The Best of Patch: January

At year's end it's nice to take a look back at where you came, which offers a good look at where you're going. At Patch, January marked our first full month serving the community. Although we were still newbies, there were some great stories to kick off 2011.

• Read the entire Sussex Year in Review series

With no sight of snow on the ground this winter, last winter was quite a different story. Both Waukesha County and Village of Sussex plowing and salting equipment was being readied for a second round of snow and managers were planning staffing schedules with a plan of attack to combat the storm.

It's only a matter of time before Sussex sees the same frosty wonderland.

Firefighters Battle Blaze at Concrete Factory

Fortunately there were no injuries at this fire on Jan. 20. This story stands out because Patch was first to the scene when the incident occurred, and stood red-faced and shivering to report updates in sub-zero temperatures. Updates came until my fingers were no longer capable of typing.

Public Sledding Party Huge Success in Sussex

Sussex Parks and Recreation hosted the annual sledding event at Sussex Village Park. From snowboards to toboggans, from inner tubes to sleds, from plastic or metal snow discs to even pieces of improvised foam insulation, all methods were in play to make gravity the engine for whizzing down the hills of the park.

The village is planning to do the same event this year, music and hot chocolate in tow, on Saturday, January 28 from 1 - 3 p.m. at the Village Park. Sussex Patch will even be there to race you down the hill!

Choirs Perform at Hamilton Fine Arts Center

Under the direction of teacher Marilyn Mascitti, singers from Hamilton High School performed for an appreciative audience at the Hamilton Fine Arts Center. You can see a photo of the former, and probably still current singers by following the link.

Hamilton Boys Basketball at Catholic Memorial

Watch a video recap of the game and be overcome by nostalgia by following the link. Defending Division 2 state champion Catholic Memorial hosted Hamilton in a nonconference game. The Crusaders poured it on early, but the youthful Chargers refused to wilt.