Hometown Days 2015

June 4-7
Verona, WI

Inside
Chamber in charge again

Page 2

Fireworks move to Friday Page 3

New Community Night

Page 3

Pancake Breakfast returns Page 4

Music acts

Pages 6-7

Safe Ride Home bus back Page 7

Prepare for the parade

Page 9

A special supplement to the Verona Press

June 4, 2015

The Verona Press

Hometown Days 2015

ConnectVerona.com

Big changes in year 2 of chamber management

Festival now falls on first weekend in June, fireworks will be Friday night

Scott Girard
Unified News Group

When the Verona Area

Chamber of Commerce
decided to take over Hometown Days last year, executive director Karl Curtis did
not want to make a ton of
changes.
But this year, the chamber
is making some significant decisions, most notably the festival being held
a weekend earlier than normal.
Last year, we noticed a
large number of people, as
soon as school let out, took
off for vacation, Curtis said.
The festival, which had
historically fallen on the
second weekend in June,
will move up to the first
weekend this year to avoid
a conflict with Verona Area
High School graduation and
Mount Horebs Summer
Frolic community festival.
Curtis called the change
an experiment, and said
the chamber will evaluate
whether it was a positive
after the festival.
Its not the only date
change, though, as the fireworks will also be a different night this year, with
the sky lighting up Friday
instead of Thursday.
Curtis said both of those
changes, plus the return of
some other formerly popular
activities like the Sunday pancake breakfast and the Safe
Ride Home bus, have been

Photo by Evan Halpop

In its second year of managing Hometown Days, the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce is experimenting with a new weekend and new night for the fireworks show.

a result of simply responding

to what people tell us. The
chamber also added a Thursday night community night
in the beer tent after a lastminute scramble to add a new
activity, and Verona Area
Community Theater will

provide babysitting services

Friday and Saturday nights.
Curtis hopes to receive
more ideas moving forward,
too.
I would like to hear from
people in Verona, Curtis
said. Do they have good

ideas? Have they been to

festivals elsewhere they did
something really cool that
we could incorporate?
He encouraged people
to contact him with any
ideas, whether original or
something theyve seen

29th Annual Hometown U.S.A. Run/Walk

Sunday, June 15th 7:45am to 10:30am
Same day registration accepted.

somewhere else.
The Chamber isnt some
kind of big, monolithic temple that you have to do special things to come and talk
to us, Curtis said with a
laugh. Theres no admission
fee to stop by my office.
He said with ideas from
the community and within
the chamber, he hopes to
spice this thing up in
future years to avoid the
festival becoming predictable.
The word I hear from
other people around these
festivals, theyre starting
to become predictable, he
said. When you become
predictable, people begin to
lose interest.

Even with the major

changes this year, and potentially more in the future,
Curtis said the Chamber
running the festival provides
it with some stability it
hasnt had recently.
Were not going anyplace, he said. Weve
been around Verona for a
long time.
For Curtis, there are no
regrets of taking on the communitys annual festival.
If you dont mess with
the template, things go really, really smoothly, he said.
You can make it hard running the festival, but if you
dont do that the people who
help us run this know what
theyre doing.

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Hometown Days 2015

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June 4, 2015

The Verona Press

Community night offers

chance to win free prizes
Mark Ignatowski

Unified Newspaper Group

Photo by Evan Halpop

This years fireworks display should be approximately the same size as last years.

Fireworks show moves to Friday

Adjustment made to
accommodate school
schedules

If you go

Jacob Bielanski
Unified Newspaper Group

It has been, Chamber of Commerce executive director Karl Curtis said, the biggest complaint of
Hometown Days.
Ive heard for the past 20 years
... Why are the fireworks on
Thursday? Its a school night,
Curtis said.
This year the pyrotechnics show

What: Hometown Days fireworks display

Where: Friday, June 5 at
9:30 p.m.
When: Hometown U.S.A.
Community Park
Info: veronahometowndays.
com
is scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. on
Friday, June 5.
Curtis told the Press that timing
had been less of an issue in years
past, when the fireworks show

came on a night that preceded the

last day of school for the year.
With Hometown Days moved
up a full week for 2015, students
are facing a full week of classes
after the festivities. And that, Curtis said, persuaded the chamber
to finally give in to (the) public
desire and move the show.
For the second year, the pyrotechnics display for Hometown
Days is paid for by Epic Systems
Corporation, and it should be
approximately the same size as last
years display, Curtis said.
In the event of inclement weather, the show will be moved to Saturday, June 6, at 9:30 p.m.

Sometimes just showing up is

all it takes to be a winner.
On Thursday night at Hometown Days, thats all you have to
do in order to win a raffle prize
at the new community and business appreciation night. Plus,
you get the added bonus of live
music, food and some refreshments at the beer tent.
Thursday has historically been
a bit of a financial loss for the
annual Hometown Days festival,
Verona Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Karl
Curtis told the Press. Smaller
crowds and fewer beer sales usually put organizers a few hundred
dollars in the hole, he said.
But this years event hopes to
turn that around by offering free
prizes including a flat screen
TV to anyone who drops their
name in a hat at the beer tent
Thursday night.
Theres no cover charge,
Curtis explained, adding that
there will be raffle cards for people to write their name and phone
number on as they walk into the
tent.
The event is open to adults
21 and older, and the only other
requirement is that you be present to win, Curtis said.
Prizes include $25 or $50 gift
cards to local businesses and restaurants, a $200 Miller and Sons
gift card and a flat-screen TV.
Curtis said the prizes will given
out in no specific order, so that
anyone will have a chance to

If you go
What: Community and business
appreciation night
When: 7-10 p.m., Thursday,
June 4
Where: Hometown U.S.A.
Community Park
Info: veronahometowndays.
com
win a larger prize throughout the
night.
It depends on when your name
gets drawn, Curtis said. Well
spread them out.
Drawings will take place
approximately every 20 minutes starting at 7 p.m., but there
might be a few bonus drawings,
depending on how many prizes
the chamber has to give away.
Cover band Daniel Anderson
Trio will provide live music from
7-10 p.m.
(Theyre) a lot of fun, Curtis
said. Theyre really good.
Kids will be able to enjoy rides
during wristband night at the
midway while parents wait to win
prizes inside the tent, Curtis said.
Thursday was originally
planned to be a Battle of the
Bands event aimed at getting
another activity for teenagers.
But there wasnt enough interest from bands, so the chamber
decided to go with the community night plan and drum up support for a possible Battle of the
Bands next year.

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June 4, 2015

Hometown Days 2015

The Verona Press

ConnectVerona.com

VACT hosts a pair of fundraisers

Parents Night Out childcare offered Friday, Saturday Sunday morning pancake
Samantha Christian
Unified Newspaper Group

Hometown Days offers a

plethora of activities for families to do together over the
weekend, but sometimes its
nice for adults to take a break
from the kids, and vice versa.
Instead of having to search
for a babysitter to get away
at night, parents of kids ages
5-13 have another option
this year. Verona Area Community Theater is offering

Parents Night Out from

6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights.
Their parents can go
have a date night or if they
wanted to go listen to a band
at Hometown Days they can
go, said the events lead
organizer, Alyssa Dvorak.
The event will include
the movie Shrek on Friday night and Shrek 2 on
Saturday night to recognize
VACTs upcoming production of Shrek the Musical.

Once the movie is finished,

there will be dancing in the
main room, board games and
movies in the quiet room.
Although no full meal will
be provided, there will be
snacks and beverages.
We will have juice and
water and possibly soda
available as beverages, she
said. As well as a continuous flow of snacks, such as
popcorn, candy and cookies.
VACT has lined up about

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If you go
What: Parents Night
Out
For: Kids ages 5-13
When: 6-11 p.m. Friday,
June 5 and Saturday, June
6
Where: VACT building,
405 Bruce St.
Cost: $25/child walk-in
registration
Info: vact.org, alyssa.
dvorak@yahoo.com

eight to 10 volunteers for

each night to chaperone this
new event.
People who register their
children in advance will pay
less than parents who register
their children the day of the
event, which is $25 per child.
The early registration cost
to attend one night is $20 for
the first child, $15 for the
second child and $10 for any
additional children. For those
who would like to advance
register for both nights, the
cost is $35 for the first child,
$25 for the second and $15
for any additional children.
Cash or checks, made out
to VACT, are accepted.
For more information,
email alyssa.dvorak@yahoo.
com. Registration forms are
available at vact.org.

breakfast returns
Samantha Christian
Unified Newspaper Group

On the way to the

Hometown Days parade
that begins at noon Sunday, families can stop
by and grab breakfast or
brunch along the parade
route. Verona Area Community Theater is organizing a pancake breakfast at
Park Bank, at the corner
of Main Street and Verona
Avenue, from 7:30 a.m. to
noon.
The breakfast has not
been a part of Hometown
Days for several years.
The Verona Fire Department used to run it out
of the firehouse, but it
became more than the
group of volunteers could
manage.
VACT jumped on the
opportunity to take over
the event when approached
by the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce.
It was always a very
popular event, and we are
thrilled VACT has picked
it up, chamber executive
director Karl Curtis said.
The fact that it will be
downtown at the parade
route makes it even more
convenient for the community.
A regular ticket provides

If you go
What: Pancake breakfast
When: 7:30 a.m. to
noon Sunday, June 7
Where: Park Bank, 104
S. Main St.
Cost: $7 adults, $4 kids
3-10, free under 2
Info: vact.org

a serving of pancakes,
eggs and applesauce. Beverages of coffee, apple
juice or orange juice are
also included. Tickets are
$7 for adults, $4 for children 3-10 years old and
free for kids under 2. People can also purchase tickets for breakfast meat and
desserts for $2 each.
Aside from the meal,
there will also be face
painting, raffles and a
silent auction that features summer attractions.
VACT will be selling merchandise for its upcoming
show, Shrek the Musical, and will possibly
have characters present.
All proceeds will benefit VACTs new building
project. For more information, visit vact.org.

Visit the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce Tent

at Hometown Days 2015
for a chance to win one of more than 80 prizes!
You Could Win Prizes Like:
Xbox
Flat Screen TV
Gas Grill

3 Bicycles
Gas Cards
Digital Camera

Toys
Gift Certificates
And More!

Platinum Sponsors:
Ace Hardware Miller & Sons Supermarket
Gold Sponsors:
Oak Bank TDS Telecom Culvers of Verona Krantz Electric
5th Quarter
Adkins Bicycle Shop
Animal Hospital of Verona
Boebel Valuation and Tax
City of Verona
Elysee Scientific Cosmetics

Fiscal Fitness
Four Winds Manor
Great Rock Realty
Krell Insurance
Midwest Family Broadcasting
Once Upon a Time Childcare

Postal Connections
State Bank of Cross Plains
Stellar Rehabilitation
SVA Accounting
The Employer Group
Ultrazone
Verona Press

Thank you to all the sponsors who make Spin the Wheel a success!

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Silver Sponsors:

Hometown Days 2015

ConnectVerona.com

June 4, 2015

The Verona Press

Spin the wheel for prizes

A partnership begun
last year and continuing
for Hometown Days 2015
between the Verona Area
Chamber of Commerce and
the Verona Lions Club will
have the Spin game as big
as ever.
This year a variety of
chamber businesses have
donated over 80 prizes
ranging from gift certificates to toys to patio furniture to high-end electronic
devices, all available to be
won by each player.
The difference between
a standard raffle and the
chambers Spin game is the
player chooses which prizes

he would like to vie for.

If you really want a laptop computer for your kids.
Simply take all your tickets and place them in the
drawing bucket for that
item. Say you want to win
a new gas grill, but your
husband would rather win
a new crock pot, the pair of
you can divide your tickets between the two items.
Players can spread their
tickets between five prizes,
10 prizes, or every prize
offered. The choice is up to
you.
The Verona Area Chamber of Commerce uses the
funds raised at Hometown

Todd Tschudy

The Lions Club will once again run the Spin-the-Wheel event at this years festival.

Top prizes
$500 Millers gift card
2 x $250 Millers gift
card
32 Samsung TV
An Xbox system
A pair of Beats

headphones
A bike valued at $500
from Atkins
An iPod touch
A Samsung blu-ray
player

A GPS
$250 in cash from Krell
Insurance
A digital camera
An electric guitar
Over 75 other prizes

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Photo by Scott Girard

Days to fund its operations

and activities throughout
the year. Among the public events the chamber has
funded is a $500 scholarship for a Verona Area High
School senior and Veronas
Concerts in the Park.
By coming to the Spin
Tent and trying to win one
of the many prizes available, you will not only have
fun but you will also be
helping the chamber and
the Lions Club to carry on
their work in the community. The tent is located just
past the food stand near the
Community Park entrance.

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June 4, 2015

Hometown Days 2015

The Verona Press

ConnectVerona.com

Cherry Pie returns to headline

Hometown Days music
Bill Livick
Unified Newspaper Group

Photo by Jim Ferolie

WBC beer tent

Hometown Days will once again have a beer tent with live music. The tent will open at 5 p.m.
Thursday and Friday and noon Saturday.. Children under the age of 13 are welcome on Thursday
and also on Saturday until 6 p.m. when accompanied by an adult. All visitors to the beer tent must
be 21 or older on Friday.

Come on down to Hometown Days

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Light shows, loud music

and big hair in the style of
1980s rock. Thats Cherry
Pie, an award-winning
band based in Milwaukee
and this years Hometown
Days headliner.
Popular throughout the
Midwest, the high-energy
band formed in 1999 and
in 2000 adopted the name
Cherry Pie. It features
Dave Zettle on guitar, John
Swenson on lead vocals,
Case Villand on bass and
vocals, Frank Babeck on
drums and Josh Becker
on keyboards, guitar and
vocals.
In an interview, Becker
told the Press the band
tends to ignite things on
stage.
Frank, the drummer, is
a real showman always
twirling his sticks and
drawing attention to himself, Becker said. Johns
singing is especially
impressive, because whatever you think about the
vocal stylings of Journeys
Steve Perry or Motley
Crews Vince Neal, those
hyper tenors are not easy to
imitate. Hes a great frontman, too.
Becker described the
bands shows as part
machismo and part kitsch.
He admitted that what the
band does is sort of silly

If you go
Who: Cherry Pie
When: 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 6
Where: WBC beer tent
Cost: $7

on one level, but with a

high level of musicianship
and commitment.
He said the band takes
its craft seriously and has
pride in its music, but we
try not to take the whole
thing too seriously.
Were paying tribute
but also sort of mocking all
at the same time, Becker
said. We are good at what
we do, but we dont want
to be taken too seriously.
I think thats the antithesis of what the 90s were
about. Ive always felt that
the bands of the 90s, like
Nirvana and others, took
themselves seriously without taking their craft seriously. Were like the other
way around.
Cherry Pies newest
member, bassist Villand,
joined the group last year
with an amazing vocal
range, Becker said.
He has strengthened our
harmonies, he said. Its
like having another lead
singer.
The band has averaged
about five shows a month

Were paying tribute

but also sort of
mocking all at the
same time.
Josh Becker
Cherry Pie
for the last 14 years and
has been recognized with
Wisconsin Area Music
Industry awards.
To get a sense of what to
expect, Becker listed some
of the bands favorite artists: Bon Jovi, Beck, Rush,
Van Halen, Slayer, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Alice
Cooper.
He said the band thrives
on performing for large
audiences.
One of the biggest
t h r i l l s f o r m e , p e r s o nally, is like when we play
Wanted Dead or Alive
by Bon Jovi, usually the
crowd will sing along
really loud, he said. And
during that whole first
verse, its really nothing
but acoustic guitar and lead
vocal. And a lot of times
John will stop singing and
the whole crowd will sing
the first verse while I play
acoustic guitar.
When youre doing
that for like 3,000 or 4,000
people at a festival or a big
concert, that is unbelievable.

ENJOY HOMETOWN DAYS 2015!

Remember us for all your
grilling and picnic needs
Full liquor department

210 S. Main Street

Verona 845-6478

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Open during the festival

ConnectVerona.com

Hometown Days 2015

June 4, 2015

The Verona Press

Other weekend acts

Not Just a Pharmacy
Shop our excellent selection of gifts
while we fill your prescription

When: 7 p.m., Thursday, June 4

Where: WBC tent
Cost: Free
The Daniel Anderson Trio features original songwriting and the three-part harmonies of
Anderson and his band mates Mike Tully and Katie Gaynor.
Anderson has been a lifelong musician, learning piano and guitar before his 10th birthday. Hes supported by Tully with his incredible fingerstyle guitar playing and the powerfully
sweet vocals of Gaynor singing both lead and harmonies. The vocal blend of this group is a
centerpiece to the well-crafted songwriting featuring memorable melodies and lyrics. The trio
performs a mix of Americana, blues and jazz with classical overtones.
Anderson moved to Madison from his native New York state in 1992. He formed a jazz
ensemble, and a decade later opened Boxcar Music Studios. Working with a wide range
of solo artists and bands, Anderson built Boxcar Studios into one of the premier recording
facilities in the region.

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When: 8 p.m., Friday, June 5

Where: WBC tent
Cost: $7
The Charm School Rejects have been a Madison-based cover band since 2010. The
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Bengry on bass and vocals, Ray Hubbard on guitar and vocals, Paul Schluter on guitar and
vocals, Chuck Philyaw on keyboard and vocals and Steve Schroeder on drums.
The band specializes in covering Top 40 hits and is a regular act on the local festival and
concert scene, performing at community events such as Hometown Days and at local clubs
such as the Badger Bowl and Quaker Stake and Lube.

Safe Ride
Home bus
returns

There will once again

be a bus to ensure those
who have one too many at
the beer tent make it home
safely.
The bus was discontinued last year when the cost
was prohibitive, but Verona
Police Department Sgt.
Jesse Christensen worked
with the Dane County Sheriffs Office to get a grant to
bring the bus back.
Verona Area Chamber of
Commerce executive director Karl Curtis said there
were zero problems in the
beer tent last year, but the
bus adds to the ability to
be responsible.
Its just a safety thing,
he said. Its easy to have
one beer too many.
The bus will offer rides
to those within a five-mile
radius of the festival from
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and
Saturday nights.
The program is in conjunction with the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation and First Student Inc.
bus company.

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Rides offered Friday,

Saturday nights
within five miles

June 4, 2015

Hometown Days 2015

The Verona Press

ConnectVerona.com

ZooZort
returns
The ZooZort Exotic Animals show
has become a popular feature in
recent years at Hometown Days
and will be back again this year.
Kids can see a variety of animals
like a python or a hissing cockroach at one of the groups three
live stage shows.
ZooZorts shows will be Saturday
at 2 and 4 p.m. and Sunday at
2:30 p.m.
For more information on Zoozort,
visit zoozort.com.
Photo by Jim Ferolie

Photo by Mark Ignatowski

Plenty of local groups will serve up food this weekend.

Hometown Days food gets colder

Shaved ice new to this years food court

Jacob Bielanski
Unified News Group
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608.845.3200

Nothing fights back the heat of a late

Wisconsin spring like a snow cone.
For the first time, this years Hometown
Days will include Kona Ice among the food
vendors. The national shaved ice franchise
typically operates out of food trucks, and
has a local presence throughout Dane County, including Verona.
In addition to frozen treats, this years
food tents promise many of the same features from last year, many benefiting local

organizations. The Verona Area Needs Network, for example, will be frying cheese
curds for charity, while the Optimist Club
will be grilling up festival-time favorites.
As in years past, the Verona Area Active
Adults will yet again offer what they have
called the best strawberry shortcake.
The food vendors open at 5 p.m. on
Thursday and Friday, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. From Thursday through Saturday, the food vendors
stay open until approximately the close of
the festival. Food vendors will pack up at
around 5 p.m. on Sunday.

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Hometown Days 2015

ConnectVerona.com

The Verona Press

June 4, 2015

Sunday parade packs plenty

of participants, but no band
Curtis: Pretty much
the same as last year
Scott De Laruelle
Unified Newspaper Group

Photo by Scott Girard

A group of kids runs down the hill on West Verona

Avenue in last years Kids Fun Run.

Three runs set for Sunday

The weekend will include three runs and a
walk Sunday morning.
The 5k and 10k runs and 5k walk will begin at
Harriet Park at 7:30 a.m. Registration will begin
at the pavilion at 7 a.m., and those interested can
also pre-register on Active.com by searching for
Verona, WI.
Later that morning, the Kids Fun Run will
begin at 11:40 a.m. Sunday, 20 minutes before
the parade is set to start, and follow the same
route as the parade. Children can register for the
run beginning at 11:15 a.m. in front of Sugar
River United Methodist Church.
Email veronaccsocial@gmail.com with any
questions ahead of the run.

Everyone loves a parade,

and this years Hometown
Days main event will once
again have a familiar look
to folks who have enjoyed it
over the years.
Its pretty much the same
as last year, said Verona
Area Chamber of Commerce
executive director Karl Curtis.
The parade will begin at
noon on Sunday and follow the
same route starting at Paoli
Street and South Nine Mound
Road, then heading down
South Main Street to West
Verona Avenue, where it ends
at Legion Street. South Nine
Mound Road will be used as
the parade staging area. Nearly 70 participants will march
along the route, including the
Madison West Taiko Drummers and representatives from
local businesses.
Curtis said it was disappointing to lose the marching band this year due
to a scheduling conflict,
the Lakeside Lutheran
High School band could
not attend. Citing the scarcity of marching bands
and the very expensive
cost to book them, he said

Photos by Scott Girard

Above, a group of kids waves to their father climbing a New Glarus

fire trucks ladder in last years parade. Right, a clown waves to families lining the street at the start of the parade.

If you go

the chamber would like to

work with Verona Area
High School to see if they
can get some type of local
school musical presence at
next years parade.
Even if it was a jazz band
on a flatbed trailer (such as
what performs in the Homecoming parade), I think the
citizens of Verona would
like to see local students
performing in the parade,
Curtis said.

What: Hometown Days

parade
When: Noon Sunday,
June 7
Where: Starts at Paoli
and Nine Mound roads, to
S. Main St. and W. Verona
Ave.
Info:
veronahometowndays.com

Enjoy the Hometown Celebration!

Hometown U.S.A. Festival Parade

Sunday, June 14th
at Noon

N. Main Street

Verona Area
High School

Wildcat
Lanes

Miller
& Sons

Rd
.

Legion Street

nd

Portable
Toilets

Commerce
Parkway

Festival
Grounds

Pa

oli
S

tre

et

START

y.

Fill your days with great friends and planned social activities.

ou

E. Verona Ave.

Hw

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Where Veronas most active seniors live

In Hometown Comfort & Convenience

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Lincoln Street

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10

June 4, 2015

The Verona Press

Hometown Days 2015

ConnectVerona.com

Wenzels brings carnival back for third year

Scott Girard
Unified Newspaper Group

Wenzels Amazements is
back to bring plenty of fun
rides for people of all ages
to choose from at Hometown Days.
The carnival company,
which operates at similar
events elsewhere in Dane
County, took over two years
ago after Calkins Midways
had a conflict with Mount
Horebs community festival. Calkins had previously
handled the carnival since
Hometown Days began in
1979.

The carnival will be open

from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and at
noon Saturday and Sunday.
Wristbands will be accepted until 5 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday.
Wenzel, a second-generation family business
owned by Ann and Harvey
Wenzel, has been in business since 1982 and runs
more than a dozen carnivals
around the state each year.
For more information on the company and
the rides it offers, visit
wenzelamazements.com.

Get your
tickets
Tickets purchased on
the festival grounds are $1
each or 22 for $20.
Wristbands purchased
at the event are $18 and
good for that day only.
Wristband times are 5-10
p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. to
10 p.m. Friday and noon
to 5 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday. For more information, visit
veronahometowndays.com

COME ON DOWN TO HOMETOWN DAYS!

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Dr. Emmylou Wilson, Optometrist
320 S. Main Street, Verona, WI
(608) 848-5168
www.VeronaVisionCare.com
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H AV E

Photo by Scott Girard

Wenzels Amazements is back at Hometown Days this year to fill the fairgrounds with fun and entertaining rides for kids and parents.

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ConnectVerona.com

Hometown Days 2015

June 4, 2015

The Verona Press

11

Why is it Hometown Days?

Verona earned its nickname a few years
before its annual festival began, but the name
didnt stick right away.
Hometown U.S.A. was the title bestowed
on Verona in 1966 by members of the U.S.
Armys 101st Airborne Division serving
in Vietnam after the Verona Press printed
a letter to the editor from one of its
servicemen, Donald Schmidt.
Because of the free subscription sent to
him (partially paid by the American Legion
Auxiliary), the printing of his letter and
other nostalgic things his fellow servicemen
noticed in Schmidts description, the unit

declared Verona the perfect example of

Hometown U.S.A. They asked to adopt it as
their honorary hometown.
The title was informal until the Verona
Area Chamber of Commerce adopted it in
1985 and created a logo. That year the city
designated June 9 Hometown U.S.A. Day.
The annual festival started in 1972 as a
quasquicentennial, and a parade was held
annually. Eventually, the two were tied
together and Hometown U.S.A. Days became
shortened by most people as Hometown
Days.
Photo by Jim Ferolie

Kids activites
Saturday and Sunday afternoons will once again include plenty of activities for kids, including balloon animals and face painting.

Feel at home in our hometown. Stay Smart.

Experience upscale elegance and spacious comfort at the
innovatively designed Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Verona.
Whether traveling for business or just a weekend escape,
make the smart choice. Call or visit today.

Photo by Scott Girard

For reservations or
more information,
Call 608-497-4500 or visit
hiexpress.com/veronawi

Carnival games
The carnival includes more than rides, with plenty of games offering a chance to win stuffed animals
and more.

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515 W Verona Ave

Verona, WI 53593

Wed Like to Thank Our

Sponsors for their support of the
Hometown Days Run/Walk.
Please support our generous sponsors:

Miller & Sons, Sweeney Construction, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP,

First Business Financial Services, Inc., Culvers, Capitol Bank,
State Bank of Cross Plains, Kehl School of Dance, Zurbuchen Oil
& Berkeley Running Company.

1K & 2K Kids Run, register at 11:15am, race at 11:40am,

Sugar River United Methodist Church, 415 W. Verona Ave.
(12 & under Free)

Promoting a healthy lifestyle and fitness

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Same day registration accepted June 7th

at 7:00-7:30am at Harriet Park.
10K/5K/Walk starts at 7:45am

Jim Tubbs,
President

FAMILY OWNED HOMETOWN BUSINESS SINCE 1983

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You want to protect your business and your future. Our headquarters are right here in Dane
County which means we are familiar with our area. Whatever your Banking needs, we have a
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12 - The Verona Press - Hometown Days 2015 - June 4, 2015

Verona Hometown Days

2015 Schedule of Events
Thursday, June 4, 2015 - 5-10pm

6pm
7pm

Food Court Opens

Beer Tent, 5-11pm
Wenzel Amazements Carnival
Wristbands, 5-10pm
Spin-the-Wheel (VACC tent)
COMMUNITY NIGHT!
Fun & Give-aways in the Beer Tent!
Must be present to win!
Home Talent Baseball, Stampfl Field
The Daniel Anderson Trio
WBC Stage from 7-10pm, no cover charge!

5pm

6pm

6:30pm
8pm
9:30pm

Saturday, June 6, 2015 - 11am-1am

8:30am
11am
12pm

6pm

8:30pm

Adult Softball Tournament

Food Court Opens
Wenzel Amazements Carnival, Wristbands 12-5pm
Beer Tent, 12pm-1am
Spin-the-Wheel (VACC tent)
Saturday Market 12pm-6pm
ZOOZORT Exotic Animals Live Stage Show, 2pm & 4pm
Kids Entertainment
Funny Face Balloon Sculpting, 12-5pm
Henna Tattoos, 1-4pm
Rhapsody Face Painting, 1-4pm
6pm-11pm Parents Night Out - Enjoy a worry free
evening! Kids movie and dance party with snacks.
Ages 5-14 in the VACT Building. Check-In closes at 8pm.
Parents can start checking their kids out at 8:30PM.
Walk-ins allowed but there are savings available if you
pre-register. Contact Alyssa at alyssa.dvorak@yahoo.com
for more information.
Live Music by Cherry Pie
WBC Stage from 8:30pm-1am $7 cover charge

Food Court Opens

Beer Tent, 5-1 am
Wenzel Amazements Carnival
Wristbands, 5-10pm
Funny Faces Balloon Sculpting: 5pm-8pm
Spin-the-Wheel (VACC tent)
6-11pm Parents Night Out - Enjoy a worry free
evening! Kids movie and dance party with snacks.
Ages 5-14 in the VACT Building. Check-In closes at 8pm.
Parents can start checking their kids out at 8:30pm.
Walk-ins allowed but there are savings available
if you pre-register. Contact Alyssa at
alyssa.dvorak@yahoo.com for more information.
Adult Softball Tournament
Live Music by Charm School Rejects
WBC Stage from 8pm-1am, $7 cover charge
***FIREWORKS*** Sponsored by Epic Systems

Sunday, June 7, 2015 - 7am-6pm

7am
7:30am
9am
11:15am
11:45am
12pm

1pm

2:30pm

Annual Fun Run - 5k/10k Run/Walk Register Now!

Contact veronaccsocial@gmail.com with any questions.
VACT Pancake Breakfast at Park Bank 7:30am-12pm
Adult Softball Tournament
Kids Fun Run registration - Sugar River United Methodist
Church (previously Wildcat Lanes)
Contact veronaccsocial@gmail.com with any questions.
Kids Fun Run - Parade Route
Verona Hometown Days Parade
Wenzel Amazements Carnival
Wristbands 12-5pm
Food Court & Beer Tent 12-6pm
Spin-the-Wheel (VACC tent)
ZOOZORT Exotic Animals
Kids Entertainment
Funny Face Balloon Sculpting, 1-4pm
Henna Tattoos, 1-4pm
Home Talent Baseball, Stampfl Field
ZOOZORT Exotic Animals Live Stage Show

For more information and last minute updates visit

VeronaHometownDays.com or like us on Facebook!

Were proud to be part of your Hometown!

430 East Verona Ave.

Verona, WI 845-2010

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5pm

Friday, June 5, 2015 - 5pm-1am