Giving Back One Meal at a Time
Published November 24, 2023
Josh and Darci Wilson spend their days taking care of others. Josh serves students as the associate principal of Monroe High School and Darci is a stay-at-home mom, taking care of the couple’s three children. In 2022, the family added another layer: taking care of the Monroe community by cooking and delivering free meals.
The free meals began during the 2022 holiday season. Josh and his family were new to the neighborhood and, as avid cooks, they decided to make meals for those in need whenever they had time.
Josh also thinks of the food deliveries as something positive to do in his late mother’s memory.
Read more here.
Josh and Darci Wilson spend their days taking care of others. Josh serves students as the associate principal of Monroe High School and Darci is a stay-at-home mom, taking care of the couple’s three children. In 2022, the family added another layer: taking care of the Monroe community by cooking and delivering free meals.
The free meals began during the 2022 holiday season. Josh and his family were new to the neighborhood and, as avid cooks, they decided to make meals for those in need whenever they had time.
Josh also thinks of the food deliveries as something positive to do in his late mother’s memory.
Read more here.
"The Cheesemaking Process, from 'Moo' to You"
Published June 19, 2024
It’s 5 a.m. and Dan Rieder is starting his day by preparing food — for his herd of dairy cows.
He mixes feed, stirring the corn silage, haylage, high moisture shell corn and a protein mix. A kind of corn salad, if you will.
Rieder estimates each cow eats about 100 pounds of feed per day. A robot delivers the food pellets to the cow’s stalls.
While it may not be what first comes to mind when we buy our favorite cheese, this is where the cheesemaking process truly begins. The food a cow eats directly affects the milk they produce, which will eventually go in to making cheese.
Read more here.
It’s 5 a.m. and Dan Rieder is starting his day by preparing food — for his herd of dairy cows.
He mixes feed, stirring the corn silage, haylage, high moisture shell corn and a protein mix. A kind of corn salad, if you will.
Rieder estimates each cow eats about 100 pounds of feed per day. A robot delivers the food pellets to the cow’s stalls.
While it may not be what first comes to mind when we buy our favorite cheese, this is where the cheesemaking process truly begins. The food a cow eats directly affects the milk they produce, which will eventually go in to making cheese.
Read more here.
"Mental Health Takes a Front Seat"
Published January 25, 2022
After nearly two years of pandemic life, the isolation and high stress levels have taken a toll on our collective emotional health. For those struggling with these new challenges, it may be time to seek professional assistance. Green County residents have access to emotional health resources for all ages, addressing a variety of life’s challenges.
Teri Ellefson, Monroe, knows the subject all too well. Her son, Jacob, died by suicide in 2012 at age 14. She said the foundation arose out of a need to facilitate those difficult conversations surrounding mental health.
Read more here.
After nearly two years of pandemic life, the isolation and high stress levels have taken a toll on our collective emotional health. For those struggling with these new challenges, it may be time to seek professional assistance. Green County residents have access to emotional health resources for all ages, addressing a variety of life’s challenges.
Teri Ellefson, Monroe, knows the subject all too well. Her son, Jacob, died by suicide in 2012 at age 14. She said the foundation arose out of a need to facilitate those difficult conversations surrounding mental health.
Read more here.
"Different Experiences, Equal Respect"
Published November 7, 2023
Cat (Weeden) Boye grew up with military roots. Her grandfather, Dick Weeden — a Brodhead native — served as Crew Chief in the Air Force during the Korean War. Her dad, Mike Weeden, went on to serve as a KC-135 pilot during Operation Desert Storm.
“I was in first grade when 9/11 happened, and I remember having classmates whose dads were guardsmen and reservists that deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000s,” said Boye. “I had teachers who were veterans and even knew female veterans in the community. I thought joining the military was a normal thing to do at some point, even as a woman.”
Read more here.
Cat (Weeden) Boye grew up with military roots. Her grandfather, Dick Weeden — a Brodhead native — served as Crew Chief in the Air Force during the Korean War. Her dad, Mike Weeden, went on to serve as a KC-135 pilot during Operation Desert Storm.
“I was in first grade when 9/11 happened, and I remember having classmates whose dads were guardsmen and reservists that deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000s,” said Boye. “I had teachers who were veterans and even knew female veterans in the community. I thought joining the military was a normal thing to do at some point, even as a woman.”
Read more here.
"Past Monroe Christmas Stocking Fund recipient gives back"
Serving the community for more than seven decades, the Monroe Christmas Stocking Fund (MCSF) continues to address this gap firsthand by collecting donations and preparing food boxes for local families. Miguel Aragon, a 2021 graduate of Monroe High School, knows firsthand the impact of those special deliveries.
“It always puts me in a great mood whenever I see those boxes or bags at people’s doorsteps,” said Aragon. “This makes me feel happier knowing that there are still people out there who genuinely care about their fellow human beings without expecting anything in return.”
Read more here.
“It always puts me in a great mood whenever I see those boxes or bags at people’s doorsteps,” said Aragon. “This makes me feel happier knowing that there are still people out there who genuinely care about their fellow human beings without expecting anything in return.”
Read more here.
"Your Mind Matters: Local Mental Health Resources"
Published January 30, 2024
In the depths of a Wisconsin winter, short daylight hours and cold weather can often impact our mental health. Several local organizations are working to provide support and prevention resources.
Mental Health Matters (MHM) of Green County provides a variety of resources and trainings to the community, including safeTALK — a three to four hour training available to anyone who would like to learn more about suicide prevention. Individuals of all backgrounds and professions participate. The training is open to ages 15 and up.
Read more here.
In the depths of a Wisconsin winter, short daylight hours and cold weather can often impact our mental health. Several local organizations are working to provide support and prevention resources.
Mental Health Matters (MHM) of Green County provides a variety of resources and trainings to the community, including safeTALK — a three to four hour training available to anyone who would like to learn more about suicide prevention. Individuals of all backgrounds and professions participate. The training is open to ages 15 and up.
Read more here.
Cheese Days Special Section 2022
To read the special section, click here.
Stories include:
Colony Brands' history with the Cheese Days parade
Commercial vendor spotlight: Dave's Coffee Cakes
Countryside tours
Cow milking contest
DJ Shotski Polka profile
Edelweiss Tribute Chorli
Kids' Street
Goodtime Dutchmen
Main Stage dedication
Profile: Nancy Baker, food artist
Maker's Market artists
Parade Marshal Mayor Douglas
Regez Supply Co.
Cheese Days royalty
Swiss Chicks
Stories include:
Colony Brands' history with the Cheese Days parade
Commercial vendor spotlight: Dave's Coffee Cakes
Countryside tours
Cow milking contest
DJ Shotski Polka profile
Edelweiss Tribute Chorli
Kids' Street
Goodtime Dutchmen
Main Stage dedication
Profile: Nancy Baker, food artist
Maker's Market artists
Parade Marshal Mayor Douglas
Regez Supply Co.
Cheese Days royalty
Swiss Chicks
Source Magazine 2022
Published May 2023
Bryce Grossen graduated from Monroe High School in November 2022 and started taking general classes at Madison College in the Pre-Veterinary Technician program in January 2023.
Grossen entered the SOAR program — Student Occupation and Academic Readiness — in June 2020, the summer before his junior year of high school. Grossen asked the center if they’d be interested in joining the program and taking him on as an apprenticeship student and the center agreed. The SOAR program provides students with career exploration opportunities, for which they both get paid and receive high school credit.
Read more here.
Bryce Grossen graduated from Monroe High School in November 2022 and started taking general classes at Madison College in the Pre-Veterinary Technician program in January 2023.
Grossen entered the SOAR program — Student Occupation and Academic Readiness — in June 2020, the summer before his junior year of high school. Grossen asked the center if they’d be interested in joining the program and taking him on as an apprenticeship student and the center agreed. The SOAR program provides students with career exploration opportunities, for which they both get paid and receive high school credit.
Read more here.
Source Magazine
Published May 2024
Read more here.
Read more here.
Cheese Days 2024 Special Section
Read more here.
"Bring Joy from Just Down the Street"
Published November 22, 2022
MONROE — Local small businesses are ready to serve customers this holiday season. With a wide variety of goods and services — as well as a number of holiday promotions — local shops are looking forward to this year’s Small Business Saturday.
Jocelyn Kline began Orange Kitten Yarns 10 years ago after retiring from Monroe’s senior center. She learned to knit as a 9-year-old Girl Scout and, while it began as a hobby, says knitting is now “more of a way of life.”
Orange Kitten Yarns also placed Kline into the growing group of women over age 50 who are starting their own businesses.
Read more here.
MONROE — Local small businesses are ready to serve customers this holiday season. With a wide variety of goods and services — as well as a number of holiday promotions — local shops are looking forward to this year’s Small Business Saturday.
Jocelyn Kline began Orange Kitten Yarns 10 years ago after retiring from Monroe’s senior center. She learned to knit as a 9-year-old Girl Scout and, while it began as a hobby, says knitting is now “more of a way of life.”
Orange Kitten Yarns also placed Kline into the growing group of women over age 50 who are starting their own businesses.
Read more here.