Community

Sauk Prairie Optimist Club President Bart Mauch, left, and River Arts Inc. Executive Director Lindsey Giese, right, smile next to the Optimist International Creed banner on July 7 at the 6:8 building. It was the Club’s first official meeting in person since the pandemic hit. Giese spoke on the RAI future opportunities ranging from classes, Al Fresco concerts, to the 2021-22 Series Concerts at the River Arts Center and house concerts at the River Arts on Water Gallery. For more information on this exciting line-up, go to riverartsinc.org.

Jane Beloungy retired from her home-based day care earlier this summer after 40 years of service to the community. When her son was one month old, she began doing day care. “I wanted to be home with our children.” “What a better way than to have playmates,” she said. “The children taught me to make life simple, to enjoy the little things in life. I also learned to be patient and flexible,” she said. “I got to be with our children and also make a living at the same time.” Beloungy is thankful for her business—it taught her children to share and get along with different personalities.

While the usual Spring Green area venues remain closed for renovations, Rural Musicians Forum (RMF) will resume its summer concert series in 2021, with Monday concerts in July and August at the new outdoor Pavillion in Mazomanie, followed by season closers in the Wyoming Valley.  According to  RMF Artistic Director Iva Ugurcic, the lineup covers wide musical territory. “As always, we bring you a palette of talented performers across many musical styles. Whether it’s soothing classical, epic rock, or rhythmic Latin music, we know you’ll have a great time being back with us in person after being away for almost two years. We’re so glad to be able to present live music again! And the new Pavilion in Mazomanie is a lovely outdoor venue, so this promises to be a terrific season.” Concerts will be on five consecutive Mondays, starting July 19, each with a start time of 7:30 p.m. at the Pavillion in downtown Mazomanie.  Attendees should bring their own chairs, blankets and refreshments.   The concerts will feature: Monday, July 19, 7:30 p.m. - The Underground Chamber Collective performing Beethoven’s Septet and more chamber favorites. Monday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. - Angela Puerta Trio, Columbian traditional music and Latin American rhythms. Monday, August 2, 7:30 p.m.- Red Door Duo, a guitar duo extravaganza in a myriad of styles. Monday, August 9, 7:30 p.m.- Mosaic Chamber Players. Experience the intimacy and diversity of chamber music with this dynamic foursome. Monday, August 16, 7:30 p.m.- The Twa Dogs, traditional folk music from the Celtic regions. The Monday series will be followed by two Sunday performances at the Wyoming Valley Cultural Arts Center.  On Sunday, August 22, at 5:30 p.m., the stellar faculty ensemble the Wisconsin Brass Quintet will offer “A Night at the Movies,” and on September 5 the Rodrigo Villanueva Experimental Jazz Trio will perform on the truck sculpture by artist John Himmelfarb in the Town of Wyoming Garage.   The Monday events will not require tickets, but will include a free-will offering to support ongoing RMF programming.  The Sunday concerts will have tickets available soon.

Wisconsin Knights of Columbus State Family Coordinator, Joe Uchytil announced the Eric and Heidi Breunig Family have been selected as the Madison Diocese Family of the Year by the Wisconsin State Knights of Columbus. A special acknowledgement and presentation will be held at a later date at Saint Norbert’s Parish. The Breunig Family are members of St Norbert’s parish in Roxbury. They have four children: Olivia (17), Connor (15), Caleb (12) and Calvin (9). During his 21 years of being a Knight, Eric became a 4th degree Knight and has held nearly all the council officer positions. He has completed his 5th year as Grand Knight and is currently one of the trustees. Eric is the chairman for the annual Cow Chip food stand, organizes the Holy Thursday Apostles, chairman for the annual Holy Saturday Easter Egg hunt, KC Youth Director and is a cochair for the Pork Chop Dinner. He helps with the Easter Egg Hunt, Brat Stand, Tootsie Roll Drive, Life Savors for Life, Cemetery clean-up day, Punt Pass and Kick contest, Soccer Challenge, Free Throw Contest, KC Country Breakfast, the Feed My Starving Children Food Pack event and many more. Heidi and all the kids enjoy helping their dad with all the KC events. In 2020, due to COVID Eric set up a KC website for on-line orders for the brat stand, drive-through Pork Chop Dinner and drive-through Country Breakfast to allow for people to safely support the KC fundraisers. Eric organizes the lectors each week at St Norbert’s, is the secretary of the Finance Council, is a member of the St Norbert’s Renovation Committee, and is a past Parish Council president. He is a lector, money counter, rosary leader, covers the 3 a.m. weekly Eucharistic adoration shift and helps with clean up days. Eric chairs the annual Walk for Goodness Sakes fundraiser at St Al’s and cochairs the kitchen for the Annual Breakfast with Santa. Eric is a coach for various youth sports and video tapes High School football games on Fridays in the Fall. Heidi is on the St Al’s School Board of Directors, is the Treasurer for the Home and School association, is a past St Norbert’s CCW president and chairs various committees at St Al’s and St Norbert’s. All 3 boys are Mass servers and Olivia is a former sacristan and is a current lector and rosary leader at St Norbert’s. All four kids attended St Al’s Catholic School in Sauk City where Calvin still attends as a 4th grader. The Breunig family is very involved in the local community working at the local food pantry, delivering Meals on Wheels and all four kids play three or more sports in the Sauk Prairie community. The family is involved in a local 4-H club doing various service projects in the community and showing lambs at the county fair. The Breunig family loves to play and watch sports, camp, hunt, fish, play cards and visit Jimmy at the Dorf Haus and of course cheer on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers and the Sauk Prairie Eagles. Pictured, Heidi, Connor, Calvin, Olivia, Caleb and Eric

Samuel Beattie