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Dream Team game highlights inclusion through baseball
KAITLYN HUPP
Dream Team players give pregame high-fives before taking the
field.
KAITLYN HUPP
Despite the 95-degree heat, families and community members came together to celebrate their differences on one heart-warming afternoon supporting people with special needs and a dream of playing baseball.
The Geneva Lakes Family YMCA hosted their annual Dream Team game on Wednesday, July 15 at Veterans Park.
The Dream Team is a special co-ed baseball league through the local YMCA designed for children and adults with special needs.
The program teaches the fundamentals of baseball, sportsmanship, batting, catching, and running the bases.
According to the YMCA, the team consists of 47 players, 25 middle and high school volunteers, and many coaches.
Coach John Swanson has been a part of running this event since the beginning in 2002, he said.
"This is summer in Lake Geneva," Geneva Lakes Family YMCA CEO Mike Kramp said. "With the dream team, all the work that John Swanson puts into this is incredible. He's been doing this for over 20 years. It's great to see the dream team athletes come out and compete against some of the other teams that have volunteered their time to be here to play today."
Three teams volunteered to play against the Dream Team, the Blue Jays, the Blue Crew, and the Twinklers, two of which are local softball teams and the third being a group of volunteers made up of mostly college students from UWWhitewater.
While Swanson was doing the pregame speech, he wished the teams luck against the Dream Teams as they were number one in their league.
One parent described this program as something that brings this often-neglected community together.
"I definitely think this is a great event to have with the Dream Team," Gene Johnson, the new YMCA Sports Operations Director, said. "I think it's always great to get people from the community involved, especially in the local sports, whether it's youth or adults."
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Walworth Immanuel Church hosting annual cream puff and eclair sale
Walworth Immanuel Church will conduct its annual cream puff and eclair sale at 9 a.m. Aug. 1 at Devils Lake Park, across from Big Foot High School, 401 Devils Lane. The event is in conjunction with the Geneva Lake West Rotary Club Corn & Brat Fest. Items will be available until they are sold out.
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VISIT Lake Geneva accepting nominations for Impact Awards
VISIT Lake Geneva is accepting nominations for the 2026 Impact Awards, which recognize residents, nonprofit organization officials and business representatives for contributions to their communities.
Outstanding Citizen — Presented to a person who represents the Lake Geneva region at its very best, consistently making a positive difference. The Citizen of the Year also serves as grand marshal of the annual Lake Geneva Electric Christmas Parade.
Business of the Year — Presented to a business or organization that exemplifies excellence in business culture and embodies social responsibility by giving back to the local community.
Community Betterment — Presented to a non-profit organization that enhances and improves the quality of life in the Lake Geneva region.
Hospitality — Presented to a person or business who exemplifies outstanding customer service, care and hospitality.
Rising Star — A person, organization or business who, in five years or less in their respective field, has made a substantial impact in their profession.
The 2026 Impact Award recipients will be announced during Visit Lake Geneva’s Annual Dinner & Awards on Oct. 27.
Visit Lake Geneva serves as the region’s destination marketing organization and its chamber of commerce, promoting tourism and supporting local businesses.
Walworth County is set to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a daylong celebration Sept. 3 at the Walworth County Fair.
“Walworth County Salutes America 250” will begin with a morning ceremony on the Park Stage recognizing local Purple Heart and Silver Star recipients.
Dale Reich will present information about the Revolutionary War by portraying Christopher Ludwig, a German immigrant and master baker who became the Continental Army’s “Baker General” under George Washington.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History will host a traveling exhibit highlighting the global impact of the Declaration of Independence.
One thousand pocket U.S. Constitutions will be distributed throughout the day at the Walworth County tent.
The celebration will conclude with a drone show.
In conjunction with the celebration, Walworth County has launched a countywide America 250 Time Capsule initiative in partnership with the Walworth County Historical Society.
Residents, schools, community groups and partner organizations are invited to contribute items that represent everyday life in 2026. The time capsule will be opened in 2076.
Agricultural institute hosting annual crops field day
The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute is hosting its Annual Alternative Crops Field Day 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the institute’s new research farm, N8832 Pickeral Lake Road in East Troy.
Education stations will highlight food and cover crop trials, agroforestry systems and soil building conservation practices. Lunch will showcase alternative crops including millet, buckwheat, Kernza and mung beans — as well as several South Indian dishes.
The field day will feature tours of production fields and research plots, including varietal trials of proso millet and buckwheat, along with Pennsylvania Dutch popcorn, mung beans, Kernza perennial grain, agroforestry plantings and a variety of cover crops used in different settings.
Five stations will include information about soil health, water quality, alternative crop production and the process of bringing emerging crops to market.
The lunch that features alternative crops, locally-produced products and various ethnic dishes. The planned menu includes South Indian millet cakes and dosai, Hungarian buckwheat crepes, South Indian chutneys, local cheese and honey, seasonal vegetables and a salad topped with sprouted mung beans. MFAI’s retail business, Fields Best Small Batch Grains, will offer flours, baking mixes, cookies and brownies for purchase.
Following the field day, MFAI staff will serve herbal mocktails and host a hay wagon ride.
The Annual Alternative Crops Field Day is free and open to the public. Advance registration is requested for meal planning.
For more information and to register, visit >www.michaelfields.org/event-details/mfai-annual-alternative-crops-field-day.
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