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- January 19, 2023
January 19, 2023
Administration
Sun Prairie's Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Community Development
Sun Prairie to Celebrate the 75th Annual Groundhog Prognostication with Jimmy the Groundhog
The City of Sun Prairie is excited to celebrate the 75th Annual Groundhog Day Prognostication on Thursday, February 2 in Downtown Sun Prairie’s Cannery Square! This annual event draws crowds from near and far to gather in anticipation of whether or not there will be another six weeks of winter. Since Jimmy has an extremely high accuracy rating in his predictions, folks will want to be sure to attend.
The ceremony begins bright and early at 6:50 a.m. with the Prognostication taking place during sunrise at 7:11 a.m. Jimmy’s announcement about winter’s duration will be announced from the stage and translated into sign language. This year’s master of ceremonies will be Rebecca Ribley, reporter at WKOW. The audience is sure to have some fun with Ribley as she engages with the crowd and throws a weather pun or two their way.
The color guard will kick off the ceremony performing to the national anthem. This is followed by declarations from Sun Prairie Mayor Paul Esser and a Gubernatorial Proclamation presented by State Representative Melissa Ratcliff declaring it officially Groundhog Day in the State of Wisconsin. Additional elected officials that will be present include city council members, Senator Melissa Agard, and more!
Wilderness Walk Zoo and Western Town serve as the official handlers of this event’s groundhog and the City is grateful for this ongoing partnership.
“I always enjoy engaging with the community at this event as we eagerly await Jimmy’s prediction,” said Mayor Esser. “This is a tradition that highlights the quirkiness and fun of our community.”
The fun continues even after Jimmy exits the event. Local shops in Downtown Sun Prairie will be presenting some great Groundhog Day offerings that should not be passed up! To catch a peek at some of these deals, check out the Visit Sun Prairie and Downtown Sun Prairie Facebook pages where information will be posted. The official Prognostication video will also be shared on those pages.
A great addition to local deals is taking advantage of photo ops with all the special guests that include Jimmy the Groundhog Mascot, Sun Prairie East Kurt the Cardinal, and Sun Prairie West Wolf.
“I love to keep the people in anticipation of my winter weather prediction,” said Jimmy the Groundhog. “I invite everyone to come out, grab some hot cocoa, and enjoy an early morning of fun.” To access the event page, please go to https://www.facebook.com/events/521516576612944/?ref=newsfeed .To learn more about the history of Groundhog Day, please visit https://cityofsunprairie.com/840/Groundhog-Day.
Cannery Square is the place to be for a morning with surprises to hear Jimmy’s prediction live. Downtown Sun Prairie... we’re having fun down here!
Community Spotlight
Parks, Recreation and Forestry
Recreation Department
The Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry office is open: Monday – Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, or by phone at (608) 837-3449 or by email at rec@cityofsunprairie.com.
Announcements:
Office Closed
Parks, Recreation, and Forestry office will have limited hours on the following days:
- February 1st: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- February 2nd: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Winter/Spring Rec Connection Guide
Winter/Spring Rec Connection Guide now available and registration is open!
1. View the Winter/Spring Guide at rec.cityofsunprairie.com!
2. Log in to our website to make sure you know your password and that your account is up to date, including street address and email address.
3. If you don’t already have an account, create your account. If you think you have an account, but cannot find yourself on the website, please do not add yourself again. Call the Recreation Department office at 608/837-3449 and we will assist you.
4. If you do not have a Sun Prairie address, but live in the Sun Prairie School District, the system will not know that and will charge you Non-Resident rates. If you continue your registration and pay Non-Resident rates, the difference is non-refundable. Please contact our office prior to your registration so that we may adjust your account to reflect the proper designation.
5. If you accidentally register for the wrong program, do not immediately register for the correct program. Call us (608-837-3449) and we can make the transfer for you.
“Recreation is for Everyone” Scholarship form!
Come join us for fun and enriching programs available for the whole family! Requesting a scholarship is easier than ever with our NEW online form! This easy, streamlined form provides "no questions asked" financial access to SPPRF programs.
In order to request the Recreation is for Everyone Scholarship you must be a resident of Sun Prairie or enrolled in the Sun Prairie Area School District.
For questions or assistance contact us at 608-837-3449 or visit Recreation is for Everyone Scholarship Information
- Scholarships cover 50% of enrollment fees on most programs
- No formal documentation is required for approval of financial assistance
- Online submission with approvals within 2 business days
Upcoming Events:
Frozen Fest
Hibernation Hustle FrozenMovie
Upcoming Programs Not to Be Missed:
Listen to Your Art – Claes Oldenburg
Friday, January 27th
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Registration Deadline: 1/20/2023
Join Ms. Jessica from Jessica’s Art Studio on these days off of school for hours of creativity! You will also learn about famous artists and popular art methods such as drawing, painting, sculpture, clay
exploration and more. This day's theme is Banksy, students will create art inspired by this artist.
Wear “Art Clothes” and be prepared to get messy. It is recommended to bring an Art Bag with you to take your projects home at the end of the day. Each day will explore entirely new projects than the day before, so signing up for the whole week means TONS of new unique art projects.
Gymnastics (Ages 18 months – 3 yrs)
February 1st – February 22nd
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline: 1/25/2023
This beginner class is designed to introduce your child to the world of gymnastics. Students will learn basic gymnastics and tumbling skills to include gross motor skills and social skill development.
This is a parent/child class.
February 1st – February 22nd
1:35 – 2:05 p.m.
Registration Deadline: 1/25/2023
This beginner class is designed to introduce your child to the world of gymnastics. Students will learn basic gymnastics and tumbling skills to include gross motor skills and social skill development.
Valentine Card Making Open Studio
February 3rd
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline: 1/27/2023
Come create your own handcrafted unique Valentines with a buffet of fun and colorful supplies! Follow along with some suggested card designs, or use the materials to come up with your own cards for your friends, family and sweethearts. Cardstock, stickers, ribbon, glitter paint, googly eyes, Valentine candy and more will help us create adorable and fun valentines. Fun for the whole family, all ages welcome!
February 2nd – February 23rd
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.
Registration Deadline: 1/26/2023
Messy Munchkins is for kiddos who know more mess means more fun! This pre-k art class is designed to help your child explore and create with different mediums such as tempra paint, watercolors, glue and more. Messy art encourages sensory development, expressive language and grows a child's confidence in creating. Wear a smock or an old t-shirt and get ready to color outside the lines!
Rec on the Go: Valentine’s Bouquet
February 9th – February 10th
Registration Deadline: 2/2/2023
Rec on the Go are theme-based exploration kits for kids ages 5 and up. Each bi-monthly kit will feature crafts, experiments and other fun activities for kids. Kits are available for pick up or delivery.
February - Valentine's Bouquet
This kit will provide you with the materials to make and distribute Valentine's Day gifts and crafts to your loved ones. From cards, to flowers, you'll have everything you need to spread the love this holiday season!
Pick up and delivery will be available February 9th and February 10th. Participants will be emailed when kits are ready, so make sure your email address is in your profile is correct.
February 18th
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: 2/10/2023
Your instructor will guide you step-by step through the hand knitting process to create your very own unique and cozy chenille blanket. Hand-knitting requires no needles or knitting experience!
All the supplies are included.
Completed, your chunky blanket will be a approximately 50”x 50” (size varies upon tightness of loops). Cost includes enough yarn to complete an adult lap-sized blanket.
Thursday Early Release Afterschool Programming (previously TGIT)
Thursdays, 1:30-5:00 p.m.
Elementary School Site Locations:
Meadowview
Northside
Token Springs - NEW
Beginning in the 2022 – 2023 school year, Sun Prairie Area School District Elementary Schools will be dismissing students at 1:30 pm on Thursday afternoons to accommodate professional staff development. In an effort to provide high quality afterschool childcare to our growing community, Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry, the Sun Prairie Area School District and Community Schools are putting forth a collaborative effort to provide a community partner-based afterschool program. This program will aim to provide families with safe, affordable and engaging childcare on Thursday afternoons for students in kindergarten through 5th grade.
Childcare will be available from dismissal at 1:30 pm until 5:00 pm. We will pilot this program, starting in September, at three elementary school locations and will have programming at all nine elementary schools starting in January 2023. Program partners will be brought in monthly to provide fun and exciting programming ranging from chess to sports to ukulele lessons.
If this program isn’t offered at your school initially you do have the option to attend any site, but transportation will not be provided at this time. Registration will be by month for September -December. Please click “register” to be added to our interest list to be notified when enrollment begins and when new sites are added to this program.
For more information visit rec.cityofsunprairie.com and the digital version of the Rec Connection which will be updated prior to the start of the school year. Please contact Emily Rebarchek, erebarchek@cityofsunprairie.com, or call 608-837-3449 with any questions.
Fitness Classes
Public Safety
Police Academy Graduation
We are excited to welcome back Officers Jacob Maurer, Clayton Klubertanz, and Tyler Chitwood following the completion of their 720-hour Police Academy training on Friday, December 16th, 2022! Officers Maurer, Klubertanz, and Chitwood (pictured L to R) all left for the Academy in August, performed very well throughout the training, and graduated last Friday. They begin their four-month field training program this week! Congratulations!
Fire Lieutenant Pinning
Safety in Winter Weather!
Sun Prairie Media Center
SUN PRAIRIE MEDIA CENTER LOOKING FOR CITY MEETING PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
Are you interested in Sun Prairie local government? Would you like to be paid to watch city meetings? Then the Sun Prairie Media Center has an opportunity for you!
The Sun Prairie Media Center offers live televised coverage of multiple city meetings ranging from Common Council to Parks and Recreation to Sustainability. Most all meetings are televised from the city hall’s Council Chambers using on-site microphones and robotic cameras. No lugging equipment around – you just need to show up!
The position also entails launching the “hybrid” portion of the meeting for anyone participating in the meeting remotely. If you can navigate to a website, you can do this.
All training will be provided. Almost all meetings take place in the late afternoon and early evenings.
This is a perfect opportunity for someone interested in video production, working independently, being a part of the best community media center in the state, and providing an important service to the residents of Sun Prairie.
The Sun Prairie Media Center is looking for someone who can start work immediately. If that’s you, please call Jeff Robbins at 608-837-4193 or e-mail him at jrobbins@cityofsunprairie.com.
Sun Prairie Public Library
Children’s & Teen Service
Friday, January 20 4:00-5:30 p.m., Conference Room
Play board games, Jackbox, Gartic Phone, and more! Registration is required, please register on our Events Calendar at https://sunprairie.librarymarket.com. Teens in 6th - 12th grade are eligible to register. Questions, concerns, or if registration has already closed but the event has not yet happened, please email Melissa at mcarollo@sunlib.org.
Saturday, January 21 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., Community Room
What happens when you invite T-Rex to a tea party? Let’s find out! A special storytime tea party with a unique visitor! All ages are welcome! A parent or other responsible adult must accompany child and participate in the program. No registration.
Tuesday, January 24 11:00 a.m., Community Room
Wednesday, January 25 3:00 p.m., Community Room
Enjoy fancy refreshments, an elegant craft, and dazzling dress-up play! Adults and children alike are encouraged to wear fancy dress-up! For children ages 3-5 (no younger siblings), with an accompanying parent or adult. Maximum of 2 children per accompanying adult. Registration required -- space is limited!
Friday, January 27 2:00 p.m., Community Room
Bring your doll (of any type) for a special tea party! Enjoy special refreshments and activities from different time periods that represent different American Girls. Feel free to dress like your doll! Geared for children in Grades K through 5 (no younger siblings), with an accompanying parent or adult. Children older than 5th grade are also welcome to register and attend. Registration required -- space is limited!
Small Fry and Little Kid Storytimes resume the week of January 30th!
Small Fry Storytime
Monday Mornings at 9:30 or 11:00 a.m.
Small Fry Storytimes are 20-30 minutes long and are filled with 1-2 short books, songs, action rhymes and more! Some songs, stories and rhymes are repeated each week and new ones are gradually introduced. Grown-ups and big kids, please share in the fun too!
Little Kid Storytime
Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. or Fridays at 9:30 a.m. (NOTE: There will be no Storytimes on Friday, February 3)
Little Kid Storytime is 25-30 minutes long and is filled with short books, songs, fingerplays, rhymes, puppets and more!
Adult Services
Start the New Year off on a good note by joining a book club! The library has 4 book clubs for adults:
-Afternoon Book Club meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the Conference Room
-Eclectic Book Club meets 3rd Monday of the month* at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room
*In January, Eclectic Book Club meets on the 4th Monday
-Evening Book Club meets 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room
-Urban SUN: Black Voices Book Club meets 4th Sunday of the month at 4:00 p.m., via Zoom
All book clubs are open to new members. Please visit the library’s website at www.sunlib.org or call the Information Desk (608-825-0702) for book selections and more information about book clubs.
Library Closed from 9am to 2pm Friday, February 3rd
The library will be closed from 9am-2pm on Friday, February 3rd for our Staff In-Service. We will be open from 2pm-6pm. The drive-thru book drops will remain open.