Sun Prairie's Downtown Continues to Expand Its Office Presence (Sun Prairie Star Online)

Gatewood Title Services banking on area growth

Gatewood Title Services, the two week old Premiere Title & Closing Service subsidiary stationed on South Bristol Street, is quickly making a name for itself by word of mouth, according to Sales Account Manager Bill Lewis.

The company left its Waunakee location for greener pastures in Sun Prairie, which Lewis said is experiencing growth the company can rely on. "Sun Prairie seems to be booming a little bit more, it seems to be more energized with things going on. Plus we have quite a few clients that were here in Sun Prairie anyways, so coming to them made it just one step easier for them to get their deals done."

Lewis said Sun Prairie is good place for the title company to catch that [upswing in the market cycle] when it happens." I think here in Sun Prairie, once the market does change, when rates start coming down a little bit further, we'll see a lot of bank business," he said.

Click here for the full article in the Sun Prairie Star.

This is the Weekend to Eat Out and Shop in Sun Prairie!

What: Taste of Sun Prairie
Where: Cannery Square Plaza
When: Saturday, July 26th - Noon to 7:00 PM. (Food served until 6:00 PM)

All portions will be $5 or less, enabling diners to sample a variety of items.

Participating eateries include:

• Atlantis Taverna
• Beans 'n Cream Coffeehouse
• Cousins Subs
• Culver's
• Panda Garden
• What's Brewin'
• Pietro's
• Beef O' Brady's
• Market Street Diner
• Subway

All participating restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to the Firemen's Park in the Prairie Dream Park for maintenance and improvements. Activities will include face painting, miniature golf, a jumping castle, Giggles the Clown and a 50/50 cash raffle. Music will be provided by the Double Shirley Poppy Band and Angela Smith & Friends. The Sun Prairie Lions Club will host the beer garden throughout the day. The beer will be served and the bands will play until 7 p.m.

Sun Prairie Sales Days

In addition, You'll find bargains galore on Friday and Saturday at a variety of local businesses participating Sun Prairie Sales Days, an event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Events include a flea market at the Prairie Square Shopping Center on McCoy Road. A number of booths sponsored by local businesses will also be set up at this location.

Sales Day participants include:

• Affordable 35 mm Slide Scanning
• Prairie Square Shopping Center
• Arbonne International
• B's Jewelers, 1280 W. Main St. Suite 119
• City Hall Pet Gifts, 100 E. Main St.
• Engraving & Trophy Specialists, 15 N. Bird St.
• Forever Yours Jewelry, 211 E. Main St.
  Market Street Diner, 110 Market St.
• McGovern Enterprises, 820 W. Main St.
• Meant to Bead, 1264 W. Main St.
• Sacred Hearts Catholic Church
• Sherwin-Williams, 120 N. Thompson Road
• Snap Fitness, 365 Linnerud Dr.
• What's Brew'n, 3140 Edmonton Dr. Suite 100

Dane County to Sell Highway Garage to Sun Prairie (Press Release)

Sale Means More Efficiency for County Highway, Exciting Development for City of Sun Prairie

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk said today the sale of a County Highway garage to the city of Sun Prairie is nearing completion.

Sun Prairie is purchasing the garage near the intersection of Highway N and Main Street at the property’s appraised value of $1,050,000. The city is working with a developer on future use for the location. Sale of the site was part of Falk’s 2008 county budget.

“This is a real win-win, County Executive Kathleen Falk said.” “This sale makes our highway department more efficient and allows the city of Sun Prairie to move forward with an important development for its citizens,” Falk added.

"Sun Prairie is excited about the opportunity to be able to redevelop a building site located so close to our downtown renewal efforts. With new land use this location will evolve into an attractive eastern gateway to our community,” commented Mayor Joe Chase.

The Dane County Highway Department has used the garage in Sun Prairie since the 1930s. In an effort to centralize snow clearing and other highway services, a new facility will be sited near the Rodefeld Landfil, allowing trucks and crews easy access to major thoroughfares including the Interstate system. In addition, a county highway garage near Highway 151 and County V is being expanded to enhance services in that area.

The county board is expected to approve the sale at its meeting tonight. Falk will sign the measure, giving final approval, shortly thereafter.

Click here to go to the official press release on the Dane County Website.

Sun Prairie's Villas at Meadow Crossing Featured in Parade of Condos (Capital Times)

Area residents looking for a new place to call home will have the opportunity to check out new condominiums during the Madison Area Builders Association's 13th annual Parade of Condos. A total of 15 condo projects will be on display, including the Villas at Meadow Crossing in Sun Prairie. The condos on display range in price from $259,000 to $800,000.

The event will take place from July 26 to Aug. 3. Units will be open for viewing from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10, and there is no charge for children under 12.

Tickets may be purchased at the gate (cash only) or by visiting: http://www.paradeofcondosmadison.com/

For more information on the Villas at Meadow Crossing at: http://www.meadowcrossingcondos.com/

Click here for the original article in the Capital Times.

Governor Commits State to Purchase of Renewable Energy at WPPI Headquarters (Cap Times, Sun Prairie Star)

At a press conference at Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. corporate headquarters in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Wednesday state plans for an annual purchase of renewable energy, which he said will make Wisconsin a nationwide leader in clean energy.

The state will purchase 92,400 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electrical energy each year over 10 years from MG&E (40,000 MWh) and Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (33,000 MWh) and over 15 years from We Energies (19,400 MWh). Doyle made the announcement at a news conference at WPPI's headquarters in Sun Prairie. According to the governor's office, it is one of the largest government purchases of renewable energy in the country.

Click here for the full article at the Capital Times.

Click here for the full article at Sun Prairie Star Online.

Ritter Agency Marks 25 Years in Sun Prairie (Sun Prairie Today)

July marks the 25th anniversary of the Sun Prairie-based Ritter Insurance agency. As part of the agency's anniversary, owner Matt Harms is planning a civic project to benefit Sun Prairie and is working to expand the agency's customer base.

Congratulations to everyone at Ritter, and thanks for calling Sun Prairie home.

Click here for the full article in Sun Prairie Today.

Sun Prairie Chamber to Host "Balancing Career and Family" Seminar

The Chamber's Summer Business Seminar will address the following:

• How to be aware of what you want and need, the beliefs that govern your behavior and the many influences on the choices you make
• How awareness makes it easier to change and make everything 'fit'
• Remembering that self care is not selfish
• How to better manage your time through time budgeting
• Why you need a plan to handle stress
• How to cultivate flexibility

Details:

Presented by Nancy Selfridge, MD

Group Health Cooperative of Southern Wisconsin

Date: July 8, 2008
Time: 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Address: Sun Prairie Water & Light - Room 125 W. Main St.
Cost: $3 members; $10 non-members
Contact: Chamber Staff
Phone: 608.837.4547
Fax: 608.837.8765
Email: spchamber@verizon.net

Click here to go the Chamber of Commerce website for registration information.

Dane County to Host Free Quarterly Seminars on Business Creation, Networking for Women and Minorities (Press Release)

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today the county will host the first of a new series of seminars this month intended to help women and minorities interested in starting or improving their own businesses.

The business meetings are free and open to all women-owned and minority small businesses or individuals who are thinking about creating a business. They aim to help prospective small business owners network, learn business strategies, and share information and ideas. Developing entrepreneurs of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds is essential to continued job creation and economic growth in our county,” Falk said.

The first free, small business seminar, entitled “Growth Stages of Business,” will be held July 24, 2008 from 5:00 until 7:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel, 706 John Nolen Drive in Madison. The session is intended to help prospective or current business owners with expected gains and losses, potential roadblocks, as well as business growth cycles. “Growth Stages of Business” will be presented by Dr. Neil Lerner of the Small Business Development Center. “These sessions are a useful tool to help support and promote the entrepreneurial spirit in our diverse community,” Falk said. “Hopefully they will help make a lot of creative thoughts and big dreams a reality.”

Those interested in more information about the seminar should contact Colleen Clark Bernhardt in the Dane County Office of Equal Opportunity at 608-266-3022 or at: clark.colleen@co.dane.wi.us.

Sun Prairie Icon Still on the Fast Track (Wisconsin State Journal)

Here is a great story from Doug Moe this from past May that I somehow missed. It gives a good overview of the history of the McGovern's Hotel and Tavern in Sun Prairie, and its ties to the racing community. (And a belated Happy Birthday to Jerry!)

Click here for the full story in the Wisconsin State Journal.