2015 Focus on Stoughton

8/21/2019 2015 Focus on Stoughton

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June 25, 2015 - Focus on Stoughton - The Courier Hub - 7

FOCUS ON

STOUGHTON


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8 June 25, 2015 Courier Hub ConnectStoughton.comFocus on Stoughton

Many good things happeningin Stoughton this year

We have all enjoyed watch-ing the new Cultural HeritageCenter, LIVSREISE, growand open during Syttende Mai2015. We look forward to allthat it will bring to Stoughtonresidents, Stoughton businessand visitors alike.

AJ Arnett, Norse ViewHoldings LLC has broughtthe majority of residentialdevelopment to Stoughtonin 2015 by building 9 singlefamily homes and planning28 more at the corner of Cty.Hwy. Ba n d N .Page St.

Stough-ton Hos-pital con-tinues towork on

parking lotreconfigu-ration andadditionswhile beginning an additionand remodel of the ambu-lance garage and emergency/ urgent care rooms.

Skaalen Home RetirementServices is remodeling all 3residential wings on the eastside of their building.

Viking Brew Pub, ownedby Vik and Lori Mallingbecame Stoughton’s firstbrew pub when it opened inAugust 2014.

Milestone Senior Living isconstructing a 40 unit senior

living complex at 2220 Lin-coln Avenue.Spanrie Properties is build-

ing a 7-unit multiplex resi-dential building at 2301 Lin-coln Avenue.

Jordan Tilleson and NicoleHines continue to seek theright location for Stoughton’sfirst Doggie Daycare, poten-tially at the former StoughtonLumber location.

The historic Turner &Atkinson Tobacco Ware-house at 515 E. Main St.has become a new home toLageret, a wedding and cel-ebration venue.

Purple Ocean LLC contin-ues to work to remodel andconvert the old Pack ‘R Place,located at 208 W. Main St.into a take-out restaurant.

Main Street Kitchen movesinto a more central Main St.location at 120 E. Main St..

Fahrenheit 364, opened at364 E. Main St. across fromthe Stoughton Opera House,providing refreshments to

Opera House patrons.Level Up converted the old

church on Hoel Avenue intotheir new fitness center.

Meloniece Gaskin hasopened a new Group Daycareat 1425 E. Main St.

The city has begun to workwith NAFA, a current busi-ness located in our industrialpark to help them grow andexpand, right here in Stough-ton utilizing the new propertynorth of our current businesspark.

Zalk Josephs FabricatorsLLC completed a 14,753 sq.ft. addition to their facility at400 Industrial Circle.

The Stoughton FUDA,Future Urban Develop-ment Area, study concludedin April 2015. The City of

Stoughton, Stoughton AreaSchool District, surroundingtownships worked with theCapital Regional PlanningCommission to discuss andplan what the future of ourarea may look like.

Stoughton High Schoolis receiving a new entry andfacelift over the summermonths.

The American Legion andVeterans of Foreign Warhave begun fundraising forthe new Veterans Memo-rial Park, located just outsidethe city limits in the town ofPleasant Springs.

The City of Stoughton and

Stoughton RedevelopmentAuthority continue to pursuethe purchase of the formerMilfab site and redevelop-ment of the river front rede-velopment area.

The City of Stoughtoncontinues to work with For-ward Development Group onthe Kettle Park West project,Phase 1 contains a new 34.1acre commercial center at thecorners of Hwy 51 and 138.This development will bringa Wal-Mart supercenter, anew Kwik Trip, a McFarlandBank branch as well as manyother retail opportunities toStoughton. Phase 2 and 3 ofthis development may bringadditional business opportu-nities, mixed use and residen-tial development.

As Stoughton’s Mayor, Icontinue to work to fulfill ourgoal of providing by retainingand bringing new jobs, goodsand services for all in ourcommunity.

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Heritage Center opens in

May amid much fanfareBILL LIVICKUnified Newspaper Group

The May opening of theNorwegian Heritage Center– Livsreise (Life’s Journey)– after more than two yearsof planning and a year ofconstruction, was a signifi-cant development for the cityand its business community.

The center has enhancedStoughton’s Norwegianidentity and is intended todraw more visitors to thecommunity in support oflocal businesses.

Bryant Foundation trusteesJune Bunting and Jerry Gryt-tenholm devised the con-cept of the education centerin 2011 to tell the stories ofactual Norwegian emigrantswho arrived in Wisconsinbetween 1825 and 1910.

The pair planned the15,000-square-foot centerin tribute to the late JanetBryant, who died in 2010and established the BryantFoundation to honor her latehusband, Edwin, one of thefounders of the Nelson Muf-fler Corporation – which lat-er became Nelson Industriesand is now Cummins.

The Heritage Center occu-pies the corner of West MainStreet and North Page Streetin bold fashion, with steepgabled roofs and an auburn

exterior. And the large build-ing is even more impressiveinside. A 43-feet-high vault-ed ceiling lends a feeling ofspaciousness that’s bolsteredby the bright, airy ExhibitionHall, where semi-permanentdisplays tell individual sto-ries of Norwegian emigrants.

Other attractions includea genealogy center, a specialexhibits room and a 68-seatauditorium. “Just enoughroom for two busloads ofvisitors,” Gryttenholm said.

He and Bunting plannedthe center to work closelywith its neighbor, Sons ofNorway Mandt Lodge, and

partner with other Norwe-gian heritage entities in thearea, including the NaesethLibrary in Madison.

The center’s first visitingexhibition, Sacred Symbols,is on loan from the Vester-heim Norwegian-AmericanMuseum in Decorah, Iowa,and on display in the Special

Exhibits room. It featureshistoric artifacts, including

hand-painted trunks, intri-cately decorated musicalinstruments, tools and linens.

From the beginning, Gryt-tenholm has stressed that thecenter will exist “to comple-ment the good things that arealready here” in the city.

“We don’t want to com-pete with anybody, andwe’re not about makingmoney,” he said in an inter-view last year with the Cou-rier Hub. “We want to makesure that the business com-munity understands that.”

Bunting and Gryttenholmsaid the community, as wellas visitors to the city and thecenter, have responded “verypositively” to the new facil-ity.

“A week ago we had 250visitors on a Wednesday, andthat included the sixth-gradeclass field trip,” Bunting saidMonday. “They had a mar-velous time. Most commentswe’ve received are about

how people are amazed thata building like this, with thattechnology, can be in a smallcity like Stoughton.”

Gryttenholm those typesof comments have comefrom all over the country.

“One couple that stoppedin was from Connecticut,and they had a hard timebelieving that a commu-nity our size could do whatwe’ve done,” he said.

“I think people look at itas being totally about theNorwegians, but it isn’t. It’sabout our community; it’s asupport for the communityas well as the Norwegianside of it.”

Gryttenholm said therehave been a few glitcheswith the technology, “but

you expect those thingsto happen. We’re gettingthrough that, and the recep-tion has been phenomenal.”

He’s now going throughthe city’s approval processto build a parking lot forthe center across the street,which would include alter-ing entrances and exits fromthe lot.

That has been compli-cated, he said, because Hwy.51 is a federal highway,which means the types ofchanges he hopes to buildrequire city, state and federalapproval.

Gryttenholm said he hopesconstruction can begin thissummer, but he’s not surewhen the project will getunderway.

From the mayor’s desk

Olson

Photos by Kimberly Wethal

Above: From left, Greta, Markand Julie Schmitz look atexhibits inside the LivsreiseNorwegian Heritage Center dur-ing its Grand Opening on May16.

Right: A bridal crown sits ondisplay as part of a travelingshowcase that will remain atLivsreise until March 2016.


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June 25, 2015 Courier HubConnectStoughton.com 9Focus on Stoughton

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Volenberg takes overas chamber leaderMARK IGNATOWSKIUnified Newspaper Group

The Stoughton Chamberof Commerce started headingin a new direction this pastyear following the departureof executive director EricaDial in April.

Dale Volenberg wasselected to lead the chamberafter Dial announced that herfamily would be moving toWashington state later thisyear.

Volenberg is a Stough-ton native who grew up ondairy farm in Utica, wentto Stoughton High Schooland spent most of his careerworking at Cummins andNelson Global. He’s got agood feel for the community,he previously told the Hub.

“I just really enjoy work-ing with the community andthe city officials to makethings better for Stoughton,”Volenberg said.

He sees the importance ofpromoting what the city hasto offer as a way to get morelarge employers to move tothe city, and he’s planningon using his 32 years of busi-ness expertise to make thathappen.

Volenberg’s big, long-term goal is to bring a largetechnology business to thecity. Doing so would bringmore high-paying jobs to thecity’s already solid industrial

economy, he said.

In order todo that, heplans to mar-ket the posi-tive aspects

of the city– the schoolsystem, thed o w n t o w nand Stough-

ton Hospital – to prospectivecompanies like Exact Scienc-es of Middleton or Epic inVerona. Adding that type ofindustry would be a catalystfor small businesses, homesales and school districtenrollment, but the challengewill be to make connectionswith decision makers whowork in those industries.

While adding to the city’sindustrial economy could bea long-term boost, Volenberg

has a few short-term goals tohelp grow the city.He highlighted the educa-

tion system as a bright spotfor the community, and saidhe hopes to work with thedistrict to make sure peopleoutside the community areaware of all the good thingsthe school system is doing.

He also wants to continueto meet with local businessesand merchants to work on a“road map” of what will helpthem succeed. Volenbergalso wants to expand somecommunity events to makethem even more appealingand profitable.

Volenberg

KPW unevenly moves aheadDespite deadlocked

votes, project still

on track

BILL LIVICKUnified Newspaper Group

The Kettle Park Westdevelopment on the city’swest side induced threereferendum questions andneeded two deadline exten-sions but managed to moveahead in fits and starts in thepast year.

The proposed develop-ment has been the subject ofintense passions from bothadvocates and opponents. Agroup opposed to the project– and especially using thecity’s financial assistance tomake it happen – conducteda petition drive this winterand managed to place two

advisory referendum ques-tions on the April ballot. Amajority of voters opposedbuilding the project andan even stronger majority– more than 60 percent ofvoters – objected to the cityusing tax increment financ-ing to help fund infrastruc-ture improvements leadingto the development.

The voting results prompt-ed one KPW backer toannounce in April that hewould not approve a thirdversion of the developmentagreement, but Ald. EricHohol has since softenedhis position and recentlyapproved a 60-day extension

of project deadlines.

In November, the Com-mon Council approved asecond version of the devel-opment agreement, whichcalls on the city to provideabout $5 million in taxincrement financing assis-tance and the developer tosell four of seven lots in the35-acre commercial centerphase of the development byJune 30. The developer wasalso obligated to providethe city with two letters ofcredit, in the amount of $5.3million.

Earlier this month, thecouncil granted the devel-

oper, Forward Development

Group, a 60-day extensionbecause FDG has not beenable to sell the lots requiredor provide the necessary let-ters of credit.

The company’s lender,McFarland State Bank, hadreportedly asked FDG andthe city to bring Wal-Martinto a separate agreementwith the city that guaranteesthe company will build a153,000-square-foot Super-center and open the store byDec. 31, 2017, at a value ofat least $12 million for taxpurposes.

T he Supe rcen te r i s

planned to be the anchor of

the commercial center.In return for Wal-Mart’s

guarantees, the city mustpromise to complete publicinfrastructure improvementsshould the developer defaulton the project, or allow Wal-Mart to complete the off-site improvements using thecity’s borrowed money.

The new deadline for sell-ing the lots and providingthe letters of credit is Aug.31 of this year.

Mayor Donna Olson andsix members of the Com-mon Council have backed

Turn to KPW /Page 13

Photo by Bill Livick

Sustainable Stoughton member Ingrid West goes over the plan for a new Wal-Mart at Kettle Park

West with a consultant during an open house last year.


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Helping hands move to MainPantry, Joining

Forces for Families

will share building

SAMANTHA CHRISTIANUnified Newspaper Group

Stoughton’s PersonalEssentials Pantry and JoiningForces for Families nonprof-its will soon share the samedowntown building at 343 E.Main St. to increase their vis-ibility and accessibility forthe people they serve.

PEP, which provides freepersonal and householdhygiene products to those inneed from 1-5 p.m. on thefirst and third Thursdays ofthe month, already movedinto the space in June. Thepantry originally sharedthe basement and meetingspace with Ezra Church,

jus t a few blocks down at129 E. Main St.

JFF, which collaborateswith county agencies andcommunities and focuseson prevention to care forfamilies and create saferplaces to live, will tenta-tively set up in the newoffice space in August.Some services will con-tinue to be held at the DaneCounty Department ofHuman Services building at125 Veterans Road.

Sharon Mason-Boersma,who is co-president of thePEP board and retired inJune as a social worker

w i t h S t o u g h t o n / C a m -bridge/Deerfield JFF, was

a proponent of moving theJFF office to a more centrallocation in Stoughton.

“The move was actuallyto enable people to knowwhere our services are andto become more visible andaccessible for people weserve,” she said. “(Getting)the site downtown is basi-cally what JFF is all about.It’s wanting to serve peoplewhere they’re at.”

She explained that thereare more than a dozen com-munity social workers at

various sites in the countythat provide grassroots social

work to help families inneed, especially to help themget services and resources.

Sharing the space withPEP just seemed to fit.

“I’m excited about thatlocation because it’s alsoright next door to the localcity government and it alsocollaborates with PEP,” shesaid. “It’s a great connec-tion for both nonprofits.”

The pantry is now locat-ed on the same floor as itsgathering space, rather thanin the basement, which

gives PEP more flexibil-ity. Since PEP’s volunteers

need Internet access for theircomputers to track invento-ry, they are temporarily bor-rowing Wi-Fi from neigh-boring business Koffee Kup.

“One of the main thingsis that it’s on same floor,we don’t have to go up anddown (the stairs),” PEP co-president Pat Brestar said.“(Things) are going great;we’re all moved in.”

David Marshall, whoworks with JFF as a humanresources program special-ist, said JFF’s lease of thebuilding is pending coun-ty board approval, eventhough the landlord gaveJFF the keys in June.

But Marshall and Brestaragreed that everything iscoming together for bothnonprofits. Even thoughMason-Boersma will nolonger be residing in theJFF office, Marshall is

glad she will still be nearbywhen helping out with PEP.

“We look forward to hav-ing her around,” he said.

Joe Sullivan, with Ore-gon/Belleville JFF, will befilling in for Mason-Boers-ma’s position until LaceyArimond starts full-timein August. Arimond hasbeen working with juvenile

jus tic e for the county andspeaks Spanish.

For more informationa b o u t P E P , v i s i tpeps tough ton . o rg . Form o r e i n f o r m a t i o n ,about JFF, contact JoeSullivan at 835-4188 or

visit danecountyhumanservices.org.

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Following 3.5 years of planning and construction, Livsreise, Stoughton’s Norwegian Heritage Center, ofcially openedto the public on May 16, 2015.

Livsreise features a permanent exhibit area focusing on the Norwegian immigration to America from around 1825to 1910. There is also an exhibit area that currently features some of Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum’straveling display; a genealogy center that is directly linked to the Norwegian American Genealogical Center andNaeseth Library in Madison; an interactive map of Norway tracing immigration routes; various vignettes telling theimmigration story and a small, handicapped accessible, auditorium that will seat 68 people.

Livsreise is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Admission is free to the public and all are welcome!

Livsreise

608-873-7567

277 West Main Street

Stoughton, WI 53589

www.livsreise.org

The Livsreise Story

Stoughton Area School District

Recent education changes

prompt new visioning sessionSCOTT DE LARUELLEUnified Newspaper Group

Nearly four years ago,

the Stoughton Area SchoolDistrict held a three-day“visioning” session attend-ed by more than 100 peo-ple from a variety of walksof life to help guide thedistrict through the nextdecade.

That process will con-tinue this upcoming schoolyear, when district offi-cials plan to hold a similarbut smaller event to gathermore input from a varietyof community members onthe future direction of thedistrict. The main reason,Stoughton Area SchoolDistrict superintendentTim Onsager wrote in an

email to the Hub, is “a lotof changes” in public edu-cation since then.

“We want to revisitour Strategic Plan so thatit reflects our changingtimes and incorporatescommunity input as far aswhat direction we shouldtake,” he said.

While a date has not yetbeen set for the session,which is likely to be heldon a single day, Onsag-er said he anticipates itwill take place during theupcoming 2015-16 schoolyear, with input expectedfrom “many of those”

who helped develop thedistrict’s current strategic

plan. That plan, eventu-ally passed by the schoolboard in January 2013,was shaped in large partby the 2011 visioning ses-sions, held at StoughtonHigh School and attendedby a variety of communitymembers, including busi-ness owners, seniors, edu-cators, parents and districtofficials.

T h r o u g h n u m e r o u smeetings of large and

small groups that concen-trated on both the past andpossible future of the dis-trict, several main themesemerged: developing moreconnections with the com-munity, diversifying itsfunding sources and pro-ducing graduates withcritical thinking and prob-lem-solving skills. Thosethemes were then includedinto Strategic Plan, whichaccording to the districtis designed to “help guideStoughton schools throughmore rigorous state stan-dards, standardized test-ing, a declining enrollment

trend and an uncertainfinancial outlook.”

Photo by Kimberly Wethal

Mark Adams, a Cummins volunteer, stocks the Personal EssentialsPantry.

On the web

For more information about theStoughton Area School District and

the visioning session scheduled forthe 2015-16 school year, visit:

stoughton.k12.wi.us


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12 June 25, 2015 Courier Hub ConnectStoughton.comFocus on Stoughton

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Library renovations set to beginSCOTT DE LARUELLEUnified Newspaper Group

With its stately brick edi-fice and collegiate-lookingarchway and columns, theStoughton Public Library isnever going to be mistaken

for a clubhouse.Still, the goal is to makepatrons of all ages feelcomfortable, and that – aswell as enhancing theirsafety – is why the next fewmonths will include a bitof controlled chaos at thelibrary as its second floor isremodeled.

The idea behind the$660,000 renovation – ofwhich the city paid $410,00,with the library picking upthe rest in donations andgrants – is to “provide asafer and more welcomingplace,” said library directorRichard MacDonald earlierthis year.

He told the Hub that bidsfor new signage, shelvingand furniture were acceptedby the library board June 18and will be on order soon,as the contractor would liketo begin work Aug. 3, witha goal to finish in October.

As part of the project,the second floor area willreceive new “library grade”shelving, an increase insquare footage and displayspace, improved lightingand furniture, more electri-cal outlets and new carpet-ing. Meeting rooms willbe moved and enlarged,the service desk will be

slimmed down and a newteen area will be created.

To comply with the

Amer icans wi th Dis -abilities Act (ADA), thelibrary’s single front doorswill be replaced with dou-ble doors, and exterioroutdoor lighting will beadded, along with a secu-rity camera system. Thefirst-floor restrooms andcirculation area will alsobe enlarged.

Plans are to start movingitems from the second floorin July, a process Mac-Donald said would likelytake the entire month. Hesaid there probably will besome days when the librarywill have different hours

to “accommodate certainconstruction tasks,” though

that has yet to be worked

out with contractors, andthat on some days, thelibrary’s back door will beused as a public entrance.

MacDonald said duringconstruction, a “major-ity” of adult books will belisted on library computersas unavailable, as they willneed to be stored either inthe basement of off-site forseveral weeks.

He said people can callthe library or check thecatalog to see what booksare available, and when thechanges begin in July, thelibrary’s website (stough-tonpubliclibrary.org) and

Facebook page will provideupdates and information.

Arts and entertainment

scene keeps growingBILL LIVICKUnified Newspaper Group

The city’s arts scene con-tinued to expand in the pastyear, with new businessopenings and music events,and the official designationof an arts and entertainmentdistrict downtown.

Last October, the Com-mon Council approved theStoughton Arts Council’sproposal to establish thedistrict. The Arts Councilhas been busy fundraising

to purchase and install newsigns marking the district.The organization also hopesto raise money to eventu-ally be able to commissionpublic art installations andlaunch a marketing cam-paign.

While the Arts Councilworks toward those goals,organizers of a music seriesand a music festival havebeen achieving their objec-tives.

The Gazebo Musikkseries began las t yearthanks to the work of orga-nizers Tricia Suess andStoughton Parks and Recre-

ation director Tom Lynch.Held at Gazebo RotaryPark, the series hosts liveperformances that are freeto the public.

In its inaugural year, theseries included six con-certs staged from 6-7:30p.m. This year’s secondseason began May 28 and

runs through Aug. 27, witha total of 13 concerts in anarray of styles, from bluesand classic rock to folk andalternative country, honkytonk, bluegrass, westernswing and jazz.

In addition to the weeklyconcerts, a music festivalis also slated for the park.The Catfish River MusicFestival, organized chieflyby Opera House directorBill Brehm, returns July3-5 with a total of 17 con-certs – also all free to thepublic. Coinciding with theStoughton Junior Fair, the

festival drew large numbersof people downtown lastyear and promises to do itagain this July.

“We’re taking all thebest stuff from last yearand making some changesand improvements,” Brehmsaid.

The fes t iva l wil l be

held entirely outside thisyear instead of headliningshows taking place in theOpera House – although theindoor facility will remain abackup in case of rain.

The Opera House itselfcontinued to thrive in thepast year, with more than70 ticketed performances,including national starssuch as Rosanne Cash,Henry Rollins, Marty Stuartand The Carolina ChocolateDrops.

Its popularity is a bigpart of why several busi-nesses have opened within

its vicinity in the past year:the Viking Brewpub, thenew Fahrenheit 364 bar,AmundArt Hus and Wen-digo restaurant.

Earlier this year, Wen-digo began bringing livemusic to its small stage onFriday and Saturday nights,beginning around 9 p.m.

Photo by Scott De Laruelle

Construction is slated to begin in August on the second-floorrenovation project at the Stoughton Public Library.

Photos by Bill Livick

Singer-songwriter Whitney Mann performs with her band at the Catfish River Music Festival last year.

The Catfish River Music Festival welcomes families and kids of all ages.


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AmundArt Hus(the Bill Amundson Studio)

194 W. Main St.

Principal owner or leader: Bill Amundson

Opening/arrival date: Dec. 1, 2014Number of employees: One (Anita James Amundson-

wife)

Charity connections/plans: Contributes work to a varietyof charity concerns for auction, most recently the StoughtonTumblers and the Naeseth Library-Norwegian AmericanGenealogical Center of Madison.

Stoughton connection: I am a Stoughton native, highschool graduation class of 1971. I lived in Colorado for 35years before returning to Stoughton with my wife Anita totake care of my elderly father and the household in 2010(he died a year ago, June 17, 2014). The ArtHus is in thesame building that I had a studio in while attending theUW-Madison from 1971-1975.

Business focus: I specialize in fine and not so fine art;big drawings, small drawings, Wal-Mart drawings, yard art,T-shirts, jewelry and wearable art, prints and more. ManyNorwegian themed items for folks who enjoy the contempo-rary Scando-American lifestyle. We also host the occasionalevent-talks, book signings, performances, etc.

What’s special about your business? We are the onlygallery in town that specializes in humorous and cuttingedge art objects that also caters to Stoughton’s proudNorwegian heritage.

Back to the BeanCoffee Roasters

334 E. Main St. (but moving to 120 E. Main St.)

Principal owner or leader: DJ and Melanie LeClear

Opening/arrival date: We first started in November of2014 and we will be reopening with a coffee bar later thissummer. Currently we have no coffee shop of our own(Main Street Kitchen serves our coffee), but when we movewe will have our own coffee bar alongside the Main StreetKitchen.

Number of employees: Two, for now

Charity connections/plans: Not yet

Stoughton connection: After being in the Navy for sixyears I landed here because of a job. We chose Stoughtonspecifically because we fell in love with the town and boughta house on Fourth Street.

Business focus: Single origin (from one farm or collec-tive of farms), high quality, and responsibly sourced coffee.We strive to make connections with our coffee farmers toensure that they are being paid fairly for the high qualityproduct that they produce.

What’s special about your business? We only use high

quality, responsibly sourced coffee, and we roast it in sucha way that preserves the terroir of the origin and hard workthat the farmers put into the growing and processing. Weare always striving for the highest quality and we know thatthere is always room for improvement. We love to educateour customers about the origins of our coffee to, in anotherway, bring them “back to the bean.”

Fahrenheit 364364 E. Main St.

Principal owner or leader: Scott Sowlles

Opening/arrival date: December 19, 2014

Number of employees: 2Charity connections/plans: Have participated in fund-

raisers for the Stoughton Hospital Cardiac Unit and TheStoughton Area Youth Center so far. We also have assistedthe VFW with their Remembrance Poppies program.

Stoughton connection: Having lived in Stoughton since2001, I have made many friends and acquaintances in townthat have helped and encouraged my business venture. Inaddition to the beautiful natural resources Stoughton fea-tures, the Opera House, the Livsreise and Stoughton VillagePlayers all bring visitors to enjoy the diversity that down-town offers.

Business focus: With over 50 beers featured, we haveone of the largest selections of craft beers in town. Our winelist is comprised of nearly 20 outstanding alternatives fromwhich to choose. In addition, our 12-year-old Scotch flightand specialty cocktails also appeal to our most sophisticatedguests.

What’s special about your business? Countless times

we have been told how comfortable Fahrenheit 364 is, evenfor the single lady! Our customer service orientation issecond to none. Michelle and I are continually broadeningour expertise in market trends through tastings and othereducational opportunities to bring our customers a mostenjoyable experience.

Kicks Unlimited Stoughton1740 E. Main St.

Principal owner or leader: Jason Huett, Owner

Opening/arrival date: December 2014

Number of employees: 3

Charity connections/plans: We are working with a localgroup in Stoughton to help raise funds for a ‘Dreampark’ inStoughton this Fall. We are holding an ‘Anti-Bully’ seminarand donating the proceeds from this event. In addition, weactively support “Logan’s Heart & Smiles,” which benefits

children with disabilities.Stoughton connection: A friend of mine had a martial

arts school in Stoughton and had a full plate managing hisschool and another business. He was passionate about pro-viding martial arts in the community and really did not wantto see Stoughton lose the martial arts as a service offer-ing. We both shared the same passion and I was fortunateenough to be in a position with my staff that we could carrythe torch.

Business focus: Martial arts instruction for kids andadults of all ages.

What’s special about your business? We are extremelypassionate about helping our students improve their self-confidence, self-esteem, and inner strength via the martialarts. In addition, much of the curriculum was developedwhile I was on tour with the Power Rangers Live Tour andis highly interactive and fun. Lastly, Kicks Unlimited hasbeen in business 13 years and has deep roots in all thecommunities where we have schools.

Wendigo121 E. Main St.

Principal owner or leader: Caitlin and Cale Ryan

Opening/arrival date: Aug. 26, 2014

Number of employees: 16

Charity connections/plans: Wendigo is a Buy Fresh BuyLocal restaurant partner. We work with this local nonprofitto make a commitment to bring local and sustainable foodsto the Stoughton community.

Stoughton connection: We came to Stoughton to openFamous Yeti’s Pizza. We loved the community and decidedto start our family here. We enjoy being able to walk fromour house to our restaurants with great places to stop alongthe way for books, groceries and ice cream.

Business focus: Wendigo is a casual restaurant and barwith seasonal entrees and salads, decadent burgers andsandwiches, and house-infused artisan cocktails. Somefavorites of ours include the Warm Potato & Arugula Salad,Poutine and the Pho-rench Dip.

What’s special about your business? The menu at theWendigo changes seasonally. We have a few core favoritesthat are available all year long and a portion of our menuthat changes to highlight what is available locally. Also, wenow offer Sunday brunch.

the project because they seeit as a key to further eco-nomic development in the

city. The developer’s long-term plan involves devel-oping roughly 300 acres ofwhat had been farmland,with future phases includinga residential housing proj-ect.

Supporters say the cityneeds to draw new residents– and especially young fam-ilies – to Stoughton in orderto turn around decliningschool enrollment numbers.

Construction of infra-structure improvementsalong Jackson Street hasalready begun, while thecity waits to see if thedeveloper can meet its

obligations in the next two

months.Construction bids for the

off-site improvements wereopened in May and camein about $1 million higher

than the developer had esti-mated. This caused FDG toask the city’s permission tospend contingency dollarsnow, at the front end of theproject, instead of waitingto use those funds, if nec-essary, near the end of thePhase 1 work.

The request was defeatedin a 7-5 vote on June 9, butAld. Greg Jenson, a KPWsupporter who cast thedeciding vote, has told theCourier Hub he will reversehis vote when the councilreconsiders the matter sothat the project can moveforward.

KPW: Construction startsContinued from page 9

File photo by Bill Livick

Stoughton Mayor Donna Olson and Forward DevelopmentGroup development manager Dennis Steinkraus visit in 2013 atthe groundbreaking for Nelson Global Products’ new facility inBusiness Park North.

Photo by Scott De Laruelle

Fahrenheit 364 tavern is open for business across from theStoughton Opera House.

Photo by Mark Ignatowski

Renovations continue at 120 E. Main St., where Back to the Beanwill share a coffee bar with Main Street Kitchen.


The AmundArt Hus occupies the stately corner building on W. Mainand Water streets.


Located in the Fastenal building on the eastern edge of the city, KickUnlimited offers a number of martial arts classes.


Wendigo on East Main Street is now offering Sunday brunch inaddition to their dinner menu.


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14 - The Courier Hub - Focus on Stoughton - June 25, 2015

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2015 Focus on Stoughton

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