Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood Association

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Verona Rd. meeting Thurs./ Garden Registration

Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood e-News
                                                                  March 2, 2010
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.
                President, Jeff Glazer, jglazer75@gmail.com 277-1778
                News contact, Mary Mullen, mmullen@chorus.net, 298-0843
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This newsletter is mostly about the Verona Rd./ Beltline reconstruction plans, but don't miss the gardening news.

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Neighborhood Calendar

Thursday, March 4, 6;00-8:30 pm - Public Information meeting on plans for changes at Beltline/Verona Road intersection and frontage roads. Boys & Girls Club, Jenewein Rd.

Tuesday, March 16, 7 p.m. - Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood Association Council Meeting, Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Drive (corner of Whenona & Crawford). Residents welcome, but only Council members vote. Inform DMNA president (above) if you plan to attend.

Monday, March 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Marlborough Community Garden Registration, Boys & Girls Club, Jenewein Rd.

Saturday, April 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m. – Marlborough Community Garden Registration, Boys & Girls Club, Jenewein Rd.

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                                    Article List

           Verona Road/Beltline Reconstruction
1 - Thursday, March 4: Last Verona Road Environmental Justice Outreach Meeting
            (Attachment 1 – Verona mtg flyer.pdf)
2 - Verona Road Meeting Draws Large Crowd and Critical Comments
3 - The Message Should Have Been What People Said, Not About the Food
4 - An e-Mail From a Resident and a Reply from DOT – About Britta Plans
5 - DMNA Council to Develop a Written Position on Verona Rd./Beltline Plans
6 - Alder Solomon Voices Concerns About Verona Road Interchange Plans
7 - See the Verona Road Presentation on Computer:   Links to the DOT website that shows new Britta/Frontage Road alignment (and everything else

                       Gardening News
8 - Community Garden Registration Dates Set
9 - Opportunity to Participate in Garden Research

                       Odds 'N Ends
10 - Correction: Telephone number for Fitchburg Environmental Engineer
11 - Fitchburg Public Library to Break Ground April 12 Plus Many Other Events Sponsored by Friends of Fitchburg Library

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ARTICLES...

Verona Road/Beltline Reconstruction

1 - Thursday, March 4: Last Verona Road Environmental Justice Outreach Meeting
            (Attachment 1 – Verona mtg flyer.pdf)

WisDOT [Department of Transportation] will be holding the last Environmental Justice Outreach meeting about Verona Road reconstruction plans at the Boys & Girls Club in the Dunn's Marsh neighborhood on Thursday, March 4th, at 6:00 p.m. [See the flyer for details. It is in both English and Spanish.]

As before, the general public, including you and your neighbors, are invited to attend, though personal invitations are being mailed to just the residential tenants in the southeast quadrant of the project area.

                        from Stephanie Thomsen, Strand Associates, consultant on this project

[If you prefer to read short articles about the February 18 meeting before reading the more lengthy summary just below, skip ahead to article 3.]

2 - Verona Road Meeting Draws Large Crowd and Critical Comments

The parking lot of the Boys and Girls Club was crammed with vehicles. The overflow of cars lined Jenewein and Rosenberry.   Inside, the gym was abuzz with neighborhood folks who turned out for the public meeting on February 18 to learn about and protest reconstruction plans for Verona Road and the Beltline.

This meeting was the third in a series of four sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation [DOT] in the neighborhood. The first two, one on January 21 and the other on February 4, drew meager attendance because they were not widely publicized. And, to the dismay of people who attended the February 18 meeting and had wanted their voices to be heard, the lead story of Channel 3's TV news coverage emphasized the free meal offered to attendees rather than the main course of the evening: residents' almost uniform distress over the plans.

A large share of the meeting was devoted to a PowerPoint presentation on the plans. They showed frontage roads and access roads that would reach into the residential areas of the Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood.   Particularly affected for the first stage of construction in 2013-2015 would be the north end of Carling Drive and Allied Drive, Avalon Village and the interchange to Home Depot, and the Britta Parkway area. This stage would involve raising a portion of Verona Road above its current elevation and cutting off the direct access across Verona Road to Home Depot.

Eventually, if all goes as expected by DOT, by 2030 Verona Road will be sunk down below grade with "bridges" to cross over to the Home Depot area, and half of the park on Britta Parkway will be taken in order to accommodate a realigned Frontage Road. At that time, the commercial area of the Frontage Road between Whenona and Seminole will be wiped out.

[NOTE: To get a better idea of the plans, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that readers attend the March 4 informational meeting, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., at the Boys and Girls Club. A public hearing will be conducted in April.]
Only about 10 people had a chance to speak after the presentation. Not one favored the project. Most had very specific objections to it that could be summed up as: This project is nothing but bad for our neighborhood, both during and after construction.

Perhaps the most damning and angry testimony came from former 10th District Alder Ken Golden. He said:

At one time DOT conducted a stellar process. But the input from back then has been ignored.
Even though DOT will be holding a public hearing, it will mean nothing because DOT "will have all the answers."
Something needs to be done, but [with these plans] the DOT has created a scar and isolated the neighborhood and destroyed the quality of life in the neighborhood.
There will be some less pollution at first [because traffic will be able to flow more smoothly], but the ease of use will attract more traffic and in the end create much more pollution.

Golden promised to do his very best to change the plans. "I know where the buttons are…" he said, implying that he would be pushing every button he could to fight against the worst aspects of the plans.
Neighborhood resident and DMNA Council member Jo Kelley suggested that all people in the neighborhood need to band together to speak as one voice to oppose the plans. She asked interested people to talk to her on the spot or contact her later (276-8010 or jokelley@tds.net).

Other speakers made these specific points:

The plan really only accommodates traffic. It isn't good for people. It's very bad for children. (Pollution, noise, roads bringing traffic closer to residences)
It impacts the residential areas too much, specifically Avalon Village, the Carling Drive area, and Britta Parkway. The best tenants will leave because of these impacts, lowering the quality of life in the neighborhood even more.
Can neighborhood residents be targeted for employment in the construction?
This project will cause property values to plummet.
Traffic should be routed away from the Verona Road/Beltline intersection rather than accommodated. What about an outer Beltline for traffic without a specific Madison destination.
Seminole Highway will be greatly impacted as people avoid Verona Road and Fish Hatchery Road during construction. This is a big problem.
People who were involved in the past have not been involved by DOT in recent years.
Reconstruction at this location is like a square peg in a round hole. It's a bad place for an intersection.
We don't want more streets into the neighborhood. They will bring more cars. We don't want that.
No barriers are shown/planned to protect the Dunn's Marsh side of Verona Road.
Did not get a mailing about the meeting. (Several complained of this.)

The final meeting in this round of informational meetings will be held from 6:00-8:30 p.m. this Thursday, March 4, at the Boys and Girls Club.

Channel 3 reported that about 80 people attended the February 18 meeting. At least 30 people known by sight by this reporter were spotted in the audience including 6 of the 12 DMNA Council members.

                                                                                                                        by Mary Mullen

3 - The Message Should Have Been What People Said, Not About the Food

It was great to see TV cameras covering last night's meeting [February 28] about the DOT's 151/18 Project. I thought our message to the DOT that the project HARMS our neighborhood would reach more people through their news report.

But that is not what the TV cameras were covering. The TV news reports were about the Fish Fry. The breaking news story was that the DOT was spending $500 for food and it is against their policy.

The breaking news should have been that the DOT was presenting their recommended Alternative for the Verona Road interchange, and they picked the alternative that does the MOST HARM to our neighborhood. More homes will be destroyed, more businesses loss, more noise, more air pollution than all of the other options. The DOT got neighborhood input but IGNORED our basic concerns.

The real story is that the DOT showed us their recommended alternative and it does the MOST HARM to our neighborhood. The real story is the Environmental Justice issue!

                                                                                    from Jo Kelley, Crawford Resident

4 - An e-Mail From a Resident and a Reply from DOT – About Britta Plans

The e-mail:
I must say I was surprised to see how the Frontage Rd. had migrated to Britta. I attended meetings in 2008 and the map in the LINK below was presented with the Frontage Road of 2 possibilities. As I recall, the WI DOT reps at the meeting were echoing back to us that DOT using of Britta as a frontage Rd was coming through loud and clear.

Tom, from DOT, last night indicated that the decision to keep the businesses and go behind them w/ the Frontage Rd. involved some City of Madison decisions.   I would hope working w/ our Alderman and Neighborhood Associations will change the outcome of what I saw last night on this part of the project.

Britta is a neighborhood street used for walking, riding bikes, and the church. Green spaces are playgrounds, and occasionally kids and play equipment run out in the street.   Using Britta would greatly negatively impact safety, noise and pollution and quality of life.
                                                                                                           Connie, Crawford Dr.

The answer, from DOT
Hello, Connie: Thanks for taking the time to come to the meeting and for this follow-up.

Your memory serves you well – the frontage road alignment we are now showing as the preferred change is a blend of the 2 versions we brought out to the public in 2008. And you are correct that WisDOT responded to the feedback by eliminating it from further consideration. The blended version was indeed put together with the intent of reducing business buy-outs. One other plus is the buildings provide a small amount of noise blockage and quite a bit of visual blockage of the Beltline. We know the downside you point to is a concern but we weighed it against another frequently noted criticism that this project is impacting too much private property. A difficult set of circumstances to weigh against one another to be sure.

We will take your feedback and that of several others that agree with you into consideration in the final evaluation of the frontage road. We will also see what additional input we receive after the environmental document is published and a Public Hearing is conducted. We will take a final look at this detail at that point and be as objective as possible in determining which is the better solution.

Thanks again and have a fine day.

                        from Larry J. Barta, Project Manager - Planning Unit,Southwest Region - Madison Office
                                 Work Phone = (608)246-3884

5 - DMNA Council to Develop a Written Position on Verona Rd./Beltline Plans

At its February 16 meeting, the Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood Council supported the concept of developing a statement regarding plans for the Verona Road/West Beltline reconstruction. Council member Jo Kelley had presented a draft statement that could be signed on to by organizations and individuals in the neighborhood. She promised to circulate it in electronic form to the Council for suggested revisions in hopes that it would be ready to go for the March 4, 2010 informational meeting to be held by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

In brief, the draft statement expresses opposition to the Freeway Concept and then lists demands to be met if that alternative is approved and enacted anyway. Among the demands would be that

·   residential buildings be made eligible for state-funded weatherization/energy efficiency programs at no cost to the building owners. (This would protect homes against the noise of increased traffic that will be closer to homes.)
·   the State of Wisconsin will fund air monitoring, and
·   Phase 3 will not be approved or implemented until a comprehensive study on the "south reliever" [a "Beltline" located much further south of the present Beltline] is completed along with its potential to affect traffic

It goes on to list demands for all construction alternatives.

·   prohibition of engine braking
·   prohibition of nighttime construction
·   provision of additional bike and pedestrian connectors that are visually public and well lit
·   no additional road connectors to the neighborhood

For more information on this statement, contact Jo Kelley (276-8010 or jokelley@tds.net).
by Mary Mullen

6 - Alder Solomon Voices Concerns About Verona Road Interchange Plans

In a March 1, 2010 e-mail to Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials and the DOT's consultant, Strand Associates, Madison 10th District Alder Brian Solomon expressed the negative feedback he had received about the Verona Road/West Beltline reconstruction plans. Due to conflicts, he had to miss both the February 18 and the March 4 informational meetings.

Alder Solomon said:

I have a conflict Thursday and will unfortunately miss this meeting as I did the last one. But I do want you to know that I received very negative feedback from the last meeting. People are EXTREMELY concerned about four things:

·      The plans for Britta Parkway,
·      The long term plans (phase 3) and its impacts on the community,
·      Short and long term noise, environmental, and public health impacts, and
·      The strong belief that all decisions have already been made and that dissent or even discussion is fruitless

The good news is that most people believe that you have listened well on the access issues and that many of those concerns have been addressed. However, there are some substantial concerns in both the Allied and broader Dunn's Marsh community about the items I've listed above. There may be other concerns as well, but the above ones are definitely the loudest and most frequent that I've been hearing.

I'd really like your thoughts on how to address these concerns in a meaningful way that once again empowers the neighborhood to believe its voices are being heard.

Also, again, my apologies for not being able to make the meeting Thursday.

Thanks so much, Brian
                                                     Quoted comments from e-mail by Alder Brian Solomon

7 - See the Verona Road Presentation on Computer:   Links to the DOT website that shows new Britta/Frontage Road alignment (and everything else)

Here is the link to the WI DOT web site that has the meeting information and new Britta Rd/Frontage Rd map: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d1/verona/public.htm. It is listed toward the bottom of the web page as "Updated Newsletter/other... Click on "Presentation to city of Madison Plan Commission, Dec 14 2009 complete document." Then find pages 11,13, 14 etc.

Gardening News

8 - Community Garden Registration Dates Set

Ready! Set! Go! If you are a person with a yen to garden in the Marlborough Park community garden, it's time to put a couple of dates on your calendar.

Registration is set for two dates this year: Monday, March 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m. The location for both dates is Rooms A and B of the Boys and Girls Club on Jenewein Drive. Anyone who wishes to rent a garden plot may sign up and pay for the plot at that time.

The garden management is looking for volunteers to help with registration. Volunteers staff tables where registrants fill out forms, review the rules of the garden and sign up for workshops and leadership positions.

Hmong, Khmer, and Spanish translators will be available at the registration. Gardeners can also pick up free seeds.

To volunteer, contact Community Action Coalition Gardens Specialist Nicole Craig, 608-246-4730 ext. 208, nicolec@cacscw.org. Nicole will be sending out postcards to past gardeners and to new interested gardeners to let them know about the registration days.
                                                                                    by Mary Mullen

9 - Opportunity to Participate in Garden Research

UW PhD student Vincent Smith is looking for gardeners to assist with a doctoral study related to gardening. Check out his request below. If you are interested in participating, please contact Vincent directly. He's looking for people who can commit to the entire project, which will span the growing season this year.

I am a doctoral student at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at UW-Madison searching for gardeners willing to assist in a study this summer. I am currently conducting research on the socioeconomic value of gardening in the Madison area. My research attempts to capture both the economic value of food generated in gardens throughout the area as well as the social and or personal value of gardens to those who keep them. I am looking for gardeners who would be willing to collect data on their garden this summer. I am requesting the following information from participating gardeners:

   1. Track garden related expenses
   2. Track garden related time
   3. Record the weight of everything harvested

Gardeners chosen to assist in the study will be provided a digital scale for weighing all food crops generated. While I can provide no compensation for helping with the study (I have no compensation myself), I can provide you with the scale to keep, and can offer you the opportunity to help share your passion for gardening with a larger audience. I sincerely hope this research will improve what we know about gardens and their potential as places of food production. While I am especially in need of gardeners willing to help collect data this summer, if you have a garden that you are willing to have me look at this summer, but do not feel you have the time to weigh your bounty, please let me know as well.

If you would be willing to assist with this research this summer or have additional questions, please contact me via email at vmsmith2@wisc.edu (preference) or cell at 608-852-7774 and let me know as soon as possible. Thank you.

                        Vincent M. Smith, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
                        25 Agricultural Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Odds 'N Ends

10 - Correction: Telephone number for Fitchburg Environmental Engineer

Sometime the finger just slips and makes a typo.   If you are interested in obtaining some of the wood to be cut from Lots 19 and 20 below Crescent Road at Apache Drive, the correct number to reach Rick Eilertson is 270-4264. Or e-mail him at Rick.Eilertson@city.fitchburg.wi.us.

11 - Fitchburg Public Library to Break Ground April 12 Plus Many Other Events Sponsored by Friends of Fitchburg Library

Fitchburg Public Library and the Friends of Fitchburg Library have some events coming up that I'd like to share.

Monday April 12, 2:00 p.m.
Official Groundbreaking followed by celebratory reception at City Hall.

Monday April 12, 6:30 p.m.
Award Ceremony and reception for bookmark contest winners.
Council Chambers, City Hall

Wednesday April 14, 7:00 p.m.
Family Pajama Party Storytime - wear your jammies!
Fitchburg Room, Fitchburg Community Center

Thursday April 15, 7:00 p.m.
Friends of Fitchburg Library and FPL Present
Author and Artist Jeff Hagen
Fitchburg Room, Fitchburg Community Center

Friday April 16, 7:00 p.m.
Teen Gaming Night
Oak Hall Room, Fitchburg Community Center

Saturday April 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Friends of Fitchburg Library Used Booksale
2690 Research Park Drive
(This event re-occurs every third Saturday of the month)

from City of Fitchburg

----------------------- end of March 2, 2010 Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood e-News -----------
Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

DM e-News: new pond, meetings, green hints, news

Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
                                                                  February 3, 2010
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.
                President, Jeff Glazer, jglazer75@gmail.com 277-1778
                News contact, Mary Mullen, mmullen@chorus.net, 298-0843
_________________________________________________________________________________
                                                       Neighborhood Calendar
Thursday, February 4, 6:00-8:30 p.m. – Verona Road/Beltline Construction “Environmental Justice Community Outreach” Public Meeting (local business oriented), Boys and Girls Club, 4619 Jenewein Road. See article #6.

Saturday, February 6, 9 a.m. – DMNA Parks Committee Meeting, 4321 Lilac Lane. Plan solutions to issues in Marlborough and Belmar Park. See article #4.

Saturday, February 6, 10 a.m. – DMNA Social Committee Meeting, 4321 Lilac Lane. Plan the Chili Fest and other DMNA social events for the year. See article #5.

Monday, February 8 through Friday, February 12, 6:00-7:30 p.m. – Fitchburg Zoning Code Interactive Workshop, Fitchburg Community Center, 5510 Lacy Rd. See articles #7 & #8.

Saturday, February 13, 4 p.m. - Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood meeting with Tom Caputo, Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Drive (corner of Whenona & Crawford). Tom is seeking a liquor license for Bernie & Tony’s Restaurant and Piano Bar at 4265 W. Beltline (the stucco house). Attendees will have a chance to see and respond to a city-approved parking plan for the establishment and talk about other issues: fencing, run-off, security, etc. See article #9.

Tuesday, February 16, 7 p.m. - Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Council Meeting, Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Drive (corner of Whenona & Crawford). Residents welcome, but only Council members vote. Inform DMNA president (above) if you plan to attend.

Wednesday, February 17, 5:30 p.m. – Alcohol License Review Committee, Rm. 201, City-County Building, liquor license for 4265 W. Beltline (the stucco house). Same time and date, hearing for a somewhat different application for Faouzi’s Restaurant and Bar at 4245 W. Beltline (old Blarney Stone). See article #9.

Thursday, February 18, 6:00-8:30 p.m. – Verona Road/Beltline Construction “Environmental Justice Community Outreach” Public Meeting (local business oriented), Boys and Girls Club, 4619 Jenewein Road. See article #6.

Thursday, March 4, 6:00-8:30 p.m. – Verona Road/Beltline Construction “Environmental Justice Community Outreach” Public Meeting (local resident oriented), Boys and Girls Club, 4619 Jenewein Road See article #6.

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                                                           Article List
Interacting: You’re Invited!
1 - The Census is Coming. The Census is Coming.
2 - Cautious is Fine, but FEAR is Not OK! A Word to the Wise about the US Census
3 - Beware of Identity Thieves Posing as Census Workers (from the Better Business Bureau)
4- DMNA Parks Committee Meeting, Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.
5 - DMNA Social Committee Meeting, Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m.
6 - Have Your Say on Verona Road/Beltline Reconstruction Plan: Feb. 4, 18 & March 4
7 - “Once in a Lifetime” Chance for You to Guide Fitchburg’s Zoning Code Update: Feb. 8-12
8 - Zoning Code Charrette Schedule Detailed
9 - Proposed Bars – Not Much has Changed. Meeting on Sat., Feb 13, 4 p.m., Hearings Feb. 17
10 - Brush to Come Down, Pond to be Excavated Below Crescent Road
(Attachments: “1 Apache pond map.doc” & Attachment “2 Neighborhood Connections map.doc”)
11 - Apache Pond Area Walk-Through to be Scheduled Soon
12 - Pond Project Schedule
13 - Lots 19 and 20 – a Look into Activist History (Attachment: “3 Save Dunn’s Marsh 1975”)

               Do it Green
14 - De-Icing - Do It, but Do It Green
15 - Sign Up Now for Green Power
16 - MG&E Accepts Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood in Green Power Tomorrow Neighborhood Challenge
17 - Be Energywise: (These are all very short articles, #17-22.)
       18 - Dryer venting dangers
       19 - How to Save with Electric Heat;
       20 - Improve home efficiency and earn a tax credit
       21 - Replace old appliances and get cash back
       22 -MGE's first wind farm turns 10

                           Taking Care
23 - Neighborhood Raises Over $200 for Echols Family
24 - A Tribute to a Dog
25 - What Do Beavers Do In the Winter? ? (Attachment: “4 DM Detention 1-24-10.jpg”)
26 - Camp Pawprint Registration Opens February 1
27 - Governor Doyle Unveils BadgerCare Plus Basic Health Care Insurance
28 - Don’t Make it Easy For a Thief To Steal Your Wheels
29 - Carousel Bayrd Reports on County Board News
30 - Senator Kohl Invites Us to Stay in Touch
31 - Learn About “The Heart of Volunteering”
32 - HospiceCare Grief Support Groups for February
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Interacting: You’re Invited! – Articles 1-13

1 - The Census is Coming. The Census is Coming.

Recently a friend passed on a rather scary article from the Better Business Bureau focused on what to be cautious about as the 2010 Census gets underway. Although it was directed at helping people protect themselves from identity fraud, the general impression it left me with was that I should be afraid and that I should refuse to answer any questions posed by a census worker except for giving the number of people living at my address.

This fear-producing article generated an immediate response from one of the members of the “2010 Complete Count Census Committee for the City and County,” Annette Miller, who is also the MG&E Community Services Manager. (Annette is personally known to me since she was the contact person at MG&E who arranged free printing of the notice of the first DMNA Chili Fest 3 years ago. At that time, MG&E was holding a Community Energy Resource Fair at the Boys and Girls Club on the same Saturday as our Chili Fest, so it made sense to both MG&E and the DMNA to cooperate in distributing our notices.)

At any rate, the knowledge about the census that is important for all of us to know is:

1. If you are a good citizen and complete your mailed copy of the census form and return it right away, no one from the census will come to your door at all. The form contains 10 questions that you must fill out. [See the questions in advance at <http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php> <http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php> .] You’ll be visited only if you did not return the form. [Also see the government website that includes questions and answers about possible visits to your home <http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/questions.php> <http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/questions.php> .]

2. The information is used only by the U.S. Census Bureau, not by other agencies of the government. The information is private and confidential and will not be used to penalize you. Census workers take an oath that the information is confidential, and if they violate it, they could face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

3. For every person counted, the State of Wisconsin gets $1,000 of federal aid. That means $10,000 over 10 years, money to be used for programs and services for people in our state, cities, counties, towns. and neighborhoods.

What one needs to be aware of is that some unscrupulous people might possibly try to pose falsely as census workers in order to find out your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers. Anyone asking for that information is NOT a census worker. Census workers also NEVER solicit donations. Any one asking for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card information or money is NOT with the Census Bureau. Of course you should NEVER give those numbers to anyone who comes to your door or anyone who calls you out of the blue on your phone or sends you an e-mail.

All this said, for your further information, the two articles are reprinted below. I have left out the most fear-producing parts of the BBB article since they are not essential to the important message of being cautious about people falsely posing as census workers.
                                                                                                            by Mary Mullen

2 - Cautious is Fine, but FEAR is Not OK! A Word to the Wise about the US Census

I serve on the 2010 Complete Count Census Committe for the City and County. Cautious is fine but FEAR is not okay!

IF YOU COMPLETE YOUR MAILED COPY OF THE CENSUS FORM - YOU DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEONE COMING TO YOUR DOOR TO COUNT YOU! By completing your form NO ONE will need to come by and count you.

So when you receive your mailed copy of the CENSUS SURVEY with only 10 questions. Fill it out RIGHT AWAY and return it.

ALSO, Census workers take an oath that the information is confidential, and if they violate it, they could face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. So obviously, the federal government is serious about keeping this information private.

ALSO, there will be many sites throughout the Dane County area including community and neighborhood locations that will be a place for picking up information and even getting questions answered about the form you receive. GO TO THOSE TRUSTED PLACES. GO TO cityofmadison.com for more information about the 2010 Census.

BUT PLEASE DO NOT USE FEAR AS A REASON NOT TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS FORM. NONE OF THE INFORMATION CAN BE USED FOR ANY OTHER AREA OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. So your information is private and confidential and WILL NOT BE USED TO PENALIZE YOU.

For every person counted that means $1000 dollars will come to the State of Wisconsin. That equals $10,000 dollars over 10 years and that means more money for programs and services due to the Federal Aid that will come to the state from the Federal government due to the Census Count.

I AGREE WITH THE ARTICLE BUT LET’S NOT CREATE FEAR. LET’S MAKE SURE WE ARE EDUCATED, INFORMED AND THAT WE ARE COUNTED!   BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND TOWN IF YOU DO!

Remember that every person who is living in your household should be counted and that every person counted generates federal money for use for programs in our state.
                                                                                    by Annette Miller, MGE Community Services Manager
                                                                                    252-7126 (w) 235-0267 (c) 252-4734 (f)

3 - Beware of Identity Thieves Posing as Census Workers (from the Better Business Bureau)

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is underway as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

In addition, the Census Bureau has decided not to work with Acorn on gather census information. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by E-mail, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

                                                                                    Excerpts from the Better Business Bureau article


4- DMNA Parks Committee Meeting, Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.
To be held on Saturday, February 6th at the home of Sheila Handrick at 4321 Lilac Lane from 9am to 10am.

If you want changes to be made to the parks in our neighborhood: Marlborough Park/Belmar Park, then this is the meeting to attend. Currently neighbors are concerned with dogs off leads, doggie poo not being picked up and the over all maintenance and equipment concerns. If you are interested in being more active in helping neighbors come up with solutions to the above issues please contact Sheila via either email sm_hand@yahoo.com or by calling her at 608-663-0691. Let her know if you are able to attend the meeting or are not able to attend but would still like to help out.
                                                                                                by Sheila Handrick

5 - DMNA Social Committee Meeting, Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m
To be held Saturday, February 6th at the home of Sheila Handrick at 4321 Lilac Lane from 10am to 11am.

The social committee is in charge of coordinating the various social activities in the neighborhood including Friday Night Campfire Socials, Annual Rummage Sale, Annual Neighborhood Campfire/Ice Cream Social and the most popular of all the Annual Chili Fest. I’m looking for neighbors to join me to help plan these events. We are always looking for new ideas to host for the neighborhood. If you are interested in being more active in socializing with neighbors on the above events please contact Sheila via either email sm_hand@yahoo.com or by calling her at 608-663-0691. Let her know if you are able to attend the meeting or are not able to attend but would still like to help out.
                                                                                                by Sheila Handrick

6 - Have Your Say on Verona Road/Beltline Reconstruction Plan: Feb. 4, 18 & March 4

WisDOT welcomes public input for the environmental justice component of the Verona Road study. We are seeking community input regarding the stage 1 study alternatives from the residents and business owners/operators within the local neighborhoods of Allied, Chalet Gardens, Belmar, Crawford, and Marlborough. Residents and businesses will be contacted prior to these meetings.

The meetings will take place from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club, 4619 Jenewein Road, Madison, WI.

*          February 4, 2010 - Environmental Justice Community Outreach Public meeting (local business oriented)

*          February 18, 2010 - Environmental Justice Community Outreach Public meeting (local business oriented)

*          March 4, 2010 - Environmental Justice Community Outreach Public meeting (local resident oriented)

The meetings listed above are focusing on the local neighborhoods listed, but you are welcome to attend and provide input. Please contact myself, or Larry Barta 246-3884, larry.barta@dot.wi.gov, with further comments or questions.

Thanks!
Stephanie Thomsen, Strand Associates, Inc., 608) 251-4843
910 West Wingra Drive, Madison, WI 53715

7 - “Once in a Lifetime” Chance for You to Guide Fitchburg’s Zoning Code Update: Feb. 8-12

Like your neighborhood? Have some problems with it? Admire another specific neighborhood in the region? Who doesn't?!?

How neighborhoods are laid out and built up can be either delicately guided by a zoning code, or left to a developer's whim and will. Our current code does the latter. Fitchburg needs new zoning options to
implement the vision in its Comprehensive Plan, adopted last year.

Next month the zenith of our zoning code update process, a five-day "charrette", or intensive, interactive workshop, will be held at the Fitchburg Community Center, February 8-12. The week will be filled with
stakeholder meetings and intensive design work, with major public meetings from 6:00-7:30 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. A full schedule (subject to change) may be viewed at
http://Arnold.US/Alder/Charrette-Schedule-2010-01-20.pdf.

Those with a strong interest in Fitchburg's future should try to attend all three evening meetings, and are welcome to drop in to discuss the process with our consultants during the open studio times. If you can only attend one meeting, make it the Monday night Opening Workshop. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so don't sleep through the revolution!

Much more information is available at http://FitchburgZoning.com, which will be updated throughout the week with new sketches, maps, and other material as it is developed. For a three-minute video on some of the principles in the Comprehensive Plan, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGJt_YXIoJI. For answers to questions on the process or our current or updated codes, please contact Susan Sloper of the Planning Department, Susan.Sloper@City.Fitchburg.WI.US or 270-4256.
                                                                        Regards, Steve Arnold, Fitchburg Alder, District 4, Seat 7

8 - Zoning Code Charrette Schedule Detailed

You can get more details and a schedule of the Fitchburg zoning code workshop sessions at www.fitchburgzoning.com, but here's a quick overview of the events:

Opening Public Workshop
Monday, February 8, 6-7:30 pm
This evening will consist of a 30-minute presentation to explain the process and goals of the charrette, along with what a form-based code (FBC) is all about. Afterward, the public will be asked to participate in a visioning workshop to shape the form of future development in Fitchburg.

Focus Groups
Tuesday and Wednesday, February 9 and 10
Smaller focus group discussions will occur on Tuesday and Wednesday on a variety of subjects, including Development Community Summit, Chamber & Business Community, Civic Groups, DNR / CAPRC, Utilities, Parks and Open Space, Transportation, Schools, FUDA Landowners, and Farming Community.

Open House & Pin-Up
Wednesday, February 10, 6:00 - 7:30
This evening begins with a quick overview of progress to date, but turns quickly to an open house for community feedback. The design team will be available for Q&A and there will be opportunities for people to leave written critique / comments as well as verbal. This is a very important event as it's an opportunity for the public to critique how well we've listened and to give mid-term adjustment to the process.
Charrette Final Presentation
Friday, February 12, 6:00 - 7:30
The final presentation will be a formal Power Point with illustrations, maps and diagrams pinned up around the room for review. After the formal presentation, there will be an open microphone for public comment / critique that will go into developing the revised code & map. This is another opportunity for critique and readjustment as we move into the Public Hearing Draft process.

For questions, contact:      Susan Sloper, Community Planner, City of Fitchburg, Wisconsin
                                            (608) 270-4256    susan.sloper@city.fitchburg.wi.us

9 - Proposed Bars – Not Much has Changed. Meeting on Sat., Feb 13, 4 p.m., Hearings Feb. 17

The issue of the bars along the frontage road goes on and on.   But as old-timers in the DMNA know, it’s the perseverance of the neighborhood that will pay off on a controversial issue. Remember how it took 4 years(!!!) to get the buffer area along Dunn’s Marsh. If we had given up or given in at the first sign of difficulty, there would be apartments where there are none.

A neighborhood meeting with Mr. Tom Caputo is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 13 at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society. Mr. Caputo is to show a City of Madison approved parking plan for his proposed Bernie and Tony’s piano bar at 4265 W. Beltline at that time. Residents should have a chance to talk to him about other issues as well.

A hearing about this bar is scheduled for February 17 before the ALRC (Alcohol License Review Committee). However, as of February 1, the Madison Zoning Division reports that Mr. Caputo has not yet come in with a parking plan that city staff can look at to approve or not approve.

In regard to the new application for Faouzi’s Restaurant and Grill, the DMNA Council decided at its January meeting not to take another vote on whether to support this restaurant/bar at 4245 W. Beltline and not to schedule any special meeting with the neighborhood unless some fairly extensive changes were proposed by the applicants. As far as we know, the main change since the last hearing is that Mr. Faouzi is no longer listed on the application, and the new agent who’s listed worked for the Cardinal Bar at one time. The DMNA Council opposed this liquor license at the December meeting.

Faouzi’s rather extensive criminal record kept the ALRC from considering granting a license to an establishment with him as a partner or agent. The new agent does have a drug misdemeanor from 2009 on his record, but just one.

There will be hearings on both applications – 4265 and 4245 W. Beltline - at the February 17, 2009 ALRC meeting, 5:30 p.m., Room 201, City County Building, Martin Luther King Blvd. But…keep tuned, we’ve found out from experience that this could easily change.

                                                                                                            by Mary Mullen

10 - Brush to Come Down, Pond to be Excavated Below Crescent Road
(Attachments: “1 Apache pond map.doc” & Attachment “2 Neighborhood Connections map.doc”)

Neighbors just slightly outnumbered the “officials” at the DMNA Marsh Protection Committee meeting January 5, a meeting called to learn about Fitchburg’s plans to construct a “wet pond” near the foot of Apache Drive where it meets Crescent Road.

Big changes are afoot. Brush and some trees will be cleared from the land, and a pond the length of about 3 house lots will be constructed. The purpose of the pond is to remove trash and suspended sediment from street water run-off before the water gets to Dunn’s Marsh and then continues down the Nine Springs Creek corridor to Lake Waubesa.

Besides learning about the proposal, asking questions, and making suggestions, the committee elected Brooke Norsted as DMNA Marsh Committee Chair.

Basically, neighbors were concerned about the drastic change in appearance that will result from preparations for pond construction and about paths related to the project. Marsh committee members expressed the desire to retain as many of the larger trees – cottonwoods – as possible. They also favored making connections from Crescent to the future Cannonball Bike Trail which will be located on the old railroad right of way that passes along Dunn’s Marsh and connects to the City of Madison’s Southwest Trail and the State’s Military Ridge Trail.

Committee chair Brooke Norsted’s notes follow, in italics.

1.    Apache Drive Wet Pond Construction (2010 to 2011)
           This wet pond is intended to remove suspended sediment from water that is flowing into Dunn’s Marsh. Currently, water from the storm sewer does not get treated and discharges into the marshy area north of Dunn’s Marsh. Rick distributed an aerial map of the area with the area to be cleared and the wet pond outlined.
           a. Property transfer from Dane County to City of Fitchburg
The property in question is Lots 19 and 20 in the City of Fitchburg, just below Crescent Road. The property transfer is happening shortly. The land easement states the land will be used for stormwater and park purposes only.
           b. Clearing of honeysuckle, buckthorn, box elder, and other trees and shrubs
In order to clear room for the wet pond, there needs to be some clearing of the property. This is scheduled for later in January or February, 2010. Smaller stumps will be painted with aquatic approved herbicide (Rodeo) so they don’t grow back. Neighbors expressed that they would like large trees to not get cut down if possible. Trees will be marked and neighbors will be invited to a walkthrough of the property to talk about which trees will remain.
           c. Topographic Survey of property, wetland re-delineation, final stormwater design
            d. Public information signage to explain Water Cycle, hydrology, stormwater
quality, wetland significance, etc.
           The group discussed the possibility of creating a walking path on the berm that will surround the wet pond. There is money in the grant budget for educational signage that would be accessible from this path.
           e. Access for future maintenance and possible connections to Cannonball Trail
The flanks of the wet pond will be planted with grasses and left free of trees, so the pond is accessible for maintenance (cleaning and dredging). The group also discussed creating a trail for access to the future Cannonball Trail. Rick brought samples of signage from other similar applications to begin the brainstorming process.

Neighbors present: Chris Lowry, Jo Kelly, Dave Martin, Mary Mullen, Brooke Norsted,
Others: Rick Eilertson (City of Fitchburg Environmental Engineer), Ed Bartell (City of Fitchburg Forester), Jeff Kramer (Natural Resource Consulting), Ann Dansart Hinekatur (MSA)
                                                                        by Mary Mullen & Brooke Norsted

11 - Apache Pond Area Walk-Through to be Scheduled Soon

What trees are going to cut? What trees will remain? Can neighbors have a say in what goes and what stays? Just exactly where will the boundaries of the planned new “wet pond” be on Lots 19 and 20 in the vicinity of Apache Drive and Crescent Road?

Anyone and everyone interested in answers to these questions or wanting to put in their two cents’ worth about what happens there will want to make time for a “walk-through” of the area, to be scheduled for the sometime before mid-February. Please contact DMNA Marsh Protection Chair Brooke Norsted to get final information: 271-2155, baswanson@gmail.com.

12 - Pond Project Schedule

In a letter mailed this past week to Dunn’s Marsh residents and owners within a 300-foot distance from the Lot 19 & 20 wet pond project, Fitchburg Environmental Engineer Rick Eilertson gave the following tentative timeframe for the project:

Late Feb. –late March 2010 – Tree and shrub removal
April 2010 – Topographic Survey
Summer 2010 – Final design and bidding
Fall 2010 to Summer 2011 – Construction and restoration

People with questions or comments related to the work were urged to contact Rick at 270-4264 or rick.eilertson@city.fitchburg.wi.us.

13 - Lots 19 and 20 – a Look into Activist History   (Attachment: “3 Save Dunn’s Marsh 1975”)

It’s not the first time, and it may not be the last time that Lots 19 and 20 - those 2 lots just below Crescent Road, at Apache – are in the news. In fact, back in 1975, just 2 years after the founding of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, they generated more than just a passing interest.   The proof? They occupy an entire chapter of 17 pages in the neighborhood history book In Our Own Words: The Best of the Dunn’s Marsh News.

Those pages detail the successful 4-year struggle to save the two lots from certain development. They also reveal the names of activists from those years and display vintage pictures of people still active in the neighborhood as well as facsimiles of primary documents utilized during the campaign. History buffs, here’s your meat and potatoes.

Will these few quotes from the articles that make up Chapter 5 pique your interest? The chapter is called “Securing the Marsh Buffer.” Italics are added to emphasize some of the most relevant concepts.

“In a 2 ½ hour meeting August 7, 1975, about 2 dozen neighborhood residents reached consensus on a proposal for development of land between Dunn’s Marsh and Crescent Road and adjacent to Seminole Highway.” (in “Neighborhood Agrees on Development Proposal,” by Dave Martin and Mary Mullen, p. 142)

“Residents of Fitchburg have endorsed a proposal for conservancy of land along Dunn’s Marsh. The lopsided 21-5 advisory vote concluded a public hearing held January 19 [1977] at the Fitchburg Town Hall.”… “Building is possible [on Lots 19 and 20, Steve] Christy noted, by dumping fill, but it would lead to the total destruction of the lots. As a comparison of costs and benefits, he added that this would be like taking a dollar from everyone present and giving them back a penny.” (in “One for the Marsh,” by Dave Martin and Ron Johnson, pp. 142, 145)

“The Dane County Board took the final step toward purchase of Lots 19 and 20 on the north shore of Dunn’s Marsh on Thursday, May 3, 1979, when board supervisors voted 37-2 to appropriate about $10,800 for purchase. With the county move, all the parts are now in place for the $70,000 purchase price to be paid jointly by county, City of Madison, Fitchburg, and Dunn’s Marsh Preservation Trust moneys. Federal and state funds will pay about half the total.” (in “County Vote Seals Marsh Purchase,” by John Welter, p. 152)

“Another page in history in marsh preservation was concluded on October 3, 1979, when a check for $2,731.61 – the full amount of the Dunn’s Marsh Preservation Trust Fund – was sent to County Parks Directory Dick Presney. (in “$2731.61 for the Marsh,” by Mary Mullen, p. 155)

For a glimpse at one of the primary documents used to convince government authorities to preserve the buffer area to Dunn’s Marsh, check out the attachment “3 Save Dunn’s Marsh 1975.” It has a nice map of the area which gives a perspective of the entire marsh complex.

The book In Our Own Words: The Best of the Dunn’s Marsh News is available for just $3. It’s crammed full of photos, drawings, and maps as well as articles by and about people who have lived in the neighborhood. Contact Mary Mullen, 298-0843, or mmullen@chorus.net.
                                                                                                            by Mary Mullen

Do it Green – Articles 14-22

14 - De-Icing - Do It, but Do It Green

There is plenty of white fluffy stuff to play in right now and more to come. While you are enjoying all winter has to offer, remember the choices you make now can impact the health of our lakes and rivers later in the year. Small amounts of pollutants from our cars, sidewalks and driveways can add up to big problems for local waters. Road salt and deicers not only damage shoes, roads, infrastructure and gardens, but they also seep into groundwater and degrade water quality. As you react to the ice and snow this winter, remember that we can maintain safe roads and sidewalks and protect rivers with these water-friendly tips:

If you use rock salt or other common de-icers, be sure to follow the instructions and don’t use too much. Adding more than the recommended amount does not make the snow melt any faster.

The greenest way to deal with ice is to physically remove as much snow as possible. De-icers are not formulated to melt through ice build-up or compacted snow. The less ice there is, the less salt you will need to use.

Apply any ice-melting products at the beginning of a snow or ice storm. This prevents ice from bonding to the pavement and will ensure that less salt is needed.

Once the temperature dips below 15° F, salt is unable to penetrate the ice to start the dissolving process. When the air is bitter cold, regular playground sand can be used to increase traction Be sure to clean sand up properly during thaws, however, since it can easily clog drains and sewers.

There are many eco-friendlier alternatives to salt available at hardware stores, but some are greener than others. Most include a combination of salt combined with other common materials. A de-icer that includes salt mixed with calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) or potassium acetate (KA) is better than salt by itself.
                                                "borrowed" from the MPowering Madison newsletter

15 - Sign Up Now for Green Power

You read about it last month. This is the month to stop procrastinating and just do it. Do what? Sign up to be a GREEN POWER HOUSEHOLD.

If you get your electricity bill from Madison Gas and Electric - which all of us in the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood do - you can be one of the many who can put us over the top in the contest with 15 other neighborhoods competing for the highest increase in the percentage of households signed up for Green Power. The reward for first place? $1000 smackeroos. Second place would bring $500 to the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association.

If you’re already convinced, go immediately to <https://www.mge.com/my_mge/ServiceForms/WindPowerRes.htm <file://localhost/my_mge/ServiceForms/WindPowerRes.htm> >. At that website you can find out your own average cost and also sign up.

If you aren’t convinced but need more information, please read on….

What does it mean to sign up? As mentioned in the January 5, 2010 e-News, Green Power Tomorrow is a sign-up to buy green power – mostly wind power - for your home to offset a portion or all of your electricity-generated carbon dioxide emissions. Customers have 3 choices as they sign up.   One choice is to sign up for a fixed 300-kWh block of green power per month. The second choice is to contract for 50% of the monthly electricity usage to be green power. The third choice is to have all 100% of monthly energy use billed at the green power rate.   Under this program each kWh of electricity costs 1 ¼ cents more than it would normally cost. The excess goes to support green power (wind and solar power).

How expensive is this? For the average household, a 100% sign up would mean an extra $7.50 a month. A 50% sign up would cost $3.75 more per month for the average household. Since the average household uses about 600 Kwh per month, signing up for a 300 Kwh block would also cost $3.75 per month. Since some households use more than 600 Kwh on average, a way to limit the green power payment is to simply sign up for the 300 Kwh block of green power and pay an extra $3.75 per month.

Is a few dollars more a month too much to pay for efforts to do something good for the environment and give the neighborhood association a chance to “earn” $1000? Only you can decide that.

                                                                                    by Mary Mullen

16 - MG&E Accepts Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood in Green Power Tomorrow Neighborhood Challenge

In case you are a person who likes to read “primary documents,” here’s the document – an e-mail from MG&E’s Community Services Manager Bob Stoffs – that informed DMNA president Jeff Glazer of the DMNA’s acceptance into the Green Power Tomorrow Neighborhood Challenge.

From: <RStoffs@mge.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Subject: Madison Green Power Tomorrow Neighborhood Challenge
To: jglazer75@gmail.com

Hello Jeffrey,

Happy New Year and congratulations!   The registration period for MGE’s neighborhood green power challenge is now over and Dunn's Marsh is one of 16 neighborhoods participating in the Madison green power challenge. We are very excited by the strong interest Madison neighborhoods have shown in improving the environment by supporting renewable energy.

MGE will be able to calculate the changes in green power participation in your neighborhood after the challenge period is over on September 30, so you won’t have to track who signs up.

Basic information and fact sheets about green power are available at http://www.mge.com/greenpower <http://www.mge.com/greenpower> <http://www.mge.com/greenpower <http://www.mge.com/greenpower> > . Your neighbors can enter their address on this same page to find out the cost for buying different levels of green power based on their actual electric use, and also to sign up for the program. In addition, MGE’s Green View renewable energy channel http://www.mge.com/greenview <http://www.mge.com/greenview> <http://www.mge.com/greenview <http://www.mge.com/greenview> > has several video articles about renewable energy, including this one about why supporting green power is important: http://www.storybridge.tv/greenview/askbob5 <http://www.storybridge.tv/greenview/askbob5> <http://www.storybridge.tv/greenview/askbob5 <http://www.storybridge.tv/greenview/askbob5> > .

MGE can provide printed fact sheets and sign up cards for your use and distribution. We can also present information and answer questions about green power (and other energy topics) at neighborhood meetings and events. And I would be happy to talk with you to see if MGE can assist with any ideas you have about promoting green power.

Please let me know how we can help.

                       Bob Stoffs, Community Services Manager, Madison Gas and Electric Company
                         (608) 252-7906

17 - Be Energywise: (Six very short articles, #17-22.)

Snow, cold, slush, brrrr...we're in the middle of a Wisconsin winter and MGE wants to make sure you stay safe. Learn about dryer venting dangers and how not to become a victim of a dryer fire. If you have electric heat, we offer a couple of tips that will help you save this winter. There could be more money in your pocket in 2010 with energy tax credits and cash-back for purchasing energy-efficient appliances and equipment. MGE's Rosiere Wind Farm turns 10. Learn about how it took a whole community to build Wisconsin's first wind farm.

18 - Dryer venting dangers

Every year, clothes dryer fires cause millions of dollars in property damage and injure hundreds of people. Many of these fires are caused by two things: improper venting material and lint build up.

A clothes dryer operates by forcing hot air through clothes in a turning drum. Lint is created from the clothes as they dry. Although much of the lint is trapped in the dryer's filter, it also goes through the venting system. Accumulating lint collects in the dryer and dryer vent, reducing airflow and creating a fire hazard.

To protect your home, here are some things you can do...

Clean the lint filter with every load.
Replace white plastic vent hose with metallic vent pipe.
Clean inside, behind and underneath the dryer where lint can also build up.

19 - How to Save with Electric Heat

If you have an apartment or home with electric heat, you already know that your utility bill can shoot up in the cold winter months. Electricity costs about twice as much as natural gas, for the same amount of heat. The best way to save energy and money is with zone heating, which cuts costs by heating the occupied rooms while allowing unoccupied sections to remain cooler. Here's what to do:

If you only have one thermostat: Set the temperature lower while you are sleeping or gone.   If you have more than one thermostat: Set the temperature lower in unused rooms and close the doors.

The bigger the setback, the more you save. However, when deciding how much to set back the temperature, keep in mind how long it will take the room to warm back up.

20 - Improve home efficiency and earn a tax credit

If you made energy improvements or replaced a furnace or air conditioner in 2009, you might be eligible for a tax credit from the IRS. Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, up to $1500 for products placed into service in 2009. Even if you purchase multiple products, you can only get a maximum of $1500 over the two-year period (2009 & 2010). You need to file the IRS Form 5695 with your 2009 taxes.

21 - Replace old appliances and get cash back

Focus on Energy has begun offering cash back on new ENERGY STAR® qualified home appliances. The Wisconsin State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program offers Cash-Back Rewards on high efficiency appliances, water heaters and heating and cooling equipment. Funding is provided by the Department of Energy and is being administered through Focus on Energy.

The purpose of this program is to replace and properly recycle old units with new high efficiency ones. Consumers will receive a mail-in Cash-Back Reward application at the time of purchase directly from their retailer or contractor. Rebates will last until February 2012 or until funds are gone.

For eligible equipment and rebate amounts, visit: State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebates.

22 -MGE's first wind farm turns 10
In 1999, MGE's Rosiere wind farm in Kewaunee County was completed but the work actually began over a year before the groundbreaking. Wind energy was totally new. Several landowners were eager to have the giant wind turbines as neighbors but some were not. See how the residents of Lincoln and Red River worked with MGE to make the first wind farm in Wisconsin a reality.

Madison Gas and Electric Company
133 S. Blair Street, Madison, WI 53703
energywise@mge.com

Taking Care – Articles 23-32

23 - Neighborhood Raises Over $200 for Echols Family

When 10-year-old Tyrickus Echols died in December, hearts of people in the neighborhood went out to the family. The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association set up a way for people to express their sympathy. As a result neighbors sent over $200 in donations to the DMNA to be used for the Echols Family. Social Committee convener Sheila Handrick will be getting Woodman’s gift certificates for the family.

Did you miss the deadline for making donations but still really want to contribute? Contact Sheila at <sm_hand@yahoo.com> for details on how to do so.



24 - A Tribute to a Dog

Maxx Rudy Uselman (Schnauzer dog)
Born June 30th 1996
Died January 11, 2010

Maxx of 13 years died from heart and lung issues. It was a very sad day for all. Stephan who does not even like dogs got attached to Maxx. He was a great schnauzer.   He liked everyone, and many people got a dog after meeting and spending time with him. I had children that came here scared of dogs and left loving dogs, and parents were really happy that they learned with Maxx.

He had a lot of friends that loved him. It truly was amazing what gifts this little dog gave to so many. I was surprised of the funny stories that were told of him as a pup in the neighborhood. See, Maxx was a dog who loved his house but if he had a chance to be off his lead he was gone. One late March that happened. I could not find him. The evening came, and around 6:00 pm I get a call from a neighbor 3 or 4 blocks away. He had come home from work and found Maxx lying on his lazy-boy in the front room with his 2 big! cats. Maxx had eaten all the cat food and decided to take a nap. He had come in the cat door with the cats and couldn't figure out how to go back out.

Well, Dan (now a neighbor friend) fell in love with Maxx and would over the years to follow come and walk him in the park on his days off. It would be good for Maxx and him.

One neighbor reminded me of a call we received late one evening around 11:00 asking us do we know where our kids are. I said “Yes!” and then on the other end laughing, “But do you know were your dog is?” That is how Maxx became friends with Sue and Gerald on Windflower Way.

Well, the stories went on and on here for about a week as each neighbor had their own story to tell about this loveable 17-pound Schnauzer that stole even a cat lover’s heart. He didn't drag a child from a burning building but he was our Hero of animal kindness.

Preceded in death by Trixy Uselman (cat)

Thought I would share.
                                                                                                            by Evonne Uselman

25 - What Do Beavers Do In the Winter? (Attachment: “4 DM Detention 1-24-10.jpg”)

Now that I have your attention, let me suggest clicking on the attachment referenced above. To be honest, it doesn’t show the beavers, but I can report that there seems to be a beaver trail, at least one very tall beaver lodge on the east end of Dunn’s Marsh, and of course the many trees gnawed off by the beavers this fall.

What the attachment does show is a 360º photo collage taken from the edge of the Dunn’s Marsh detention pond which is nestled below the future Cannonball Trail and just west of Seminole Highway at the southern edge of our neighborhood. This photo is just the miniscule beginning of a pretty ambitious project to document Dunn’s Marsh now. Not only will it be a record of the present but a primary source to compare to years hence when someone might do this again.

The photo attachment is part of a project called the Arboretum Corps of Discovery. This fall over 40 volunteers took an intensive 4-day class aimed at improving photographic, writing, and drawing/painting skills. The Arboretum asked these volunteers to choose areas of the Arboretum to document through a series of 360º photos from predetermined points. “Our” part of the Arboretum just to the east of Seminole Highway, also known as the Grady Tract, is included. In addition, Corps members will also apply their writing and art skills to subjects of their own choosing within their areas. The goal is to “communicate nature” so that people can better appreciate it. Appreciation is a necessary precursor to wanting to protect it.

Besides choosing 2 areas in the Grady Tract, I chose to also do the area around Dunn’s Marsh. Why? Because it’s my neighborhood, first of all, but also because big changes are in the offing. Two we know of are the Cannonball Trail which will stretch both west and east along the marsh and the construction of yet another wet pond at the foot of Apache Drive.

When you look at the attachment, you’ll not only see the Dunn’s Marsh detention pond but also small map of the additional photo points I’ll be documenting throughout the coming year - 12 in all. Since I may have bitten off more than I can chew, I would welcome any other interested neighbors to join me in this project. My contact information is in the masthead of the e-News.

All is serene and quiet in the snow-covered surroundings of the Dunn’s Marsh detention pond now. Winter or summer, it’s a good place to go if you want to forget the cares and worries of urban life.

As to what beavers do in the winter, here’s the answer. Families of parents, last year’s kids, and eventually a new set of kits, born in the spring, are snug in their lodge which has an underwater entrance. They will be in the dry upper part of the lodge feasting on the bark of branches they have cached underneath the water and have brought up for a tasty meal.
                                                                                                by Mary Mullen

26 - Camp Pawprint Registration Opens February 1

Camp Pawprint is a series of week-long day camps held at Dane County Humane Society during the summer. Campers ages 7 to 15 enjoy animal-related lessons and activities while having fun with other animal lovers! Activities include humane education lessons, critter projects, group games, and daily presentations from local animal experts.

All campers spend time interacting with our camp animals and getting hands-on experience providing daily care and socialization. Animals used in the camp program vary daily and are approved by our behavior department.

Each week of Camp Pawprint has a different age group and theme. Activities, lessons, and visitors vary for each theme, but every week includes animal care and interaction, arts and crafts, and Friday afternoon horseback riding.

Registration opens February 1. Spots are limited and fill quickly so don't forget to register early! Some scholarships are available.

For more information on Camp Pawprint including dates, themes, and fees, go to http://www.giveshelter.org/sitemgr/camp_pawprint <http://www.giveshelter.org/sitemgr/camp_pawprint> .

                                                                                    Dane County Humane Society

27 - Governor Doyle Unveils BadgerCare Plus Basic Health Care Insurance
Plan Provides Self-Funded Coverage Option for Over 20,000 Adults on Waiting List

MADISON – On January 21, Governor Jim Doyle unveiled a new self-funded health care plan today for adults without dependent children who are on the state health care waiting list. BadgerCare Plus Basic will provide enrollees with limited access to physicians, hospital services, generic prescriptions and catastrophic coverage, and will be paid for entirely through a monthly premium of $130. The Basic plan is not designed to be a long term health coverage plan, but instead will be a bridge plan to keep individuals healthy while they wait for space in the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan.

“With BadgerCare Plus, we’ve made Wisconsin America’s health care leader,” Governor Doyle said. “Because of BadgerCare, we’ve been able to help people get through this very difficult period without facing serious health consequences or financial ruin. Badger Care Basic will provide access to care for those waiting for a spot in the Core Plan, so they can get care when they are sick and don’t go bankrupt in the process.”

More than 64,000 individuals have enrolled in the state's BadgerCare Plus Core Plan, which suspended new enrollments in mid-October due to budget limits. Since that time, more than 20,000 individuals are on a waitlist for the program. The BadgerCare Plus Core Plan provides standard health benefits for low income adults without dependent children.

For a monthly premium of $130, plus reasonable co-pays, a BadgerCare Plus Basic member will have access to catastrophic coverage plus:

Up to 10 physician visits each year;
Limited hospitalization;
Coverage for first inpatient hospital stay and five outpatient hospital visits;
Subsequent stays after $7,500 deductible;
Up to five emergency room visits each year;
Some generic medications;
and Badger Rx Gold discount drug membership.

“This will not be a Cadillac health plan,” Governor Doyle said. “In fact, it will be just what the name suggests – it will be basic. But basic coverage can be the difference between a treatable condition and a trip to the emergency room. And basic coverage can be the difference between having protection while you try and get your feet back on the ground and going bankrupt trying to pay for medical care.”
To be eligible for coverage, individuals must have incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, have no dependent children, and be included on the waiting list for the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan. To find out more about the Core Plan or to apply for the waitlist, please visit: www.badgercareplus.org.

                                                            Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

28 - Don’t Make it Easy For a Thief To Steal Your Wheels

Rumor has it that car theft numbers are up, especially in the western part of the Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood. The National Crime Prevention Council makes these suggestions to short-circuit the thieves who might otherwise find your car an easy mark:

• Never leave your car engine running or the keys in the ignition.
• Always lock your vehicle, even in front of your house.
• Never leave valuables in plain view. Lock in the trunk.
• Remove expensive items and electronics from your vehicle when you park.
• Park in a busy well lighted area.
• Approach your vehicle with keys in hand; look around before you open the door.
• Look inside your vehicle before you get in.
• When driving, keep your doors locked.
• If someone tries to take your vehicle by force, let him or her have it, your safety is
more important than any vehicle.
• If your vehicle has a security system, use it.
• If your vehicle is stolen, contact the local police immediately.

29 - Carousel Bayrd Reports on County Board News

Happy New Year! The county board was busy winding up 2009. Here’s what I have been working on:

Budget: After a long budget with very little positive options, the county board voted to continue services and increase property taxes by approximately $20 per household. We approved a 3% pay reduction for all county employees to avoid any layoffs. As a county supervisor, I am an employee, and I too took a 3% cut. (I voted for an amendment to reduce county supervisor pay by more than 3%, but it did not pass.) My amendments to freeze capitol spending until committee approval, to use federal funds to increase public safety and courthouse staff, and to fund a weekend juvenile court program, passed.

Dane County Task Force on Poverty: The task force issued its final report in November. Poverty is on the steep rise—For 2008: Food pantry usage is up 20%; food stamps recipients is up 50%; 47% of Madison school children receive free or reduced lunch; 7,000 individuals sough housing shelter (95% were individuals in families). I am a cosponsor of a resolution to make the task force a permanent county committee, so it can continue to monitor poverty in Dane County.

Property Rights: The Realtors Association mailed out a postcard to many county residents about property rights and the draft Shorland and Riparian Management Report. This postcard, I am sorry to say, is filled with many errors. To clear up the confusion, there is NO proposal before the county board to address property rights. There is no vote coming up, and nothing is in the works to be proposed in 2010. The state of Wisconsin is requiring all counties to review their Shoreland laws, and thus county staff is working on such review, which they say will take a year or two to complete. Unlike what the postcard said, no property values will be impacted. No one will be required to get permission to add a deck to their house, or change the color or size of their house. And, most importantly, the proposed changes will only apply to towns, not cities or villages: No home in Madison will be impacted.

Reducing Infant Mortality: A front-page New York Times article on November 27th featured our success in reducing infant mortality among African Americans. The story highlighted the county’s work to provide pregnant women with prenatal care and other health services, along with pregnancy education and moral support. The results are astounding: the African American infant mortality rate in Dane County dropped from 19 deaths per 1,000 births in the 1990s to less than 5 deaths per 1,000 births in the 2000s. This decline brings the African American infant mortality rate in parity with the white infant mortality rate.

Attendance: There were several all-night county board meetings in October and November, and a local talk radio host accused me of missing these meetings. I want to set the record straight-- I did indeed attend those county board meetings in their entirety and I did not miss a single vote. I was off the county board floor for portions of the meetings because I was in the media room pumping milk for my 4-month-old daughter. All testimony is piped into the media room, so I was able to hear everything that was going on, and I was not gone from the board floor for more than 20 minutes. With a newborn child, I am not able to attend 5 hour meetings without taking a 20 minute break to pump. But please be assured that I am indeed at all meetings. I take this job very seriously and am honored to serve.

Vote: The primary spring election is Tuesday February 16th, and the general election is Tuesday April 6th. Please vote!

As always, please contact me with any thoughts or questions. You can reach me at bayrd@co.dane.wi.us, or by phone 442-6294 (home) and 658-7333 (cell).

30 - Senator Kohl Invites Us to Stay in Touch

In this age of instant communications, we are working to expand the ways we stay connected with people throughout our state. We strive to give every phone call, e-mail, and hand written letter the same level of careful consideration. As your Senator, it’s both helpful and necessary to hear your thoughts on federal legislation, and provide updates on what is happening in Congress. We are always looking for new ways to be in touch so that I can do my job most effectively.

Website: A useful way to stay in touch is through my website, kohl.senate.gov. It includes everything from my views on issues of the day to updates on what is happening in Congress. You can write to me at http://kohl.senate.gov/contact.cfm.

Letters: If you are a Wisconsin resident and wish to share your comments and concerns regarding any issue, there are additional options. You can contact me through my website or you can mail your correspondence to the address below and I will be sure to respond to your concern.

Senator Herb Kohl
330 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

(Due to security measures instituted after the anthrax attack in the Hart Senate Office Building, mail is diverted to an off-site facility before being delivered to our offices; please note that this can result in a delay of up to several weeks).

Phone Contact: While I try to provide as much information on the major issues as possible through the use of my website, people often prefer to make direct contact for additional information or to voice their opinions on particular subjects. That’s why we maintain a toll-free number that I encourage constituents to call: 1-800-247-5645.

Facebook & YouTube: Last year I set up my own Facebook and YouTube pages. These forms of social media allow you to see streaming video of speeches and events and stay up to date with what I’m working on in Wisconsin and Washington. You can “friend” me on Facebook or access my YouTube account at http://www.youtube.com/SenatorKohl.

Office Hours: When the Senate is in session and I can’t be in Wisconsin, we offer office hours with my regional representatives in communities across Wisconsin. My representatives are on hand to assist you with any case work or specific questions you may have. Information on upcoming office hours in your community can be found on the front page of my website and are listed by region.

Constituent Breakfast: Shortly after taking office, I began hosting a weekly constituent breakfast for Wisconsinites visiting Washington DC. The breakfasts take place every Wednesday when the Senate is in session, beginning at 9 a.m. Please come and chat with me and my staff, have some coffee and donuts, and snap some pictures. If you are coming to Washington for business or pleasure, please call ahead to let me know you'll be here. All groups are welcome at the breakfast.

As the senior Senator from Wisconsin, I’m fortunate to represent a state with a rich, progressive history and diverse thoughts and opinions. Like with family and friends, we may not be of the same mind on every issue, but no doubt there are many on which we will agree. It’s important to me that you can trust you will be heard.
                                                                                                                                    Sincerely,
                                                                                                                                    Senator Herb Kohl
_

31 - Learn About “The Heart of Volunteering”

Volunteering opportunities at HospiceCare include working with patients, helping with special events, providing assistance with office work, helping in our gardens or kitchen and more. Learn how you can help and why volunteers are so valuable at HospiceCare’s next question-and-answer seminar, “The Heart of Volunteering.” The free, public seminar will take place on Tuesday, February 9, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Don & Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway in Madison. Pre-registration is requested; please call Carrie Glantz, HospiceCare public affairs, at (608) 327-7202.

32 - HospiceCare Grief Support Groups for February

In February, HospiceCare Inc. will offer two recurring support groups for those grieving the death of a loved one, host an informational discussion group for caregivers and begin a caregiver support series. All groups are open to the public and free of charge. All groups require pre-registration and are held at the Don & Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, unless otherwise noted. Bridges Weekly Support Group is held every Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. This open-ended, weekly group is for adults who have suffered a loss due to death. Pre-registration is not required. Young Widows Group is held the first Thursday of every month, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., at San Damiano’s, 4123 Monona Drive in Madison. This monthly group is for women under the age of 50 who have experienced the loss of their spouse/partner due to death. This group is held in collaboration with The Center for Life and Loss Integration and Gunderson Funeral Home. After the Caregiving Ends will be held Wednesdays, February 17 – March 10, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. This four-week interactive series is to help caregivers cope with and adjust to their changing role after the death of their care recipient. Conducting Family Meetings will be held February 16, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. This seminar is for those caring for someone with a progressive or terminal illness. This session will offer guidelines for conducting effective family meetings that can be used to help decide how to share caregiving responsibilities and for making caregiving decisions. To register for any of these groups, call HospiceCare at (608) 276-4660 and ask to speak with a grief counselor.


------------ end of the February 3, 2010 Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News -------------

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