Local

On Tuesday, May 28, a long-treasured collaboration between Holly Stoenner’s Middleton High School photography students and the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy took place in the Art Gallery of the high school. The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy judge the photos entered by the students, provide awards to the winning photos and also use many of the images in publishing their annual FOPBC Phenology Calendar. Each student can enter up to 5 photos from Pheasant Branch Conservancy and may be awarded as one of the top 3, receive honorable mention and even be published.

CROSS PLAINS - Village Administrator Brian Mooney last week announced his resignation to take a similar job for the village of Shorewood Hills. 

Mooney was hired about two and a half years ago to replace Bill Chang who departed for the village of DeForest.  

The inaugural Middleton Pride festival was held Saturday, June 8 at Stone Horse Green in downtown Middleton. The community event for all ages celebrated Middleton’s LGBTQ+ community. The event included live music, Drag Queen story times, Pride-themed food specials from local restaurants and children’s arts and crafts.

 The Central Midwest Ballet Academy offered a free class Sunday, June 2 at its studio located at 2831 Parmenter Street. Approximately 30 ballet enthusiasts took advantage of the class as they practiced at the barre under the guidance of Miye Bishop. The academy offers open classes throughout the summer. 

Developer Terrence Wall’s request to detach a portion of the Community of Bishops Bay from Middleton to the Town of Westport will be the subject of a joint meeting with the Westport Town Board.

The Middleton Common Council on June 4 approved scheduling a meeting with the board to discuss the Community of Bishops Bay plan with the town board.

Reviving a planning process put on hold since COVID-19, the Middleton Common Council on Tuesday, June 4 authorized a budget amendment and accompanying $180,702 agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson for professional services to complete the city’s Community Campus Plan by Aug. 31.

Middleton is gearing up to host the unique and vibrant Wisconsin Bike Week from June 1 – 9. This exceptional annual event, organized by the Wisconsin Bike Fed, is more than just a cycling celebration. It’s a community gathering that unites cycling enthusiasts from all walks of life, inviting everyone to revel in the joy of biking and advocate for its numerous benefits.

Emily Duffy with last week’s storm damage at her home located at 1740 Park Street. Her family, which includes two Pre-K children, were escorted out of their back door by City of Middleton firefighters after tree branches broke an incoming “fireline” electrical wire. The family spent the night in a hotel.  Madison Gas & Electric deactivated the line Friday morning. Photo by Mary Langenfeld. 

Acting on a recommendation from city staff, the Middleton Common Council on May 21 approved up to $20,000 to hire a consulting firm that will hire Middleton’s next police chief.

That’s because Chief Troy Hellenbrand announced he will be retiring in mid-December. 

The decision about the new literacy/biliteracy curriculum that will be in place in Middleton/Cross Plains Area School District classrooms in the fall was announced at the May 13 school board meeting. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Silvia Romero-Johnson said the committee had selected two Savvas products for K-8 students.  Director of Secondary Education Keith Schneider, a member of the 25-member committee, said that typically the selection of a new curriculum stretches out over many months if not years but that the schedule was truncated due to the passage of Act 20 in the Wisconsin Assembly last July.