A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke There was a hint of wood smoke in the air last Thursday night. Someone near my home must’ve had their fire pit going. With the cool temperatures, it truly felt like fall had arrived. Fall means something special here in the Valley: Homecoming. And this year’s Homecoming was really something special. From the boulevard decorations to the dance under the stars, River Valley got it all just about right. Parents of seniors have decorated the island on Varsity Boulevard for their kids for years and years. This year the decorations were exceptional. Creative, artistic and beautiful. I loved the Olympic symbol done in painted tires. Well done, all. In the middle of Homecoming week, on Wednesday evening, the school board met to decide, at the administration’s recommendation, if they should update the instructional model regarding masks. Which they did. When a school has a mask mandate in place due to meeting benchmarks for doing so (the details are in the meeting story) everyone will now mask 24/7 instead of just during the school day. The members of our school board are intelligent, deeply caring people who are navigating unknown territory quite thoughtfully even while they are criticized for their decisions, no matter what they decide. It takes guts to do what they do and I thank them for doing their very best for our kids and our community. Then Thursday, ah Thursday night. Certainly a night to remember. I knew, having been in the Spring Green Village Board meeting the night before, that there would be fireworks. Principal Darby Blakley asked for permission to hold fireworks the day before it was set to happen because, I learned, it was a surprise - for the kids and certainly for most of the community. Darby told me, in an email, that he and Matt Snow are always trying to find new ways to get the student body excited and they got licensed professional Dale Krusen, who gave the school district a great deal, to put on the show.  Daughter Gwen kept the fireworks a surprise from granddaughter Mildred, who loves fireworks, too. But not from Scout the Wonder Dog. Scout is terrified of fireworks ever since she had a bad experience with them when Gwen lived in Nebraska. Fireworks are a big, big deal there and they don’t have nearly as many regulations as we have about them. So when Gwen’s next door neighbor set off fireworks in the driveway like the ones we normally see on the 4th of July, Scout was scarred for life. So she got meds from the vet to get through it. (Rusty pup - aka Jaws - didn’t bat an eye.) I’m grateful for Scout’s sake we knew what was happening. I also regret not telling more people about it because I heard from several friends that their dogs freaked out.  When the volleyball game ended Thursday evening and people began trooping out to the football stadium for the pep rally, the noise began to build. When the stadium was thrown into pitch blackness without being given an explanation, the noise could be heard across town.  My niece and sister live four or five blocks from the school and heard it. Curious, niece Shannon decided to explore and drove over to the high school just as the lights went out. A friend at the pep rally was coming back from the bathroom at the same moment… she found her family eventually. It was as loud as anything I’d ever heard to that point coming from the school campus. I’m not sure who was emceeing the pep rally but whoever it was got the crowd all cranked up. The drum line was fantastic. And then fireworks lit up the sky. Bam, bam, bam. Sitting on the grass in my front yard to get pictures, I was mesmerized and put my camera down after a few minutes because it was too good to watch through a lens. Gwen and Mildred were ooh-ing and aah-ing in the house and it was, in spite of some ups and downs, a truly special way to celebrate Homecoming. Friday was picture perfect, too. Even Mother Nature cooperated. The weather was not too hot, not too cold, and the rain held off until after the parade and ended before the football game. The School Fair maybe didn’t have the crowds it normally does, presumably because the pandemic is ongoing and school wasn’t held, but it was great anyway. Plenty of people to visit with, kids showing us their skills and having fun. It was great. The parade route was as packed as I’ve ever seen it, the floats, the bands, all of it was marvelous. I would like to know how much candy was thrown into the crowds. Like, a literal ton maybe? It was a lot and it was all the good stuff. I did manage to snag a new toothbrush for Mildred. I think she’s gonna need it. And I can assure you we will all help her eat her candy. The football game was fine. There was a good crowd and the kids learn something new every week. I mean, a loss is hard but it’s part of it. The volleyball team making Promise Parker their beneficiary this year was a wonderful gesture. Last but certainly not least, the Homecoming dance on Saturday night was held near the entrance to the football field. One large tent, a couple small ones, decorated with the Olympics theme. And speakers. I don’t know how many there were or how big they were. But they were really, really loud. Like -  wow – loud. Louder than the pep rally, louder than the fireworks. I went to a rock concert at the Houston Astrodome once. It is a huge venue. The music was so loud you could feel it. It seemed like the Homecoming dance was as loud as that concert. Probably not. Probably I’m just old. The kids looked like they were having as good of a time as I had at that long ago concert which is what’s important.  All in all, it was a Homecoming that will be remembered for a long, long time and not just because it was the loudest one anyone can recall. Kudos to those involved for all the hard work that went into making it so special. Stay in touch. My phone number is (608) 574-3159 – call or text me anytime. You can also email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588.  Visit our website at homenewsrv.com Get in touch with Gwen for sports or features at homenewssports@newspubinc.com. If you need a display ad, Dave Pronold can be reached at homenewssales@newspubinc.com or by calling him on his cell at 588-4777. Display ads, or ads that are in boxes, are due by 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. The classified ad deadline is noon Thursdays the week prior to publication for both the Buyer’s Guide and Home News. Classified rates are $13 for the first 10 words, then 30¢ per word for each additional word. Call (608) 767-3655 or email classifieds@newspubinc.com  Legal notices are due by 2 p.m. on Fridays, email them to legals@newspubinc.com Call the NewsPub central office at (608) 767-3655 for subscriptions and all other information Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, although afternoon hours can vary. Closed Fridays.