Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News March 25, 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> (under construction)
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/note.php?note_id=378988848623
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NEWS WITH DATES (in order, most short)1 - Madison Clerk's Office Offers Extended Hours for Absentee Voting
2 - Madison Poll Worker Training Starts: Jobs Available at $11.82/hr. (Includes HS Students)
3 - Garden Registration on March 27 and 31
4 - Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars - Spectacular in March Night Skies
5a - Presidential Primary Election is April 3
5b - Ballots on April 3 will have Court, County Supervisor, and School Board Candidates
5c - Referendum on April 3 Ballot Asks for Collective Bargaining Opinion
6 - April 4 DMNA Council Meeting to Feature Madison Police Liaison and ATC
7 - Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt, April 8
8 - More Public Outreach Hours Announced for the Verona Road/Beltline Interchange Project
9 - Allied Community Newsletter Planned for Quarterly Distribution
STRICTLY NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS10 - Sharon Flinn Featured on City’s “Why Am I a Poll Worker” Web Page
11 - Primary Election Draws Just 77 at Head Start Polls (Attachment: “1 pics election day.jpg”)
12 - Fitchburg Fire Station #2 Draws 209 Voters
13 - Backyard Bird Counters Saw 15 Species of Birds
14 - Spring Comes Six Weeks Early!!! (Attach: “2 pics magnolia.jpg” & “3 pics March constr.&color”)
15 - Clarence Guetzkow Passes
16 - DreamBikes Offers “Open Shop” Every Tuesday
17 - Introducing County Supervisor Kyle Richmond (Attach: “4 SupDist04NEWmadRichmond.pdf”)
18 - Neighborhood to Get TWO New County Supervisors (Attach: “5 SupDist27NEWfitchKrause.pdf”)
19 - Neighborhood Will Be Part of County Supervisory District 4
(Attach: “4 SupDist04NEWmadRichmond.pdf”)
20 - ATC Clears Along the Arboretum Fence (Attachment: “3 pics March constr. & color”)
GENERAL INTEREST21- Judges Invalidate Requirement of Voter Picture ID
22 - Voters May Still Register at the Polls
23 - Three-year-olds with Mouthfuls of Cavities?
24 - Free Income Tax Assistance at Madison Public Library
25 - Assembly Rep. Terese Berceau’s News from 2/24/12
Help Filing Your Taxes
2011 Top Consumer Complaints
26 - Making County Government More User Friendly & Accessible Dane (Co. Exec. column)
27 - March is National Women's History Month
28 - Which Great Woman Was Born On Your Birthday?
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT (all short)29 - Ride the Drive Dates and Locations Given - Early Warning
30 - A Garden on Top of a Bus???
31a - Green Madison Thanks Neighborhood Associations
31b - New in 2012! Half-Price Energy Star Assesments
31c - Energy Efficiency Tips and Information
31d - Upcoming Green Madison Presentations and Events
31e - Questions about Green Madison Changes?
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NEWS WITH DATES (in order)
1 - Madison Clerk's Office Offers Extended Hours for Absentee Voting
The Madison City Clerk's Office will offer extended hours for absentee voting this Sunday, March 25, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Voters will be asked to use the Wilson Street entrance to the City-County Building.
Voters will not be asked to present photo ID because of the injunctions currently in place on 2011 Wisconsin Act 23.
The Clerk's Office has issued 3,183 absentee ballots for the April 3 Spring Election, 895 of which have already been returned to be counted.
Voters can check the status of their absentee ballot requests through the Voter Public Access website, https://vpa.wi.gov.
from City of Madison website
2 - Madison Poll Worker Training Starts: Jobs Available at $11.82/hr. (Includes HS Students)
Now is the time to take action if you want to be a poll worker - otherwise known as Election Inspector - for the April 3 election. Potential poll workers must apply and also do a one-hour training.
High school students age 16 or 17 with a 3.0 or higher grade point average may also apply and serve as election workers. (All other poll workers must be at least age 18.) A parent (or guardian) and the principal must also sign the authorization to serve as an Election Inspector.
Go to http://www.cityofmadison.com/election/pollWorkers/ both to apply and to learn about training
Many training dates, locations, and times are offered. Training dates continue through April 2.
Pay is $11.82 per hour. The hour of training is paid as well as time working at the polls. A poll worker may sign up to work a morning or afternoon shift or all day.
A half day shift of work - from 6 a.m. until 1:30 pm or from 1:00 p.m until after closing of the polls (often until 9 pm or later) will bring in about $100.
by Mary Mullen
3 - Garden Registration on March 27 and 31
Registration for plots in the Marlborough Park Community Garden will be held on Tuesday, March 27 and Saturday, March 31. The Tuesday registration is at 6 p.m. while the Saturday registration is at 1 p.m. Both registrations will be held at the Boys and Girls Club at 4619 Jenewein Drive, in the neighborhood. Michelle Shively is our new garden liaison from CAC.
Gardeners must come on the dot at the scheduled times - either 6 p.m. Tuesday or 1:00 p.m. Saturday - to attend an all-gardener meeting. This is different from other years where gardeners could drift in at various times.
If you cannot attend either day, please call Michelle at 246-4730 x208 by March 26 to request an application by mail. Hmong gardeners can call Yee Ythao at 770-1074.
If CAC (Community Action Coalition of Southwest Wisconsin) does not receive your application by March 31st and you do not come to registration, you will lose your plot.
This year some of the plowed garden will be turned to no-till gardening. Registration for till or no-till plots will dictate how many plots are turned to no-till gardening. It’s anticipated that up to 45 tilled plots will be converted to no-till use. This would leave 60 of the 160 total plots to be tilled by plow for gardeners.
The approximately 20x20-foot square plots rent on a sliding scale of $10/$35/$65 depending on family size and income.
There’s an ongoing protest to this highly differential rental fee, and some gardeners pay what they think is fair based on what would be charged if everyone paid an equal amount - somewhere around $16-$20. No one has been turned away from the garden because of this protest.
by Mary Mullen
4 - Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars - Spectacular in March Night Skies
On Monday night, February 27, I glanced up at the western sky as I headed to a meeting down the street. A spectacular sight greeted my eyes that are used to pale stars in a light-polluted city sky: two very bright “stars” with a crescent moon between them. I knew this had to be something special, and I suspected the “stars” were planets.
Back home again, I checked on the Internet. What I had seen was the planets Jupiter and Saturn. They are still visible starting right after sunset in the western sky. They will continue to put on a show during March. In fact, on March 13 these two planets passed each other very, very close together.
When celestial bodies such as planets and starts appear to come close to each other, the phenomenon is called a “conjunction.”
When I happened to mention this to a neighbor, I learned that Mars is also making an exciting appearance this month. Look into the eastern sky at the same time as you see Jupiter and Saturn. There will be Mars, looking very bright and yellow - or maybe red. Mars gets higher in the sky as the night progresses. Saturn follows about midnight.
To see a diagram of the Jupiter/Saturn/moon conjunction, go to http://www.space.com/14644-venus-jupiter-moon-skywatching-triple-play.html There’s also a NASA video about the conjunction and why your eyes will make the planets look even more brilliant.
Learn more about Mars at http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/mars-2012-opposition-how-to-see-march-best-time-to-see-brightest This is the best time in 2 years to see Mars.
Learn about 5 planets you can see at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-mUqdHuGTw&feature=related <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-mUqdHuGTw&feature=related>
by Mary Mullen
5a - Presidential Primary Election is April 3
Often the presidential candidates are a sure thing by the time Wisconsin’s primary election rolls around. But not this year.
This year, the Republican race is still open, and Wisconsinites who choose to vote in the Republican primary will have a chance to mark their ballots for one of 6 candidates although 2 of them have dropped out of the race. On the ticket will be Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum who are still running plus Jon Huntsman and Michele Bachmann who have dropped out.
On the Democratic side, only Barack Obama is on the ticket.
Voters in either primary also have the choice of voting for an “uninstructed delegation.” That allows delegates to the convention to vote for the candidate of their own choice.
In the presidential primary, one can vote either as a Democrat or Republican, but not both. Wisconsin has an “open primary” which means that voters do not have to declare which party they belong to.
by Mary Mullen
5b - Ballots on April 3 will have Court, County Supervisor, and School Board Candidates
Don’t make the embarrassing mistake I did the first time I voted. Go to the polls prepared for how you intend to mark your ballot.
On the ballot will be some contested positions and some in which only one candidate will be running. Here are the contested positions:
Circuit Court Judge Branch 11: Ellen K. Berz or Roger A. Allen
Madison Metropolitan School District, Seat 1 - Nichelle Nichols or Arlene Silveira
Madison Metropolitan School District, Seat 2 - Michael Flores or Mary Burke
(The Madison part of the neighborhood votes for Madison School Board.)
Verona Area School District, at large member (can vote for up to 2): Renee Zook, Charyn Grandau, and John M/ McCulley (The Fitchburg part of the neighborhood votes for Verona School Board.)
Races in which only one person is running are these:
Court of Appeals Judge, District 4: Joanne F. KloppenburgFind out about all the candidates from the League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Answers. View “Know Your Candidates” for some of the contested elections on video, available from the same LWV site: http://www.lwvdanecounty.org/
Circuit Court Judge, Branch 3: John C. Albert
Circuit Court Judge, Branch 8: Frank D. Remington
Circuit Court Judge, Branch 12: David Flanagan
County Supervisor, District 4 (Madison part of neighborhood): Kyle Richmond
County Supervisor, District 27 (Fitchburg part of neighborhood): Dorothy Krause
Verona Area School District, Portion 1 (Fitchburg part of neighborhood): Joanne Gauthier
5c - Referendum on April 3 Ballot Asks for Collective Bargaining Opinion
Dane County voters have a chance to express how they feel about collective bargaining for workers.
The referendum on the April 3 ballot reads:
Should all Wisconsin workers have the right to seek safe working conditions and fair pay through collective bargaining?
A state law passed in 2011 completely prevents public workers from bargaining on working conditions, while allowing them only to bargain up to the rate of inflation on their pay. The law also barred some classes of public workers from forming a union and required those with unions to hold a vote to recertify their unions every year.
The proposal and eventual passage of the 2011 law resulted in weeks of demonstrations at the Capitol and around the Square. It was also the impetuous for Senatorial recall elections in mid-2011 and the upcoming recall elections for the Governor, Lt. Governor, and 4 additional Senators.
by Mary Mullen
6 - April 4 DMNA Council Meeting to Feature Madison Police Liaison and ATC
Two special topics will be taken up at the Tuesday, April 4 DMNA Council meeting. Madison Police Department neighborhood liaison officer Brian Sheehy will attend to talk about law enforcement issues and how neighbors can work with the police to have a safer neighborhood. We have also invited the American Transmission Company to make a brief presentation and answer questions about the high voltage lines that will soon be strung along the Beltline in our neighborhood.
In addition, Council members will bring updates on a couple of projects of the DMNA: (1) the neighborhood sign, and (2) the grant request for Little Free Libraries and neighborhood message boards.
Council meetings are held at the Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society meeting house, corner of Crawford and Whenona starting at 7 pm.
Any resident may attend. Only Council members can vote. If you have an issue you want the Council to discuss, please let our President Bob Hague know in advance. Check the masthead for his contact information.
by Mary Mullen
7 - Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt, April 8
Prairie UU Society, located at 2010 Whenona Drive, will be sponsoring a neighborhood Easter egg hunt on Sunday, April 8th at 10:15 a.m.
Toddlers through youth in 6th grade are welcome to bring a basket or bag to collect eggs filled with treats. Afterwards there will be games in the side yard of the Society.
Young adults and adults are welcome to help or attend the Sunday service at 10 a.m.
For more information please call Prairie UU Society at (608) 271-8218, visit the website at www.uuprairie.org/re <http://www.uuprairie.org/re> or email the Director of Religious Education, Rebecca Malke, at dre@uuprairie.org.
from Rebecca Malke-Eleganti
8 - More Public Outreach Hours Announced for the Verona Road/Beltline Interchange Project
An open house will occur at two different locations during the next four months to promote public understanding of the Verona Road/Beltline Interchange project and project outreach.
The following meetings will be held at the Boys and Girls Club, 4619 Jenewein Road, Madison, Wisconsin, 53711:
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 starting 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 starting 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 starting 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The following meetings will be held at Upper Iowa State University, 4601 Hammersley Road, Madison, Wisconsin, 53711:
Wednesday, April 4, 2012 starting 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 starting 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 starting 5 pm. until 8 p.m.
If you have questions regarding this information, please contact the meeting coordinator John Y. Odom at Odom & Associates by e-mail or telephone, jyodom@charter.net <mailto:jyodom@charter.net> 608-836-555 or Mark Vesperman, WisDOT, 608-2456-7548.
Both sites will be staffed by individuals who are prepared to respond to questions and feedback. Project maps, displays, documents and handouts will be available, including a copy of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Construction is scheduled for 2013.
For more information regarding the Verona Road/Beltline Interchange project, visit the WisDOT web site at: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/d1/verona/index.htm.
Written comments regarding the project can be mailed to Mark Vesperman, WisDOT Project Manager, 2101 Wright Street, Madison, WI, 53704. Citizens who are hearing-impaired and require an interpreter may request one by contacting Mark Vesperman at least three working days prior to the meeting via the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay System (dial 711).
from Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation
9 - Allied Community Newsletter Planned for Quarterly Distribution
We [the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association and the Allied Community Cooop] are starting a quarterly neighborhood newsletter and we want YOU to be involved! Write a story, share some news, express an opinion, interview your neighbor, take a picture. We want it all!
We need reporters, editors, lay-out helpers, photographer and help with distribution. We need you, no matter what your experience- you just have to be interested in helping in some way.
Submit a written piece you would like in the newsletter - or submit a child’s drawing, be sure to put your name and contact info. This newsletter is about us! Submission deadline is March 17th, June 17th, September 17th and December 17th
This is a project of the Allied Dunns Marsh Neighborhood Association and the Allied Community Coop. Must be a coop member to have your newsletter delivered, otherwise copies will be available at Boys & Girls Club, JFF and MAP for pick up, the first week in April, July, October and January. Contact Selena Pettigrew 773-515-7916 or Susan Corrado 608-622-4441, or e-mail: alliedcomcoop@gmail.com
from Sina Davis, ADMNA Vice President
STRICTLY NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
10 - Sharon Flinn Featured on City’s “Why Am I a Poll Worker” Web Page
What a surprise to see one of our neighborhood poll workers as one of the three featured officials answering the question, “Why Am I a Poll Worker.”
Sharon Flinn gave these reasons for why she is a poll worker: “You keep in touch with your neighbors and have a feeling of satisfaction that you are doing something worthwhile to help your neighborhood. There is joy in being part of something of value.”
See her photo and words and those of three other poll workers at https://www.cityofmadison.com/election/pollWorkers/why.cfm <file://localhost/election/pollWorkers/why.cfm>
by Mary Mullen
11 - Primary Election Draws Just 77 at Head Start Polls (Attachment: “1 pics election day.jpg”)
The Madison polls in our neighborhood is usually a low-turnout polling place, so it wasn’t too surprising that only 77 people showed up to vote.
Low turnout of registered voters was the rule all over the City of Madison where the overall turnout was 10.8 %. However, predictions were in the 5-10%. The 77 voters at the Head Start election station worked out to be 8.2%. By contrast, 16.7% of the registered voters turned out in Nakoma, Ward 78. At the Spring Harbor polls where I worked, even more registered voters exercised their right to vote - 18.3%.
Probably the low turnout was fortunate, because both the voters and the poll workers were getting accustomed to the new procedures of checking picture IDs and having voters sign the poll book. So how did things go?
Sharon Flinn, Chief Election Inspector at the polls on Red Arrow Trail, reported that for the most part things went well. However, one voter was very disturbed when he could not vote on a regular ballot because he did not have a required Wisconsin picture ID. Sharon had to insist that his New York driver’s license was not acceptable. He voted on a provisional ballot which would be counted only if he provided an ID that was acceptable to authorities by 4 p.m. on the Friday after the election.
Another unsettling incident happened at the polls on Red Arrow. A woman claiming to be from the state Government Accountability Board introduced herself and said she was there to check if the polling place was handicap accessible. Then she asked the poll workers to open up the back of the tabulator where voters put their marked ballots to be counted.
To Sharon, the Chief Inspector, this seemed like a probably illegal request, especially since the woman provided only a letter that she was actually from the GAB. Training materials specifically say that election officials must “verify and initial that the tabulator door remained sealed all day.” Sharon called the Madison City Clerk who knew nothing about GAB doing any checking. As a result, Sharon refused to open the voting machine and the woman left.
by Mary Mullen
12 - Fitchburg Fire Station #2 Draws 209 Voters
Voter turnout at the Fitchburg fire station on King James Way was even more dismal than the turnout at the Madison polling station in our neighborhood. The 209 people who voted at Fire Station #2 represented just 7.7% of the registered voters in Fitchburg’s District #1.
Voters from the Fitchburg part of our neighborhood must make the trek all the way over to 5415 King James Way, not exactly walking distance from our neighborhood.
Fitchburg Clerk Linda Cory noted that the 2010 census counted 4,600 electors in the district. Electors are those who could register to vote. However, just 2,727 of those people are registered to vote.
Fitchburg’s District #1 consists of 4 wards. Our section of Fitchburg is Ward 4. As yet, statistics are not yet available for the Ward 4 part of the count.
by Mary Mullen
13 - Backyard Bird Counters Saw 15 Species of Birds
The Great Backyard Bird Count is in for another year. Two households in the neighborhood that participated in the count found a nice variety of birds.
Bill and Becky Martin, Apache Drive, saw 11 species of birds in their backyard during the periods of time they counted on the 4 different days they participated, February 17-20. Birds included the Canada Goose, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Red-tailed Hawk, Black-capped Chickaadee, American Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, House Finch , and American Goldfinch.
The flashy red cardinal was most prominent. They saw cardinals every day, and one day they saw 11 of them at once! Another top bird for them was the little gray juncos which they saw every day, once a group of 6, a flock of 5 on two other days, and 3 on another day. Although they saw geese on just one day, there were 7 together during that observation. Every observation period they also saw crows, chickadees, tree sparrows, juncos, goldfinches, and house sparrows. Actually house sparrows were also fairly prevalent, with flocks on succeeding days of 7, 5, 3, and 3.
It should be noted that during each continuous observation period in a stationary position like a back yard, birdwatchers can only tally the number of birds they see at one time. Observers are not allowed to add up the birds they see over a period of time. Thus, if you see 3 cardinals at the feeder, and they fly away, and then you see another 2 a few minutes later at the feeder, you cannot add them together since you don’t know if they are the same birds or different birds. In this case, your count would be 3 cardinals.
On the other hand, if you are out on a walk, as I was when I participated, you can count all the birds you see as long as you are certain that they are different individuals.
My walk was through Marlborough Park, down Apache and south through the Apache Pond area to the Cannonball Path, west on the Path to where all the bike trails intersect, then back east along the Capital City Trail, then north along Seminole, back east on the Cannonball to the Apache Pond area, and finally back north to home. It was a two-hour hike. I counted birds only on February 19.
As a result of the different habitats we passed through, my hiking companion and I saw some different birds from those the Martins observed. We spotted a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 5 Hairy Woodpeckers, and a White-breasted Nuthatch. All these birds love to be in the woods or clambering up and down tall trees.
To my surprise, we also spied a Song Sparrow. It would have been easier to identify if it had been singing. That comes later in the spring. The Song Sparrow was flitting around in the cattail marsh in front of the Dunn’s View condos near Apache Pond. That’s also where we saw a lone Tree Sparrow. Both these sparrows have a spot in the middle of their chests.
Like the Martins, we identified a Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Doves (4), American Crows (7), Black-capped Chickadees (11), Dark-Eyed Juncos (2), and Northern Cardinals (2). But we did not see House Sparrows, House Finches, American Goldfinches, or Canada Geese.
My yard was barren of birds at most times when I thought of observing. In fact, I only saw 2 chickadees and one cardinal during the busiest 15 minutes. What a far cry from 2 years ago when I saw over 30 cardinals at one time in the yard!
by Mary Mullen
14 - Spring Comes Six Weeks Early!!! (Attach: “2 pics magnolia.jpg” & “3 pics March constr.&color”)
In the Arboretum the magnolia and cherry trees were in full, glorious bloom this past week. In neighborhood yards and all over Madison, the crocus have come and gone. Cheery daffodils are in full bloom, while tulips are nodding their colorful heads in some yards.
Maple trees are blossoming, and even oak trees have leaves as big a squirrel’s ears, a sign I’ve been told cues the safe planting of tomatoes. I’m not at all tempted to put out tomatoes in March, regardless. But my last year’s kale plants think it’s time. They’ve sprouted leaves big enough to eat on the gnarled old stalks.
According to Arboretum record-keepers, this spring is 6 weeks early compared to normal, and 1 to 2 weeks earlier than the earliest recorded spring. With temperatures in the 70s and 80s, it’s no wonder the trees and flowers think it’s time to flower.
Check out the photo collage of one magnolia tree in the Arboretum and the other that shows yard flowers. These photos were taken on March 22.
by Mary Mullen
15 - Clarence Guetzkow Passes
A longtime Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood resident passed away on March 2. He was Clarence Guetzkow of Clover Court. Clarence would have been familiar to many in the neighborhood because he was a poll worker at the Head Start voting location.
Clarence was nearly 90 years old and most recently worked at the polls in 2011.
Thanks to Sharon Flinn for letting us know about Clarence’s passing. Read a full obituary at http://www.cressfuneralservice.com/obituary/89293/Clarence-Guetzkow/
by Mary Mullen
16 - DreamBikes Offers “Open Shop” Every Tuesday
Does your bike need some work, but you don’t have the equipment or tools to do a good job on it at home or you feel you might need some advice on how to do the work?
DreamBikes, up on the Beltline Frontage Road, has an easy answer. Every Tuesday from 3 pm until 7 pm bicyclists can bring in their bikes and use DreamBikes shop to work on their bikes. The program is called “Open Shop.
There are just a few simple rules:
· Must be age 14 or older or come with an adult
· Sign in and sign out and, if you are a first-time user, fill out an Open Shop form.
· Clean up your work area before you leave.
· Respect DreamBikes’ tools.
· Ask questions, but you do the work on your bike, not DreamBikes’ mechanics.
· Pay for the parts you use including cables and housing.
· Donations of $5-10 an hour are welcome.
based on flyer posted at DreamBikes
17 - Introducing County Supervisor Kyle Richmond (Attach: “4 SupDist04NEWmadRichmond.pdf”)
New County Supervisor Kyle Richmond, District 4, will be representing the Madison part of the neighborhood after the April 3 election. This is because our current supervisor’s home is outside the new boundaries of the district.
The DMNA has already been in touch with Kyle and invited him to a Council meeting. Most of this article will tell you about his experience on the County Board and other information about him.
His contact information 608-251-3171, 929 O’Sheridan Street, Madison, WI 53715 Richmond.kyle@countyofdane.com <mailto:Richmond.kyle@countyofdane.com> O’Sheridan Street is located on the west side of John Nolen Drive just before it becomes the causeway.
Kyle has been elected to the Dane County Board for five terms: 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. His current committee assignments are the Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee (chairman); Food Council, Dane County; and the Park Commission.
Previously he has served on 11 other county committees and commissions: Alliant Energy Center Commission, Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee, Equal Opportunities Commission, Housing and Economic Development Work Group, Comprehensive Plan, Human Services Board, Lakes and Watershed Commission, Land & Water Related Steering Committee, Long Term Support Committee, North Fish Hatchery Road Advisory Committee (City of Fitchburg), TID # 26 Joint Review Board (City of Madison), Zoning and Natural Resources Committee
Judging from Kyle’s statement about why he ran for office, he should be a pretty good fit for our neighborhood. His statement on the County Board website says he ran in order to
- protect green space and farmland through good land use policies
- improve transportation options and protect the environment
- preserve strong county human services for people with fewer privileges
- ensure and encourage citizen participation in local government
Personally, Kyle Richmond describes himself as a vociferous University of Wisconsin volleyball and basketball fan; a bicyclist, camper, canoeist, and frequent dog-walker. He is a former English teacher in Salvador, Bahia, and Brazil (1993-96), and a former public health volunteer (Brethren Volunteer Service, Haiti, 1985-87). He was born September 30, 1961 in Muncie, Indiana.
His education, starting with the most recent, is (1) a Certificate in Adult Education, TESL, University of California at Berkeley, 1991, (2) a BA in Journalism, Indiana University, 1984; and a Certificate in Public Affairs, minor in Spanish. (3) Diploma, Burris Laboratory School, Ball State University, 1980.
Kyle’s civic and volunteer experience include the South Madison Senior Coalition, Madison Community Health Center Board of Directors (now Access Community Health Centers), Bay Creek Neighborhood Association, WORT Community Radio volunteer, OutReach, Inc. volunteer.
This is a quotation on his site:
"You make men love their government and their country by giving them the kind of government and the kind of country that inspire respect and love: a country that is free and unafraid, that lets the discontented talk in order to learn the causes of their discontent and end those causes." by Zechariah Chaffe, Jr., First Amendment scholar & Harvard University law professor.information from Dane County website somewhat reformatted by Mary Mullen
18 - Neighborhood to Get TWO New County Supervisors (Attach: “5 SupDist27NEWfitchKrause.pdf” )
We’ve probably all heard that redistricting is happening and that it may affect who represents us at the city, county, and state level. It’s true that it will affect us. Both the Madison and Fitchburg parts of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood will be getting new County Supervisors.
After the April 3 election, neither Carousel Bayrd nor Matt Veldran will represent us. Our neighborhood will no longer be a part of their districts.
Instead, Kyle Richmond will represent the Madison area that Carousel represents now. The Fitchburg area will be represented by Dorothy Krause. Both Kyle and Dorothy are running unopposed for their seats.
Attachment 5 shows the new Supervisory District #27 to be served by Dorothy.
Redistricting happens once every 10 years after a census shows how populations have changed. by Mary Mullen
19 - Neighborhood Will Be Part of County Supervisory District 4 (Attach: “4 SupDist04NEWmadRichmond.pdf””)
Once April 3 rolls around, the Madison part of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood will become part of County Board Supervisory District 4. (The Madison portion is now part of District 8.)
The new District 4 is comprised of areas on both sides of the Beltline between Verona Road and Fish Hatchery Road and spanning most of the Arboretum. It includes these areas:
· our neighborhood (Madison portion only)
· Summit Hills (west of Midvale)
· Nakoma
· the homes within the Arboretum
· Arbor Hills (to the east along the Beltline)
· Leopold neighborhood (also to the east)
· some of the Burr Oaks Neighborhood along Fish Hatchery Road
· the Bay Creek neighborhood on the south side of Monona Bay.
To compare the old District 8 which Carousel Bayrd now represents and the new District 4 which Kyle Richmond will represent, check out the two maps.
by Mary Mullen
20 - ATC Clears Along the Arboretum Fence (Attachment: “3 pics March constr. & color”)
In preparation for the high voltage electric lines coming up the Beltline, trees and brush have been cleared along the Beltline Frontage Road from Seminole highway and east along the Arboretum property.
The work was done by the American Transmission Company’s (ATC’s) contractor, Asplundh
Some of this clearing is needed for the project but ATC went beyond the minimum necessary at the Arboretum’s request to clear the area almost completely. This will remove a significant amount of invasive plants and will improve visibility in this area.
ATC has agreed with the Arboretum to save a cluster of oak trees in the area of the fence.
ATC did several days additional work on a volunteer basis for the Arboretum at their direction.
Want more information about ATC and its plans for the high lines and their impact? Come to the April 4 DMNA Council meeting at Prairie UU Society. (See article #6.)
information from Sarah Justus, American Transmission Co.
GENERAL INTEREST
21- Judges Invalidate Requirement of Voter Picture ID
This is old news to most, but the word right now is that voters will not have to show picture ID at the polls.
Since this may possibly change as the issue is kicked up to higher courts, voters should keep their eyes on the latest news and bring ID if necessary to the April 3 election.
News flew around the state on Tuesday, March 6, when Dane County Judge David Flanagan granted a temporary injunction barring enforcement of the voter ID law in the April 3 election. This suit was brought by Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Color People) and Voces de la Frontera, a Latino group.
The ruling was based on the Wisconsin Constitution which lays out voter qualifications. Showing ID is not a voter qualification.
Then on March 12, in a lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters, Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess ruled that requiring picture ID to vote is unconstitutional under the Wisconsin Constitution.
Judge Niess noted that our state Constitution says that “Every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district.”
In addition, only 2 kinds of voters can be excluded from voting, felons whose civil rights haven’t been restored, and people who have been “adjudged by a court to be incompetent…”
Judge Niess’s permanent injunction forbids further implementation or enforcement of the photo ID requirements.
The other provisions of the new voter law are still in force. The 28 day residency requirement, elimination of the corroborating witness for voter registration, and requirement that voters sign the poll book are still in place.
by Mary Mullen
22 - Voters May Still Register at the Polls
As has been true for a number of years, voters may still register at the polls.
Just be sure to bring your driver’s license or Wisconsin ID number, your Social Security number, and proof of where you live. To prove residency, a paper copy of your gas, electric, or telephone bill; a bank statement; a real estate bill; or a signed lease would be adequate proof, but these items need to be in your own name.
Also accepted as proof of residence is a current and valid Wisconsin driver license or ID card and a few other items. See http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/voters/registration-voting for a more exhaustive list.
by Mary Mullen
23 - Three-year-olds with Mouthfuls of Cavities?
Sometimes the things you read in the New York Times are pretty scary. This was one - that preschool children of all social classes are coming down with so many cavities that surgery to work on them is about the only answer.
The article in the March 6 issue of the Times, noted that the 5 years ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had found an increase in cavities among preschoolers This was the first increase in 40 years.
Dentists these days nationwide say that they are seeing more and more preschool children with 6 to 10 cavities or more. Kids with that number of cavities are often recommended for surgery since a small child often won’t tolerate pain-killing shots and holding their mouths open for dental work.
Why do kids this young have so many cavities? Many reasons: endless snacking, juice and other sweet drinks at bedtime, drinking bottled water rather than tap water that is fluoridated (Fluoridation prevents cavities), not taking a child to the dentist by age 1 for evaluation, and because parents don’t insist that their children brush their teeth twice a day.
What do dentists advise to prevent decay of baby teeth?
· Take your child to the dentist before age 1 for an assessment of cavity risk.
· Brush the teeth of kids younger than 2 with a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste twice a day. At age 2 use a dollop of toothpaste that’s peas-sized.
· Reduce snacking. Eating starch or sugar results in a bath of acid in the mouth for 20 minutes after the snack. The acid eats away at the enamel of the teeth.
· Don’t share utensils or “clean” a pacifier in your mouth. Adults with active tooth decay will pass on cavity-causing bacteria.
· Brush preschooler’s teeth for them. Kids can’t properly brush their own teeth until they are 7 to 9 years old.
You should be able to see the whole article at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/health/rise-in-preschool-cavities-prompts-anesthesia-use.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120306 <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/health/rise-in-preschool-cavities-prompts-anesthesia-use.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120306> It’s called “Preschoolers in Surgery for a Mouthful of Cavities.”
by Mary Mullen
24 - Free Income Tax Assistance at Madison Public Library
Madison Public Library is offering free tax filing for individuals, courtesy of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program).
VITA will be at the Hawthorne Branch of Madison Public Library (2707 E. Washington Ave.) Saturdays February 25, March 10, March 24 and April 7 from 9 AM to 1 PM.
Appointments are required-- call the Central Library reference desk at 266-6350 to schedule one. Appointments should last about 20 minutes. If you are married, both you and your spouse must be present.
Please refer clients and customers who could benefit. We still have quite a few openings! This service is generally intended for low- to moderate-income people, as well as seniors, but we will not be screening. They will not do business returns, and that includes income from renting a room, rental property, your own small business.
from Jule Stroick, City of Madison
25 - Assembly Rep. Terese Berceau’s News from 2/24/12
Help Filing Your Taxes
Our state and federal tax laws can be confusing. Many people do not know about the services (listed below), that are available to help them save time and money preparing their tax returns. Many of these services offer free tax preparation, tax deduction, and asset-building strategies, and are available at convenient locations in our community. Most locations also offer free electronic filing, so you can get your refund back in as little as five days.
1. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) - free federal and state tax filing assistance for low to moderate income people (generally $50,000 and below), the disabled, people with limited English proficiency, and the elderly who cannot prepare their own returns. VITA volunteers can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled.
The following three locations are state-sponsored VITA sites:
The Villager Mall Financial Education Center
Richard Dilley Tax Center
2300 S. Park Street, Lower Level
261-5077
Mondays & Wednesdays 12 pm -6 pm
No appointment required
Lussier Education Center
55 S. Gammon Road
Wednesdays 2 pm -5:30 pm
Call 833-4979 and ask for the front desk to reserve an appointment
Hawthorne Public Library (upstairs in the Public Health building)
2707 East Washington Avenue
Every other Saturday 9 am - 1 pm
(January 28th through April 7th)
Call 266-6350 to reserve an appointment
Lakeview Public Library
2845 N. Sherman Avenue
Mondays 1:30 pm -5:30 pm
Call 246-4547 to reserve a half-hour appointment
2. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) - free federal and state tax filing assistance for elderly, low-income, and disabled people. TCE volunteers specialize questions about pensions and retirement issues unique to seniors. This program is supported by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Foundation. AARP's Tax-Aide volunteers are trained by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the state Department of Revenue (DOR) to prepare basic income tax returns at TCE/Tax-Aide sites. Some of these sites offer free IRS electronic filing of tax returns. For information on TCE, call toll-free 1-800-829-1040. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call toll-free 1-888-227-7669. Tax assistance from AARP volunteers is also available at the following libraries (Please note that preparers cannot assist with preparing Schedule C, E, F, or Married Filing Separate returns):
Pinney Public Library
204 Cottage Grove Road
Tuesdays 1 pm - 4:30 pm
Call 224-7100 to reserve a half-hour appointment
Sequoya Public Library
4340 Tokay Boulevard
Tuesdays 1 pm - 4 pm
Call 266-6385 to reserve a half-hour appointment
According to the IRS, you will need to bring these items to the VITA/TCE sites to have your tax returns prepared:
Proof of identification – Picture ID
Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration orIndividual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter for you, your spouse and dependents
Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN
Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return
Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all employers
Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
A copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available
Proof of bank account routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank check
Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number (the provider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number) if appropriate
To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
3. IRS Online Free File Program - offers low to moderate income taxpayers free access to leading online commercial tax preparation software. This year, every taxpayer with a 2011 Adjusted Gross Income of $57,000 or less may use the Free File Program to complete and e-file his or her federal tax returns at no cost. To use this service, taxpayers should visit the IRS Web site at http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html. This service is also available in Spanish.
4. Free Refunds - Credit unions offer free tax preparation assistance and free refunds via direct deposit accounts to help Wisconsinites avoid costly "refund anticipation loans." This credit union service saved Wisconsinites $14.4 million in preparation fees and refund anticipation loan costs in 2010.
from 76th Assembly District Rep. Terese Berceau
rep.berceau@legis.wi.gov <mailto:rep.berceau@legis.wi.gov> 608-266-3784
2011 Top Consumer Complaints
The nation's fastest-growing crime is now the source of Wisconsin's fastest-rising category of consumer complaints. Making its first appearance on the annual top-ten chart, identity theft ranks fifth on the list of "Top Ten Consumer Complaints of 2011" released by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
According to Sandy Chalmers, Division Administrator of Trade and Consumer Protection, consumers should use extreme caution when sharing personal information online and should keep an eye on credit reports and bank statements. If you discover Irregular activity, report it to your bank or credit card company immediately .
Within the identity theft category, consumers most often reported fraudulent use of personal information or being victims of a data breach. Wisconsin's data breach law requires that companies notify victims within 45 days of becoming aware of the breach.
For the ninth year in a row telemarketing complaints, led by "No Call List" violations, topped the annual count. Consumers filed 1,669 telemarketing complaints in 2011. The best way to limit the number of legitimate telemarketing calls you receive on your home or cell line is to sign up your phone numbers for the No Call List at 1-866-9NOCALL or online at https://nocall.wisconsin.gov/web/home.asp. Telemarketers who knowingly and repeatedly violate the policy are investigated and can face fines and prosecution.
Telecommunications complaints against telephone and internet services jumped to second in the 2011 list with 1,272 written complaints. This number is due in large part to billing issues and bundling of services.
Landlord/tenant issues dropped to third in this year's list with 837 written complaints. Most complaints related to security deposit and lease provisions.
Home improvement issues retained their spot as fourth on the list with 338 complaints.
Complaints about gas pump accuracy tied with identity theft for fifth with 225 complaints. Rounding out the top ten are the categories of motor vehicle sales (6); furniture/home furnishings (7); motor vehicle repairs (8); satellite dish (9); and tied at tenth on the list are dentistry and contest/sweepstakes/prize promotions.
DATCP recorded 10,220 new formal written complaints and closed 10,304 existing complaints in 2011.
For more consumer information or to file a consumer complaint, visit the Bureau of Consumer Protection's Web site http://datcp.wi.gov/ or send an e-mail to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov, or call toll-free 1-800-422-7128.
from 76th Assembly District Rep. Terese Berceau
rep.berceau@legis.wi.gov <mailto:rep.berceau@legis.wi.gov> 608-266-3784
26 - Making County Government More User Friendly & Accessible Dane (Co. Exec. Joe Parisi’s column)
As Dane County Clerk I worked to modernize that office, increasing transparency and accountability in our elections. Then, providing online election returns in real time, and posting information on how to run for office on the web, were simple but important changes.
As your new County Executive, I am taking a number of steps this year to make all of county government more accessible to you.
I recently launched a new weekly e-newsletter to help keep you up to date on the latest news and initiatives from my office. I believe it’s important to keep you in the loop, and I’d like to hear your advice and ideas throughout the year as well. I hope you’ll join the conversation by signing up at: www.countyofdane.com/exec/ <http://www.countyofdane.com/exec/ <http://www.countyofdane.com/exec/> >
I am currently working with our Dane County Departments of Emergency Management, Public Safety Communications, Highways, and the Sheriff on implementing systems to utilize texting and other technologies to help get important, time-sensitive information to you quickly.
Whether it’s a sudden highway closing, an approaching storm, or a crime alert, I want to maximize technology to improve our public information efforts and the services county government delivers.
Stay tuned for news on how to sign up!
We’re modernizing other functions of county government as well. Shortly after taking office, I initiated a thorough review of our web-based services to see what more we can do to open the doors of county government to you. Soon, you will be able to apply for county jobs via our website. I’ve encouraged my department managers to explore strategies to use their websites to more effectively help the public access forms, information, and provide interactive feedback.
More exciting changes are coming - - all with the goal of improving service and access to your Dane County government.
by Dane County Executive Joe Parisi
27 - March is National Women's History Month
Visit our website www.nwhp.org for information and resources for National Women's History Month.
March Highlights in US Women's History
March 1, 1978 - Women's History Week is first observed in Sonoma County, California
March 1, 1987 - A Congressional resolution designating March as Women's History Month is passed
March 4, 1917 - Jeannette Rankin (R-MT) took her seat as the first female member of Congress
March 8 - International Women's Day; its origins trace back to protests in US and Europe to honor and fight for the political rights for working women
March 11, 1993 - Janet Reno is confirmed as the first woman U.S. Attorney General
March 12, 1912 - Juliette Gordon Low assembled 18 girls together in Savannah, Georgia, for the first-ever Girl Scout meeting
March 13, 1986 - Susan Butcher won the first of 3 straight and 4 total Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Races in Alaska
March 17, 1910 - Camp Fire Girls is established as the first American interracial, non-sectarian organization for girls
March 20, 1852 - Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," is published and becomes the best-selling book of the 19th century
March 21, 1986 - Debi Thomas becomes first African American woman to win the World Figure Skating Championship
Mar 31, 1888 - The National Council of Women of the U.S. is organized by Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Julia Ward Howe, and Sojourner Truth, among others; it is the oldest non-sectarian women's organization in U.S.
Mar 31, 1776 - Abigail Adams writes to her husband John who is helping to frame the Declaration of Independence: "Remember the ladies..."
March Birthdays
March 1, 1945 (1997) Nancy Woodhull, co-founder of "Women, Men and Media" a research and outreach project, president of the National Women's Hall of Fame.
March 3,1943 (1995) Myra Sadker, educator and co-author of "Sexism in School and Society", 1973.
March 3, 1962 - Jackie Joyner-Kersee, one of world's greatest female athlete; holds the record in the long jump (1988) and the heptathlon (1986); winner of 3 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals in 4 Olympic games
March 5, 1931 - Geraldyn (Jerrie) Cobb, record-setting aviator; first woman to pass qualifying exams for astronaut training, in 1959, but not allowed to train because of her gender
March 7, 1938 - Janet Guthrie, pioneering woman auto racer; first woman to compete in Indianapolis 500 (1977) and Daytona 500 (1977)
March 8, 1915 (1981) Selma Fraiberg, pioneer in the study of infant psychiatry and normal child development, author of "The Magic Years", translated into 10 languages.
March 9, 1928 (1987) - Graciela Olivarez, Chicana activist; first woman and first Latina law graduate from Notre Dame Law School; one of first two women on the board of Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
March 11, 1904 (1984) Hilde Bruch, Nazi Germany refugee, physician and psychiatrist, expert on eating disorders, author of "The Golden Cage"(1978)
March 15, 1896 (1989) Marion Cuthbert, educator, author of "Education and Marginality: "A Study of the Negro Woman College Graduate,"(1942), NAACP member, children's book author and poet
March 15, 1933 - Ruth Bader Ginsburg, second female U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1993)
March 16, 1900 (1985) Eveline Burns, economist, authored "The American Social Security System" (1949), standard text in the field.
March 18, 1964 - Bonnie Blair, speed skater; one of the most successful Winter Olympian in U.S. history and 5 time gold medalist
March 21, 1897 (1977) Martha Foley, authored "Story"Magazine (1932), editor of "The Best American Short Stories".
March 23, 1857 (1915) - Fannie Farmer, authored "The Boston Cooking-School Cookbook", which became the standard for cooking measurements
March 23, 1905 (1977) Joan Crawford, movie actress whose career spanned 5 decades.
March 23, 1908 (1997) Dominique DeMenil, escaped from Nazi France, art collector, co-created with Jimmy Carter the Carter-Menil Human Rights Foundation.
March 23, 1924 (1980) Bette Nesmith Graham, invented Liquid Paper correction fluid which became an office staple; created 2 foundations to support women's business and art
March 24, 1826 (1898) - Matilda Joslyn Gage, suffragist, women's rights and Native American rights activist, historian, founding member of the National Woman Suffrage Association
March 24, 1897 (1986) Linda Chase, ballet dancer in the American Ballet Theatre.
March 24, 1912 (2010)- Dorothy Height, Civil Rights activist, served over 40 years as President of the National Council of Negro Women
March 25, 1934 - Gloria Steinem, women's rights activist and journalist; founding editor of Ms. Magazine; co-founder of the National Women's Political Caucus, the Women's Action Alliance, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women
March 26, 1930 - Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1981)
March 26, 1926 (1997) Virginia (Toni) Carabillo, feminist writer, NOW Activist, co-authored "The Feminist Chronicles 1953-1993".
March 27, 1896 /1900(1981) Effa Manley, co-owner/manager of the Negro League baseball team, who championed their inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame, member of NAACP.
March 27, 1924 (1990) - Sarah Vaughan, world renown jazz singer and pianist known as the "Divine One"
March 31, 1889 (1975) - Muriel Wright, Choctaw Indian, teacher, historian, author, and editor
from National Women's History Project http://www.nwhp.org
nwhp@nwhp.org
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT (all short)
28 - Ride the Drive Dates and Locations Given - Early Warning
The City of Madison and Madison Parks are pleased to bring Ride the Drive, presented by Trek, back for its fourth year! We will be hosting two events this year: Ride the Drive-Downtown on June 3, 10am-3pm and Ride the Drive- Northside, August 12, 10am-3pm.
Ride the Drive is a free community event that turns Madison’s signature streets into a public promenade that is open to bikers, walkers, rollerbladers, and those out to share in the experience and fun atmosphere. These popular events have drawn over 20,000 families, friends, and recreation enthusiasts each. Ride the Drive is more than just closed streets, it includes music, activities, food and fun stopping points along the way.
In addition to our signature downtown event, the Northside has been chosen to be the first non-downtown location and is a great opportunity to showcase another area of town. Ride the Drive- Northside will have the traditional Ride the Drive elements but will also have a block party sort of atmosphere and will provide the Northside the chance to show off their streets, parks, businesses, neighborhoods, and welcoming small town vibe.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information about these events, please visit the Ride the Drive website at www.cityofmadison.com/ridethedrive <http://www.cityofmadison.com/ridethedrive>
29 - A Garden on Top of a Bus???
Now here’s an interesting idea - growing a garden on top of a city bus. If you think this is fascinating - or crazy - you might want to check out this article. It has photos. The bus has traveled around New York City and as far as Ohio.
URL is: http://wakeup-world.com/2012/02/27/gardens-thrive-on-top-of-city-busses/
30a - Green Madison Thanks Neighborhood Associations
Green Madison would like to thank all of the Neighborhood Associations for your support during 2011. With your help, 764 residents have expressed interest in Green Madison, 313 have already completed the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Assessment, 75 are obtaining bids or performing work and 67 have already completed their energy efficiency upgrades! We need your help again during 2012 to reach our goal! Please read the information below and share it with your members.
30b - New in 2012! Half-Price Energy Star Assesments
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> >
from Jule Stroick, City of Madison
30c - Energy Efficiency Tips and Information
Did you know that Green Madison posts tips and links to useful information on the Green Madison Facebook page every day? Check us out: www.facebook.com/greenmadison <http://www.facebook.com/greenmadison <http://www.facebook.com/greenmadison> > Don’t forget to “like” us.
30d - Upcoming Green Madison Presentations and Events
Green Madison posts all upcoming events and presentations on the City of Madison events calendar and the Green Madison Facebook events calendar. Our representatives are out in the community every week, please check either calendar for an updated list.
30e - Questions about Green Madison 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.
For more information contact Paul Grimyser at (608) 261-8965 or pgrimyser@cityofmadison.com .
------- end of the March 25, 2012 DUNN’S MARSH NEIGHBORHOOD e-NEWS ---
Thanks for reading!
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