Fitchburg Economic Development Update

February 12, 2025

• State of Fitchburg today
• Forward Fitchburg City in Motion, a place-based economic development strategy, including upcoming projects and areas of long-term development
• Fitchburg’s economic development toolkit to enhance infrastructure, foster small business growth, and attract investments
• Success stories of innovative partnerships
• Alignment of Dane County’s Regional Housing Strategies with Fitchburg’s Housing Plan, Initiatives, and Programs
• Fitchburg’s evolution to a full-service City

Here is a link to Mike’s presentation materials.

Nervous System Dysregulation: Common Signs & Solutions

January 8, 2025

Dr. Laura Konopacki, Body Wave Chiropractic

Understanding your nervous system is key to managing stress, anxiety, sleep disruptions, and chronic fatigue. In this enlightening session, Dr. Laura Konopacki will guide you through the subtle yet powerful indicators of an overactive nervous system, and how it can affect your daily life. She’ll share practical tips and proven strategies to help restore balance to your neurological health, providing you with the tools you need to thrive.

This session will help you:

• Spot the common signs of nervous system imbalance
• Discover 3 powerful exercises to help your nerves relax naturally
• Understand how your daily habits may be locking you in stress

Stay Safe: Protect Yourself from Scams and More

November 13

Join Captain Ned Hartwick from the Fitchburg Police Department for an eye-opening presentation on staying safe in today’s world. Discover tactics criminals use to target individuals and businesses, from phishing emails to phone scams, and learn how to protect yourself. Capt. Hartwick will allow time for a safety Q&A session and update us on the department’s K-9 program.

Key Take-aways:

• How to recognize and avoid common scams
• What to do if you suspect a scammer has targeted you
• Time to ask individual questions
• News about the K-9 program

Bring Your Skin Back to Life

October 9

Join us for *”Bring Your Skin Back to Life”* with Melissa Hoefling and Mel Stafford, Kneaded Relief’s estheticians, as they reveal the secrets to achieving soft, hydrated, and glowing skin for both your face and body. Melissa will provide a brief explanation about skin and body care, and how Kneaded Relief can help you reach your personal skincare goals. You’ll also have the chance to try out products, take home samples, and snag informative flyers to enhance your routine. After the presentation, staff will be available for one-on-one consultations to answer your specific skincare questions.

You’ll get:

From Grass to Garden

September 11

Ready to convert your turf lawn into a garden oasis? Master Gardener Rita Thomas will guide you as she describes her journey to transforming her grassy lawn into a natural, welcoming haven. You’ll gain insights to help you:

• Swap out some of your turf for native plants that support a healthy, balanced environment.
• Design a yard that’s full of interest, color, and life all year round.
• Improve your mental and physical health by engaging in various gardening activities.
• Turn your garden into a lively, buzzing space that attracts bees, butterflies, and birds.

Rita is or has been a member of the Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society, The Fitchburg Garden Club, the Hemerocallis Society, the WI-IL Rock Garden Society, the Woody Plant Society, the Wisconsin Peony Society, and The Madison Area Master Gardeners Association. As a volunteer, she designed and supported the gardens at Agrace Hospice, Longenecker Gardens, and the Olbrich Gardens Conservatory. Her garden has been part of many national tours—including the Rare Plant Society, The Perennial Plant Society, and The Rock Garden Society’s national event—as well as Olbrich Gardens and other local garden tours. On September 11, she will show you how she reshaped her 100’ x 144’ city lot “From Grass to Garden.”

Food Wants vs. Food Needs

August 14

Join Nutrition Educator, Emily Randerson as we discuss our food wants vs food needs. How often are you buying foods you want each week? Foods you need? Together we will learn about MyPlate, practice how to choose healthy foods, and try a new recipe together!

You will go home with:

•  A grocery list example of healthy foods
• A new recipe
• A motivation to try new, healthy foods!

Handout from Presentation

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Recipes

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Identity Theft: Am I Protecting Myself from Fraud?

July 10, 2024

Imagine being advised that a data breach may have jeopardized your personal information. What if you lose your wallet, or criminals hack into your online account? What now? Identity Theft, the fastest growing crime in America today, can compel victims to spend countless hours trying to restore their stolen identity. Jamie Hanson, co-founder and Behavioral Financial Advisor with Akamai Investment Advisors, will share tools and techniques for you to safeguard yourself.

You’ll learn:

• The latest ploys used by criminals to steal private data
•  Practical steps to protect your identity and minimize risk

Presentation Materials

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Ready, Set, Rehab: Physical Therapy Basics

June 12, 2024

Step into the world of wellness with help from Susan Armstrong, MPT, owner of Stellar Rehabilitation, an organization offering cutting-edge, personalized therapy services for clients ranging from 6 weeks to 106 years old. Sue will demystify the fundamentals of physical therapy, with practical tips and strategies to enhance your physical resilience and vitality. From simple exercises to ergonomic adjustments, you’ll gain insights that can revitalize your approach to daily living. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, seeking to improve your fitness, or simply curious about the human body, Sue’s presentation will inspire and educate. Expect to learn:

• Simple stretching routines to ease common aches and pains, such as neck and back discomfort
• Effective techniques for improving posture and reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries
• Tips for incorporating balance and stability exercises into your daily routine, promoting agility, and preventing falls
• How physical therapy can help with managing chronic conditions, such as arthritis or low back pain

Posture Exercises

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May 8, 2024

Does recycling work? Does it matter?

Over the years, a heated debate has ensued regarding the economics of recycling, coinciding with a surge in the number of single-use containers.

Don’t assume that simply placing an item in the blue Pellitteri bin guarantees recyclability. Some mistakes can create a ripple effect with significant consequences. It starts with you. Emphasize quality over quantity when recycling.

Nationally, people contaminate and render unusable 25% of recyclables. Let’s assess Fitchburg’s performance and its potential recycling report card. We’ll start with the following questions.

• Do plastic bags gum up recycling machinery?
• Does food residue make recyclables unfit for processing?
• Should you bag recyclables?
• Can you recycle all paper? Even if it’s wet?
• What about books, coffee cups, and other paper products?
• How can you decode the recycling symbols on containers?
• What types of plastic and paper are non-recyclable?
• What actually gets recycled? What percentage of items have to be rejected?
• Do you really know the proper ways to recycle?
• How can you manage household waste in a more sustainable way?
• How can I properly dispose of potentially hazardous materials?

Ben Schulte, Environmental Engineer for the City of Fitchburg, and Todd Bollenbach, Pellitteri’s Municipal Account Executive, will share insights on these issues for Fitchburg residents. It’s a talk you don’t want to miss.

 Portrait of an Artist: The Early Years

April 10, 2024

Step into the captivating world of Georgia O’Keeffe in “Portrait of an Artist: The Early Years.” In this immersive presentation, historian Joe Chase offers a glimpse into the formative years of one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century. Her bustling farm family of Irish, Hungarian, and Dutch descent comprised her parents, two aunts, and six siblings under one roof. The rural surroundings with farm animals, crops in the fields, rolling hills, and open prairies, all provided visual and sensory stimuli. Georgia, being the oldest daughter, assumed the duties of tending the garden, looking after her siblings, and maintaining housekeeping chores, during a life stage that researchers have found to be pivotal in terms of learning and development.

   Let’s explore the roots of O’Keeffe’s passion for creativity, as we delve into her journey from the tranquil landscapes of rural Sun Prairie to the bustling streets of New York City, and culminating in her eventual retreat to the landscapes of Santa Fe. Through captivating storytelling and visuals, Joe invites you to trace the footsteps of a visionary whose trailblazing creations continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this presentation promises to deepen your appreciation for Georgia O’Keeffe’s remarkable legacy and the profound impact of her early years on the trajectory of modern art.