Lake Country This Month

FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY • Page 5A DECEMBER 2014 Our staff is available 24/7 to provide immediate intervention with the expertise and legal acumen to assist with the many needs of our clients. Bucher Law Group, LLC, has over 100 years legal experience, with four staff attorneys to assist you with every legal need. We offer assistance in criminal defense, real estate, probate, litigation, worker's compensation, social security disability and family court matters. Back row - Paul Bucher, Paul Kntzer, Thomas Simon, Steven Lownik Front row - Jodie Massey, Susan Calvanico, Deborah Mueller We are located in Delafield at 355 Austin Circle, Suite 110. To schedule a free consultation, please contact us at (262) 303-4916, or visit our website at www.bucherlawgroup.com 1505 Hwy 164 South * Waukesha, WI 53186 262-521-2100 * www.ilovethefrontporch.com The Front Porch Silk Floral * Home Decor * Vintage Furniture & Paint * Gifts * Unique Cards * LIKE us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/frontporchfans 10,000 sq ft of Holiday Inspiration! Holiday Garlands * Wreaths Ornaments * Ribbon * Novelties DaVinci Beads * Snap Jewels Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 10am-6pm;Sun 11am-5pm Across from the NEW Waukesha WOODMAN'S Custom FLORAL DESIGN Service! Last Minute Gifts! Shop Local! It really makes a difference in your community! Boutique * Boutique * Boutique Women's Clothing (Plus Sizes, too!) Purses * Sterling Jewelry * Readers Scarves * Fashion Jewelry Affordable Fashions for women who like to have FUN with their attire! O COUP N 50% Off ONE Holiday Decor Item some exceptions apply * exp 12/24/2014 50% off OPEN AT 8AM DEC 26th! all Holiday Decor! Save NOW! 241787001 Q. My grandmother purchased this clock in 1910 in Chicago. I was born in 1925, lived with my grand- parents and learned to tell time by counting the chimes. My grandfather would wind the clock every night after dinner. What would the value be today? — Carl, Elm Grove A. A banjo clock is simi- lar in shape to a banjo musi- cal instrument. The sloping sides, tapered neck, round face and rectangular base offer pleasing lines. Extremely American in design, the original one was patented by Simon Willard, Waltham Clock Co., Waltham, Mass., in 1802. He called it an "Improved Timepiece." It is most com- mon to have one company build clocks and another sell them. Much later this style become known as a banjo clock. Regulator wall clocks generally refer to store and office use; all other clocks could be set by them with accurate stan- dard time. They were made in large numbers and became popular with rail- way companies, used as sta- tion timekeepers. By 1910, many banjo models came with exchangeable scene cards like George Washing- ton's Mt. Vernon plantation shown here. The brass eagle finial tops off the patriotic theme. This case length is 42 inches and the face is 9 inches in diameter. In 1910 the selling price of this clock would have been under $15. Your one-owner clock appears to be all original with a value of $375. Q. We have all this stuff that belonged to my mother- in-law. Can you tell us about these odd-shaped vases? — Doug, New Berlin A. This magnolia flower pattern was brought to the market in late 1943. Roseville Pottery from Zanesville, Ohio, intro- duced this cornucopia décor in time for Thanks- giving and sold them through florists and variety stores. Three color choices were blue/brown, green/yellow but the fall colors of orange/brown made a instant hit. The large magnolia blooms on gnarled, black branches reveal one reason why Zanesville had the nick- name of "Clay City." The abundance of raw material with natural gas deposits and rich clay lent for a qual- ity product. Most Roseville pieces are marked but there are an abundance of copy- cats and reproductions. To learn more in depth about authentic marks, check out the online "The Roseville Exchange." Roseville Pot- tery Co. manufactured from 1892-1954, then cheap imports begin to replace American wares. The mark- ings on this pair say, "Roseville u.s.a. 184-6'." The 184 is the design number; height is 6 inches. If in per- fect condition, $150 for the pair. Have an item for appraisal? Tell us about it and it could be selected for a future column. Mail entries to Waukesha Antique Shop, 1427 E. Racine Ave., Unit E- 2, Waukesha, WI 53186. Send sharp, well-lit photos of front, back and underside of your item, and measure- ments are important. List any known history or even hearsay, length of owner- ship and all markings, even partial ones. Include your name, address and phone number. No photos can be returned and no purchase of antiques will occur. (Barbara Eash is a mem- ber of the Certified Apprais- ers Guild of America, spe- cializing in appraisals of antiques and collectibles and has extensive experience writing and speaking about antiques.) Banjo clock, vases keep value as heirlooms BARBARA EASH Antiques Appraised By Karen Pilarski Special to The Freeman WAUKESHA — Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Waukesha and Delafield public libraries kicked off an early literacy initia- tive this past January. The program promotes reading 1,000 books before kindergarten. To meet the target of 1,000 books for a year, preschoolers need to read three books a day. Between the two libraries, over 835 children have registered and are enthusiastic to reach the goal. The intent is for parents and chil- dren to read books together. "Par- ents were unaware of the benefits of reading to children at birth," said Kerry Pinkner, manager of children's services at the Wauke- sha Public Library, 321 W. Wiscon- sin Ave. Pinkner is happy to part- ner with other 4K sites. Reading before kindergarten builds a foun- dation of pre-reading skills that provides a student the tools to suc- ceed in school and life, she said. "Children who are introduced to books and reading as young as tod- dlers read better and retain more of what they read than do children with no previous access or expo- sure to books before preschool or kindergarten," said Jane Oliver- Purton, youth services librarian at the Delafield Public Library, 500 Genesee St.. A huge benefit to a child is the opportunity to spend quality time with a loved one. To fully engage in the learning process with their child, parents can discuss stories, recite nursery rhymes, sing songs, and attend free library programs. Signing up is easy and fun. Each little one receives a folder with log sheets to record the titles of books they have read. In addition, they are given a list of preschool book suggestions and a prize schedule. Pinkner said, "When 100 books are read, kids get a bright green book bag. When 1,000 books are read, participants are able to choose a free book." Kids also get a free hand stamp, which has been very popular with younger readers. Feedback The response has been unani- mous. A majority of families have expressed how the initiative encourages them to read more to their youngsters. Pinkner received feedback from a parent. "One young reader was going to a speech therapist and the therapist was pleased at how help- ful this has been," she said. A huge concern was the possibil- ity of parents explaining they did- n't have time to participate. But luckily, that has not been the case. "The feedback we've heard from parents, grandparents and care- givers has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents seem to be very happy to keep track. I know they realize what a good thing they are doing for their children." said Oliv- er-Purton. Reading has ignited imagination and creativity. Librarians at the Waukesha library often receive logs back with splashy colors and hand- drawn pictures. At the Delafield library, librarians give out a round sticker they call a gumball to put in the appropriately numbered gum- ball machine. The sticker color changes monthly. Kids are thrilled to put their sticker(s) on the boards. No end in sight There is no end date on the read- ing initiative. Both libraries hope to keep it going strong for a long time. "I'd like to see hordes of 5-year olds-entering kindergarten in the next few years excited about sto- ries and reading, and learning," said Oliver-Purton. Despite popular belief, not all children request "Frozen"-related books. "I literally have 3-year-olds asking for another 'An Elephant and Piggie' book or where are the books about Madeline," Oliver- Purton said. Both Oliver-Purton and Pinkn- er expressed delight that a child never fails to come up to them and excitedly discuss a book he or she has read or a favorite book the reader is checking out again. Oliver-Purton said, "These chil- dren are already readers and that's my goal." Sharing the joy of reading: Early literacy initiative spawning success in Waukesha, Delafield

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