Fox Valley Sierra Group

At one PM on Saturday March first Lodi residents, school children, and selected celebrity readers will gather at the Lodi Public Library to read aloud Sand County Almanac. This is the fourth year celebrating of Aldo Leopold's life and writings. The reading continues that evening over dinner at the Spring Creek Country Inn and ends Sunday afternoon at the library. Tours of Leopold's shack leave from Lodi on Saturday morning and crane viewing and Ice Age Trail hikes are scheduled for Sunday morning. Instruction on building "Leopold Benches" is also provided.

"Sand County Almanac is not only the most important American contribution to environmental thinking in the 20th century, but it is a delightful book to read aloud," said Tom Heberlein who is again organizing the event for the Friends of Scenic Lodi Valley. Leopold, a UW-Madison Professor, was heavily influenced by the marsh, prairie and oak savanna landscapes that are found in southern Wisconsin. The shack, which plays such an important role in the book, is just a couple of bends up the river from Lodi.

In this fourth year people are beginning to settle into their selections. Peg Hilliker, Head Librarian, as usual begins the reading: "There are some people who can live with out wild things and some who can not. These essays are the delights and the dilemmas of one who cannot." Molly Anderson of the Lodi Stepping Stones Theatre continues with "Good Oak," Leopold's essay which blends making wood and making history. Mike Irwin, a local organic farmer, gives moving reading of the March essays, capturing Leopold's humor and wit. "These readings are as good as you will hear on any stage in the county," Heberlein said. There is more than just reading. Bill Pielsticker, a local resident and leader in Trout Unlimited, comes dressed in his angler's gear to read "The Alder Fork." Before the dinner Adele Van Ness, Lodi City Clerk, reads "Green Lagoons" where Leopold waxes on the virtues of quail roasted over mesquite. Quail and wild rice are then served to the listeners.

"This is more than just entertainment." says Heberlein, Lodi resident and Professor Emeritus from UW-Madison. One of our goals is to continue to build an environmental community in Lodi. Teachers Brenda Autz and Luke Kloberdanz have their third and fourth graders read short sections. It helps the students gain an appreciation for the local landscape and the need to build communities with the land. And the parents and grand parents who come to listen may never have heard about Leopold before listening to their child's reading.

The program has been well supported by local businesses and organizations who covered nearly all of the $2500 advertising and promotion budget last year. This year the Lodi Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the shack tours. The City of Lodi made sure new brackets were installed on City Hall so that the event's banner could hang over Main Street. Last year Lodi Reads Leopold was featured as the "Festival of the Week," by the Capitol Times. "But then" Heberlein says, "how many festivals are there the first week end of March?"

For further information call Heberlein at 608 592-4246. For reservations for the Shack Tours call 608 592-4588, for dinner reservations ($15.00 per person) call the Spring Creek Country Inn 608 592-3130. For reservations for the bench building instruction call 608-635-4879. Check our web site. www.sceniclodivalley.org for updated information. The reading begins at the Lodi Woman's Club Public Library at 130 Lodi Street at 1:00 PM on Saturday March 1, 2003

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