The Fort Atkinson Rotary Club has announced that it will be holding its annual beer- and wine-tasting fundraiser as part of “An Evening in the Garden” hosted by Blodgett Garden Center.
Slated for 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 20, the event will feature fine beverages, food trucks and live entertainment amid the greenery at Blodgett Garden Center, 1222 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson.The The beer- and wind-tasting fundraiser will feature a curated selection of craft beers from local breweries and wines offering attendees the chance to sample a variety of flavors and styles. The brewers will be on hand to guide guests through their tasting experience and providing insights into the brewing processes.
Featured this year are beverages from Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company, Elkhorn; Good Works Brewing Company, Milton; Mershon’s Cidery, Stoughton; Sunshine Brewing Company, Lake Mills; and Mr. Brews Taphouse, Fort Atkinson.
Tickets may be purchased online through the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-in-the-garden-tickets-899372235567?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1F9DqxHUqugPqs2XPYzAAYAineZT8zrs2K7OrPsnt9InU7M2QV56kG-eg_aem_ARbiQQMAVsvgIrhFHVxyz8qjn50UovueSqefwJ6U1H__nbiEQo4N1HXhqitsNSGVF-ZgjsbCyTYc9dAp0a4gRnj7.
Early purchase is recommended as space is limited.
In addition to the tasting, “An Evening in the Garden” will offer food trucks by area vendors, music by local musicians and vendors selling handcrafted items, including candles, soaps, jewelry, spices, baked goods and more.
A silent auction of items donated by market vendors and other local businesses, as well as a 50/50 raffle also will be held.
Proceeds from the event will support the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club’s community service projects and charitable initiatives. These efforts include recognition of outstanding teachers and student scholars; support for parks, playgrounds and community spaces; and contributions to global humanitarian efforts.
“We are excited to be part of ‘An Evening in the Garden’ again this year,” said Lisa Tuttle Woods, co-president-elect of the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club. “Blodgett Garden Center is a beautiful venue … the perfect setting for an evening of community, charity and celebration. We invite everyone to join us for a memorable night that supports important causes both locally and globally.”
Top scholars recognized
The Fort Atkinson Rotary Club recognized 20 Fort Atkinson High School seniors who graduated earlier this month.
A banquet was held in their honor last month at the Fort Atkinson Club community center.
The Rotary Top Scholars are Elizabeth Barganz, Sylbie Beers, Dylan Brown, Mikayla Cropp, Drew Enger, Langdon Eske, Kjersti Gadberry, Gracyn Heine, Madelynn Kontny, Sol Meyerloup, Olivia O’Neill, Alayna Riddell, Maren Selle, Andi Spies, Ava Stedman, Benjamin Stricker, Gavin Vogel, Carrigan Walter, Payton Wiesen, and Trever Vegter.
During the event, Fort Atkinson Police Officer and 2015 graduate of Fort Atkinson High School Brett Dunkleberger addressed banquet attendees.
Dunkleberger said he has served as a police officer in Fort Atkinson for five years.
Unlike the students being honored, he said, he was not a top 20 student when he attended Fort Atkinson High School.
Addressing the students, he said, “I admire you all for it.”
He said his goal throughout high school was to attend a four-year college.
“My GPA wasn’t great, but I was taking AP classes and still learning. When I began picking colleges to attend, I received the same answer every time: ‘Dear Mr. Dunkleberger, we regret to inform you that you have been denied admission to our school for the fall 2015 semester.’”
He described the rejections as devastating.
He momentarily gave up on a goal of continuing his education, he said, adding that he next sought to get into school through an appeals process.
He needed a letter of recommendation, he said, and turned to then-School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Dr. Zaspel.
Dunkleberger described a host of emotions as he underwent the appeals process, and the uncertainty that followed towards the completion of his senior year without a clear path forward.
And then, things changed: “I was in Track and Field, and we had an indoor track meet at UW-Whitewater. I remember this vividly. I was in the athletic wing parking lot after school, and before we had to leave, I was attempting to get service on my phone. I checked my email, and there it was,
‘Dear Mr. Dunkleberger, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Winona State for the Fall of 2015 semester.’
“I couldn’t believe it. I could feel the pressure being lifted off me after reading this.
“From there, after working for a summer, it was time to leave. I missed class signup, mostly because I wasn’t a student yet, so I had to leave for school a week before classes started. My plan was to be an elementary teacher,” Dunkleberger said.
Still, he said, as he stood in line ready to sign up for classes, a thought, which he described as reoccurring, entered his mind: “I had always thought about being a police officer. By grand design, it was suddenly put on my heart while in line to sign up for classes. I knew that Winona State had a great Criminal Justice program. I thought more about the possibility of becoming a police officer. Suddenly, I knew that this was what I was supposed to do. Right then and there, I decided to switch, and I signed up for classes pertaining to Criminal Justice,” he said.
He saw the opportunity as a second chance to excel in school, he noted, adding that he decided against playing sports in college and concentrated on his studies.
Said Dunkleberger: “I spent more time at the library than I had ever spent in my entire life. After 3-1⁄2 years, including summer classes, a summer internship at Holmen Police Department, and marrying the love of my life, I graduated from Winona State University, making the dean’s list with a bachelor of science degree in Criminal Justice / Law Enforcement. After I graduated, I completed the 720-hour basic police academy and was hired by the Fort Atkinson Police Department.”
Since then, he said, he has been an active member of a host of law enforcement teams, and has served as an instructor. He also is a member of his church, where he has served as a leader in for the church’s high school ministry for four years, and is the father of two children.
Dunkleberger next offered the students some advice: “Although the start of my life after high school was a little uncertain after a momentary failure, I could take action and carry on with what I set my mind to.”
Further, he said, “I learned is that it is ok to fail. I know that sounds strange, and most of you have not seen failure yet. Failure will happen in your life. It is not important what you fail at. The most important part of failure is what you do next.”
He told the students to learn from their mistakes and take action to correct them.
Additionally, he told them to use their resources.
“The people you look up to are a wealth of knowledge. People like Dr. Fitzpatrick, Dr. Zaspel, Mrs. Schurell, and Dr. Abbott, who have made a name for themselves in this community, carry with them advice and tips to help you out,” he said.
He also talked about priorities, saying: “faith and family, in that order.”
Pictures from the banquet follow.
Elizabeth Barganz, seated, from left, Sylbie Beers, Dylan Brown, Mikayla Cropp, Drew Enger, Langdon Eske, Kjersti Gadberry, Gracyn Heine, Madelynn Kontny, and Sol Meyerloup, along with Olivia O’Neill, standing, from left, Alayna Riddell, Maren Selle, Andi Spies, Ava Stedman, Benjamin Stricker, Gavin Vogel, Carrigan Walter, and Payton Wiesen, followed by School District of Fort Atkinson Rob Abbott and Fort Atkinson High School Principal Leigh Ann Scheuerell gather at the Fort Atkinson Club late last month where the students were named Rotary Top Scholars by the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club. As is tradition, the students were treated to a banquet in their honor. Not pictured, but also honored as a Top Rotary Student was Trever Vegter.
Rotary Top 20 Scholars and their guests, are treated by the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club to a banquet in their honor. The event was held last month at the Fort Atkinson Club community center.
Contributed photos.
Fort Atkinson Rotarian Margaret Bare, at right, pours wine for a guest during the “An Evening in the Garden” event held last year. File photo/Chris Spangler.
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