The Signal » Around Town

Summer jobs abundant for Fort teens

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:52:25 +0000

As spring arrives in Wisconsin, the return of the color green to the grass and plant life often boosts the general mood and makes the last months of school a little more bearable. However, the warmer weather gets many high schoolers thinking of a completely different kind of green: money. Though some students hold jobs during the school year, summer presents a multitude of opportunities to earn some cash. Whether saving for college, aiming to purchase a car or just gaining some extra spending money, Fort Atkinson offers a variety of jobs to those looking for a productive summer occupation.

Many summer jobs in Fort are not only readily available, but also perfectly suited to high school students. The Fort Atkinson Family Aquatic Center hires students as lifeguards and concession workers. Though special certification is required to become a lifeguard, the high school conveniently offers a class in which teens can obtain this certification while earning high school credit. The pool is practically a staple of summer in Fort Atkinson, and working in this environment gives teens a chance to be frequently outdoors and soak up some summer sun while earning a paycheck. “I chose to become a lifeguard because I’ve always wanted to guard as a summer job and I was a pool rat in the summers anyways so I knew everyone ahead of time. I get along with everyone really well. I also love that I get to work with kids. Teaching lessons is a lot of fun for me. All in all everyone is very nice. You get to sit in a chair outside for a few hours and then every now and again after storms there are random dance parties. It makes for a great summer,” Senior Nick Saunders said.

Another option for the outdoor-minded is a job with another branch of the Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Department. Coaches are needed for many athletic programs, such as t-ball and “Coach Pitch” baseball geared toward younger kids. This type of job may be particularly fitting for students who are athletes at the high school level. They can get the chance to be involved in sports in a completely different capacity. Rather than being the one out on the field receiving instruction, they can share tips and provide guidance for a younger group of players. Being involved in Parks and Recreation jobs allows high school students to become active participants in their community.

Possibly the most iconic “summer job” in the city is that of Frostie Freeze employee. Frostie’s workers experience a frequently hectic working environment due to the popularity of their ice cream business. Without the aid of a calculator, workers must quickly add up a customer’s total while remembering exactly what they ordered, often in the midst of a rush of people. Though not for the faint of heart, the job provides some perks. “My favorite thing about working at Frostie Freeze is getting ice cream after you are done working! The hours are really flexible and I get to work with friends!” Mariah Topel said.

Though many other jobs presented themselves in Fort, a few “summer staples” provided a perfect fit for many high school age individuals.

FAHS target for vandalism

ramseystatz — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:32:46 +0000

On the morning of Friday, October 22, graffiti was found on the east side of the building.

“The graffiti was noticed and reported to us at approximately 7 a.m. on Friday, October 22,” Associate Principal Brent Torrenga said.

After the vandalism was reported, Torrenga and others called the Fort Atkinson Police Department, and Officer Dan Courtier reported to the scene to investigate. They began by taking pictures and reviewing the evidence left in front of them. Maintenance was also called to clean up after the investigation.

“We believe that whoever did this wasn’t directing the graffiti to any particular person, but they were trying to send a message,” Torrenga said.

Many students are wondering what that message might be, but for now, the reason behind the vandalism is a mystery.

“We are very proud of our students because they wanted something done about what happened to their school. They didn’t appreciate what had happened. It really says something about a student body that cares so much for their school,” Torrenga said.

The students were very worried and concerned for their school.

“I don’t really understand why someone would do this to our school,” Freshman Amber Krause said. Krause and other students were concerned for their school’s sake.

“We are very thankful to the student body for being so concerned and upset for what happened for their school,” Torrenga said.

A reward of $200 ($100 from the school and $100 from the police department) was offered, and with the tips they received, Torrenga and everyone investigating were led to the responsible perpetrator(s) was/were.Torrenga and the police department have no comment about who did this to our school because an arrest has not been made, as of November 5.

“The punishment for whoever has done this is the police issue now, and it will be fairly stiff; very serious. I thank all of the student for being so cooperative during this whole ordeal,” Torrenga said.

Blodgett’s fire affects city

ramseystatz — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:09:52 +0000

On Wednesday, October 20, Blodgett Garden Center burned to the ground. It was the second time in less than 50 years that the garden center has succumbed to fire, although it was in a different location for the previous fire. Blodgett Garden Center sold garden supplies, pet food, animal feed and acted as a plant nursery also. There were multiple dangers concerning the fire.

“It was a commercial occupancy where they sold pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that, when burned, create a toxic environment,” Fort Atkinson Fire Captain Tom Gerondale said.

Other dangers of the fire included the presence of many flammable items including insecticides, hay, dust and plastic landscaping supplies.

“A lot of insecticides are organic , so they are going to be combustible, and many of the byproducts [of them burning] can be dangerous,” FAHS science teacher Roger Rumppe said.

The fire was not only dangerous in and of itself, but it created a thick smoke that caused businesses nearby, such as the Fireside and Cygnus, to evacuate.

An interesting decision was made to let the fire burn itself out when firefighters realized the building could not be salvaged. The reason for this was that firefighters wanted all of the toxic chemicals to burn up, so that they did not create a hazardous runoff that could have affected nearby ecosystems. Rumppe agreed that the fire department did a good jump of handling the.

“I thought one of the cool things that was done was that the fire department collected all of the water that ran off,” Rumppe said.

Tastin’ with Thomas: The Feed Mill

admin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:34:41 +0000

While thinking about the Feed Mill, a restaurant in Cambridge, one word one word comes to mind: “mediocrity”. The Feed Mill, which occupies the same building that previously held two now-closed restaurants, appears bland from the outside and nearly unchanged from the two restaurants that preceded it.

Upon entering the building, one can find that the uninteresting decorations have barely changed in the span of three restaurants. There is nothing wrong with the Feed Mill’s appearance or decor. It’s just boring and it doesn’t add anything to the restaurant experience. The staff acted courteously and our group was seated quickly, but the workers seemed slightly uninterested. Our waitress often answered our questions as she walked away, making us not feel like a priority.

The food was simply average. The only tasty item I tried was the special of the night, the succulent ribs. But all of the others did not taste as great, such as the onion rings, which were bland and tasted suspiciously like they came from the freezer section at Sam’s Club. Most of the food tasted like it could have been prepared in this way. Nothing actually tasted very bad, but most of the food just didn’t taste very good.They had a dinner and a lunch menu, although it appeared you could choose off of either at any time of day.

Even though The Feed Mill had a decent selection of sandwiches, such as a Reuben or Philly, there were few entrees, which consisted mostly of home-style meals such as fried chicken or steak. They also had a limited selection of wraps, burgers and salads. The prices were pretty average, with sandwich meals costing between $7 and $10, and entrees costing around $13 to $18.

As of right now, The Feed Mill is not a preferable restaurant, but give them some time to settle in and, you never know, they might improve.

159 West Main Street, Cambridge, WI 53523

608.423.4000

FAHS band booster holds rummage sale

ramseystatz — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:53:25 +0000

On September 11 the Band Boosters held their third annual Band Rummage Sale from 8 a.m.until 3 p.m. in the front parking lot. The rummage sale raised money for the district band which consists of bands from fifth to twelfth grades. The now annual event sells a wide range of items.

“Families donate from electric fences to children’s toys; you name it, it’s been here,” Band Director Tom Cook said.

Families of band students have really made this event possible by donating things they no longer are using. Families of middle school and high school band students donated all of the items sold at the rummage sale.
The varsity football team helped out with the sale by carrying tables out to the parking lot. The concession stand sold hot dogs, soda and chips for the enjoyment of people who browsed the sale. The band also did their fair share of promotion for the event.
“Amanda Navine, Riley Wiese and Heather Knox dressed up and stood on the median as an advertisement for the sale,” Freshman Taylor Kysely said.
The sale was considered to be a success, raising $1,000 this year.
“I think it was pretty good; a thousand dollars is a lot of money.” Freshman Emma Tackman said.

AFS student profile: Lourenco Fernandes

ramseystatz — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:39:04 +0000

Going to a different country is never easy, and living there always proves even harder. But not for 18 year-old AFS Student Lourenco Fernandes, who is enjoying his time so far in the United States and jumped at the opportunity to learn about a different culture and live the “American dream.”
The Lisbon, Portugal native’s favorite class here is History of Warfare taught by history teacher Jayson Yoder. He also likes that the classes are only 45 minutes as opposed to the 90 minute classes he had at his old high school. In addition to the shorter class hours, Fernandes also enjoys many other things about high school life here in the United States.
“The teachers here are a lot better in my opinion; back in Portugal all the classes were given in a lecture form. It’s also really cool that everyone gets psyched up about sports events and comes to support the teams; that didn’t happen a lot in Portugal!” Fernandes said.
Fernandes has always been interested in American football and golf; he played football for a few months in his hometown and is now on the team here as a Wide Receiver. He plays both varsity reserve and varsity and plans on playing golf in the spring.
“Lourenco brings a positive attitude to the practice field everyday. He plays the game hard with every snap. He is a great teammate providing support and encouragement to all players,” Head Football Coach Steve Mahoney said.
Hopefully Fernandes’ year goes as smoothly as it has thus far and his memories from his time here are great.

Fall festivals continue as WI tradition

ramseystatz — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:01:27 +0000

From the hot days of summer to the crisp breeze of fall, many autumn activities are in full swing.

Harvest Season

There is a long tradition in autumn in Wisconsin of harvesting the fields and enjoying the fresh produce. Pumpkin farms and farmers markets are good places to embrace this tradition. Along with carving pumpkins, the insides of pumpkins can be used for making pumpkin pies and muffins. For more about pumpkin farms, go to http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/wigopumpkins.php

Every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. all through the month of October Fort Atkinson has a local farmers market in the Milwaukee St. Municipal Parking Lot across from the post office. Items such as cheese, meats, sweets, and fresh produce are sold. Also, many vendors sell homemade crafts such as quilts and blankets. For more information, go to http://www.fortfarmersmarket.com/.

Haunting Season

Southern Wisconsin has many seasonal businesses that offer haunted hayrides and haunted houses. These places are designed to give the participant a fright similar to a scary movie only in real life. Many special effects such as dramatic clothing and make up, strobe lights, fog machines, chain saws and fake blood are used to make the experience seem as realistic and scary as possible. The Haunted Barn located near Stoughton, Dr. S.Cary’s Haunted House located at Jellystone Park, and the Fright Factory in Janesville are three haunted houses in the area.

Busy Barns Adventure Farm offers adventure weekends which boast fun for the whole family. There are several activities offered on adventure weekends such as hayrides, pick your own pumpkin patches, a trivia corn maze, pony swings, corn boxes to play in, puppet shows and many more listed on their website. These weekends run through the 24 of October, and conclude with one grand finale on Halloween weekend. For information and directions, go to http://www.busybarnsfarm.com/.

Dog Festival

Barktobrfest, a tradition in Cambridge, is a dog fall festival. There are many activities such as costume and dog trick contests. Also, there is an array of food, demonstrations, and vendors selling things. This festival is happening on Sunday, October 10, in downtown Veteran’s Park. For more information, go to http://www.cambridgewi.com/schedule%20events.htm#october.

Tastin’ with Thomas: Fuji Japanese Steakhouse

ramseystatz — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 17:54:42 +0000

Fuji Japanese Steakhouse recently opened, hoping to serve the Janesville area delectable Japanese food. Fuji served delicious food, provided an inviting atmosphere and was truly entertaining. Fuji features a sushi bar and hibachi grills. The restaurant looks a little drab on the outside, but as soon as the diner walks in, they are surrounded by the elegant Japanese decor. A steaming, colored water fountain and a large, ornate wooden carving instantly catch one’s attention. The serene atmosphere felt very welcoming. The courteous staff stayed very polite throughout the entire night.

The highlight of Fuji was the hibachi. Hibachi is a Japanese style of cooking in which the chef cooks the food right in front of you while entertaining you. The entertaining hibachi chef did crazy tricks like creating a double onion volcano and then lighting it with fire scooped from his hand. He was very funny and made sure we were enjoying our dining experience. He ended up being the best hibachi chef I have ever run across. He made some amazing food too. The best hibachi dishes were the shrimp and fried rice. The steak tasted fairly good also, but the vegetables could have been better. The sushi, on the other hand, was amazing. After tasting the different sushi rolls ordered by the group, I found all to be delectable. The best sushi roll was Fuji’s take on a classic dish, the rainbow roll. All in all, the food was fantastic.

Fuji is located on 2235 Milton Ave in Janesville. They are open from 11 AM to 10 PM on weekends. On weekdays they operate from 11 AM to 12:30 PM for lunch and 4:30 PM to 10 PM for dinner. $$$=15-20 dollars

Homecoming 2010

ramseystatz — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 03:04:23 +0000

On October 3-9, students, staff and alumni will celebrate the 79th annual Homecoming. 
As one of Fort Atkinson High School’s traditions, students are encouraged to attend and support the varsity football team against Oregon at 7:00 p.m, Friday, October 8.
“I’m very excited; it is fun to represent your school at such a big event,” Homecoming Committee Member, TJ Strom said.
Starting at 4:00 p.m. on October 8, the homecoming carnival takes place right outside the stadium. All high school students as well as elementary school students are welcome to attend.
“This year with the carnival, we’re going to be inviting elementary schools so that we can actually have a lot of people,” Homecoming Committee Member Ellery Barrow said. 
The dance starts at 8:00 p.m, October 9 and goes until 12:00 a.m. The theme this year is superheroes and Chris Scherer will be DJing. If a student decides to wait last minute for their tickets, the cost at the door for singles will be $10, and for couples will be $15. 

 

“We picked superheroes this year as the theme because we thought that it resembled our school and each student in a good way,” Strom said.

FAHS Band Rummage Sale

ramseystatz — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:52:12 +0000

 On September 11 the Band Boosters held their third annual Band Rummage Sale from 8 a.m.until 3 p.m. in the front parking lot.  The rummage sale raised money for the district band which consists of bands from fifth to twelfth grades.  The now annual event sells a wide range of items.
“Families donate from electric fences to children’s toys; you name it, it’s been here,” Band Director Tom Cook said.
  Families of band students have really made this event possible by donating things they no longer are using.  Families of middle school and high school band students donated all of the items sold at the rummage sale.

 The varsity football team helped out with the sale by carrying tables out to the parking lot. The concession stand sold hot dogs, soda and chips for the enjoyment of people who browsed the sale.  The band also did their fair share of promotion for the event.

 “Amanda Navine, Riley Wiese and Heather Knox dressed up and stood on the median as an advertisement for the sale,” Freshman Taylor Kysely said.

 The sale was considered to be a success, raising $1,000 this year.

 “I think it was pretty good; a thousand dollars is a lot of money.” Freshman Emma Tackman said.