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Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
July 21, 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 very brief issue is mainly to notify you of the free “Movie in the Park” to be shown this Friday in Belmar Park on the east wall of the Boys and Girls Club. See the calendar and the article.
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Calendar
FRIDAY, July 23, 6:30 p.m. - FREE Movie in the Park, Belmar Park. The movie PETER PAN will be shown on the east wall of the Boys and Girls Club. Don’t forget your blanket. FREE popcorn too. In case of bad weather, the movie will be shown inside the Boys and Girls Club. See Attachments.
FRIDAY, July 30, 6:00 p.m. – Summer 2010 Allied Community Meal and Community Conversation on Safety and Security, Boys and Girls Club. Sponsored by Fresh Madison Market. FREE. See Attachments.
Saturday, August 14, 9 am-2:30 pm – Money Conference to help you understand money management, home-buying, starting a business, Boys and Girls Club. $5 adult, $2 youth registration includes breakfast and lunch if you register by August 6. See Attachments for details and registration blank.
Tuesday, August 17, 7 p.m. – DMNA Council. Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford and Whenona. Any resident may attend, but only Council members may vote. If you plan to attend, please let DMNA President Jeff Glazer know: 277-1778 or jglazer75@gmail.com
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Free Movie – and Popcorn - in Belmar Park This Friday, July 23
Peter Pan will be flying with Tinker Bell and confronting that mean Captain Hook on the outside east wall of the Boys and Girls Club this Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. This is the first of two “Movies in the Park” at Belmar Park this summer. The second movie, a Disney classic, will be shown on August 27.
Bring your blanket or a lawn chair to Belmar Park on Jenewein Road just outside the Boys and Girls Club. All neighborhood residents, young or old, are invited to come watch this free movie and eat popcorn, also provided free.
The idea for the free movies came from Sina Davis, new Vice President of the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (ADMNA). Thanks are also due to Selena Pettigrew, the new ADMNA President, Jeff Glazer, President of the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) and Carol Poole, DMNA treasurer and Fitchburg Alder for this area. Through their work, all the permissions and funding have been secured for showing the movie. A donation of $500 from Placon, located on McKee Road close to the neighborhood, is taking care of the cost of this enterprise.
For more information, contact the ADMNA president at admna55@gmail.com See you there?
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
June 29, 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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People interested in having input into how the single family homes will look in Phase 2 of the Allied Drive redevelopment will want to attend the listening session this Wednesday, June 30, at the Boys & Girls Club. See the calendar, article #1, and attachment #1.
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Calendar
Wed., June 30, 2010, 5:00-6:30 p.m. – Listening Session on Phase 2 Allied Drive Redevelopment, Single Family Houses. Boys & Girls Club, 4619 Jenewein Rd.
Tuesday, June 20, 7 p.m. – DMNA Council. Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford and Whenona. Any resident may attend, but only Council members may vote.
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Articles
In the Neighborhood
1 - Chance to Speak Up about Allied Redevelopment, Wed., June 30
(Attachment : “1 Allied listening invite. pdf”)
2 – Get that Litter! DMNA Authorizes 2-Pronged Program
3 - Community Garden Works on Sprucing Up (Attachment: “2 col garden.jpg”)
4 - Cloudburst during Garden Meeting Gives Everyone a Good Dousing
5 - County Board Update from Carousel Bayrd
Opportunities
6 - Summer Youth Bus Pass Now on Sale: Get Around All Summer for $30
7 - Bus Info Phone Hours to Expand to Sundays/Holidays
8 - What Should Go into Fitchburg Public Library Collection?
9 - Plant a Row for the Hungry (Attachment : “3 Plant a row ltr.pdf”)
10 - Pedal for the (Ronald McDonald) House Charity Bike Ride, Sat., August 21
11 - HospiceCare Inc. To Offer Two Question-and-Answer Seminars in July
12 - HospiceCare to Offer Three Grief Support Groups and a Caregiver Seminar in July
13 - Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Council updated chart (Attachment: “4 09-10 Council table2.doc”)
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In the Neighborhood
1 - Chance to Speak Up about Allied Redevelopment, Wed., June 30
(Attachment 1: “1 Allied listening invite. pdf”)
Phase 2 plans for Allied Drive redevelopment call for single family houses on the lower end of Allied. This area has stood vacant for many months after having been cleared of apartments some time back. How do you think the single family homes should look?
To have your say, attend the Listening Session at the Boys and Girls Club, Wednesday, June 30, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Melissa Destree of Destree Design Architects and staff of the Community Development Authority (CDA) will be at this meeting to hear what people have to say. Bring your neighbors!
To see a small map of the entire area for redevelopment, click on the attachment.
by Mary Mullen
2 – Get that Litter! DMNA Authorizes 2-Pronged Program
An impression of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood begins at its borders, primarily the frontage roads and Seminole Highway. Due to litter and trash, this impression is often poor at best although not at all representative of the residential part of the neighborhood.
What’s worse is that this negative impression gets into the news. A case in point is an initial comment in an otherwise very positive review of Faouzi’s Restaurant. The article went citywide. The lead paragraph claimed that a friend of the writer “laughed hard for about five minutes straight” when asked if he wanted to try out the restaurant on the Beltline Frontage Road. The author explains this reaction as due to the location in what she called “a seedy area that often shows up in police reports.”
Responding to ongoing concerns about the trash and litter along the frontage roads in our neighborhood, at its June meeting the DMNA Neighborhood Council authorized a program to clean up the litter on a monthly basis and to enlist neighborhood businesses in regular pick up around their premises.
The program will use “trash pick up brigades” to scour the worst areas on a monthly basis. Neighborhood Association representatives will also personally contact the frontage road businesses to inform them of our concerns and ask them to regularly remove litter and debris that accumulates on their property and across the frontage road from their premises.
An informal survey of the neighborhood indicates that the litter problem occurs primarily on the Verona and Beltline Frontage Roads and along Britta Parkway. Residents deeper in the neighborhood generally keep their properties clean and free of litter. The first impression is untrue
Contact Neighborhood Preservation Convenor Gigi Miller Solari for more information or to volunteer to be part of the team that will visit the businesses or become a member of a trash pick up brigade. Her contact information is 712-1408 or millerg@firstweber.com.
by Mary Mullen
3 - Community Garden Works on Sprucing Up (Attachment: “2 col garden.jpg”)
After being hit with an 11-item citation from the city of Madison regarding maintenance issues, gardeners in the Marlborough Park community garden met on June 21 to talk about the complaints that had resulted in the citation. Then on their Saturday, June 26, workday, they removed several piles of wood debris and accomplished other tasks. The Community Action Coalition (CAC) which holds the lease, had already addressed several of the issues prior to the meeting.
These are some of the things that have been done. The door has been put back on one of the sheds. The area around the sheds has been cleaned up including the garden compost heap behind the sheds. Volunteers were secured for putting full garbage bags out by the bike path for collection by the city on a regular basis.
Gardeners were also reminded of their responsibilities for keeping the garden area looking neat. Garbage should not be left lying around. Community tools should be returned to the shed and, if broken, should never be thrown into the grass or the paths. Rather than discarding piles of weeds anywhere outside the garden, they should either be kept in the gardener’s own plot or taken to the central compost area near the sheds.
Some policies were reviewed relating to watering. Hoses that cross the main central path should never be left there after use since this prevents mowing of that path. The water should be turned off when a gardener is finished using it unless another gardener is watering from the same hydrant. Kids should be taught not to play with the water or to throw sand out of the sandbox.
The gardeners also addressed the issue of several piles of stakes and other waste wood, most of which was removed on Saturday. Gardeners agreed that each spring any stakes or other garden items stored by the sheds or in other areas during the fall cleanup could be used by gardeners on a first-come, first-served basis, thus preventing accumulation.
by Mary Mullen
4 - Cloudburst during Garden Meeting Gives Everyone a Good Dousing
Gardeners meeting at 7 p.m. on June 21 got a good dousing even though the meeting was held in Marlborough Park shelter.
Partway through the meeting, Madison was hit by a cloudburst that lasted about 45 minutes. (This was the rain that flooded University Avenue up to car headlight depth.) The gusting wind blew the heavy rain at least halfway into the shelter, pushing the nearly 50 people together into the center and to the south edge, but still most got soaked. Kids tended to run out into the rain just to feel the pounding drops.
At the end, when the downpour let up, water was coursing through the park like a river, flowing inches deep down the bike path that runs along the east side and pouring into – and out of - the rain garden near the basketball court. A neighborhood rain gauge registered 2.4 inches of rain!
Despite the rain, everyone left in a good humor.
by Mary Mullen
5 - County Board Update from Carousel Bayrd
(Carousel represents the Madison part of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood.)
Hope everyone is having a great summer and getting outside. Here’s what’s been happening on at the county board:
Salary Increase: I voted against increasing the salaries of the Sheriff, Clerk of Court, and Coroner. The proposal was an increase of 3% per year for the next four years. I felt, that given our economy, it was not fiscally responsible to raise the salaries of some of our already highest paid employees. However, the proposed salary increases did pass the full county board.
911 Calls: Updates to the 911 center are completed, and changes have made a tremendous increase in the quantity and quality of time spent with callers. I want to clarify a misleading article from the newspaper last May. It stated that 911 callers could be put on hold. That is completely incorrect! NO ONE is ever put on hold. A new recording tells you to remain on the line and not hang up if your call is not answered within 4 rings. This recording is rarely used, as more than 96% of calls are answered within 3 rings (which is an exemplary response time, above national standards). But we were concerned that in the few times calls did take longer to answer, callers sometimes hung up. With the new recording, we hope to reassure those waiting.
Also, we began rerouting calls to the non-emergency line (those not dialing 911) away from the 911 center, freeing up 911 dispatchers to focus on emergency calls only. This change has already had a huge impact on the 911 center, as the center receives more than 1,000 calls a month for non-emergency information. So now, even more emergency call operators are available.
Racial Disparities Task Force: This task force completed its comprehensive review of all facets of the criminal justice system, to help problem solve why Dane County has one of the worst racial disparities incarceration rates in the nation. I was a lead sponsor of endorsing the final report and creating an implementation team to follow-through with the task force recommendations. I look forward to working with the implementation team closely to tackle this huge and complex problem.
Overtime Subcommittee: I was appointed to a subcommittee investigating county overtime costs. We reviewed our four 24-hour departments: the Sheriff’s Department, the 911 Center, the Badger Prairie Nursing Home, and the Highway Department. Given the 24-hour needs of these departments, some overtime work is inevitable. However, we want to ensure that processes are in place to reduce overtime whenever possible. Our subcommittee concluded that the sheriff's department and the 911 center had several initiatives in place to monitor and reduce overtime costs, including most recently the funding for "prehires" in the departments so that there are reduced vacancies at any given time due to retirement or promotions. Our greatest concern was with the Highway Department. It does not have individuals assigned to after-hours shifts, meaning that anytime there is a snowstorm or road repair that requires work after 5pm, we are automatically paying overtime. That struck me as very shortsighted given that, every year, there are hundreds of work hours performed after 5pm. The subcommittee forwarded this concern to the county board committee that oversees the Highway Department, and we expect changes in the coming budget.
Med Drop: The semi-annual med drop on June 5th was a huge success. In just one day, more than 5,000 pounds of medicines were collected at the three sites around the county. (Compared to 10,000 pounds collected cumulatively over the prior of 4 years!) This is such an important program—keeping expired drugs out of medicine cabinets and away from those who would abuse them, while giving people an option to dispose of them without flushing them down the toilet (and into our water) or throwing them away (where they seep into our soil). I am working to fund permanent drop-off sites, one of the ultimate goals of the program.
Improving our Lakes: Smelly, dirty, Madison lakes seem to be a problem every summer. The county is taking affirmative steps to clean up our waterways. We approved the construction of a community manure digester in Dane County. The digester will remove phosphorus from the manure (phosphorus being the greatest cause of pollution in area lakes), reducing run off into the lake. The project will also generate approximately $2 million dollars worth of electricity each year, and it will create approximately 25 construction jobs and approximately 10 permanent operational jobs.
Additionally, the county’s annual “Take a Stake in the Lakes” clean-up event was a success, where hundreds of people came out to Lake Wingra, Lake Monona, and Lake Waubesa to clean the shorelines, haul weeds, mark storm drains, and more. The county has extensive programs to improve the status of our lakes. Find out more at www.myfairlakes.com.
Verona Road/ Beltline Construction: I continue to talk and work with neighborhood leaders and the state department of transportation to address concerns with this project, including increased truck traffic, noise and air pollution, and the creation of a new frontage road that will tremendously impact neighborhood residents and reduce neighborhood greenspace.
As always, please contact me with any thoughts or questions. Email is bayrd@co.dane.wi.us. Phone is 442-6294 home and 658-7333 cell.
by Co. Sup. Carousel Bayrd
Opportunities
6 - Summer Youth Bus Pass Now on Sale: Get Around All Summer for $30
It’s a bargain – all the summer bus rides a kid might ever need or want for just $30. The Summer Youth Pass is valid June 12 through September 8 for unlimited rides for youths 5 -17 or still in high school during the Madison Metropolitan School District summer break.
Youth and many other types of passes are available through the following outlets:
· Metro Sales Outlets. There are many outlets. Some are PLS Check Cashing at 2010 Red Arrow Trail, the Copps food stores, Mallat Pharmacy at 3506 Monroe Street, Stop-N-Shop at 501 State St., University Book Store, at 711 State St., and the Madison Dept. of Transportation in the Madison Municipal Building.
· Metro Administration Facility, 1101 East Washington
· Online at the City of Madison e-Payment Center https://arcout.com/com/MetroBusPass.aspx <file://localhost/com/MetroBusPass.aspx>
from Madison Metro
7 - Bus Info Phone Hours to Expand to Sundays/Holidays
Starting in July, Madison Metro’'s customer service phone center will expand its hours on both Sundays and holidays. Starting Sunday, July 4, the customer service center will be open on Sundays and holidays from 9 AM through 4:30 PM. Metro will continue to be open on weekdays from 6:15 AM - 6:00 PM and Saturdays from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
This service allows riders to get immediate information about bus routes and schedules . Contact the Metro Customer Service Center at 266-4466 (TTY:866-704-2316) or mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com #
Information from Madison Metro
8 - What Should Go into Fitchburg Public Library Collection?
The Fitchburg Public Library is starting to build the library collection for opening day. We invite your suggestions for materials to include in the library collection. There is a form on the library web site (http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/library/odcForm.php <http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/library/odcForm.php> ) you can fill out to indicate subject areas, types of materials and specific titles of books and magazines. Suggestions also can be emailed directly to the library at library@city.fitchburg.wi.us.
9 - Plant a Row for the Hungry (Attachment : “3 Plant a row ltr.pdf”)
If you are like most gardeners, when your produce comes in, it comes in with a vengeance: pails of cucumbers, green beans galore, zucchini run rampant, Swiss chard and kale to the nth degree. You’re drowning in veggies, but you don’t want to waste them. What to do? Here’s one answer.
Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin (CAC) is piloting the “neighborhood Challenge-Plant a Row for the Hungry” to collect extra produce from home gardeners for distribution to food pantries.
To get this working in our neighborhood, a volunteer from the DMNA or ADMNAwould need to come forward to be the “neighborhood association representative (NAR).” The NAR would be in charge of organizing the collection process which might involve other volunteers as well as home gardeners who make the donations.
For more details, see the attachment. For still more information, contact Patty Zehl, AmeriCorp VISTA - Food Pantry Gardens, Community Action Coalition, 608-246-4730 ext. 234, pattyz@cacscw.org . www.cacscw.org/food_gardens/index.htm <http://www.cacscw.org/food_gardens/index.htm <http://www.cacscw.org/food_gardens/index.htm> >
10 - Pedal for the (Ronald McDonald) House Charity Bike Ride, Sat., August 21
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Pedal for the House Charity Bike Ride (Formerly the Ronald McDonald House Charity Bike Ride) scheduled for Saturday, August 21. The bike ride benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison. These charities are dedicated to improving children’s access to the highest quality health care.
Pedal For The House is a one-day cycling event that starts and ends at Tollefson Park, Verona, WI. Four varying routes that have something for everyone. The family-friendly 10-mile route is a great for most ages and abilities. There is a hill or two that will definitely get your heart pumping! A Fun Loop winds around the park and is ideal for walkers, strollers, wheelchairs, tricycles and anyone who wants the ultimate Fun Loop! New this year, is a 20-mile route. Please don't let the shorter distance fool you...this route is quite hilly! The 40 and 60-mile routes are for the avid cyclists who REALLY enjoy a challenge and some pretty good climbs. While these routes are very beautiful they are also very challenging.
A post-ride meal after the event is offered for the all participants, riders and volunteers. There will be children's entertainment at the park for our smaller riders and those who are relaxing. This includes a bounce house, face painter and an art/crafts table.
Details about everything are available at <http://www.pedalforthehouse.org <http://www.pedalforthehouse.org> > from Pedal for the House Charity Bike Ride
11 - HospiceCare Inc. To Offer Two Question-and-Answer Seminars in July
Two free educational seminars will be presented at HospiceCare Inc. in Madison during July.
On Tuesday, July 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., HospiceCare will offer “Spiritual Needs and Questions at the End of Life.” On Monday, July 19, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., HospiceCare will offer “Choosing the Gift of HospiceCare,” a presentation about the support that’s available for people with life-limiting conditions, and their caregivers. Both seminars are free, open to the public and will take place at the Don & Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison. Pre-registration is requested; please call Carrie Glantz, HospiceCare public affairs, at (608) 327-7202.
12 - HospiceCare to Offer Three Grief Support Groups and a Caregiver Seminar in July
In July, HospiceCare Inc. will begin a grief support group series and offer two recurring support groups for those grieving the death of a loved one. HospiceCare will also offer an informational seminar for caregivers. 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. To register, call HospiceCare at (608) 276-4660 and ask to speak with a grief counselor.
· Saturday Morning Kids Grief Group will be held Saturday, July 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
· Bridges Weekly Support Group is held every Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Pre-registration is not required.
· Introduction to Grief will be held Wednesday, July 7, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
· Balancing Elder Care and Work will be held Tuesday, from July 20, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This seminar is for those caring for someone with a progressive or terminal illness.
13 - Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Council updated chart (Attachment: “4 09-10 Council table2.doc”)
Several changes have occurred on the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Council since the elections in October. It also contains phone numbers for local elected officials and non-emergency police numbers. You might want to print out the updated chart.
The Council currently has 2 vacancies. Any resident who wants to apply to serve on the Council may provide information to DMNA president Jeff Glazer. Besides giving your name and contact information, facts about your interests and qualifications are important. The main qualifications are interest in working for the neighborhood in a positive way and ability to attend meetings.
------- end of June 29, 2010 Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News -------
Thanks for reading.
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
May 30, 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 issue of the e-News is for the special purpose of inviting one and all to the presentation about the upcoming reconstruction of Verona Road and the Beltline. The meeting is on Wed., June 2, 7 p.m., at Prairie UU Society. Check out the Articles 1 & 2 and attachments 1 & 2. Other news is also included.
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Articles
Road Reconstruction Meeting &More
1 - Highway Reconstruction Meeting – Just for Us – June 2, 7 p.m.
(Attachments: “1 Verona flyer3.doc “2 jughandle2.jpg”)
2 - Key to Colored Boxes on Verona Rd. Beltline Reconstruction Map
(Attachment: “2 jughandle2.jpg”)
3 - Another Page of Wisconsin Invasive Plants (Attachment: “3 Invasive plants p. 1.jpg”)
4 - Still a Chance to Sign Up For Green Power Challenge
Summer Fun
5 - Ride the Drive, Sunday, June 6 (Attachment: “4 RTDJune6Route.pdf”)
6 - Free Guided Tours of Madison’s Conservation Parks This Summer, Starting June 10
7 - Madison Parks Swimming Lessons – Not Just for Kids!
Chance to Have Your Say
8 - Pedestrian-Bicycle Projects Sought by City of Madison, Comment by June 4
9 - Madison Zoning Code Hearing June 21
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Road Reconstruction Meeting &More
1 - Highway Reconstruction Meeting – Just for Us – June 2, 7 p.m.
(Attachments: “1 Verona flyer3.doc “2 jughandle2.jpg”)
For months you’ve been seeing notices and articles about the fast-approaching re-make of the Verona Road/Beltline highways. Perhaps you have even received the hardcopy flyer being distributed in the neighborhood now. If your curiosity has been piqued about exactly, exactly what’s planned, June 2 is a chance to find out with a minimum of effort. Learn how the reconstruction will affect YOU!
The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association has arranged a special presentation for Wednesday, June 2, 7 p.m., at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, corner of Whenona and Crawford. Strand Associates and the Wisconsin DOT will be making a brief presentation. Questions and comments will be welcome from all neighbors attending. Large maps will be available to study close up.
It is hoped that this meeting will be in contrast to the meetings held earlier this year at the Boys and Girls Club. At the upcoming meeting sponsored by the DMNA, the presentation will be shorter, and ample time will be provided for questions and discussion. At previous meetings sponsored by the DOT, most people were directed to talk privately with DOT and Strand personnel about their questions and concerns which meant that the audience as a whole missed a lot of information. In the smaller venue of Prairie UU, it should be much easier to see the graphics and maps as well.
Please come to this meeting. It may be your last and best chance to learn about the plans before the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) comes out. It may also be your last chance to speak prior to the public hearing on the project. The public hearing will be scheduled for sometime within the 45-day comment period for the SDEIS. Current estimates of when the SDEIS will be completed range into the early fall.
The presenters will bring detailed maps that will help you see which residences and businesses will be demolished, how the pedestrian overpass will be affected, where the frontage roads will be changed, and how pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles can cross Verona Road or get onto it. Be aware, changes will be made, and they will affect how much traffic passes by our homes and how we get into and out of the neighborhood.
See you at the meeting Wednesday night?
by Mary Mullen
2 - Key to Colored Boxes on Verona Rd. Beltline Reconstruction Map
(Attachment: “2 jughandle2.jpg”)
Although you probably cannot actually read the text in the colored boxes on the attached map of the Verona Rd./Beltline reconstruction project, the color key is shown below. Large maps that show this and more will be available at the June 2 meeting (7 p.m., Prairie UU Society). On those maps you will be able to see exactly what is written in each box.
By the way, this attachment focuses on the so-called “jughandle” aspect of the reconstruction. The jughandle is a frontage road that is planned to curl around the back of Walgreens before it rejoins the current frontage road near MacDonalds
Red – Places that will be torn down
Peach and Orange – Street names
Yellow – Places where neighbors have raised concerns or made suggestions about the plans
Blue – Park lands
Green - Businesses
3 - Another Page of Wisconsin Invasive Plants (Attachment: “3 Invasive plants p. 1.jpg”)
There’s always something new to learn about how computers and their software work. I have just learned that the picture of invasive plants I sent last month only showed one page of a 2-page flyer from Department of Natural Resources.
Click on the attachment to see page one of the flyer with contains pictures of honeysuckle, buckthorn, several thistles, and the showy phlox look-alike Dame’s Rocket. That’s the page that was obscured last time.
If you are like me, perhaps you did not notice that there’s a key at the bottom of the pages that explains whether the plant is regulated as a restricted or prohibited species or whether it is totally unregulated. Of the total of 32 species, most are “restricted,” 4 are prohibited in parts of the state, and 7 are completely unregulated. Unregulated invasives are black locust, Japanese barberry, bird’s foot trefoil, crown vetch, white & yellow sweet clover, reed canary grass, and smooth brome grass.
by Mary Mullen
4 - Still a Chance to Sign Up For Green Power Challenge
Our neighborhood is competing with 15 others to see how many families will sign up to have a portion or all of their electric bill priced at the “Green Power” rate. To see what this might mean for you and also to sign up, go to www.mge.com/greenpower <http://www.mge.com/greenpower> . You can participate for as little as $3.75 extra each month. Signup should be completed by September 2010.
Greenpower Challenge households are helping Madison Gas and Electric reach its state-mandated goal of 10% renewable energy by the end of 2015.
by Mary Mullen
Summer Fun
5 - Ride the Drive, Sunday, June 6 (Attachment: “4 RTDJune6Route.pdf”)
Ride the Drive is a free community event that celebrates Madison’s extraordinary commitment to non-motorized transportation and support for healthy lifestyles. This year it will be held on Sunday, June 6, 2010. The Ride the Drive event will transform some Madison streets (see attached map) into a public promenade. Closing streets to motorized traffic will provide access for bicycles, strollers, skaters and foot traffic. This will enable participants to see the City from a whole new perspective and encourage them to incorporate non-motorized travel into their lifestyle.
The June 6, 2010 route is a 6-mile loop from East Washington Avenue to State Street to North Shore Drive to John Nolen Drive.
from Jule Stroick, Neighborhood Planner, City of Madison
6 - Free Guided Tours of Madison’s Conservation Parks This Summer, Starting June 10
In the late 1960’s, the City of Madison began purchasing land in what is now Cherokee Marsh. This large and diverse wetland needed to be preserved for future generations. Since formally establishing a Conservation Parks Program in 1971, the City of Madison Parks Division has acquired and manages over 1600 acres of conservation parkland. The City now has 14 different conservation parks.
To help people become more acquainted with the conservation parks, Madison Parks is hosting free monthly tours of Madison Conservation Parks. The tours will be led by a Madison Parks staff member and will focus on a unique park and unique natural feature of that park. Each conservation park focuses on the restoration of native plant and animal communities while providing educational areas and opportunities for all.
• June 10, 6:30p.m. Owen Park, 6021 Old Sauk Road. Learn more about the Owen Park ponds and their wildlife.
• July 14, 6:30p.m. Edna Taylor Conservation Park, 802 Femrite Drive. Exploring oak savannah and effigy mounds restoration.
• August 15, 7:00a.m. Cherokee Marsh, Upper Yahara River Tour. Bring your own canoe or kayak and meet at the School Road boat landing. Partnering with the Madison Audubon Society, the tour will focus on the restoration work on Cherokee Marsh.
• August 31, 7:00a.m. Turville Point Park, 1156 Olin-Turville Ct. Warbler Walk, sponsored by Madison Audubon Society
• September 2, 7:00a.m. Turville Point Park, 1156 Olin-Turville Ct. Warbler Walk, sponsored by Madison Audubon Society
• September 8, 6:30p.m. Prairie Ridge Park, 2406 Berkley Drive. Summertime Prairie Flowers
• October 23, 7:00p.m. Cherokee Marsh, 6098 N. Sherman Ave. Full Moon Walk, followed by a campfire and hot cocoa!
from Jule Stroick, Neighborhood Planner, City of Madison
7 - Madison Parks Swimming Lessons – Not Just for Kids!
Goodman Pool, on Olin Ave, (www.cityofmadison.com/parks/pool) is excited to offer an expanded adult swimming and aqua fitness programs for 2010. Whether you are just learning the front stroke, or are already in Masters Swim – Goodman Pool has it all. Don't let the kids have all the fun! Sign up on line for adult swim programs and lessons today! https://www.cityofmadison.com/wbwsc/pool.wsc/wb1000.html
Adult Beginner Swim Lessons. The course is designed for adults who are beginner swimmers. The course will orient you to the aquatic environment so you feel comfortable in the water. Skills taught include: basic swimming strokes, front crawl, elementary backstroke, breastroke and sidestroke; deep water introduction; and endurance swimming. Skills are customized to individual class needs and expectations.
Masters Swim. An organized, coached workout program promoting fitness for adults through the sport of swimming. Swimmers should be able to to swim 500 yards non-stop. Stroke mechanics and analysis by an experienced masters swimmer and coach. Participants may sign up for one of the three courses or may participate on a drop-in basis for $8.00/day.
Water Aerobics. A heart-pumping cardio workout in the comfort of the pool. This class will not only increase your energy level, but will strengthen muscles and bones - all while being easy on your joints. (6 classes for 50 minutes each)
Synchronized Swimming. Enjoy a new challenge this summer at Goodman Pool. This class will teach the basic skills and moves used in Olympic Synchronized Swimming. Moves include the Kip, the Eiffel Tower and the Chain Back Dolphin. Enjoy working as a group learning a routine to be performed to music on the final day of class. All participants must be comfortable in 12 feet deep water, diving, treading water and underwater breath control. (6 classes for 50 minutes each)
Easy Stretching / Gentle Joints. Enjoy a new class just for adults. Does not require swimming skills. Follow the instructor’s lead as you progress through class with gentle stretching of muscles and loosening of joints.
from Jule Stroick, Neighborhood Planner, City of Madison
Chance to Have Your Say
8 - Pedestrian-Bicycle Projects Sought by City of Madison, Comment by June 4
The hearing has been held, but written comments will still be accepted until June 4. Accepted by whom? By the Madison Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission. About what? About potential pedestrian and bicycle projects the City of Madison should consider undertaking in the 2011-2013 Capital Budget to increase opportunities for walking and bicycling in Madison. The intent of comments is to learn the public’s suggestions for new capital (construction) projects. Please note that concerns about routine maintenance and operational issues can be directed to the appropriate agency or the City’s Report-a-Problem webpage http://www.cityofmadison.com/reportaproblem
Direct your written comments to the Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission, c/o City Traffic Engineering Division, PO Box 2986, Madison WI 53701-2986, or email to traffic@cityofmadison.com.
The results of the public hearing and written comments will be used to develop a list of projects to be considered for inclusion in the 2011-2013 construction work program.
from Jule Stroick, Neighborhood Planner, City of Madison
9 - Madison Zoning Code Hearing June 21
On Monday, June 21, the Madison Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on the draft zoning code. The public hearing will be held in room 201 of the City-County Building, which is located at 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
Since early 2008, the City of Madison has been working on the zoning code rewrite with a consultant team led by the Cuningham Group, P.A. The existing zoning code was last rewritten in 1966. The new zoning code will be easier to use and understand than the current code, better enable the City to implement its Comprehensive Plan and other plans, and help the community achieve its sustainability goals.
The zoning code rewrite project is expected to be complete in 2011 after the adoption of a new zoning map which will be prepared after adoption of the new zoning code. The new zoning code and map will ultimately be adopted by the Common Council after review by the City Plan Commission, Zoning Code Rewrite Advisory Committee, other City boards, committees and commissions and the public.
Please visit the project website www.cityofmadison.com/zoningrewrite <http://www.cityofmadison.com/zoningrewrite <http://www.cityofmadison.com/zoningrewrite> > for more information. Project information can also be found at the City’s Legistar site under file # 15932.
from City of Madison
-------- end of the May 30, 2010 Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News --------
Thanks for reading.
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
May 20, 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 issue of the DMNA e-News is primarily to invite you to the ALLIED WELLNESS CENTER EXTRAVAGANZA this coming Saturday, May 22, starting at 11:30 a.m. Also, learn about PHASE 2 OF ALLIED DRIVE REDEVELOPMENT.
Note: Some events are listed and described ONLY in the Calendar.
Calendar
Saturday, May 22, 11:30-3:00 p.m. – Allied Wellness Extravaganza – on Allied Drive. Read Article 1 for details of location. Check out the 2 attachments.
Wed., May 26, 7 p.m. and every 2nd and 4th Wednesday – Neighborhood Verona Road project group meets at MacDonald’s to learn more information and plan strategies to lessen the impact on our neighborhood. For more information, contact DMNA Council member Jo Kelley at jokelley@tds.net or 276-8010. See article 2.
Wed., June 2, 7 p.m. – Neighborhood meeting, question & answer session about planned Verona Road/Beltline reconstruction plans. Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford and Whenona. We are expecting a short presentation by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation & Strand Associates followed by a more lengthy time for questions, answers, and comments. Come and get your questions answered and speak your mind about what you see and hear. We hope this will be tailored to meet our needs rather than be a total rehash of past presentations.
Tuesday, June15, 7 p.m. – DMNA Council. Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford and Whenona. Any resident may attend, but only Council members may vote.
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Articles
1 - Big Celebration on Saturday, May 22
(Attachments: “coop flyer.doc” & “SPANISH coop flyer.doc”)
2 - Phase 2 of Allied Redevelopment on Front Burner
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1 - Big Celebration on Saturday, May 22 (Attachments: “coop flyer.doc” & “SPANISH coop flyer.doc)
It’s been in the making for a while, and Tuesday, May 22 is when it makes itself known to the whole community with a big “Extravaganza.”
What is it? It’s the Allied Wellness Cooperative (AWC), a new organization dedicated to helping people learn how to help themselves.
The Extravaganza starts at 11:30 a.m. with a little ceremony at and in honor of the new Allied-Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association sign that sits at the head of Allied Drive. By noon it moves over to the Joining Forces For Families a little further down the street at 2225 Allied. At JFF, expect a welcome, entertainment, a cookout, and container garden planting and painting. Finally, at 3 p.m. it will move still further down Allied for the Prairie Crossing planting ceremony.
So, you are saying, what’s going to be at the cookout, and how am I going to be entertained?
Answers for food: hot dogs including some veggie dogs, sodas, some side dishes, and desserts.
Answers for entertainment: a sidewalk sale, a skit about the TimeBanks, and a drumline.
Available on the “grounds” of JFF you will also be able to find out about any number of things. These will include:
· weatherization opportunities for your home
· the AWC container gardening projects
· the ADMNA theater project
· the Madison Fruits and Nuts orchard for Marlborough Park
· how to sign up for TimeBank membership
· various health projects of the AWC
And… Mr. Green Jeans will be reading stories to children.
Of course, it will also be a chance to meet good people who are working hard for the good of the neighborhood.
The Extravaganza is sponsored by the Allied Wellness Center, the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, the TimeBank, the Madison Apprenticeship Program, and the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association.
Check out the flyers – one in Spanish – for a more graphic invitation to this event.
by Mary Mullen
2 - Phase 2 of Allied Redevelopment on Front Burner
The City of Madison has made a big investment in the redevelopment of Allied Drive, but you may have been wondering why 2/3 of the land is still vacant. Well, wonder no more. The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Council has learned that Phase 2 is about to happen. And the word came straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.
At the May 18 Council meeting Kelly Thompsen-Frater of the Madison Community Development Authority (CDA) gave a 45-minute presentation on the plans for Phase 2. They are different than originally proposed in that Phase 2 will take place at the foot of Allied instead of the middle, but otherwise they weren’t that much of a surprise. Here’s the latest.
48 single family homes
The lower third of the cleared land on the east side of Allied will be subdivided into 48 lots for the purpose of building 48 single family homes - or maybe a few less single family homes and a very few duplexes. Rather than have one developer do all the homes – as was true in the Renaissance development which is between the Allied land and Red Arrow Trail – these lots will be sold one or two at a time to a variety of buyers. The CDA plans to start this fall by building 3 houses, and then individuals or non-profits may buy a lot or two at a time and build immediately.
Thompsen-Frater emphasized that no one will be able to buy a lot and let it sit vacant for years, nor would anyone be allowed to buy 2 lots and then put up one house in the middle. The idea is to get these homes up right away and to be certain that they are of quality construction and appearance. The roads are being constructed right now. In addition, this is the time for building when private home starts are down and government can aid in getting houses built and sold.
What will the homes be like?
What will these homes be like? First of all, they are likely to be comparable in size to the units in Renaissance. They will be 2- to 3-bedroom homes with full basements.
While they probably won’t all have the same look since they will be built by various entities, the CDA will have deed restrictions, guidelines, and requirements. For example, a certain kind of siding might be specified or porches might be required. Landscaping will definitely be mandated.
Some might be the live-work units that people have suggested might be good for Allied that has no businesses along its entire length. Not storefronts, Thompsen-Frater hastened to mention, but say a portion of the house devoted to a business like an accounting business, or a hair or nail salon.
What about finances?
Since the City wants to promote home ownership among people who might not have a chance to become owners otherwise, various schemes will be employed to make these homes more affordable. About a third will be sold at market rate, a third at below 50% of market rate, and the other third between those two values. Market rate is estimated to be at $175,000 to $225,000 per home plus $24,900 for the lot.
How can houses be sold for less than market rate? Several ways. Downpayment aid. Forgiveness on second mortgages with up to $20,000 to be forgiven if the owner stays for a certain number of years, say 5 or 10. Lower interest rate mortgages. Section 8 homebuyer vouchers. But a major emphasis will be to sell only to people who can really meet the terms of the payments. The CDA doesn’t want to engender a bunch of foreclosures because the would-be owners didn’t have the means to continue paying the mortgage.
Homebuyers don’t have to be first-time owners.
The Council’s questions
Council members and residents at the meeting had several questions.
Carol Poole who is also a Fitchburg alder, asked if any park space would be dedicated. The answer was that there’s some open space within the development as a whole and that Belmar Park nearby and the larger Marlborough Park which is more distant are both available. In other words, No. But about 15 garden plots were shown as part of this phase of development.
Carol also asked what the chances are that high density apartments would be put into the middle section which will remain undeveloped for now and was previously designated for condos. Kelly Thompsen-Frater thought that single family homes might go there.
Jeff Glazer suggested that services needed to be closer to people and that a small Stop-N-Go type market might be appropriate. The response was that the area couldn’t support a market.
Sina Davis asked if residents would have any say in what goes into Phase 3. The answer was affirmative.
Mary Mullen expressed concern about home maintenance: would people moving into these homes, especially those who might never have had any maintenance responsibilities, have any support in learning how to fix things that go wrong such as leaky faucets or broken hinges. Thompsen-Frater said that the CDA is helping people in the new rental units learn how to maintain their apartments, and some of these renters might turn out to be the new homeowners. She also said that Home Depot is looking forward to having seminars on home maintenance and WHEDA wants this to happen.
Jo Kelley wondered aloud about whether the people in this new development would feel like a part of the neighborhood if many come from “outside.” Thompsen-Frater then mentioned that a neighborhood association would be set up for this development of 48 homes that would be “overseeing” things there once the CDA is no longer involved. This brought out several comments. Already there are 2 neighborhood associations with overlapping boundaries. Wouldn’t a third association be too many? Wouldn’t this set the development apart from the rest of the neighborhood?
One more fact
The Council also learned that the 138 apartments in the completed part of the redevelopment are all rented and there is a waiting list of 340 people!
by Mary Mullen
----- Thanks for reading the May 20, 2010 issue of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood News. ----
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
May 18, 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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Note: Some events are listed and described ONLY in the Calendar. All articles by Mary Mullen unless indicated otherwise.
Calendar
Tuesday, May 18, 7 p.m. – DMNA Council. Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford and Whenona. Any resident may attend, but only Council members may vote.
Tuesday, May 18 and throughout May on different days – HospiceCare Grief Support Groups - See article. These are quality groups and well worth trying if you have had a death in the family or are struggling with end of life issues. See article 10.
Wed., May 19, 7 p.m. - Fitchburg Public Library Long Range Planning Public Meeting, Stoner Prairie Room, Fitchburg Community Center, 5520 Lacy Road. Give input on the priorities and goals for the library's services and collections! Questions? Call 270-4205 or e-mail library@city.fitchburg.wi.us.
Wed., May 19 – NO liquor license hearings. These applications will be removed from the agenda until the applicants reapply and meet with the DMNA and neighborhood. We have the written promise of both Ald. Brian Solomon and Ald. Mike Verveer that this will be done. Don’t waste your time going to the Alcohol License Review Board today. See article 1.
Wed., May 26, 7 p.m. and every 2nd and 4th Wednesday – Neighborhood Verona Road project group meets at MacDonald’s to learn more information and plan strategies to lessen the impact on our neighborhood. For more information, contact DMNA Council member Jo Kelley at jokelley@tds.net or 276-8010. See article 2.
Wed., June 2, 7 p.m. – Neighborhood meeting, question & answer session about planned Verona Road/Beltline reconstruction plans. Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford and Whenona. We are expecting a short presentation by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation & Strand Associates followed by a more lengthy time for questions, answers, and comments. Come and get your questions answered and speak your mind about what you see and hear. We hope this will be tailored to meet our needs rather than be a total rehash of past presentations.
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Articles
Neighborhood Interest
1 - Liquor License Applications to be Placed on File
2 - Alder Solomon Gets on Board for Action About Verona Road Project
3 - Correction
4 - Orchard Started in Marlborough Park
5 - Light Installed on Marlborough Playground
6 - A Perfect Day (Attachment: “Cleanup 2010.jpg”)
7 - Invasive Plants Try to Take Over (Attachment: “Invasive Plants.jpg”)
8 - Need Organizer for Neighborhood Garage Sales
General Interest
9 - Camp Pawprint Registration Still Open
10 - HospiceCare Grief Support Groups for May & June
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Neighborhood Interest Articles
1 - Liquor License Applications to be Placed on File
After months of being on tenterhooks about whether to attend hearings before the Alcohol License Review Board (ALRC), the neighborhood can relax for a bit in regards to applications for liquor licenses for two establishments on the Beltline Frontage Road.
Both Alder Brian Solomon who represents the Madison area of our neighborhood and Alder Mike Verveer who serves on the Madison ALRC have assured DMNA President Jeff Glazer that both applications will be “placed on file” at the ALRC meeting this Wednesday, May 19.
Placing on file means that the applicants will have to reapply, although they may do so as soon as the next month. Neighbors need not attend this ALRC meeting.
On May 17 Brian Solomon, in an e-mail to Alder Verveer, expressed his frustration with the applicants. He said,
Mike: I would like to either place on file items 23 and 24 or refer back to ALRC for the November meeting (six months). Neither applicant has contacted the neighborhood or scheduled a mtg, as requested multiple times. I had this item referred for two months at the March mtg after
re-referring month to month at least 3-4 times. This is not fair to neighbors and I'm getting kind of tired of it.
Alder Verveer’s response was very positive to Mr. Solomon’s request. Verveer responded:
Thanks, Brian. I'm sorry that I didn't get back to you last week about these items.
Consider your reasonable request granted. I will move Wednesday that the ALRC place these items on file without prejudice. That would allow the respective applicants to start the process again with a new application in the future. It is inappropriate to keep these applications pending any longer.
The two locations are at 4265 and 4245 West Beltline Frontage Road, the stucco house at the corner of Danbury Rd. which Tom Caputo had wanted to turn into Bernie and Tony’s Piano Bar & Sicilian Restaurante, and Faouzi’s Restaurant, the old Blarney Stone Bar, located 2 doors to the east.
Meantime, Faouzi’s has opened as a restaurant that does not serve alcohol. Faouzi’s serves Moroccan cuisine and is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
These applications had first come before Madison’s ALRC on December 16, 2009. The hearings were attended by nearly a dozen neighborhood people who expressed serious reservations about opening bars on the frontage road where there is already a liquor store. The applications were referred to the next month with instructions to meet specific conditions and then referred month to month when neither applicant met the conditions set forth by the ALRC.
Mr. Caputo was advised to get an approved parking plan and apply for an entertainment license. The Faouzi applicants were told that their application could not be considered because it wasn’t completely filled out and also could not include Mr. Faouzi because of his alcohol-related convictions. ALRC members also questioned the statistics provided by the Faouzi applicant about how much revenue would come from alcohol and how much from food sales.
Both applicants were advised to get together with the neighborhood to work out differences. Nothing has been forthcoming from either one.
by Mary Mullen
2 - Alder Solomon Gets on Board for Action About Verona Road Project
It was a small but intense and, at times, noisy group of individuals who occupied the front corner of MacDonald’s on May 12. With the help of a big map and their collective knowledge of the Verona Road project, they convinced Alder Brian Solomon that there are a myriad of issues that he, as our representative, should act on.
Alder Solomon began with a statement that other than pollution and relocation concerns, he basically liked Phase 1 of the Verona Road reconstruction project. He said he especially liked the jug handle crossing under Verona Road, the interchange at the Beltline that will allow simultaneous left-hand turns, and what he called improved pedestrian/bike connections. He did express serious opposition to Phase 3 of the project that would locate Verona Road in a trench and allow full-speed access to the Beltline via flyways.
His premise that “Realistically, changing the way we commute won’t happen in the foreseeable future of 20-30 years,” and statement that there was really nothing he could do about the project did not resonate with his listeners. Hearts fell.
But this group of citizens was not giving up and obviously felt that it is inappropriate for any elected representative to bow out without a struggle. By the end of the meeting with the Verona Road Justice Coalition group, Solomon had developed an action plan involving both himself and the people who had invited him to the meeting. He also apologized for his original statement of powerlessness.
At Brian’s request, the group will develop a 2-page list of all the major concerns and objections. He will take this list to meetings he will arrange with those above him in the hierarchy of political representatives, namely Mayor Dave of Madison, the County Executive Kathleen Falk, and Mayor Jay Allen of Fitchburg. These meetings will wait until after Alder Solomon recovers from surgery that he will undergo on May 21. (We wish him well in this surgery.)
The Verona Road Justice Coalition group that night included people from 3 neighborhoods. Five of the 8 attendees were from the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood: Connie Roderick, Kim Zinski, Jim Lyne, Cathy Casper, and Mary Mullen. Bill McCarthy and Ted Collins attended from the Westchester area west of Verona Road in the vicinity of Raymond Road. They have been involved for years in trying to mitigate the effects of the project. The eighth person was Joceylyn Riley who represents the quadrant behind Dorn Hardware and along the Beltline known as Summit Woods.
All interested residents of the areas affected by this reconstruction project are invited to come to meetings which are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at MacDonald’s at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Jo Kelley jokelley@tds.net or 276-8010.
Or go to http://groups.google.com/group/verona-road-justice-coalition <http://groups.google.com/group/verona-road-justice-coalition> which is the website devoted to sharing information about the reconstruction project. Note: If this link doesn’t work, simply copy it and paste it into the address blank of your Internet browser. On the right side of the opening page is a link that allows you to join this group and then add your own thoughts. All are invited to add their concerns.
by Mary Mullen
3 - Correction
It was neighbor Jim Lyne who set up the Google Group about the Verona Road project. Thanks, Jim. It’s Connie Roderick who manages the group.
To get current information about this massive project from a neighborhood point of view, go to http://groups.google.com/group/verona-road-justice-coalition <http://groups.google.com/group/verona-road-justice-coalition>
4 - Orchard Started in Marlborough Park
During the opening day at the Marlborough Park community gardens May 15, six orchard enthusiasts planted as many plum trees on the west side of the park between the plowed and no-till gardens. They were a gift from Hilltop Community Farm LLC.
The Allied Wellness Center has applied to the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation for further orchard plantings. To vote for an orchard in Marlborough Park, go to www.communitiestakeroot.com <http://www.communitiestakeroot.com> and cast your vote for the Allied Wellness Center application.
This orchard application presently has 918 votes. The current leaders have vote totals of 13,097, 10,170, 8,356, and 7,738 votes. You may vote once a day!
by Mary Mullen
5 - Light Installed on Marlborough Playground
A bright light has been installed on the Marlborough Park kids’ playground as a security measure. Several years ago vandals burned the playground. A new, slightly relocated, and larger playground was built the next year with input from a committee of neighbors about the new equipment.
In a meeting between neighborhood leaders and park officials, a light was promised. Finally it has been installed.
6- A Perfect Day (Attachment: “Cleanup 2010.jpg”)
Serenaded by frogs, caressed by gentle breezes, delighted by the gurgling brook, warmed by the sun and good conversation, 4 neighbors and a Fitchburg intern picked up trash and recyclables from the waterway running to Dunn’s Marsh behind the Dunn’s Marsh Apartments and the Megan’s Bay condos on May 1. The participants were Chris Lowry, Dave Martin, Patty Stockdale, and Mary Mullen from the neighborhood, and Amy Klusmeier, the intern.
Other groups were doing the same further west at Arrowhead Park below Chalet Gardens and on the south side of Dunn’s Marsh. The groups were coordinated by Fitchburg Environmental Engineer Rick Eilertson who briefly spoke to the group before joining the Arrowhead group. Those in the Arrowhead group were Rick, Felipe (another Fitchburg employee), and Kurt and Sam Gutknecht.
The good news is that there was much, much less litter than in previous years. Or perhaps the group found less because of the advanced season that had produced tall grass that may have hidden what would’ve been obvious otherwise.
Those hundreds of you who didn’t join in missed more than you can imagine!
by Mary Mullen
7 - Invasive Plants Try to Take Over (Attachment: “Invasive Plants.jpg”)
Now that spring has really sprung, it’s time to search out and destroy the invasive plants that might have a foothold in your yard. We all recognize the prickly thistles and the delicate Queen Anne’s Lace, but other plants are equally problematic. Foremost among them might be the pungent Garlic Mustard and the pretty Dame’s Rocket that are blooming and setting seed right now.
Take a look at the picture sheet that is an attachment to this e-News. It shows 32 – yes, 32! – terrestrial invasive plants in Wisconsin. If you are wondering how to tell Dame’s Rocket from the similar-looking phlox, just count the petals. Dame’s Rocket, the invasive pink, white, and purple flower, has 4 petals. Phlox have one more. Both the tall, showy Dame’s Rocket and the yellow-green leafy spurge are evident along some of the Beltline embankments east of Fish Hatchery Road.
8 - Need Organizer for Neighborhood Garage Sales
People have been asking about holding neighborhood garage sales. All we need is an organizer to take names, make a map, and get some signs out at the entrances to the neighborhood. Are you that person? If so, contact or call Jeff Glazer, DMNA President. (See the masthead for contact information.)
General Interest Articles
9 - Camp Pawprint Registration Still Open
Camp Pawprint is a series of week-long day camps held at the Dane County Humane Society. Campers age 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.
For more information <">">http://www.giveshelter.org/sitemgr/camp_pawprint#daycamps> <http://www.giveshelter.org/sitemgr/camp_pawprint#daycamps> <http://www.giveshelter.org/sitemgr/camp_pawprint#daycamps> Eight of the 10 camps still have openings. A limited number of scholarships is available.
from Dane County Humane Society
10 - HospiceCare Grief Support Groups for May & June
In May, HospiceCare Inc. will begin a grief support group series and offer three recurring support groups for those grieving the death of a loved one. HospiceCare will also offer an informational seminar for caregivers. All groups are open to the public and are 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.
In May
· Bridges Weekly Support Group is held every Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 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.
· Introduction to Grief is held the first Wednesday of every month, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This hour-long presentation covers the common reactions of those who are grieving, offers suggestions to navigate the grieving process and provides information about HospiceCare grief support groups.
· Young Widows Group is held the first Thursday of every month, from 7:00 p.m. to 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.
· Family Caregiver Discussion Group - SHARE THE CARE: Creating a Caregiving Team will be held Tuesday, May 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This seminar is for those caring for someone with a progressive or terminal illness. This session will provide an overview of the SHARE THE CARE model that shows you how to create a caregiving team to help “share the care.”
To register, call HospiceCare at (608) 276-4660 and ask to speak with a grief counselor.
In June
June 8: Q&A Seminar – Final Insights: Discovering the Messages of the Dying
June 15: Family Caregiver Discussion – What I Meant to Say …
July 20: Family Caregiver Discussion – Balancing Elder Care and Work
HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway. Madison, WI 53711
Phone:(608) 276-4660 http://www.hospicecareinc.com/ <http://www.hospicecareinc.com/>
--- Thanks for reading the May 15, 2010 Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News ---
