Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News February 18, 2012
The DMN e-News and an occasional hard copy DMN News are published by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association (DMNA) on an “as-needed” schedule. The Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Inc. has been working to unite neighbors to solve mutual problems and promote fellowship among neighbors since 1973. Our neighborhood is in Madison & Fitchburg.
President, Bob Hague, bphague@tds.net 218-1760
News contact, Mary Mullen, mmullen@chorus.net 298-0843
Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org <http://www.dunnsmarsh.org> (temporarily out of order)
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623
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Lots is happening in the neighborhood. For a visual preview, you might want to look at the attachments first, especially #1, #2, & #6. On my computer, I just go to the bottom of the e-mail to look at the attachments the easy way. Feel free to skip any articles that don’t interest you, but if you haven’t already voted and plan to do so on Tuesday, it might pay to read the “blue” section.
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ARTICLES
NEIGHBORHOOD INTEREST
1 - Gene Borman Passed Away January 22
2 - Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 17-20
3 - High Voltage Transmission Lines Creep West Toward Neighborhood
(Attachment: “1 transmission lines.jpg”
4 - Welcoming Committee Takes Off
5 - Neighborhood Sign Gets New Life (Attachment: “2 col neighborhood scenes.jpg”)
6 - DMNA Council Approves Applying for New Grant
7 - In Honor of Black History Month: African American Women’s History 40 Question Challenge (Attachment: “3 quiz answers.jpg”)
8 - March & April dates for DMNA Neighborhood Council Meetings
VOTE FEBRUARY 21 (and other voter information)
9 - Vote Tuesday, Feb. 21 (this coming week)
10 - Where to Vote
11 - One-Stop Voter Shop Every Thursday Will Help You Get Proper Documentation to Vote
12 - Be Sure You Have Approved Voter ID Before You Go to the Polls Tuesday
(Attachment:s “4 voter photo ID law chart.jpg” “5a ObtainingID-1.jpg” & “5b Obtaining ID-2.jpg” )
13 - How to Get A Birth, Marriage, or Divorce Certificate (Attachment: “5b Obtaining ID-2.jpg”)
You May Need These to Get a Wisconsin Photo ID card for Voting
14 - Good News and Bad About Getting Voter ID
15 - Way Nifty Voter Calendar Attached (Attachment: “6 Wisconsin Election calendar.jpg”)
GREEN UP
16 - Sustain Dane Asks For Help in Promoting Honey Bees
16a - Bee’s Knees, Pollen Baskets, Honey Stomachs
17 - Classes Offered for the Organic Gardener
18 - Green Madison Offers Still More Incentives for Energy Efficiency
(Attachment: “7 Green Madison.jpg”)
REPRESENTATIVE’S CORNER
19 - Co. Supervisor Carousel Bayrd’s Update from 2/6/12
20 - Two Columns from Co. Exec. Joe Parisi
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NEIGHBORHOOD INTEREST
1 - Gene Borman Passed Away January 22
Our last newsletter carried a brief notice that Windflower Way neighbor Gene Borman had been in and out of the hospital and was going to a nursing home. Sadly, Gene passed away on Sunday, January 22, at age 81.
I remember Gene as an always nice man with a great smile and a good sense of humor. That’s what he will always be for me. Gene was a butcher for 56 years, retiring only last April from his job at the Regent Street Market Coop.
Read his obituary at http://host.madison.com/news/local/obituaries/borman-eugene-hurley/article_f611b6de-46a7-11e1-abe7-0019bb2963f4.html
Thanks to Mary Melvin for letting us know about this. Mary’s son Jeff Melvin is married to Kelly, one of two daughters of Gene and his wife Lorretta. Gene and Loretta were married for 53 years.
Our condolences to the whole family.
by Mary Mullen
2 - Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 17-20
Bird-lovers, take note. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) takes place on February 17-20, Friday through Monday.
If you like checking out your backyard birds, why not take part in this count? It’s easy, and when you submit the list of birds you’ve seen, you are automatically entered in a drawing for a host of prizes related to birds: feeders, books, a bird cam, an Apple iPod touch with Audubon guides, and much much more.
Participants need to watch for birds for only one 15-minute period on one or more days during the count and then enter their results through the GBBC website.
Participants may also photograph birds and enter their photos into the GBBC Photo Contest.
For more information, go to http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/howto.html
by Mary Mullen
from reminder from neighbor Becky Martin
3 - High Voltage Transmission Lines Creep West Toward Neighborhood
(Attachment: “1 transmission lines.jpg”)
Travelers along the Beltline to the east of the neighborhood have been seeing the inexorable approach of high voltage electric lines.
The first evidence was a wide swath of tree-cutting over by the Stoughton Road intersection. Next was packed down marsh grasses in the Yahara wetlands.
Now it’s clear that high voltage lines are going up because the 90 to 150-foot-tall polls have been erected across the wetland and more are in various stages of being built as the highlines creep closer to our neighborhood.
Three different kinds of poles are planned. Double poles with crossbars are used to cross the wetland. Single poles with bars off to one side will be the more normal kind along the rest of the Beltline. However a “Y-frame” structure will be used along the Arboretum just east of the Dunn’s Marsh neighborhood. The poles will be on “our” side of the Beltline between the Beltline and its frontage road. When the line passes Verona Road, the lines will shift to the north side of the Beltline.
All three types are shown in the attachment referenced just below the headline of this article.
At a meeting on November 1, American Transmission Company (ATC) representatives showed maps and answered questions about the high lines. At that time they predicted that the tree-cutting and construction would reach our neighborhood in late winter or early spring.
ATC reps said that trees would be cut in the vicinity of the Arboretum to accommodate the transmission lines. Both Susan Carpenter of the Arboretum and Sarah Justus of ATC have indicated that trees will be cut up to the Arboretum’s fence. Susan said that a few would be spared. Those are the ones that are currently marked. Some others inside the fence may be cut at the Arboretum’s request. These would be large trees that are old or damaged and in danger of falling.
The lines will emit a 20 to 60 decibel hum. The buzz will be louder during rain or very high humidity than in dry conditions. A 60-decibel hum is equivalent to heavy traffic at 300 feet or a little less loud than normal speech at 3 feet. A 50-decibel level is like quiet urban daytime noise or a dishwasher in the next room. The lowest level is like quiet rural nighttime noise or like a bedroom at night or concert hall background noise.)
Objections by citizens and other during the comment period many months ago were to no avail. Many of those who commented asked that the transmission lines be put underground, but ATC deemed this too expensive.
by Mary Mullen
4 - Welcoming Committee Takes Off
Due to the infectious enthusiasm of DMNA Council member Thea Bach and the hospitality of neighbor Diane Schultz, the DMNA’s Welcoming Committee is off to a rousing start.
First envisioned by Council Member Jo Kelley many months ago, the Committee finally got a jump start on this February 1. Diane Schultz hosted a dinner at her house and the committee looked at a prototype of the binder of information about the neighborhood. Welcomers will distribute the binder to new people in the neighborhood. It will be so useful that long time residents may also want to have one!
The purpose of the binder is to make new neighbors feel welcome in the neighborhood; connect them to the neighborhood, to the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, and to political representatives; answer FAQ such as when is garbage day, where are the grocery stores, and what schools do my kids go to; make them aware of the many amenities in the neighborhood such as parks, bike trails, and bus service; and to invite them to join in efforts to improve the neighborhood.
The Welcoming Committee needs members from every street in the neighborhood. If you are a sociable person or at least willing to keep an eye on your street for new move-ins, please volunteer your name to Thea Bach 239-9810 or bachtown2@live.com Thea is determined to make the meetings fun.
Meetings are held at Diane Schulz’s on Danbury Street. Diane has promised a meal with each meeting. The first was excellent, and we had a great time making plans for getting the welcoming binder together.
Future meetings will be held each month to finalize the binder and develop further initiatives to make newcomers feel welcome. The next meeting is February 22.
by Mary Mullen
5 - Neighborhood Sign Gets New Life (Attachment: “2 col neighborhood scenes.jpg”)
Thanks to new Council Member Thea Bach, the DMNA has learned that the City of Madison grant of $4,750 is still available for a neighborhood sign. The Council had thought the grant was terminated as of December 31, 2010 since we had not been able to secure a location for the sign by that time.
Sparkplug Thea also spoke to the owners of the property at the corner of Seminole Highway and the Beltline Frontage Road, Mark and Krisann Miehe, of Midwest Financial Group, the business at this location. She secured their tentative approval for a sign there. This is the preferred location of the sign.
In an e-mail on January 30, Mark Miehe confirmed this tentative approval: “We will have no objection to the sign as long as it fits the space and has a welcoming appearance. We just feel it is important for us to know those details before our final approval.”
Next. on February 2, DMNA members Thea Bach, Kent Seeker, and Mary Mullen met with Linda Horvath, Madison Planning Department, and Jenny Kirchgatter, Building Inspection, to learn about details of getting approval for the sign and actually getting a sign in the ground.
Then because of the good news, the DMN Council officially appointed a sign committee at its February 8 meeting. Members are Kent Seeker, Mary Mullen, Susan Kilmer, and the property owners if they wish to be a part of the committee. Kent is volunteering to help with all aspects of the sign including putting in landscaping, maintaining it, and keeping the sign in good condition. Susan, who is a horticulturalist at the Arboretum, will recommend landscaping and help with planting. Mary has a special interest in the sign’s design and has talked with the signmaker both in the past and more recently.
Keeping things moving, on February 8, Kent Seeker and Mary Mullen met with Mr. Miehe to show him the location of the “vision triangle” required by city ordinances. Signs may not be any closer to an intersection than the hypotenuse of the triangle 25 feet along each side of the property line. Click on the attachment to see the vision triangle.
The DMNA is now waiting to hear back from the Miehes about their choice for a sign location. The next step after that will be to conference with Susan Cary of Cary Signs to discuss sign design. Once a final design is drawn up, the DMNA will apply for a sign permit.
by Mary Mullen
6 - DMNA Council Approves Applying for New Grant
At its February 8 meeting, the DMNA appointed a committee to write a grant application for securing informational kiosks and “Little Free Libraries” for the neighborhood. Grants are given by the City of Madison.
We’ve all seen kiosks in places like the UW Library Mall, but Little Libraries are something altogether different. A Little Library is small “house” on a post. It has a glass door front and is full of books that can be taken out for free.
The grant committee is now hard at work gathering information and help for writing the grant. On February 17, the committee met with Little Library founder Rick Brooks. Rick brought a University student with him, WenKai Bi, who is a business student who belongs to a student organization Students in Free Enterprise or SIFE.
WenKai Bi, his SIFE organization, Rick Brooks, and the committee will be working together to make the Little Free Library idea come to reality whether or not the City provides a grant. Rick told the committee that Little Free Libraries are already located in 33 states and 17 foreign countries. Dane County has about 75. All this has happened in just 2 years.
Committee members from the DMNA are Thea Bach, Donna Sarafin, and Jo Kelley. They will be working to write a grant that gets lots of points in these categories: Scope/Quality/Creativity; Community Benefit/ Project Readiness; Consistency with City Policies and Adopted Plans; and Neighborhood Participation
Check out the website < http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/> for more information on Little Free Libraries. If you like the idea and think you may be interested in building a little library for your property or providing a spot for a library someone else constructs, by all means contact Thea Bach, 239-9810 or bachtown2@live.com As mentioned, the grant will get points for neighborhood participation and for readiness.
Currently the DMNA has a grant for a neighborhood sign.
by Mary Mullen
7 - In Honor of Black History Month: African American Women’s History 40 Question Challenge (Attachment: “3 quiz answers.jpg”)
Created by Margaret Zierdt, National Women’s History Project Board Member
- Who was head of National Council of Negro Women for 40 years and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal for her work for social equality?
- Who was an advocate for civil rights, a fund raiser for NAACP, and the first black person to sign a long-term Hollywood contract in 1942?
- Who was member of Harlem Renaissance, an anthropologist, and author of many books, including "Their Eyes Were Watching God"?
- Who was the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field - in the 1960 Olympics for the 100 and 200 meters and the 400 meter relay?
- Who was denied permission to sing in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) auditorium because of her race in 1939, but later became the first black person to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955?
- Who is the dancer, singer, actor, fund raiser, author, and poet who read a specially-composed poem at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993?
- Who was a nightclub and cabaret idol of Paris in the 1920's and a freedom fighter during World War II?
- What black woman chemist developed an extract from the Awa Root which relieved leprosy symptoms when injected and which was widely used until sulfa drugs were invented in the 1940's?
- Who was a civil rights activist and President of the Arkansas NAACP who advised the nine high school students who integrated the Little Rock public schools in 1957?
- Who founded the college that became the Bethune-Cookman University in Florida and founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935?
- Who was the first black female newspaper publisher and editor in North America (in Ontario, Canada), and the first black woman to enroll in law school ( Howard University)?
- Who was the first black woman in the world to earn a pilot’s license, and was a barnstorming aviator who performed daredevil tricks?
- Who was the first black Congresswoman, beginning in 1968; and who in 1972 ran for President and won 151 delegates at the Democratic Convention?
- Who was America's first great black choreographer, dancer, and teacher who formed the first black dance troupe in the 1940’s?
- Who founded the Children's Defense Fund in 1973, a group focusing on helping millions of children living in poverty?
- Who was first black woman to win a tennis championship at Wimbledon and at the U.S. Open?
- Who was the first black woman to write a Broadway play (1959) which was made into a movie (1961), “A Raisin in the Sun”?
- Who was the first black concert pianist to play with a European orchestra in 1904?
- Who was first woman of color to go into space on the shuttle Endeavor in 1992?
- Who was the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet - as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Carter in 1977, and then served as Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1979?
- Who was the first woman bank president in America?
- What slave named Isabella became a fiery orator supporting anit-slavery and woman suffrage after gaining her freedom?
- Who is considered the first black woman journalist who advocated for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery?
- Who was an award-winning poet who penned "For My People" in 1942, and a novelist who wrote "Jubilee" in 1966?
- Who was the black educator who founded the National Training School for Girls about 1909 in Washington, D.C. which was re-named in her honor after her death?
- What woman was the first African-American in New England to serve as Master of a public high school which position she held for 40 years?
- Who was the first black woman lawyer in the U.S. and the first woman admitted to the District of Columbia bar (1872)?
- Who won the 2-day, seven-event heptathlon competition at the Goodwill Games in July, 1986 and won a gold medal in the heptathlon at the Olympics in 1988 and 1992?
- What educator was the fourth African American woman to earn a doctoral degree (from the University of Paris-Sorbonne in 1924)?
- Who was first African-American woman to earn a BA degree in United States from Oberlin College in 1862?
- Who was the first black president of an Ivy League University and the first female president of Brown University?
- What abstract painter was the first fine arts student to graduate from Howard University, and the first woman to have a solo exhibit at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City?
- What female athlete is considered “the fastest woman of all time” and set the record for the 100 and 200 meters in 1988?
- Who was a conductor on the Underground Railroad and secured the freedom of at least 300 enslaved people, making 19 trips into the South over 10 years, and served as a spy and scout for the Union Army?
- Who helped black artists and disadvantaged children while winning 13 Grammys and being honored as the "First Lady of Song"?
- What anthropology professor became the first African-American woman president of Spelman College in 1987?
- What actress appeared in "Gone With the Wind," received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1975, and won an Emmy for her role on television in 1979?
- Who became a self-made millionaire philanthropist after creating a hair product sold house-to-house, and later held what may be the first national meeting of businesswomen in the U.S. in 1917?
- Who was the first African-American woman to become an ordained minister, a lawyer who helped found the first legal periodical about women’s rights, and co-founded the National Organization of Women?
- What African-American woman was born enslaved, gained her freedom in 1856, became a entrepreneur and philanthropist, and co-founded the first black church in Los Angles?
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8 - March & April dates for DMNA Neighborhood Council Meetings
Dates of future DMNA Neighborhood Council meetings have been reserved at the Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society meeting house, corner of Crawford and Whenona.
Wed., Mar 7, 2012, 7 p.m.
Wed., April 4, 2012, 7 p.m.
Any resident is welcome to attend these meetings although only Council members can vote.
VOTE FEBRUARY 21 (and other voter information)
9 - Vote Tuesday, Feb. 21 (this coming week)
Even though there is only one race on the ballot for the Spring Primary Election this Tuesday, February 21, your vote is important, AND both voters and poll workers will get their first chance to see how elections will go with the new Voter ID law in force.
The new law requires voters to show a specific form of photo ID. (Read Article #12 to see the list of approved photo ID.) In addition, voters must now sign the poll book before voting.
There’s only one race on the ballot. It is for Dane County Circuit Court, Branch 11. The 3 candidates are Ellen K. Berz, Francis X. Sullivan, and Roger A. Allen. Check out the League of Women Voters’ Candidates Answers to see how the 3 candidates answered questions posed by the League. It’s available at http://www.lwvdanecounty.org/content/circuit-court-branch11
Another source of information is the Capital Times article about the race from February 7. Find it at http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/blog/crime-and-courts-anti-walker-sentiment-leads-to-circuit-court/article_52080490-4f98-11e1-963b-001871e3ce6c.htmlby
by Mary Mullen
10 - Where to Vote
Voters who live in the Madison part of the neighborhood cast their ballots at the Head Start Building, 2096 Red Arrow Trail, near McDonalds.
Voters who live in the Fitchburg part of the neighborhood cast their ballots at Fitchburg Fire Station #2, 5415 King James Way, on the other side of Verona Road and just north of McKee Road (Co. Rd. PD).
11 - One-Stop Voter Shop Every Thursday Will Help You Get Proper Documentation to Vote
Has all this talk about voter ID, birth certificates, and registering to vote got you anxious and confused?
There’s an answer to this dilemma. It’s the “One-Stop Voter Shop” that takes place every Thursday from now through March from noon to 3 p.m. at Joining Forces For Families, 2225 Allied Drive.
Three concerned leaders in our neighborhood will help you sort out what you need to be “polls-ready” and can even take you where you need to go to get your “papers.”
“One-Stop Voter Shop” will be staffed by DMNA Council member Jo Kelley and the President and Vice President of the ADMNA Selena Pettigrew and Sina Davis.
Remember, that’s every Thursday from 12 noon through 3 p.m. at 2225 Allied Drive.
12 - Be Sure You Have Approved Voter ID Before You Go to the Polls Tuesday
(Attachment:s “4 voter photo ID law chart.jpg” “5a ObtainingID-1.jpg” & “5b Obtaining ID-2.jpg” )
Do you have an ID for voting? What about your neighbors, friends, and family members?
Starting with Tuesday’s election, Wisconsin voters must show an acceptable photo ID before receiving a ballot.
At a recent poll worker training the Madison City Clerk mentioned that in the August 2011 recall election 18% of the voters didn’t have acceptable ID. They didn’t need it then, but poll workers checked just to see how much of problem the new Voter ID law would be for voters. I’ve heard that over 25% of people over 65 don’t have acceptable picture ID for voting.
Please note: There is no such thing as a separate “Voter ID” card. Instead, other forms of photo ID can be used. If you already have a driver license, you don’t need (and cannot get) a state ID card simply in order to vote. Anyone with a valid driver license or state ID card, or any of the documents listed below, already has the photo ID they need for voting purposes.
The Madison City Clerk’s Office recommends checking your ID now to make sure your vote will be counted in 2012.
The following photo IDs are acceptable for voting purposes, and can be unexpired or expired after
the date of the most recent general election (currently, the November 2, 2010 election):
Ø A Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license, even if driving privileges are revoked or suspended
Ø A Wisconsin DOT-issued identification card
Ø Military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service
Ø A U.S. passport
The following photo IDs are also acceptable for voting purposes, but must be unexpired:
Ø A certificate of naturalization that was issued not earlier than two years before the date of an election at which it is presented
Ø A driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 60 days)
Ø An identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 60 days)
Ø An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin
Ø A photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college that contains the following:
-- Date of Issuance
-- Signature of Student
-- Expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance
-- The university or college ID must be accompanied by a separate document that
proves enrollment for the current school term.
Voters who do not have an acceptable ID at the polling place will need to vote on a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots will be counted only if the voter brings an acceptable ID to the Clerk’s Office by 4
p.m. the Friday after the election.
If you are eligible to vote and do not have a Wisconsin driver’s license or Wisconsin ID card, you may obtain an ID card for free from the Division of Motor Vehicles. The DMV will require you to prove your name, date of birth, identity, citizenship, Social Security number, and Wisconsin residency.
Documents often presented to the DMV are a certified birth certificate, Social Security card, marriage certificate (if you have changed your name) and utility bill. Obtaining a certified birth certificate costs
$20 if you were born in Wisconsin. It can take up to 10 weeks to get your certified birth certificate if you were born in another state.
Voters will no longer be able to have someone vouch for them when registering to vote on Election Day.
For more information, see
http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/departments/cityHall/cityClerk/documents/NewPhotoIDLaw.pdf
or call the Clerk’s Office at 608-270-4200.
13 - How to Get A Birth, Marriage, or Divorce Certificate (Attachment: “5b Obtaining ID-2.jpg”)
You May Need These to Get a Wisconsin Photo ID card for Voting
The free Wisconsin ID card available at the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles may not be totally free. Some voters may need to provide a certified copy of their birth certificate - and that costs. Others, who need to also provide a certified marriage and/or divorce record will pay for that too.
An excellent one-stop source of information on where to go to order a certified birth certificate or other record is the City of Madison web page: http://www.cityofmadison.com/clerk/ObtainaBirthCertificate.cfm
This page also tells you what documents you will need to provide to prove your identity when you order the certificate. It’s best to order your certificate or other record in person. Otherwise you will be waiting weeks for it to come.
A person needing records of events that took place in Wisconsin is a lucky one. Why? Because a trip downtown to Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 1 W. Wilson, can get you that hard copy certificate right there on the spot. The location is just across Wilson from the City County Building. The #19 bus gets you there from our neighborhood.
Be absolutely sure you read about what you will need to provide - and then take those documents with you - when you make your visit.
If you were born in Wisconsin, the certified birth certificate or other record costs $20. According to the State website, the certificate should be in your hands within 2 hours of acceptance at the counter at 1 W. Wilson if the completed request form is filled out by 2 p.m. Expedited service costs an extra $20 per record, but it will cut the wait time to half an hour or less.
The Madison web page referenced above also gives links to other states and to a site that lists all 50 states.
by Mary Mullen
14 - Good News and Bad About Getting Voter ID
The good news about getting free voter ID is that for a 95-year-old neighbor I helped, we were successful the first time, and the whole trip only took an hour. I was definitely pleased!
Our experience showed that if you have an expired Wisconsin license that’s expired in the past 8 or 10 years, you just want an ID and not a license, and your address is not changed from that time, the Department of Motor Vehicles will give you a free Wisconsin ID with no trouble at all. However, my friend did need to provide her Social Security number. I was glad she had brought her card along.
I don’t know how our experience would have been different if her address was different. It definitely would have been more difficult if she hadn’t already had that Wisconsin license or if her address had changed since she had gotten it.
Still, when we entered the DMV offices on Sheboygan Avenue last Friday, I felt very uncertain. All the literature I had seen indicated my friend would need to show a certified birth certificate and a certified wedding certificate. Research online revealed that these certificates would cost $27.45 each from Illinois. (My friend was born and married in Chicago.) She did not have these documents. We made this trial run without them only because a friend of mine acquainted with information from the League of Women Voters assured me that an expired driver’s license would “work” in getting an ID card.
The bad news is that for many others, getting an valid ID for voting purposes will be much, much more difficult. I’ve become more and more confused and discouraged the more I read about all the documents many people will have to provide: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, utility bills, proof of registration at the University, student ID card with a bunch of different required information on it, and so on.
The good news is that although one needs to prove (1) name and date of birth, (2) legal presence, (3) identity, and (4) Wisconsin residency, one acceptable document may prove several things at once.
My best advice is to read through the requirements, gather and double-check that you have the right documents, and give it a try. And don’t wait until the last minute. The next election is this coming Tuesday, February 21. The one after that is on April 3.
Oh, and by the way, you must be registered at your current address. That’s another story.
by Mary Mullen
15 - Way Nifty Voter Calendar Attached (Attachment: “6 Wisconsin Election calendar.jpg”)
Are you a “visual learner?” Then you will want to look at the Wisconsin Election Calendar instead of trying to figure out some of the new election rules by simply reading about them.
The calendar lets you see the way the rules affect dates for voter registration and absentee voting as well as showing the dates of the 4 scheduled elections in Wisconsin in 2012. The “Fall Primary” has been moved up to Tuesday, August 14. It used to be in September.
I’ve put calendar on my refrigerator to remind myself of the elections and many different deadlines.
by Mary Mullen
GREEN UP
16 - Sustain Dane Asks For Help in Promoting Honey Bees
Bee colonies across North America are disappearing at alarming rates! In 2007, an estimated one-half of honey-producing colonies went extinct.
Madison Common Council is considering an ordinance to permit residents to keep as many as six bee hives within city limits. Cities like Denver, Cleveland and Minneapolis all have approved similar ordinances, and Sustain Dane urges Madison Common Council to adopt a similar allowance.
Help Sustain Dane make this a priority for our region!
Here's the drill: We are looking for 20+ volunteers to spend a few hours "canvassing."
1. Stop by Sustain Dane's office (211 S. Paterson, Suite 200) on Saturday, February 25 between 9 am – 1 pm, or any day before then during work hours.
2. Pick up a stack of 50 fliers.
3. Choose your "turf," a few block-area that you will distribute fliers, whether by the preferred method of knocking on neighbor doors, or by distributing through libraries and coffeeshops.
Contact Phil Busse, Director of Communications, if you are interested and available. (phil@sustaindance.org)
from Sustain Dane
16a - Bee’s Knees, Pollen Baskets, Honey Stomachs
Bees are endlessly fascinating insects. They are hairy creatures whose hair under a microscope looks something like a stalk of wheat. Their only food is pollen and nectar. There are over 20,000 living species of bees.
On their knees bees have a concave area where they store the pollen they gather. That area is called a pollen basket. Bees groom themselves after they are covered with pollen, placing the pollen in the pollen basket.
The bee stores the nectar it gathers in a crop, also known as the honey stomach. A long tube extends from the bee’s mouth and on through the thorax. The tube empties into the honey stomach which is located in the abdomen. When full, this honey stomach can fill 95% of the abdominal space and can almost double the bee’s weight. If a bee starts running out of energy while buzzing around on its business of gathering food for the hive, it can use some of the nectar it has gathered.
These are just a very few of the facts I learned at the last session of the Arboretum’s “Winter Enrichment” lecture series. Next week’s lecture is about “Bumblebee Ecology and Conservation.” The public may attend these lectures. The Bumblebee lecture is on Thursday, February 23, 9:00-11:30 a.m. at the Arboretum Visitor Center. Cost for individual lectures is $13.50, payable upon entry. Free beverages and snacks are provided.
by Mary Mullen
17 - Classes Offered for the Organic Gardener
Madison FarmWorks has developed a new series of classes for the organic gardener. We focus on intermediate and advanced skills to help gardeners get more food out of their gardens. Join us this season!
The Urban Gardener: Organic Techniques for the Whole Year
This class series covers intermediate and advanced topics designed to build your skills in organic vegetable production. All classes are taught by Megan Cain and Claire Strader from Madison FarmWorks and Troy Community Farm. Participants can take all or a selection of the classes in the series. Register through Willy St. Co-op, Whole Foods or Olbrich Botanical Gardens. For more info. contact megan@troygardens.org or 608-239-6205.
The Urban Gardener Part I: Laying the Groundwork for a Productive Year
Learn how to produce more organic vegetables in your garden! We will focus on intermediate and advanced gardening skills such as garden planning and layout, crop rotation and cover cropping, planting schedules and succession planting for maximum production, and the top tips for a productive garden from Troy Community Farm. We will also share our favorite vegetable varieties that are best suited to our local climate.
The Urban Gardener Part II: Seed Starting at Home
Starting your own seeds isn’t as hard as you think! Come visit the new passive solar greenhouse at Troy Gardens and go home ready to start seeds. You will learn how to mix your own soil, build an inexpensive seed starting rack for your home, and learn the basics of starting seeds indoors in a small space. Topics covered include seed starting schedule, soil mix recipes, tray options, seeding and planting techniques, growing conditions, hardening off, and an introduction to our favorite varieties. All participants will take start several plants to take home. Additional supplies will be available for purchase after class. Class takes place in the greenhouse at Troy Gardens, 502 Troy Drive.
The Urban Gardener Part III: Growing Organic Tomatoes
This hands-on class is all about tomatoes! The class will be held at Troy Community Farm and the adjacent community gardens. We will focus on growing a successful crop of organic tomatoes. Learn how to prune tomatoes correctly by practicing on the farm crop, see our four favorite types of tomato trellising in action and learn about our favorite varieties for Madison. Class takes place at Troy Gardens, 502 Troy Drive. Please meet at the striped tent at the front of the land.
The Urban Gardener Part IV: The Fall Harvest and Garden
In this class we will cover fall gardening topics such as harvesting and post-harvest handling and ideas for preserving the harvest including freezing, dehydrating, and root cellaring. We will talk about important tasks for putting the garden to bed for the winter such as cover crops and mulch, and vegetable crops that can be overwintered. We will also touch on overall garden planning in preparation for increasing your harvest for next year.
Scheduled Sessions:
How to Turn Your Vegetable Garden into a Vegetable Farm: Olbrich Gardens, February 22, 6-8pm
Part I: Willy East, February 27, 6-8pm
Part II: Class takes place at Troy Greenhouse, March 10, 10am-noon (register through Willy East)
Part I: Whole Foods, March 13, 6-8pm
Part I: Willy West, March 21, 6-8pm
Part I: Willy East, April 2, 6-8pm
Part III: Class at Troy Gardens, July 10, 6-8pm (register through Willy East)
Part IV: Willy East, August 14, 6-8 pm
18 - Green Madison Offers Still More Incentives for Energy Efficiency
(Attachment: “7 Green Madison.jpg”)
New in 2012!
We have some big news for 2012, beginning January 1, the cost for a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Assessment for a single-family home is now just $200, after an instant $200 rebate. Green Madison is now rewarding energy efficiency actions with generous financial incentives in addition to the State’s Focus on Energy incentives (up to $2,000). To qualify for the new incentives, City residents must target at least 15 percent energy savings in their home (the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Assessment will show homeowners exactly what to do). The more a homeowner saves, the larger the cash incentive (see attachment). Green Madison makes important improvements even more affordable through a special energy efficiency financing offer. Low-interest, flexible-term financing between $1,000 and $15,000 is available from our partner Summit Credit Union. For the latest information on incentives and financing rates, please visit the Green Madison website: www.cityofmadison.com/greenmadison <http://www.cityofmadison.com/greenmadison <http://www.cityofmadison.com/greenmadison> >
Help promote Green Madison
Are you planning an event or do you need a guest speaker? Green Madison representatives are available to make presentations, provide informational materials, or mingle with your guests that may have questions about energy efficiency. If you are interested in writing an article, Green Madison will provide a press kit and our logo, or we can even write an article for you. Please contact Green Madison staff to see how we can partner together.
Questions about changes?
If there are questions about changes to Green Madison incentives or to the program, please have homeowners contact their Energy Advocates directly, call Green Madison 877.399.1204 or they can always contact me.
Thank you,
Paul Grimyser, Grant Administrator, LEED Green Associate, Community Development Division
Madison Municipal Building Rm 225, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.. Madison, WI 53703
(608) 261-8965 Office pgrimyser@cityofmadison.com
REPRESENTATIVE’S CORNER
19 - Co. Supervisor Carousel Bayrd’s Update from 2/6/12
Happy 2012! Hope everyone had a good new year.
Budget: This was the most difficult budget I’ve been a part of in my 6 years on the county board. Without a doubt, the 2012 budget will lead to reduced services. The county board had no choice—We faced devastating cuts thanks to Gov. Scott Walker. Somehow, we were able to avoid any layoffs (hooray!), but virtually every vacant or retiring position was eliminated or frozen. We are going to attempt to do the same work with far less, but some essential services are bound to fall though the cracks.
That being said, there are three bright spots in the 2012 budget. 2012 will see a new drop-in Mental Health Clinic, to provide an alternative to jail for those otherwise needing imminent services and treatment. And there will be a new court diversion unit for juvenile offenders, aimed at keeping youth first-time offenders out of the criminal justice system. We also managed to continue funding the county’s only evening homeless warming shelter.
Criminal Justice Reform: A record number of people are facing foreclosure, poverty, and homelessness. The need for vital county services is growing despite drastic cuts. We must find funding alternatives if we want to maintain our top quality government services. One solution: Push harder for criminal justice reform. We’ve saved tens of millions over the last 5 years through drug court, court fast-tracking, bail monitoring, and electronic monitoring. But we can do more. The idea is simple—proactive, preventative programs that keep people out of jail while saving money and improving lives. It’s a win-win, and I’ve been a leader on this issue since I was elected to the county board in 2006. The hard part is getting the arresting officers, sheriff department, district attorneys, public defenders, and judges on board with reform. Stay tuned.
Local Jobs Priority: I was a lead co-sponsor of a new county ordinance prioritizing hiring Dane County and Wisconsin businesses for county projects. Any project our county staff cannot complete themselves and costing more than $25,000 must be bid out for service. As a result, we bid out more than $100 million a year. This new law awards extra points to Dane County business bidding on a county-funded job. Extra points are also awarded to some Wisconsin businesses outside Dane County, but less than the amount of points awarded to Dane County businesses. The added points are minimal enough to make sure we are not awarding contracts to businesses not qualified to perform the work, but big enough to allow a Dane County business to move ahead of an otherwise substantially equal out-state employer.
Clear Lakes Initiative: The county board approved a five-year multi-initiative plan to clean up Dane County lakes. The plan has strong bi-partisan support and has been endorsed by the Madison Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters, the Clean Lakes Alliance, and others. The plan includes storm sewer outfall upgrades throughout the county, carp removal, beach deflectors to remove scum and algae-bloom, lake and beach land preservation, and phosphorus and sediment reduction.
Collective Bargaining Referendum: The county board approved a referendum question to be placed on the April 2012 ballot. The referendum will read: “Should all Wisconsin workers have the right to seek safe working conditions and fair pay through collective bargaining?” This referendum is being placed on ballots throughout the state to gage public support for collective bargaining. The referendum is advisory only, meaning it does not force a law change but measures public opinion.
Voting Changes: The primary spring election is just a few weeks away, on Tuesday February 21st. Are you ready for the changes to the voter laws? You now must provide a photo ID to vote at the polls. A valid ID includes: A Wisconsin Driver’s License, a US Passport, and Military ID Card, and a Wisconsin photo ID Card. There are other acceptable forms as well. Absentee voters must provide a copy of an accepted ID too. For more information, go to the City of Madison website at cityofmadison.com/election <http://cityofmadison.com/election <http://cityofmadison.com/election> >
Free Voter ID Cards: If you are eligible to vote but you do not have a Wisconsin ID card, you may obtain a FREE ID card at the state DMV. For more information, go to www.dot.wisconsin/gov/drivers/drivers/apply/idcard.htm <http://www.dot.wisconsin/gov/drivers/drivers/apply/idcard.htm>
As always, please contact me with any thoughts or questions by email at bayrd@co.dane.wi.us or by cell at (608) 658-7333. from Co. Sup. Carousel Bayrd
20 - Two Columns from Co. Exec. Joe Parisi
A Stark Contrast Brings Savings
Column By: Dane County Executive Joe Parisi , 2/9/12
For the past year there has been a debate across Wisconsin about worker’s rights – specifically, the right of public employees to collectively bargain. Some will tell you that this practice of working with our workers, instead of against them, has little value.
I couldn’t disagree more. Not just because treating everyone with respect is the way that I lead, but because I know this process works.
Just last week Dane County became the only known county in Wisconsin to take advantage of a little known state law, allowing for a limited amount of time to negotiate agreements with public workers to achieve savings. Together with our employees, we got it done.
I negotiated with our employees an across the board wage reduction of 1.25% through 2013, netting a savings to taxpayers of $1.9 million next year. These savings will be accomplished through phasing-in the contributions employees make to their retirement along with three furlough days.
This agreement is significant for many reasons. We proved yet again that negotiating with workers, works. The largest unions representing Dane County's workforce are also agreeing to essentially take home the same amounts in their checks in January of 2014 as they are today - - January of 2012.
Would you agree to allow your employer not to give you a raise for the next two years? This sacrifice by our workers - - who are our friends, neighbors, and family - - is deserving of our appreciation and recognition. They know we are in challenging times, through no fault of their own, and are stepping forward to help protect core county services.
We do things differently in Dane County. What we accomplished in the past week is a stark contrast with the way business is done at the state level. Had our state leaders tried a similar approach a year ago would families and communities across our state be as divided as they are today? Unfortunately, we will never know.
2012 Brings New Opportunities, Challenges for County Government
Column By: Dane County Executive Joe Parisi
A year ago as State Representative, I watched as working families from all corners of Wisconsin came to Madison to tell the Governor and legislature they wouldn't sit idly as decades' old basic rights were taken away.
Now as County Executive, I strive to lead in a way that shows through mutual respect and working with people instead of against them, that everyone can help solve problems.
That's how we managed through a daunting county budget last fall. Thanks to innovation, creative problem solving, and partnering with county employees on efficiencies, the 2012 county budget spends $4.4 million more on human services ($248 million total) while preserving public safety and other programs important to our quality of life.
This New Year certainly brings new challenges, but also many opportunities.
In addition to protecting human services, as a candidate for County Executive I also talked about the need to strengthen the county's ability to enhance economic development. My new Dane County Office of Jobs and Prosperity starts work this spring.
Soon I will unveil a new "Cow Power" facility to create local "green energy" and reduce pollution that runs into our lakes. New partnerships I’ve formed with the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Clean Lakes Alliance serve as the foundation for the next steps in our important work to clean up our waters.
Thanks to my new partnership with Operation Fresh Start, more kids from challenged neighborhoods will spend this year learning life and job skills.
Construction starts soon on new systems to help our police and fire responders get to emergencies quicker, and communicate better through development of a new countywide radio network.
A recently completed assessment of our criminal justice system offers a menu of possible reforms to ensure our public safety tax dollars are spent effectively.
We have much to do! Together, we’ll manage our challenges and maximize our opportunities in 2012.
from Co Executive Jo Parisi, Jan. 12, 2012
----------- End of the February 18, 2011 DUNN’S MARSH NEIGHBORHOOD E-NEWS -------
THANKS FOR READING!
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