November 2022

Middleton’s girls tennis team dominated the all-Big Eight Conference team.

The Cardinals earned six of the seven spots on the league’s first team.

Singles players Netra Somasundarem, Sonya Agapov, Lydia Sabat and Sophie Shi were all named first-team all-conference. Middleton’s top doubles team of Ashley Andler and Amy Li, along with the No. 2 tandem of Sarah Li and Keena Cheng were also named first-team all-conference.

Somasundarem, facing many of the state’s top players every time she took the court, finished the year 22-8. Somasundarem won her flight at No. 1 singles at the Big Eight Conference tournament and also won a sectional championship.

Somasundarem was the No. 9 seed at the individual state tournament, where she won three matches and reached the quarterfinals. There, Somasundaram ran into No. 1 seed and eventual champion Parker Christensen of Elkhorn and dropped a 6-3, 6-0 match.

MIDDLETON–Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar announced on Monday that he will not seek a third term.

The two-term mayor cited that he had accomplished the goals he had set for the city as a reason for his departure. Those goals included: better roads, protection of our nature preserves, clean energy and sustainability, affordable property taxes, and support of our local businesses.

“Middleton has much better roads–look at our University Avenue, Gammon Road, Park Street, High Point Road, and many others. In 2017, they were all falling apart. We have increased the road repair budget and implemented new procedures to extend the life of the roads.

“Restoration of Pheasant Branch Conservancy from flood damage is nearly complete. The projects already awarded to the contractors will fix the bridges, and we will have a freshly paved trail from Deming way to Century Avenue.

MIDDLETON–Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and godmother for many, Clara Tyler passed away on Nov. 5, 2022, at age 97. Born to Julia and Joseph Sweeney, she was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Joseph, Quentin, Vincent and Jerome.

Clare is survived by her children, Christine, Stephen (Juanita), Mark (Karen), Maureen (Nataraj Hauser) and Marilyn (Joseph Lustek); grandchildren, Lauren and Tyler Lustek; sister, Terri Corbett; and many nieces and nephews.

Clare was a graduate of Aquinas High School and St. Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, Wis. She was married to William Tyler, a science teacher at Middleton High School, until his death at age 45.

She loved being a nurse and was patient and generous with her expertise when called upon by neighbors for advice. She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, and as a nurse clinician for the UW Student Health Center, where she made many friends and retired from at age 67.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Residents abuse toward road contractors has reached the point where two contractors are becoming reluctant to continue working for the town, Crew Leader Scott Ballweg told the Town of Middleton Board of Supervisors last week.

“(Contractors) have been cursed at, one lady actually spit at one of the guys, they’ve been threatened that a homeowner will bring a gun out if they come on their property,” Ballweg said.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has been involved in at least one of the incidents with one resident unsuccessfully tried to get a deputy sheriff fired and was very abusive to her, Ballweg said.

“The (deputy) sheriff, Brandi (Anderson) said she didn’t want to put up with it and was ready to quit. So, there’s a lot of things boiling over,” he added.

Flash points have occurred when road work prevents residents from using their driveway for four or five hours or, up to 72 hours after concrete is poured.