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.
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!
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