By Chris Spangler From scholarships to building projects and pretty much everything in between, the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation has been improving residents’ quality of life for a half-century. The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gathering Tuesday evening at Riverstone. Sue Hartwick, executive director of the foundation, welcomed...
Category: Lifestyle
Torgerson: ‘My journey in this physical world is almost complete’; donates flag to Evergreen
By Chris SpanglerLife is what you make of it, and Judy Torgerson’s has been a joyride.But now her days are numbered, so she is writing her own obituary, gifting jewelry to loved ones and donating a new flagpole to Evergreen Cemetery.It was on July 10th that the 72-year-old Fort Atkinson...
Ties between two Forts: Atkinson and Winnebago
By Chris Spangler Many notables in Wisconsin’s — and even the nation’s — past have had ties to both Fort Winnebago and Fort Atkinson. Located in Portage, Fort Winnebago was garrisoned in 1832 at the start of the Black Hawk War. It was built, however, three years earlier when a...
‘Heat, beat, repeat’: Fort teacher returns blacksmithing to its roots
By Chris SpanglerNick Hamele jabbed a thin steel rod into glowing coals before pounding it into what would become a decorative coat hook.“Heat, beat and repeat,” he told onlookers, quoting the blacksmith’s mantra.Nick, a high school science teacher from Fort Atkinson, was one of seven guests demonstrating old-time crafts and...
On the Appalachian Trail: David Firari sloshes through Vermont
By Kim McDarison Fort Atkinson resident and Appalachian Trail hiker David Firari earlier this month sent his third video update to Fort Atkinson Online, noting that it has been two months since he last updated FAO readers about his progress as he continues his journey along the Appalachian Trail. In...