Good Morning, Fitchrona!

Today is national Parfait Day, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s more than coincidence that we’ll soon be indulging in a fest of decadent treats later this week.

This week it’s all about fun, food, and family. So as you gather ‘round the table this Thursday trying to avoid politics, feel free to share these Thanksgiving facts:

• At the first ever Thanksgiving feast, there wasn’t a turkey, cranberry sauce or pumpkin in sight. Instead, the menu featured venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster and eel.

• Fast forward to today, and between November and December, Butterball’s Turkey “experts” answers more than 100,000 turkey cooking questions on their Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. Tell me you didn’t know this was a thing either? Shoutout to Butterball for keeping us plump and sassy.

Call 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text 844-877-3456 to chat with their turkey experts. Not Sponsored (duh).

The Focus will be the highlight of your Monday morning - something you can enjoy in under 5 minutes with your coffee!

In today’s Focus:

• Making a Splash

• Saving our Pollinators

• Stuff Yourself Guilt Free

• Sneak preview of something cool dropping 11/28

Let’s fill our cups ☕!

-Liv - Fitchrona Focus Founder

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Last Week’s Highlights

VAHS Girls Swimmers Dive Right In

Making a splash! 🌊 Huge shoutout to the VASD Girls Swim and Dive Team for swimming their way to RUNNER-UP at the Division 1 WIAA Girls State Swim and Dive Meet! All 13 team members dove in and scored points—way to go, team! 🏊‍♀️👏

Monarch Pledge Approved

The National Wildlife Federation recognized Verona for completing the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge for 2024, the third year since the Mayor initiated it in 2022. Unfortunately, the monarch butterfly has seen a 90% decline in eastern populations and a 99% decline in western populations in recent years. With the pledge, the mayor declared key efforts including to raise awareness, habitat restoration with the Sustainability Task Force and Friends of Badger Mill Creek, and planting a 0.7-acre pollinator garden at Century School Park.

Verona also added 12 native milkweed plants along the Badger Mill Creek trail and is working to reduce light pollution to benefit urban wildlife. These actions reflect Verona’s commitment to supporting pollinators and sustainability.

Stuff Yourself Guilt Free

Not into running but want to eat your turkey meal guilt free? Volunteer Thanksgiving morning at the Birdie Derby to support a great cause - Tri 4 Schools. 100% of the proceeds from the Derby go straight to funding Tri 4 Schools' Grants 4 Schools. This amazing initiative has awarded thousands of dollars to schools and community centers across Dane County, supporting projects that make a big difference for kids. We’re talking gaga-ball pits, sensory pathways, mindfulness trails, fitness equipment—you name it! Over 200 schools have benefited so far, and by participating, you’re helping to make our community stronger!

Shifts are still available for: pre-race day packet pickup, packet pick-up runner, Birdie Derby store clerk, food tent representative, parking & traffic assistant, start/finish line & kids dash, registration tent, cocoa/coffee, course pointer, water stops, photo station representative, & post-race clean up.

Sign up here.

HAPPENINGS

Check out FitchronaFocus.com for all happenings & details on events below!

• Monday, 11/25

  • 📖 Preschool Storytime (2 Different Times) - @ Fitchburg Public Library

  • 🃏 Industry Night & Madison Queer Cribbage Club - @Delta Beer Lab

  • 🦃 Turkey Treats @ Fitchburg Public Library

  • 🎨 Bad Art @ Verona Public Library

• Tuesday, 11/26

  • 🖥️ Drop-In Tech Help @ Verona Public Library

  • 🖥️ Child Development Story Time: Things That Go Primary Tabs @ Verona Public Library

  • 🏢 Weekly Business Meeting @ Thirsty Goat

  • 🧸 Squishmallow Paint Party - @Verona Public Library

  • 🎼 Vinyl Night - @Delta Beer Lab

• Wednesday, 11/27

  • 🩸 Fall Blood Drive - @Oak Bank Fitchburg

  • ❓ Premier Trivia - @Delta Beer Lab

  • 🎵 Live Music: Eddie Butts Band @ 5th Quarter

• Thursday, 11/28 — Happy Thanksgiving

  • 👟 Birdie Derby Run/Walk

  • 🦃 6th Annual Free Community Thanksgiving -@Delta Beer

  • 🍗 Thanksgiving -@Quivey’s Grove

• Friday, 11/29

  • 🎤 Live Music: Britton & Sarah -@Lake Louie Brewing

  • 🤸‍♀️ Red/Black Friday Kids Day Camp -@Gymfinity

  • 🍺 Black Friday Beer Release @ Hop Haus

  • 🍸 Willettpalooza: Spirit Tasting Open House -@Waterford Wine & Spirits

• Saturday, 11/30

  • 🛍️ Shop Small in Verona - @North Edge Nutrition, Toot + Kate’s, Linen & Clove, Cosa Boutique

  • 🧘‍♀️ Just Flow Yoga w/ the Process Center for Black Women -@Dragonfly Hot Yoga

  • 🎵 Live Music: Beth Kille -@Seminole Tap

• Sunday, 12/1

  • 🧘‍♀️ Winter Warm Up Challenge - @Dragonfly

  • 🎹 Live Music: Dave Mazzie - @Lake Louie Brewing

  • 🥞 Bingo, Brunch & Bevvies - @Flight Wine & Bourbon

  • 🧵 Master the Kitchener Stitch & Headbands - @ The Sow’s Ear

MAKER FEATURE

This week’s maker feature is Amalgam Design & Bakery

My name is Rachel and I own Amalgam Design & Bakery. I specialize in French macarons, which are almond meringue sandwich cookies. What sets me apart from other macaron makers in the area is my focus on design. From burger look-alikes to hand painted strawberry sprinkles, I love creating little works of art that are as delectable as they are beautiful.

Rachel thinks that a local maker you should know about is - Vicki Gentz, of Vicki Cookies. She has of my favorite cookies!

Know a local maker who should be featured - submit here!

CHECK IT OUT

Thank you for reading our newsletter and for staying involved in the Fitchrona community! As a token of our appreciation, we’ve put together a “Shop Local Gift Guide” featuring 40+ local businesses that will arrive in your inbox on Thanksgiving morning—just in time for Small Business Saturday! Shop small, support local, and discover the perfect gifts with exclusive discounts for Fitchrona Focus readers.

Have a place or know somewhere that we should check out? Submit it here.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEAL

No thanksgiving plans, or want someone to do all the cooking for you! Stop in at the Great Dane for a turkey dinner or the Thanksgiving Buffet.

Fitchburg - Great Dane

• All you-can-eat Thanksgiving Buffet

  • $32.96/Adult & $15.95/Kid

  • Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, carving station (prime rib, ham, roast pork), salad bar, traditional comfort food side dishes, vegetarian options & dessert bar.

    • Buffet Hours: 12 - 5pm

• Turkey Dinner

  • $20/Meal

  • Roasted turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy & slice of pie

  • Turkey Dinner hours : 5pm - 10pm _{(not available during buffet hours. Turkey dinner available after the buffet ends)}

THANK YOU!

Thanks for reading the Fitchrona Focus today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who enjoys bad jokes like this one:

Question: What’s a turkey’s favorite dessert?
Answer: 🍑🥧🦃 Peach gobbler!

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