June 2010

June 4,5 & 6: June Dairy Days – A kick-off breakfast, carnival, live music and dancing, clowns, dairy tents, big wheel races, petting barn, stage coach rides and speedway racing. West Salem Village Park.

June 10-13: Butterfest -Carnival, live entertainment, arts and crafts exhibits, music, food booths, quilt show and classic car show. Parade on Sunday. Sparta Memorial Park, 608-269-4123

June 19 & 20: Midsummer Fest-Celebrate the summer solstice Scandinavian style with entertainment, refreshments, wagon rides, demonstrations, gift shop and more. 10a.m.-4p.m. Norskedalen, Coon Valley. 608-452-3424. www.norskedalen.org

July 2010

July 2-6: Great River Jazz Fest- river activities, top name entertainment and continuous events highlight this family festival on the Mississippi River. Fireworks, food, beverage tent, crafts, live music and dance. La Crosse Riverside Park, 608-784-7575.

July 17: Karner Blue Butterfly Festival- Downtown Black River Falls. 1-800-404-4008. www.downtownblackriverfalls.com

July 13-18: La Crosse Interstate Fair-La Crosse Interstate Fairgrounds, West Salem, WI. Carnival, livestock, 4-H judging exhibits, food, auto races, live entertainment. 608-786-1525 or 786-5506. www.lacrosseinterstatefair.com.

July 17: Rail Fair- Railroad show, flea market, swap meet, buy-sell-trade, model and toy trains. Railroadiana, exhibits and displays. Copeland Park, 608-780-2543 www.4000foundation.com

July 24-25 Kickapoo Country Fair held at Organic Valley headquarters near La Farge, WI. www.organicvalley.coop/kickapoo.

July 30-31st: Prairie Dog Blues Fest – Prairie du Chien. 888-567-1567.

July 24 & 25 : Art Fair on the Green – UW-La Crosse. 608-788-7439

August 2010

August 5-8: Great River Jazz Fest-Featuring great music, on grounds food and beverage, after hours jam sessions and jazz liturgies. La Crosse, 608-791-1190, www.lacrossejazz.com

August 20-22: Holmen Kornfest-Corn on the cob, music, carnival, fun run, bingo, tractor pull, parade on Saturday, fireworks display, Village Park, 608-526-4444.

August 21-22: Viroqua’s Annual Wild West Days-East of the Fairgrounds. 1800’s Boom Town, Civil War Reenactment, Fur Traders Rendezvous, Indian Village, Children’s Games, State Coach Rides and much more. www.wildwestdays.info

September 2010

September 15-19: Vernon County Fair- The last County Fair in Wisconsin each year boasts over 10,000 exhibit entries, a Super Large Midway, over 100 commercial exhibitors and a real Olde Fashioned County Fair atmosphere. Viroqua. www.vernoncountyfair.com

September 16-19: Applefest-Annual celebration of the apple industry. Orchard tours, live music, carnival rides, golf tournament, food, arts, crafts, flea market and Sunday parade. La Crescent, MN, 800-926-9480. www.applefestusa.com

September 25: Threshing Bee-Celebrate the harvest of old with many working farming and harvesting demonstrations, wagon rides, home-style meals (reservation required) and a buzz of activity surrounding rural life. 10 a.m.-4p.m., Norskadalen, Coon Valley, 608-452-3424. www.norskedalen.org

September 24-26: Cranberry Fest-Over 1,000 booths of arts and crafts, antique, flea and farmers’ markets. Warrens, WI 608-378-4200. www.cranfest.com

September 24-October 2: Oktoberfest- the best of family activities offered include the Grand Maple Leaf Parade and Torchlight Parade. Carnival rides, ethnic foods, authentic German entertainment, as well as local and regional country, pop, rock music and children’s acts. La Crosse north and south side fest grounds. 608-784-3378, www.oktoberfestusa.com

October 2010

October 9 &10: Civil War Heritage Weekend- Norskedalen, Coon Valley,608-452-3424.

October 23-24: Ghoulees in the Coulees- Haunted Halloween hike through the woods experiencing the man spook stations. Hot cider and treats at the end. Reservations required. Norskedalen, Coon Valley, 608-452-3424.

October : Jaycees Haunted House, Clearwater Farms, Onalaska. 608-792-9850

November 2010

November 6: Sparta Monroe County Historical Society Arts and Craft Show at Sparta Senior High School 506 N. Black River St. 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. 300 vendors. Joan Cook 608-269-3233

November: Annual Country Christmas Shopping Tour. Take a unique Christmas shopping trip at studios of artists & crafters from Liberty Pole to Genoa. Brochures/maps available at participating businesses. Contact Nora Soltau 60-675-3237 or 608-675-3565 .

November 25-December 31: Rotary Holiday Lights-More than a MILLION Holiday Lights illuminate La Crosse’s Riverside Park from 5-10p.m. daily. Among the splendor is a 140 foot Christmas tree and animated light displays that fill the park. Live nativity scene presentation for the first three weekends in December. Santa is here until Christmas Eve. 800-658-9424. View the beautiful light display reflected in the Mississippi River from Pettibone Park across the Cass Street Bridge to the island. www.rotarylights.org.

December 2010

December 1-31 Holiday lights continue

December: Holiday in the Park-Evans Bosshard Park, Hwy 16 & East Ave., Sparta. Rotary lights, entertainment, refreshments, over 125,000 lights on display. Visit with Santa.

December 31: Skyrockers New Year’s Eve Fireworks- From Grandad Bluff 6 p.m. & midnight

February 2011

February 9-10: Westby Snowflake Ski Jump.Starts at 11 a.m. Westby WI E7940 County Road P. 1-608-634-3211

June 23 Greg Belfany
June 30 484th Army Band
July 7 Gary and the Ridgeland Dutchmen
July 14 Pat Watters
July 21 Rusty Star
July 28 3 Beers ‘Til Dubuque

August 4 Grumpy Old Men
August 11 Hans Meyer
August 18 DeCapo Band

Sparta Evans-Bosshard Park 7 pm
Concerts In the Park on Wednesdays in June, July & August.
Entrance on East Ave. off State Hwy. 16. Bring your own lawn chairs and enjoy music under the stars! In case of inclement weather, concerts, will be held at Sparta Meadowview School. Quiet, country, peaceful, pet-friendly lodging available at www.justintrails.com.

Explore on a sunny, blue sky day!

4 inches of new snow on top of great base.  Don is grooming the trails for Valentine weekend.  We have plenty of skis and snowshoes  for rent.

Visit us on Facebook at Justin Trails for photos of our November controlled burn, winter fun, upcoming Handy Person Specials, etc. Thank you to Tim Schoeller and Valerie Reeb for the CDs of photos. Join as a friend.

Speaking of photos, I need campground photos to promote the tent camping for 2010. I look forward to receiving emails with photos from you at: info@justintrails.com

Thank you to the January Handy Person Special folks for helping Don run the inn while I attended the Wizard Course in sunny Florida. Thanks for your part in sanding, priming and painting the outdoor furniture a beautiful shade of yellow.

Granola for Sale: Custom blended to your preference. 3 lbs. for $20 plus $6 shipping. 6 lbs. $40 plus $10.95 and 9 lbs. $60 plus $14.95 for shipping. choices:
Nuts- pecans, walnuts, cashews, coconut flakes
seeds-pumpkin, sunflower and sesame
dried fruit-papaya, craisins, crystallized ginger and pineapple
spices-ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and mace
No nuts and no peanut butter.
Call me with your order and credit card number. The liquid portion baked into the dry mix is:  honey, sorghum syrup, oil and peanut butter (except the not nut order) or apple juice and salt.

Snowshoeing and snowtubing make a great class outing as the 3rd graders from Viroqua Waldorf School discovered this week. Sofia and her 7 year old friends enjoyed her birthday party snow tubing and a dog sled ride from Heidi and George. Call for group reservations.

For Sale: 1967 Bombardier Snow cat Trail groomer. This iron horse proved too large for the amount of snow we receive in Wisconsin’s Banana Belt.

Share this ebroadcast with family and friends.

Majestic Red Oak on the snowshoe trail.

It’s time to get out to enjoy the Midwest’s outdoor winter fun! The ski trails have a wonderful base and fresh 5 inches of powder snow today that Don is grooming. The thrills on the tubing hills have been awesome. In six weeks we’ll be thinking spring and the snow will be melted. Make your reservations today!

Day Skiers/Snowshoers: Free day ski/snowshoe in return for 3 hours of pulling exotic honeysuckle and barberry.
You choose the day. Don will identify the exotics and work with you.

Planning ahead: Last year some of you had the opportunity to work with Cindy, Charles, Don and I
in improving our woodland and creating a fun community event. We have created several weekends this year
with additional focus. We hope you can join us.

Possibly 5th largest hackberry in Wisconsin

March 12, 13 & 14 pulling exotic honeysuckle and barberry. Scatter woodland seeds with Cindy on the November control burn area. Chainsaw 101: with Charles. Create a bonfire with Don and eat yummy food from Donna’s kitchen! Help create healthy woodland. Handy Person Special work four hours for $50/night lodging.

March 19, 20 & 21 Spring Equinox. Cindy & Charles will lead creating a ceremonial Labyrinth and teach you to create your own character for an effigy burn at the bonfire. Handy Person Special applies.

April 9, 10 & 11 Spring Fling disc golfers clean up the course, (all are welcome) wild game roast and bonfire. Learn about herbicides to keep out invasive box elder trees & exotics by Cindy. Chain saw serenade led by Charles.
Bring your chain saw. Handy Person Special applies.

April 23, 24 & 25 Look for Woodland Flowers Opportunity to learn to identify spring woodland flowers which are ephemerial ( they pop up in early spring, bloom, die and remain dormant through summer & fall) and orienteering.
Cut elms & box elders with Charles. Create a bonfire with Donna. Handy Person Special applies.

May 7, 8 & 9 Morel Mushroom Foray & Feast Charles will lead identification of morel mushroom habitat. Cindy will lead identification of spring ephemerials–May apples, wood anemone, trillium, solomon seal, jack-in-the pulpit,
trout lilies & more. We’ll all help create a huge evening bonfire. Handy Person Special applies.

Please feel free to pass this email on to friends and family.

Appreciatively,

Don & Donna
608-269-4522
info@justintrails.com
www.justintrails.com

RUDY'S drive-in with carhops on roller blades

Don and I were honored with Judy and Ron Halma’, Franklin Street Inn in Appleton, visit to our inn in August.  Following are photos of Sparta and the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trails that they took.

The “Paul Bunyan” Lodge is perfectly cozy and seemed just right for our family of five.  The boys loved the bunk beds; we even found time to relax in the whirlpool and baby thought every bit was exciting.

Feeding the llamas, talking to the cats, goat & dogs, exploring the trails were the highpoints of the kids’ vacation!

We grilled every evening on the charcoal grill in our backyard and the “campfire” in the firepit on a moonlit night, roasting marshmallows & eating smores was simply the icing on the cake!

And last but not the least we have to rave about the heavenly breakfasts served by Donna.  Yummy homemade granola and out of the world homemade yogurt!  Don & Donna are the most gracious hosts and we can’t thank them enough for making this a truly memorable holiday getaway for us!

As my 9 year old son put it “This is blissJJ”

The Ailiani family J

The day will be celebrated with a drum circle and other entertainment. Starting at 3 p.m., bring your drums and sit in for a class on the basics of drum circles. Then take a llama trek from 5 to 7 p.m.  and eat dinner to get energized before the main community drum circle begins.

Please feel free to bring your own food and drinks. The drum circle ends at 10 p.m., feel free to make a reservation at the bed and breakfast for the late night. There will also be camping available.

The facilitator is Jeff Cozy, a musician and recording artist  at Bright Ideas Multimedia Studios in La Crosse,WI.  www.ibrightideas.com.  The goals and focuses are planetary peace through culture, “forgiveness, atonement and purification.”

This year, we embarked on a forest-wide clean-up, designed to promote the growth of healthy, hardwood trees throughout the property.  We began this process in the most visible areas of the property, in order to improve the immediate feel of the resort and provide us locations in which to watch the slow, but gradual changes happening in the forest as we work throughout the upcoming years.  We will be continuing the clean-up you are seeing in these areas throughout our woods, altering the “prescription” depending on what trees are there today, what is growing in the understory, and, what, historically, was there in the past.  You may ask, “Why are we doing this?”  The objective stems from the general idea that the local landscape, previous to and during the early years of farming was covered in a mosaic landscape of different kinds of vegetation.  What we know from historic records is that open lands were in the valleys and broad hilltops, savanna on the narrow ridge tops and gentle slopes that receive sun throughout most of the day and oak-hickory woodlands and forests along the steeper slopes and protected coves and valleys.  A savanna is a type of community characterized by large statuesque open-grown trees, and grasses and flowers and woodland is type of community that is characterized by tall, straight widely spaced trees. 

Before farming, these communities were maintained through fire and were diverse with wild flowers and grasses, and fruit and nut bearing shrubs.  During the early years of farming, these areas were used for pasture, and maintained by grazing animals, resulting in the eventual loss of the wild flowers, grasses, and shrubs.  

Many of the trees from that time are still intact, leaving them our “old growth forest”, so to speak, and worth protecting and saving.  Around them, we want to recreate a healthy forest community for present and future generations..   

Nature’s Keeper, a small company run by a husband and wife team out of Blanchardville, WI, have been working with us to find harmony with what is today and what was.  We know we can’t “go back”, but after 20 years of timber harvest that has left us with little for the future, we are looking to a new way of managing our woods.  Our hope is to regenerate timber hardwoods like white, black, and red oak, and hickory and black cherry through a long-term plan that allows for these trees to grow successive generations into the future, allowing for a long-term sustainable harvest, rather than a one-shot deal typical of timber harvests of the past.  It will take us a while to get there, but we’re all ready to try. 

With the help of volunteers, look at what we’ve been able to get done already!    

April 4 – 5 – On this early spring rainy weekend, a six hardy souls turned out to help Charles Ramseyer with tackling one gnarly area in the woodlands that we see every morning from our back door, as well as locating our first campground locations, officially allowing us to accept campers on the property.  It was an exciting weekend.  The weather cooperated with a near perfect rain, allowing for the numerous brush piles of un-burnable tops that we created to get burned into cinders.  Also, a number of beautiful new benches were carved out of downed logs next to #4 basket on the Big Brother Disc Golf Course, thanks to Charles and his creativity. 

April 25 – 26 – We had yet again another rainy Saturday, turning all of us into ducks that not only quacked but magically found arms that lugged branches and tended bonfires!  Due to the perseverance of 8 hardy souls, we managed to clear a hillside of piles of downed, dead wood and of any exotic (non-native) shrubs lurking in the woods.  As well, the rain blessed us once again on Sunday allowing us to tackle a brush pile and surrounding area that has been in Donna and Don’s view for the past several years.  It was a glorious day for burning, with a light rain once again blessing us towards the evening.  We may have all been tired, but well rewarded with a weekend’s work well done. 

May 6 & 7 a small group cut and stacked the huge down box elder on # 14 of Classic Course for camper firewood.

I needed a vacation that wouldn’t break the bank…and Justin Trails fit the bill perfectly. Its about a 4 hour drive from Chicago and is located in the “driftless” portion of the Wisconsin rolling hills, basically meaning the land wasn’t flattened by glaciers.

Justin Trails is a B&B located on what used to be a working farm. The setup is darling, and you can either get a room in the main house, reserve one of the cabins for more privacy or even camp at different locations on their 200 acre chunk of land.

We chose the cabin and it had a great Whirlpool hot tub elevated in a loft setting. Justin Trails has two 18 hole professional disc golf courses. The smaller is about a 1 mile walk up and down those rolling hills, while “big boy” is about 3.1 miles and is so so difficult. We spent a lot of time searching for badly thrown discs.

Every morning Don and Donna, the hosts, serve a homemade breakfast that consists of eggs, bacon, a fruit assortment and yogurt and Donna’s homemade granola. It was a perfect start for a big day of hiking and chasing your discs through brush.

Best part for us was Justin Trails is dog friendly, so we got to bring our little Karma to enjoy the nature and get out of the city for some much needed RR. I recommend for local getaways, a romantic weekend or just some time out of the city.

On Dec. ‘03 my mom and dad wrote a letter to all their children. They had made arrangements for a family gathering at Justin Trails for the date of June 19th for two purposes-to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary and 4 of their grandchildren’s high school graduations.

My mother and father have since passed away. But, we and they had had such a wonderful time at Justin Trails. I just wanted to say tahnk you?! It was so special!
Sincerely
C H. La Center, WA