Dentist in Verona, WI

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - The Verona Area School District superintendent has been named Wisconsin’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year, the Verona Area School District announced Wednesday.

Dr. Tremayne Clardy has served the VASD since 2021.

Clardy is credited with “guiding the schools through a period of significant growth, innovation and success”, the school district says.

Since Clardy took over, the school district has been recognized statewide for removing barriers to learning and giving students a strong sense of belonging. The district has had steady gains in achievement rates since Clardy took office, including graduation rates, Advanced Placement participation, and attendance.

“We are honored to recognize Dr. Clardy as Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year,” said WASDA Executive Director Jon Bales. “His leadership exemplifies what it means to put students first, engage communities with transparency, and create systems where every learner can thrive.”

Bales also reiterated Dr. Clardy’s leadership skills have reached not only his community, but the rest of the state.

Clardy has established many programs during his time as a superintendent, including Superintendent Advisory Councils and support for early childhood education and mental health services for students.

“I am truly humbled by this recognition,” said Dr. Clardy. “This honor reflects the collective efforts of our Board of Education, staff, students, families, and community members, who share a deep belief in equity and excellence.”

Clardy added that the students, teachers, and community have build a district that celebrates their students and ensures they are prepared to thrive.

Dr. Clardy also holds numerous degrees—a doctorate and a master’s from Aurora University, a master’s in curriculum from UW-Whitewater, and a bachelor’s degree in education from UW-Whitewater. He also serves on many regional and state boards, such as UW-Whitewater Dean’s Advisory Board and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Advisory Council.

Dr. Clardy will receive his award at the WASB/WASDA/WASBO Convention in Milwaukee in January 2026.

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VERONA, Wis. — Compared to other software facilities, the Epic Systems Campus in Verona, Wisconsin, stands out with buildings designed after fantastic locations such as the Emerald City from “The Wizard of Oz” and Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. What’s going underneath the campus, however, has heads turning over geothermal technology and building energy use.

A series of geothermal pumps conditions the Epic campus almost entirely on their own, with a geothermal network running as deep as 500 feet and containing thousands of miles of piping. Many pipes only transport water, while gas infrastructure is used for a few special heating applications.

Epic said it has one of the largest geothermal systems in the world, and the campus serves as a case study for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The campus has around 40 connected buildings and has around 9 million square feet of building space, DOE officials said. The campus is around 1,670 acres and has enough auditorium space to seat around 18,000 people, a campus fact sheet showed.

The geothermal system includes four bore fields with more than 6,000 wells, a stormwater lake and a quarry lake to trap heat, and cooling support for a 3.5-megawatt data center. Salas O’Brien, a national engineering firm, designed and implemented the renewable energy system more than a decade ago. The system project is ongoing, according to the engineering firm.

The geothermal system is complemented by heat reduction through rooftop gardens, wind turbines, solar photovoltaics and energy-efficient building envelopes, DOE officials said. With those elements combined, campus buildings consume around 25% less energy than other commercial buildings in the same climate, they added.

“Beyond the energy savings, the geothermal system has resulted in goodwill from the local community and the worldwide healthcare network. It also resonates with the talent Epic seeks to recruit,” said Derek Schnabel, facilities director at Epic, in a statement.

Epic develops medical record software used by 305 million patients across the U.S. Serving healthcare patients requires around-the-clock operations, and the company said its geothermal systems helps meet that standard of reliability.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has monitored Epic’s geothermal system since it was installed in 2012. Researchers track air and soil temperatures, subsurface water flow and water levels in the quarry pond to understand system performance, DOE officials said.

The company hopes the knowledge will be shared and used to improve geothermal technology, officials added.

No. 7 Verona lost to No. 2 Sussex Hamilton 3-0 in Thursday's WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinal.

The second-seeded Guardians were on the wrong end of multiple scoring runs during a WIAA Division 5 state semifinal loss to Rib Lake on Thursd…

The champions of several sports will be crowned at a familiar place for the foreseeable future.

Madison area girls swimmers excelled during their conference championship meets this past weekend. Vote for your favorite performance as the S…

The Prairie Hawks shook some early timidity but failed to fully recover in their WIAA Division 4 state semifinals debut..

Lauren Sprague and Kaitlin Van Wie contributed a team-high 13 kills apiece to help Waunakee sweep Kimberly.

The Eagles prevailed in a five-set thriller against the Spartans, who battled back after losing the opening two sets. Sauk Prairie will face G…

The Warriors kept a couple sets close but could not knock off the Dashers, who have won the past three Division 1 state titles.

A couple of tough touches of the ball pushed a comeback attempt out of the picture for McFarland.

The Norskies trailed for the first time this postseason but rallied in the final 40 minutes to earn the program’s first state championship game berth.

The persistent Regents broke through late in the second half for the second straight game to win their first state championship since 1988.

DeForest came up short of winning the Division 2 boys soccer state title after falling into a 2-0 hole in the first half.

Wisconsin women's basketball closes out win over UW-Milwaukee

Packers Coach Matt LaFleur on inept offense vs. Eagles

Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell on the challenge of his team's OLB depth

VERONA, Wis. (WMTV) - Wisconsin native Ben Rortvedt is catching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, a milestone years in the making for the former Verona Area High School standout.

“Oh, from the time that he was this big, his first word was ball,” his mother, Kim O’Leksy said of her son’s earliest days.

Rortvedt grew up outside Madison, attending Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin. Drafted in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, he developed into a valued catching prospect.

“From this big, he said that he was going to be a baseball player, a professional baseball player. And I would always say, you need to have a backup plan. And he would say, there are no backup plans,” O’Leksy recalled.

His former high school coach, Brad D’Orazio, said Rortvedt’s early maturity set him apart.

“He was physically developed. You know, as a freshman he started from day one and his work ethic… the combination of talent and work ethic, I don’t think people realize what he gave up to get as good as he did,” D’Orazio said.

Despite the promise, the road had its bumps. His mother noted: “This year he started out really well and then he started to go in his slump and then all of a sudden, he was DFA’d and it’s like you wonder if his career is over or not.”

But when the opportunity came, Rortvedt didn’t hesitate. In 2025, after being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he found himself into a starting role when the team’s top catchers went down with injury.

“He’s downplaying everything. Like I talked to him two nights ago and I said, oh my God, Ben, this is so exciting. And he goes, it’s just another series. It’s just another series,” O’Leksy said, reflecting on the World Series stage.

And while the Dodgers may not be Wisconsin’s home team, the Rortvedts still bring a bit of Brewer blue to the ballpark.

“My husband wore a Rortvedt jersey and a Brewer shirt underneath it. And I was debating about wearing a Brewer’s hat and a Dodger shirt, so I just wore dark blue. I figured I was safe,” O’Leksy said with a laugh.

She added that the family has adjusted their loyalties for now.

“ You kind of have to at this point, don’t you? The Brewers are out of it. Now I just want LA to win and go all the way,” she said.

D’Orazio said he hopes Rortvedt’s story continues to inspire young players in Verona.

“And there’s one thing that I hope that our guys would be able to take from that is be able to look at him and see, you know, what can happen in the span of a few months. And when something negative happens, you turn into a positive and you end up in the World Series,” he said.

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One of our most asked questions from our readers is about birthday parties — and how to make them amazing! From venues to ideas, we have curated a list of the best ideas for kids’ party places in and around Madison, WI! These businesses represent some of the area’s best venues for entertainment, activities, and birthday cakes!

Thrill Factory Entertainment

Thrill Factory is WAY more than a Bowling Center! Picture an indoor theme park on adrenaline! Oh, and did we mention the animatronic dragons?

All ages are welcome to experience Madison, Wisconsin’s largest collection of indoor activities like Bowling, Arcade Games, Redemption Games, Mini Escape Games, Mini Golf, Laser Tag, Escape Rooms, Floor is Lava, Hyper-Bowling, Virtual Reality (VR), Zombie Town Shooting Gallery, Laser Maze, Delicious Restaurant, Tiki Bar and more!

Thrill Factory is also Madison’s Best Birthday Party space for kids and adults! We have Birthday Packages starting at $299 for 10 guests.

Their team loves celebrating your kiddos and strives to make their day amazing! Let them help you arrange all of the details with the curated list of preferred vendors for easy planning. The private party room is an exceptional space to host your next party or event, or they can bring sparkle parties to you! Party offerings begin at $100 and can be booked during both weekday and weekend time slots.

Madison’s best, dedicated indoor pickleball courts and party center! Rent Pickle Pro Courts for your next party and enjoy 30′ LED Jumbotron for videos/photos, tv-quality lighting, netting between each court, and catering from Beef Butter BBQ!

Contact us to learn more about hosting your next event!

Make your kid’s birthday party EPIC at Urban Air Adventure Park in Madison, Wis. They offer birthday packages for adventurers of all ages. Plus, you can build your perfect party by selecting the ideal combination of attractions you won’t find anywhere else, like unlimited laser tag, unlimited sky rider, unlimited spin zone bumper cars (e.g., bumper cars that flip!), ropes and warrior courses, climbing walls, APEX trampolines, the battle beam and so much more.

All parties include a 2-hour hangout, a party host, Urban Air socks, a t-shirt for the guest of honor, digital invitations, setup, clean up and party basics like balloons, party favors, plates, napkins and forks. Book a private room party for additional perks.

Create lifelong memories with an indoor pool birthday party and other pool rental events in Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie and the Surrounding Areas

From pool birthday parties to summer kickoffs, nothing says “party” like a warm pool that’s exclusively decorated for a boy or girl’s special day. Goldfish Swim School in Fitchburg can put together the party of your child’s dreams in Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie and the surrounding areas and take care of all of the details, setup and cleanup for you.

Create special birthday memories with an unforgettable celebration at Spare Time Entertainment!

The team at Spare Time will go above and beyond to create a memorable experience for your family and friends on your child’s special day.

Party packages can include Bowling, Laser Tag, Game Zone play, hand-tossed pizza, appetizers, and more – plus, your dedicated host will take care of everything from decorations to clean up, so you can sit back and relax – or, of course, play!

Looking for a one-of-a-kind party space that your tween will actually get excited about? Welcome to the Frios Chill Zone—Madison’s brand-new birthday party destination designed just for kids ages 6–13!

From our giant LiteZilla wall and karaoke to interactive games, craft stations, and a indoor popsicle food truck, The Chill Zone is bursting with color, energy, and FUN.

Party packages are flexible, and we make it easy: you bring the food, we provide everything else—including plates, cups, and pops for the whole crew.

Crafty fun. Chill vibes. Endless memories. Book now and make your kid’s big day the talk of the school!

Birthday Parties on the Sweet Ride Make your kiddo’s birthday the coolest ever with a Sweet Ride party! Our vibrant Frios popsicle truck rolls up with frozen fun, including 10 delicious pops and a custom sign made just for the birthday star.

The guest of honor even gets to hop inside the truck and serve pops like a pro! Want to invite more friends? No problem—extra pops are just $4 each.

Let us bring the party to you—joy, memories, and sweet treats included!

Cost is $160

Make your kid’s birthday a creative and memorable experience at Monroe Street Arts Center! Each party is unique! You choose the theme, and we will design projects just for you. All parties are led by experienced and friendly art instructors, leaving grown-ups time to relax and enjoy the party. Each birthday kid receives a special gift from MSAC, including their own apron. The party guests can sign the apron during the event to commemorate your child’s special day! We even provide online birthday invitations & thank you cards for you to print or email!

The base party package includes all art supplies, themed projects for up to 10 kids, and a special gift for the birthday kid. Each guest will create their own artwork to take home. You can invite more friends for an additional fee, up to a maximum of 16 participants.

Celebrate your child’s birthday with sparkle and shine at Sit Still Kids Salon – a modern kids hair salon! They offer party packages for groups from 2 to 12+ guests. The parties feature sparkle strands, mini manis, and glitter tattoos in a fresh salon environment.

Their team loves celebrating your kiddos and strives to make their day amazing! Let them help you arrange all of the details with the curated list of preferred vendors for easy planning. The private party room is an exceptional space to host your next party or event, or they can bring sparkle parties to you! Party offerings begin at $100 and can be booked during both weekday and weekend time slots.

Gymfinity is the perfect place for kids aged 4-12 to celebrate their special day! Let us take care of the food, fun, party favors and clean up! The parties include 30 minutes in our party rooms for food and a happy birthday song (order food through us or bring your own!) and 75 minutes of time in the gym full of obstacle courses, foam pit play, trampolines, our inflatable (with a 16 foot slide!), gym games and more!

All packages include a souvenir t-shirt for the birthday kiddo, signed by the guests. All guests also receive a pass for a free open gym session, a discount on tuition for new students, or a discount on their own Gymfinity birthday party!

Spartan Day Camp is the perfect location to host your next birthday party!

Bring your own food and decorations and make your event your own. Our space can accommodate up to 300 people.

Facility rental is available on evenings and weekends, subject to availability. Reservations should be made by email and are first come first serve.

Viking Day Camp offers 3 hour time slots for parties on the weekend. People cam host kids birthday parties, baby showers and any other events you can think of! Time slots are from 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm. Hosts can bring in their own food and drink and have access to the whole facility for themselves and their guests. Kids have access to our gym space, bounce house (kids 5 and under, craft supplies, and hands on toys such as legos, hotwheels, barbies & more). A 3-hour rental is $200 with discounts offered to current families who attend our after school or summer program.