Presidential Posts

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Easy way to comment on liquor store issue

1 – Let the City of Madison Know How You Feel About Having a New Liquor Store in the Neighborhood

Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association President Bob Hague reminds neighbors that the Alcohol License Review Committee will be holding a hearing on this Wednesday, November 30, on the application for a liquor license for a liquor store in Madison Plaza, 4611 Verona Road.  This is the spot where Dream Bikes used to be located.

The best way to make your voice heard is to attend the hearing.  It’s at  5:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 30, Room 201, City County Building.

If you can’t attend the hearing, the next best thing is to send an e-mail.  Send your e-mail to the city at these addresses:

Eric Christianson <echristianson@cityofmadison.com>
 
Thomas Lund <tlund@cityofmadison.com>


To learn more about this application and the responses to it, go to
http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=26733&mode=print <http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=26733&amp;mode=print>




2 - Future dates for DMNA Neighborhood Council Meetings

Dates of future DMNA Neighborhood Council meetings have been reserved at the Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society meeting house, corner of Crawford and Whenona.  All meetings start at 7 pm.

Wed., Dec. 7, 2011
Wed., Jan 11, 2012
Feb. 2012 - None decided yet
Wed., Mar 7, 2012
Wed., April 4, 2012

Any resident is welcome to attend these meetings although only Council members can vote.
 
Contact President Bob Hague if you have a special item you would like the Council to discuss or take action on at any meeting.  His contact information is bphague@tds.net 218-1760 (h), or 770-9693 (c).



Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Liquor License Hearing Rescheduled to NOV. 30

Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News  
                                                   November 23, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

The DMN e-News and an occasional hard copy DMN News are published by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on an “as-needed” schedule.  The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Inc. has been working to unite neighbors to solve mutual problems and promote fellowship among neighbors since 1973.  Our neighborhood is in Madison & Fitchburg.
               President, Bob Hague, bphague@tds.net   218-1760
               News contact, Mary Mullen,  mmullen@chorus.net  298-0843
               Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org <http://www.dunnsmarsh.org>   (temporarily out of order)
               On Facebook: http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623 <http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623>
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The articles in issue of the e-News covers just one subject, the proposed liquor store in the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood.  However, 2 picture collages feature the September 17 Apache Pond dedication and the October 26 DMNA Annual Meeting.  A third attachment takes the reader back to 1971 when naturalists Jim and Libby Zimmerman wrote about how to protect Dunn’s Marsh.
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1 -
Liquor License Application Hearing Moved to Nov. 30

The DMNA has learned that the cancelled November 9 meeting of the Alcohol License Review Committee has been rescheduled to Wednesday, November 30 and that the public hearing on the application for a liquor license at 4611 Verona Road in Madison Plaza will be on that agenda.  
 
The location of the proposed liquor store is in the strip mall just behind the Mobil station where Dream Bikes used to be.
 
The rescheduled meeting was confirmed by Eric Christianson in the Madison City Clerk’s Office. In an e-mail to DMNA President Bob Hague, Christianson said:  “Mr. Hague,  There is no agenda yet, but the ALRC will meet to address items on the November 9 agenda. The meeting will be on November 30 at 5:30 in Room 201 of the City-County Building.”
 
The liquor license hearing was #6 on the agenda of the previous (cancelled) meeting  It was described as
 
Public Hearing - New License
Madison Oil LLC • dba Madison Oil
4611 Verona Road • Agent: Lakhvir Kaur
Class A Liquor & Class A Beer
Aldermanic District 10 (Alder Solomon) • Police Sector 104

To learn more about this application and the responses to it, go to
http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=26733&mode=print <http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=26733&amp;mode=print>
 
Responses include 12 communications opposing the license and one suggesting that opposition “could be seen as racially motivated and stereotyped against women and their ethnicity.”
 
Both the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association and the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association oppose this license.
 
Alder Brian Solomon has also confirmed his opposition.  In a November 9 e-mail, Solomon said:  “Please let folks in DMNA know that Madison police are opposed, ADMNA and DMNA are both opposed, and I am opposed. I talked to Fitchburg police as well to see if they’d register a statement to that effect. I have no concerns about the owner / operator; only the location. But I do not believe it is a good fit and have told police, the applicant, and the Madison Alcohol Policy Coordinator the same.”
 

 
2 - Facts from the Liquor License Application

·     Application is for a Class A beer and liquor license.
·     Location is 4611 Verona Road, Madison Plaza mall.
·      The total space is 2,375 square feet/
·      will sell beer, wine, spirits, and packaged food
·      open 7 days a week, 9 a.m to 9 p.m.
·      bathrooms, storage in back, coolers & shelves in front of store, extra liquor stored in back
·      manager’s experience is managing a family gas station the past 2 years in a mall that also has a liquor store
·      Applicant is Lakhvir Kaur, Madison Oil LLC, address 1414 Starr Grass Dr., Madison, WI 53719,
·      Applicant claims there are no special conditions desired by the neighborhood. (Editor’s note:  At the time of the application, the applicant had not contacted the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association or held any informational meetings in the neighborhood. Since then, she has asked to appear at the next DMNA meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 7.  However, now the public hearing has been rescheduled to November 30, which is before the DMNA Council meeting.)
·      Target market would be the local neighborhood.
·      Plans are to put a big sign on both the front and side of the store.  (Editor’s note:  This location is on the end of the mall, so signs would face both Verona Road and Britta Parkway.)
·      Owner of building is FSGB, LLC, Madison Plaza, p. O. Box 724, Geneva, IL 60134, phone # 1-847-962-3414
 


3 - How to Make Your Opinion Known
 
Individuals who wish express their opinions about the proposed liquor license and liquor store have several options.
 
1.  Attend the public hearing and register in favor of or in opposition to the license.  Registrants may either choose to speak or simply register for or against the license.
 
The hearing is in Room 201 of the City County Building on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Meeting starts at 5:30 p.m.
 
2. Contact one or more of these people:
 
Alder Brian Solomon, <district10@cityofmadison.com> or <briansolomon@charter.net>  You can also write to Brian at 2148 West Lawn Avenue, Madison, WI 53711. His phone number is 608-446-1362.
 
Madison’s Alcohol Coordinator Mark Woulf, mwoulf@cityofmadison.com
 
Eric Christianson who is the staff person for the Alcohol License Review Committee (ALRC).   He will make your communication available to the whole committee.
            <echristianson@cityofmadison.com>
 
Also given in the ALRC materials as the contact is Thomas Lund, tlund@cityofmadison.com <mailto:tlund@cityofmadison.com> .  He can be contacted at the City Clerk’s office, 266-4601.  Mr. Lund was the source of the detailed information first published to the neighborhood about this license application.
 
All the alders for the City of Madison since they will make the final decision: allalders@cityofmadison.com


 

4 – Check out the Photo Collages about Apache Pond, the DMNA Annual Meeting, and Protecting Dunn’s Marsh

Ready for a little “eye candy?”  Click on the attachments.

“col Apache Pond dedication.jpg” shows many colorful photos from the September 17, 2011 Apache Pond dedication event.  You’ll wish you had been there!

“col Zim article.jpg” is a trip to the past when neighbors protested the apartments going up at the foot of Red Arrow Trail.  It’s a picture of a Capital Times article from May 7, 1971.  See an air view of the southern part of the neighborhood from way back then.

“col DMNA AnMtg.jpg” shows scenes from the October 26, 2011 DMNA annual meeting.


These photo collages are small jpeg versions of the original Word documents.  Anyone who wants a version with better resolution can contact the news editor.  The Word versions are quite large.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Alcohol License Review Committee meeting cancelled today

Alder Dorothy Krause informed me of the ALRC meeting cancellation and I have checked this out with the Madison City Clerk.  The Alcohol License Review Committee meeting scheduled for 5:30 pm today, has been cancelled.  Presumably, the agenda items including the application for liquor licenses for a liquor store at 4611 Verona Road in the Madison Plaza, will be put on the agenda of the ALRC’s next meeting, December 21.


In other news, a neighborhood resident of the Crawford area asked that we look for her lost cat.  “We're missing our cat, Kedi. She's a long haired solid black cat. She has cancer, and is subsequently quite skinny, and not overly friendly but very much loved. Call Brian if seen 658-8165. 2009 Axel Ave.”


Mary Mullen
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Communications
298-0843

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Date correction - Liquor store hearing is NOV. 9

I apologize for the typo in the text of my last message about the liquor store application in Madison Plaza.  

As the headline noted, this hearing is this coming Wednesday, November 9, 5:30 pm, Room 201 of the City County Building, 210 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd.  

An incorrect date was printed in the text of an article of last night’s communication.

Mary Mullen
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Communications
608-298-0843

Friday, November 4, 2011

Liquor Store hearing Wed., Nov. 9

Liquor Store Hearing This Wednesday:  What You Can Do (Attachment: “1 liquor app notice.jpg”)

As noted in the last DMNA communication in late October, there’s an application for a liquor store in Madison Plaza for the spot that Dream Bikes vacated. The hearing before Madison’s Alcohol License Review Committee is this Wednesday, November 4, 5:30 pm, in Room 201 of the City County Building, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.  All interested parties are encouraged to attend and give opinions.
 
At its November 2 meeting, the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Council voted unanimously to oppose the liquor store and authorized DMNA President Bob Hague to speak at the public hearing.  Most other members of the Council also plan to attend and speak against the liquor store.
 
Anyone attending the hearing can speak.  The limit is 3 minutes.  Sign up a few minutes before 5:30 - or whenever you arrive - at the table at the entrance to Room 201.  This is Item 6 on the agenda but will probably be taken up at the beginning of the meeting because people will be registered against it.  It is legislative file ID 24239
 
Want to speak but don’t have a way to get to the hearing?  Anyone who needs a ride to the hearing should contact Mary Mullen, 298-0843, or mmullen@chorus.net.  She’ll either pick you up or try to find someone else to do so.
 
If you cannot attend, you may call, write an e-mail, or sent a snail mail letter.  Facts from the application and other sources are summarized below.  
 
Here are some people you might want to communicate with giving your reasons for your opinion about having another liquor store in our neighborhood.
 
Alder Brian Solomon, <district10@cityofmadison.com> or <briansolomon@charter.net>  You can also write to Brian at 2148 West Lawn Avenue, Madison, WI 53711. His phone number is 608-446-1362.
 
Madison’s Alcohol Coordinator Mark Woulf, mwoulf@cityofmadison.com
 
Eric Christianson who is the staff person for the Alcohol License Review Committee (ALRC).   He will make your communication available to the whole committee.
            <echristianson@cityofmadison.com>
 
Also given in the ALRC materials as the contact is
tlund@cityofmadison.com

All the alders for the City of Madison since they will make the final decision: allalders@cityofmadison.com
                                                                                               by Mary Mullen
 
 
 
Facts About the Liquor Store Application (Attachment:  “493601b3-e051-4f50-9199-b7e93292e407.pdf” which is the application itself)
 
If you click on the attachment with the many numbers and letters, you can see the actual application for the liquor store proposed for Madison Plaza where Dream Bikes used to be.  To see everything about this application including some responses to it, go to http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=26733&mode=print <http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=26733&amp;mode=print>
            
 
In a nutshell, the application provides the following information:
·     application is for a Class A beer and liquor license
·     location 4611 Verona Road, Madison Plaza mall
·      the total space is 2,375 square feet
·      will sell beer, wine, spirits, and packaged food
·      open 7 days a week, 9 a.m to 9 p.m.
·      bathrooms, storage in back, coolers & shelves in front of store, extra liquor stored in back
·      manager’s experience is managing a family gas station the past 2 years in a mall that also has a liquor store
·      applicant is Lakhvir Kaur, Madison Oil LLC
·      applicants address is 1414 Starr Grass Dr., Madison, WI 53719,
·      Applicant claims there are no special conditions desired by the neighborhood. (Editor’s note:  The applicant has not contacted the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association or held any informational meetings in the neighborhood. Therefore, she could not know if special conditions are desired.)
·      Target market would be the local neighborhood.
·      Plans to put a big sign on both the front and side of the store.  (Editor’s note:  This location is on the end of the mall, so signs would face both Verona Road and Britta Parkway.)
·      Owner of building is FSGB, LLC, Madison Plaza, p. O. Box 724, Geneva, IL 60134, phone # 1-847-962-3414
·      The floor plan with the application is unreadable.
 
                                                                                    by Mary Mullen
 
 
Current Responses to Application
 
Currently, response to this application has been negative.  A neighborhood resident’s inquiry established that Alder Brian Solomon is opposed.  The Madison police are opposed.  The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association is opposed. Several neighborhood residents including Bob Hague, President of the DMNA, have already written to various authorities expressing their opposition.  At least one Council member talked about starting a petition against the liquor store.
 
At its November 2 meeting the DMNA Council discussed its reasons for opposing a liquor store in Madison Plaza.  These are some of the reasons for opposition.
·      What a contrast to Dream Bikes, the previous occupant of the space, which was positive for the community in every way, employing young people from the neighborhood and encouraging bike riding.
·      Our neighborhood is already at risk regarding health due to many factors. It is close to major highways with their noise and air pollution.  The neighborhood has a lot of issues with alcohol and drug use, now. You can find a trail of alcohol bottles and beer cans all along the frontage roads and some other streets. Do we need more of that?
·      We already have one liquor store in the neighborhood, Zimmer’s on the Beltline Frontage Road, 7/10 of a mile away from the proposed liquor store.
·      Zimmer’s is the site of police calls on a pretty regular basis.
·      Alcohol is available at many other locations within the neighborhood and nearby.  
    • One can buy beer at the Mobil station just a stone’s throw from the proposed store and also at the BP station right next to Einstein’s.  Beer is also available at the Speedway gas station at Verona Road and Raymond Road.   
    • Several establishments just across Verona Road have alcohol on the menu.  Feiler’s Restaurant next to Kentucky Fried Chicken has a bar and to the west right next to the bike path there’s Bennett’s Meadowood Country Club, also a bar.  
    • Up on Williamsburg Way is a full-fledged liquor store, Liquor Town, and just around the corner from it is Picasso’s Pizza that also has a bar.
·      What the neighborhood needs is a grocery store, not another place to buy alcohol.
 
                                                                                                            by Mary Mullen
 
 
 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Liquor license application, HyVee proposal

Sorry that these very important notices didn’t make it into the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News that went out yesterday.  One is about an information session about a HyVee grocery store proposed for the vicinity of Target.  The other is a liquor store application for Madison Plaza in the space formerly occupied by Dream Bikes.

HyVee Aims for Store Across from Super Target.  Your Views Wanted Nov. 1

HyVee is proposing to build a full service grocery store in the Orchard Pointe development across from Super Target.

There are many potential challenges, but also some potential benefits that could come from this project if it is approved.
  
The City of Fitchburg has requested that HyVee meet with the surrounding neighborhoods to tell them about the plan, hear their concerns and answer questions.

HyVee will be making this neighborhood presentation on Tuesday, November 1st, at 7 pm at Fitchburg Fire Station #2 on King James Way. This is part of the Jamestown Neighborhood Association's monthly meeting.  All interested parties are encouraged to attend.
 
                     from Carol Poole, Fitchburg 1st Dist. Alder
 
 
 
 
Liquor Store Proposed for Madison Plaza - Hearing November 9

There’s a big orange notice on the window of the former Dream Bikes location in Madison Plaza.  It informs neighbors that Madison Oil LLC is applying for a liquor license for this location and that the hearing before the Madison Alcohol License Review Committee is Wednesday, Nov. 9, 5:30 p.m. in Room 201 of the City County Building.
 
The owner of the business and person applying for the license is Lakhuir Kaur, an Indian woman.  
 
The Madison City Clerk’s office provided this information about the application.
· Hours of service, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., 7 days a week
· Sales of beer, wine, spirits, and packaged food
· Take out only - not a bar, no tables
· Security cameras inside and out
· Owner has managed a gas station for 2 years
· Owner plans to personally manage the store and hire 1 full-time and 2 part-time employees
· Applicant’s phone number, for more information, is 608-692-6520

Residents of our neighborhood are encouraged to attend the hearing or express their opinions in writing.  Opinions can be expressed directly to the Alcohol License Review Committee by corresponding with the Eric Christianson of the City Clerk’s office at: <echristianson@cityofmadison.com>
 
Letting our alder Brian Solomon know your thoughts is another avenue. To communicate with Brian, e-mail him at <district10@cityofmadison.com> or <briansolomon@charter.net>  You can also write to him at 2148 West Lawn Avenue, Madison, WI 53711. His phone number is 608-446-1362.
 
People who want to express their opinions to all the Madison alders at once can send an e-mail to
<allalders@cityofmadison.com>
                                                                                        by Mary Mullen

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

DMNA Annual Mtg. Wed. Oct. 26 & other short articles

Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News  
                     October 25, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              August 26, 2011

The DMN e-News and an occasional hard copy DMN News are published by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on an “as-needed” schedule.  The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Inc. has been working to unite neighbors to solve mutual problems and promote fellowship among neighbors since 1973.  Our neighborhood is in Madison & Fitchburg.
               President, Bob Hague, bphague@tds.net   218-1760
               News contact, Mary Mullen,  mmullen@chorus.net  298-0843
               Website:
http://www.dunnsmarsh.org <http://www.dunnsmarsh.org>  (temporarily out of order)
               On Facebook:
http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623 <http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623>
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This e-News is mainly about the October 26 DMNA annual meeting:  a greeting from President Bob Hague, a brief agenda, and a notice about how Madison residents might be able to register to vote.  This is planned to be a speed meeting of one hour’s duration.  Six other short articles complete this issue.
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Articles in the October 25, 2011 Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News

1 - Greetings, neighbors!  Invitation to DMNA annual meeting, Wed., Oct. 26
2 - Annual meeting agenda
3 - Neighbors Sharon & Pam Flinn Can Register You to Vote Right Here

4 - WisDOT and Odom Associates Hold Many Public Outreach Hours about Verona Rd. Project
    (Attachment: “Verona Rd outreach.jpg”)
5 - Construct-U May Help Neighborhood Women and Minorities Get Employment in Verona Rd. Project
6 - Neighborhood Trick-or-Treaters Invited to Halloween Party at Prairie UU
7 - Need a kitten?
 (Attachment:  “kittens pic.jpg”)
8 - Preschool Ad Advertisement Attached to e-News  (Attachment: “preschool ad.jpg”)
9 - Alder Solomon’s District 10 Alder Report from 9-21-11 (Only the timely excerpts)
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1. Greetings, neighbors!  Invitation to DMNA annual meeting, Wed., Oct. 26

The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association works to make our neighborhood a great place to live!
 
We want to hear from you at our ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, Wednesday, OCTOBER 26, 6:30 pm, at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, 2010 Whenona Dr. (corner of Whenona Dr. and Crawford Dr.)
 
·     What concerns do you have about our neighborhood?

·     Do you have ideas for social gatherings that help us get to know each other?

·     Are there ways neighbors could help each other during these hard times?

During the meeting you will also select your representatives to serve on the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Council for the next year (Nov. 2011 – Oct. 2012).
 
Over the past year our neighborhood council has been active to look out for our neighborhood interests and to help neighbors get to know each other.   Some of our accomplishments have included:
 
·     Installation of pet waste bag stations in Marlborough Park

·     Neighborhood garage sale

·     Participation in Apache Pond project in Fitchburg

·     Marlborough Park picnic in August

·     Neighborhood Yard & Garden Tour

·     Changes to Verona Rd Project to address neighborhood concerns

We hope to see you on Wednesday, October 26, 6:30 for our important annual meeting!

Bob Hague, President        
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association
bphague@tds.net
<mailto:bphague@tds.net>  and  218-1760


 
 

Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association
Annual Meeting
Wednesday October 26th, 6:30 P.M.
Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society
2010 Whenona Drive
 
AGENDA   
 

1.     Call to order/greeting by DMNA President – (5 min)

2.     Thank-You to Project Welcome Volunteers – (5 min)

3.     Introduction of DMNA Council Members, Alder Brian Solomon, & any other dignitaries – (5 min)

4.     Open Floor Period/Questions, comments, concerns (30 min)

5.     Caucuses and voting

6.     Adjourn

 
 

3 - Neighbors Sharon & Pam Flinn Can Register You to Vote Right Here

You’d have to be an ostrich not to know that Wisconsin has passed the most restrictive Voter ID law in the entire United States.  What this means is that it will be much harder to register to vote and even to “get permission” at the polls to vote if you don’t already have a current Wisconsin driver’s license, if you are a student, or have recently moved.  
 
“It will be much easier to have one of us register voters ‘off-site’ than it will be to register at the polls,” says Sharon Flinn, Chief Inspector for the City of Madison polls in our neighborhood (HeadStart building). She and her daughter Pam Flinn, also a poll worker, are certified to register Madison residents right where they are - at home, at a store, at the DMNA annual meeting, even on the street. This will save a lot of time for unregistered voters at the polls.
 
Sharon and Pam plan to get certified to register Fitchburg voters as well.  This is important since the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood straddles the border of Madison and Fitchburg.
 
The Flinns have offered their phone number as a way to get in touch with them if you aren’t registered and want to be.  It is 271-3958.  The Flinns will be making every effort to come to the annual meeting so that any unregistered voters can fill out registration forms at that time.
 
You will have to show a picture ID such as a Wisconsin driver’s license, a Wisconsin picture ID, a passport, naturalization papers, or a military ID.
 
But the nice thing about registering in the neighborhood rather than at the polls is that you don’t have to prove your current address. That will be handled by the city. The city of Madison will send a notice of registration to the address you give.  If it is returned by the post office as undeliverable, it’s assumed that the registrant no longer lives there, and the person won’t be put on the poll list of registered voters.
 
The DMNA will be sponsoring an information session on the new Voter ID law sometime in the future but after the October 26 annual meeting.  The annual meeting is set for 6:30 pm at Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford and Whenona.
                                                                                             by Mary Mullen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
 
 
 
4 - WisDOT and Odom Associates Hold Many Public Outreach Hours about Verona Rd. Project
    (Attachment: “1 Verona Rd outreach.jpg”)
 
The “preliminary design phase” for the Verona Road /Beltline Interchange Project will soon begin.  WisDOT through its consultant Strand Associates is providing many public outreach office hours at the Boys and Girls Club and also at the Upper Iowa University campus on Hammersley Road.
 
To see the schedule, click on the attachment referenced above.
 
The next two outreach sessions at the Boys and Girls Club are October 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and Nov. 9, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
 
The brochure notes that “Sites will be staffed by individuals who are prepared to respond to questions and feedback.  Project maps, displays, documents and handouts will be available, including a copy of the Final Environmental Impact Statement.”
 
When I visited, Joe Bunker from Strand and several representatives from Odom & Associates were present including a young woman who could speak Spanish.  A video on how to use a roundabout was playing.  The reconstructed Verona Road will include a roundabout.
 
I requested a copy of the large map of the project for use in the neighborhood.  That map will be provided by Strand and will be displayed at the DMNA annual meeting on October 26.
                                                                                         by Mary Mullen
 
 
 
 
5 - Construct-U May Help Neighborhood Women and Minorities Get Employment in Verona Rd. Project

The Verona Road reconstruction project will be seriously underway in 2013.  Seeing the project as inevitable, some speakers at the hearing for the Final Environmental Impact Statement spoke about the need for neighborhood people to be employed in the project.  How can that happen?
 
One way it can happen is through Construct-U. Construct-U is an 8-week course through the YWCA that introduces women and minorities to the road construction industry and building trades.   The class meets Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm and on Saturday from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm.  What’s even better is that this course is FREE!
 
Ordinarily the course is taught 3 times a year.  The next session begins on January 10.  One requirement is that potential Construct-U students must attend an orientation session prior to the start of class. Five orientation sessions are being held between November 17 and December 1.   All are held at 3101 Latham Drive in the vicinity of Fish Hatchery Road and Greenway Cross, a couple of blocks from Kentucky Fried Chicken.  The Thursday, November 17 orientation is at 3 p.m.  Others are on different days and at different times.
 
A flyer about the course is available at the public outreach sessions for the Verona Road project that are held at the Boys and Girls Club and Upper Iowa University campus on Hammersley Road.
 
More detailed information is also available from Kevyn Radcliffe, Construct-U Instructor, at 257-1436, option 3 or by e-mail at kradcliffe@ywcamadison.org.
 
This flyer and Construct-U are not going unnoticed.  When I stopped into the public outreach session for Verona Road on October 12, several young Black women were inquiring about Construct-U and how it would help them get jobs on the Verona Road project.
                                                                                       by Mary Mullen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

 
6 - Neighborhood Trick-or-Treaters Invited to Halloween Party at Prairie UU

Walking around in the dark, cold streets to gather candy is hard work! Take a break from trick-or-treating by warming up to some hot apple cider and eating some spooooky treats!
 
The Halloween Party is for anyone in the neighborhood.  Stop by at Prairie UU Society between 5:00 and 8:00 pm on Monday, October 31.  Location is at corner of Whenona and Crawford.
 
                                                               from Rebecca Malke-Eliganti, Prairie UU Society
 

 
7 - Need a kitten?
 (Attachment:  “2 kittens pic.jpg”)
 
If you have a soft spot and a good home for a kitten, you might want one or both of these two kittens.   One is all black and the other is black and white.  Both are females.  Contact Donna at dksarafin@yahoo.com or 273-0437.



 
 
8 - Preschool Ad Advertisement Attached to e-News  (Attachment: “3 preschool ad.jpg”)
 
The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News accepts some ads for its newsletter.  They may be in the form of an attachment to the e-News. As in this case, a notice will inform readers about the advertisement.
 
Attached to this month’s e-News is an advertisement for the New Morning Nursery School. New Morning is a non-profit, parent cooperative nursery school located on Monroe St. in the Wingra School building and serving children ages 2-6.
 
 
 
 
 
9 - Alder Solomon’s District 10 Alder Report from 9-21-11 (Only the timely excerpts)
 
Greetings neighbors. Hope you are enjoying this beautiful early autumn. A few things to update you on, including an upcoming meeting. Thanks all, Brian
 
Budget. The Capital budget has been released. The operating budget will be released in a few weeks. I am very supportive of the Capital budget, which greatly reduces city expenditures and begins to deal with our long term debt issues. Given the economy and reductions in state aid, I think this is a very responsible action. The biggest controversial item was Mayor Soglin’s proposal to reduce the TIF allocation to the Edgewater. Most of you will remember that I was actively involved in that discussion, trying to get some guarantees for living wage jobs and minority hiring post construction. Because I was unable to get support for even a broad range of targets, I was unable to support the $16 million TIF allocation. I am leary of changing our decision (even with my opposition), but do think the proposal is worth considering, especially given our budget situation. More to come. If you’d like to check out the Capital budget, you can do so here:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/finance/budget/2012/ <http://www.cityofmadison.com/finance/budget/2012/>

Brush Collection. Final rounds are currently in place. Crews will be on brush from now until snow, as available. But most of the attention will be on leaves once they start falling. For more information, check out the city streets website at: http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/ <http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/> .
 
Triple A. Our new farm team? A recruitment poster for road side assistance? Nope. Our bond rating. This is a very strong signal that our city’s financial situation remains stable and strong, despite the economic difficulties we face. I serve on the Board of Estimates and we approved some additional borrowing in a special meeting tonight. We got an incredible interest rate thanks to the Triple A rating. It’s nice to share some good news. Read more at:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/news/view.cfm?news_id=2853 <http://www.cityofmadison.com/news/view.cfm?news_id=2853> .
                                              from 10th District Madison Alder Brian Solomon
 
 
---  end of the October 25, 2011 DUNN’S MARSH NEIGHBORHOOD E-NEWS --
                                           Thanks for reading.