‘Baraboo Bits’ Features

As the population in rural areas continue to decline, more land is becoming available for public use.  That’s a good thing for hikers, cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts.  The sad part is that as the land opens up we are getting a grim view of how folks viewed the land they once owned.  Here in the Baraboo hills along the ice age trail, within Devil’s Lake State Park and elsewhere it’s easy to come across the remnants of past lives rusting away in otherwise pristine forests and valleys.  The photo above was taken on the Ice Age Trail just west of Hwy 113 south-east of Baraboo.  It’s hard to imagine that even now, some folks still feel no qualms about tossing everything they no longer use onto an old junk pile somewhere “out back” on their property.  Let’s face it, sooner or later.. someone WILL have to clean it all up. I imagine it’s a struggle for parks and environmental organizations who are pressed simply to maintain the trails to find ways to deal with our legacy of waste.  Do you carry it all out and pay for proper disposal?  Do you leave it as a message for future generations?   What are your thoughts?

Photo Gallery

We are building a new photo gallery featuring the remnants of past lives here in our local parks and natural areas.  To see more: Pop-Up Slideshow | Flickr Gallery

Every day, people from around the world are gathering to share their lives, ideas and even their politics on Facebook.  Smaller communities are not being left out of the conversation either, although sometimes you have to look a bit harder to find them. Here in Baraboo, the local library and city police department have had a presence on Facebook for some time. You’ll also find a smattering of local businesses as well.  It should be no surprise that were also seeing local political action groups discovering the power of social media. “Taxpayers for Baraboo Public Schools is just one of many local groups to take advantage of blogging, Facebook and other social media channels to gather with folks of like minds and promote their points of view. You can visit their Facebook page here,  True-Boo’s Facebook page.  With each passing day it’s becoming apparent that folks NOT taking advantage of social media are risking being left out of the conversation.

Of course, Skillet Creek has our own Facebook Page.  We’d love to have you join us! Just don’t expect much in the way of politics though.  (Well, not too much anyway!)

Driving city streets this time of year can get downright dangerous!  Potholes on Baraboo’s main streets are quickly becoming canyons.  Thankfully our city crews have come to the rescue.  Today you’ll find them out there filling those dangerous and damaging chasms as quickly as they can.  If you see a bunch of steam up ahead while driving around town today, slow down. Smile and wave!  These guys are are shoveling hot  joy, fixing our streets and saving our suspensions!  Yippee!

Downtown Baraboo businesses kicked off the holiday season last evening with their annual holiday wine walk. The exclusive event is sold out so quickly each year that in the end, most of are left to simply walk the side walks and window shop. With the holiday music echoing around the square and the shop windows in full holiday regalia, that’s not such a bad option either (Check out our photo gallery below).  This year we were invited to stop down and visit (even without tickets!) by the folks at Hills Gallery & Gifts. The gallery was simply “wall to wall” when we got there. Thankfully they were getting a lot of help from the artists of the upcoming Artisan Christmas event. Even as busy as they were, it was nice to get in and warm our toes! (Not to mention listen to local artist Todd Perche kicking it up on the bongos…) We thank them for the invitation and of course hope some of you will check them out this holiday season! Hills Gifts and Gallery is at 121 4th Street right by the coffee shop.

Today, the rest of us get to join in the fun as the downtown shops open their doors to everyone for the annual open house. It’s a good idea to stay around this evening as well for the annual holiday light parade. One thing about Baraboo, they certainly have this whole holiday thing down. We’ll see you this evening.  I’ll be the one with the camera! 

• Downtown Baraboo Window Shopping & Wine Walking Gallery (pop-up slideshow) | Flickr page

* Top image – Third Street, Outside Bekah Kates.

Baraboo Christmas Light Parade (Formerly the Holly Jolly Light Parade)

• 2010 Light Parade Wrap Up & Photo Gallery.
• Click Here For “7 Last Minute Tips for Tonight’s Holiday Light Parade” Includes Parade & Route Map!
• See Pictures From Past Events – Click Here
  
• Window Shopping & Wine Walking - Post & Photos from Downtown Baraboo’s Holiday Kick-Off event.
• Visit Downtown Baraboo’s Light Parade Webpage.

Original Post:

Less Holly Jolly, More “Lighty Parady”

“Simply having a wonderful Christmas time” is not what it used to be.  Heck, a small town can’t even have a Holly Jolly Christmas without paying someone for the right to say, “Holly Jolly”.  Such is the reason that Baraboo’s “Downtown Baraboo Christmas Light Parade” now has it’s much less “jolly” but certainly more analytically descriptive name. It was decided that it was just too costly to pay the “owner” of the trademarked term “Holly Jolly” for the privilege of having a “Holly Jolly” Christmas. (Regardless of what Burl Ives has to say about it!) Such is the state of Christmas spirit in our modern world!

This year’s parade event will be held just after sunset (6pm) on the historic square on November 20th.  The parade will include lighted floats, live reindeer and equestrian units, marching bands, and more.  Guaranteed fun for the whole family.. So come, enjoy, have fun… but don’t get too “Jolly”.  Or else!

• More Parade Info

We hope everyone had a great time at Boo Fest on the square in downtown Baraboo yesterday afternoon.  There certainly was a good turnout!  As we do every year, we’ve taken a ton of pictures from the event.   I’ve always felt that more often then not, pictures can tell the story more than 10 columns of text ever could. The challenge is in the sorting…  Enjoy!

• 2010 Boo Fest Gallery (Pop-Up Slideshow)
• 2010 Boo Fest Gallery - Flickr
• Past Boo Fest Gallery (Pop-Up Slideshow)
• Past Boo Best Gallery – Flickr

Here in the Baraboo Hills there is no reason to ride on the coat tails of Wisconsin Dells kitsch.  Baraboo should instead hear the voices of John Muir & Aldo Leopold which rose from these marshes, hills and savannas not so long ago. We do not live on land in need of a water park to make people come, but sometimes we need reminding.  Aldo Leopold once said, “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”  Read the rest of this entry »

Commentary – Roadside adverting has always been around of course but judging by the condition of some of it out there, it seems as if even the business owners don’t  believe they work any more. Take this faded little sign on the corner of South Blvd., and Highway 123 for instance;  Is it shouting out, “quality” to you? Is it appetizing? Would this sign even catch your eye?  If you saw it when passing by on your way to Devil’s Lake State Park or when heading over to Wal-Mart, would you suddenly hit your breaks, turn the car around and go buy a hot dog?  I didn’t think so. And yet, you have to assume the business owner actually does want you to do just that. Read the rest of this entry »

Today we continue our 7 Questions series with William “Bill” Steinhorst who is running for Sauk County sheriff in the Republican primary to be held next Tuesday. This primary vote, and election as a whole has been dominated by the key phrases of  “Pod A” and “hard earned tax dollars”, ad nauseam. For our interviews we “banned” both talking points in hopes to get something fresh from the candidates. With mixed results.

SC:  Number 1. You’re a Republican.  Do you think party affiliation matters when it comes to how you do your job as Sheriff?     Read the rest of this entry »

The Labor Day holiday has brought a temporary stop to the construction of the new Highway 12 bypass that will eventually re-route the busy thoroughfare to the west of it’s current location from the Point Of Rocks landmark  south of Baraboo until merging back to it’s current location at the Interstate highway 90/94 in Wisconsin Dells.

Standing on the recently completed overpass on Old highway 33 (Another old route that has been passed by), one gets a completely different feel for the area between Baraboo & Wisconsin Dells.  Instead of cluttered, tacky roadway filled with giant billboards advertising bbq and strip joints, we see lots of green with a much more aesthetically pleasing horizon. It’s hard to imagine it will stay that way.  Read the rest of this entry »