Good Morning, Fitchrona!

Today might seem like an ordinary day, but it's actually "Thomas Crapper Day"—a royal flush of a celebration honoring the man who made toilets a throne-worthy household essential and revolutionized the ballcock invention.

To learn more on his invention, watch this. If the idea of attempting to fix your toilet makes you want to be flushed down the drain, leave the dirty work to Benjamin Plumbing, see the Check It Out feature below.

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

VASD Celebrates Excellence in Athletics and Academics

Verona High School is shining bright with two remarkable achievements that showcase the dedication and talent of its community.

🏀 Angie Murphy Inducted into WBCA Hall of Fame
Former Verona Girls Basketball head coach, Angie Murphy, has been honored as a member of the WBCA Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Murphy’s leadership left an indelible mark on the program, and this prestigious recognition celebrates her contributions to the sport and the legacy she built at Verona High School.

📚 DECA Students Bring Home Medals
Verona’s DECA team recently competed in 15 events, earning 15 medals for their outstanding performances. Special recognition goes to Grayson P., who not only placed 2nd in the Personal Financial Literacy Event but also qualified for the state competition in Lake Geneva from February 24–26.

Congratulations to both Angie Murphy and the talented DECA students for their hard work and achievements! Verona continues to excel on and off the court.

Break Your Recipe Rut with Wells Farms' Challenge

Are you stuck in a recipe rut, tired of figuring out dinner every night? Wells Farms Beef has the perfect solution to help you break out of the monotony with their 2025 Recipe Challenge, running from February 7 to March 21.

This free challenge offers a curated recipe each week to spark creativity in the kitchen and simplify your meal planning. Participants can cook along at home, try new dishes, and even win prizes the more recipes they complete.

Joining the challenge is easy—just sign up at Wells Farms Recipe Challenge to get started.

For those participating in Wells Farms’ CSA programs, don’t forget about their convenient local pickup options in Fitchburg at Bakke Athletics and Delta Beer Lab. These locations make it even easier to stock up on fresh, high-quality ingredients for your challenge recipes.

At Fitchrona Focus, we’re excited to highlight initiatives like this that bring our community closer to local food sources. Stay tuned—we’ve got a big CSA project in the works that we can’t wait to share with you soon!

Calling All Creatives: Verona Library’s 2025 Artist Program

The Verona Public Library is now accepting applications for its 2025 Artist-in-Residence Program, offering local artists a unique opportunity to engage with the community. The program includes two residency periods: Spring (April 28–June 6) and Fall (October 10–November 24). Applications for the Spring residency opened on January 24 and are due by February 24.

Selected artists will receive a stipend of $2,500 and up to $500 for art supplies. During the six-week residency, artists are expected to spend at least six hours per week in the library's designated art space, creating and sharing their work with patrons. Additionally, artists will plan and host a minimum of three public events or activities, such as workshops or demonstrations, to engage the community in the creative process.

Interested individuals aged 18 and over are encouraged to apply. For more information on application requirements and to submit an application, please visit the Verona Public Library's Artist-in-Residence Program page.

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 27th

  • 🧑‍🌾 - 1:30 PM: Online Program for WI Gardeners (Free) @ UW Madison

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

  • 🃏 - 6:00 PM: Madison Queer Cribbage Club @ Delta Beer Lab

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

• Tuesday, January 28th

  • 🎨 - 5:00 PM: Studio Night @ Wisconsin Art Hub

  • 🥨 -6:00 PM: Easy Weeknight Soft Pretzels @ Four Winds Farm (with Amalgam Design & Bakery)

  • 🎙️- 6:00 PM: Vinyl Night @ Delta Beer Lab

  • 🎨 - 6:30 PM: Glow Painting @ Verona Public Library

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

  • ⁉️ - 7:00 PM: America’s Pub Quiz Trivia @ Hop Haus*

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

• Wednesday, January 29th

  • 🧶 - 4:30 PM: Library Yarns Knit Along @ Verona Public Library

  • 🍪 - 5:00 PM: Cookie Happy Hour @ Toot & Kate’s (with Vicki’s Cookies)

  • 🍷 - 6:00 PM: Wine Dinner with Vega Sicilia @ Four Winds Farm

  • 🍽️ - 6:00 PM: Wild Alaska and Wild Wisconsin Dinner with Hank Shaw @ Seven Acres

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

  • 🎶 - 7:05 PM: Live Music: Taylor Schereck @ Paddy Mac’s

• Thursday, January 30th

  • 🍽️ -6:00 PM: Wild Alaska and Wild Wisconsin Dinner with Hank Shaw @ Seven Acres

  • 🎨 - 6:00 PM: Crafting Free For All @ Fitchburg Public Library

  • 🎶 - 6:30 PM: Live Music: Mark Croft @ Seminole Tap

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

  • 🎶 - 7:00 PM: Live Music: Wildcard @ Paddy Mac’s

• Friday, January 31st

  • Winter Luau @ Barnwood Events

  • 📚 - 9:30 AM: Young & The Restless @ Verona Public Library

  • 🎨 - 4:00 PM: Wooden Snowflake Crafting @ Fitchburg Public Library

  • 🎶 - 6:00 PM: Live Music: Sharona & Ray Ray @ Lake Louie Brewing

  • 🎶 - 6:00 PM: Live Music: Corey Matthew Hart @ Hop Haus

• Saturday, February 1st

  • 🍵 - 10:00 AM: Make & Take Chai Tea Workshop @ Telsaan Tea

  • 🎳 - 11:00 AM: CI’s Annual Bowling Party @ Ten Pin Alley

  • 💍 - 12:00 PM: Magnolia Metals Permanent Jewelry @ Hop Haus

  • 🎶 - 2:00 PM: Live Music: Haylee Espinosa @ Bailey’s Run

  • 🎶 - 5:00 PM: They Drive by Night: 60’s Pop Hits @ Hop Garden Brewing

  • 🎿 - 5:30 PM: Candlelight Ski, Snowshoe & Hike @ Friends of Blue Mound State Park

  • 🍽️ - 6:30 PM: Taste of Oregon 2025 @ Oregon Rotary Club

  • 🎶 - 7:00 PM: Live Music: Madison Radiators @ Paddy Mac’s

  • 🎙️ - 7:30 PM: Seminole Tap Stand Up Live @ Seminole Tap

• Sunday, February 2nd

  • 🏋️‍♀️ - FIT Annual Charity Powerlifting Meet @ FIT Madtown

  • 🚶‍♀️- 9:00 AM: Military Ridge State Trail Walk (with Girls Who Walk - Starting @ Alice Good Coffee)

  • 💍 - 11:00 AM: Wedding Vendor Showcase @ The Loxley

  • ⁉️+🍷 - 11:00 AM: Bingo, Brunch & Bevvies @ Flight Wine & Bourbon Bar

  • 🎶 - 1:00 PM: Live Music: Matt Jaye @ Bailey’s Run

  • 🎶 - 1:00 PM: Live Music: Andy Braun @ Lake Louie Brewing

  • 🕯️ + 🍇 - 2:00 PM: Candles & Charcuterie @ Valor Curl Company

Key - * indicates event is recurring

MAKER FEATURE

This week’s maker feature is painter, Rachael Hunter.

Hi, I’m Rachael Hunter, a painter from Minnesota, currently a senior at UW Madison in Wisconsin. Growing up as an only child in the Midwest, I spent a lot of time outdoors, letting my imagination run wild. That playful, sometimes eerie world of make-believe still influences my art. Creativity has always been a constant, thanks largely to my mother, who once dreamed of being an artist but was discouraged by a professor in college. Her story inspired me to embrace my own creativity, no matter what. 

I'm thrilled to announce my first solo show at Delta Beer Lab on February 1st! Join me at 167 East Badger Road, Madison, WI, 53713, to check out my paintings, enjoy a drink, and even create some art yourself. I'll have coloring pages and markers available, plus beer, food, and prints for purchase. If you can’t make it to the opening night, no worries—my paintings will be on display all month. I’d love to see you there!

Find her on her website - https://rachaelkayhunter.com/ or instagram @rachael._.paints

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

CHECK IT OUT

This week’s Check It Out feature is Benjamin Plumbing.

Being trusted with your family's or business' plumbing is not something we take lightly. For over 60 years we have put our customers’ needs above anything else. We know that when your plumbing systems start malfunctioning your anxiety can go through the roof. We provide service for any plumbing repair needed including sump pump repair, garbage disposal repair, and leaking faucets or toilets.

Don't let your plumbing problems be a drain! Check out these flush-tastic offers from Benjamin Plumbing!

Find out more on their website or call them at 608-271-7071.

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

NEIGHBORHOOD DEAL

Every Wednesday at Me & Julio grab ANY burger on the menu & a side for just $12!!!

See more on their website or on their instagram - @meandjuliomadi

THANK YOU!

Thanks for reading the Fitchrona Focus today! If you found something useful, please share it with someone who also still laughs at toilet humor 🚽!

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