Wisconsin
A Brandy Cocktail Saved A Wisconsin Supper Club From Becoming Condos
![A Brandy Cocktail Saved A Wisconsin Supper Club From Becoming Condos](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/66511e57964f8e9ef19f6d13/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&height=900&width=1600&fit=bounds)
The front entrance of The Village Supper Club boasts an exterior fireplace that is reminiscent of … [+]
The Village Supper Club on Lake Delavan’s more than a century of operations almost shut down were it not for its Brandy Alexander cocktails.
These memorable ice cream drinks spurred Loretta and Allan Kaplan to save one of the longest, continuously operated supper clubs in the state. The historic property had initially been the dining lodge of Hall’s Park Resort when it opened in 1882. Over the years, it evolved into different restaurants and supper clubs, and as different owners took over, they expanded the building, a bit haphazardly at times, adding on to the as the space needs of the time dictated.
The Kaplans came every summer to enjoy life on the lake just a few doors down from the then named Swedish Village supper club. The couple had fond memories of taking their children out to dinner there, and when their children grew older, they still frequented the supper club. Most nights during the summer, they would head out after dinner and walk down along the lake to the supper club. “We used to come here late at night to get Brandy Alexanders as a dessert, and then we would dance on their small dance floor,” says Loretta.
In 2021, the beloved property went on sale. “My wife came home and told me ‘Hey, the Village is on the market,’” Allan recalls.
The couple immediately decided that they had to act – and act fast before a developer purchased the property and converted it into condos, which is what happened to another supper club on Lake Delavan. “This was always a restaurant, and it will always be a restaurant,” Allan says.
Cocktails, including the Wisconsin old fashioned and martinis, are very popular at The Village … [+]
So, after purchasing the building, they hired DMAC Architecture and Interiors to bring the historic property into the 21st Century. Initially, they were just going to do a heavy remodel, but with the age of the building and some questionable additions, they decided that the best course of action was to keep the building’s footprint, save whatever they could, but create an updated space that highlighted the property’s best feature: the lake.
“We are a modern take on a supper cub with great food and drink but a casual and welcoming atmosphere,” says Robert Johnson, general manager.
The re-imagined Village Supper Club welcomes visitors with a grand, asymmetrical, outdoor fireplace, which is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, and the grand interior with its cathedral ceiling and warm wood tones is inspired by some of the grand Midwestern barns of the area.
“This is a legacy project,” says Dwayne MacEwen, principal at DMAC Architecture and Interiors. “This should be timeless. It’s elegant, but it’s not trying too hard.”
The redesign evokes nostalgia of the supper clubs of yesteryear while maintaining a modern sophistication. The expansive, A-frame structure sets the stage for a gorgeous vista of Lake Delavan, as a wall of windows opens out onto the lake, and the tables are set in almost a stadium seating arrangement so there’s not a bad seat in the house, as every table and booth offers equally stunning views. The Kaplans pushed to save all of the trees that dot the landscape, and an equally expansive deck opens out onto the lake. The deck overlooks a dock where visitors can actually dock their boats if they choose to arrive via water instead of streets.
“They did a phenomenal job,” says Doug Wexler, a local resident “This will be the supper club other supper clubs will be compared to.”
After visitors walk past the fireplace and into the restaurant, they are greeted by hand-crafted bookcases, which highlight the history of the building, and the shelves line the back wall, which boasts its own conversation area behind the bar.
The bar itself is a magnificent, gold cage suspended overhead, showcasing the brandy and whiskey offerings. The Brandy Alexander is, of course, a specialty drink, but like every good supper club, the Village serves up Wisconsin Old Fashioneds, made with brandy or whiskey, served with sweet or sour, with muddled Luxardo cherries and oranges.
Though Wisconsin Old Fashioneds are most popularly served brandy and sweet, meaning they are crafted with brandy and topped with sweet soda (like Sprite), the sour versions are crafted with honey syrup and house sour mix. “And I make each one with love,” says Becky Hoogland, bartender.
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Wisconsin
Who can work Wisconsin's elections? New restrictions won't affect much, attorney general says
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new constitutional amendment restricting who can work on Wisconsin elections should have little practical effect, according to a legal opinion issued by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul on Tuesday.
Wisconsin voters approved a constitutional amendment in April that says only lawfully designated election officials can perform any work on primaries, elections and referendums.
It’s unclear how the amendment might change current practices beyond placing definitions about election officials, which are already in state law, into the constitution.
Dane County Corporation Counsel Carlos Pabellon asked Kaul weeks after the amendment was approved for a legal opinion on the definition of a lawful election official. Pabellon pointed out that parts of state law define them as special deputies who help nursing home residents vote, election inspectors and tabulators while other sections say they’re anyone charged with any duties relating to an election.
He questioned whether county and municipal clerks and their staffs remain election officials under the amendment. He also asked whether third-party vendors such as ballot printers could work with election officials since the amendment states only lawfully-designated election officials can do any election work.
Kaul wrote that the amendment doesn’t change the definition of a lawfully designated election official so the multiple definitions in state law remain viable. The amendment also doesn’t negate state laws empowering clerks and other election officials to run elections, he said.
What to know about the 2024 Election
The attorney general went on to say that the amendment doesn’t require election work to be performed only by election officials. Essentially, the amendment mandates that only lawfully designated election officials can control election administration, he wrote.
Kaul noted that Republican lawmakers drafted the amendment in reaction to grant money that came into Wisconsin in 2020 from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a liberal group that promotes voter access. That year the group received a $300 million donation from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife to help election officials buy supplies and run elections at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic
Wisconsin’s five largest cities, which President Joe Biden went on to win, received $8.8 million, sparking outrage from Republicans. They accused Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich of ceding authority for running the election to a paid consultant who had worked on Democratic campaigns in the past. Green Bay city attorneys said the claims lacked merit.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin auto dealerships revert to paper and pen during ransomware attack
![Wisconsin auto dealerships revert to paper and pen during ransomware attack](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/06/21/USAT/74175869007-getty-images-698800200.jpg?auto=webp&crop=2999,1687,x0,y156&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Ransomware attack against auto dealers software vendor could cost some dealerships sales.
Nearly 160 Wisconsin auto dealerships still face disruptions from the ransomware attack against software provider CDK Global which handles much of their paperwork.
Nationwide, around 15,000 dealers have been affected by the attack that’s believed to have originated in Eastern Europe. CDK, one of the largest providers of cloud-based software to dealers, helps them manage vehicle acquisitions, sales, financing, parts ordering and scheduling vehicle service.
A group that claims they hacked the suburban Chicago company has demanded tens of millions of dollars in ransom, Bloomberg Business News reported, citing a person familiar with the situation. CDK intended to pay the ransom, but discussions were subject to change, according to Bloomberg.
CDK shut down most of its systems “out of an abundance of caution” for dealerships, said spokesperson Lisa Finney.
In Wisconsin, 159 auto dealers have been affected by the CDK hack and shutdown, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The shutdown has caused some of them to revert to old-fashioned paper sales forms and completing documents by hand.
“Ultimately, they’ll still have to input all that information to CDK once they’re back and running, so that all the accounting gets squared away,” said Jim Tolkan, president of the Automobile Dealers Association of Metro Milwaukee.
“They can still do business,” Tolkan said, provided that dealers can obtain the paper forms.
The attack against CDK began last Wednesday. Despite attempts to restore services, another attack that evening caused further disruptions. It’s still unknown when services will return to normal.
On its website, CDK says it provides a “three-tiered cybersecurity strategy to prevent, protect and respond to cyberattacks.”
June is one of the stronger months for vehicle sales. If there are delays handling paperwork, the CDK outage could cost some dealerships sales, or at the least, a paperwork headache.
Wisconsin’s Department of Motor Vehicles says it’s provided an alternative for dealers to continue processing title applications and issuing temporary plates.
“The customer impact is minimal. In situations where the dealer would normally provide a permanent plate at the time of sale, they may now only provide a temporary plate. The plate/registration will be mailed directly to the customer from DMV,” the agency said Monday in a statement to the Journal Sentinel.
The cybercriminals behind the attack are linked to a group called BlackSuit, according to Bloomberg.
In May, a cyberattack against Ascension hospitals and clinics in Wisconsin and across the country reportedly involved a type of ransomware called Black Basta, according to CNN, which cited four anonymous sources.
Black Basta is a type of ransomware used to encrypt victims’ computers, rendering them unusable. Hackers can then extort victims by demanding money in return for access to the computer systems.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Democratic candidates hold Women’s Rights Rally in Kewaunee
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) -A handful of Wisconsin female political candidates hosted a rally at Harbor Park in Kewaunee Monday afternoon on the two-year anniversary of the Roe v. Wade reversal.
Among the speakers at the rally were State Assembly candidate Renee Paplham, Second District Senate candidate Kelly Peterson, and Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a candidate for the 8th Congressional District.
All of the speakers discussed personal stories of how the ruling led them to run for office in 2024.
“I am a pro-patient physician, and a pro-patient candidate, and that means I want my patients to have the health care they need and deserve,” said Dr. Lyerly. “It’s so much more than an abortion issue, a reproductive rights issue, than a health care issue, this is about our rights and freedoms.”
Action 2 News reached out to each of the three Republican candidates in the race for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District for a statement, but have not received a response.
Copyright 2024 WBAY. All rights reserved.
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