Earlier this week, New Glarus 360 surpassed 2,500 total subscribers to our daily and weekly newsletters, while our Facebook group grew to more than 6,000 members. We are also nearing 700 paid subscribers, which are growing by 17% per month, and we're just seven months into this effort. We are deeply grateful for that support, and we are reinvesting into New Glarus 360 to make it even stronger.
Starting in August, New Glarus High School senior Kaia Morrison is joining us as a paid intern and student correspondent, helping us expand our coverage of student life and school news. Kaia brings experience in leadership, tutoring, writing, photography, video and social media. A former yearbook editor and active FCCLA member, she has helped create award-winning campaigns and shares our goal of building a stronger connection between the school and the broader community.
We have also added two paid correspondents to help us better cover news from the Green County courthouse in Monroe and local government meetings closer to New Glarus. Next, we plan to add additional photographers and videographers, improve the website to make it more user-friendly, and begin succession planning to ensure New Glarus 360 can continue serving the community well into the future. These are exciting times for New Glarus 360, and none of this would be possible without your support. Thank you for making us part of your day and trusting us to keep you informed.
What We’re Working On
A $15,000 donation will help the Green County Sheriff’s Office acquire a new K-9. We will share more about the donation and the department’s plans for the dog.
Prairie Haus Phase II will soon apply for its building permit. We will share the construction timeline and when prospective residents can begin applying.
We will take readers behind the scenes of the New Glarus Hotel & Restaurant project. Our coverage will offer a closer look at the ongoing construction.
Volksfest and Firefest are both quickly approaching. We will provide detailed coverage of these two major New Glarus events.
Two years after a tornado destroyed Apple Grove Church, its reconstruction is well underway. We will look at the effort to bring the historic church back to life.
Hallmark invited New Glarus to compete in its Merriest Christmas Towns Contest before a local campaign gained momentum. Should New Glarus lean further into the village’s made-for-TV holiday charm?
Work continues on the new Highway 69 and County Highway C roundabout as construction affects traffic throughout the area. We will show what the completed roundabout will look like and explain what it means for local drivers.
We are compiling the Top 10 Traditions That Define Wisconsin. The list will celebrate the customs, foods and shared experiences that make the state distinctive.
A New Glarus Bakery fundraiser allows schools, churches, youth groups, clubs and nonprofits to keep half of every sale. The program features hand-packed, 2-pound containers of popular cookie dough, including a gluten-free option.
More company profiles and alumni profiles are also on the way. We will continue introducing readers to the people and businesses with meaningful ties to the New Glarus community.
Photo of the Week
What You May Have Missed
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Something We Noticed
While researching another article, we stumbled across an interesting detail in a document called Architectural and Historical Survey of New Glarus. According to the survey, in the 1910s New Glarus continued building Queen Anne-style homes after the style had faded elsewhere in Wisconsin, helping create the older neighborhoods and streetscapes that still shape our community’s identity today.
The survey also is a reminder, perhaps, that architectural preservation is not simply about saving old buildings. It is about protecting the details, scale and character that make New Glarus recognizable, attractive and worth visiting — and ensuring future development adds to that identity rather than slowly erasing it.
While the Swiss chalets and facades are what many people think of when they picture New Glarus, I think there is much more to the village’s architectural character. Queen Anne homes, Craftsman details, historic commercial buildings, former schools and public buildings all help tell the story of how New Glarus grew and changed over generations.
I believe preserving that variety matters. New Glarus should not become a place where every historic building is made to look like a chalet, nor should new development ignore the scale and craftsmanship of the neighborhoods around it. The village’s architectural identity is strongest, maybe, when it reflects its full history — Swiss, Victorian, practical, civic and distinctly local.
How Can We Make New Glarus 360 Better?
New Glarus 360 exists to serve the community, and we’re always looking for ways to make our local news coverage more useful, informative and enjoyable. Is there a type of story you would like to see more often, a local issue that deserves greater attention, a feature we should add or something about the newsletter or website that could be improved? We value your ideas, suggestions and constructive criticism, and we want to hear from the people who read and support our work. Please share your thoughts by emailing editor@newglarus360.com.
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
