What's coming up
Friday, July 3
Kid's Zone at the Norsk July 3rd Celebration
Every July 3rd, the village gathers for the Norsk Celebration — picnic blankets, food, music, and the wait for fireworks. There's a stretch in there, especially with little kids, where the wait is the hard part. The club started the Kid's Zone a few years ago to fill it. A free station with crafts, yard games, face painting, and a bouncy house, set up on the festival grounds.
The first year served twenty to forty kids. Last year it was 200+. Three patriotic craft projects, three yard games, more than ten face painting stations — all of it free thanks to club fundraising.
Bring the kids. Look for the Kid's Zone tent on the afternoon and evening of July 3.
July 27 & August 10
Self-defense workshops
Each summer the club brings in a couple hours of hands-on self-defense — real, practical skills, worked on the pads in a room full of neighbors. The kind of thing you hope you never need and are glad you practiced.
This year there are two. The class for women and girls runs August 10, from 6 to 8 pm — and, new this year, a class for boys on July 27. Both are taught by Brandon Tracy, a Verona-based martial arts instructor, who leads the sessions and handles registration. They're held in the Violet Room at Wisconsin Surplus Auction, which donates the space.
A Monday in July
Family picnic
Once a year, the work stops and the club just plays. On a Monday evening in July, the Optimists will gather for a family picnic — spouses, kids, the whole crew — under the shelter at Grundahl Park for a few hours.
It's a potluck, and it's easy. Ellen brings the grill; everyone else brings a side or a dessert, something to drink, and whatever lawn games and board games they've got. Cornhole and Jumbo Jenga, a checkers game going in the corner. We bring our families, and we bring our fun.
Because it's not all work. This one's just for us — a good evening together.