About Green County, WI

Summer means spending time outdoors for many people, and community sporting events are often a popular place to be.

There is still time in Monroe to sign the children up for softball, baseball or tennis. The eight week long little girls softball or little league baseball season is only $16 for residents. Adult slowpitch league sign-up is over, but if you contact Park and Rec, perhaps they have a substitution list for you to sign up on. Call Carol at 329-4666.

Youth tennis lessons run only $20 for residents. They run in two week sessions either in the first half or second half of July for kids ages first grade through twelfth grade. They are a bargain for ten 55 minute lessons. Adults, consider joining the tennis league or one of the tournaments! Leagues run from mid-June through early August and only cost $20 to participate.Youth leagues are also available. Tournaments happen in June, July and August.

Swimming lessons, youth golf lessons, karate, sand volleyball league - there are a lot of choices offered by Monroe's Park and Rec for your family this summer. Consider getting involved as a family and participate in the new Family Kickball and Family Dodgeball league. They take place in August and are for families with children entering first through sixth grades. The cost is only $5 per person or $15 per family for the four week session.

Get outside, get moving and enjoy summer here in Cheese Country!

Green County's Habitat for Humanity is having their annual fund raising bike ride this weekend.

Bike 4 Habitat is an all a day event. Pick the course length you are comfortable with (15, 30, 50 or 100 miles) and spend the day pedaling for a good cause. The starting point is Veteran's Memorial Park in Brodhead. Check is begins at 7:30 am and the ride is from 8 am until 5 pm with a dinner served after the ride. The registration fee is $35 and includes a t-shirt, route map, food and beverages along the route, support staff and aid station. Children 16 and under ride free with an adult. Bicycle helmets are required.

Help Habitat even more by gathering pledges! Participants bringing $500 or more in pledges will receive a free sweatshirt.

Green County Habitat for Humanity is working up to a new build, so come out and support them this weekend.

In the spirit of acknowledging and celebrating our growing diversity here in Green and Lafayette Counties, Monroe is hosting its second annual Cinco de Mayo celebration this weekend.

Come downtown on Sunday, May 4 from 1 until 4 pm for fun for the entire family. There will be live music by New Song, games and activities for the children and a food stand hosted by the Noon Optimists Club. We went to last year's event and enjoyed it tremendously.

After the Cinco de Mayo event, continue your multi-cultural experience by walking down to Turner Hall for their Dance'n'Dine featuring the music of the Ken Zweifel band. Embrace our Swiss roots and our growing Hispanic population in the same day!

Also this weekend, Monroe is having their community garage sales on Saturday and a sidewalk sale on the Square. The weather is clearing up, so come out and enjoy spring in Cheese Country!

Green County is home to many artisan businesses, and one of the tastiest is on the east side of Monroe's downtown Square. Chocolate Temptations is one of the Hidden Gems of Green County.

The exterior colors of cafe au lait and bittersweet chocolate hint at the delectable treats awaiting inside. Step through the doors, and the gentle aroma of chocolate and coffee envelope you.

The Buol family has been creating gourmet hand-dipped chocolates in Monroe since 1995. Their truffles are exceptional - a domed shell of chocolate encasing a rich, superb blend of cream and chocolate. They offer a wide variety of flavors, each a with its own unique appearance, miniature works of art. My favorite include the caramel, the hazelnut and the cappuccino with a chocolate covered coffee bean perched on top.

If truffles are not your treat of choice, the case is filled with other confections - Gertles made with pecans, caramel and chocolate; creamy chocolate covered nougats; solid chocolate pieces and more. Children love the shaped chocolate lollies; the stars and frogs are always a hit. Try the creme de menthe covered Oreos or milk chocolate dipped peanut butter cookie.

Desserts and ice cream are also available. The tiramisu is excellent, and their ice cream dishes and sundaes are festive with a sugar wafer cookie on the side.

The other specialty at Chocolate Temptations is their coffees and other drinks. Year round, they offer a changing selection of specialty coffee flavors available by the cup or purchase a pound of beans to take home and brew yourself. There is a full menu of lattes, cappuccinos and mochas, both iced and hot. In the summer, you will see many cups of their raspberry lemonade walking around the Square in the hands of happy customers.

The sign above the display case reads "I can resist anything but temptation". With the variety and quality of the treats at Chocolate Temptations, who would want to resist?

If you are looking for something to do this weekend in Green County, consider the attending one of the following events:

~ The Monroe Theater Guild production of Drawer Boy is playing on Friday,Saturday Sunday at the Monroe Arts Center. Tickets are $15 for non-member, and are usually available at the door. Call the MAC at 608-325-5700 for more information.

~ The Monroe Business Expo is happening on Friday and Saturday at the SLICE. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, more than forty local businesses are participating in this event. 12 pm until 7 pm on Friday, 10 am until 5 pm on Saturday. Admission is free.

~ The new Albany Branch of the Monroe Clinic is complete. The grand opening celebration is on April 26 from 11 am until 1 pm. There will be kids activities, tours and the doctors will be available for conversation. Refreshments are provided.

~ Brooklyn is celebrating Depot Days this Saturday and Sunday. There will be fun for the entire family with Speeder Car rides, model railroad displays, carnival, artist displays and more.

~ Toffler's in New Glarus is having live music again this Saturday evening starting at 9 pm. They are featuring the solo guitar music of Don J. No cover charge.

~ Dance and Dine at Turner Hall will feature music by the Don Peachey Band. Sunday from 2 pm until 6 pm.