February 2023

Surprise.

Disbelief.

Shock.

Middleton’s girls basketball team felt all of the above when the WIAA Division 1 postseason seeds were released Sunday afternoon.

The Cardinals (13-9) received the No. 8 seed — far lower than they expected — and will host ninth-seeded Sussex Hamilton (8-14) in a regional semifinal on Feb. 24. The winner of that game would likely travel to top-seeded Brookfield East (21-2) for a regional final on Feb. 25.

“They were upset,” said Middleton coach Rashard Griffith, who had gathered his team together for a watch party. “And I think a lot of teams in our conference got bad seeds.

“But I told them, understand that this doesn't matter. The seed is the seed. We’re in the playoffs. Now it’s time to play the hand we were dealt.”

MIDDLETON–Middleton Community Orchestra (MCO) will hold its 2023 Young Artist Competition Winners Concert, featuring the winners of the auditions, which were held Jan. 8 at Capitol Lakes Retirement Home.

This year’s winners include: Kaitlyn McIntosh, viola; Ellen Zhou, violin; and Angelina Chang, piano. The women will perform with MCO On Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. at the Middleton Performing Arts Center with Christopher Ramaekers conducting.

Selections for the performance will include: Macura “An Unquiet Overture”; Elgar “From The Wand of Youth Suite 2: The Wild Bears”; Walton “Viola Concerto,” featuring McIntosh; Chopin, “Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op.11,” featuring Chang; Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47,” featuring Zhou; and Dvorak “Carnival Overture.”

Ellen Zhou

\TOWN OF MIDDLETON–The town board Monday added its voice to the growing chorus of entities urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize findings that exhaust from leaded aviation gas is a public health risk.

Last year, the EPA signaled its intention to make an “endangerment” finding regarding the fuel used in 170,000 piston-driven aircraft nationwide, including the aircraft hangered at Middleton Municipal Airport-Morey Field.

The town was the only Wisconsin municipality to join a petition by Earthjustice in 2020 to urge the EPA to regulate leaded aviation gas, which is the largest source of lead emissions in the country.

Morey Field is Dane County’s second-largest source of lead emissions behind only Dane County Regional Airport, annually contributing more than 200 pounds of airborne lead.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Town of Middleton residents living in Wards 5-8 will have a new polling place starting with the Feb. 21 Primary Election.

After voters waited in long lines–sometimes up to four hours–during the November 2022 General Election, the town board voted on Jan. 3 to include a second polling place at West Middleton Lutheran Church, 3763 Pioneer Rd.

Voters in Wards 1-4 will continue to vote at Town Hall, 7555 W. Old Sauk Rd.

Both polling places are accessible to those with disabilities. Disabled individuals who cannot make it inside to vote can also vote curbside. Look for handicap parking stalls, which include a number to call when you arrive.

During in-person absentee voting, the town’s clerk and deputy clerk will come to your car. On election day, poll workers will be available to perform this service. Curbside voting is available at both polling places. 

If you are not sure what ward you live in, visit myvote.wi.gov.