Although there are certainly changes from one generation to the next, Homecoming has a way of reminding us there are some things that remain remarkably familiar.
There are no letter jackets and class rings anymore. The floats aren't made from chicken wire and stuffed with pieces of tissue paper. And the old outhouse bonfires have long since passed into New Glarus lore. But the parade is still here. So is the football game. So is the dance. For generations of New Glarus students, those moments have marked another step through high school and, in their own small way, another step toward adulthood.
Maybe that is what Homecoming really celebrates. Yes, it is about school spirit and remembering our alma mater. But it is also a celebration of youth — and of a journey that parents can often see more clearly than the kids themselves. Another autumn Another class of kids growing older. Another group of young people making memories they may not fully appreciate until decades from now.
If you live within driving distance, the parade and Friday night football game are worth coming home for. And if New Glarus is now hundreds or thousands of miles away, you can still come home in a different way. Follow along with us this week as New Glarus 360 tries to capture the sights, sounds and spirit of Homecoming for you. Remember your own Homecoming, the people you shared it with and the person you were then — and take a little comfort in knowing that, despite all that has changed, the tradition continues.
Biggest Stories of the Week
What We’re Working On
The Glarner Community Complex is nearing the finish line, and we’re looking back on the long journey that brought the project to this point. New Glarus Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Thayer is helping us trace the milestones, challenges and impact of the completed work.
We’ll be out documenting New Glarus Homecoming with photos from both the parade and the dance. Look for a visual recap of one of the school year’s biggest traditions.
The New Glarus Glarner Knights host Southwestern/East Dubuque Friday night in the Homecoming game, and we’ll be there from kickoff to the final whistle. Expect complete coverage, including photos, highlights and the story of the game.
We’re putting together our Top 10 Places to Photograph New Glarus, from iconic landmarks to lesser-known vantage points. Whether you use a phone or a camera, we’ll show you some of the best places to capture the village and surrounding countryside.
Trails Pizza opens next Friday, and we’ll be there for the big day. We plan to try the new menu, photograph the reopening and share what customers can expect from the new restaurant.
Wellville Club & Courts in Belleville is nearing completion, and we have more details as the new facility prepares to launch. We’ll take a closer look at what is being built, what it will offer and when people may be able to start using it.
Once a month, a group of volunteers heads to Prairie Haus for a lively bingo game with residents. We’re telling the heartwarming story of a simple gathering that gives people a chance to meet their neighbors, stay engaged and have some fun.
Final New Glarus School District enrollment numbers are due soon, and we’ll share them when they arrive. We’ll also explain more about the economics of open enrollment and why student numbers matter so much to school finances.
The Town of Primrose and Town of Mount Pleasant have key EMS meetings coming in the next two weeks, and their decisions could fundamentally reshape New Glarus Area EMS. We’ll be there to cover the discussions and share the results.
The Village of New Glarus has money left over for additional street paving, and now the question is where it will go. We’re looking into how village officials plan to use the remaining funds and which streets could benefit.
The Town of New Glarus is preparing to appoint a new member to the Town Board. We’ll share the results and tell you more about the person selected to fill the open seat.
Corn harvest will begin soon across the New Glarus area, and we’ll be following it. We hope to photograph local farmers at work and share some of the stories behind this year’s harvest.
We’re wrapping up several interviews with local businesses as they prepare for the Christmas season, and we’re also talking with former New Glarus graduates. We’ll be sharing their stories in the weeks ahead.
Green County is moving closer to a decision on a new highway department facility in Monroe expected to cost more than $40 million. We’re looking at who will ultimately make the decision, what still needs to happen and when a final vote could come.
We have questions out to five people connected to the Stewart Tunnel project as we try to determine how construction is progressing. We’re also looking for answers on when the popular trail tunnel may finally reopen.
The story behind Belleville UFO Days is much bigger than a quirky annual festival — and New Glarus has a connection to it, too. We’re digging into the history, the people and the events that helped turn a strange local story into a lasting tradition.
Photo of the Week
What You May Have Missed
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Todd Klassy
Something We Noticed
This week a friend from Primrose Lutheran Church told me they have already made over 1,000 pieces of lefse for their annual Church Fall Supper on Oct. 10. If you have never been to their church supper I would encourage you to go. The setting is beautiful, the company is friendly and the food is great.
As old time Schwitzer I'm also reminded of the good-natured one gets when you break bread with the Norwegians in the Town of Primrose. Both sides have been giving each other grief for generations, and that friendly rivalry is still part of the fun. The supper is from 3 to 6 p.m. at Primrose Lutheran Church, with meatballs, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, lefse, Norwegian baked goods and pie.
In honor of that century-old local rivalry between the Swiss and Norwegians I’ll leave you with my favorite Sven and Ole joke, which I learned in Montana of all places.
Early one morning Sven sees Ole stepping out of his house.
“Good morning, Ole! How are ya?”
“Oh, Sven. Not so good.”
“Well, what’s the matter, Ole?”
“I got a whole family of raccoons living under my porch, and I can’t get rid of ’em.”
Sven thinks for a moment.
“Ole, I know exactly what you do. Make yourself a nice batch of lutefisk and put it under the porch. Those raccoons will be gone in no time.”
“Well, if you think it’ll work, Sven, I’ll give it a try.”
A few days passed and Sven sees Ole again.
“Say, Ole! How’d that lutefisk work you? You get rid of those raccoons?”
“Ya, Sven. The raccoons are gone.”
“Well, that’s good!”
“Ya … but now I got a family of Norwegians living under my porch and now I can’t get rid of them.”
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
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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
