Welcome to this week's Community Update!
It feels like one of those weeks that reminds us why small-town life is special. New Glarus is buzzing with activity as summer begins to settle in. A major community milestone is being celebrated, local businesses are marking anniversaries, live music is filling the air, and another class of New Glarus graduates prepares to cross the stage and begin a new chapter. Nearly every day seems to offer a reason to gather with neighbors and friends.
As I looked over this week's calendar, it struck me how full it feels. Community traditions, celebrations and milestones are happening all around us. Yet, I can't help but notice the one event conspicuously absent from the calendar. And it's been gone for quite some time. I'm talking about the New Glarus Community Fest, which happened every year around the same time as graduation weekend. It brought the community together with food, music, activities and fellowship. While the village remains as vibrant as ever, its absence serves as a reminder that traditions don't always continue on their own—they survive because people step forward to make them happen.
What We’re Working On
We'll have full coverage of today's New Glarus Public Library grand opening. Watch for photos, highlights and community reaction.
A new retail business is coming to downtown New Glarus. We'll introduce you to the people behind it.
We'll have coverage of New Glarus High School graduation and other school news. It's a big week for the Class of 2026.
We'll look at Wisconsin communities where towns and villages merged. Then we'll ask whether that idea makes sense for New Glarus.
We'll explore what we lose when barns disappear from the Wisconsin countryside. The answer goes beyond old buildings.
We'll share an update on New Glarus pickleball facility efforts. That includes where things stand and what comes next.
Several New Glarus athletes are competing in the WIAA State Track & Field Championships. We'll have all the results.
A new downtown event space is expected to be available soon in New Glarus. We'll share more details.
We'll profile farm-to-table local businesses selling food that skips the grocery store. It's a closer look at buying directly from local producers.
Everyone knows the big mural on 2nd Street, but New Glarus has other murals too. We'll tell their stories.
We're putting together 10 mind-blowing New Glarus facts. Even longtime residents may learn something new.
Photo of the Week
What You May Have Missed
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Something We Noticed
The kickoff to June Dairy Month arrived this past weekend with Green County Breakfast on the Farm, a reminder that dairy farming remains woven into the identity of Green County and communities like New Glarus. Before long, local celebrations will crown a new Green County Dairy Queen and continue a tradition that stretches back generations. It brings back memories of a different era, when the annual New Glarus Ice Cream Social drew much of the community to the Swiss Church lawn. The crowning of the New Glarus Dairy Queen was a highlight of the summer calendar, and the annual Green County Dairy Days cattle show moved from town to town each year, giving each community a chance to host one of the county's signature agricultural events.
Much has changed since then. There are fewer dairy farms across the countryside, and many of those that remain are larger than the family operations that once dotted nearly every rural road. Yet dairy remains every bit as important to Green County and Wisconsin as it was decades ago. In many ways, the industry has evolved rather than disappeared. The faces, equipment and scale may be different, but the hard work, stewardship and pride behind Wisconsin dairy farming remain much the same. As June Dairy Month gets underway, it's worth taking a moment to appreciate both the traditions that shaped our communities and the farm families who continue to carry them forward today. Some things change with time, but the connection between Green County and dairy farming remains as strong as ever.
Mobile Phone Users: Having Problems?
If you’ve noticed that you sometimes have to log back into New Glarus 360 when clicking a story link from Facebook, you’re not imagining things. Facebook opens links inside its own built-in browser instead of your phone’s normal browser, which means it doesn’t always recognize your saved login. In other words, blame Facebook. The easiest fix is to add New Glarus 360 directly to your phone’s home screen so you can open it like an app and stay logged in. Here's how so you never miss a thing:
Android (Chrome): Open NewGlarus360.com in Chrome → tap the three dots in the upper right corner → Add to Home Screen.
iPhone (Safari): Open NewGlarus360.com in Safari → tap the Share icon → Add to Home Screen.
Past Issues
Need to reference a past issue of Community Update? No problem. We’ve got you covered. Previous editions are easy to find, so whether you want to revisit a local story, catch up on something you missed, or go back and check a link, the archive is there when you need it.
How to Reach Us
Have a story idea, tip or announcement? Just reply to this email or submit a story idea at our website. We read every message. You can upload a photo, a file, or news tip by clicking on the button below. Or you can email us anytime at editor@newglarus360.com.
Thanks for supporting local journalism and for helping us tell the story of New Glarus and the people who make this community what it is.
Todd Klassy
New Glarus 360
