1. Thursday, February 5, 2015 • Vol. 48, No. 37 • Verona, WI • Hometown USA • ConnectVerona.com • $1
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Center
stage
VAHS
Multicultural
Showcase photos
Page 16
Rhapsody to hold autism-friendly concert Sunday
First of its kind in
Wisconsin
SCOTT GIRARD
Unified Newspaper Group
Most of us like to enjoy a
good concert, but for people
on the autism spectrum, it
can be difficult to focus on
just the music.
That is why a local show
this weekend will pay
special attention to accom-
modating the unusual needs
of the autistic community,
with a Sensory-Friendly
Concert. The idea is to pro-
vide an environment for any-
one, whether on the autism
spectrum or not, to enjoy the
music in the fashion that’s
appropriate for them.
Rhapsody Arts Center’s
Sunday afternoon show is
the first of its kind in Wis-
consin, said Rhapsody music
therapist Christine Hardin.
It uses a method, created in
2011, that is “still evolving.”
The concert will have a
mix of “fidget items and
sensory items,” Hardin said,
to allow concert-goers the
“opportunity to experience
the concert in whatever way
they need to.” During a per-
formance of “Satin Doll,”
for example, there will be
satin ribbon available to the
If you go
What: Sensory-Friendly
Concert
Where: Rhapsody Arts
Center, 1031 North Edge
Trail
When: 2 p.m. Sunday,
Feb. 8
Price: Free
Turn to Sensory/Page 5
City of Verona
Less about buses
in North plan tweak
Verona, Madison both reviewing final
version
JIM FEROLIE
Verona Press editor
The city’s Plan Commission advanced plans for
Epic’s fifth set of 300-office buildings, the $2 million
Verona Area Community Theater home, a 111-unit
senior/assisted living complex and an addition to the
Coating Place on Monday night.
But it spent the majority of its nearly three-hour
meeting going over details of the city’s North Neigh-
borhood Plan, which it forwarded to the Common
Council with a couple of wording changes.
That document will be the template from which
development decisions will be made in the next decade
or two on 1,600 acres stretching across the entire north
side of the city.
A fraction of that area is likely to be the only prime
residential growth area available in Verona in two or
Turn to North/Page 13
Seeking room
to rehearse
VACT fundraising campaign
gets help from businesses
SCOTT DE LARUELLE
Unified Newspaper Group
With programming and interest on the rise, Verona
Area Community Theater is looking to expand into a
new building, and officials are asking local residents
and businesses to help the shows go on.
VACT has launched a $2 million capital campaign
for a new cultural arts building, with a goal to start
construction this spring on the new facility, to be locat-
ed at 103 Lincoln St. However, VACT officials want to
have 75 percent of fundraising completed before that,
which VACT treasurer Dee Baldock said amounts to
Photos by Karina Galván
Big-hearted Badgers
Badger basketball players visited Glacier Edge Elementary
on Jan. 28 and taught the children the importance of
kindness.
Above, Frank Kaminsky high-fives students as he make his
way out of the school’s gymnasium.
Right, Liz Penner, first-third grade multiage teacher, holds
up the end of a streamer while. Lindsay Herb, first-third
grade multi-age teacher, cuts it off at Nigel Hayes’ feet to
measure Hayes’ height.
Below, fifth-grader Lucas Hildebrand takes a selfie with
Bronson Koenig before Koenig leaves the school.
Inside
See more photos
Page 8
Turn to VACT/Page 7
2. 8 February 5, 2015 The Verona Press ConnectVerona.com
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Photos by Karina Galván
Lessons of
kindness
Badger basketball players talked to kids at
Glacier Edge Elementary about how they
were taught to be kind when they were kids
One of the players explained that by sharing
his toys, he realized he’d have more fun.
Top, from left, Bronson Koenig and Nigel
Hayes are surrounded by overjoyed students
on bleachers in the school’s gymnasium.
Left, from left, fifth-graders Aidan
Manning and Kaeden Kaltenberg use their
phones to capture video of the Badger
basketball players talking about kindness.
See more photos in our
gallery at:
ungphotos.smugmug.com
Photos by Scott Girard
10 years of Hope
Verona Area High School teachers held the tenth annual Night of Hope Friday, Jan. 23, to raise mon-
ey for cancer research. The event began when a pair of teachers at the high school were diagnosed
with breast cancer a decade ago and has grown since. The fundraiser was held at Gray’s Tied House,
featured two bands with VAHS teachers and a portion of any meals that evening went to the fund.
Donations, which have totalled more than $30,000 in the 10 years, go to the University of Wisconsin
McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research.
Above left, VAHS librarian Teresa Voss shows off her gift card to Contours Lingerie, which she won
in the raffle.
Above right, VAHS math and science teacher Annelies Howell performs with her band, The Fauxtons.
Below, from left, Bill, Andrea, 2, and Shelly Burns listen to Mud Music.
