2014 Verona Hometown Days

Hometown Days 2014
June 12-15
Verona, WI
A special supplement to the
Verona Press
Photo by Jim Ferolie
2
June 12, 2014 The Verona Press ConnectVerona.com
Hometown Days 2014
SCOTT GIRARD
Unified Newspaper Group
The traditions Veronans
have grown to cherish over
the past few years of Home-
town Days will look the
same June 12-15, but the
behind-the-scenes work to
put it together was anything
but.
Verona Area Chamber of
Commerce executive direc-
tor Karl Curtis said people
shouldnt expect to see much
difference from the 2013 cel-
ebration as the group became
the second to take over man-
agement of Hometown Days
in the last three years.
We took over the festival
in November and that basi-
cally gave us six months
if we want to make any
changes and thats really not
enough time to think any-
thing through, Curtis said.
We made the decision to
stay with the status quo for
2014.
The transition to new
leadership took place in late
November, when Curtis and
Brava Enterprises president
Brad Zaugg, who had run
the festival for the two years
prior, announced theyd
reached an agreement for
the chamber to take over.
The chamber nearly took
over two years ago when the
Verona Community Better-
ment group folded in Octo-
ber 2011 after having run
the festival since the 1970s.
Ultimately, the chamber
decided against it at the time
before Zaugg stepped in to
save the festival.
This time, though, Curtis
said the chambers board
felt it was the right time to
take on the challenge, and
hes excited to see how it
develops, especially look-
ing toward the 2015 festival
when the group has more
time to reflect on ways to
enhance the festival.
As a small example, Curtis
pointed to the Medallion
Hunt that ran from last
Thursday to the beginning
of Hometown Days.
No ones going to be
able to retire and go to Tahi-
ti when they find the medal-
lion, but its a fun little
twist, he said. But those
are the kinds of enhance-
ments, given more time,
wed like to bring to the
2015 festival.
An eye-opener
Although theres plenty to
enjoy at Hometown Days,
it doesnt come without a
cost. The size of that cost
is something Curtis said he
never fully appreciated until
this year.
What I real i zed but
didnt really think about
was that folks who are in the
parade, your entertainment
type acts, all get paid, Cur-
tis said. Its something in
the back of your mind you
know, but when youre at
the fairgrounds having fun,
having an Optimist burger
you dont think about it.
He said budget size, and
the importance of coming out
of the festival in the black for
the organization running it,
can limit the entertainment
options at times.
Quite often people come
up to us and say, Why cant
you have this act at the fair-
grounds? he said. Ill
have to say to them, the
problem is that costs $2,500
for one day. If youre not
charging admission to these
things, its coming out of
your profits.
That said, Curtis also said
hes excited about every-
thing the festival does offer,
from the parade and music
to the beer tent and chil-
drens activities.
A business benefit
While the changes for
this year were minimal, one
behind-the-scenes change
offered a glimpse at what
may come in future years.
Wi t h t he chamber i n
charge, it offered member
businesses a big discount
on the fee to enter a float in
the parade, something Cur-
tis said was a way to throw
some benefits to our mem-
bers.
How do we make the fes-
tival more of a benefit to our
membership? Curtis said of
his hopes for future Home-
town Days festivals. I dont
mean how do we make the
festival a money-making
vehicle for our members.
Were talking exposure,
promotion, awareness of the
businesses in the commu-
nity.
A smooth process
Although the chamber
didnt have tons of time to
plan for this years festival,
Curtis said it was a seam-
less planning process.
He and Hometown Days
coordinator Kristen Roos-
malen, who was hired after
the chamber took over, have
worked together nicely, he
said.
Its been going very
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Come on down to Hometown Days
The Verona Area Chamber of Commerce took over the festival last November, two years after decid-
ing against that move when the Verona Community Betterment group folded. Brava Enterprises had
handled the festivals organization the last two years.
Turn to Chamber/Page 10
New leadership for Hometown Days (again)
Chamber took over in late 2013, keeps status quo for 2014 festival
Theres a template
in place thats been
followed for years
and years
VACC director Karl
Curtis
3 Hometown Days 2014
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Festival
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Floats, bands, etc.
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Sunday, June 15
th

at Noon
Local groups offer tasty treats
Discover the
best strawberry
shortcake and more
SCOTT DE LARUELLE
Experience is always the
best teacher, and its no dif-
ferent with baking.
Want to try what Verona
Area Active Adults (VAAA)
board member Burnell Mor-
ton said is the best straw-
berry shortcake around? The
group will have plenty on
sale Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, among a variety
of treats and things to do at
Hometown Days.
The Verona Optimists will
once again have their ham-
burger stand, also selling hot
dogs, chicken, chips and bev-
erages located conveniently
next door to the beer tent,
operated by Verona Rotary,
with bartending help from
the VAHS hockey club and
American Legion.
The annual event is filled
with activities, food and bev-
erages, and while serving up
the goodies to area residents
and visitors alike, Home-
town Days is an important
fundraising effort for many
Verona clubs and organiza-
tions that will be on hand in
a variety of functions - from
providing food court volun-
teers to parade clowns.
Verona Optimist Club
president Nate Gordon said
the event is the groups
biggest fundraiser of the
year, which goes to sponsor-
ing everything from summer
reading programs and Bad-
ger Boys State to technical
school scholarships. Opti-
mist member Bob Bovy said
the group also supports a
little league team, the Vero-
na Ski Team, 4-H and Cub
Scouts, as well as the school
districts Family Assistance
Fund and other scholarships.
We try to direct the funds
to causes that will benefit as
many kids as possible, he
said.
Whet your whistle and more
Many of the food stands at Hometown Days serve
as major fundraisers for local groups:
Verona Optimists: food court hamburger stand
Verona Rotary: beer tent ticket sales
VAHS Hockey Club and American Legion: beer
tent bartenders
Verona Area 4H: root beer floats (Sunday)
Verona Wildcat hockey: AJs Pizzeria & Diner/
food court
Verona Boyscout Troop 349: Cousins Subs/food
court
Verona Senior Center: dessert with Culvers cus-
tard
Verona Area Needs Network: dunk tank
Knights of Columbus: parade clowns
Verona Recreation Department: adult softball
tournament
Verona Area Chamber of Commerce: spin the
wheel tent
VAHS cross country: fun run/walk
VAHS girls soccer: food court volunteers
Verona Explorers: parking/grounds Photo by Mark Ignatowski
A pair cooks hot dogs and burgers on the grill at 2013 Hometown Days. All of the food sales at the festival
serve as fundraisers for local community groups.
4
Hometown Days 2014
Visit the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce Tent
at Hometown Days 2014
for a chance to win one of more than 80 prizes!
You Could Win Prizes Like:
Samsung Tablet
Flat Screen TV
Gas Grill
Concert Tickets
Gas Cards
Digital Camera
Toys
Gift Certificates
And More!
U
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5
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Platinum Sponsors:
Ace Hardware Miller & Sons Supermarket
Gold Sponsors:
Oak Bank TDS Telecom Culvers of Verona Postal Connections
Silver Sponsors:
5th Quarter
Adkins Bicycle Shop
Anytime Fitness
Boebel Valuation and Tax
City of Verona
Cousins/Chocolate Shoppe
Elysee Scientific Cosmetics
Fiscal Fitness
Four Winds Manor
Hammes Family Chiropractic
Krell Insurance
pc/nametag
Pelliteri Waste Systems
Stellar Rehabilitation
SVA Accounting
The Employer Group
Verona Area Soccer Club
Ultrazone
Verona Press
Zurbuchen Oil
Thank you to all the sponsors who make Spin the Wheel a success!
BILL LIVICK
The musical entertainment
for Hometown Days this year
features two well-known
area bands country band
Madison County on Friday
and classic rockers Cherry
Pie on Saturday and a rela-
tively new band, the Charm
School Rejects, on Thursday.
The Charm School Rejects
formed in May of 2010 and
are led by vocalist Sharona
York. Other band members
are Johnny Sparkle on
bass/vocals, Ray Hubbard on
guitar/vocals, Jason Phelps
on guitar/vocals, Chuck Phi-
lyaw on keyboard/vocals and
Dan Ryan on drums.
The band has been a final-
ist for Cover Band of the
Year in the annual Madison
Area Music Awards the last
two years running, as well
as being a finalist in the Pop
Rock Performer category.
Madison Magazine nomi-
nated The Charm School
Rejects as the citys best
local band.
The band performs an
eclectic array of covers
from such artists as Lady
Gaga, AC/DC, Finger 11,
Muse, Katy Perry, Christina
Aguilera, Britney Spears,
Evanescence, Neon Trees
and more. Band members
are high-energy and sea-
soned veterans. They offer
a polished and fun show,
and York is always sporting
a school-girl outfit of some
sort designed to take audi-
ences back to their school
days.
Verona Area Chamber of
Commerce executive direc-
tor Karl Curtis said hes
heard excitement from peo-
ple about the Charm School
Rejects planned perfor-
mance.
Country music with
Madison County
Madi son Count y i s
one of the Madison areas
favorite country bands and
a staple of the summer fes-
tival music lineup.
The seven-piece band is
led by singers Mike Zibell
and his uncle Augie Zibell.
Both are outstanding solo-
ists, and as a pair they sing
close harmonies as only rel-
atives can. They are backed
by a t al ent ed group of
instrumentalists: Ron Gran-
berg on drums, Scott Mitch-
ell on bass, Dan Mahieu on
keyboards, Angel Salinas
on lead guitar, and Jess Lex
on fiddle.
Madi son Count y has
released three full CDs:
Diamond In the Rough,
Make My Way Back
Home, and Enjoy the
Ri de. They r ecent l y
recorded a six-song EP with
an Indie label out of Nash-
ville. A single from the EP,
Perspective, was voted
Best Country Song at the
2013 Madison Area Music
Awards.
Madi son Count y has
shared the stage with many
national artists over the
years: Little Big Town, Sug-
arland, Montgomery-Gentry,
Blake Shelton, Brantley
Gilbert, Trace Adkins, Dier-
ks Bentley, Keith Urban,
Brad Paisley, Jake Owen,
Thomas Rhett, Toby Keith,
Travis Tritt, Gary Alan,
Andy Griggs, Love and
Theft, Neal McCoy, Rascal
Flatts, Justin Moore, Chris
Cagle, Phil Vassar, Bellamy
Brothers, Joe Diffie, Dwight
Yoakum, David Allan Coe
and Alan Jackson.
The band was the Isthmus
Newspaper Readers Favor-
ite Local Country Band for
2013 and Madisons overall
Best Local Band winner of
2014.
This will the second year
in a row Madison County
performs at Homet own
Days.
Cherry Pie
Cherry Pie is one of Wis-
consins top cover bands,
specializing in the biggest
hard rock hits of the 1980s.
The Milwaukee-based
five-piece band formed in
1999, and despite a few
lineup changes, Cherry Pie
continues to draw throngs
to their shows. They played
the past two years at Home-
town Days.
The bands flashy big
80s hair and wild out-
fits are an obvious draw
for fans, as are its big light
show that transports audi-
ences back two decades.
The group has become a
fixture at Hometown Days,
performing off and on over
the years at the festival.
Photo courtesy Charm School Rejects
The Charm School Rejects, nominated as the Madisons best band by Madison Magazine, will bring its
cover act to Hometown Days Thursday night.
In with the old, in with the new
Charm School Rejects join regulars Madison County, Cherry Pie for Hometown Days music
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Dr. Tami S. Hunt, Optometrist
Dr. Emmylou Wilson, Optometrist
320 S. Main Street, Verona, WI
(608) 848-5168 www.VeronaVisionCare.com
Whats on
stage
Thursday
Charm School Rejects
7:30 p.m.
WBC stage, $7
Friday
Madison County
8 p.m.-1 a.m.
WBC stage, $7
Saturday
Cherry Pie
8:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
WBC stage, $7
Photos courtesy Madison County and Cherry Pie
Above, Cherry Pie performs at 2010 Hometown Days. The group will
return once again this year on Saturday night. Madison County, right,
will perform Friday night on the WBC stage.
6
Hometown Days 2014
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700 South Nine Mounds Road
Verona, WI 53593
ENJOY HOMETOWN DAYS 2014!
Remember us for all your
grilling and picnic needs
Full liquor department
Open during the festival
210 S. Main Street
Verona 845-6478
Spin the wheel for prizes
When the Verona Area Cham-
ber of Commerce made the deci-
sion to assume management of
Hometown Days, it was origi-
nally assumed Spin-the-Wheel
would be retired.
But there was one problem.
Spin-the-Wheel is such a popular
part of the Hometown Days festi-
val its absence would leave a void
at the fairgrounds.
Fortunately, some creative
thinking saved the day. Thanks to
a new partnership with the Vero-
na Lions Club, Spin-the-Wheel
will be back and as big as ever.
This year a variety of chamber
businesses have donated over
80 prizes ranging from gift cer-
tificates 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.
For example, say you really
want a laptop computer for your
kids. Simply take all your tick-
ets and place them in the draw-
ing 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,
ten prizes, or every prize offered.
The choice is up to you.
The Verona Area Chamber of
Commerce uses the funds raised
at Hometown Days to fund its
operations and activities through-
out 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. Well see you
at the fairgrounds, just past the
food stand near the Community
Park entrance.
The Verona Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Verona Lions Club to keep
Spin the Wheel, and its prizes, around for the 2014 Hometown Days festival.
Sunday parade will be the one you know and love
VICTORIA VLISIDES
With a few new floats
t hi s year , t he Ver ona
Hometown Days parade
will mostly be the classic
parade Veronans enjoy.
Not a whole lot is new,
said Karl Curtis, Hometown
Days coordinator. Were
bringing in some really fun
acts like we always do.
Some local favorites will
be back at the noon parade.
They include the Cripple
Creek Cloggers, stilt walk-
er s, dancer s, j uggl er s,
clowns and many more.
Last week, they had about
60 acts signed up for 80
spots.
It fills up fast, Curtis
said.
Parade acts were finalized
June 4.
While local politicians
and busi nesses t end t o
march for free, Curtis said,
some of the acts brought
in are paid. Based on bud-
get constraints which can
fluctuate from year to year,
they hand-pick the paid
acts. Some acts can charge
anywhere from $100 to
$800-$1,000, Curtis said.
The par ade st ar t s at
Paol i St reet and Sout h
Nine Mound Road, will go
down to South Main Street
to West Verona Avenue,
where it ends at Legion
Street. In terms of traffic,
South Nine Mound Road
is to be used as the staging
area.
There wont be bands
over Park Bank this year,
Curtis said. But on a per-
sonal note, Cutis said hes
looking forward to watch-
ing the parade for the first
time in eight years. Hes
always had other festival
responsibilities during the
parade, so this year, hell be
freed up to get a glimpse.
(608) 235-2927
kbartels@cbsuccess.com
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If you go
What: Parade
When: Noon, Sunday,
June 15
Where: Starts at Paoli
and Nine Mound roads, to
S. Main St. and W. Verona
Ave.
Info: veronahometown
days.com/Parade.aspx
Parade 2014 featured acts
Resurrection Lutheran
Church
Verona Public Library
Lakeside Lutheran High
School Band
Verona Area Community
Theater
VAGSA
Gemuetlichkeit Days of
Jefferson, WI
City of Verona
Verona Fire Department
Boy Scout Troop 349 & Cub
Scout Troop 549
Todays Q106
Marys School of Dance
Smart Motors Toyota/Scion
Swim West Swim School
Optimist Club of Verona
Madison Swim Academy
American Legion Riders
Dane County Humane
Society
Karate America Verona
Sugar River United
Methodist Church
The Salvation Army
Girl Scout Troop #1104
Paoli 4-H Fireballs
Capitoland Childrens
Center
Blains Farm & Fleet
USA Amateur Tug of War
Association
Mt Vernon Park Association
State Rep. Sondy Pope
State Sen. Jon Erpenbach
Kirk Trainor
Troop 2896 - Daisy Scouts
(Badgerland Council)
Ice Spirit Girls Hockey
Nexus Martial Arts Academy
American Legion Mason-
Lindsay Post 385
Dane County Sheriff
Tanyas Big House 4 Kidz
Republican Party of Dane
County
Photos by Jim Ferolie
The 2014 Hometown Days
parade will begin at noon on
Sunday.
8
Hometown Days 2014
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Spring on over to Hometown Days!
Popular exotic animals show returns to Hometown Days
MARK IGNATOWSKI
Critters of unusual shapes
and sizes will be on display
once again at Hometown
Days this year.
Zoozort will host exotic
animal shows for the third
year in a row and will have
more animals this year,
owner Noelle Tarrant told
the Press.
Make sure to meet our
new baby wallaby, Wanda,
Tarrant said in an email.
Guests young and old
will be able to get an up-
close and sometimes hands-
on look at a variety of
creatures from a python to a
hissing cockroach.
The wildlife company
t eaches about habi t at ,
nutrition, conservation and
appreciation while also
entertaining audience mem-
bers.
Most people remember
what they enjoy, Tarrant
wrote. Zoozort uses a pos-
itive and fun approach so
you do not even realize you
are learning.
What animals will be
seen will depend slightly on
the weather, Tarrant previ-
ously told the Press. Some
critters do well with differ-
ent temperatures. Zoozort
has several dozen animals
for their live shows includ-
ing a python, a laughing
kookaburra, spur t hi gh tortoise, coatimundi, beard-
ed dragon, monitor lizard,
kinkajou, boa, giant toad
and more.
In addition to three shows
at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sat-
urday, and 2:30 p.m. Sun-
day trainers will have
exhibits, educational dis-
plays, skeletons and infor-
mation about the animals
throughout the festival.
Zoozort has been offering
the education and interac-
tive program at Hometown
Days since Brava took over
in 2012. That tradition con-
tinues now that the Verona
Chamber of Commerce is
in charge. Chamber director
Karl Curtis said a local rep-
tile expert will have some
smaller reptiles in the chil-
drens area in addition to
the Zoozort program.

If you go
What: Zoozort exotic
animal program
When: 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 14, 2:30
p.m. Sunday, June 15
Where: West of the food
court, Hometown USA
Community Park
Info: zoozort.com
Photos by
Jim Ferolie
Zoozort
brings
exotic
animals
to give
kids and
parents
alike a
thrill. The
animals
range
from
pythons
to giant
toads and
much
more.
The com-
pany first
came to
Hometown
Days in
2012, and
has been
popular at
the festival
since.
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Wenzel Amazements brings carnival fun back for year 2
SCOTT DE LARUELLE
No proper warm-weath-
er festival in Wisconsin
would be complete without
a carnival, and Hometown
Days boasts one of the best
around.
Wenzel Amazement s,
whi ch operat es si mi l ar
events in Middleton and
Waunakee, is back this year
after working at the festi-
val for the first time at last
years Hometown Days,
and there will be plenty of
fun rides for people of all
ages to choose from. A
carousel, Ferris wheel, fun
slide, roller-coaster, Tilt-a
Whirl, Hurricane, G-Force
r i de, f un house, UFO-
themed bouncy house and
more will be available for
people to get their thrills.
Wenzel Amazement s
t ook over l ast year for
Calkins Midways, which
had provided the carnival
entertainment at the event
since 1979 before a con-
flict with another festival
Calkins worked forced a
change.
Wenzel, a second-genera-
tion family business owned
by Ann and Harvey Wen-
zel, has been in business
since 1982 and runs more
t han a dozen carni val s
around the state each year.
Fo r mo r e i n f o r ma -
tion on the company and
the rides it offers, visit
wenzelamazements.com.
Get your
tickets
For carnival tickets, call
the Verona Chamber of
Commerce at 845-5777.
Tickets are 14 for $10.
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 1
a.m. Friday and noon to 5
p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Wenzel
Amusements
will be back
with its carni-
val rides for a
second year.
Photo by Jim
Ferolie
The carnival includes a carousel
for kids and parents alike.
10
Hometown Days 2014
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Kids activities include fun run, henna tatoos
This years Hometown
Days festival has fun activi-
ties for the whole family and
several just for the kids. On
top of Wenzel Amazements
Carnival bringing rides and
games, WOW Balls USA,
a large hamster-ball-like
device which allows the per-
son inside to walk on water,
will be offered all four days.
Saturday and Sunday there
will be balloon sculpting,
henna tattoos, and a Snakes
Alive exhibit. Saturday,
pony rides will be available
beginning at noon. Sunday
features the Kids Fun Run,
a short race to promote exer-
cise. Registration begins at
11:15 a.m. at Wildcat Lanes.
For specific event times visit
veronahometowndays.com.
smoothly, Curtis said.
Theres a template in place
thats been followed for
years and years.
He said a key has been
support and help from the
community groups that
have been and will con-
tinue to be involved for
years selling food and orga-
nizing activities
All the groups involved
really kind of know their
role and step up and fill that
role which makes stepping
up into leadership a lot eas-
ier than if you were doing it
from scratch, he said.
He said Zaugg has also
been around to help, and
will occasionally send Cur-
tis an email reminding him
of this or that deadline or a
tip he had forgotten to give
in the past.
Hes been a tremendous
help, Curtis said.
Now that the festival has
arrived, Curtis said theres
one hope left, though its
really out of he and Roos-
malens hands.
Hope for good weather,
he said.
Chamber: Zaugg helped
Continued from page 2
Belly dancers, bean bag join Sunday
Chamber hopes
activities will liven
up Sunday afternoon
SCOTT GIRARD
The Verona Area Cham-
ber of Commerce is trying
to solve a years-old prob-
lem for Hometown Days
organizers: Sunday after-
noon.
The time often brings a
sparse crowd to the beer
tent after a long weekend
of fun festivities.
This year, the chamber
has added a new show and
competition to increase
traffic to the beer tent as
the festival winds down.
The Madison Dance Life
Belly Dancers will perform
on the Wisconsin Brew-
ing Company stage at 1:30
p.m., followed by a bean
bag tournament at 2 p.m.
Belly Dancers
The Madison Dance Life
studio, 6725 Seybold Road,
Madison, offers dance and
fitness classes in a range of
selections, including Belly
Dancing.
VACC executive director
Karl Curtis said members
of the group are friends of
his assistant, Kristen Roos-
malen, and were looking
for places to perform, so
they decided another addi-
tion couldnt hurt.
Its an unusual form of
entertainment, Curtis said,
adding that it should be a
fun show.
Bean bag
The Chamber added a
Bean Bag Tournament
with a minimum $200 prize
from 2-5 p.m. Sunday in
the beer tent.
That prize money could
increase if more teams sign
up, as well, Curtis said.
The tournament costs $5
to enter, and participants
must be 21 or older, or 18
and older and with a par-
ent.
Curtis said he hopes it
will bring some fun to the
last afternoon of the annual
festival.
Sundays always been
a traditionally low traffic
day in the beer tent, Cur-
tis said. Were looking for
something to spice things
up.
A young girl runs in the 2013 Kids Fun Run.
202 S. Main Street, Verona 848-8020
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The U.S. Cellular store
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For all your wireless needs,
please visit us at:
Our look and location
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What we stand for hasnt.
Verona
611 Hometown Circle, Unit 1
608-848-7600
Wed Like to Thank Our
Sponsors for their support of the
Hometown Days Run/Walk.
Please support our generous sponsors:
Miller & Sons, Sweeney Construction, First Choice Dental,
Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Epic, First Business Financial Services, Inc.,
Culvers, Capitol Bank, Park Bank, State Bank of Cross Plains,
Kehl School of Dance, Tuvalu Coffeehouse & Gallery, Zurbuchen Oil,
OnCampus College Planning & Berkeley Running Company.
Same day registration accepted June 15
at 7:00-7:30am at Harriet Park.
10K/5K/Walk starts at 7:45am
1K & 2K Kids Run, register at 11:15am, race at 11:40am,
Wildcat Lanes (12 & under Free)
Promoting a healthy lifestyle and ftness
UN352917
No courtesy buses
The Chamber decided to cancel
the courtesy bus service that began
last year for late-night celebrators.
VACC executive director Karl
Curtis said the usage numbers sim-
ply did not make the bus worth the
cost.
There was very little usage on
the east side of town, Curtis said.
There was a group of folks from
the West Ridge area, but it was one
group.
He said there were about 20 riders
last year, based on his conversations
with the bus company.
Last year was the first with the
buses, which offered safe rides home
for those that spent time in the beer
tent.
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.
Light up
the sky
Veronans have made
an annual tradition
out of watching
the fireworks from
all over the city.
Spectators can be
seen across from
Verona City Center,
on Enterprise Drive,
near the fire station
and at spots along
Verona Avenue. The
show begins at 9:30
p.m. Thursday night.
12 - Verona Hometown Days - The Verona Press - June 12, 2014
Verona Hometown Days
2014 Schedule of Events
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
Thursday, June 12 - 5-11pm
5pm Food Court Opens
Beer Tent, 5-11pm
Kids Entertainment
WOW Balls USA, 5pm
Wenzel Amazements Carnival, Wristbands, 5-10pm
Spin-the-Wheel (VACC tent)
7pm Home Talent Baseball, Stampf Field
7:30pm Live Music by Charm School Rejects, WBC Stage
Beer Tent
9:30pm ** FIREWORKS ** Sponsored by Epic
Friday, June 13 - 5pm-1am
5pm Food Court Opens
Beer Tent, 5pm-1am
Kids Entertainment
WOW Balls USA, 5pm
Wenzel Amazements Carnival,
Wristbands, 5pm-1am
Caricature Artist
5-7pm Funny Face Balloon Sculpting
6:30pm Adult Softball Tournament
8pm Live Music by MADISON COUNTY,
WBC Stage, 8-1am, $7 cover charge
Saturday, June 14 - 12pm-1am
8:30am Adult Softball Tournament
11am Food Court Opens
12pm Wenzel Amazements Carnival, Wristbands, 12-5pm
Beer Tent, 12pm-1am
Artisan Marketplace, 12-6pm
ZOOZORT Exotic Animals Live Stage Show, 2pm & 4pm
Kids Entertainment
Funny Face Balloon Sculpting, 12-4pm
WOW Balls USA, 12pm
Henna Tattoos, 1-4pm
Rhapsody Face Painting, 1-4pm
Caricature Artist
8:30pm Live Music by Cherry Pie,
WBC Stage from 8:30pm-1am, $7 cover
Sunday, June 15 - 12pm-6pm
7am Annual Fun Run - 5k/10k Run/Walk. Register now!
Contact veronaareaccboosters@gmail.com with any
questions.
8am Classic Car Show, 8-3pm
9am Adult Softball
11:15am Kids Fun Run registration - Wildcat Lanes.
Contact veronaareaccboosters@gmail.com with any questions.
11:40am Kids Fun Run - Parade Route
12pm Verona Hometown Days Parade
Wenzel Amazements Carnival, Wristbands, 12-5pm
Food Court & Beer Tent, 12-6pm
Artisan Marketplace, 12-6pm
ZOOZORT Exotic Animals, Live Stage Show, 2:30pm
Kids Entertainment
WOW Balls USA, 12pm
Funny Face Balloon Sculpting, 1-4pm
Henna Tattoos, 1-4pm
Caricature Artist
2pm City Bean Bag Toss Tournament
Home Talent Baseball, Stampf Field

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