Good Morning, Fitchrona!

Today is Cheese Lovers Day! Fun facts:

• In 2022, the average American ate 41.8 pounds of cheese.

• Nearly 40% of Wisconsin dairy companies are multi-generational, with some going back 4 generations.

• Wisconsin cheese is available in 98% of the nation’s grocery stores

• 48% of all specialty Cheese in the US comes from Wisconsin

• Wisconsin in home to 1,200 licensed cheesemakers who produce over 6,000 types & styles of cheese

• Sources - Statista & Wisconsin Cheese

The Focus will be the highlight of your Monday morning - something you can enjoy in under 5 minutes with your coffee ☕︎ ! Let’s fill our cups!

-Liv - Fitchrona Focus Founder

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Last Week’s Highlights

Fitchburg Healthy Neighborhood Grant Program Accepting Applications

Fitchburg’s 2025 Healthy Neighborhoods Grant Program is open for applications until February 10th, 2025. The program is designed to support projects that boost health and vibrancy in priority neighborhoods, with $25,000 in funding available. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 per project.

This program helps fund community-driven efforts to improve health outcomes and tackle social issues. It’s part of the city’s broader Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, which focuses on creating more equitable and sustainable communities.

Eligible organizations are encouraged to submit creative project proposals that serve residents and businesses in the city’s designated Priority Neighborhoods. For more details and to apply, contact Jessica Wolfe, the Community Development Program Coordinator. Applications are due 2/10/2025.

More info here.

Give Your Books a New Chapter: Support the Friends of Fitchburg Library

The Friends of Fitchburg Library has been supporting the library for nearly 20 years, funding programs like the Summer Reading Program and providing several Little Free Library locations. They’ve recently launched the "Give Your Books a New Chapter" initiative to encourage donations for their three annual used book sales.

The next sale is Feb 20-22, 2025. Gently used books can be dropped off at the library, and larger donations can be arranged for pickup. The Friends also fund community projects like the Storywalk and Little Free Libraries. To get involved, visit friendsoffitchburglibrary.com or contact the Friends’ office for more information.

Wisconsinites Love for Beer & Cheese

Wisconsin’s love for beer and cheese took center stage this past Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Beer, Cheese, & Beyond Fest at the Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall.

Celebrating its 15th year, the event featured tastings from local Fitchrona favorites like Delta Beer Lab, Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company, Grumpy Troll, and Lake Louie Brewing, alongside New Glarus Brewing Company and South Italy Imports. The event showcased beer and cheese while venturing “beyond” with an expanded selection of wines, seltzers, and non-alcoholic options. Attendees enjoyed tastings, live entertainment, and an array of culinary pairings.

Attendees chose between General Admission or the Very Important Drinker (VID) package, which included early entry and exclusive tastings.

HAPPENINGS

There are too many events to feature here! Check out FitchronaFocus.com for all happenings!

Starting next week - we’ll feature ~30 events in the newsletter & the rest can be found on the events calendar, so be sure to bookmark it here!

• Monday, January 20th

  • 🐶 National Cheese Lover’s Day @ Dog Den

  • 💪 9:00 AM - School’s Out Half Day Camp @ Gymfinity

  • ❤️ 11:00 AM - Red Closs Blood Drive @ Four Winds Farm

  • 🧘‍♀️ 5:30 PM - Yoga for All Levels @ Fitchburg Community Center

  • 🎵 6:00 PM - Live Music: Open Mic @ Delta Beer Lab

  • 🍷 6:00 PM - Chunky Blanket Workshop @ Flight Wine & Bourbon Bar

• Tuesday, January 21st

  • 💻 11:00 AM - Tech Topics @ Fitchburg Library

  • 💃🏻 6:45 PM - Adult Dance Classes: Broadway Series @ Verona Area Community Theater

  • ❓ 7:00 PM - Trivia Tuesdays @ Paddy Mac’s

  • ❓ 7:00 PM - Trivia - America’s Pub Quiz @ Hop Haus Fitchburg

  • ❓ 7:00 PM - Quizmaster’s Trivia @ Lake Louie Brewing

  • 🍺 7:30 PM - Drag Queen Bingo @ Delta Beer Lab

• Wednesday, January 22nd

  • 🍽️ 5:00 PM - Isbelis & Ivo Diaz From New York City’s Casa Ora @ Seven Acres

  • 🍷 5:00 PM - Wine Tasting (Free) @ Quivey’s Grove

  • 🎵 6:00 PM - Live Music: James Crocket @ Stone Porch Alehouse

  • 🎵 6:30 PM - Music Video Bingo @ Seminole Tap

  • 🧩 6:30 PM - Puzzle Race @ The Mill

  • ❓ 7:00 PM - Premier Trivia @ Delta Beer Lab

  • 🎵 7:05 PM - Live Music: Blue Spruce @ Paddy Mac’s

• Thursday, January 23rd

  • 📖 1:00 PM - Virtual Author Talk with Amanda Montrell @ Verona Public Library

  • 🍽️ 4:00 PM - Isbelis & Ivo Diaz From New York City’s Casa Ora @ Seven Acres

  • 💎 5:00 PM - Rings and Rose’ @ Soha Diamond Co.

  • 📖 6:00 PM - Book Club: Yours Truly @ Sugar Troll

  • ❓ 6:30 PM - America’s Pub Quiz Trivia @ Hop Haus Verona

  • 🎨 7:00 PM - Bingo with Jess @ Bad Art Co

  • 🎵 8:00 PM - Live Music: Pat McCurdy @ Paddy Mac’s

• Friday, January 24th

  • 🪵 12:00 PM - Wood Carvers Workshop @ City of Fitchburg

  • ❄️ 5:00 PM - Luminary Winter Showshoe & Ski @ Lussier Heritage Center

  • 🎵 6:00 PM - Live Music: Sam Sturdevant @ Hop Haus

  • 🥃 6:30 PM - J. Henry Sampling @ Seminole Tap

• Saturday, January 25th

  • 🚗 ATV Class @ Go Wild

  • 🍺 I Drink Cuz I Care Silent Auction @ Lake Louie Brewing

  • 🎣 11:00 AM - DNR Career Fair @ City of Fitchburg DNR

  • 🎣 12:00 PM - 62 Annual Ice Fisheree @ Stoughton Conservation Club

  • 🧘‍♀️ 1:00 PM - Just Flow Yoga With Progress Center for Black Women @ Dragonfly Hot Yoga

  • 🎵 2:00 PM - Live Music: Mark Croft @ Bailey’s Run

  • 🎵 6:00 PM - Live Music: Lola Blu @ Hop Haus

  • 💪 6:00 PM - Dragon Warrior Quest @ Gymfinity

  • 🍷 6:00 PM - Pesto & Wine Tasting @ The Wine House

  • 🎵 6:30 PM - Live Music: Mike Droho @ Seminole Tap

  • 🎵 7:00 PM - Live Music: Wild Cardz @ Paddy Mac’s

• Sunday, January 26th

  • 💪 10:00 AM - Don’t Ignore Your Core (Free) @ Centered Physical Therapy & Wellness

  • 💪 10:30 AM - WERQ Dance Fitness Class @ Lioness Fitness

  • 🎵 12:00 PM - Music Bingo @ Buck @ Honey’s in Martinson Hall

  • 🎵 1:00 PM - Live Music: Mark Juris @ Bailey’s Run

  • 🍺 1:00 PM - Meat Raffle @ Stone Porch Alehouse

  • 🧘‍♀️ 3:00 PM - Yoga Up On Tap @ Delta Beer Lab (With Dragonfly Hot Yoga)

Key - * indicates event is recurring

MAKER FEATURE

This week’s maker feature is Genesis, creator of Sienna Glen Candles.

Hi, I’m Genesis, and I founded Sienna Glen Candles in 2019. My love for candles inspired me to start making my own when I realized how pricey they could be. What began as a kitchen hobby quickly grew into a true passion for candle making. My mission is to offer high-quality, hand-poured candles with delightful scents at an affordable price. Each candle is crafted using 100% soy wax to ensure a clean and eco-friendly burn.

Check out her website here or over at Instagram @siennaglencandles.

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

CHECK IT OUT

Hook’s Cheese has been crafting award-winning cheeses in Southwest Wisconsin for over 50 years! With 75 varieties to choose from, you can find our cheeses in most Fitchrona area stores or enjoy them at incredible local restaurants and coffee shops like Firefly Coffeehouse (a previous business featured in the check it out section), Graze, L’Etoile, and more. Stop by and visit us every Saturday at the Dane County Farmers Market to pick up your favorites!

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

NEIGHBORHOOD DEAL

Bike to Work week is in May, and while it sounds like it’s a long ways away…but before you know it you’ll be wearing shorts and a crop top when it’s 52 degrees out.

Over at Oregon Bicycle Company, you can get your annual bike tune up for almost 50% off, but only until January 31, 2025!

Oregon Bike Company has all the essentials to keep your bike in top shape, from premium parts to must-have tools for at-home care. Prefer to skip the hassle? Leave it to the pros! Drop off your bike for an annual tune-up, now just $99, and get it ready to hit the road before spring arrives!

Level 3 tune up $199.99 — Winter Service special price: $99

Pro tip- while you’re letting the experts work on your bike, check out Bodihow Brewing which shares the space with Oregon Bicycle Company. Sip on any of their tap brews while enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and soaking in the abundance of natural light.

THANK YOU!

Thanks for reading the Fitchrona Focus today! As someone who counts cheese as one of the major food groups, I think it should also be one of yours. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who love cheese as much as we do🧀!

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