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Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
July 18, 2011
The DMN e-News and an occasional hard copy DMN News are published by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on an “as-needed” schedule. The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Inc. has been working to unite neighbors to solve mutual problems and promote fellowship among neighbors since 1973. Our neighborhood is in Madison & Fitchburg.
President, Bob Hague, bphague@tds.net 218-7060
News contact, Mary Mullen, communications@dunnsmarsh.org
or mmullen@chorus.net 298-0843
Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org <http://www.dunnsmarsh.org>
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623 <http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623>
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Some great neighborhood celebrations and a chance to comment on the Final EIS for the Verona Road project are coming up soon. Check out the articles. (Unless noted otherwise, articles are written by Mary Mullen.)
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CALENDAR
- Sat., July 30, noon - 5 p.m - Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Festival, Belmar Park, Jenewein & Red Arrow Trail
- Wed., August 3, 7 pm – DMNA Council meeting. Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford/Whenona
- Fri., August 5, 5 p.m.-dark - Annual DMNA potluck picnic, Marlborough Park basketball court. Bring a potluck dish to share, anything you want to grill, your own beverages, picnic-ware, and a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. This is a low-key, friendly gathering for all people in the neighborhood.
- Mon., Aug. 15 – Deadline for comments on the final Verona Rd project Environmental Impact Statement. (See articles 3-5.)
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ARTICLES
Coming Up in the Neighborhood
1 - DMNA Potluck Picnic, August 5, 5 p.m.
2 - ADMNA Asks for Donations to Fund July 31 Allied Festival
(Attachment: “1 ADMNA $ form.jpg”)
3 - Final Verona Road Impact Statement Received: Comments Due August 15
(Attachment: “2 FEIS Exec Summary.pdf”)
4 -Read the Verona Road FEIS in Many Libraries or On-line
5 - Neighbors Invited to Join Committee to Respond to Verona Road Impact Statement
6 - Pond “Grand Opening” and Planting Events to be Scheduled (Attachment: “3 col Belmar pics.jpg”)
Neighborhood News
7 - E-News Wins Gold Level Award (Attachment: “4 NUSA award.jpg”)
8 - Runaway Corgi Found
9 - Kitten Gets Offer of Home
10 - DMNA Garage Sales and Yard & Garden Walk Revisited
11 - Help Sought to Beautify Belmar Median (Attachment: “3 col Belmar pics.jpg”)
12 - More About the DMNA Neighborhood Council
13 - Arboretum Corps of Discovery Art Exhibit on Through August
From Our Representative
14 - State Rep. Terese Berceau Explains Concealed Carry Law
15 - Editor’s Editorial Note
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ARTICLES
Coming Up in the Neighborhood
1 - DMNA Potluck Picnic, August 5, 5 p.m.
After skipping a year, the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) is on track for holding its annual potluck picnic in Marlborough Park, on Friday, August 5, from 5 pm until dark. Don’t miss it!
It’s a friendly, low-key event to which people from the entire neighborhood are invited to show up and meet neighbors. The neighborhood is bounded by Verona Road and the Beltline, Seminole Highway, Dunn’s Marsh, and Allied/Carling Drives.
This is an event for long-time and new residents. In fact it’s a great opportunity for people new to the neighborhood to get to know their neighbors.
Bring the kids, your partner, grandma, the next door neighbors, and any other friends who happen to be visiting you. Also bring a potluck dish to share, your own beverages, items to grill, tableware, and a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. If you have some outdoor games for kids, they would be welcome too.
The DMNA will provide friendly, down-to-earth people, the grills with hot coals, tiki torches for “atmosphere,” horseshoes so you can try out our state of the art horseshoe pits, and a few entertainments for kids.
If the weather is good, the picnic will be on the basketball court on the east side of the park near the kids’ playground. If it’s rainy, we’ll be in the shelter in the middle of the park.
See you there.
2 - ADMNA Asks for Donations to Fund July 31 Allied Festival
(Attachment: “1 ADMNA $ form.jpg”)
Our sister neighborhood association, the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (ADMNA), has scheduled its festival for Saturday, July 31, from 12 noon until 5 pm at Belmar Park, 4600 Jenewein Road.
A tentative budget estimates the festival will cost about $3,000. Costs are for bounce rides, an obstacle course, generators, tents, set up and breakdown expenses, food, port-a-potties, folding chairs, sound permits and closing of Jenewein.
Organizations and individuals may wish to donate.
Selena Pettigrew, ADMNA president, states in her fundraising letter that “with residents’ participation our goal is to raise the money and other items needed. We are trying to be creative in building community resilience and pride among families that struggle daily.”
She also noted that “Allied Community has approximately 4300 residents, many being children. It has diverse ethnicity, with significant population of Latinos, African-Americans, Caucasians, and Southeast Asian residents. ADMNA tries to improve the quality of life for families while trying to meet their daily needs and being their advocate as needed.”
“Help us to help the children of Allied have a festival they can be proud of and remember for years to come,” she concludes.
Donations can be made to the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association and sent to Barry Hayes, 4605-H Crescent Rd., Fitchburg, WI 53711. General donations of any size and from anyone are welcome, but organizations wishing to have an information table at the festival are asked to give $25 per table, and the “Funding Sponsor Donation” is $300 minimum.
Donors should fill out the attachment “1 ADMNA donation sheet..jpg” and send it in to the address on the form.
For more information, contact Selena Pettigrew, 4613 Atticus Way #103, Madison, WI 537ll, 773-515-7916 or at selenapettigrew@gmail.com
based on documents from Selena Pettigrew
3 - Final Verona Road Impact Statement Received: Comments Due August 15
(Attachment: “2 FEIS Exec Summary.pdf”)
A big box arrived at my door on Monday, July 11. It was 2 copies of the FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT and FINAL Section 4(f) Determination for the Verona Road project. These copies are for the use of the neighborhood.
The Verona Road project includes adding lanes to Verona Road and the Beltline, changing access across Verona Road, wiping out the Beltline frontage road businesses between Verona Road and Whenona Drive, taking some residences, and many other modifications to the street patterns.
Comments on the statement are due August 15. Only written or e-mail statements will be accepted. There will be no public hearings on this document. E-mail responses can be directed to Larry Barta at Larry.Barta@dot.wi.gov. Questions can also be referred to Larry at (608)246-3884.
Written hard-copy comments should go to
Joe Olson, Regional Director, WisDOT, SW Region
2101 Wright Street
Madison, WI 53704-2583
Any neighbor wishing to borrow the impact statement should contact Kim Zinski, 608-271-2436, kimzinski@gmail.com or Mary Mullen, 608-298-0843, mmullen@chorus.net
Although the complete FEIS is 3 ½ inches thick and weighs about 5 pounds, the 24-page Executive Statement at the beginning of Volume 1 gives a nice overview.
The overvew is attached. Please take the opportunity to read and study it. The quality of the cover page is miserable, but all the rest is fine.
4 - Read the Verona Road FEIS in Many Libraries or Online
The Verona Road FEIS is available to read in many libraries around the area and also online.
Find it at these branches of the Madison Public Library:
Central Library, 201 West Mifflin Street
Alicia Ashman Branch, 733 North High Point Road
Meadowridge Branch, 5740 Raymond Road
Monroe Street Branch.1705 Monroe Street
Sequoya Branch, 4340 Tokay Boulevard (at Midvale)
South Madison Branch, 2222 South Park
It’s also available in adjacent cities:
Middleton Public Library, Main Branch, 7425 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton
Verona Public Library, Main Branch, 500 Silent Street, Verona
McFarland Public Library, Main Branch, 5920 Milwaukee Street, McFarland
Fitchburg Public Library, Main Branch, 5530 Lacy Road, Fitchburg
An electronic copy of the FEIS is available on the web at the following address:
http://www.dot.wi.gov/projects/d1/verona/environment.htm <http://www.dot.wi.gov/projects/d1/verona/environment.htm>
5 - Neighbors Invited to Join Committee to Respond to Verona Road Impact Statement
Neighbors are urged to join the DMNA committee that will be developing a response to the Verona Road Final Environmental Impact Statement from the neighborhood association.
Interested residents should call or forward their contact information to Kim Zinski, 608-271-2436, kimzinski@gmail.com.
6 - Pond “Grand Opening” and Planting Events to be Scheduled
(Attachment: “3 col Belmar pics.jpg)
We’re getting close to finishing up the Apache Drive Pond project and are in the process of scheduling a special Grand Opening event either in July or August as well as a "rain garden and wet pond edge" planting party with the Boys and Girls Club and any interested, available residents from the Allied and Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood area.
Joining the planting party is a super way to learn about rain gardens and about the other plants that grow well in wet areas.
If you want to be a part of the planting party, contact Fitchburg’s Environmental Engineer Rick Eilertson. Check out the attachment for July 1 images of the pond area.
from Rick Eilertson 270-4264 direct, 235-0412 cell, rick.eilertson@city.fitchburg.wi.us
Neighborhood News
7 - E-News Wins Gold Level Award (Attachment “4 NUSA award.jpg”)
“You and your organization are to be congratulated on your newsletter and its goal to inform your residents of what’s going on in your community.” Those words came in a letter from Neighborhoods USA (NUSA), which announced that the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News has won a Gold Level award for excellence in neighborhood newsletters.
This is the second time that the DMNA has won a top NUSA Award. In 2007, the Association won first place in the category of “Social Revitalization/Neighborliness - Single Neighborhood.”
The 2011 newsletter award was made by Neighborhoods USA at the recent Neighborhoods, USA Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. It was based on submission of an application which included 2 consecutive issues of the e-News from the 2010 calendar year. The February 3 and February 12, 2010 issues were submitted.
While the average size of the e-News is about 10 pages not counting attachments, the 2 issues submitted represent variations from the average. The February 3 issue consisted of 20 text pages and 4 pages of attachments. The February 12 issue was 3 pages long and had one attachment.
The letter from NUSA noted that
There were a total of 38 entries in this year’s Newsletter Competition, 11 entries in the electronic category and 27 in the printed category.
The Newsletter competition was not set up to pick one winner; it was designated to evaluate each newsletter entered against a set of criteria and present awards based on each entrant’s merits.
Each entry was evaluated against the same set of criteria and based on its total scare earned either a gold, sliver, or bronze level award.
The criteria included layout, consistency, content, relevance, and overall appearance.
The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association was in the company of 5 other gold level winners in the electronic category. They include the cities of Phoenix, AZ and Arlington, TX, neighborhood associations in Pasadena, CA, and Portland, OR, as well as the East Madison (WI) Community Center. Three other organizations received silver level awards and 2 received bronze awards.
For more information about NUSA and these awards, see http://www.nusa.org/NusaNewsLetterExcerpts.aspx
8 - Runaway Corgi Found
I want to thank all of you for spreading the word about Piper. She has been found and is safe at home snoring away as I type this.
I want to thank all of the citizens of Fitchburg from the bottom of my heart. I loved the people of your community already, but the support for the search for Piper has been overwhelming. Please feel free to call for details at 843-5757.
Best regards,
Megan McGuire
7-9-11
9 - Kitten Gets Offer of Home
The tiger kitten making the rounds of the neighborhood brought several responses. Two other people besides Kent Seeker had seen this kitten, and a third made an offer to adopt it if it is still available.
That’s the good news.
The less than good news - perhaps - is that the kitten hasn’t been seen since the offer of adoption. Maybe someone gave it a home.
10 - DMNA Garage Sales and Yard & Garden Walk Revisited
June was an activity-filled month for the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association. On Saturday, June 11, a number of families held garage sales, and two Saturdays later a dozen people participated in the Yard and Garden Walk.
Garage sale day, unfortunately threatened rain, holding down the number of customers. However, it did allow participants the opportunity to donate unsold items to Goodwill and thus get them out of the house. There’s definite value in that beyond the tax deduction.
There were several highlights of the Yard and Garden tour which was attended by folks from a few months old up into the 80s. First of all, the day was sunny and not overly hot.
Besides the nice weather and exercise, participants also got the benefit of learning in depth about some plants thanks to Dr. Galen Smith, a botany professor and member of Prairie UU Society where the tour began. Later, Donna Sarafin and Susan Kilmer explained how they are turning their back yard into a sustainable and edible landscape. We were lucky to benefit from Susan’s knowledge. She manages the Arboretum’s native plant garden.
Next, the tour participants had a chance to admire a number of well-managed and pretty yards on Windflower Way.
At the end, when only 4 hardy people were left, Ron Johnson gave a nice presentation about his wooded yard that had been designed by a former member of the DMNA, Steve Christy. Ron described his management style as “benign neglect.” Nevertheless, the design qualities were quite visible, and it was pleasant to be in the shade at noon while we looked at the plans developed by Steve and enjoyed the rocks that had been added to the yard in the past couple of years.
Finally, the last 2 of us walked back to the east side of the neighborhood through Marlborough Park. The prize was getting a number of free plants from Dorothy Krause’s garden.
11 - Help Sought to Beautify Belmar Median (Attachment: “3 col Belmar pics.jpg”)
Believe it or not, it’s a woman from Seminole Hills - not our neighborhood - who has used her green thumb to beautify the median at Sentinel Pass where it comes out on Seminole. That median, with its pretty pink roses, bright orange lilies, light green foliaged bleeding heart, and lavender spires of a plant I don’t know, will gladden the eye of any passerby.
Why did someone who doesn’t even live in the neighborhood plant and tend “our” median? Well, she says, as a regular user of Seminole Highway, she wanted to see something beautiful every time she passed by.
Our Seminole Hills benefactor would prefer that a Dunn’s Marsh resident take over the job of maintaining this little spot of color now that she has it thriving. If you think you might consider being the gardener of this pocket flower garden, contact Mary Mullen mmullen@chorus.net or 298-0843. She’ll refer you to the current gardener who will be glad to give you tips on what needs to be done (not too much).
See the attachment “col Belmar pics.jpg” for the contrast between this Sentinel median and the boring lawn grass median a few dozen feet away at the intersection of Crescent and Sentinel.
12 - More About the DMNA Neighborhood Council
In the last newsletter which announced that our new DMNA President is Bob Hague, we should have mentioned that we also have a new vice president.
When Jeff Glazer resigned the presidency due to moving out of the neighborhood, Vice President Bob Hague automatically became president. The Council then elected a new Vice President.
The new Vice President is JoAnn Kelley.
Both Bob and JoAnn live in the Crawford part of the neighborhood which is west of Whenona Drive.
The article about the need for additional Council members and representatives to the Allied Wellness Coop and the Allied Task Force brought a couple of inquiries. There may soon be some new faces in the neighborhood leadership.
13 - Arboretum Corps of Discovery Art Exhibit on Through August
Treat yourself to appreciation of the Arboretum in the form of a multi-media exhibit at the Arboretum Visitor Center all this month and next. Photos, drawings, paintings, quilts, physical journals, and more will help you appreciate this world-class nature sanctuary even more than you do now.
This display was produced by the Arboretum Corps of Discovery, a group of about 40 local people who participated in a 4-day training back in October and November 2009 and then documented a host of wondrous things they saw in the Arboretum over the past year and a half. The Corps of Discovery is modeled on the work of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. which took place from 1804-1806.
From a physical journal - an actual collection of twigs and nuts - and small poster you can learn how to tell what animal has browsed on these items in nature’s pantry. Other large posters document the different ferns in the Arboretum and introduce some of the ephemerals - flowers that bloom and then disappear. Other posters demonstrate the skills Corps members were taught and show that any person can learn to better communicate nature through words, drawing, photography, and other methods.
A definite favorite will be the rocking chair that was painted to resemble a pond and a tree. A model duck sits on the pond (the seat), a bird crawls up a painted tree trunk (the back of the rocker), and another model bird perches on the top of the chair. This writer has several works in the show including 4 photos of the “duck pond” on Nakoma Road during the 4 different seasons.
The Visitor Center, accessible from Seminole Highway just across the Beltline and down the hill, is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. and weekends from 12:30 to 4 p.m. (excluding holidays).
For more information and a map, go to <http://uwarboretum.org/>
From Our Representative
14 - State Rep. Terese Berceau Explains Concealed Carry Law
Special Edition - Concealed Carry
As you know, the governor signed the concealed carry bill into law today. Because of the interest this bill has generated, I am sending out a special edition of my e-newsletter with details about the bill.
As you also know, I have been and continue to be opposed to concealed recently. The argument that the constitution guarantees this right is to me, specious. Taken from a letter in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “The framers of our constitution had no concept of the technology we would have today. In the 1790s, a muzzle-loaded rifle weighed 10 lbs., was 60 inches long, and even the most proficient marksman could fire only two to three shots in one minute.” Contrast that with the weapon used by Jared Lee Loughner to shoot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, which could fire at least 30 rounds in 10 seconds.
I am also not swayed by the opposition saying that concealed carry is in effect in 48 other states and there has been no noticeable increase in gun violence. The firearm homicide rate in the United States is almost 20 times higher than in 22 other populous, high-income countries that have similar crime and violence rates.
When the Assembly was debating the concealed carry bill, I spoke about my concerns that allowing concealed weapons would increase the danger for individuals in violent domestic relationships. (You can watch my floor speech here.) Several of my colleagues raised other inconsistencies and problems with the bill. Unfortunately, concealed carry supporters did not address those concerns before they passed the bill.
I know that the majority of my district does not wanted concealed weapons, but that there is a small percentage that does. In either case, I think you will be interested in the details of the bill.
Sincerely,
Terese Berceau
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Now that concealed carry will be law in Wisconsin, the primary questions from many of my constituents are logistical in nature. Where can people carry concealed weapons? Where are concealed weapons not allowed? Are there any people who may not obtain concealed carry licenses? How can I stop people from carrying concealed weapons on my property?
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (and general answers) about Wisconsin's new Concealed Carry law:
Q1. What types of weapons may be concealed?
· Handguns
· Electric weapons (such as Tasers)
· Billy Clubs
· Knives (other than switchblades)
Q2. Where are concealed weapons specifically prohibited?
· Any portion of a building that is a police station, sheriff's office, state patrol station, or the office of a Division of Criminal Investigation special agent of the Department of Justice (DOJ)
· Any portion of a building that is a county, state, or federal courthouse, or that is a municipal courtroom, if court is in session
· Any portion of a building that is a jail, prison, house of correction, or secured correctional facility
· Secured mental health facilities (Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, the WI Resource Center, Mendota Mental Health Institute)
· Airports (past security checkpoints)
· In school buildings or on school grounds
Q3. Where are concealed weapons specifically allowed?
· Your own residence or business or on land you own, lease, or legally occupy
· Public areas, such as streets and roads
· In vehicles that are being driven or are parked (including vehicles parked on an employer's property)
· State parks and fish hatcheries and wildlife refuges
· Grounds or land owned, occupied, or controlled by state or local government (i.e. parks, the Capitol lawn, the land around the Alliant Center, etc.)
Q4. Where may concealed weapons be prohibited voluntarily?
· Personal residences (with notification)
· Common areas of multi-family residences (with posting by the owner of the building)
· Non-residential buildings, grounds, or land (with posting)
· Special events (with posting)
- A special event is one that is open to the public, for a duration of not more than three weeks, and has designated entrances.
· Buildings owned, occupied, or controlled by any unit of state of local government (with posting)
· Publicly- or privately-owned buildings on the grounds of a university or college (with posting)
Q5. What does "residence" mean exactly?
· For single-family residences: it does include the residence building itself and the parcel of land on which the building is located.
· For multi-family residence: it does include individual apartment units, but does not include common areas of the residence building or of the parcel of land on which the building is located. Examples of common areas include: entryways, shared laundry facilities, pool areas, etc.
Q6. What are the posting and notification requirements necessary to prohibit concealed weapons?
· If posting is required, signs that measure at least five inches by seven inches must be used to notify people that concealed weapons are not allowed on the premises.
· Signs must be located in prominent parts of the building to which the restriction applies.
· Signs must be posted in prominent places near all probable access points to the area in which concealed carry is restricted.
· If you don't want to allow the concealed carrying of weapons in your personal residence, you must notify* all visitors to your residence not to enter or remain at your residence while carrying a firearm. (*The law is silent about what action homeowners must take to fulfill this notification requirement. It is not clear whether verbal notification will suffice or if posting a sign is necessary.º
· You may specify that you don't want certain types of weapons to be concealed, but that other types of weapons are acceptable to conceal.
Q7. Can I carry a concealed weapon at work?
· If you have a license to carry a concealed weapon, then the answer is "yes," with certain exceptions:
· Exception: if you work in a location where concealed weapons are not allowed by state law (See Q2.)
· Exception: if your employer states in your employee handbook that concealed weapons are not allowed on work property.
· If you do not have a license to carry a concealed weapon, then the answer is "no."
Q8. What is required for me to get a concealed carry license?
· You must be a minimum of 21 years old.
· You must be a Wisconsin resident.**
· You must not be prohibited under federal or state law from possessing a firearm.
· You must not be prohibited by a court from possessing a dangerous weapon as a condition of bail or parole.
· You must provide proof of approved training.
**The law is not clear how one qualifies as a Wisconsin resident for the purpose of obtaining a concealed carry license. The word "resident" means different things in different parts of the law. Since SB 93 did not define the word "resident," this may result in confusion.
Q9. What constitutes adequate training for a concealed carry license?
· the hunter education program established by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
· a firearms safety or training course that is conducted by a national or state organization that certifies firearms instructors
· a firearms safety or training course that is available to the public and is offered by a law enforcement agency
· a firearms safety or training course that is offered to law enforcement officers or to owners and employees of licensed private detective and security agencies
· a firearms safety or training course that is conducted by a firearms instructor who is certified by a national or state organization that certifies firearms instructors or who is certified by DOJ
· No matter the type of training an individual receives, completion of training must be proven by a copy of a document indicating that the training was completed or by a sworn affidavit from the instructor who performed the training.
· The bill explicitly bans mandatory “hands-on” training with firearms.
Q10. Will my Wisconsin concealed carry license be honored in other states?
We don't know yet. While Wisconsin will have a "licensing system," the training required to obtain a concealed carry license in Wisconsin is not nearly as rigorous as the training required in many other states. So, it is likely that Wisconsin's concealed carry licenses will not be honored in most other states. But, this hasn't yet been tested, so we don't know either way.
Q11. Will my concealed carry license from another state be honored in Wisconsin?
Probably yes. DOJ will create a list of states whose concealed carry licenses will be honored in Wisconsin. Because Wisconsin's concealed carry license requirements are much less rigorous than other states, it is likely that most other states will be on this list. If you possess a valid concealed carry license from a state on the DOJ list, you are considered a concealed carry licensee in Wisconsin.
If you have more specific questions about Wisconsin's new concealed carry law, feel free to contact me or contact the Department of Justice for additional information.
___________________
Please don't hesitate to contact me to share your concerns or opinions about any issue facing the state legislature. Terese Berceau, Representative, Wisconsin Assembly
Phone: (608) 266-3784
E-mail: Rep.Berceau@legis.wisconsin.gov
Mail: Room 127 West, State Capitol, P.O. Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
To unsubscribe, please respond to this message with "unsubscribe" in the subject line
15 - Editor’s Editorial Note:
It doesn’t take much time for someone to take advantage of new laws. This morning I noticed a sign at the Verona Road entrance to our neighborhood. It was an advertisement for a concealed carry class for women along with a phone number.
Personally, I don’t think it is all that safe for people to be armed to the teeth, and I don’t relish the idea of wondering if people strolling the neighborhood might have pistols in their pockets whether they are women or men.
Maybe this sign in our neighborhood just indicates that someone wants to make a quick buck from our new law, but I can’t help but think that it also makes it seem like we live in such a dangerous world that we should be willing to shoot to main or kill at any moment.
I don’t want my neighborhood to be a war zone. For me it’s more than enough to read and see the daily news about wars in other places. I want my home to both feel and be safe.
------ End of the July 18, 2011 Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News------
Thanks for reading.
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
July 7, 2011
The DMN e-News and an occasional hard copy DMN News are published by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on an “as-needed” schedule. The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Inc. has been working to unite neighbors to solve mutual problems and promote fellowship among neighbors since 1973.
President, Bob Hague, bphague@tds.net 218-7060
News contact, Mary Mullen, communications@dunnsmarsh.org 298-0843
Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623
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This is a VERY SHORT, bare bones e-News. Check it out!
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Topics:
1. “Summer Drinks on the Lenai”
2. DMNA Council Meeting, August 3
3. New DMNA President
4. Join the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Council
5. Need reps to Allied Task Force and to Wellness Coop
6. Bike Lane on Frontage Roads
7. Update on Lost dog
8. Doggy Do Dispenser Stations
9. Free events on Monona Terrace Rooftop, July 13 & 14
10. Financial Support to Return to School at UW-Madison
11. July 30 - ADMNA Festival in Belmar Park
12. August 5 - Annual DMNA Potluck Picnic in Marlborough Park
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ARTICLES
1. Residents of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood are invited by Prairie UU to share in “Summer Drinks on the Lenai” at Prairie UU Society this Saturday, July 9, 7-9 pm. Bring your favorite summer drink, cheese or fruit and your favorite summer hat! By the way, “lenai” is another word for porch.
2. Next DMNA Council meeting is on Wednesday, August 3, 7 pm, Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona.
3. Due to the fact that DMNA President Jeff Glazer is moving out of the neighborhood – to downtown Madison – we have a new president. Our new president is Bob Hague, 4353 DeVolis Parkway, 218-1760, <bphague@tds.net>. Bob moved up to the president position from Vice President as prescribed by our bylaws.
4. We now have several vacancies on the DMNA Neighborhood Council. If you have an interest in working to better the neighborhood and also want to make some good friends, please apply to join the Council. For more information about the “job” of a Council member and how to apply, reply to this e-mail, and include your phone number.
5. Because Jeff Glazer is leaving the neighborhood, the DMNA needs to provide representative to two different committees in the neighborhood. Anyone who is interested should express their interest to the DM Neighborhood Council through a response to this e-mail. Here are Jeff’s remarks:
I would like to see someone take my positions on various councils in the Neighborhood including: Allied Task Force and the Wellness Co-op which our organization is a core member. The Allied Task Force is a City Committee with appointments from the Mayor; its job is to ensure safety and growth in the Allied area and beyond. I became involved and was appointed by Mayor Dave to sit on this Task Force because our close and important relationship with the Allied Neighborhood; Allied is our neighborhood and its residents are our neighbors this task force addresses issues related to our neighborhood. Thus, it is important that we have a DMNA representative on this Task Force.
We are a core member of the Co-op and Susan Corrado and Sina Davis are doing a great job with getting this up and running. While I will still be involved with the Co-op (as a Board Member of the Allied Wellness Center and generally concerned citizen with specialized skills in starting up businesses like this one), I will not be able to represent the interests of the Neighborhood Association. DMNA has agreed to have a member sit on the Co-op Steering Committee (it meets on the first Tuesday of the Month at the MAP center at the craft mall by Home Depot).
6. From City of Madison’s Mark Winter about why the City hasn’t yet painted the bike lanes on our frontage roads: We are still painting yellow centerlines. Will not get to white paint until at least end of July, sooner if it stops raining. Will get signs up before then.
7. Update on lost dog: Piper, the lost Pembroke Welsh Corgi, was spotted this morning (Wednesday 7/6/11) on the corner of Woods Edge and Osmundsen in Seminole Forest. If you live in the area, please check under your deck and in the landscaping as she is probably hiding. If you have a dog you might get her to approach you which will give you the opportunity to step on her leash, but otherwise it is best to just call the foster parent, Megan McGuire (843-5757), Fitchburg Animal Control (270-4331) or the Dane County Humane Society (838-0413) as she is very shy and may run out into traffic if pursued.
If we get enough spottings in one area we would like to set up a live trap to try and catch her. We will need the permission of a neighborhood resident to set up the trap in their yard. If you are open to this please let Megan know. She will be responsible for maintaining the trap and dealing with any animals unintentionally trapped.
If you spot her please call or email Megan at 843-5757 / megan1967@gmail.com. Please note the time of the siting and closest house address and/or cross streets.
Thank-you to everyone who has assisted us in this search effort!
8. Marlborough Park will be getting doggy do dispenser stations due to the initiative of Council member Jo Kelley. The DMNA Council approved purchase of a case of 1000 bags. The City will provide one or more dispensing stations. The Council is asking stations at 3 entrances to the park, one at the Milford Road entrance, one at Sentinel Pass, and one at the Apache Drive.
9. Two free events are coming up on the rooftop of the Monona Terrace:
Lakeside Kids presents West African Drum & Dance Ensemble, Wednesday, July 13, 10-11am, Monona Terrace Rooftop
Concerts on the Rooftop features Madison County, Thursday, July 14
7-9pm, Monona Terrace Rooftop
10. Are you looking for financial support to help you return to school at UW-Madison? Continuing Education grants provide in-state tuition for adults with a significant break from education taking one class to get started with their studies.
Criteria and application information available at http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/info/finanserv/ce-grant.htm. Deadline July 1, 2011 for fall semester. Apply now!
Questions? Call 608-263-6960 or email Jane at jschimmel@dcs.wisc.edu.
11. Saturday, July 30, annual Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Festival in Belmar Park.
12. Friday, August 5, 5 p.m.-dark - annual DMNA potluck picnic in Marlborough Park. More details will be coming out later.
-------End of the July 7 Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood News-------------
Thanks for reading.
Please join the DUNN’S MARSH YARD AND GARDEN TOUR, this Saturday, June 25. Read about it and several other events, plus the usual blend of articles in this issue of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News. Don’t forget, the YARD AND GARDEN TOUR starts at 10 a.m. from Prairie UU Society this Saturday. No calendar this time since events are in time order.
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
June 22, 2011
The DMN e-News and an occasional hard copy DMN News are published by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on an “as-needed” schedule. The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Inc. has been working to unite neighbors to solve mutual problems and promote fellowship among neighbors since 1973.
President, Jeff Glazer, president@dunnsmarsh.org 277-1778
News contact, Mary Mullen, communications@dunnsmarsh.org 298-0843
Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623
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Article list
EVENTS
1- Neighborhood Yard and Garden Tour, 10 a.m., Sat., June 25
2 - Two Garden Plots Available in Marlborough Park
3 - Arrowhead Neighborhood Plan Public Information Meeting, Thur., July 7
4 - Garden Researcher to Speak About His Study on Community Food Production, July 8
5 - Verona Rd./PD Intersection Public Involvement Open House, Tues., July 12
GREEN NEWS
6 - Porous Pavement Tested in Allied Development Project
7 - City Doubles Number of Terrace Rain Gardens
8 - How Will State Changes in the Law Affect Local Stormwater Management?
FOR CAT LOVERS
9 - Adoption Fees for Adult Cats Reduced 85%!
10 - Every Day is Spay Day at Dane County Humane Society!
COUNTY SUPERVISOR REPORT
11 - County Update from Co. Supervisor Carousel Bayrd
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EVENTS
1- Neighborhood Yard and Garden Tour, 10 a.m., Sat., June 25
Building on the success of last year’s back yard chicken coop tour, the DMNA is sponsoring this year’s Yard and Garden Tour. The tour starts at 10 a.m., this Saturday, June 25,.from Prairie UU Society, corner of Whenona and Crawford Drives.
The tour is a chance to view and learn about some seldom-seen back yards as well as all the front yards we’ll be passing by. Even if you have driven by those front yards a million times, you’re guaranteed to see more during this walk, since the focus is the yards, not keeping a car on the road or watching for kids. Amazing, the difference being on foot makes!
At a minimum you’ll see a prairie yard, a “wild” yard, a yard in transition from lawn to edible landscape and native plants, and a yard full of perennials.
Besides the yards, we’ll be stopping by the Marlborough Park rain garden and then checking out the community gardens in Marlborough Park. A recent tour of the community gardens showed some spectacularly-well-kept gardens (as well as some that could use a little more elbow grease).
Finally, if any of the group feels like it, we will also trek on down to the Apache wet pond to see how construction has progressed.
It’s a neighborhood outing to which all in the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood are invited. People from apartments are especially welcome including those in the Allied section of the neighborhood.
We plan to do this tour rain or shine. If it’s raining, just come dressed for the weather.
by Mary Mullen
2 - Two Garden Plots Available in Marlborough Park
Does anyone out there in readerland have a few tomatoes looking for space? Or have you been drooling over the beautiful petunias that still fill the tables at garden stores? Either way, these flowers could be at home in the Marlborough Community Garden. Two plots are still available in the garden that is in Marlborough Park in the middle of the neighborhood.
Just call Nicole Craig 246-4730, extension 208, or reach her on her cell phone at 220-9001. Since it is so late in the season, you might ask if you could have a plot for a reduced fee. Better that the plot be used than having it grow into weeds that have to be mowed off.
by Mary Mullen
3 - Arrowhead Neighborhood Plan Public Information Meeting, Thur., July 7
Thursday, July 7, 7:00-8:00 pm
Fitchburg City Hall, 5520 Lacy Road
The City of Fitchburg invites residents to attend a public information meeting and discussion regarding a development plan for 260 acres of commercial and industrial land along McKee Road, east of Verona Road. The City has recently initiated a planning process to plan for infill development and infrastructure improvements in this area. This six-month process began in June and plan adoption is anticipated in November. Interested residents are asked to attend thismeeting to learn about the planning process and share any ideas or concerns about land use, traffic, stormwater, or other issues.
For more information, please contact: Michael Zimmerman, Economic Development Coordinator at 270-4245, or Thomas Hovel, City Planner at 270-4255
More info at
http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/departments/cityHall/planning/ArrowheadPark.
City of Fitchburg
4 - Garden Researcher to Speak About His Study on Community Food Production, July 8
Vincent Smith is a UW researcher who organized a huge research project last year to investigate home, community, and school gardening as well as other community-based food production initiatives around Madison. The research required participants to weigh all their produce to the tenth of an ounce and also record all expenses and time spent gardening. At least one Marlborough Park community gardener participated in this research (myself, the writer of this article).
Mr. Smith will be talking about his research on Friday, July 8 at 1:00 p.m. at 175 Science Hall, 550 N. Park Street, the big red building across from the Memorial Union on the UW campus.
Attend this talk to learn more about the value of these community food production systems for practitioners (gardeners) and for the community as a whole. The talk is free.
by Mary Mullen
5 - Verona Rd./PD Intersection Public Involvement Open House, Tues., July 12
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is designing improvements for the reconditioning of the County PD (McKee Road) intersection with US 18/US 151 (Verona Road) in Dane County. WisDOT has hired Strand Associates, Inc.® to assist with the project design.
Work will include adding an additional left-turn lane to the County PD (McKee Road) eastbound and westbound intersection approaches to minimize existing congestion and mitigate future construction traffic for the upcoming Verona Road Interchange project. Construction is currently scheduled for 2012.
To gather resident and business input into the design that is currently being considered, WisDOT is hosting a public involvement meeting at the following time and location:
County PD Public Involvement Meeting - Open House Format
Tuesday, July 12, 2011, 5 to 7 P.M.
Fitchburg Fire Station No. 2 , 5415 King James Way, Fitchburg, Wisconsin
At this meeting, attendees will be able to view exhibits of the proposed project and possible effects on properties. Project representatives will be available to answer questions and receive comments.
Those who are hearing impaired and require an interpreter should contact WisDOT by July 5, 2011. Please dial 711 to contact the Wisconsin Telecommunication Relay System, and then ask the communication assistant to contact Mike Rampetsreiter of WisDOT at (608) 246-7917.
For additional information about the CTH PD project, contact the WisDOT project manager, Mike Rampetsreiter, at (608) 246-7917. Written comments can be directed to Mike Rampetsreiter at WisDOT Southwest Region Office, 2101 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704. Please refer to project I.D. 1206-07-07.
Sincerely,
Mike Rampetsreiter
Mike Rampetsreiter PDS Project Manager WisDOT Southwest Region, Madison Office
GREEN NEWS
6 - Porous Pavement Tested in Allied Development Project
Stormwater runoff is an issue that often comes up during many of our construction projects. The only way to minimize runoff is to maximize infiltration. This can be challenging with a street reconstruction. However, as part of the Allied Drive Redevelopment Project, we installed a 3’ wide permeable concrete strip down an alley. The alley water is designed to drain to the center, infiltrate through the pavement and act as groundwater recharge system. Installation of permeable concrete is very labor intensive, which is why only the center strip was installed. Engineering staff will monitor the effectiveness of the pervious pavement during the summers of 2011 and 2012. Sampled water shall be tested for phosphorous, metals and select pesticides.
from Madison Stormwater Utility
7 - City Doubles Number of Terrace Rain Gardens
The terrace rain garden program grows in popularity each year. Engineering now offers to cost share rain gardens in the terrace where feasible and when the homeowner requests one during a street
reconstruction or resurfacing project. The cost sharing is now capped at $400 for the homeowner or $350 if the owner purchases and installs plants on their own. We are installing 21 rain gardens in association with our resurfacing projects and 14 with street reconstructions. Our total number of terrace rain gardens will more than double this year.
from Madison Stormwater Utility
8 - How Will State Changes in the Law Affect Local Stormwater Management?
Those of you who have been following changes proposed by the state legislature know that stormwater management is not exempt. The State is proposing to repeal the requirement that municipalities remove 40% of total suspended solids in runoff by October 1, 2013. How will this and other changes affect us? While some of what we do is a result of regulation at the state level, Madison has always been committed to improving stormwater quality because it is the right thing to do. The City and County have already gone beyond the current minimum state requirements, with the intention of improving the condition of our lakes and rivers, and we will continue to do so. Here in Madison, and I believe in the surrounding communities as well, the commitment to the environment remains strong.
from Madison City Engineer Rob Phillips
FOR CAT LOVERS
9 - Adoption Fees for Adult Cats Reduced 85%!
Join Dane County Humane Society in celebrating Adopt a Cat month. We've set an important goal of adopting 150 cats before the end of June and we need YOUR support to make it happen.
We are offering significantly reduced adoption fees - only $5 - on all cats 6 months and older. You're saving almost 85% off normal adoption fees while also saving a life.
Please help us help our homeless cats find new loving homes today!
Dane Co. Humane Society
10 - Every Day is Spay Day at Dane County Humane Society!
· Only $10 per hose cat for Dane County residents with a WI Forward or Quest Card
· $10 per feral cat for Dane County residents, no card requirement
· Limited $10 appts available through June and into July
· Additional appointments available for $30 with no geographical or card requirements
· Call for appointment - (608) 838-0413, ext. 103
Dane County Humane Society
COUNTY SUPERVISOR REPORT
11 - County Update from Co. Supervisor Carousel Bayrd
Happy summer. I hope the weather has settled into the lower 80s by the time you read this. (I can dream.) Here’s what’s happening on the county board:
Conceal Carry: I am a lead sponsor of a law banning any concealed weapons from county buildings, including the airport and office buildings. This is in response to the state proposal allowing individuals to carry concealed weapons almost everywhere in the state. At the time of my writing this, the state is considering allowing local governments to ban concealed weapons in closed buildings only, but the state’s bill is still changing and I expect more details in the coming weeks.
Tornado Sirens: The County is updating its tornado sirens to improve the specificity of which sirens go off in an emergency. Currently, the county is divided into 6 siren areas, and whenever a tornado warning is required in any part of an area, the entire area’s sirens are activated. The result is sirens going off in neighborhoods that are not at risk. This leads people to ignore the sirens, diminishing their effectiveness and potentially putting lives at danger. The new system allows county staff to activate each siren individually (in approximately the same time as it currently takes to activate an entire area). This will ultimately make us safer by allowing citizens to better rely on the sirens, and it will save our ears from unnecessary warnings.
Forced Privatization: A new state budget provision requires county governments to privatize all construction projects costing more than $100,000. This includes 100s of projects a year—from road reconstruction to building upkeep and facility improvements (think zoo, airport, Badger Prairie Nursing Home, city-county building). This will almost certainly increase county costs for projects and lead to layoffs of our experienced county highway workers.
Slow No Wake and Veto: There is considerable land erosion on the beaches and property that abuts Lakes Monona, Mendota, and Wingra, due to the higher than normal water levels. But the current process to issue slow/no wake order to boaters on the lakes is laborious. After a year of work, the county board approved a new, streamlined process. However, County Executive Joe Parisi vetoed the changes because he felt the approved law did not get enough public vetting. While I am disappointed, I am hopeful that the changes will get a new public hearing and make their way back to the county board.
Huber Center: We have so successfully decreased the county jail population that we are closing a floor of the Huber Center (our minimum security housing for inmates with work-release privileges). Prisoners who otherwise have been housed at the Huber Center are now out on electronic monitoring (which actually keeps us safer with direct, individual tracking) or are getting mental health, alcohol, or drug treatment. No jobs were lost; all employees were transferred to other positions. Savings will come from building maintenance (heat, cleaning) and prisoner services (food, laundry).
Redistricting: Every 10 years, as the new census data is released by the federal government, and the county (as well as the state and city) have to reconfigure their electoral districts. Bad news—Starting in April, I will no longer have the honor of representing DMNA. The county plan does not go into effect until the next local election in April, however, so I will still represent you until then. And of course, I will always be a resource and advocate for DMNA needs. Under the new redistricting plan, each supervisor will represent approximately 13,000 constituents.
By Dane Co. Supervisor Carousel Bayrd
---END of the June 22, 2011 issue of the DUNN’S MARSH NEIGHBORHOOD e-NEWS --------
THANKS FOR READING!
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
June 11, 2011
The DMN e-News and an occasional hard copy DMN News are published by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on an “as-needed” schedule. The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Inc. has been working to unite neighbors to solve mutual problems and promote fellowship among neighbors since 1973.
President, Jeff Glazer, president@dunnsmarsh.org 277-1778
News contact, Mary Mullen, communications@dunnsmarsh.org 298-0843
Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623
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Summer came in with a vengeance - and now has left us with April showers and temperatures. The good news is that the heat has warmed the seeds in the garden and made the already-sprouted plants grow inches a day. No calendar this time, but be aware that the neighborhood garage sales are tomorrow (Sat., June 12), the neighborhood yard and garden walk is Sat., June 25, and the DMNA Council will be meeting on the first Mondays (starting July 6) instead of third Tuesdays (no June meeting). Enjoy the attachments showing photos of neighborhood clean ups, the pond ground-breaking and construction. (If your browser is like mine, you can go directly to the end of the e-mail and see all the attachments at once.)
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ARTICLES
In the Neighborhood
1 - Neighborhood Garage Sales This Saturday, 9 to noon
2 - Neighborhood Yard and Garden Walk, Sat., June 25
3 - Last Call for Garden Plots
4 - Garden Sheds Available Free
5 - Weather Rewarded Neighborhood Clean-Up Participants (Attachment: “1 cleanups.jpg”)
6 - DMNA Council Meeting Dates Changed to the First Monday
7 - Neighborhood Celebrations Coming in July and August
8 - Apache Pond Takes Shape (Attachments: “2 ground-breaking.jpg” & “3 pond construction.jpg”)
Summer Fun Outside the Neighborhood
9 - Concerts at McKee Farms Park, Second Mondays (Attachment: “4 concerts@McKee.jpg”)
10 - Come to Monona Terrace for Loads of Summer Fun (Attachment: “5 MononaTerr concerts.jpg”)
11 - Madison B-cycle Bike Sharing Locations Open
12 - Numbers at Your Fingertips for Crimes, Complaints, and Good Ideas (Attachment: “6 Fitchburg alders.jpg”)
Opportunities
13 - Literacy Program at B&G Club Needs Volunteers, Tuesdays
14 - Volunteer Against Domestic Abuse
15 - Madison Offers Help to Homeowners for Green Improvements
16 - Money Available for Landlords
17 - Downtown Senior Center Newsletter Available by e-Mail
From our Elected Representatives (Some interesting “stuff” here)
18 - Alder Solomon’s May 12 Update
19 - Representative Terese Berceau Gives Update on State Budget (June 8)
20 - State Representative Terese Berceau Speaks Out on the New Voter ID Law
21 - Senator Kohl Introduces Justice for Troops Act
22 - From Co. Exec. Joe Parisi.: Working With You to Keep Dane County Great
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In the Neighborhood
1 - Neighborhood Garage Sales This Saturday, 9 to noon
How many Dunn’s Marshians does it take to organize neighborhood garage sales?
One. (Or maybe two)
The one was DMNA Council member Donna Sarafin. Without her, there wouldn’t be any organized effort to have neighborhood sales this summer. But she did want to have her own sale, and then she offered to advertise the sales on Craigslist.
At any rate, the sales will be held on this Saturday, June 11, from 9 a.m. until noon, rain or shine.
If you are a garage sale aficionado, be sure to visit these addresses:
4313 Sheffield
2010 Whenona Drive (Prairie UU Society, corner of Whenona & Crawford)
4358 Crawford Drive
4345 DeVolis Parkway
4338 Windflower Way
There’s still time to sign up with Donna. If you are interested, contact her at dksarafin@yahoo.com or 273-0437.
Oh, and the “maybe second person” that it took to get these sales off the ground? I offered to make the signs to direct people into the neighborhood.
by Mary Mullen
2 - Neighborhood Yard and Garden Walk, Sat., June 25
How often have you wondered just what your neighbor’s back yard looks like (but were afraid to ask to see it)? Kids have no trouble going into back yards, but we adults, well, that’s another matter. We’ve learned well not to trespass.
On Saturday, June 25, starting at 10 a.m. the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association will be sponsoring and leading a Yard and Garden Walk. The idea is to visit a few yards and gardens to see what people are up to. Several very different kinds of yards/gardens will be part of the tour. We’ll be doing the tour on foot just like we did the chicken coop tour last year.
Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Prairie UU Society, corner of Crawford and Whenona.
We could add 2 or 3 more stops on the tour, so if you have a yard or garden you’ve put a lot of work into or you know a neighbor whose yard is pretty special, please contact Mary Mullen pronto: 298-0843 or mmullen@chorus.net
by Mary Mullen
3 - Last Call for Garden Plots
There may still be a garden plot or two available in the Marlborough Park Community Garden. If you are interested, call Pablo Granados at 213-2612 or Nicole Craig at 220-9001. Both speak English and Spanish.
4 - Garden Sheds Available Free
Marlborough community garden will be getting a new shed from the MATC carpentry program later this month. The new shed will be larger than the existing larger shed. MATC can deliver the shed and help us situate it, but that means that the existing two sheds on site need to be removed by that time.
If anyone would like to have one of the sheds (or both) for their own use (at their home or elsewhere, but not in the garden, though) they are welcome to take a shed for free. You must be able to remove the shed yourself.
Please let me know via email nicolec@cacscw.org <mailto:nicolec@cacscw.org> or phone (220-9001) if you’re interested.
Nicole Craig. Community Gardens Specialist
Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc.
5 - Weather Rewarded Neighborhood Clean-Up Participants (Attachment: “1 cleanups.jpg”)
The faint smell of fresh garlic, the fresh sound of red-winged blackbirds and robins singing, most of all, a sunny morning after days of rain - that was Saturday, April 23, the day of the Dunn’s Marsh Waterway clean-up, the Avalon Village clean-up, and the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Clean-up. Lots of people worked on giving the neighborhood a better look.
Mostly adults worked on the Dunn’s Marsh Waterway Clean-up. They had first attended the ground-breaking for the Apache wet pond that is now being constructed below Crescent Road. This clean-up was organized by Rick Eilertson, Fitchburg’s Environmental Engineer.
Cleaners from the neighborhood included - alphabetically by first name - Cathy Casper, Dave Martin, Donna Sarafin, Dorothy Krause, Mary Mullen, Matt Boyington, Patty Stockdale, and Ron Johnson. Three or four others from other areas also participated.
Kids were the main workers in Avalon Village. Their clean-up consisted of picking up rocks off the lawns there. Kids that filled their bags were rewarded Easter baskets. This popular clean-up was led by Sina Davis who did a super job of organizing the kids. Other adults helped also.
The third clean-up was sponsored by the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association. Part of the group, mostly teenagers, spent time picking up litter on the Verona and Beltline frontage roads. The frontage road cleaners were led by Jo Kelley.
Although lots of trash was removed from the neighborhood, litter continues to accumulate especially along the frontage roads, along the Beltline next to the traffic lanes, on business properties along Verona Road, at bus stops on the edge of the neighborhood, and near the CDA housing on Britta Parkway. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone did their part by putting their trash where it belongs?
by Mary Mullen
6 - DMNA Council Meeting Dates Changed to the First Monday
The DMNA Neighborhood Council will now be meeting on the first Monday of the month. Time: 7 p.m. Place: Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Drive.
Dates for the summer are July 6, August 3, and September 7. There will be no Council meeting in June.
Any resident may attend a Council meeting, but only Council members can vote. Let President Jeff Glazer know if you plan to visit. His contact information is in the masthead.
7 - Neighborhood Celebrations Coming in July and August
The two neighborhood associations that cover the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood have scheduled their traditional summer celebrations.
The ADMNA will hold their Festival in Belmar Park on Saturday July 30 during the daytime hours.
The DMNA invites the neighborhood to share an “after work” potluck picnic at Marlborough Park on Friday, August 5.
Put these events on your calendar now, and come join your neighbors at both celebrations.
8 - Apache Pond Takes Shape (Attachments: “2 pground-breaking.jpg” & “3 pond construction.jpg”)
Big changes are happening below Crescent Road at Apache Drive. Some of us may be just peripherally aware of it as that hum or growl that goes on like the whining of a pesky mosquito all day long. The noise of the big machines wafts over the entire neighborhood. (Is this a hint of what we’ll experience for more than a year when the reconstruction of Verona Road begins?)
Those who drive Crescent Road are treated to a changing scene as Iverson & Sons shapes the new wet pond.
Ground-breaking for the pond took place on April 23. The ceremony was attended by about 2 dozen people including many from the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood and others who were involved in the planning of the pond. Fitchburg Mayor Pfaff was there as well as Fitchburg Alder Carol Poole who lives across the street from the project and Alder Dorothy Krause who lives at the top of Apache Drive. Those present heard about the history of Lots 19 and 20 and plans for the construction.
Since the 23rd, more trees have been cut down and taken away. The sanitary sewer was moved, and the storm sewer was rerouted. Now two ponding areas have been shaped although it looks like one with the pond full.
Check out the collage of the pond ground-breaking event and the second one showing construction progress. The pictures show not only construction changes, but the progression of the season from early spring with hardly a tinge of green in the trees to the luscious leafiness of early spring.
When finished, the land surrounding the pond will be seeded to native grasses and flowers, and a walkway will let nature-lovers circulate around the perimeter of the pond.
Interestingly, when I visited on June 2, a mallard was swimming in the new pond. Unfortunately, the water he was swimming in had a rainbow sheen of oil on its surface.
The purpose of this pond is to trap sediment and prevent it from getting into Dunn’s Marsh and the waterways downstream including Nine Springs Creek, Lake Waubesa, and beyond.
by Mary Mullen
Summer Fun Outside the Neighborhood
9 - Concerts at McKee Farms Park, Second Mondays (Attachment: “4 concerts@McKee.jpg”)
Like music? Like it even better free? Then your cup of tea is the “Concerts at McKee,” held each second Monday of the month at McKee Farms Park, 2930 Chapel Valley Road, just off McKee Road (Co. Road PD), a couple of miles from our neighborhood. The concerts start at 6:30 pm.
The schedule is as follows:
· Monday, June 13, The Dang-Its (country honky-tonk to fiery bluegrass)
· Monday, July 11, Marcy and the Highlights (50s, 60s, R& B, jazz, country - good for dancing)
· Monday, August 8, Wild Heart (5 piece top 40 country band, 3- and 4-part harmonies)
For more information, look at the attachment or call 270-4290.
by Mary Mullen
10 - Come to Monona Terrace for Loads of Summer Fun (Attachment: “5 MononaTerr concerts.jpg”)
Monona Terrace announces the schedule of free and low cost community events available to the public this summer 2011 at the Frank Lloyd Wright designed facility.
The summer 2011 lineup (click links for dates) includes
· Concerts on the Rooftop, Thursdays, 7-9 pm (FREE) >, highlighting some the area’s best live music, and an opportunity for dancing, food, and fun for the whole family <http://mononaterrace.com/community/all-programs/category/concerts_entertainment_events#concerts_on_the_rooftop <http://mononaterrace.com/community/all-programs/category/concerts_entertainment_events#concerts_on_the_rooftop> >;
- June 9 Midnight Groove (Variety Dance Band)
- June 23 BROTHER (Celtic Fusion Rock)
- June 30 LoveMonkeys (Pop, Rock, Reggae) - MSCR Family Night
- July 14 Madison County (Country Show Band)
- July 21 SuperTuesday (Alternative Rock)
· T’ai Chi on the Rooftop for a peaceful stress break over the noon hour; Tuesdays & Thursdays. June 2–30; September 6-29. 12:00 – 12:45PM, Rooftop (FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) <http:// mononaterrace.com/community/all-programs/category/health_wellness_programs#tai_chi_at_monona_terrace <http://%20Tuesdays%20&%20ThursdaysJune%202%E2%80%9330;%20September%206-29.%2012:00%20%E2%80%93%2012:45PM,%20Rooftop%0B(FREE%20AND%20OPEN%20TO%20THE%20PUBLIC)%20%20mononaterrace.com/community/all-programs/category/health_wellness_programs#tai_chi_at_mo> >
· Lakeside Kids: a unique variety of hands on learning and entertainment for kids age four and up. Wednesdays 10-11 am. Please call 608.261.4000 after 8:30 a.m. the day of the event for program location. <http://mononaterrace.com/community/all-programs/category/children_s_programs#lakeside_kids_ <http://mononaterrace.com/community/all-programs/category/children_s_programs#lakeside_kids_> >
o June 15, The FUN Agenda Kick-off Even, 7 different activity stations in Exhibition Hall
o June 22, KG & The Range -Cowboy Songs, Yodeling & Rope Tricks, on the Rooftop
o June 29, Blue Willow Chinese Dance - Performance & Presentation - Exhibition Hall
o July 13, West African Drum & Dance Ensemble, on the Rooftop
o July 20, PianoFondue, Dueling Pianos, Community Terrace
o July 27, Casey & Greg, Songs & Stories, on the Rooftop
· Monona Terrace open house, Saturday, July 16, 1 pm (FREE TOUR, GOODIES,& GIVEAWAYS) offers the public a chance to tour one of Madison’s most iconic architectural works, and offers free treats and giveaways for the whole family!
<http://mononaterrace.com/community/all-programs/category/family_events_festivals#monona_terrace_community_open_house <http://mononaterrace.com/community/all-programs/category/family_events_festivals#monona_terrace_community_open_house> >
· guided public tours are offered daily, $3 adults, $2 students. <http://mononaterrace.com/frank-lloyd-wrights/guided-tours <http://mononaterrace.com/frank-lloyd-wrights/guided-tours> >
· The Monona Terrace gift shop offers unique architecturally-inspired gifts for home and office and is open 10am-5pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 3pm on Sunday. <http://mononaterrace.com/gift-shop <http://mononaterrace.com/gift-shop>
· The Lake Vista Café located on the Monona Terrace rooftop offers sweeping views of the Madison skyline and Lake Monona.
Come experience what Monona Terrace has to offer our community. It’s a place to gather, celebrate and learn!
Parking is available in the Monona Terrace parking ramp at One John Nolen Drive. For more information call 608.261.4000 or visit http://communityevents.mononaterrace.com <http://communityevents.mononaterrace.com> . Become a fan on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Madison-WI/Monona-Terrace-Community-and-Convention-Center/177810067314 > !
11 - Madison B-cycle Bike Sharing Locations Open
Madison B-Cycle is now underway. You’ve been hearing about it for months, and now you can actually rent bikes downtown with a swipe of your credit card.
Madison B-cycle is an urban bike sharing program put in by Trek under an agreement with the City of Madison. It’s the new way Madison moves! Enjoy access to over 300 bikes throughout the capital city this summer! As of Sunday May 22, 2011 six stations have been loaded with bikes and the remaining stations and bikes will go live over the next two months. A 2011 annual Madison membership comes out to be only 30 cents per day so sign up today!
$10 for 24-hour pass
$30 for 7-day pass
$65 for annual pass
Student discount of $20
Besides allowing down-towners to do short errands by bike, B-cycle could be a great way to have out-of town visitor do some biking downtown or to rent a bike for a day. Once you get a pass, the first 30 minutes of each trip is free. There’s a $2 charge for the second 30 minutes. Once you get beyond an hour, each additional 30 minutes costs $5. Fees are structured to encourage short trips with a return to a dock in between trips so that others have access to the bikes.
See http://madison.bcycle.com/ for an interactive map that shows location of B-stations and how many bikes are normally there. You can also view a demo that shows exactly how to use B-cycle. Pull down the “About” menu item for additional details of how to use B-cycle.
The 6 B-Cycle stations that are completed and stocked with bikes are at these locatioins:
1. Wisconsin & E. Mifflin- on the square by Merrill Lynch
2. S. Hamilton & W. Main- at Anchor Bank
3. W. Wilson & MLK- corner of the CCB
4. N. Park & Spring
5. End of N. Park @ Memorial Union
6. Hawthorne Ct. & State St. in the alley
On Friday, June 3, all the bikes were checked out of the one on lower State Street, #6, above, and I saw people riding around on the bikes. They all had headlights and tail lights that continued lighting even when the bikes were stopped.
by Mary Mullen, based on Bikies list-serve communications and the website
12 - Numbers at Your Fingertips for Crimes, Complaints, and Good Ideas (Attachment: “6 pics Fitchburg alders.jpg”)
Alert, active, and knowledgeable neighbors are what’s needed to keep crimes at bay and get things done.
Below are some numbers you might want to post on your refrigerator or next to you phone.
911 - For true emergencies,* absolutely call 911. (See list of emergencies at end of article.) Use your own judgment about calling 911 when there’s something like a fight between kids, a minor car accident, or a verbal argument. DON’T ASSUME SOMEONE ELSE CALLED. SOMETIMES NO ONE HAS.
For non-emergency police dispatch
in Madison, 243-0500 for the Madison West District police dispatch, during business hours only
in Fitchburg, 270-4300
CDA housing on Britta Parkway (litter, for example)
Elizabeth Robers-Yszenga at 267-9524 or erobers-yszenga@cityofmadison.com
Fitchburg Alders
Seat 1 - Dorothy Krause, 271-7532, 2105 Apache Drive, dorothy.krause@city.fitchburg.wi.us
Seat 2 - Carol Poole, 273-3168, 4518 Crescent Road, carol.poole@city.fitchburg.wi.us
Madison Alder, Brian Solomon, 446-1362, briansolomon@charter.net
Neighborhood Associations
DMNA President Jeff Glazer, 277-1778, jglazer75@gmail.com
DMNA Communications - Mary Mullen, 298-0843, mmullen@chorus.net
ADMNA President Selena Pettigrew, 773-515-7916, admna55@gmail.com
ADMNA Vice President Sina Davis, 886-5994, sinadavis703@yahoo.com
*True emergencies:
· fires
· a bad accident
· an assault, and also when you feel endangered by another’s behavior or you think others will be endangered
· medical conditions that can’t wait for a doctor’s callback, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, coma, drug overdose, bleeding that won’t stop;
· if you see suspicious and possibly criminal activities in the process of happening such as people looking into cars or strangers taking things out of a neighbor’s house or garage
· when a street light is out after business hours (otherwise call Traffic Engineering at 266-4767.
Opportunities
13 - Literacy Program at B&G Club Needs Volunteers, Tuesdays
The Literacy Network has an adult ESL - English as a Second Language - program called Community Literacy at the Allied Neighborhood Boys & Girls club that we really need volunteer tutors for.
Community Literacy is designed to tutor adult ESL learners one-on-one in a classroom setting. Tutors help their assigned learner gain English speaking, reading, and writing skills. No experience or foreign language skills required!
Customized lesson plans are provided for each tutor/learner pair every week by the intern overseeing that class. (Childcare for both tutors and learners is also available.)
Successful tutors give their learners more than improved English skills -they offer the chance for them to gain confidence and improve their connection to the world around them.
Literacy Network requires all tutors to be reliable, responsible, mature, friendly, and patient. A semester-long commitment to the program is required: you must attend your class every week (no more than 3 absences) during the entire semester. Summer semester is in progress and ends August 27
We need 5 volunteer tutors for the following class: Tuesday nights, 6-8pm at the Allied Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club (4619 Jenewein Rd). Anyone interested can contact Ms. Shawn Steen, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator via email Shawn@litnetwork.org <mailto:Shawn@litnetwork.org> or at (608) 244-3911.
by Shawn Steen. Literacy Network http://www.litnetwork.org <http://www.litnetwork.org>
14 - Volunteer Against Domestic Abuse
Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) will be offering a summer volunteer training in June and is looking for dedicated and passionate individuals to join the DAIS team!
Volunteers are essential in providing services to our clients and are involved in every aspect of the work we do. Our volunteer program increases support services to victims by two-thirds of what staff alone can do.
DAIS works to empower those affected by domestic violence and advocate for social change through support, education and outreach. We have been in Dane County for over 33 years working to make our community a safer, more just, more equitable place for people who have experienced domestic violence, their children, and the people who love them.
DAIS Volunteer Opportunities:
· Crisis Line Advocate
· Crisis Response Advocate
· Shelter Advocate
· Children’s Advocate
· Marketing and Media Advocate
· CAPE (Community Awareness and Prevention Education) Advocate
If you are interested in volunteering with DAIS or for more information please contact:
Kira Young, Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
kiray@abuseintervention.org 251-1237
http://www.abuseintervention.org
15 - Madison Offers Help to Homeowners for Green Improvements
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Green Madison, a City of Madison program for energy efficiency designed to help homeowners’ make smart energy efficiency improvements while keeping the costs of improvements affordable.
The residential portion of Green Madison launched in April 2011, with the commercial portion to follow in the next six – eight weeks.
The Green Madison program is for homeowners (owner-occupied; 1- 3 units) who are interested in making energy efficiency improvements to enhance the comfort of their home. The program benefits include energy advocates, low-interest unsecured financing through Summit Credit Union, and reduced price for a professional energy inspection by approved consultants. Green Madison participants are able to take advantage of Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy rebates. Additional information about Green Madison is available on the City’s website:
www.cityofmadison.com/greenmadison http://www.cityofmadison.com/greenmadison <http://www.cityofmadison.com/greenmadison>
I’ll be glad to answer questions from interested homeowners.
Paul Grimyser PGrimyser@cityofmadison.com
16 - Money Available for Landlords
Common Wealth Development has money available to help landlords wishing to reduce the lead hazards in their rental properties.
· Your tenants need to be low (80% of Dane County Median Income) or very low income (50% of Dane County Median Income).
· Your properties also need to be occupied or suitable for occupancy for families with young children for your property to qualify for the available money.
· For three years after you the work is completed, you will need to continue to rent to low or very low income tenants and market the apartments to households with children under the age of 6 years old.
If your property qualifies and you agree to participate, Common Wealth Development will schedule a Partial Lead Inspection-Risk Assessment. The Department of Health will review the Inspection-Risk Assessment to ensure the scope of work addresses all the lead hazards appropriately. Common Wealth Development staff will discuss with you any available options for how the work is done.
When the lead work order is approved and agreed upon, Common Wealth Development will request bids from certified lead abatement contractors and go with the lowest of the qualified bidders. You will be required to pay, in advance, 25% of the cost of the lead work.
Once the work is done a clearance test will be done to confirm that all lead hazard work was done properly and the property is lead safe for re-occupancy. The program will re-locate tenants while the work is done.
Landlords have used these funds to get new windows, cabinetry and siding. This is a great opportunity to treat lead hazards at a greatly reduced cost to you. Interested landlords should contact Diane Eddings at 256-3527 ext. 27.
17 - Downtown Senior Center Newsletter Available by e-Mail
Many, many activities are available free and for nominal fees for seniors at the downtown Madison Senior Center. Check out the latest issue of the Center’s newsletter, The Messenger
http://www.cityofmadison.com/seniorCenter/messenger.cfm
Here’s how to receive The Messenger by e-mail automatically. Register for your My City of Madison Account at: https://my.cityofmadison.com. Click on 'New User?' in the green box; then, on the word box 'Register.' Provide your information and click the box to 'Register.'
A confirmation will appear in your e-mail box asking you to finalize your registration. Click 'Back to My City of Madison Account' and 'Returning User.' Scroll down to the Senior Center; expand the list to reveal The Messenger. Put a check mark in the box and you will receive our newsletter by e-mail each month.
Explore and subscribe to other City e-mail lists (parks, cultural arts, public health, etc.) by checking other boxes on the My Account pages. E-Mail Sign-Up.
from City of Madison
From our Elected Representatives (Some interesting “stuff” here)
18 - Alder Solomon’s May 12 Update
Greetings District 10 Residents. I hope this finds you well as spring is finally on its way. Just a quick update on a few big things:
Parmans Take Two: The second Parman’s redevelopment proposal meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, from 6:30-8:30, at Edgewood’s Predolin Hall, Anderson Room. Hope to see you there!
Empire Take Two: There will also be a second meeting on the Empire Photo proposed redevelopment. This meeting will be at the Monroe St Library, Monday May 9, at 7:30. This meeting is being scheduled by Sue Ellingson, the new alder for District 13.
Randall School / Olive Jones Park: Pretty amazing work going on here. Check it out at randallschoolpark.org <http://www.randallschoolpark.org/ <http://www.randallschoolpark.org/> > . Make sure to make a donation and help keep this project going forward.
New Restaurants: We’ve got Brocach Irish Pub possibly coming to Monroe Street and La Guanajuatence coming to Midvale Plaza (Nakoma / Midvale / Hammersley intersection). Be sure to check them out soon.
5th Annual Bike Safety Rodeo: May 26, 6:30-7:30, Randall Elementary playground. Join Willy Bikes, Madison Police, and the Bike Fed. Contact Troy at troythiel@yahoo.com <mailto:troythiel@yahoo.com <mailto:troythiel@yahoo.com> > if you’d like to volunteer.
AIDS Ride: I’ve signed up again to participate in the Wisconsin AIDS Ride (ACT 9). Most of you remember I was one of the co-founders of this ride nine years ago. Its now raised over $3 million in the fight against AIDS. I’ve already started training for the 350 mile ride this August. I’ve committed to raising $2,000 so please make a donation and help me support AIDS Network. Support me at: <http://actride.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=437316&lis=1&kntae437316=CBFF449F2D15484CAA0F80CCED6B5AFD&supId=324449594 >
And finally, redistricting. That silly census always messes things up. In this case, it’s a biggie. We are still in the draft stage, so please weigh in and participate if you are interested. However, it is looking very likely that, effective this July, the southeast portions of Regent Neighborhood currently in District 10 will move into District 5 and that Dudgeon Monroe neighborhood will move into District 13. That means that Shiva Bidar Sielaff will represent all of Regent and Sue Ellingson will represent Dudgeon Monroe and, thereby, become my new alder. I will still represent District 10, but will no longer live in District 10. The new District 10 will include Nakoma, Dunns Marsh, Summit Woods, and Allied, as it currently does. It will also pick up Midvale Heights and Orchard Ridge. In April, 2013, I would have to run against Sue for District 13 or move to run for the District 10 seat (neither of which I am currently planning).
My biggest sadness is that state law does not allow these changes to go into effect at the next election. This would not help my issue, but it would at least allow me to continue to represent those people who elected me for the next two years! Not sure if we could try to get this law changed, but probably not in time for this redistricting plan. If you’d like to get involved, please check out the city redistricting website at http://www.cityofmadison.com/cityhall/redistricting/ <http://www.cityofmadison.com/cityhall/redistricting/> . (You can view the proposed maps here as well.) There are three upcoming meetings to discuss the plans. The dates and locations are posted at: http://www.cityofmadison.com/cityHall/redistricting/meetings.cfm.
This is very sad for me, as all of you can imagine. At the same time, I see how it is necessary given the population shifts in the city. Both of the “new” districts will be diverse and well balanced. There is a certain grace, I suppose, in recognizing that that is the most important thing for our beautiful district 10 neighborhoods.
Wishing you peace and wellness, as always.
Brian Solomon
Madison 10th Dist. Alder
19 - Representative Terese Berceau Gives Update on State Budget (June 8)
Editor’s Note: Democrat Terese Berceau is our area’s representative in the Wisconsin Assembly. This is lengthy but very informative - from someone whose job it is to know what’s happening in the legislature.
State Budget Update
As the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) has concluded its work on the Governor's 2011-13 state budget proposal, I want to provide a short summary of some key provisions. The Assembly will consider the budget as soon as next week. It will then go to the Senate.
Here is a quick list of provisions in the current version of the budget, organized by issue area. It's a long list, but don't despair. At the end I've included a list of some budget victories already won!
Taxes & Borrowing
· Increases taxes on middle class families by nearly $69.8 million
· Increases property taxes on seniors and working families by $13.6 million by reducing the Homestead Tax Credit, affecting 247,000 homeowners and renters
· Raises taxes on low-wage workers with children by $56.2 million as a result of cuts to the Earned Income Tax Credit
· Reopens corporate tax loopholes that will cost the state $93.8 million and will allow big multi-state corporations and wealthy investors to avoid paying taxes
Over the next 10 years, when fully implemented, these tax cuts will reduce revenue by over $1.3 billion, shifting even more of the tax burden onto working families and increasing property taxes
· Borrows $1.8 billion to fund projects and uses questionable accounting gimmicks to delay debt payments, which will force the state to pay millions in additional interest
· Doesn't address the cost of the ten or so lawsuits that are likely to result from this budget
· Fails to account for lost tax revenue that will surely result from individuals and businesses altering their actions due to this devastating budget
Health Care
· Cuts $500 million from Medicaid programs like BadgerCare and Family Care
· Reverses cuts to the SeniorCare prescription drug program proposed by Governor Walker, but doesn't expand the program beyond 2012
· Caps enrollment in Family Care, making it much harder for seniors and people with disabilities to stay in their homes and live independent lives
· Cuts state funding for programs that provide immunizations and cancer screenings as well as services for those with autism, diabetes, and heart disease
· Strips $1 million per year in state funding for women's healthcare centers statewide by defunding Planed Parenthood
K-12 Education
· Cuts funding for public schools by $1.6 billion statewide
· Nearly doubles the income limit for school voucher programs, which will allow wealthier families to receive state assistance to send their children to private and religious schools
· Reduces local school transportation assistance
· Eliminates funding for reading specialists, despite the literacy problems that many districts face
· Uses a cookie-cutter model for allocating school funding that will result in poorer school districts losing money while some wealthier districts will receive additional funding
· Eliminates funding for successful school programs such as advanced placement (AP) classes, alcohol and drug prevention programs, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)
Transportation
· Raids segregated funds by cutting funding for road aids to local governments by $48 million yet providing over $400 million in additional funding for transportation projects in SE Wisconsin
Local Government
· Reduces funding to local governments by $76.8 million, forcing local communities to cut services
· Chips away at collective bargaining rights of police officers and fire fighters and jeopardizes the safety of communities by eliminating maintenance of effort requirements
· Strips local elected leaders of flexibility to manage cuts
Higher Education
· Reduces state aid to the UW system by $250 million over the biennium
· Cuts funding for Technical Colleges by 30%, which will eliminate many of the job training programs that Wisconsin's workforce needs
· Eliminates the Wisconsin Covenant program, which provides financial aid to students who get good grades and pledge to stay in Wisconsin to attend college
Economic Development Programs
· Cuts funding by 42% for the Wisconsin Main Street program, which has helped to create over $1.1 billion in economic development activity across the state and add 17,900 new jobs
· Deletes funding for the Rural Economic Development program
· Ends important agricultural efforts like the Farm to School program, which help local farmers better market their products
Environment
· Eliminates the Green Space grant program, which helps local governments and tribes clean up brownfield sites, and cuts more than half of the funding for the Brownfield Site Assessment program, which helps clean up land contaminated by industrial waste
· Exempts industrial polluters from requirements to provide notification when they release wastewater with possible contaminants
· Raids millions from Wisconsin's renowned Stewardship Fund and shifts the money to other programs, making it more difficult to preserve our state's unique natural resources for future generations
Clean Government/Clean Elections
· Eliminates public funding for Supreme Court races, which was meant to ensure judicial impartiality and the integrity and independence of Wisconsin's courts
· Eliminates the state income tax check-off, so no public financing will exist for any campaigns
· $1.8 million already contributed through the tax check-off option will now go toward implementation of the new voter ID law
· Cuts significant funding for the Government Accountability Board, which investigates election misconduct and state government ethics violations
Consumer Protection
· Reopens payday lending loopholes and reinstates predatory auto title lending in Wisconsin
· Removes tenant protection in foreclosure cases, meaning tenants do not have to be notified if their rental property is in foreclosure
Some even more shocking provisions of the budget that haven't escaped my notice would:
· Designate February 6th as Ronald W. Reagan Day (even though Ronald Reagan raised taxes 11 times while President!)
· Loosen Wisconsin's child labor laws significantly
- Under the current budget proposal, teenagers will have effectively no limit on the number of hours they can work during a given week; while teens will be prohibited from working during school hours, 17- and 18-year-olds will be employable upwards of forty hours each week! (Children under 16 years of age will be capped at 40 hours of work per week.) I fear this change will result in teens working more and more hours each week and earning lower and lower grades as a result.
· Create a sales tax exemption for junk mail (because who doesn't want to make it easier for junk mail to be sent to their house?)
· Reopen the "Las Vegas Loophole" in part, which will allow corporations to do business in Wisconsin while avoiding corporate taxes by claiming that they are based in another state, such as Nevada, without a corporate income tax. This will create an uneven playing field for "mom and pop" businesses here in Wisconsin that will now bear a disproportionate burden of the corporate income tax.
· Earmark $10,000 for a new Sheboygan space station ("Beam me up, Scotty!")
I am extremely concerned that the budget has a disproportionate negative impact on middle-class and lower-middle-class families in our state. This is particularly true given the cuts that have been proposed for the social safety net programs, upon which so many Wisconsin citizens are relying right now.
At the same time, I am pleased that some budget battles have already been won. Thanks to the collection of more than 14,000 petition signatures in opposition to Governor Walker's proposed cut to SeniorCare, JFC (Joint Finance Committee) recognized that preserving this popular, cost-effective program was a non-negotiable for Wisconsinites. It amended the budget to restore SeniorCare funding to earlier levels. Similarly, JFC responded to the unified outcry of local elected officials across Wisconsin, who opposed eliminating our state's recycling mandate. JFC amended the budget to provide funding for recycling statewide.
Budgets are moral documents. They lay bare our priorities and outline the vision and values we want for our communities. Walker’s budget fails that test on every level. Instead of showing leadership by bringing all Wisconsinites together to address the challenges we face, the governor is pitting different sectors of the state against each other in a disastrous race to the bottom.
There has been a lot of talk of shared sacrifice, but that’s all it is – talk. After all that pain to the middle class, to the working poor, to the elderly and disabled, to education, Walker’s budget still increases state spending compared to the last biennium by almost 6% or $1.6 billion! This is definitely not the Wisconsin way, and I cannot and will not support it.
SeniorCare
As mentioned above, Governor Walker's biennial budget included a provision to shift Wisconsin seniors off the cost-effective and cost-efficient SeniorCare program and on to more complicated more expensive Medicare Part D plans. In response, Assembly Democrats, led by Rep. Andy Jorgensen (D-Ft. Atkinson) circulated petitions to preserve SeniorCare as is. The short petition drive garnered over 14,000 signatures in support of protecting SeniorCare. Republican legislative leaders have acknowledged the outpouring of support for the program and the Joint Finance Committee eliminated that provision. I will keep a close eye on this program and do everything I can to ensure that SeniorCare funding remains in the final budget.
UW-Madison & 76th Assembly District
My office recently received some interesting facts and figures from the University of Wisconsin about its impact on our community and presence in the 76th Assembly District.
There are currently 1,427 UW-Madison students and 3,094 UW-Madison employees living in the 76th District. Statewide, UW-Madison supports over 97,000 jobs and is reported to have an economic impact of $9.6 billion, generating $474 million in annual tax revenue and $21.05 for every $1 of state support.
This information is particularly important in light of the drastic cuts to higher education being proposed by Governor Walker in his biennial budget which slashes $250 million from the UW-System and hikes tuition for UW students.
If You Want to be a Badger....
I authored a resolution along with Senator Fred Risser to honor the Wisconsin Women's hockey team on winning their fourth national championship since 2006. This season the Badgers won their third conference regular season title and fourth Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament title en route to setting a program record for wins (37). They also set a new NCAA women's hockey attendance record this past season, drawing 10,668 fans to the Kohl Center in a win over Minnesota.
You can see the resolution history and read the text at the link below:
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/proposals/sjr22
You can watch some of my comments in front of the Assembly at the link below: http://tinyclip.tv/311da4ed
You can watch Coach Mark Johnson's remarks to the full Assembly at the link below: http://tinyclip.tv/31169cb6
It is a privilege to work for you. Please don't hesitate to contact me to share your concerns or opinions on any issue before the state legislature:
State Representative Terese Berceau, 76th Assembly District
Phone: 608-266-3784
E-mail: Rep.Berceau@legis.wisconsin.gov
Mail: Room 127 West, State Capitol, P.O. Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
20 - State Representative Terese Berceau Speaks Out on the New Voter ID Law
Republicans recently passed the most restrictive voter ID bill in the nation, in order to erect new barriers to equal and open voting in Wisconsin. Governor Walker signed this bill into law on May 25th as 2011 Act 23.
Who would be affected?
Under the original bill, only identification issued by the state Department of Transportation, U.S. passports, and military IDs could be used for fulfilling the requirements to vote. The bill was amended in committee to expand the types of acceptable ID to include tribal IDs, naturalization certificates, and student IDs – if they have the student’s signature and date of birth (no current college IDs contain this information).
A few years ago, a study of Department of Transportation (DOT) records conducted by the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee found that minorities and the elderly lack drivers’ licenses at rates far higher than whites and younger people. Approximately 180,000 residents over the age of 65 have neither a drivers’ license nor a state-issued photo ID. Almost 80% of black males between the ages of 18 and 24 do not have drivers’ licenses. The figures were 55% for black males of any age and 50% for Hispanic women. Black women, Hispanic men, and Hispanic women between the ages of 18 and 24 had rates between 57% and 66%. A full 35% of Milwaukee County residents do not currently possess drivers’ licenses. They can’t afford or don’t need cars and thus don’t need to be licensed to drive.
In comparison, only 17% of white men and women of voting age lacked drivers’ licenses. While the Republican authors of the photo ID measure may not have intended to cause racial discrimination, it is patently obvious that the bill would have a dramatic disparate effect on minorities. Requiring photo ID at the polls would not prevent felons from voting illegally or keep people from double voting. It does nothing to ensure that there are enough properly trained poll workers. Instead, studies have shown that photo ID requirements suppress voter turnout, especially among minority and low-income populations.
During debate in the Assembly, it became quite clear that it will be impossible for homeless people to vote, even though the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled they have a constitutionally-protected right to do so. Even if the DOT were to issue an ID to someone without a permanent address, customers no longer take possession of IDs or drivers’ licenses at the DOT counter. ID and license cards are now produced out-of-state and mailed to customers. Obviously, they can’t be mailed to someone with no address. Act 23 also eliminated the provision in current law that allows a registered voter to corroborate for another person.
How much will Act 23 cost?
The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau indicated Act 23 will cost around $7.5 million. The new law is expected to have an ongoing cost associated with it, given that a full 20% of Wisconsin residents do not currently have state-issued ID cards.
No Voter Fraud Here
For over six years, Republicans - led initially by the Justice Department under President George W. Bush and later by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen - have been working to produce evidence of massive voter fraud to rationalize the need for this restrictive voting impediment. The result of their exhaustive investigation has found little evidence of fraud.
According to the Brennan Center (at New York University School of Law), there were just seven substantiated cases of fraudulent voting in the 2004 election which represents a rate of 0.0002 percent in the state. In addition, none of the problems could have been resolved through the use of requiring a photo ID. Following the 2008 election, Attorney General Van Hollen’s election integrity taskforce charged 20 people with voter fraud out of roughly 3 million votes cast.
A better way to get serious about election integrity, I believe, would be moving to crackdown on voter intimidation and suppression efforts. We’ve witnessed repeated instances of eligible voters being harassed, bullied, and intimated into not exercising their voting rights.
Efforts to disenfranchise eligible voters are rooted in some of the ugliest chapters of American history and these malicious actions should not be protected or tolerated in Wisconsin.
Electronic Voter Registration
In light of recent changes in Wisconsin's voter registration and voter identification laws - changes that I fear may weaken voter participation - I have circulated for cosponsorship legislation that would enable Wisconsin to join the ranks of other states that have successfully implemented online voter registration. This would cut costs, improve efficiency and reduce the administrative burden on election clerks.
A qualified elector who has a current and valid driver’s license or identification card issued by the Department of Transportation could register to vote via computer on a secure Internet site maintained by the Government Accountability Board (GAB). The bill represents exhaustive and careful work with GAB to assure the safety and efficiency of this program. The result will include savings for municipalities thanks to reductions in manual data entry, and will also result in more timely and accurate registrations.
To ensure an accurate and secure system, the bill contains these restrictions:
• Only those with a driver’s license or state identification card can use this online system.
• The bill requires instant verification of information submitted before the application is completed.
• Online registration closes when open registration closes,20 days before the election.
Arizona and Washington pioneered the effort to move toward electronic registration and have had success with the new system. Both states have a Republican Secretary of State. Kansas, Oregon, Colorado, Louisiana, Utah, Indiana, and Nevada all have working systems while North Carolina and California are in the process of developing one. Below is a link to a Pew Center study that reviews the online voter registration systems in Arizona and Washington:
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/report_detail.aspx?id=58215
States that have online registration handle “Help America Vote Acts (HAVA)” checks automatically as a part of the process. No additional effort is required by the voter or the clerk, helping reduce potential conflicts and improve the accuracy of our eligible voters list.
21 - Senator Kohl Introduces Justice for Troops Act
After the Civil War, communities across America first started observing a day of remembrance to honor their fallen heroes. The first national proclamation for a “Decoration Day” was made in 1868 by General John Logan, but initially was only observed in Northern states. Over time, the wounds of the Civil War healed, and today, Memorial Day has come to honor all Americans who’ve died in service to our country.
No one knows the price of freedom better than America’s service members. When our troops are serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere around the globe, the last thing they need to be worried about are problems at home with foreclosure, child custody, or other legal matters.
That’s why Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and I are introducing the Justice for Troops Act, which connects service members with attorneys who volunteer to represent them free of charge. Many attorneys want to volunteer their time to help the troops, but we need a way to connect supply to demand.
Our bill allows the Defense Department to support programs that link volunteer attorneys to service members. There are several existing efforts that our bill could expand, including a military law clinic in our own state at Marquette Law School.
Alongside our troops, military spouses and children also make great sacrifices. Last month, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched the Joining Forces Initiative, which assists military families with common challenges like finding new jobs when a spouse is transferred and enrolling children at new schools.
This initiative assists with finding health services, transferring academic records, and working with companies to ensure that military spouses can transfer their jobs to new communities. You can find out more about these and other efforts at www.joiningforces.gov.
This Memorial Day, let’s take a moment to reflect on the brave Americans who paid for our freedom with their lives, as well as the equally brave Americans who continue to defend us at home and abroad every day.
Message from Wisconsin’s U.S. Senator Herb Kohl
22 - From Co. Exec. Joe Parisi.: Working With You to Keep Dane County Great
Growing up in Middleton, I always knew that Dane County was a special place. Our community has given me so much, and has inspired me to give back. I am honored to serve you as your new Dane County Executive.
Our home has changed a great deal from when I was younger. Dane County’s population is now 490,000 people and is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin.
While determining how to grow at the same time we protect our farms and lakes will continue to be a challenge, we now face new hurdles - - including how the state budget will impact our quality of life for years to come.
As Dane County Executive, I will meet these challenges head on – by working with you to find solutions, and without sacrificing everything that makes our community great.
My first priority will be finding a way to balance the county budget in the face of deep cuts from the state. Hours after I was officially sworn in, I met with my budget team to begin addressing the changes that may come from the Governor’s budget proposal.
We do not yet know the final impact of the state budget, but we know that it could greatly affect human services, more than half of the county’s annual budget.
Prioritizing economic development is also key. I’ve been meeting with some of our county’s economic development leaders, including representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and THRIVE, to make good on the creation of my new Dane County Office of Economic Development.
And I’m committed to making Dane County a clean energy jobs leader. As the price of gasoline climbs, we must re-double our efforts on creating jobs pursuing innovative, cost-effective sources of alternative energy.
I’m looking forward to working with you to achieve these goals.
by Dane County Executive Joe Parisi (266-4114)
23 - Correction about Redistricting - from Co. Sup. Carousel Bayrd
Thanks for sending this [redistricting information] out Mary. Just a correction, under the proposal, I will NOT represent the Madison portion of DMNA. It has been wonderful working with DMNA, and we'll see what happens. I very much would like to continue representing this area, but I don't think that is very likely to happen.
I'm still [County Supervisory] District 8. The Madison portion of DMNA would be represented by District 27, who is currently Kyle Richmond. BUT-- county redistricting does not go into effect until our next election, so I will still represent you until April 2012.
Co. Sup. Carousel Bayrd
------ End of the June 10, 2011 DUNN’S MARSH NEIGHBORHOOD e-NEWS -------
Thanks for reading!
