“Ever Green” is the theme for a weekend of free art, musical and educational programs at the Fort Atkinson Club community center.
“The Ever Green Exhibition” will kick off Friday, June 21, featuring the nature-inspired artworks of Amanda Langer and Barbara Lidfors. Their unique mediums and styles will be on display and for sale during open hours throughout the end of August.
Also on Friday, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Gaelic band Failte! will kick off the summer concert series.
Playing a mix of traditional Scottish and Irish tunes, the band includes Alerdale Wimer on the fiddle, Patrick Moran on the octave mandolin and Terry Maloney on percussion.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the adjacent American Legion Dugout’s concession window. Payment is cash only.
Just before the concert, the community is invited to a 5:30 p.m. reception thanking donors to the Fort Atkinson Club’s “Building a Path to Sustain Us” campaign.
“We want to thank those who’ve generously contributed and honor those who are being memorialized on our patio,” said program manager Haley Speer.
Attendees also will have the opportunity to meet “Ever Green Exhibition” artists Langer and Lidfors, and the Fort Atkinson Club’s incoming program manager, Emely Sanchez-Opp.
Saturday play, concert
Saturday, June 22, will mark the “Ever Green Benefit” co-hosted by the Fort Atkinson Community Theatre (FACT). From noon to 5 p.m., the club will offer art, music, theater and educational workshops focused on environmental care and stewardship.
Persons may select which programs they would like to attend throughout the venue.
Also planned are an ice cream sundae bar and tree and plant sale, with all proceeds benefiting the Evergreen Cemetery.
At noon, Brad Wilcox, president of the Evergreen Cemetery Association, will present an introduction to the afternoon’s activities.
The FACT Summer Singers Concert will begin at 1 p.m., followed by Readers Theatre performance of “You Can’t Take It With You” at 3 p.m.
The humorous play tells the story of Alice Sycamore, who falls for someone from a different background, leading to funny chaos when her quirky family meets his snooty parents. It’s all about enjoying life to the fullest.
Seats for the play may be reserved through use of the following link: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=239536.
Workshops, tree sale
Also at 1 p.m., Heart of the City will share tips on supporting the community environmentally. The nonprofit organization is known for encouraging sustainable development and civic engagement for a better Fort Atkinson.
Often partnering with organizations such as the chamber of commerce and Dwight Foster Public Library, Heart of the City supports local causes such as solar programs, bird conservation with Bird City Wisconsin and “Less-Mow May.”
At 2 p.m., Dr. Carl Whitcomb, a world-renowned horticulturist and ornamental plant breeder whose 40-plus years of research have led to numerous patents and registered trademarks as an inventor and entrepreneur, will share his expertise in a talk titled “Myths about Tree Planting.”
Whitcomb established Lacebark Inc., a research station in Oklahoma. He is known for his decades of work in plant development, particularly the creation of high-quality plants like Dynamite® and Red Rocket® crape myrtles. His research has led to numerous patents and innovative products for better plant growth.
He has donated a variety of trees that will be on sale at the event. They include:
• Londonplane trees, standing approximately 6 feet tall, in 3-gallon containers.
• Heptacodium trees, 3- to 4-feet tall in 3-gallon containers.
• Lady Bug Rose of Sharon trees, 3- to 4-feet tall in 1-gallon containers.
• Quaking Aspens, approximately 4-feet tall in 1-gallon containers.
Cash, card and check will be accepted for tree purchases.
All of the proceeds from this event will directly benefit Evergreen Cemetery, aiding in the ongoing care and stewardship of its trees and landscape.
It was July 28, 2023, when straight-line winds reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour blew down or damaged 60 to 70 trees at the northside cemetery. It also left approximately 7,000 Fort Atkinson households and businesses without electricity.
In the three weeks that followed, more than $28,000 and countless hours of labor were donated to help Evergreen Cemetery, with more contributed in the year since.
Cemetery grounds supervisor Raughn Ferrell told FortAtkinsonOnline Saturday that many trees have been planted since the storm, and he hopes to use future donations toward several long-awaited projects.
For the past six years, the cemetery association has been planning to install a water line to the tower, which is expected to cost about $25,000, he said.
In addition, it would like to sealcoat the driveway, another project with an approximate $25,000 pricetag.
“Cemeteries don’t have a lot of money and people are trying to help us because of the tornado that went through last July,” Ferrell said. “We greatly appreciate the support and thank the Fort Club, FACT, volunteers and donors for holding this Evergreen Cemetery fundraiser.”
All Fort Atkinson Club programs are free and open to the public. For accommodations or inquiries, email info@fortatkinsonclub.org.
Volunteers replace damaged trees in Evergreen Cemetery following a storm last July that wreaked havoc upon the cemetery’s landscaping. Volunteers and cemetery personnel were busy at work replacing trees last November. In the wake of the storm, cemetery grounds supervisor Raughn Ferrell had estimated that it could cost as much as $1,400 to remove each damaged tree, amounting to $60,000 to $70,000 alone for tree and stump removal. Local residents, businesses and organizations stepped forward, contributing more than $42,000, including $10,000 from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation. Additional fundraising to help restore the cemetery to its former park-like setting is set to take place Friday, June 21. File photo/Chris Spangler.
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