Local

A large portion of Middleton is eligible for Wisconsin Inflation Reduction Act tree funding, according to a presentation from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Coordinator during the Middleton Common Council’s Jan. 16 meeting.

Brian Wahl made the presentation so Middleton alders would know how the state DNR’s Urban Forestry program is available to assist the city. 

A group gathered at the Hubbard Center Jan. 24 to create mushrooms... needle felting mushrooms. It’s the art of sculpting polypay wool by repeatedly stabbing the wool with a barbed needle.  Per its instructor Erin Ehlert Maddocks , “it’s very therapeutic.” The stabbing sculpts the wool with the needle angled at 90, 45 and flat angles depending on the stage of the process. Pictured above, Elizabeth Montemayor gauges an amount of wool to be used as the mushroom’s stem. See more on page 5 of this week's edition. Photo by Mary Langenfeld. 

Cross Plains former Emergency Medical Service director made an initial court appearance Monday, on felony charges in connection with allegedly falsifying payroll records.

Erica J. Jensen, 38, town of Verona, and her attorney, Nathan Otis, waived the right to a preliminary hearing and agreed to the state’s request for release on a signature bond with conditions.

The William “Sonny” Simon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8216 celebrated the 100th birthday of Army Staff Sgt. John M. “Jack” M. Hall at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 3 at the post building, 6710 Century Avenue.

Hall was born on Jan. 3, 1924 and enlisted in the U.S. Army on Dec. 7, 1942 at the age of 17. 

The Airport Commission is ready to return public comments to its monthly meeting agendas, possibly early next year. 

Public comments were eliminated about three years ago in the wake of meetings that sometimes devolved into sharp back and forth exchanges between commissioners and residents upset about the potential for a longer runway.  

The City of Middleton will kick in $8,000 per year for five years, or a total of $40,000, as part of the Black Earth Creek Stream Monitoring Program thanks to a motion approved Dec. 5 by the Middleton Common Council.

Bob Auerbach, 94, of Middleton – affectionately known as “The Piano Man” for volunteering his musical gifts at a variety of area senior centers, assisted living and memory care facilities – was selected by AARP, the nonprofit organization for people 50 and older, to receive the 2023 AARP Wisconsin Andrus Award for Community Service. It was formally presented to Auerbach at a ceremony on Monday, Dec. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at the Middleton Senior Center, 7448 Hubbard Ave., where Auerbach thrilled the crowd with his playing. Read more on page 5 this week. Photo  by Mary Langenfeld. 

City of Middleton residents may have noticed their city-purpose tax bills increasing by 2.9% when they opened their tax bills over the weekend, but they may not realize the city-purpose increase was just 16 cents from $5.37 to $5.53 per $1,000 of property valuation.

This year's free Santa Visit for the children of the Village of Cross Plains and surrounding communities will be held on Saturday, December 2. 

Sponsored by the Cross Plains Optimists, the Cross Plains Lions, the Cross Plains American Legion, the Cross Plains Community Chest, and various merchants and individuals in the community, the event begins at 9 a.m. with a tour of the Village of Cross Plains with Santa riding on the Cross Plains-Berry fire truck.

Beginning at 10:00 am, Santa will be at the front of the American Legion Hall to greet our 'drive-thru' attendees. Families will receive a 'goodie bag' of treats and toys and will have the opportunity to participate in a non-perishable food drive as well. (flyer for the event attached)

This week marks the start of a special new series in the Times-Tribune, featuring the photography of renowned Middletonian Michael Knapstein. His images, captured primarily right here in your backyard, will serve as a regular reminder that beauty really is all around you. Knapstein is an international award-winning photographer who has lived in Middleton since 1985. His images have been exhibited across the United States as well as in 21 countries around the world. Visit www.knapsteinphotography.com to see more of his work.