Are you looking for something to do this weekend? Here's a glance at what is going on in the region: ~ Enjoy your corned beef and cabbage a little early this year at a fundraiser sponosred by the Orangeville Masonic Lodge. Come to Tammy Jo's Restaurant in Orangeville on Saturday for a seating at either 4:30, 5:30 or 6:30 pm. The $8.50 dinner benefits the Freeport Dyslexia Center. Take-outs available, and reservations requested for seating time. ~ Browntown has a St Patrick's Day Dance on Saturday evening at the Fire Station. This event is an annual fund raiser for the department, so put on your dancing shoes and come have fun while helping a good cause. ~ If you were planning on joining the annual Celtic Pub Crawl in Monroe this Saturday, we hope you registered early! This event is no l... 03/10/2010

  All Rights Reserved.  Snow drops photographed a couple of years ago in early spring when the flowers were just beginning to bloom for the year.  These particular snow drops come from bulbs in our front yard flower bed in Monroe Wisconsin.  With the warm weather this week, I won't be surprised to see some popping up very soon! 03/10/2010

Keep it local. That is one of our core beliefs in business and life. Supporting local businesses keeps our local economy strong and vibrant. So, when we decided it was time for a new look for our business cards recently, we picked up the phone and called Adam Bansley over at Ideate Ink in Monroe. We gave Adam a photo and the text we wanted on the cards, and told him we wanted a classic design that was clean and readable. We had a proof within a day or two, and the cards were in our hands in next to no time. It could not have been easier! The time we ordered cards online, we had to spend all the time flipping through templates and laying everything out ourselves. Adam saved us all of that hassle, and we know that our new business cards are not simply cookie cutter designs. Best of all, I... 03/10/2010

Scott Larson SRES | Towne Square Realty | 608-214-9844 2630 22nd Ave, Monroe, WI Elegance on the Golf course 3BR/3+1BA Single Family House offered at $344,900 Year Built 1988 Sq Footage 2,735 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 12,512 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Stately elegance is found in this immaculate home located on the golf course. Rich walnut, maple, and oak are used to create a warm & inviting atmosphere. The fine marble entry flows into the expansive living room w/fireplace. Enjoy your designer kitchen and relax in the sunroom dining area. The deck overlooks the fairway, the hot tub make it you special retreat. 3Brs, 31/2 baths w/ a luxurious master bath. Storage is phenomenal. Study from your den. 1st floor private bed & ... 03/09/2010

Today's market is a competitive one with a larger than normal inventory. The question for sellers today is how to make their home stand out from the competition? This video has some tips on this subject: 03/04/2010

We care deeply about people here in Cheese Country.  An example of this will be taking place in a couple of weeks here in Monroe.The Monroe Arts Center will be the site for a benefit concert for the children of Haiti.  The concert will feature a variety of local musicians, including Bill Rients of recent Pirate Night fame if you missed the concert.  The concert will be on March 19 at 7:30 pm.  Admission will be a donation at the door, $10 per person suggested.  Reservations are also suggested for this event, and you can reserve your seats by calling 608-325-5700.All proceeds will go to Children International for distribution to children in need in Haiti.Kudos to our friend Terry from The Piazza for organizing this great concert in conjunction with the great people at MAC. 03/02/2010

When walking through a home, the eye-catching higher end details often stand out. Great hardwood floors. Solid surface counter tops. Wonderful paint colors. Garden tubs. Six panel, solid wood doors. Don't forget to ask about the things that are not as easy to see. Look for higher end upgrades in energy efficient features. These upgrades in a home will not only improve your comfort, but they also will save you money, making a home more affordable in the long run. Take a good look at the windows. Are they a basic builder's grade window, or has the homeowner splurged with low e glass and argon fill? Windows can be a source of enormous heat loss in a home, and quality windows are a huge money saver in the long run. There are many different types of windows, and The Efficient Window Collabor... 02/26/2010

Yes, we are a day late with our Thing to Do this week. Sorry about that. Wednesday was a wild and crazy one around here! ~ If you missed Rainbow Fleece Farm's Cabin Fever event last weekend, you have another chance this weekend to check out the sheep and the fiber. Email Patty or call her at 608.527.5311 for more information. Rainbow Fleece Farm doesn't have a website, but you can find them at W7181 Hustad Valley Rd by New Glarus ~ Eat something different this weekend. Go out for breakfast at one of our classic diners like Corner Cafe in Monroe. Grab a new treat at New Glarus Bakery or Cafe Claudeen for an afternoon snack. Try one of the new items on Barrett's Brick Cafe's updated menu. Splurge on the warm lemon pond cake with cardamon creme anglaise at the Dining Room at 209 Main. What... 02/26/2010

Scott Larson SRES | Towne Square Realty | 608-214-9844 2664 19th street court, Monroe, WI Double Lot 3BR/1BA Single Family House offered at $88,900 Year Built 1920 Sq Footage 1,300 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size .403 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Affordable comfort is found in this 3 bedroom home located on almost 1/2 acre on a quiet cul-de-sac. The first floor bedroom with patio door could also serve as a den. Enjoy the rich warmth of the wood floors. The insulated garage makes a great place for the handyman. With many updates over the last few years, you just need to get the moving truck to make this house your home. Priced to sell and don't forget the $8000 first time home buyers credit. Washer & Dryer Negotiable. see additio... 02/25/2010

Our friend Jennifer over at Primitive Soul Art Studio in Monroe started the Shakespeare Project for youth a number of years ago. This project has grown into the non-profit group Shakespeare on the Edge, which we have mentioned often on this blog. SotE now includes not only the Shakespeare Project but also The Eclectic Rogues, a traveling youth group who do performances as well as workshops addressing modern issues through the works of Shakespeare. Jennifer and the SotE group has a new project up their sleeves. The Sideways Shakespeare Company is starting up to encourage creativity and give an outlet to adults who think it is shame that groups like this weren't around when we were growing up. Here is how the group describes Sideways Shakespeare Company: “…turning the works of the Bard si... 02/23/2010

 A factor to consider is that FHA is tightening their guidelines.  FHA is a loan program that has become increasingly popular over the last year.  Buyers only need a 3.5% down payment and minimum 620 credit score.  The Up Front mortgage insurance that is required is currently 1.75% of the loan amount, but will be increasing to 2.25% of the loan amount on April 5th.  That’s a significant difference when looking at a mortgage! Along with the home buyers credits now is the time to make your move to home ownership.   From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin “Your Realtor of the Region” E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com On the web at www.greencountyhomeguide.com I think you will be surprised how affordable the Dairyland is, so come to my land of cows and plows and v... 02/22/2010

Are you eligible for the $6500 tax credit? We covered the details in December, so take a look if you want to check. There are 73 days and counting left to get an accepted offer. You must have an accepted offer in place no later than April 30 and close on the home no later than June 30 in order to qualify for this tax credit. New $6500 Tax Credit for Current Homeowners 02/18/2010

Hold on to your hats! It is a busy weekend here in Cheese Country. The UW Alumni Club is meeting at Toffler's in New Glarus on Thursday evening at 8 to watch the UW Men's Basketball team play the Minnesota Gophers. If sports isn't your thing, come over to Minhas Brewery's Lazy Mutt Lounge on Thursday evening instead for Monroe Art Center's Poetry on Tap. Award-winning Wisconsin poets will read aloud from their works starting at 7 pm. This event is free, and there will be libations courtesy of Minhas. The Alternative Fuel Society meets at the River Valley Trading Company in Blanchardville this Friday starting at 7 pm. Newcomers are always welcome! RVTC also has a free documentary movie screening on Thursday at 7 pm. They will be showing "Mondovino". Did you get your tickets for the Snows... 02/17/2010

People have different criteria when it comes to choosing where to live.  For many parents, school district makes a huge difference.  In Wisconsin, there are certain inflexible rules that apply to where public school students may attend school. School districts are geographically drawn, and students attend the district within whose boundaries they live. Once a year, for three weeks in February, parents may apply for their children to attend school for free in a different public school district. This practice, Open Enrollment, is the only chance for a year to change school districts without physically moving. Parents may apply for admission to up to three school districts for their children. These applications are not guaranteed to be approved. If the application is approved, the parents ... 02/15/2010

Reminder that the clock is ticking.   $8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. The tax credit does not have to be repaid. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000. The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less. The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify. For homes purchased on or after J... 02/12/2010

The days are growing longer, but we are still in the depths of winter here in Green County. Helping a home to have some curb appeal this time of year is a bit harder than in the summer months with gardens blooming, but it is still possible to do things to help. Clear your driveway, sidewalks and porches of all snow and ice. Get out there right away after a snow storm to clean them off. If you do get a buildup in ice in spots from driving into the garage or people walking on the sidewalk, pick up a scraper at Farm & Fleet or Ace Hardware to clean that off. If buyers worry about slipping as they approach a home, it alters how they see the inside. If you still have any holiday decorations or lights up, remove them immediately. By now, these are stale decor and they give the impression of a... 02/11/2010

Photographed in rural Green County Wisconsin west of Clarno, July 2007 at friends' farm after we had a weekend project putting in solar panels for their electric car.  All rights reserved.  Have you found all the hidden pockets of green and alernative energy sources in Green County?  Probably not.  There are more than you'd expect! 02/10/2010

Another week, another weekend to plan for. ~ Blackhawk Technical College has some interesting community education classes starting next week. Inspired Art, Drawing People, or Pen and Watercolor Fundamentals, Quickbooks, Access, Skype , or Social Networking, Cake Decorating, Meditation, Organic Gardening, or Plan Your Herb Garden, Conversational Spanish, Sustainable Building: Green Design Basics with LEED principles are all starting in the next two weeks. The Skype workshop is tonight, and as long as there is room, you can enroll up until the last minute. ~ Stop in at the Historic Courthouse in Monroe for a free Valentine's Day cookies anytime between the 11th and the 14th. Sponsored by Monroe Main Street. ~ The Albany Lions club are having a Pancake Day on Saturday at their building in ... 02/10/2010

Surfing Wisconsin style!!! And we don't have to worry about shark bites just frost bite. From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin “Your Realtor of the Region” E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com On the web at www.greencountyhomeguide.com I think you will be surprised how affordable the Dairyland is, so come to my land of cows and plows and visit for a day, but stay for a lifetime 608-2124-9844 Direct   02/09/2010

Chocolate and Valentine's Day are a perfect pairing. Treat your sweetheart at a couple of local events this weekend! River Valley Trading Company in Blanchardville is having their 2nd annual Chocolate Tasting and Auction on Saturday afternoon. From 2 until 4, sample delicious and unusual chocolates from TerraSource Gourmet Chocolates along with various wines. For only $2, you can sample all of the chocolates. Then, bid for your favorites in the silent auction. Stick around to show the selection of interesting and varied local gifts available at River Valley Trading Company, and save 10% on any of them. After chocolate appetizers, head across the street to the new Pecatonica Grapevine. There, owner Christine Pieper will have another tasting, this time pairing wines with delectable morsel... 02/09/2010