Good Morning, Fitchrona!

Celebrate National "I Want You to Be Happy Day" today by uplifting our local community—one kind act at a time!

Today is the perfect opportunity to support the small businesses that give our community its unique charm. Whether you’re stopping by your favorite café for a warm smile or leaving a glowing review for that local boutique, every gesture not only spreads joy but also fuels the heart of our community. Let’s come together to make our local shops thrive and share the happiness that makes the Fitchrona area truly special!

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

SPECIAL EDITION: The Wisconsin Whey – Now Available for Local Pick-Up!

Wisconsin’s Driftless Region is home to some of the most decorated cheesemakers in the world, and now their stories are captured in The Wisconsin Whey: Cheesemaking in the Driftless. This stunning hardcover book highlights 12 artisan cheesemakers and their dedication to craftsmanship, collaboration, and quality.

Published by Little Creek Press, an award-winning independent book publisher in Mineral Point, The Wisconsin Whey features photography by Paul Strabbing and writing by Judy Newman Coburn. It showcases legendary figures like Sid Cook of Carr Valley Cheese and Andy Hatch of Uplands Cheese while also introducing the next generation of cheesemakers keeping Wisconsin’s tradition alive.

📍 FREE LOCAL PICK-UP at The Republic of Letters Bookstore (151 High Street, Mineral Point, WI). Or purchase online here.

Featured cheesemakers include:  
🧀 Bleu Mont Dairy (Blue Mounds)
🧀 Brunkow Cheese (Fayette)
🧀 Capri Cheese (Blue River)
🧀 Carr Valley Cheese (La Valle)
🧀 Cedar Grove Cheese (Plain)
🧀 Hidden Springs Creamery (Westby)
🧀 Hook’s Cheese Co. (Mineral Point)
🧀 Landmark Creamery (Paoli)
🧀 Roelli Cheese Haus (Shullsburg)
🧀 Nordic Creamery (Westby)
🧀 Schroeder Käse (Darlington)
🧀 Uplands Cheese (Dodgeville)

We’ve previously spotlighted Hook’s Cheese & Landmark Creamery, and we’re thrilled to see them featured in this book!

Secure your copy today and celebrate Wisconsin’s world-class cheesemaking heritage. 🧀

Verona’s Brewing Scene Expands with New Development

Big things are brewing in Verona! A newly approved 14,497-square-foot canning storage facility is set to rise east of Wisconsin Brewing Company, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a craft beer hub. The project at 1079 American Way, approved in January 2025, includes a land subdivision and two additional lots, potentially for parking or future expansion. Construction kicks off in March 2025, following a soil surcharge this fall.

This facility will streamline storage and distribution for Wisconsin Brewing and Lake Louie Brewing, supporting increased production and market growth. The expansion could also create new jobs and, possibly, visitor-friendly features like a tasting room. We’re excited to learn more about what’s in store. Cheers to growth!

View details here.

Vintage Shop Hop Event – March 7 & 8, 2025

Get ready for the ultimate vintage & boutique shopping road trip across Southern Wisconsin & Northern Illinois! With 400+ shops across 150 towns in Illinois and Wisconsin, you’ll find antiques, home décor, fashion, and handcrafted goods—plus sales, giveaways, live music, food trucks, and more!

🛍 LOCAL STOPS IN OUR BACKYARD:

Madison & Mount Horeb are home to some must-visit spots during the Vintage Shop Hop:

📍 Antiques Mall of Madison – Madison (4748 Cottage Grove Rd)
📍 Atomic Antiques – Madison (4546 Verona Rd)
📍 Monona Antiques – Madison (2034 S Stoughton Rd)
📍 Retro Revolution Vintage Store – Madison (3225 E. Washington Ave.)
📍 Isaac's Antiques – Mount Horeb (132 E. Main St)
📍 Melrose on Main – Mount Horeb (400 E. Main St) Ladies Boutique
📍 Perfect Patina – Mount Horeb (220 E. Main St)

PLAN YOUR ROUTE:

🔹 Google Maps – Click Here
🔹 Master List & Mini-Region Guide – Click Here

WHAT TREASURES WILL YOU FIND?

✨ Farmhouse chic & boho décor
✨ True & authentic vintage from every era
✨ Industrial & automotive relics
✨ Architectural salvage, barn wood, doors & windows
✨ Vintage & new boutique clothing
✨ Jewelry, collectibles, and fun junk
✨ Everything to deck out your she shed, man cave, or outdoor bar!

Fall in love with vintage treasures!

HAPPENINGS

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

View - and bookmark - our events calendar page to see full event details, including event times and registration information.

• Monday, March 3rd

  • 🔨6pm - Lego Club @ Fitchburg Library

• Tuesday, March 4th

  • 📕 4pm Ramadan Story Hour @ Fitchburg Library

  • 🧑‍🍳 5pm - Chef Yusuf Bin-Rella’s Fat Tuesday Party @ Seven Acres Dairy

  • 🌱 6 pm - Native Plants & Seeds Starting @ UW Extension Horticulture

  • 🏫 7pm - New College Planning Strategies & ACT/SAT Test Updates (Virtual) @ Verona Library

• Wednesday, March 5th

  • 🎨10am - Toddler Art @ Fitchburg Library

  • 🎸 5pm - Indie TuneUp @ COPA

  • 🥐 6pm - On Grains & Veggies, Stories & Recipes with Joshua Mc Fadden @ Seven Acres Dairy

• Thursday, March 6th

  • ☕ 5pm - Cross Plains Night Market @ Crossroads Coffeehouse

  • 🌱 6pm - Intro To Indigenous Agronomy - Indigenous Agronomy In Practice (Virtual) @ UW-Madison

  • 🍇 6:30pm - Guess the Grape - Fun Wine Tasting Adventure @ The Wine House McFarland

• Friday, March 7th

  • 🏋️ International Women’s Day Celebration (All Weekend) @ Lioness Fitness

  • 🔥 Wood fired barrel sauna, goodies from Beneblends!

  • 🐾2pm - Critter Scene Investigation @ Lussier Heritage Center & McFarland Library

  • 🎶5:15 pm - Album Release Night - Beth Kille @ Seminole Tap

  • 💕6pm - Singles & Friends @ Loxley

  • 🎁 7pm - Monthly Birthday Party @ Sow’s Ear

  • 🎭 7pm - Cambridge School Districts Art Department Opening

• Saturday, March 8th

  • ⛷️ Gaper Day @ Tyrol Basin Ski Resort

  • ⛳ 9am, 12:30pm, & 4pm - Indoor 2 Person 18-Hole Scramble @ The Oaks Golf Course

  • 🌷 10am - Spring Collection Open House @ Linen & Clove

  • 🖌️ 1pm - Snowdrops Watercolor Class with Emily Marie Watercolors @ Olbrich Gardens

  • 💃 Madtown Mardi Gras @ Loxley

• Sunday, March 9th

  • ⛷️ Big Air Competition @ Tyrol Basin Ski Resort

  • 🐕 9am - Community Pack Walk @ Mauden & The Bulldogs

  • 🍁 10am - Maple Syrup Open House @ Open Kettle Farms

  • 🥩 1pm - Meat Raffle @ Stone Porch Alehouse

  • 📝 2pm - Driftless Poets Writing Workshop (Virtual) @ Shake Rag Alley

  • 🎶 Live Music: The Prairie Flowers @ Lake Louie Brewing

Key - * indicates event is recurring

MAKER FEATURE

This week’s maker feature is Audifax.

I currently paint medium to large-scale murals, from simple to complex designs. I also create public art installations, teach workshops, do public speaking and DJ on the side. I’ve been painting walls for nearly a decade and love to share my unique story of how I became a muralist, and writing a book about just that.

My story began on the streets of Barcelona where I began painting street art. There was something inside that pushed me to keep going, even though murals weren’t popular in the U.S. yet. It was (and still can be) a very difficult career choice, but knowing I bring community connection, awe and inspiration through the work I do makes it worth it. My message to the world is, the heart always knows the answer. Find that spark of passion inside of you, and your path will show itself. You can find more about me and my story at: audifaxart.com / @audifaxart.

Events:

• Saturday, March 1st from 2-5pm - Spotlight on the Arts - I’ll be at Art House 360 where I recently hung a mural

• Saturday March 29th and April 26th / 9pm - 12am, DJing The Rusty Bee Lounge

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

CHECK IT OUT

Agrace Doc Rock Café
Fitchburg, WI

Support Agrace—Volunteer or Dine with Us!

Want to help Agrace but prefer not to work directly with patients? There are many ways to get involved! Volunteer in our thrift stores, gardens, events, or office—flexible roles to fit your schedule. Call (608) 327-7163 to learn more.

Did you know? The Agrace Doc Rock Café is open Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., serving fresh, locally sourced meals—including produce from our gardens! Visit us at 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, and support Agrace with every bite.

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

NEIGHBORHOOD DEAL

Seminole Tap

Have a deal that we should feature? Submit it here.

THANK YOU!

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