When the weather outside gets frightful, it often means that cold and flu season is upon us.  When it hits our household, we have several tricks – some passed down from grandmothers – to help get you back on your feet!  The best thing?  Everything you need is probably in your house right now or easily obtained.
 
Festive Steam Pot
I don’t know about you, but our household goes through clementines like crazy beginning around Thanksgiving – don’t throw out the peels!  Add them in the bottom of a sturdy pot with a cinnamon stick or two and a sprinkle of whole cloves (add a handful of fresh cranberries, if you have them) and crush them with a muddler or wooden spoon to release the oils from the citrus skins and blend with the spices.  Fill the pot about an inch from the top with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low.  This trick not only adds moisture to a dry house, but the smell is so festive!  Be sure to keep an eye on the pot so it doesn’t run dry.  You can add water  a few times to keep it going, but drain and compost or toss the remains and start a fresh pot the next day, as the smell begins to become unpleasant if you’ve over-simmered your peels.

Wooly Cough Suppressant
A bad cough can keep you up at night and make it harder to get better, but this simple trick can almost miraculously keep a cough at bay (depending on the type of cough).  Take a clean washcloth and fold it into thirds or fourths so you have a long rectangle. Run it under warm water, then wring it out so that it isn’t dripping wet.  Place the cloth over your throat like a scarf, with the ends trying to meet at the back of your neck, then wrap a wool scarf, sock, or piece of wool fabric over the cloth, securing it by tying the scarf or with a safety or diaper pin.  This trick only works for certain types of coughs, but you’ll notice it immediately if it works!  I’ve been able to finally fall asleep without coughing many a night by using this trick.  When the effect wears off, simply re-wet the washcloth and repeat.  Note that you do need to use real wool for the scarf, sock, or fabric or it won't work.

Basic Cold & Flu Tea
Put the kettle on and grab a mug.  Squeeze half of a lemon into the mug, then add a teaspoon to a tablespoon of raw honey and a half inch chunk of fresh ginger, peeled.  When the kettle comes to a boil, let it sit for a minute before pouring it over, as boiling water can destroy the good stuff in the honey, lemon juice, and ginger.  Sip it while it’s hot and repeat as necessary.

Sea Salt Sore Throat Remedy
Terrible sore throat?  Put on the kettle, again.  Add one teaspoon of sea salt or Himalayan salt (the pink stuff) to a coffee mug, then add warm (not boiling) water.  Stir to dissolve the salt.  Standing in front of the bathroom sink, take sips of the warm salt water (DO NOT swallow this stuff!) and gargle for as long as possible, spitting down the drain when you need to, until you’ve used up all the water in the cup.  This is best done right before bed, but can be done periodically through the day, as well.  Avoid drinking anything afterwards for awhile, as it rinses the salt – and the relief it brings – away.
 
My kids used these remedies, too, with supervision, just know your kid (Are they capable of gargling? Test the temperature of the tea or salt water before you give it to them, of course. How likely is it that they get tangled in a scarf or stuck by a pin?).  The whole household benefits from the Festive Steaming Pot, so that’s an easy one to try, but you’ll be surprised at how well these home remedies work to ease you through the germiest time of the year.
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Have a tried-and-true home remedy for colds and flu that we missed?  Let us know in the comments!

By Mary Boyle

​We've all been there: the panic that sets in when the clock is running out and you still haven't found the right gift, realized you forgot someone on your list, or just couldn't get a moment to get out and shop until the bitter end.  Heading to a big box store may seem like the most convenient option, but there are so many amazing local and independent businesses in Oz just waiting to help you!  Supporting local businesses and organizations is the gift that keeps on giving: the money you spend at these places not only stays in our community, but oftentimes helps to support important organizations that make Ozaukee and the greater Ozaukee area so unique and wonderful.  Read on, and find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list!

For the Foodies

Oz is home to some really great restaurants, and a special dinner out could be a lovely gift.  Try Fork & Tap, The Steerage, Plier's Full Circle Pub & Restaurant, or Twisted Willow in Port; Cedarburg has Brandywine, The Stilt House, The Anvil Pub or The Farmstead.  Messina's in Saukville is a good bet, or try No No's in Newburg.  The Stillery in Grafton is a good option, or head down to Mequon and check out The Highland House, the St. Paul Fish Company, or Cafe 1505. A CSA Subscription is another great idea!  For those looking to find unique products or spice up their entertaining, you simply must visit Frannie's Market in Cedarburg, where you'll find items for a fabulous charcuterie board and so much more!

For the Nature Lovers

Oz is home to two amazing nature preserves:  Riveredge in Newburg in the north and Mequon Nature Preserve in the south.  Memberships to both offer access to trails and programming, but also help support environmental restoration and education in Oz.  Besides memberships, Riveredge has a Visitor's Center full of great gifts for the Outdoorsy person in your life, including the syrup they make onsite each spring.

For the Art Lovers

The art community is strong in Oz, and there are a variety of places where original artwork of all kinds can be purchased.  In Cedarburg, try the Cedarburg Art Museum, Cedarburg Cultural Center, or the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts gift shops, but memberships to these organizations also make great gifts. In downtown Cedarburg, you can find local art in many of the gift shops, including Bohemia, the Pink Llama Gallery, and within the Shops of Cedar Creek Settlement.  In Grafton, look no further than the NSAA Arts Mill, where a wide variety of treasures await.  In Port Washington, try the Purple Turtle Artisan Collective or the Mercantile Plaza.

For the Coffee Lovers

If there is one thing the Land of Oz has aplenty, it's good coffee shops.  Gift Certificates are great, of course, but most also offer t-shirts, mugs, and other fun items to show your coffee shop pride.  In Port, there's Java Dock Cafe or Amplify Cafe inside of Lakeside Music & Naturals; in Grafton, we have AM Coffee, NSeven, and Colectivo (also in Mequon); in Cedarburg, there's the Cedarburg Coffee Roastery and Java House.  There is no lack of caffeine in Oz, people.

For the Pet Lovers (and pets!!)

Oz is home to a bounty of wonderful, independent and local places to shop for the pet or pet lover in your life!  In Port Washington, check out One Wag on the corner of Franklin and Jackson St. downtown, which specializes in natural food and nutritional support for your pets.  In Saukville, there's Dawgs In Motion, which has day camp, training classes, a pool, a shop, grooming and more, or Pet Supply Port, which has been in Oz for over 25 years.  In Mequon, try the Feed Bag, which also offers a pool and grooming, as well as a selection for pets beyond dogs and cats.  In Cedarburg, try Landmark Supply, which has been serving the critters of Oz for over 150 years!

For the Beer & Wine Lovers 

Oz is home to a number of breweries, and there are a few winery options, as well.  In Cedarburg, there is the award-winning Cedar Creek Winery, Sunshine Winery and Chiselled Grape Winery, but Cedarburg has two breweries, as well: Rebellion Brewing and The Fermentorium.  In Port Washington, try Inventors Brewpub or Vines to Cellar.  In Grafton there's Sahale Ale Works, or check out Foxtown Brewing in Mequon.

​For those who love to wander through Gift Shops and be inspired...

Sometimes, you just want to wander around and see what might jump out at you, or have someone in the know who has the time to help you find the perfect gift.  If that's you, you could just start at one end of downtown Cedarburg and finish at the other (pay particular attention to Lillies, Weeds, Bohemia, From the Heart and the Cedar Creek Settlement), but Cedarburg isn't your only game!  In Port Washington, try Pear & Simple, Eclectic Avenue, Lakeside Music & Naturals (which has all types of goodies for the musicians in your life, too), Artisan Market (formerly The Shoppes of Port Washington), Port's Cozy Corner, or Locally Inspired.  In Grafton, you must check out Wild & Precious Boutique, and in Mequon you can't go wrong with Creatively Yours.  Finally, in Thiensville, try Frankie's - A Gift Shop.

For the Jewelry Lover

Armbruster Jewelers in Cedarburg has been around since 1884, so you really can't go wrong, there; however, if you're lakeside, check out Sharbuno Jewelers in Port Washington, another family business that has been serving Oz since 1950.  Mequon's East Towne Jewelers boasts over 30 years of business, which is certainly an accomplishment, as well.  Cedarburg has several more unique and boutique shops that may also serve you well, such as Pagoda Fine Jewelry, Wyndrose Fine Jewelry or Jewelry Works.

For the Outdoor Sports Enthusiast

Snowboarding, skiing, cycling, kayaking, skateboarding, and more! Check out Sherper's in Port Washington, or Cedar Creek Outdoors in Cedarburg, Extreme Ski & Bike in Thiensville, or ERIK'S in Grafton.  Surfing on Lake Michigan?  You bet!  Try the Board Shack in Port.

Candy and other Sweet Treats 

On the lookout for candy, the perfect chocolate Santa, or maybe just something to satisfy your holiday sweet tooth?  Oz has you covered!  In Port Washington, you must visit The Chocolate Chisel for some of the best hot chocolate and ice cream in Oz, as well as amazing chocolates.  In Grafton, Sweettrio or Handmade with Love is the place to go for candy, chocolates or caramel apples.  In Cedarburg, you have your choice of Amy's Candy Kitchen, which is known for their caramel apples, or Ashley's Confectionery, which is a great place to find vintage candy and M&M's by the color, as well as chocolates.  No trip to Cedarburg is complete without a stop at Boulangerie du Monde which is, in my humble opinion, the best bakery in the State of Wisconsin. In Mequon, you must visit the Cocoa Tree Confectionery (and, if you have a great sense of humor and aren't easily offended, follow them on Facebook for some weekly laughs;)! 

For the Kids (and Kids at Heart)

When you're shopping for children, to place to buy toys in Ozaukee County has been the Cedarburg Toy Co. for over a decade.  Now under new ownership, this magical little store in Cedarburg's historic downtown continues to be a great place to play.  

If you have a gamer in your life, you'll definitely want to stop at Game N' Repair, now in Cedarburg, where you can find new toys and collectibles, game systems and games, or get almost anything repaired, including your mobile phones!

​The important thing to remember about gift giving, especially this time of year, is not to buy stuff just to buy stuff.  Slow down and try to really be present with people.  The gift of your time is one of the best things you can give.  As a theatre lover, I can strongly recommend the gift of a night out at one of the many area theatre companies, which you can find on our #WisconsinTheatreNews page.  That being said, when you do want to give something, consider giving a gift that gives back to our community and buy local this holiday season.  ​

​The holidays embody the spirit of giving and Giving Tuesday is an excellent way to take part. Ozaukee has many worthy non-profits to support and who need your help. Make a donation in someone's name and, not only is it a great Christmas gift for someone who has everything, it really is a gift that keeps on giving!  The Ozaukee Nonprofit Center has created this handy dandy Giving Guide to help you learn more about many of the wonderful nonprofits serving Oz, and there are many more on the list below.  Don't see yours?  Send information to [email protected].


Kids & Family
Kettle Moraine YMCA
Ozaukee 4H
Big Brothers Big Sisters
The Arts
Cedarburg Cultural Center
Cedarburg Art Museum
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts
North Shore Academy of the Arts
Gathering on the Green
Nature, Food, Environment
Riveredge Nature Center
Friends of the Cedarburg Bog
Mequon Nature Preserve
Treasures of Oz
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust
Wellspring
Animals
Pine View Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Ozaukee Humane Society
Tailwaggers 911
History
Ozaukee County Historical Society
Grafton Historical Society
Mequon-Thiensville Historical Society
Port Washington Historical Society
Waubeka Historic District Association
Community
Ozaukee Nonprofit Center 
Advocates of Ozaukee 
Mr. Bob's Under the Bridge
Adult Literacy Center 
Port Washington Main Street
Portal, Inc.
Balance, Inc.
Saukville Community Food Pantry
Family Promise of Ozaukee County 
Family Sharing of Ozaukee County
Just Listen, Inc.
United Way
Family Enrichment Center
Lasata

Getting the perfect, fresh-cut tree can be an amazing family holiday experience, and there are plenty of places in Oz that deliver. Here are the top picks for in or near Oz where you can cut your own or choose a pre-cut fresh tree!
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Uselding's Christmas Trees
Located on Western Rd. just outside of downtown Cedarburg, choose a pre-cut tree, wreaths and other trimming.

Cedarburg Creek Farm
Located at 649 Hwy 60 in Cedarburg, the Cedarburg Creek Farm has pre-cut trees, wreaths, decorated pots, petting zoo, hayrides and more.
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Sandhill Tree Farm
Located at 2323 E River Rd. in Grafton, Sandhill Tree Farm will be open for cut your own trees on weekends from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. beginning November 23rd and 30th, then December 1st and 7th and 8th, depending on inventory. Enjoy a bonfire, hot chocolate, candy canes, holiday gift shop, and photo opportunities.
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Gene Fransee & Son Nursery & Landscaping/ Home of Kletzien Garden Center
Located at 3670 Hwy. W in Port Washington has trees, wreaths, poinsettias, vintage Christmas collectibles and more.

Appleland Farm Market
For the first time, Appleland will have pre-Cut Trees available starting November 19th.  Selection of sizes range from 7 Ft to 12 FtAvailable during business hours – November Open Daily 10-5 (Closed on Thanksgiving Day) and December: Open Thursday-Sunday 10-5.

First Congregational Church
Located on the corner of Jackson St. and Grand Ave., along the Sauk Creek, the First Congregational Church is now in their 38th year of selling pre-cut trees as a fundraiser for the church.

​Buechler Farms, LLC
Located at 587 S. Royal Ave in Belgium, Buechler's offers trees, wreaths, planters and a special Christmas Shop with ongoing activities for the kids.

Willoway Farm & Friends
For their fifth year, Willoway Farm and the Waubeka Historic District Association are selling pre-cut balsams at N5412 Cigrand Dr. in Waubeka, as well as some other local goodies.  Open Black Friday from 9-6., Saturday, November 30th 9-5; Sunday, December 1st 11-3.  Trees range from 5 - 12 feet.  Starting Dec 5th, hours are Wednesday 3:30-6, Thursday 3:30-6, Friday 3:30-6, Saturday 9-5, and Sunday 11-3.  Don't miss the 1st Annual Light Up The Pavilion on Saturday, December 7th, for extra holiday offerings!

Anderson’s Greenview Tree Farm
Located at W4266 County Rd. D in Random Lake, Anderson's has pre-cut trees as well as wreaths and a Christmas Gift Shop in the barn, or take a walk or hay ride out to the fields to cut your own.

​Trees For Less
Located at 11550 Wausaukee Rd. in Mequon has cut your own and pre-cut trees.  Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week.  On the weekends, enjoy hot chocolate, a visit with Santa, snacks, a hayride, and more!

Stumpf's Tree Farm
Located at 340 Horns Corners Road in Cedarburg, Stumpf's is open Friday, November 29, then every Saturday and Sunday through December 22, 2024.  Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Choose from Scotch Pine, Colorado, Black Hills, Meyers, Norway, or Serbian Spruce (no fir trees). Most trees 6 to 7 feet tall (very few taller than 8 feet). 

By Mary Boyle

Anyone who's been reading me for awhile knows that I'm a cafe junkie.  In my humble opinion, there is nothing better than a pastry and a good latte, and we have several great, independent bakeries and coffeeshops in Oz to fill that need, but I hadn't made it out to try our newest one, Interurban Coffeehouse, which opened in the Foxtown Market in Mequon this past March.  Now that it's open seven days a week, I was able to drop in and check it out.

The Foxtown Market is located between the Foxtown Annex/Foxtown Brewery and the Foxtown Station, directly across the street from the Mequon Public Market on the south side of Mequon Road on Weston Drive.  These buildings are all relatively new, but utilize some of the original structures on the site.  What I love about this development is that they're building it to resemble a traditional, tightly knit neighborhood, with housing above and around to support both the Interurban Coffeehouse and Foxtown Heritage Meats, as well as the other nearby businesses.  With the Interurban Trail running right nearby, it's both bike-friendly and walkable, but there is also plenty of parking and it's easy to get in and out.

Serving Stone Creek Coffee, as well as two choices of fresh juice concoctions and Rishi tea, the Interurban Coffeehouse offers all of the standard cafe choices, such as an Americano, cappuccino, or latte, along with seasonal creations.  The cafe is spacious and bright, with plenty of seating, and they're working on adding a special dog-friendly section in the near future, which I'm sure will be popular.  Also under construction is a full-scale deli, so lunch sandwiches will be on the menu in the coming year.  

I tried a loaf of the light sourdough batard, which sliced up lovely, had a nice crispy crust and chewy inside, and was perfect with soup for that evening's dinner, and also had a taste of their sweet potato loaf, which I think would work nicely for French Toast.  I also grabbed a selection of pastries: a cherry danish, an apple danish, and a croissant.  Beautifully layered and flaky, each one of these was a delight to eat.  I was especially impressed by the cherry danish, which wasn't filled with a canned pie filling, but tart cherries without all of the sticky gloop one sometimes finds.  The danishes went well with my hot latte and I felt that the prices were reasonable.

I unfortunately had to order and run, but I think the Interurban Coffeehouse would be a pleasant place to meet with a friend or enjoy a good book.  Right now, besides pastries and other bakery that changes daily, there is only a very limited breakfast menu, so this is not the place to go (yet) if you're looking for a hearty meal.  There is no official website, but you can see what's available through their toasttab online ordering site (I would order from there if you have your heart set on some bakery and don't want it to disappear while you're on the way there).  

For Thanksgiving, the Interurban Coffeehouse is taking preorders for bakery, including a gorgeous pumpkin-shaped sourdough bread centerpiece.  I'm looking forward to my next trip back for another bite of pastry and a new loaf of bread to try.



Find the Interurban Coffeehouse, located in the Foxtown Market in Mequon, at 11120 N. Weston Drive.  Visit online at
order.toasttab.com/online/foxtown-meats-11120-weston-drive

By Mary Boyle

My family always had at least one dog growing up, but the first one that was truly mine was Nikita – a dainty black and white Siberian Husky with ice blue eyes that my then boyfriend and I adopted just shy of my twentieth birthday.  We still lived with my family and, to be honest, I was not a great puppy mom, although I didn’t know that until later.  Luckily, Nikita seemed to mature a lot faster than I did.  She withstood our young adult years, was with us when I married that boyfriend, and seemed a wise lady by the time I introduced her to our first child in 2002 and our second in 2005.  The kids never truly bonded with her – too many chewed up toys and too much stolen food, I suspect – but it broke mine and my husband’s heart when it was time to say goodbye in 2009.  She was fourteen years old and she had been with me nearly all of my adult life, but she had snapped at me when I tried to brush her – something she’d never done.  We knew she was ready, but we weren’t so sure.  Having to make the decision to let her go was so hard that it took nearly a decade before I could even think about getting another dog but, when I began to look, I knew exactly what I was looking for.

My kids were 16 and 13 years old.  I could see the empty nest looming on the horizon and I knew what I needed: a transition baby of the furry kind.  A furry baby that my husband and the kids couldn’t help but adore.  She needed to be a girl; she needed to be rolly polly, a bit chonky, somewhat lazy, and ridiculously snuggly – the type of dog that would lay on my feet and keep them warm while I wrote at my computer and curl up with us while we watched movies.  She needed to be just a little bit snergelly and snuffelly and gross, because my youngest was a gross-a-phobe and I wanted to overcome that by putting the gross in the most compelling package possible (this was a pretty solid theory that totally ended up working, by the way).  I was leaning towards a French Bulldog or a Pitbull – there was just something about those square-shaped heads.  We kept an eye on all the adoption websites, yet the right candidate did not appear. 

Then, on the evening of December 30, 2018, I had just finished posting my weekly newsletter on Facebook and switched to my personal page when the images of three puppies popped up.  “Puppies for sale, $200 each. Eight weeks old. Moving and must find homes asap.”  There were two solid blue ones, but the third had white socks and markings.  The Universe whispered into my ear, “That’s the one.”  I messaged the poster and attempted to find out more about the parentage, so we might have an idea of how big this puppy might get and what her temperament might be, but her answers were somewhat evasive – it was clear that she didn’t want us coming to her, which wasn’t exactly comforting.  The one I wanted was a tricolor, I was told, which meant she was more valuable – $400 for her – they were purebred American Pit Bull Terriers, after all, and had papers.  I wasn’t sure we were really getting anywhere via texts and went to bed with uncertainty about it all.  Then, on New Year’s Eve morning, I got a text from her saying that someone was interested in one of the other puppies and she would be meeting them at the Bed, Bath & Beyond parking lot in Mequon, if I wanted to meet her there.  I told my family to get in the car – we were going to see a puppy!
​
The day was cold and rainy.  We walked up to the minivan, and she slid open the side door.  There on the seat – not in a box or even a blanket – two tiny puppies were fast asleep.  I gently picked up the tricolor one and the first thing I noticed was that she had no toes on her back right foot, just the main pad.  The woman said the mother got her toes when she bit the placenta to break it, but she’d been to the vet and she was fine.  We took her to a sheltered overhang, out of the cold rain, and put her down to make sure she could walk.  She shivered as she took a few steps, and that was enough for me.  I quickly retrieved her and looked at my husband; he looked at our oldest and asked, “Is this the one.”  They smiled and nodded.  My youngest reminded us all that this was our dog and they were not responsible for this puppy’s care in any way, shape, or form, to which we agreed.  My husband handed over the money, knowing it was probably highway robbery, but we figured she needed it more than we did. The puppy slept on my oldest’s lap while we stopped at the pet store for supplies, then we took our new baby home.

From the moment I scooped that little toeless nugget out of that minivan, she assumed the role of the sun in the solar system of our family; we immediately arranged our lives around her. We named her Lady Margaret Alma Muldoon Boyle, the Toeless Lass of Tuam, but we mostly just called her Maggie.  She was the #ToelessTerror, the majestic pibble monster, and a thousand variations of her name, from “Magpie” to “puppy-nugget” to the more formal “Margaret”.   I asked and the Universe delivered.  I needed a baby, and she was so clingy that I finally wore her in a baby wrap so I could get things done, because she wouldn’t sleep unless she was being held.  A couple of weeks after we brought her home, I realized I never got her actual birthdate, so I messaged the woman, who unthinkingly told me the truth: November 14, 2018.  This meant Maggie was only six weeks old when we got her, not eight, as we were told (which honestly explained a lot).  When I asked about her paperwork, she replied, “My husband has it and he’s locked up, right now.”  Not that I really believed she had paperwork, anyway, but what was I to say to that?  Turns out an American Pit Bull Terrier isn’t recognized by the AKC, anyway.  Who knew?

When we took her to her first vet appointment, we discovered another lie.  We told the vet what we were told about Maggie’s missing toes and he actually laughed.  The real cause, he explained, was a congenital birth defect, a certain sign of bad breeding.  Bad breeding aside, Maggie had us all wrapped around her remaining toes.  I thought it would be a year before my youngest would dare to touch her, but Maggie proved irresistible, and within weeks she claimed a snuggle buddy; in fact, my youngest, despite the refusal to have any responsibility, ended up being the majority puppy watcher (a fact they loved to hold over us on a regular basis).  My oldest used their own money to buy Maggie a bike trailer/stroller for when her nubbin foot became too tired to walk on, and the comments we heard when people realized there was a pit bull where a child should be were priceless.  For my husband, Maggie ran to the door to meet him each day when he came home, which made his day (Lord knows the two teenagers and the busy wife couldn’t be counted on for such a welcome!).

We knew that Maggie’s toeless situation would probably cause some additional healthcare issues, and that was true.  After an x-ray to get a better look at what was going on, we saw that not all of her toe bones were missing: there was one, shaped like a sharp triangle, threatening to poke through the skin at the edge of where her foot met the pad.  No wonder she couldn’t walk long distances.  Our vet at the time thought it best to wait until Maggie’s spay surgery to remove the sharp bone, so as to avoid excess anesthesia, but we wanted to wait until Maggie went through a heat cycle before we did the surgery (this has been shown to decrease health issues later in life, such as incontinence), so we had to wait.  Maggie had her cycle and the surgery was scheduled several weeks out, to allow time for all the reproductive organs and tissues to return to normal; however, before we made it to surgery, Maggie had a false pregnancy, so we rescheduled again.  Before that surgery could take place, she went into heat, again, followed closely by yet another false pregnancy! 

All this hormone business turned out to be just a foreshadowing of more health battles to come.  During her false pregnancy, she had developed a rash at the top of her tail and had started to scratch frequently, along with having very goopy eyes.  When I took her in, our vet decided, without any kind of testing, that it was probably seasonal allergies and suggested we put her on steroids.  This shocked me.  Maggie wasn’t even a year old, yet, and steroids have a lot of side effects.  I decided to look for a second opinion and hopefully a more natural way of dealing with the issue, which began to get worse.  The second vet offered Apoquel, which is the current drug of choice for the rising tide of itchy pets, but it was very expensive and wasn’t a cure – meaning she would be on it for life – so, I decided to keep looking before I doomed her to a shortened life on a prescription drug.  This is when we found Dr. Sue at Thrive Wholistic Veterinary Care in Thiensville, where we were offered the most sensible next step: a simple saliva test to check for food sensitivities. 
​
What we learned from the test was that our poor puppy was allergic to almost everything – in fact, there were very few commercially made dog foods that we could give her, as she was allergic to all grains, white fish, eggs, and dairy of any kind.  As luck would have it, there was a relatively new pet store called One Wag in Port Washington, where we lived, and the owner, Emily Monroe, had a passion for helping people with their pet’s diet.  I had been determined to get Maggie as healthy as possible before her surgery and, though it took several weeks, changing her diet did the trick.  I remember walking with Maggie in Port just before her surgery and a woman exclaimed about how beautiful and healthy Maggie’s coat looked.  “You must be feeding her very well,” she’d said, and I was: Stella & Chewy’s Limited Ingredient Duck dog food, which Emily had helped us find.  

​Finally, Maggie had the big surgery: spay, foot, and microchipped.  I hadn’t realized how worried about her I was until we finally brought her home and I could breathe.  Eventually, her foot and incision healed up, but the itching returned, along with terrible hives and rashes.  At first, I thought it was because the mandatory antibiotic after the surgery had messed up her immune system, but no amount of probiotics seemed to help.  This second journey to heal Maggie’s rashes, hives, and itchiness lasted for the rest of her life.  We tried improving her diet, first, with Honest Kitchen, then switched to a full raw food diet with Steve’s Real Food, then finally Tucker’s Beef & Pumpkin, which seemed to agree with Maggie the best.  We also, on a recommendation from Emily, tried BICOM Therapy at Country Care Animal Complex in Green Bay, WI.  Similar to muscle testing/kinesiology, this testing allowed us to determine other household things Maggie was reacting to, such as laundry detergent, and also gave us insight into what caused the allergies in the first place: her rabies vaccination, according to the vet, who recommended that Maggie avoid that particular one in the future.

Though Maggie made good progress using BICOM therapy, the itching and rashes would always return, but generally with less frequency and ferocity.  Since diet was what had given us the most results, we decided to put more focus there.  This is the regimen that ultimately gave us the best results.  Was it expensive and time consuming?  Yes.  However, so are pharmaceuticals and trips to the vet, so we made it work.

Breakfast – 1 c. of frozen Wyman’s Wild Blueberries (Costco in Grafton), 1 apple, 2 celery sticks pulsed in a blender then added to her dish with Bixbi’s Skin & Coat (One Wag), 3 drops each of Vimergy Liquid Zinc and B12, a sprinkle of Vimergy Barley Grass Juice powder, 1 capsule/1 tsp. of Vimergy Micro C (https://vimergy.com/), ProDen PlaqueOff Powder (One Wag), and sometimes Bark & Whiskers Complete Probiotics, along with enough water to mix in the powders.

Snacks –Celery sticks (Maggie’s absolute favorite!), apple or pear slices, fresh raspberries or blackberries, radishes, cucumber, asparagus, red or yellow bell peppers, and sometimes carrots.  Closer to dinner, on nice days when she could eat it outside, we’d give her the best treat of all: a frozen raw grassfed beef marrow bone from Outpost in Mequon (Wisconsin Meadows offers a raw dog food subscription, as well, but it is pricey).  If lean beef went on sale, we’d sometimes slice it up and dehydrate it for a beef jerky snack, as well.
​
Dinner – 1 # patty of Tucker’s Beef & Pumpkin (Feed Bag Pet Supply), two squirts of Natural Dog Company Salmon Oil, and a sprinkle of dried or fresh parsley.

​This past summer, I finally thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Her rashes on her stomach, which had plagued her for the past 4 years, were finally gone, and her face and tail were nearly clear, we were just waiting for the hair to fully grow back.  Unfortunately, the light at the end of the tunnel turned out to be a train headed right for us.

On September 30th, 2024, we found a lump on Maggie’s lower abdomen and thought it was a hernia – not a medical emergency, but obviously we needed an exam to confirm. Over the week, while I worked on getting her an exam, she was clearly becoming uncomfortable and more tired.  When our oldest had a rare night home from college that following weekend, Maggie spent the whole night with her, which was unheard of – she always ended up back in bed with my husband and I in the middle of the night. The clinic I wanted to work with in Brookfield never got back to me.  When I contacted them on Monday, Oct. 7th, they informed me that the earliest they could see us was December.  Unacceptable.  I finally got an exam for Oct. 22nd at Fredonia Veterinary – the earliest I could, which seemed preposterous.  That night, we barely slept because Maggie was so uncomfortable; I resolved to call every clinic within a 50-mile radius in the morning to get an appointment sooner but, luckily, Fredonia called that morning and said they could see her.

Dr. Megan and the technician were lovely with Maggie.  We learned that it wasn't a hernia, at all; all Maggie's lymph nodes were swollen. Her bloodwork was “perfect”, the Lyme and heartworm test came back negative, but the lymph test was inconclusive, though lymphoma was suspected. Just in case, they ran a panel of other tick borne diseases and started her on an antibiotic and painkiller (doxycycline and carprofen) while we waited for results and hoped the antibiotic would work.  For a few days, Maggie did seem a bit livelier, but then the lethargy returned and, worse, she became less interested in eating and more interested in drinking water.  We had to wait nearly a week for the results of the panel to come back; then, on Monday, the 14th , we were told the test came back negative and we could stop the medications.  We were referred to Blue Pearl in Port Washington, where the soonest we could get in was Thursday.

Tuesday was the last day I could get food in her – exactly three spoonfuls.  I was so worried that I contacted Fredonia and asked if we could get Maggie in and just give her a shot of prednisone (although we didn’t have a firm lymphoma diagnosis, it was all but confirmed and we knew we weren’t going to pursue chemo, so prednisone is the usual course).  All we wanted was for her to be with us through the next week, so that our oldest could get home to say goodbye.  Fredonia said that giving Maggie prednisone would make it impossible for Blue Pearl to get an accurate diagnosis, but they recommended we bring her to the ER.  Blue Pearl in Port Washington also operates as an ER, so I contacted them on Wednesday morning.  The technician there said that if Maggie was still drinking water, she could wait for her Thursday appointment. 

I barely slept the night before the appointment and was so grateful that my husband could join me for it.  We had never seen this doctor before, and I was a bit taken aback when they took Maggie away for the initial examination.  When the doctor returned, he suggested the possibility that Maggie could have blastomycosis and not lymphoma, recommending a chest x-ray that would help rule that out, as well as doing another lymph fluid test on a more swollen gland in order to hopefully get a firm diagnosis of lymphoma, if that’s what it was, along with an ultrasound and more bloodwork.  When the x-ray came back clear, we were assured that it was probably lymphoma and, indeed, the positive test result came back that afternoon.  Maggie walked into the clinic, but we had to carry her out.  We were sent home with a bottle of prednisone and a 1–3-month prognosis, but we were supposed to wait until the following morning to give her the prednisone so it wouldn’t cause an ulcer from the last dose of carprofen.  Considering Maggie’s current condition, one to three months was a lifeline. I had so much hope; I was so certain she’d be with us when my oldest got home and, who knows, maybe even for Christmas!

Thursday night was the longest and most terrifying night of my life.  Maggie refused to sleep in our bed, so I grabbed a pillow and quilt and slept on the floor with her, following her every time she got up and moved.  Around 2 a.m. I tried giving her the dose of prednisone, but she did her best to spit it out; I wasn’t sure how much I got in her.  I was told dogs often experience a seemingly miraculous recovery from their lymphoma with even just the first dose, so I laid down next to her and waited for a miracle.  After my husband left for work, I was able to get her to come to bed with me and finally fell asleep for a short while, which was miracle enough, at the time.  When I woke up, she was back on the floor, her breathing labored.  She couldn’t walk down the steps by herself so, after my youngest carried her out to the bathroom, I made her comfy in her bed in a patch of sunlight through the door while I tried to see if I could get her into Fredonia for a shot of prednisone, hoping it would work faster. Unfortunately, Dr. Megan was out on an equine call, so I waited and tried to keep her hydrated and comfortable. 

She was bundled up where she lay on the rug and I was doing dishes when I heard a thunk.  I looked over to see her on her back, her legs straight up in the air – she was having a seizure.  Initially, I thought she was dying right in front of me, and I was hysterical, but the seizure passed in less than a minute.  I had yelled for my youngest to call my husband while I began the phone calls, beginning with Fredonia, who told me that the seizure did no permanent damage, as she was breathing, awake, and looked at me when I called her name, but that I needed to get her to an ER.  The only 24 hour ER in Ozaukee County is the WVRC in Grafton; the receptionist told me that they only had one doctor on staff who was just going into surgery, and they couldn’t take another patient for at least three hours.  I tried the Blue Pearl in Glendale, since the Port Washington location was closed on Fridays, but I was informed that they only stay open until 8 p.m. and Maggie would likely need longer care.  That left the VCA Animal Hospital in Greenfield or the Waukesha Walk-In Vet (open every day but Sunday), both nearly an hour away.  We chose Greenfield.  My husband sat Maggie in the back seat of our car with me, and we were on our way.

Thankfully, I somehow found the presence of mind to be calm for Maggie.  She let me hold her head or rest it on my leg while I talked softly to her.  I told her that our oldest kid would be home in just a few days, and we would all snuggle together and rake the leaves, which she adored.  I told her we’d do all the things she loved: we’d go for a walk in Port Washington and visit Emily at One Wag; we’d go for a walk in Grafton and get coffee at Colectivo; we’d go to the pup-pup store (Feed Bag in Mequon) and get her “nails did” and a treat.  I told her about all the people she loved who would come and visit her – especially my three nieces and nephew, because Maggie loved children best of all.  Each time I said a magic word, her little ears would perk up, so I knew she was listening.  Though I still had this insane hope that the ER would get her stabilized with a shot of prednisone, I also was aware this might be our last time together.  I told her the story of Maggie, beginning with that minivan in the Bed, Bath & Beyond parking lot.  I told her how much we loved her and that, if she had to go, it was okay – we knew she was the goodest girl there ever was.  As I watched the time left on Google Maps, I’d say to her, “Just ten more minutes…just five more minutes.” 
​
Finally, we made it, but as soon as we walked through the door Maggie had another seizure.  Staff came running and she was secured on a gurney and wheeled away immediately, after giving them a quick gist of the situation.  I checked us in through tears and we were shown to an exam room where a technician appeared and asked for more information.  After filling her in, she told us the doctor would be in shortly.  While we waited, we texted the kids and let them know what was happening.  When the doctor arrived, she delivered the most unbearable news: Maggie was not going to make it a week.  In fact, Maggie was not going to make it another 24 hours; her systems were shutting down and the seizures were most likely because the cancer had already spread to her brain.  The best thing we could do for her was to let her go peacefully through euthanasia, otherwise she’d continue to have seizures until she passed.  We called the kids and put them on speakerphone; they wheeled Maggie in, but she had just had another seizure and was already taking her last breaths.  We said our rushed and tearful goodbyes as she faded away.

​Twenty days.  Twenty days between finding a lump and losing our Maggie to lymphoma.  Losing the sun is unfathomable; unthinkable. Nevertheless, we lost our Maggie on Friday, October 18th and we will never be the same.  Maggie was my soul dog, as they say, but she was also my husband’s and my kids’ soul dog; she was exactly what each of us needed and she came to us exactly when we needed her.  I don’t understand why she had to leave us so soon and I may never understand but, as I review the events over and over again in my head, I feel an unmistakable sense of divine timing – that, for reasons I can’t yet see, Maggie was not meant to stay with us for the next stretch of the journey.  I may be wrong, of course, but it gives me a sense of peace.  Writing this took me three weeks and, though it does get a tiny bit easier each day, there will be a pibble-shaped hole in my heart for the rest of my days.  She missed her 6th birthday by nearly a month. She should have had another 6. There is never enough time with those we love.

Why did I write this?  Because writing is how I process things best, but also because I hope that our story helps someone else.  Someone who has a dog who is struggling with allergies; someone whose dog has lymphoma and doesn’t know what to do; someone who lost a dog and needs to know that there’s someone else who went through that unimaginable pain, too.  I wanted to shed some light on the current inadequacies of the veterinary system in our community and in our country, and to share some of the resources and things I’ve learned in the countless hours of research I did over the course of Maggie’s brief but cherished life.  Perhaps it will save someone some steps, some tests, some suffering.  I wanted to let the world know that this seemingly insignificant little life changed the lives of four people and brought smiles to almost everyone she encountered, from the time she was small enough to be carried, to her very last walk in Port Washington.  I want everyone to know that Maggie was here and I loved her.

When looking back on it all now, I think that even if I had known what we were dealing with on day one and started prednisone immediately when we first found the lump, I don’t think we would have altered the outcome.  Lymphoma is the most common cancer in dogs, and it is particularly common in the bully breeds.  While some dogs respond to chemo and may buy a year, it is incredibly expensive and essentially makes your dog’s saliva, urine, and feces toxic – you technically aren’t supposed to let them give you kisses, even.  We knew we couldn’t work with that.  Prednisone is only a temporary fix, but if brought in early enough, it can give you time to start an herbal protocol.  Many people with lymphoma have kept it in remission with alcohol-free tinctures of Red Clover and Cleavers, available through Hawaii Pharm, which may also help in dogs – I ordered them both for Maggie, but never had the chance to administer them.  There is also a new lymphoma formula (LSA Combination) that has great data behind it, but only your vet can access it, if they’re willing, from A Time To Heal Herbs.  

Thinking back to the beginning of Maggie’s life, it’s difficult not to wonder if there was something I did that caused her lymphoma.  Even conventional veterinarians are realizing that we are over-vaccinating and over-medicating our pets, just as we are with people. My youngest child had a severe reaction to his one-year-old vaccinations, and we’d had a friend whose kitten died from vaccinosis, so trying to reduce Maggie’s exposure to pharmaceuticals and toxins was something I was very conscious of right from the start; nonetheless, I’d agreed to the most common puppy vaccines: Distemper, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and her Rabies vaccine, plus she did get some Heartguard and Nexguard early on.  I already cleaned with baking soda and vinegar and avoided things like air fresheners, conventional cleaners and care products, and scented candles, which can have adverse effects on both pets and people (even seemingly benign essential oil diffusers can be dangerous for cats and dogs), but I also chose to have Maggie microchipped because a stranger in a pet store warned me that people would want to steal a pit bull like her.  Knowing what I know now, there are some of those decisions, most made out of fear, I would not have made again, yet there is no way to prove that any of it caused her lymphoma.  For all I know it was, like her foot, a product of bad breeding.  I’m sure I will never learn the answers to these questions, but maybe others will carry them forward and find the answers we couldn’t. 

When we lose a pet, the loss is often felt more keenly than even the loss of close family members because, being bred to depend entirely on people, our pets become a near constant part of our daily routines.  Unlike children, our dogs never really become more independent and, as far as I can tell, a pit bull is just a perpetual hairy toddler.   Maggie was my third child, as dear to me as my first two that I gave birth to, but she was also pure love; an endless supply of love that was so overflowing there is plenty to last me until I see her again – and I am certain I will.  She taught me so much – not just about dogs, and pit bulls, specifically, and how to care for them, but about myself.  She taught me about patience and the importance of taking time to play, to sniff and explore, and to rest.  Most of all, she taught me how to say goodbye. 
​
The night Maggie passed, my oldest – the one who couldn’t get home in time to say goodbye – had a dream: they dreamed they were in our old house in Port Washington, where Maggie was a puppy, and wherever they went, Maggie followed.  They snuggled on the sofa, the warm sun streaming bright through the big picture window.  They were cozy and all was peaceful.  In some other place and time, she waits for us there.

​Celebrate Maggie’s birthday at One Wag in downtown Port Washington on Thursday, November 14th!  From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., stop in and get a FREE treat in Maggie’s memory. 

No purchase is necessary, but we sure would love it if you would choose to shop local at Maggie’s favorite place, even if it’s just for a stocking stuffer this holiday season!

Does your dog have allergies?  Try Bixbi's Skin & Coat!  Bad breath or teeth?  Try Plaque Off!  Both worked for Maggie and they are available at One Wag!


Holistic Pet Resources
Holistic Actions (Dr. Jeff Feinman) – excellent resource for pet health
Ask Dr. Steve DVM – Facebook group where you can find health resources and answers
Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM – supplements and excellent resource for pet health
The Heretical Vet (Dr. Dee Blanco, DVM) – excellent resource for pet health
Hemopet (Dr. W Jean Dodds, DVM) – NutriScan allergy testing, titer testing, and more
Dog Nutrition Solutions – great resource for how to feed your dog
4-Legger – natural and organic dog shampoo and conditioner, plus resources
Dunbar Academy – FREE dog training courses, and more
Dogs Naturally Magazine
Pittie Clothing Co. – adorable pajamas that keep your pibble from scratching
 
Local Pet Resources
Thrive Wholistic Veterinary Care – Dr. Sue can help you “peel the onion” on symptoms
Fredonia Veterinary Clinic – the best conventional veterinary in Oz, IMHO
Companion Animal Chiropractic – Dr. Robin is the most amazing dog whisperer!  Much cheaper than a vet visit, consider this first if your pet has any sudden mobility issues.
One Wag – Located in downtown Port Washington, Emily and Lyla are the best and they will help you find the right food, treats, toys, and more for your dog or cat!
Feed Bag Pet Supply – Located in Mequon, find things for all pets, plus grooming and swimming!
Rachel Roo’s Pet Sitting Service – The best puppy-watcher (and cats, too!) in town!

​Halloween comes but once a year, and it's the perfect opportunity to be someone (or something) else, for a change.  Then there's the free candy, of course.  Ozaukee has all kinds of fun Halloween happenings for all ages — here's the lineup!   

Cedarburg
The Haunt  celebrates its 17th year of scaring people silly!  Head to the fairgrounds Friday and Saturday nights between October 11th and the 26th to experience the horror, if you dare!

Murder in the Mansion at the Cedarburg Art Museum  Saturday, October 25, 6-9 p.m. Join CAM for this adults-only murder mystery fun, just in time for Halloween!

Gothic History Tours October 18, 19 and 26  The Gothic History Tour returns for their 19th year with Walking Hand in Hand with the Spirits!  This 90-minute walking tour is volunteer-led and benefits the non-profit Cedarburg Cultural Center.

Scary Bloody Mary Walk  Saturday, October 19th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Enjoy Bloody Marys while supporting the Cedarburg Friends of Parks & Recreation! Ten sponsor bars compete for the title of Best Bloody Mary 2024, while participants compete for Best Costume. Participants vote for Best Bloody and Best Costume to determine the winners.

Cedarburg's Enchanting Evening, Ladies Night Out  Thursday, October 24, 5-8 p.m.  This year's Ladies Night Out promises a magical evening of fun for participants!

Fall Festival at First Immanuel Lutheran School  Friday, October 25, 5-7 p.m.  Join First Immanuel Lutheran School for their annual free Fall Festival! Trunk-or-Treat, Hay Rides, Costume Contest, Food, Inflatables, Music, Games, and more! The whole community is invited!

Pumpkin Walk  Tuesday, October 31st from 5-9 p.m.  The Pumpkin walk is truly Halloween fun for the whole family.  Jack-o-lanterns line Washington Ave., and many of the main street businesses offer treats and specials for those who wander through.

Thiensville
Nightmare on Elm Street & Business Trick-or-Treat Thursday, October 24, 4-7 p.m.  From 4-6 p.m., trick-or-treat at participating businesses, then head over to Village Park where food trucks, trunk-or-treat, and more fun await!  

Mequon
Foxtown Fall Family Fun Day  Saturday, October 24, 11-3 at Foxtown Station.  Bring the whole family for an autumn adventure packed with Hay Rides to our historic caves, bouncehouse excitement, pumpkin decorating, and so much more!

Habitat Haunting at the Mequon Nature Preserve  Saturday, October 26, noon-2.  Come dressed in your costume and hike the Streich Family Wetlands trail system! Stop at different stations along the way and receive candy and other goodies. Play some yard games and run around Marty's Playspace when you are all done! Leashed dogs are welcome (have them dress up too!).

Beer Garden and Corn Maze at Barthel Fruit Farm  The Beer Garden is open from 12-6 on Saturday and Sunday; the Corn Maze is open 7 days a week from 9-5:30 p.m.  Come get lost and have a few laughs while you venture through the 2 acre, 10-foot-tall corn maze! Price is $5.00 per person, children 4 and under and free. 
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Grafton
Fall into Grafton  Saturday, October 12, 11-4  Fall Into Grafton returns with its famous  Bank Five Nine Pumpkin Derby and so much more!

Grafton's Best Trunk or Treat  Saturday, October 26th from 2-4 p.m., head to Utopia Martial Arts in Grafton for a FREE Trunk or Treat, right before Grafton's Trick or Treating!  *Reservations are required.

Saukville
Trails & Treats   Friday and Saturday, October 18th at Riveredge.  Enjoy a non-spooky night of fall family fun as you hike a mile loop of our trails and visit education stations featuring some costumed woodland creatures along the way! While there, these new friends will entertain and educate you about their habits and habitats, and give you some candy-free treats while they're at it! 

Saukville Scare 5K Run/Walk Saturday, October 19, 9 - 11a.m. at Grady Park in Saukville, this family-friendly Halloween-themed event benefits the Saukville Elementary School free breakfast program.

Living Hope Lutheran Church Trunk-or-Treat  Sunday, October 31, 4-6 p.m.  Join Living Hope Lutheran Church for a Trunk or Treat and stay for the chili dump dinner!

Port Washington
Doggy Costume Parade & Contest  Thursday, October 17th from 5:30-6:30 p.m.  Who doesn't love a parade of dogs?  Especially dogs dressed in costumes!  The parade starts at 5:30 at the Heart of the Harbor and the contest will take place at 6.  No need to register your dog. Just come on down with a well-dressed pup to enter!

Witches Night Out  Thursday, October 17th from 5-8 p.m.  Check out Port's newest businesses, catch the doggy parade, and enjoy a fun evening with your witches at Port's Halloween-themed Ladies Night Out!

Murder Mystery: A Hair Raising Halloween at Memories Ballroom October 18-20, with both matinee and dinner performances.

Halloween at the Y  Friday, October 25, 5:30-7 p.m.  The whole community is invited to enjoy spooky games, trunk-or-treat, crafts, bounce houses, and more! Costumes are encouraged for this event!

Huntin' for Pumpkins  Friday, October 25, 5-7 p.m.  Kids will get a chance to hunt for the perfect pumpkin in Upper Lake Park! There will also be photos from VIP, hot cider, and more! Pre-Registration is required.

Trunk-or-Treat at Christ the King Lutheran  Saturday, October 26, 4-7 p.m.  Costumes encouraged and the community is invited to join CTK for some Halloween fun!

​Downtown Trick-or-Treating in Port  Saturday, October 26th from 12-3 p.m..  Wear your best costume and visit businesses downtown, just before the community Trick-or-Treat begins at 4 p.m.!

Belgium
Booo! at the Barn  Saturday, October 26th from 8-11:30 p.m.  Join Buechler Farms for an Adults Only Costume Party, featuring Live Music by Sonic Circus, prize for the best costume, a photo booth, snacks, 50/50 Raffle and more! 

Halloween Opportunities Outside of Oz
Happily Haunted Gardens at Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan  October 11-27, 5-8 p.m.
Join Bookworm Gardens for not-so-spooky family fun! There will be thousands of twinkling lights, stories, scavenger hunts, a pumpkin walk and costumes galore! 

First Stage BOO BASH PETE THE CAT Pre-Show Party on October 26th from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Saint Kate's Arc Theater in Milwaukee.

FREE Magical, Mischievous, and Majestic Music with Milwaukee's Festival City Symphony on Saturday, October 26th at 1:30 p.m. at the Bradley Symphony Center, located at 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee.  

Under the Baobab Tree: SPIRIT with Milwaukee's Ko-Thi Dance Company on Saturday, October 26th at noon and 7:30 p.m. at the Father Robert V. Carney Performing Arts Center, located at 135 N. 76th St. in Milwaukee.

FREE "Tricks, Treats, and Transylvania" Halloween Pajama Jamboree with Milwaukee's Festival City Symphony on Wednesday, October 30th at 7 p.m. at the Bradley Pavilion (MPAC) located at 929 N. Water Street in Milwaukee.



Trick-or-Treating in Oz

• Fredonia    Saturday, October 26th    4-7 p.m. 
• Port Washington    Saturday, October 26th   4-7 p.m.
• Cedarburg    Saturday, October 26th 5-8 p.m.
• Grafton    Saturday, October 26th    4-7 p.m.
• Thiensville    Sunday, October 27th    3-6 p.m.                                                              
• Mequon     Sunday, October 27th    4-7 p.m.
• Belgium    Sunday, October 27th    4-7 p.m.
• Saukville    Sunday, October 26th    4-7 p.m.

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There's nothing quite as Americana as the 4th of July in the small town communities of Oz.  Looking for a celebration near you?  Look no further!

Thiensville Family Fun before the 4th Thiensville’s celebration of Independence Day kicks off on Saturday, June 29th with a parade at 10:30 am that winds through Mequon and Thiensville, ending up in Thiensville Village Park. The fun continues with a full day and night of bands, music, food, water ski shows, a softball tournament, and entertainment for all ages. The evening ends with a fabulous fireworks display along the banks of the Milwaukee River.

​Grafton's Holidaze  Celebrate Independence Day early on June 29th at the Grafton Holidaze! Parade begins at 4 p.m. from Kennedy Elementary, then join the fun (food, beverages, games, Touch-A-Truck and Climb-A-Tree) at Lime Kiln Park from 5 p.m. until dusk, when the fireworks begin!

Rotary Music Festival in Cedarburg  The 24th Annual Rotary Music Festival Drum Corps International Tour will return to Cedarburg on Wednesday, July 3, at 7 p.m. The Cedarburg High School Stadium is set to play host to a lineup of 6 World and Open Class corps during this event that will take place on the eve of Independence Day.

Cedarburg Art Museum Independence Day Beer Garden  The CAM Beer Garden, which would normally fall on Thursday, which is actually Independence Day, opens early for a pre-game celebration on Wednesday the 3rd!  Visitors will enjoy live music by The 1150, food trucks, a brat fry and Lakefront Brewery beer and hard seltzer on tap, wine, other non-alcoholic beverages, and freeze pops.

Freistadt Fourth It doesn't get any more Americana than Trinity Freistadt's 4th of July Parade and Picnic!  Spend your day enjoying one of Ozaukee County's best kept secrets, beginning with an outdoor worship service at 10 a.m. (weather permitting), an 11 a.m. picnic (complete with ice cream sundaes), tours of the Trinity Historical Grounds, and a  1 p.m. parade, followed by a flag raising, and the very German music of the Alte Kameraden Band and dancing by the Pommersche Tanzdeel Dancers.

Port Washington  Port Washington will not have a parade or community picnic, as it has in the past, but will offer a Pool Party at the Pirates Hollow Community Waterpark on the 4th of July.  The American Legion will fill in the fun with a cook out, Patriotic Pet contest, live music, and arts & crafts for kids in the afternoon.  The only fireworks over the lakefront in Oz begin at dusk, and are best seen from Rotary Park or Coal Dock Park.

Saukville  Saukville's parade begins at 1 p.m. on the 4th, going through downtown and ending at Grady Park for a picnic, music and activities from noon-5.   The fun then moves to Penninsula Park, where there will be music, activities, and food from 5 p.m. until dusk, concluding with fireworks.

Cedarburg's annual 4th of July Parade & Hometown Celebration boasts the largest parade in Ozaukee (roughly 2 hours long!), on the 4th, which begins at Fireman's Park at 10 a.m., and heads south along Washington Ave., making its way to Cedar Creek Park, where a picnic, music,  and activities can be found until 9:30 p.m., when the fireworks begin.

Happy Independence Day, Ozaukee!

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There's nothing like spending a beautiful day at a Farmers Market, getting to know your local farmers and growers and connecting with community.  Ozaukee is home to several great outdoor farmers markets, as well as other ways to get your local food.  Supporting local growers helps to strengthen our local food system, which gives our community food independence and security, as we are less dependent on national and global food systems.  Not only that, the dollars you spend on local food stay in our community, so try to purchase a portion of your weekly groceries at one of these places!

Port Washington  Port's Farmers Market opens Saturday, June 15th and runs every Saturday through October 26th.  Main Street is closed between Franklin and Wisconsin Streets from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with fresh produce, honey, soaps, bakery, live music, and more.

Saukville  Now located at American Legion Post 470, located at 601 W. Dekora Street, the Saukville's Farmers Market happens every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning on June 16th and going through October 13th. The Saukville Market features fresh, in-season Wisconsin produce grown by area farmers, green house and locally grown floral products, and artisan quality crafts.

Thiensville  Thiensville's Village Market opens Tuesday, June 18th at Village Park, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will continue every Tuesday through October 8th.  Live music and The Best "Dam" Chef Competition are some of the highlights of this market, aside from fresh food, flowers, and more.

Cedarburg  The Cedarburg Farmers Market, which features a variety of artisans and locally grown produce, has a shorter run, but will be open on Saturdays from 9-1 every Satruday in August at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at W76 N627 N Wauwatosa Rd.

Just outside of Oz in West Bend is the amazing West Bend Farmers Market, which is worth a look if you've never been, as it is the largest in the area.  Happening every Saturday from 7:30-11 a.m. from May 18th through October 26th, it's an early one, but the Historic District is a sight to see, in itself, plus it puts you in walking distance to the Museum Of Wisconsin Art!

If you just can't make it to the market, there are other ways to get your local food! Outpost in Mequon is committed to local and regional produce and products, with several of their items coming from producers within 100 miles of the co-op.  The relatively new DreamPort Harvest Market in downtown Port Washington is a sweet little shop that brings some of the area's best local food indoors every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

There are also a number of farms in Oz that sell directly to consumers, including Witte's Vegetable Farm and Kay's Home Farm (which has pasture-raised beef) in Cedarburg, Barthel's Fruit Farm in Mequon, Rare Earth Farm in Belgium (which is a CSA, but also has an online store), The Victory Garden Farm, Willoway Farm (which has an amazing flower CSA) and Appleland Farm Market (which is open sporadically for strawberry picking and more until mid-August, when they open for apple season; they have also added a CSA) in Fredonia, and Winterspring Farm CSA in Newburg.  

One of the best ways to get local food from a wide variety of local growers is to join the Ozaukee Area REKO Ring on Facebook, which was started by The Victory Garden Farm.  Growers post their offerings on the site each week and you can purchase/order direct from them, then pick up your order on Thursdays between 6 and 7 p.m. in Grafton.  Many of the farms mentioned here are a part of the REKO Ring.

Do you see something we've missed?  Contact us, and we'll add it to the article!  [email protected]