County Executive Melissa Agard to Host Community Listening Sessions on the 2026 Dane County Budget and Year Ahead

DANE COUNTY – Dane County Executive Melissa Agard will host a series of community listening sessions throughout Dane County in December and January to discuss the recently passed 2026 county budget and share updates on challenges and opportunities in the year ahead.

These listening sessions are an opportunity for residents, local leaders, and stakeholders to hear directly from County Executive Agard about key investments, ongoing fiscal pressures, and priorities for strengthening county services and community well-being. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

Listening Session Schedule (note: each listening session will be 1 hour):

Thursday, December 11 | 5:00pm

Windsor Municipal Building

4430 Windsor Rd., Windsor

Tuesday, December 16 | 11:30am

Mazomanie Community Building

9 Brodhead St., Mazomanie

Wednesday, December 17 | 5:00pm

Deerfield Public Library

12 W. Nelson St., Deerfield

Thursday, December 18 | 12:30pm

Stoughton Public Library

304 S. Fourth St., Stoughton

Wednesday, January 21 | 7:00 pm

County Executive Agard will present at the Dane County Towns Association Meeting

Rutland Town Hall – 785 Center Rd, Stoughton, WI 53589

Members of the media and public are invited to attend any of the sessions.

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MMSD Opens Madison Promise Spring Semester Enrollment Window for High School Students

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has opened the spring semester enrollment window for Madison Promise, the district’s fully online learning program for high school students. 

Families interested in exploring a flexible, student-centered learning option are invited to apply beginning today. Students enrolled in Madison Promise can take a full schedule of MMSD courses taught by licensed teachers, with opportunities to personalize the pace and structure of their learning. 

The program is designed to support a wide range of student needs, including those who prefer online learning, those balancing responsibilities outside of school and those seeking a quieter or more self-directed academic setting.

“Madison Promise continues to be a strong option for students who thrive in an online environment,” said Mary Jankovich, executive director of college, career and community readiness. “Our educators work closely with each learner to build relationships, support their academic progress and ensure they have what they need to succeed.”

Launched in the 2021–22 school year, Madison Promise serves students in grades nine through 12 and offers a complete virtual learning environment grounded in five core principles: meaningful student engagement, strong relationship-building with dedicated teachers, high-quality professional development for educators, flexibility and a commitment to student voice and choice.

“Flexibility and belonging are at the heart of Madison Promise,” Jankovich said. “The online setting allows us to meet students where they are and support them in taking ownership of their learning in ways that fit their goals.”

The application window will remain open through Jan. 16, and space may be limited.

Families can learn more about curriculum, expectations and enrollment on the Madison Promise website. For additional information or support with the application process, families are encouraged to contact the district through Let’s Talk.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Local food pantries get financial boost from Lake Ridge Bank

November 20, 2025 (MADISON, Wis.) – In response to the extreme need arising from the lapse in SNAP benefits as well as a spike in applications for food assistance, Lake Ridge Bank has made multiple donations to local programs that work to support food security in our communities.

Recent donations include a $15,000 gift to River Food Pantry on Thursday. As a longtime partner, Lake Ridge Bank was involved in financing the nonprofit’s new building this year. The bank also provided $5,000 in support for the Goodman Community Center’s turkey dinner giveaway. Additionally, various Lake Ridge Bank locations are currently running food drives to bolster local pantries, such as WayForward (formerly MOM) and others.

“Part of being a community bank is finding ways to help our neighbors thrive,” says Lake Ridge Bank President Paul Hoffmann. “We saw a need and wanted to step up and do something about it.”

To get more information about giving to or benefitting from these pantries, visit:

• The River Food Pantry at riverfoodpantry.org
• Goodman Community Center at goodmancenter.org
• WayForward Resources at wayforwardresources.org

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Lake Ridge Bank’s mission is to “build prosperous communities, one relationship at a time.” For more than 100 years, this has meant getting to know each of our clients to offer personalized services to meet their specific financial goals. Lake Ridge Bank offers a full line of financial products and services. We focus on offering products and services to make your banking easy. Our business banking and mortgage lenders are trusted leaders in their field with the expertise to provide the right loan at the best rate possible for our clients. As a community bank, we are dedicated to reinvesting in, and making our communities great places to live, work and raise a family. Visit lakeridge.bank to learn more about how we can help you.

Vierbicher Unveils New Logo Reflecting Growth and the Future of the Firm

REEDSBURG, WI – Vierbicher, a leading planning, engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying firm, today announced the debut of its new logo and refreshed visual identity. The updated look reflects the firm’s continued growth, evolving services, and deep commitment to long-term client partnerships as it approaches its 50th anniversary.

The new logo is the centerpiece of a broader brand refresh developed in collaboration with KennedyC, Vierbicher’s media and branding agency. The updated design modernizes the firm’s visual presence while honoring its established history and reputation.

“As we approached this milestone, we wanted a brand that not only acknowledged where we’ve been, but clearly expressed who we are today and where we’re headed,” said Rod Zubella, CEO. “Our new logo reflects the trust our clients place in us as advisors, the technical expertise of our engineers and surveyors, and the forward-looking mindset that guides every project we take on.”

As part of the brand work, Vierbicher also refined the way it describes its business. The firm’s new descriptor, “Advisors / Engineers / Surveyors,” better captures the full scope of its services and the way clients experience working with the firm.

While planning and community development remains a core component of Vierbicher’s work, clients increasingly rely on the firm as a strategic partner—one that helps navigate complex challenges, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and bring long-term visions to life.

“Our clients don’t just see us as planners or designers,” said Andy Kurtz, Planning & Community Development Manager. “They see us as trusted advisors who help them solve problems, anticipate challenges, and deliver projects that stand the test of time. The updated language is a subtle but important shift that reflects the relationships we’ve built and the value we provide.”

“Brand updates don’t happen often, and we approached this one with intention,” added Suzanne Doody, Marketing Manager. “Our goal was to create a visual identity that we can confidently stand behind for many years to come—one that looks as strong on a jobsite vest as it does on a proposal cover or presentation.”

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Founded in 1976, Vierbicher provides integrated services in planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying from five offices across Wisconsin and he Upper Midwest. For nearly 50 years, the firm has partnered with clients to plan, design, and deliver projects that strengthen communities and support long-term growth.

With services spanning advisory, engineering, surveying, and related disciplines, Vierbicher brings together technical expertise, practical experience, and a collaborative approach to help clients move from vision to reality.

For more information, visit vierbicher.com.

 

Dupaco empowers members with Bright Track Financial Wellness Hub  

DUBUQUE, Iowa— For more than 77 years, Dupaco Credit Union has helped its members build a life worth loving—through education, personalized service and deep commitment to innovation. The financial cooperative’s commitment to well-being continues with its evolved Bright Track Financial Wellness Hub. What began as a credit monitoring tool for its members in 2016, has now grown into an innovative, all-in-one digital resource that empowers members to take control of their finances with confidence, clarity and ease.  

Dupaco’s Bright Track Financial Wellness Hub is a no-cost, member-exclusive tool available through the credit union’s Shine online and mobile banking platforms. It’s designed to simplify money management, offering personalized insights, real-time alerts and smart tracking features that help members save, spend and plan more effectively.  

“We know life doesn’t always happen inside a branch,” said Kevin Lex, digital banking product manager at Dupaco. “Bright Track gives members the power to manage their finances anytime, anywhere—with tools that are intuitive, personalized and free.”  

Lex said the online and mobile banking tool was designed to help members stay informed to make smarter decisions without stress or complexity. 

Key features of Dupaco’s Bright Track Financial Wellness Hub:  

• Real-time alerts for account activity, sign-ins, merchant refunds and more  
• Subscription tracking to spot overlapping services, price changes, and post-trial charges  
• Personalized tips to help members stretch every dollar  
• Credit score monitoring with alerts for changes or anomalies  
• Calendar view of upcoming payments and deposits to avoid surprises  

“In today’s subscription-driven economy, it’s easy to lose track of the subscriptions we’re paying for,” says Lex. “Bright Track now helps members monitor those charges—spotting duplicate or hidden subscription fees before they add up. Ironically, most consumers have to subscribe to this type of service just to get this type of insight. At Dupaco, it’s a no-cost benefit that helps our members save more and stress less.”  

In 2024, more than 60,233 Dupaco members used the credit union’s Bright Track credit monitoring tool to take charge of their credit. Over 81.54% improved or maintained their credit score range through consistent use.  

Now, as the product has evolved into a comprehensive Financial Wellness Hub, the innovative tool is part of Dupaco’s broader strategy to deliver meaningful value through digital tools that support financial wellness. Whether members are saving for the holidays, managing subscriptions or planning for their future, Bright Track Financial Wellness Hub helps make every dollar count.  

“We’re constantly evolving to meet our members where they are,” added Lex. “Bright Track Financial Wellness Hub is just one example of how we’re using technology to make financial wellness more accessible, intuitive and impactful.”  

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ABOUT DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION  

Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It is dedicated to the financial well-being of its members, and specializes in personalized financial counseling, money advice and education. It offers savings, loans, investments, insurance and wealth management products for individuals and businesses. Dupaco serves residents in 118 counties throughout Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. Founded in 1948 by ten Dubuque Packing Company employees, membership has grown to more than 176,000 with assets exceeding $3.6 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations. Learn more at www.dupaco.com.