com or in whole or in part without written
may recall savoring the final contributions call (608) 588-6251. We’re open to creative permission is prohibited.
of regular “Garden Blitz” contributor Patrice possibilities for Voice’s future.
P.O. Box 150
Peltier — who made us laugh out loud month In the meantime, there are three brand Mineral Point, WI 53565
after month. And we’re grateful to Etienne new issues ahead to look forward to. We (608) 588-6251
White, whose musings in “Where the Land wish you happy reading of this May issue info@voiceoftherivervalley.com
Meets the Sky” often had us brushing away featuring the voices of Kelli Emerson, Mary This month, 2,600 copies of Voice
tears. You can revisit all of their contributions of the River Valley are being distributed
Friedel-Hunt, Doris Green, John Heasley to locations across southwestern
at voiceoftherivervalley.com. and Corey Ritterbusch, photography by Rick Wisconsin. Annual subscriptions are
The content of these pages has continued Graves and more. As ever, we remain grateful $22 and can be requested online or
to evolve over the past nearly 16 years to the advertisers whose support makes the
by contacting us by email or phone.
with contributions of fresh ideas, voices,
printing of these pages possible, the volunteer VOICE OF THE RIVER VALLEY
photography and art. Nevertheless, we’ve
distribution team who helped get it into your
determined that the best course forward for us Sara Lomasz Flesch
hands, our subscribers and you, our dear
during this time of reflection for many is to hit editor & publisher
readers.
pause and take time to ponder the best course
Erik Flesch
forward for Voice as a print publication. The editor & design director
Mary Friedel-Hunt (2006-2012)
& Bill Hunt (2006-2010)
ON THE COVER
T
founding publishers
his month’s cover photograph is by Rick Graves of Spring Green. While wandering facebook.com/voiceoftherivervalley
around L & M Salvage on Highway Y in Richland Center, Rick came across this
“beatle in the bush.” Rick says, “I especially liked the way the light is coming through twitter.com/voiceriver
the windshield and the open door, inviting you to come along for a ride through the
woods. And what happened to the steering wheel?” Rick learned photography from linkedin.com/voiceoftherivervalley
his father, a World War II Navy photographer, in the 1960s and has been clicking
away ever since. Rick made the switch to digital photography years ago but, with a background in
old-school film photography, he presents his work with little manipulation of the digital image. Rick Nature, Culture & Events
and his wife, Joni, a bookmaker, own aBoBoBook (see ad, p. 6, and ). Many thanks to Rick for his Find the full calendar of events and sign up for
contribution to this month’s magazine! To enjoy more of his and Joni’s work, see abobobook.com, our mailing list to stay in touch with the region.
follow aBoBoBook on Instragram and look for their booth at the Spring Green Art Fair. To share art Visit voiceoftherivervalley.com.
or photography for a future cover, contact us at info@voiceoftherivervalley.com.
2 Voice of the River Valley | May 2022INSIDE V O I C E S
T HAN K Y OU ,
ADVERTISERS 2 Editors’ Note
10 Calendar of Events
BUSINESS & CONSUMER SERVICES 11 Community Resources
16
Angel & Angel Law Office, 4
Neider & Boucher Attorneys, 6
Royal Bank, 6
TS Russell, 8
DESIGN SERVICES & REAL ESTATE
Poem Homes, 14
EDUCATION, CULTURE & OUTDOORS
Camp Woodbrooke, 10
Charles Chaffee Golf, 4
Driftless Area Land Conservancy, 14
Folklore Village, 11
Harrisburg Troy Historical Society, 11
Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, 20
7
Pine River Paddle & Tube, 7
Rountree Gallery, 9
Rural Remedy, 18
Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, 10
ENTERTAINMENT
Folklore Village, 11
Rountree Gallery’s New Exhibit
Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 12
Presents ‘Nature in Mind’
FOOD, BEVERAGE & LODGING
Arcadia Books, 8
Arthur’s Supper Club, 12
Beastro & Barley, 18 Muscoda’s River Crossings:
Brisbane House, 9 An Abridged History
Cafe 43, 4
Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, 15
Spring Green Farmers Market, 10
Spring Green General Store, 7 VENTURE FORTH
GALLERIES, STUDIOS & RETAILERS
aBoBoBook, 14
7Plan to Get Your Art Fix on
Arcadia Books, 8
MHAAA Spring Art Tour
Brewery Pottery, 12
Central Boarding House Antiques & 15 Creative Opportunities for
Gifts, 8 Youth Artists at Shake Rag Alley
Linda Kelen, Artist, 14
Mount Horeb Area Arts Association, 14
North Earth Gifts, 6 COLUMNS
4
Rountree Gallery, 9
Spring Green General Store, 8
Driftless Gems
BY KELLI EMERSON on FOLKLORE VILLAGE
Wantoot, 7
White Rose Florist, 4 7 Living Well, Dying Well
16
BY MARY FRIEDEL-HUNT
HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY
North Earth Gifts, 6
9 Tracking Your Past
Rural Remedy Yoga, 18 BY DORIS GREEN
18
Quantum Bridges, 6
Driftless Dark Skies
HOME & AUTO ESSENTIALS BY JOHN HEASLEY
Iowa County CLEA-N, 14 Driftless Terroir: ‘Prairie Turnip’ Is
Savanna SG LLC, 8 a Botanical Bellwether
Specialty Auto, 14 BY COREY RITTERBUSCH
voiceoftherivervalley.com 3DRIFTLESS G E M S
I
By Kelli Emerson
first heard about Folklore Village at the start of my second year
as a student at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Over dinner my
friend described how he had spent the summer building a log
cabin with hand tools. As my friend talked about his experience, I
imagined what this place might be like. I pictured Folklore Village
as a community nestled in the hills of the Driftless where craft and
tradition were celebrated.
As chance would have it, five years later I
found myself at Folklore Village for the very
first time. It was a warm summer evening and
the sun was setting over the main hall and
collection of historic buildings that make up
Folklore Village. The scene brought back the
image I’d conjured in my head as my friend
described his work at Folklore Village five years earlier: a community
in the Driftless where the traditional arts reign.
Founded by folk dance and recreation leader Jane Farwell,
Folklore Village is a nonprofit folk art center near Dodgeville. It’s a
place where people can come together to dance, sing, play music, eat
and live folk traditions from the world over.
Folklore Village offers an ongoing program of cultural and
educational activities including concerts, barn dances, open mics,
Saturday night socials, seasonal events, senior outreach programs and
field trips for area school children. Weekend learning retreats provide
an opportunity to spend three days learning Cajun, English and
Scandinavian folk music and dance while enjoying delicious ethnic
meals. Our newest program, the Folklore Village Folk School, offers
workshops in instrument building, rosemaling, foraging, chair caning
and much more.
Key to Folklore Village is the idea that people of all ages need
places and opportunities for joy, camaraderie and celebration. Come
to a German Christmas Tree Lighting and you’ll see children dancing
alongside elders. Join us at the Ice Cream Social and you’ll find that a
love of home-churned ice cream surpasses all boundaries of age.
Now that I’ve been Folklore Village’s program manager for just
under a year, I think my first vision of Folklore Village as a place of
community and craftsmanship wasn’t too far from the mark. At the
heart of it, Folklore Village is a village of sorts. It’s a place where
people of all backgrounds can come together to cherish and champion
folk culture and traditions. It’s a community where the most
experienced fiddler and the newest folk dancer are both welcome.
Folklore Village believes that traditions are part of what makes
us human. Each person has folklife traditions, no matter their
background. By participating in these traditions, we keep them alive,
ensuring their vitality for future generations. Traditions make us who
we are, and celebrating them allows us to foster an understanding and
appreciation of traditions from the world over.
For more information about Folklore Village and our programs,
visit https://folklorevillage.org or call (608) 924-4000.
Kelli Emerson is the program manager at Folklore Village.
Driftless Gems celebrates the nonprofit arts, culture, humanities
and nature organizations that make our region unique. Driftless
Gems celebrates the nonprofit arts, culture, humanities and
nature organizations that make our region unique. To showcase
other Driftless Gems, email info@voiceoftherivervalley.com.
4 Voice of the River Valley | May 2022ric al So cie ty
sc on sin Hi sto
tes y of the Wi
Im ag es Co ur
Muscoda’s River Crossings:
An Abridged History
Imag es Cour tesy of the Lowe
r Wisc onsin River way Boar d
T
he Lower Wisconsin State $8,000. There were complaints about Space,” over 5,000 people attended the
Riverway Board’s regular the tolls for using the new bridge, but it big event with a parade, two dances, a
monthly business meeting April provided an important link across the free lunch and other activities. Local
14 featured a presentation by Executive Wisconsin River. legend suggests the only time the draw
Director Mark Cupp on river crossings In 1888, the toll bridge was sold span was ever opened was on the day of
at Muscoda. to John Postel and John Schwingle for the festivities.
Cupp said the Moore family $10,000. The remnants of the stone piers Finally, in 1989, the modern
originally ran a ferry across the river for the toll bridge may still be seen on highway bridge in use today (pictured
from Muscoda to the upstream side of the existing bridge. bottom right) was constructed with
MUSCODA Richland County. By the early 1920s, the public demands Gov. Tommy Thompson dedicating the
Following the Civil for a “free” bridge had intensified bridge the following year.
War, General Jonathon B. Moore, a and, after years of legal battles and The next LWSRB meeting will be
former sheriff of Grant County and planning, a new highway bridge was held in Boscobel on May 12. For more
former member of the Legislature, constructed (pictured top right) with a information, contact Mark E. Cupp,
agreed to invest $16,000 in a new grand opening in 1929. According to LWSRB executive director, at (608)
toll bridge (pictured top left) with Richard Durbin’s book “The Wisconsin 739-3188 or (608) 739-2179 (cell) or
additional investors putting in another River: An Odyssey Through Time and e-mail mark.cupp@wisconsin.gov.
voiceoftherivervalley.com 5LIVING WELL,
D Y I N G W E L L : The Final Word
I
am writing this column as Voice of the River Valley
approaches its 16th birthday.
It seems like a lifetime ago when my husband, Bill, and
I sat in our living room with a group of friends chatting and
eating when someone suggested that Spring
Green needed a publication that would
be oriented to the arts, local businesses,
events and people. I remember someone
suggested that I do this.
I could not get my mind off of the
idea that night as I was tired of seeing
mostly bad news in newspapers. Instead I
wanted to publish an upbeat newsletter.
Mary Friedel-Hunt I got up at 2 a.m. and designed the
masthead and the rest is history. Voice
has been a success in my opinion and has been under Sara’s
expert guardianship for nearly 10 years of its 16-year life
now. I will always be grateful that she decided to take it
over when I was in such grief and loss with Bill’s death yet
wanted Voice to continue to be published. Voice deserved
better than what I was able to provide at that terrible time.
Sara has been true to the original mission statement and I
congratulate her and Erik for what they have done to keep
Voice relevant, current, interesting and well done. I know all
that involves.
It is time for me to just enjoy reading Voice instead of
also writing for it. I retired my 50-year clinical and grief
counseling practice (for the most part) four years ago at age
78 and now, at 82, it is time to retire this column, “Living
Well, Dying Well.” I started writing columns in 1998 for
three newspapers: one in Colorado, one in Wisconsin and
another in the Bradenton Herald in Florida — coincidentally,
Sara and Erik’s hometown newspaper. I continued doing that
as Bill and I traveled through Canada and the United States
full time for two years in our RV. I will always have more to
say, but at this time I plan to give serious thought to either
finishing the book Bill and I were working on before he got
sick, or begin one of my own. Or perhaps I will just dive
into the art I have dabbled with since he died. Mostly I plan
to enjoy each day, read, meditate, continue to participate in
my contemplative dialogue groups/classes and make sure my
canine companion, Brinkley, gets enough attention (if that is
possible).
I thank everyone who was a part of this adventure
in those early days: readers, advertisers, writers, artists,
circulation assistants, printers, photographers, designers,
those I featured, and volunteers who mattered so much.
Voice introduced me to so many of you back then. How
humbled and grateful Bill and I were and I still am. Thank
you all so much.
Mary Friedel-Hunt has retired after 50 years of practice as a
licensed clinical social worker and certified bereavement coun-
selor. She can be reached at mfhunt44@gmail.com or P.O. Box
1036, Spring Green, WI 53588.
6 Voice of the River Valley | May 2022Get Your Art Fix
on Spring Art Tour Rountree Presents ‘Nature in Mind’
of Mt. Horeb Area
Escape with a road trip to the wonder-
ful world of artists’ studios and person-
al galleries by visiting the 2022 Spring
Art Tour stops June 4-6. Explore unique
artist locations while you journey along
the hills and valleys of Black Earth,
Town of Vermont, Blanchardville, Blue
Mounds, Mazomanie, Mount Horeb,
New Glarus and beyond.
You may find the complete map of
tour stops, information about each art-
ist and samples of their work by visiting
www.SPRINGARTTOUR.com.
The Spring Art Tour, sponsored
by the Mount Horeb Area Arts Asso-
ciation, brings to you an expansive col-
lection of 35 local artisans’ work rep-
resenting a diverse media set – paint-
ing, photography, jewelry, metal art,
pottery, fiber art, wood sculpture and
more.
Many artists will have studios and
galleries set up outdoors – in tents,
Bernice Ficek-Swenson
barns, gardens or garages – where you
may peruse their work and observe ar-
tistic demonstrations while enjoying
the beautiful Wisconsin Driftless re-
gion. Throughout the weekend, artists
will be talking about their work and
creative process with many offering
drawings for prizes. This is an excellent Rountree Gallery presents “Nature in Mind,” an exhibition of six
opportunity to get up close and person-
PLAT T E V I L L E Minnesota artists braiding together thematic ideas of the natural
world using images and objects with text and visual books.
al with art by and the artists.
Sculpture, photography, painting, drawing, printmaking and book arts by exhibiting
This is a free and family-friendly
artists Jill Ewald, Bernice Ficek-Swenson, Linda Gammell, Meg Ojala, Linda River
event. Join the Spring Art Tour artists Rossi, and Holly Newton Swift will be on display May 5-June 11 at the Rountree
and the Mount Horeb Area Arts As- Gallery, 120 W. Main St. Gallery hours are 4-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m.-
sociation in celebrating the magic of 2 p.m. Saturday, or by appointment. For more information, see rountreegallery.org.
springtime through art.
voiceoftherivervalley.com 78 Voice of the River Valley | May 2022
T R A C K I N G Y O U R P A S T : Research Revised
W
e are all prone to error and victim to change. decades ago. Nineteenth-century church baptism,
A family history crafted years ago may no confirmation and marriage records were clearly
longer serve at reunion gatherings. New legible in unbelievably graceful cursive.
information and new technologies have revised how The newly found information put to rest a
we see our ancestors. supposition I’d heard repeatedly at family gatherings,
Case in point: I’d long been aware of a few minor namely that my grandmother had been pregnant on
errors in our own Green family history. So, when I the voyage and lost a baby while the family was at sea.
recently unearthed a darkened copy of the Certificate Doris Green Given my Uncle Martin’s infancy at the time, this
of Naturalization my paternal grandfather received in
seems highly unlikely, though there were quite possibly
1917, it started a search for additional immigration information.
deaths among the ship’s passengers.
The report of our family’s immigration to Racine omitted
As often happens, the new information raised new
key points and got a few facts wrong, yet proved accurate
questions. When exactly did the family leave their farm home
overall. Created years ago with the aid of microfilms at the LDS
Family History Library in Hales Corners, the inaccuracies were in eastern Denmark? Can I find the name of the cattle boat that
understandable. carried them from Denmark to England? Can I confirm the train
At the suggestion of a genealogist friend, I located my route through Canada to Detroit and my grandfather’s stop-off
grandfather’s Petition for Naturalization, which documented the near the Vermont border?
family’s European port of departure (Liverpool), port of entry Researchers who follow will no doubt uncover my own
(Detroit) and mode of travel through Canada (train). Traveling errors and misconceptions, while filling in knowledge gaps and
with four sons (John, age 6; Peter, 5; Carl, 3; and Martin, 3 identifying additional limbs on the family tree. Family history is
months), my grandparents’ North American place of arrival was a continual, evolving revelation of when and where and exactly
not, as previously thought, New York but Quebec. how our ancestors lived — as well as a satisfying journey.
Looking for related documents, I was surprised at how
many are now available online, especially when I searched for Doris Green authored “Elsie’s Story: Chasing a Family Mystery”
my grandfather’s Danish name: Andreas Petersen Grøn, rather and “Wisconsin Underground: A Guide to Caves, Mines, and
than Andrew Green. Suddenly I could see many new-to-me Tunnels.” Also available: “Minnesota Underground,” co-authored
documents, as well as the ones available only on microfilm with Greg Brick. Visit http://henschelhausbooks.com.
voiceoftherivervalley.com 9V O I C E O F T H E R I V E R VA L L E Y C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S
RECURRING free. Angus, a professor in Design Studies at the
UW-Madison, presents unique installations show-
MAY 2022
ing insects as art. Wyoming Valley School Cultural 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Through May Dodgeville
Exhibit: Greg Bykowski (mixed media), 8:30
Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23, www.wyomingval- 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
leyschool.org.
a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Iowa County Court- 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
house 1st Floor Exhibit, 222 N. Iowa St., (608) Through October Platteville 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
935- 5483. The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, 10 a.m.- 29 30 31
5 p.m. daily May through October. Enjoy guided
Through May Platteville tours of the Bevans Lead-Zinc Mine and train rides
Way of Stillness Group Meditation, 6:45-7:45 For more information, see
(weather permitting) through the beautiful museum
p.m. Thursdays. Open to people of all backgrounds campus. Self-guided tours of cultural history exhib- voiceoftherivervalley.com/events. Submit
and traditions of meditative practice (beginners its explore 13,000 years of Driftless Area ingenuity, events for next month’s magazine online
included). Chairs provided, but bring any props that inquiry, enterprise and development. $12 ages by May 15. All events subject to change.
keep you comfortable. Masks and social distancing 13+, $10 seniors (65+), $8 youth 5-12, $3 children
required. Free, but donations encouraged. Rooted Check with event organizers for current
under 5, $37 family. The Mining & Rollo Jamison
Yoga Studio (second floor above Rountree Gal- Museums, 405 E. Main St., (608) 348-3301, www. COVID-19 protocols.
lery), 120 W. Main St., www.wayofstillness.com. mining.jamison.museum.
Through May Spring Green Year-Round Mineral Point MAY
Local Art at the Library, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.- Arts and crafts programming for adults and
Thurs., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat. Enjoy youth, custom retreats, virtual Artisan Market- 1 Platteville
work by River Valley Birders in the Community place, lodging and site rentals. Shake Rag Alley The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums Season
Room Gallery and the Glass Case Gallery. Spring Center for the Arts, 18 Shake Rag St., (608) 987- Opening and Community Free Day, 10 a.m.-5
Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., 3292, info@shakeragalley.org, www.ShakeRagAl- p.m. Museum admission, including a Guided Mine
(608) 588-2276, springgreenlibrary.org. ley.org. Tour and Train Ride (weather permitting) will be free
to Platteville residents. Registration is suggested
Through May Spring Green Year-Round Prairie du Sac and proof of residency is required. The Mining &
Rural Remedy Yoga. Group yoga classes for all Art gallery, workshops and classes. Gallery Rollo Jamison Museums, 405 E. Main St., (608)
levels. $3-$95. Rural Remedy, S11105 Fairview open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and by 348-3301, www.mining.jamison.museum.
Rd., 312-208-5977, www.ruralremedy.com/offer- private appointment on Tuesdays and Wednes-
ings. days. River Arts on Water Gallery Studio, 590 Wa- 1 Spring Green
ter St., (608) 643-5215, www.riverartsinc.org. Plays Out Loud: ”Stones in His Pockets” by
May 5-June 11 Platteville Marie Jones, 2-4 p.m. Join friends and other lovers
Art Exhibit: “Nature in Mind,” 4-7 p.m. Thurs.- Year-Round Richland Center of dramatic literature in a community reading of a
Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. Six Minnesota artists Rolling Hills/Viroqua Toastmasters Bimonthly play from American Players Theatre’s upcoming
braiding together thematic ideas of the natural Meeting, 7-9 p.m. second/fourth Tuesdays. Join 2022 season. Choose the part you want to read out
world using images and objects with text and visual members representing communities within 60 miles loud or come to just listen and discuss. Free scripts
books. Rountree Gallery, 120 W. Main St., Roun- of Richland Center — including Viroqua, Plain, available at the door the afternoon of the event, or
treeGallery.org. (See art, p. 7.) Spring Green, Boscobel, Gays Mills and towns playbooks are available for sale at Arcadia Books
in between — in an exciting, fast-paced two-hour or on loan at the Spring Green Community Library
Through May 17 Spring Green (Virtual) meeting dedicated to the art of communication and with a South Central library card. Beverages avail-
Community Gatherings to Support Racial Jus- leadership. Kelly’s Coffee House, 196 W. Court St., able for purchase. Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret
tice Book Club: “The 1619 Project” Book Club, (608) 583-2020, https://588762.toastmastersclubs. 137 W. Jefferson St., info@springgreenlitfest.org.
6:30 p.m. May 3, May 17 (2 chapters at a time). To org.
register, email barta.moran@gmail.com. 2 Spring Green
Year-Round Spring Green Trivia Night, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Slowpoke Lounge
Through June 12 Spring Green Stitch and Bitch, 1:30-3 p.m. Thursdays. Weekly & Cabaret, 137 W. Jefferson St., www.slowpoke
Art Exhibit: Jennifer Angus: Jennifer Angus, “A handwork group. All are welcome. Spring Green lounge.com.
is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada,” 10 a.m.- General Store, 137 S. Albany St., (608) 588-7070,
3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. $8 adults, $7 students, www.springgreengeneralstore.com. 3 Dodgeville (Virtual)
seniors and military; children under 6 admitted The FolkMic: Folklore Village Virtual Open Mic,
10 Voice of the River Valley | May 20227-9 p.m. Performers and audience members alike
are warmly welcome. For more information and Community Resources Support Group, Health & Human Services
Building, 303 W. Chapel St., SPCICWI@gmail.
virtual invitation, email programs@folklorevillage.
com.
org. Folklore Village, 3210 Cty. Hwy BB, (608) CHAMBERS, COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PFLAG Mount Horeb Area Support Meeting,
924-4000, www.folklorevillage.org, The FolkMic
Darlington Chamber of Commerce, Mt. Horeb American Legion Hall, 102 S. 3rd
Facebook group.
darlingtonwi.org St., pflagmoho@gmail.com.
7 Muscoda Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce, www. Richland Center Autism Support Group,
mineralpoint.com (608) 588-2585, www.angelautismnetwork.org.
Terroir: A Celebration of Wisconsin Wine &
Mount Horeb Chamber of Commerce, www. Rolling Hills Toastmasters, Richland
Cheese, 2-3:30 p.m. Wild Hills Winery wine pairing
mounthorebchamber.com Hospital, Pippin 1, 333 E. 2nd St.,
with six delicious Carr Valley Cheeses. $38; must
Platteville Chamber of Commerce, www. driftlessareaink@mwt.net.
be 21 to book. Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge
platteville.com Sauk City Reformers Unanimous, Calvary
Dr., (608)647-6600, wildhillswinery.com.
River Valley Commons, www. Baptist Church, 309 Water St., www.
rivervalleycommons.org rusaukprairie.com, (608) 448-9515.
7 Spring Green
Sauk Prairie Chamber of Commerce, www.
Spring Green Farmers Pop-Up Market, 10-11
saukprairie.com MEMORY GROUPS SPONSORED BY THE
a.m. Pre-orders recommended. See Facebook or
Spring Green Area Chamber of Commerce, ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA ALLIANCE OF
Instagram or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com
www.springgreen.com WISCONSIN
for a list of participating vendors and their contact
WRCO Richland Center Community
information. Spring Green Community Library Park- Dodgeville, Stonefield Apartments Community
Calendar, wrco.com
ing Lot, 230 E. Monroe St. Room, 407 E. Madison St., (608) 843-3402,
SUPPORT GROUPS alzwisc.org.
7 Spring Green Richland Center, Woodman Senior Center,
Live Music: The Honey Pies, 7:30-10 p.m. $10- Dodgeville Alcoholics Anonymous, Al- 1050 N. Orange St., (608) 723-4288,
$15. Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeffer- Anon, Narcotics Anonymous Meetings, alzwisc.org.
son St., www.slowpokelounge.com. Dodgeville Serenity Club, 401 N. Union, (608) Sauk City, Sauk Prairie Community Center,
695-6662. Cafe Connections, 730 Monroe St., (608) 742-
8 Mother’s Day Muscoda Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting, 9055, alzwisc.org.
St. John’s School, 116 W. Beech St., (608)
9 Highland 929-4970. FOOD PANTRIES & COMMUNITY MEALS
Highland Area Historical Society Museum, 12-7 Richland Center Al-Anon, Peace United
p.m. Tour the recently completed “Rooms of Yes- Methodist Church, 265 N. Church St., use Dodgeville Feeding Friends Community Meal,
terday.” View displays of area churches, one-room Union St. entrance, (608) 585-3134. Dodgeville United Methodist Church, 327 N.
schools, CCC camp, railroad, mining, Highland Spring Green Alcoholics Anonymous Iowa St., (608) 935-5451.
Brewery and Armed Services. Free admission, but Meetings, 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Closed/ Heights Unlimited Community Resource
donations encouraged. Highland Area Historical Fragrance Free. Spring Green Community Center, 1529 State St., Suite B,
Society Museum, 526 Isabell St. Church, 151 E. Bossard St. Please park and Black Earth, (608) 767-3663, www.
enter at rear of building. heightsunlimited.net, Facebook.
11 Spring Green Spring Green Al-Anon Meetings, Christ Iowa County Food Pantry, 138 S. Iowa St.,
Spring Green Community Group: The Myth of Lutheran Church, 237 E. Daley St., (608) 588- Dodgeville, (608) 930-8733, Facebook.
Racism, 6:30 p.m. North Park (Daley Street and 2481. Mazomanie Community Food Pantry, 9
Park Road) weather permitting or Zoom. For Zoom Brodhead St., (608) 795-4336, Facebook.
link, email sgcommunitygroup@gmail.com. Aging and Disability Resource Center of Reedsburg Food Pantry, (608) 524-6272, www.
Southwest Wisconsin Caregivers Support reedsburgwi.gov/foodpantry.
12 Boscobel Group, Iowa County Health & Human Services Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry, 821 Industry
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board Month- Building, Room 1001, 303 W. Chapel St., (608) Rd., Sauk City, (608) 571-7737, Facebook.
ly Meeting, 5 p.m. Call (608) 739-3188 for location. 930-9835. 6:8 Community Meals, 821 Industry Dr.,
(See story, p. 5.) Dodgeville Area Compassionate Friends Sauk City, 68Kristine@gmail.com, www.
support group for anyone who has lost a child makingservicepersonal.org.
13-15 Dodgeville of any age. Grace Lutheran Church, (608) Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action
English Country Dance & Music Weekend. Im- 935-2693. Program Food Resources Map, swcap.org.
mersive weekend workshops in music and dance, Dodgeville Parkinson’s Support Group, Spring Green Community Food Pantry, Spring
nightly dances, delicious cultural meals and more! Grace Lutheran Church, 1105 N. Bequette St., Green Community Church, 151 E. Bossard St.,
(608) 574-4838. www.communityfoodpantryofspringgreen.org,
Continued p. 12 Dodgeville SOS, Survivors of Suicide (608) 459-5512.
voiceoftherivervalley.com 11deck while the weather permits.
Calendar cont. from p. 11 Spring Green General Store, 137 S.
Albany St., (608) 588-7070, www.
This weekend will be open and ac- springgreengeneralstore.com.
cessible to solo and partnered danc-
ers. Folklore Village, 3210 Cty. Hwy 14 Spring Green
BB, (608) 924-4000, www.folklorevil- Live Music: Eric Tessmer, 7:30-10
lage.org. p.m. $10-$15. Slowpoke Lounge &
Cabaret, 137 W. Jefferson St., www.
14 Iowa County slowpokelounge.com.
Solar Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The
Clean Local Energy Alliance-Now 14-15 Barneveld
(CLEA-N) partnership is offering Iowa Let’s Just Call It a Spring Party
County residents and businesses at Botham Vineyards, 10 a.m.-5
free solar assessments and discount- p.m. Wine tasting and pairings and
ed rates for installing solar panels. live music. Free. Botham Vineyards,
Learn about “going solar” by visiting 8180 Langberry Rd., (608) 924-1412,
local residences and businesses www.bothamvineyards.com.
with installed solar systems. Location
details at www.driftlessconservancy. 15 Spring Green
org/events. Live Music: Acoustic Jam, 1-3
p.m. Come to listen or grab your
14 Mineral Point instrument and come to play on the
Driftless Poets Workshop, 2-4 back deck while the weather permits.
p.m. Monthly workshopping group Spring Green General Store, 137 S.
for aspiring and established poets in Albany St., (608) 588-7070, www.
person and via Zoom. Free, register springgreengeneralstore.com.
online for link. Shake Rag Alley Cen-
ter for the Arts, 18 Shake Rag St., 16 Spring Green
(608) 987-3282, www.ShakeRagAl- A Night of Words, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
ley.org. An open mic. Friends sharing words.
Watch. Listen. Speak. Share. Slow-
14 Mineral Point poke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W.
Live Music: The Mascot Theory, Jefferson St., www.slowpokelounge.
doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $15- com.
$20. Mineral Point Opera House, 139
High St., (608) 987-3501, mineral- 18 Mineral Point
pointoperahouse.org. Makers & Shakers Art Party:
Summer Banners, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
14 New Glarus Makers age 12 and up are invited
Birding the Spring Valley Preserve, to join Carole Spelic’ in this month’s
8-10 a.m. Enjoy time in the field with project – or bring your own! Begin-
seasoned birders Fred & Kate Dike ners welcome! Project fee $5 (waived
at the Driftless Area Land Conservan- for students), materials fee $7. Shake
cy’s 300-acre Spring Valley Preserve Rag Alley Lind Pavilion, 411 Com-
at 277 Brunson Rd. north of New merce St., (608) 987-3282, www.
Glarus. Registration required. Drift- ShakeRagAlley.org.
less Area Land Conservancy, www.
driftlessconservancy.org/events. 19 Mineral Point (Virtual)
Antiracism Book Club: “I Am Not Your
14 Spring Green Negro,” 6:30-8 p.m. Join the conver-
Birding the Lowery Creek Valley, sation about the first half of James
6-8 a.m. Explore hotspots in the Low- Baldwin’s unfinished work about his
ery Creek Valley near Spring Green, three assassinated friends, Medgar
from Taliesin to Pleasant Ridge, Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther
with seasoned birders Rebecca King as arranged by filmmaker Raoul
Schroeder and Barb Barzen during Peck. Free, register online for Zoom
peak spring migration. Registration link. Shake Rag Alley Center for the
required; specific location details will Arts, 18 Shake Rag St., (608) 987-
be sent to registrants. Driftless Area 3282, www.ShakeRagAlley.org.
Land Conservancy, www.driftlesscon-
servancy.org/events. 19 Spring Green
Evenings Afield: Controlling Inva-
14 Spring Green sive Plants, 6-8 p.m. Learn how to
River Valley Area Community identify and control common invasive
Gardens Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. plants in our area from Gigi LaBudde
Huge plant sale including perennials, and Mike Degen who have battled
native plants and tomato plants. Cash them for many years. Registration
or check only. 900 N. Westmor St. required. Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor
Center, 5607 Cty. Rd. C, www.drift-
14 Spring Green lessconservancy.org/events.
Live Music: Bluegrass Jam, 1-3
p.m. Bring your instrument and play 19 Spring Green
along or come to listen on the back Rocky Road Guitar Summit, 7:30-
12 Voice of the River Valley | May 202221 Lone Rock Bear Valley, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Maj. Gen. Cecil
Calendar cont. from p. 12 Meet Your Neighbor Free Pie and Ice Cream Richardson, Retired Chaplain, U.S.A.F., will pres-
Social, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Lone Rock Histori- ent the message and Dr. Janet Richardson will be
9:30 p.m. Guitar players and other artists and cal Society invites you to meet people from local the accompanist and provide special music. 29864
musicians are cordially invited to hear some music, businesses, village government, churches and Brown Church Rd., (608) 647-0622.
check out some spectacular guitars, and meet organizations. Free pie and ice cream. A sloppy joe,
Rocky Road luthier David Riedmiller of rural Iowa chips, and water or coffee lunch will be available for 22 Spring Green
County. Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jef- $5. Lone Rock Community Center, 108 E. Liberty Live Music: Slowpoke Songwriters Round, 6-8
ferson St., www.slowpokelounge.com. St., (608) 647-0622. p.m. With special guests Marques Morel and Jer-
rika Mighelle. Free, tips for the musicians welcome.
16 Arena 21 Mineral Point Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jefferson St.,
ANCESTRAL: Families, Farms and Farming in a Shake Rag Alley’s Writing Retreat Faculty & www.slowpokelounge.com.
Changing World, 6:30 p.m. Dan Smith, local poet Local Author Reading + Open Mic, 7:30 p.m.
and farmer, will tell stores and read from his book Join us for a night of lively literary readings by 25 Mineral Point
“Ancestral.” Free; everyone welcome. Grandma Writing Retreat faculty and local authors. Enjoy a Live Music: Matt Andersen with Terra Lightfoot,
Mary’s Brisbane Hall, 175 Hwy 14, (608) 228-0261, free beverage courtesy of the Wisconsin Writers doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $20-$35. Mineral
Facebook. Association, and consider sharing your own voice Point Opera House, 139 High St., (608) 987-3501,
during the Open Mic. Free admission; open to the mineralpointoperahouse.org.
20-22 Mineral Point public. Cafe 43, 43 High St., (608) 987-3292, www.
Shake Rag Alley’s 6th Annual Mining the Story ShakeRagAlley.org. 29 Spring Green
Writing Retreat. Open to writers of all levels featur- Live Music: 25th Annual BobFest, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
ing three genres taught by authors Patricia Ann 21 Spring Green Outdoor music festival with 14 local bands and solo
McNair (Memoir and Personal Narrative), Christine Birding the Driftless Trail, 6-8 a.m. Enjoy time in performers. Lake Louie/Wisconsin Brewing Co.
Maul Rice (Writing Fiction) or Sheree L. Greer (Dig- the field with seasoned birders Jeb and Barb Bar- beers, Cider Farm cider and a special festival menu
ging In: Research and Writing). In addition to work- zen on the first open segment of the Driftless Trail, honoring Bob Dylan. See website for the perfor-
shops, the retreat includes craft talks, lunchtime north of Governor Dodge State Park, during peak mance schedule. Spring Green General Store, 137
open mics, publishing panel and more. Shake Rag spring migration. Registration required. Driftless S. Albany St., (608) 588-7070, www.springgreen-
Alley Center for the Arts, 18 Shake Rag St., (608) Trail, County Road ZZ and Weaver Road, www. generalstore.com.
987-3282, www.ShakeRagAlley.org. driftlessconservancy.org/events.
29 Spring Green
21 Argyle 21 Spring Green Harrisburg School & Museum Open House,
Birding the Erickson Conservation Area, 6-8 Live Music: Dragelesque Revue, 7:30-10 p.m. 1-4 p.m. Tour a restored one-room schoolhouse
a.m. Enjoy time in the field with seasoned birders Performances by Bella Morte, Arctic D,Lite, Diva and view agricultural items of years ago, veterans
Rebecca Gilman and Charles Harmon. Registra- Disfabulous, Neimo Sworld, Ametheyst and more. display and replica of an old kitchen. E7646 Cty Rd.
tion required. Erickson Conservation Area behind $20-$25. Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jef- B., (608) 544-3375, www.harrisburgtroyhistorical-
Argyle Legion Park, 14567 State Hwy 78, www. ferson St., www.slowpokelounge.com. society.org.
driftlessconservancy.org/events. 22 Lone Rock
Spring Service at the Little Brown Church of 30 Memorial Day
voiceoftherivervalley.com 1314 Voice of the River Valley | May 2022
Shake Rag Alley Presents
New Creative Opportunities
For Youth Artists This Month
A new ditional July workshops include
MINERAL
POINT season Cementimals, Gelatin Plate
of youth Printing, Mermaid Crowns,
programming kicks off at Steampunk Owls, Felt Flowers,
Shake Rag Alley this month Crazy Circle Tree, Elgin Twig
with the launch of the 2022 Mosaic, Cute Paper Cactus and
make-at-home art kits ahead of Basket Making.
the start of on-campus work- August will feature Soda
shops in June. Can Rascals, Mug Rugs, Bead-
Creative fun for kids of all ed Necklace and Bracelet, Heart
ages has been a focus of Shake Mosaic, Leather Bracelets Trio,
Rag Alley programming since Laura Ingalls Wilder Day, Be in
its founding as a nonprofit arts a Play Camp and Leather Stash
organization in 2004. Chil- Bag.
dren’s classes began that year as This year’s workshop and
an after-school arts and crafts kit instructors include Kanndie
program and, thanks to sup- Basting, Theresa Breuning,
port in part from grants from Nancy Huffman, Youth Pro-
the Mineral Point Community gram Director Elizabeth Jo-
Chest and United Fund of Iowa hanna, Megan Kulick, Les-
County, continue to expose par- ley Macaulay, Carole Spelić,
ticipants to new skills and cre- Kathy Warpinski and Marie
ative engagement every June- Whisenant.
August. This year’s Free Arts
More than a dozen Youth Camp — four days of pro-
Program arts and crafts kits will gramming for 40 youth spread
be available May 1 in the Youth out in morning and afternoon
Program Marketplace. Each kit sessions — will be delivered
comes with written instructions entirely in person for the first
and can be picked up at Shake time since 2019. Thanks to the
Rag Alley or mailed anywhere United Fund of Iowa County,
in the country. Prices for most these creative days are entirely
of the kits range from $10-$12 free for youth in Grades 1-5 and
plus shipping if applicable. one session for 20 campers is
This year’s summer Youth already sold out.
Program of on-campus work- To register for workshops,
shops begins June 4 with two purchase kits, and learn more
sessions of the fairy jars work- information, see ShakeRagAl-
shop returning to the Tour of ley.org/youth-program, contact
Fairy Homes. Additional June Youth Program Director Eliza-
workshops include Painted beth Johanna at ejohanna@sha-
Clothespins, Christensen Soap keragalley.org, or call our office
Carving, Handmade Paper at (608) 987-3292. To donate in
Flowers, Fairy Houses, Fancy support of the Youth Program,
Schmancy Candles and Candle- see ShakeRagAlley.org/support.
holders, Diwali “Lamp,” Fun Kids aren’t the only ones
With Photography, Egg Carton getting in on the creativity this
Bugs and Rainbow Collage. month. Several adult work-
The return of Paper Mache shops in May are sold out, but
Art Camp in July will have the the following are still open for
young day campers walking in registration with rapidly ap-
the Mineral Point 4th of July Pa- proaching deadlines at www.
rade with their creations, which ShakeRagAlley.org:
hasn’t happened since 2019. Ad-
CREATIVITY Continued p. 19
voiceoftherivervalley.com 15D R I F T L E S S T E R R O I R : ‘Prairie Turnip’ Is a Botanical Bellwether
Driftless Terroir (ter-WAHR) is a series featuring guest voices celebrating the intersection of land and culture — the essence of life in the
Driftless Area — with topics including art and architecture, farming and gardening, cooking and eating, fermenting and drinking, and
more. To read past columns, see voiceoftherivervalley.com. To contribute to Driftless Terroir, e-mail info@voiceoftherivervalley.com.
T Like other rare prairie species, likely the most eastern in the country.
he Driftless Area of southwestern
Wisconsin contains a plethora of It is found in dry prairies, especially on
native plants across its diverse the primary cause of prairie hillsides with limestone and/or near oak
habitats. Some plants have gone extinct. turnip’s scarcity is habitat woodlands. In Wisconsin, it is primarily
Others are stal- loss. Located at the eastern found only in the five-county region of
warts, adaptable southwestern Wisconsin.
to change. Some
edge of its range here, it has Under ideal conditions it is abun-
continue to exist always been susceptible. In dant in the Plains states. Palatable and
nutritious, it was once a staple food
albeit battered 1986, it was listed as a plant of used by Native Americans as well as by
by the rigors ‘special concern’ in Wisconsin. early Europeans. It was harvested May
put on them by a
through July when the flower stalks
changing world. were easily visible. The root was har-
Cory Ritterbusch The prairie turnip (Pediomelum escul- vested with a sharpened digging stick. The tubers have a hard,
entum) is among the latter, a floristic oddity as a western plains dark skin and are peeled before eating. Some were eaten imme-
plant sustaining here — out of place. diately, either raw or boiled, but most were dried for further use.
Prairie turnips’ homeboys are found in the Plains, the Da- They were sliced and sun dried, braided and hung on meat racks
kotas and the Flint Hills of Kansas. Here is the most eastern to dry, and pounded into flour. It was reliable in times of shortage
location the plant can be found. A Dane County specimen is or famine. It is nutritious, high in protein, carbohydrates, vita-
(Below) The prairie turnip (pediomelum esculentum) emerges in May and flowers through July. (Right, Above) “Wild Flowers of America,” by Isaac
Sprague, 1886, shows the distinctive hairy stem, radiating clusters of five leaflets, and tubers that were once a food staple in our region. (Right, Be-
low) Found in dry prairies and near oak woodlands, in Wisconsin the prairie turnip is primarily only found in the Driftless Area.
Photo courtesy of Cory Ritterbusch
16 Voice of the River Valley | May 2022mins and minerals. Particularly important was the vitamin C con-
tent. The prairie turnip takes two to four years to grow from seed
to mature root. The long period required for maturation probably
limited the success of any efforts made to cultivate the plant. De-
scriptions of its taste range from a “delicacy” to “tolerably good
eating” and “tasteless and insipid.”
There has been an increase in renaming plants by taxono-
mists recently. This plant has also fallen to academia’s pro-
activity. It was formerly psoralea esculenta. Botanists prefer
the uniform Latin nomenclature as it decreases confusion in
regional and national settings. Common names for this plant
include prairie potato, breadroot, tipsin, teepsenee and pomme
de prairie among others. Wisconsin botanists today use prairie
turnip.
Prairie turnip is a slow-growing perennial that emerges in
May and flowers through July. The plant is obviously hairy,
particularly on the stems. The leaves are alternate, ascending
the stem in a spiral, and palmately compound, radiating in a
hand-like configuration with five leaflets. The inflorescence is
composed of numerous blues to purple stalkless flowers in a
condensed spike. A one- or two-seeded pod develops in July and
August. Like people, plants also have preferred associations. The
prairie turnip can be found hanging out with white oak, black
oak, little bluestem, the gramma grasses, silky aster and other
typical dry prairie species. Here in the Driftless, it is always
found on well-drained slopes mostly with a sandy element and
usually facing west or south.
Like other rare prairie species, the primary cause of prairie
turnip’s scarcity is habitat loss. Located at the eastern edge of its
range here, it has always been susceptible. In 1986, it was listed
as a plant of “special concern” in Wisconsin. Only 70 popula-
tions have been reported, including herbarium specimens from
the past. Despite these numbers, very few populations are large,
and several have not been observed recently. Prairie remnants
that have not received management have likely degraded and
the already declining prairie turnip specimens on these sites are
particularly vulnerable to extinction. Mesophication from ex-
panding tree growth, lack of fire and increased rainfall are the
pronounced pressures. Its need for well-drained dry soil creates
an unfavorable situation in an era of increasing annual precipita-
tion — mainly in the form of increasing heavy rainfall events that
inundate soils with excessive moisture unable to drain. The plant
serves as a canary-in-the-coal mine indicator from the pressures
brought on by these increased rainfall events.
This plant can serve as a regional mascot of sorts as we at-
tempt to recognize and battle atmospheric and landscape changes
in the Driftless. This plant is distinct, living in this area, and will
regress under subtle changes. We have the ability to care for the
prairie turnip by raising awareness of the issues that burden it,
Photo courtesy of Prairie Moon Nursery
and we can provide the support that it cannot give itself. If all
goes well, we will always be able to enjoy its annual blooms as
will the many species that use it. In the meantime, pediomelum
esculentum can be monitored as an indicator to how things are
going in general.
Cory Ritterbusch is a restoration ecologist, historian and writer.
He consults through his business Prairie Works, works for the
Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and is the
executive director of Advance Shullsburg Inc.
voiceoftherivervalley.com 1718 Voice of the River Valley | May 2022
D R I F T L E S S D A R K S K I E S : Evening Eclipse
W
e are in a good place to be wowed by the lunar eclipse The moon is fully eclipsed 10:29-11:54 and is a little higher
coming up on May 15. This is the third in a tetrad of in the southern sky. I love finding out how deeply it will redden.
lunar eclipses in the spring and fall of 2021 and 2022. Even though it is in the shadow of the Earth, there is still enough
The lunar eclipses in May and November 2021 were wonderful sunlight passing through our atmosphere to dimly illuminate the
to see, but you had to set an alarm for 3:30 a.m. or 1 a.m. And “seas” and highlands and craters. I also love how so many stars
the next lunar eclipse coming up on Nov. 8 will be at 3:09-6:49 emerge during a total lunar eclipse. I’ll be watching for the red
a.m. But this one plays out on a Sunday evening and is easy to
supergiant Antares below the moon and to its left and how its
enjoy.
color compares. Antares is the brightest star of Scorpius, and the
Look southeast around 8:05 p.m. for
the rising of the Full Flower Moon. Your eclipsed moon may appear to be in the claws of the Scorpion.
shadow cast by the sun setting in the The Milky Way will be rising in the southeast. It’s not visible
northwest around 8:15 will show you during a full moon, but I hope to see it flowing low in the eastern
where to look. If you are on a ridgetop sky during totality when the moonlight is dimmed.
or place in the river valley with clear Totality ends just before midnight when the lower left limb
horizons, you may be able to see the sun of the moon begins to brighten as it leaves Earth’s shadow.
John Heasley and full moon at the same time. After There is again a partial eclipse 11:54 p.m.-12:56 a.m. and a
sunset, watch for the pinkish “Belt of penumbral eclipse 12:56-1:52. Hope we have clear skies to be
Venus” and the darker shadow of Earth in the southeast as night awed by the eclipse of the Full Flower Moon!
rises. You may notice a slight dimming of the moon as it passes
through Earth’s penumbra (partial shadow) 8:31-9:28. John Heasley is an astronomy educator and stargazer who
The partial eclipse is 9:28-10:29. That’s when the moon enjoys connecting people with the cosmos. He volunteers
passes into the full shadow of the Earth. It is still low in the sky, with NASA/JPL as a Solar System Ambassador, with the IAU
so make sure you’ve picked a spot where trees or ridges are not as a Dark Skies Ambassador, and with International Dark-
blocking your view. Watch the lower left part of the moon for the Sky Association as an Advocate. For more information about
first hint of darkening that will slowly cover the lunar landscape. stargazing in southwestern Wisconsin, like Driftless Stargazing
If you have binoculars, you can use them to see even more LLC on Facebook and find out whenever there’s something
detail. awesome happening in the skies.
these free or low-cost programs and events tion required. Project fee waived for middle
CREATIVITY continued from p. 15 (register at www.ShakeRagAlley.org): and high school students. Call the office to
Driftless Poets Workshop | May 14 | register!
• May 2 | (Virtual) The Business of
2-4 p.m. on campus and via Zoom Antiracism Book Club | May 19 |
Art: Facilitating Workshops with Paul Pen-
The Driftless Poets invite you to join 6-7:30 p.m. via Zoom
dola
• May 9 | (Virtual) The Business of them in person or via Zoom for their free Join the conversation about James
Art: Pricing Your Products with Paul Pen- monthly workshop to discuss and share po- Baldwin’s “I Am Not Your Negro,” the
dola etry. New poets are always welcome, but book selection for May’s free Antiracism
• May 12 | Altered Grid Journaling only those who have submitted work prior Book Club. Antiracism is a transformative
with Helen Shafer Garcia to the workshop will receive feedback and concept that reorients and reenergizes the
• May 13 | Painted Paper Quilts with critique. Poets take turns leading the work- conversation about racism — and, even
Helen Shafer Garcia shops by sharing a poem that demonstrates
more fundamentally, points us toward lib-
• May 14 | Poured Painted Surfaces a form or craft technique and monitoring
erating new ways of thinking about our-
with Helen Shafer Garcia time. Free (donations welcome); registra-
selves and each other. Free (donations wel-
• May 15 | Transparent Stitched Color tion required for Zoom link.
come); registration required.
Pencil Book with Helen Shafer Garcia Makers & Shakers Art Party | 6:30-
8:30 p.m. May 18 | Lind Pavilion, 411 Com- 6th Annual Writing Retreat Faculty
• May 16 | (Virtual) The Business of
merce St. Reading and Open Mic | 7-9 p.m. May 21 |
Art: Managing The “Business” End with
Get ready to greet the summer sea- Cafe 43, 411 Commerce St.
Paul Pendola
son with a fresh 12” x 18” fabric banner! Join us for a night of lively literary
• May 20-22 | Mining The Story:
Writing Retreat with Patricia Ann McNair, No need to have sewing skills — we’ll use readings by Writing Retreat faculty Patri-
Sheree L. Greer and Christine Maul Rice the miracle of fusible webbing and old- cia Ann McNair, Christine Maul Rice and
• May 26 | Cake Decorating with Royal fashioned ironing to join your upbeat flo- Sheree L. Greer at Mineral Point’s Cafe 43.
Icing with Nicole Bujewski ral motifs to a prepared panel. You’ll leave Enjoy a free beverage courtesy of the Wis-
• May 28 | Monthly Prose Writers with a cheerful decoration to hang indoors consin Writers Association, and consider
Group (free; donations welcome) or out! Fabric, tools, and stencils provided. sharing your own voice during the Open
The upcoming calendar also includes Project fee $5 | Materials fee $7; registra- Mic. Free; open to the public.
voiceoftherivervalley.com 1920 Voice of the River Valley | May 2022
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