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Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
April 13, 2014
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 & News contact: Mary Mullen, mmullen@chorus.net 298-0843
Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dunns-Marsh-Neighborhood-Association/18765419350 <file://localhost/pages/Dunns-Marsh-Neighborhood-Association/18765419350>
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SPRING THINGS: Easter Egg Hunt, Dunn’s Marsh litter pick up, garden plots (Articles 2-6 & 8); NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS (Articles 7-16); Lots of PHOTO COLLAGES.
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CALENDAR (Numbers refer to the articles that tell more. Red = DMNA events Green = Environmental
Sat., April 19, 9 am - Dunn’s Marsh Waterway Cleanup, Apache Pond, #2
Sun., April 20, 10:15 am - Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt (FREE), Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Dr., #1
Thurs., April 24 - 5:30-8:00 pm - Visioning for Madison Transportation, Madison Senior Center, #17
Sat., May 3, 8:30- 10:30 am- Shred Day Event for confidential documents, Oak Bank, #4
Sat., May 3rd, 7:30am – 10:30 am - Electronics Recycling, Surplus IT, #4
Sat., May 3 - Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale, Alliant Energy Center parking lot
Thur., May 8 - 7 p.m. - DMNA Council Meeting, Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Dr.
Thurs., May 15 - Last day to sign up for Make Music Madison, #13
Sat., June 21 - Make Music Madison, outdoors at Prairie UU Society
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 - Fourth Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Sunday, April 20
BE GREEN!
2 - Celebrate Spring, Saturday, April 19, by Picking Up Litter
3 - Challenge: Be an Angel - Pick Up That Horrible Litter along the Beltline
4 - Chance to Shred Papers & Recycle Used Electronics FREE, May 3
5 - Give Your Lawn a Checkup Before You Fertilize
6 - Clean Sweep Open Year Round, Removing More Pollutants From Our Environment
PRETTY STRICTLY NEIGHBORHOOD
7 - Cottonwood Taken Down (Attachment: “1 pics cut trees.jpg”)
8 - Plots Available in Marlborough Community Garden
9 - $900 Grant Approved for Garden Mosaics
(Attachment: “2 pics garden mosaic project.jpg” & “3 pics busy neighborhood.jpg”)
10 - Mosaic Artist Elizabeth Doyle and Roundabout Project Featured in Monona Paper
11 - Neighbors Say Nice Things About the e-News (Attachment : “4 pics Marsh Walk.jpg”)
12 - Neighborhood-Wide Garage Sales Coming Up in May
13 - It’s Not too Late to Sign Up to Make Music at MMM
14 - Broken Glass Endangers Bicyclists Near Lovell Lane
15 - Lt. Mike Hanson Offers Safety Hints (Attachment: “3 pics busy neighborhood”)
16 - Big Holes Presage Verona Road Crossings (Attachment: “5 pics destruction/construction.jpg”)
17 - Public Visioning Workshop for Madison Transportation Master Plan, April 24, 2014
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ARTICLES
1 - Fourth Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Sundaym April 20
Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society will host their 4th annual Easter egg hunt on Sunday, April 20th starting at 10:15 until 11:15. Toddlers through 6th grade are asked to bring a basket or bag and meet outside the building located at 2010 Whenona Drive.
After the egg hunt there will be games and crafts.
***This event is open to the Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood - FREE. You do not need to be a member of Prairie UU Society to attend.***
For more information, contact Rebecca Malke at dre@uuprairie.org.
from Rebecca Malke
BE GREEN!
2 - Celebrate Spring, Saturday, April 19, by Picking Up Litter
Looking for a way to get outdoors and celebrate spring? Try participating in a neighborhood clean-up.
Dunn’s Marsh Waterway Cleanup - 9:00 a.m., Sat., April 19. Meet at Apache Pond, Crescent Road.
Belmar Park Cleanup - Sat., April 19. Unknown time, probably morning. Meet at Belmar Park, corner of Red Arrow Trail and Jenewein Rd.
3 - Challenge: Be an Angel - Pick Up That Horrible Litter along the Beltline
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone picked up that shocking amount of litter that’s collected along the Beltline Frontage Road through the winter and spring? We haven’t organized anything, but some angel or angels could take it upon themselves to gather their heavy duty garbage bags and do the job. Why not get together with a civic-minded neighbor, and spend an hour cleaning up that disgusting mess?
If you plan to do this, take your camera along to document before and after, the bags you filled, and the people who did the work. Send them for publication in this newsletter.
If you pick up the litter, please sort into two categories - recyclables and trash. Glass or plastic liquor, beer, and soft drink containers are recyclable and should go into your recycling barrel. Almost everything else is trash and should end up in your trash barrel that goes to the landfill.
4 - Chance to Shred Papers & Recycle Used Electronics FREE, May 3
Electronics Recycling - 8:30-11:30 am, Sat., May 3, Surplus IT, 901 Watson Ave., FREE
Shred event, 7:30-10:30 am, Sat., May 3, Oak Bank, 5951 McKee Rd., FREE
5 - Give Your Lawn a Checkup Before You Fertilize
After a long winter under a deep blanket of snow, your lawn is finally visible again, matted and brown. You may be thinking about spring cleaning and maintenance, including an application of fertilizer to ensure lush, green grass this summer. Before you fertilize, test your soil to see what your lawn needs. You may be wasting your time and money, and sending excess nutrients to local waterways where they feed algae and damage fish habitat, if you don’t test first.
If your soil already has the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, you don’t need to fertilize. To figure out your lawn’s needs, send in a soil sample to be tested. The University of Wisconsin has a soil testing lab right in Madison. Any Wisconsin soil can be submitted for analysis at a cost of $15/sample. A sample is two cups of soil collected in multiple places from the top 4 inches of your lawn. The laboratory will return a report for each sample indicating soil pH, percent organic matter, phosphorus and potassium analysis. It will also provide recommendations on the addition of lime (for pH) and fertilizer.
Right now is a great time to test—you should have your results in time for a spring application, if one is recommended. You’ll find everything you need on the UW soil lab website http://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/lawn-garden/ (or google “UW soil testing”), including the submission form and sampling instructions.
Keep your lawn healthy and our area waters clean year round by:
· leaving grass clippings on the lawn
· selecting fertilizers with no phosphorus (unless your soil test results show it’s needed; it’s the law here in Dane County)
· avoiding weed and feed products
· calibrating fertilizer spreaders correctly
· keeping fertilizer off of paved surfaces
· choosing fertilizers with at least 25%- 50% of the nitrogen in slow release form
Sample soil test report, http://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/files/forms/lag_sample.pdf
The Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership is working with the Rock River Stormwater Group to reduce the amount of pollution making its way to our lakes and rivers. The Yahara chain of lakes and the Yahara River both ultimately drain to the Rock River. Both groups thank you for helping to Renew the Rock by reducing stormwater pollution throughout the Rock River area. Learn more at www.myfairlakes.com <http://www.myfairlakes.com> and www.renewtherock.com <http://www.renewtherock.com> .
6 - Clean Sweep Open Year Round, Removing More Pollutants From Our Environment
A Column by Dane County Executive Joe Parisi
Warmer weather has finally arrived, and with it, the unofficial ritual of de-cluttering closets, basements, garages, and barns to start off fresh.
Thankfully the county’s new Clean Sweep facility, now operating year-round instead of a limited time during the year, is making it even easier to get rid of the old paint, car batteries, or unwanted electronics like computers and cellphones you may have piling up.
Clean Sweep first opened two decades ago, and the program has kept an amazing 10 million pounds of waste from filling up the landfill or being disposed of in unsafe ways that pollute our water and soil.
Our new year-round facility opened last year at the county’s landfill, and has increased hazardous waste collection throughout the county by 3% percent – an amazing 764,939 pounds – resulting in even less pollution entering our water and our soil.
Electronic waste collection, a new addition to Clean Sweep, has also been successful – 57,477 pounds, or enough to fill 3 semi-trailers, of unwanted electronics were kept out of the landfill in the first year.
Making the change to a year-round Clean Sweep program not only helps tidy houses, businesses, and farms, it’s part of the county’s overall commitment to a sustainable and energy efficient future.
We’re making homegrown bio compressed natural gas from decaying trash at our landfill and using it to fuel our county vehicles; helping build manure digesters that clean up our lakes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and updating county facilities to save energy and taxpayer dollars.
We hope you’ll visit Clean Sweep at its new location at the county landfill (7102 US Hwy 12, Madison), Tuesdays – Fridays from 7:00am - 2:45pm, or Saturdays from 8:00am - 10:45am. Clean Sweep will be closed Sundays, Mondays and Holidays. Dane County households will be asked to pay $10 per drop-off.
Please call 608-838-9555 or visit www.danecountycleansweep.com <http://www.danecountycleansweep.com> for additional details, including a full description of products and electronics that will be accepted, fee structure, and exceptions.
by Dane County Executive Joe Parisi
PRETTY STRICTLY NEIGHBORHOOD
7 - Cottonwood Taken Down (Attachment: “1 pics cut trees.jpg”)
The big old cottonwood tree is gone, cut down on Election Day, April 1. This marks the end of an era, mourned by many who looked at the tree as a landmark, a welcoming sentinel, and a symbol of the past rural nature of this neighborhood.
Where a tall spreading tree once served as a way station for small birds and a perch for hawks, all that’s left is the huge mound of fill dirt that was piled around it for the past two seasons and a hole in that mound where the trunk was ground away by big machines. A block east, at the site of the former Highlander Motel, lies a stack of big-diameter logs, the remains of the big trunks.
The demise of the tree was noted by long-time resident Mary Melvin of Windflower Way, who wrote this reflection.
Hi Mary,
Was over by the highway and noticed our old Cottonwood Tree has left its post. We knew it wouldn’t last, but it was sort of a “Landmark” for years. I’ll miss seeing it. One more victory for the DOT. As I look at the project…I think….all of this construction is still not going to do much for the traffic on the Beltline. Cars and Trucks will roll on to the Beltline without stops, but once they are onto the Beltline it will be congestion again. Just wait a few more years and we will have roads over the Beltline. Probably four lanes going West on the top and four lanes going East on the bottom. Big City Traffic!!!!
Mary Melvin
[Editor’s note: I believe there will be several stops for incoming traffic including one where we currently cross over to Home Depot and another just before traffic exits Verona Road on the way onto the Beltline East. The one near the current crossover is necessary to allow us to get onto Verona Road and then to the far left to get onto the Beltline West. The one at the entrance to the Beltline will allow pedestrians to cross those lanes and continue north on Midvale Blvd.]
by Mary Mullen
8 - Plots Available in Marlborough Community Garden
Garden plots are available in the tilled section of the Marlborough Community Garden. At the time plots were assigned to returning and newly registered gardeners on April 1, 11 plots were open.
To rent a plot, contact Micah or Angelica. Angelica is a native Spanish speaker. Contact Micah if you speak English. Here’s the contact information:
Angelica Muñoz: 332-4832 or angeolvido@aol.com
Micah Kloppenburg: 608-609-0349 or micahklop@gmail.com <mailto:micahklop@gmail.com>
We are also looking for someone with a tractor and rototiller attachment to plow the community-tilled section of the garden. Please contact Micah if you know of someone who can do this.
by Mary Mullen
9 - $900 Grant Approved for Garden Mosaics
(Attachment: “2 pics garden mosaic project.jpg” & “3 pics busy neighborhood.jpg”)
It’s almost a sure thing. The Marlborough Community Garden Glass Mosaic Stepping Stone grant that the DMNA applied for March 31 got the nod for the full amount requested from the Madison Art Commission on Tuesday, April 8. Then on the 10th, the Madison Park Commission approved the project as well.
All that remains is for the Madison City Council to approve the $918 grant to create 68 mosaic stepping stones. Passage is virtually assured. The full project will cost about $1,380 in cash outlay plus about 250 hours of volunteer time from gardeners and others making the stepping stones and setting them in the ground.
The project has 3 parts. The main part is for numbered stepping stones to be placed at each end of each garden path. The numbers will help gardeners find their plots more easily at the beginning of the year and will help monitors know where they are in the garden as they check the maintenance of plots throughout the growing season.
The second part is a line of stepping stones spelling out “Marlborough Community Garden.” This mosaic “sign” will be on the east end of the tilled garden adjacent to the bike path, easy to see for the many passersby, but far enough away that it won’t be wrecked by snow plowing.
The third part is 10 additional stepping stones destined for the Head Start (Dane County Parent Council) and Allied Learning Center plots.
All the mosaics will be designed and created by gardeners and any other Dunn’s Marsh resident who wants to participate in the workshops that will be lead this summer by community artist Christina Kantor. Christina is experienced in working with people from our neighborhood since she lead the Allied kiosk mosaic stepping stone project last year.
The DMNA was the applicant for this project with the other DMNA, Dudgeon Monroe Neighborhood Association, serving as the fiscal agent.
by Mary Mullen
10 - Mosaic Artist Elizabeth Doyle and Roundabout Project Featured in Monona Paper
An article in the Monona Herald-Independent, written by Julie Henning and posted April 10, features artist Elizabeth Doyle. Doyle is spearheading the mosaic project based on tracings made by Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood kids that will grace the roundabout being constructed under Verona Road.
Kids made the tracings of each other in March and April. The roundabout is just a big hole in the ground now over toward MacDonald’s but the mosaics are being designed at this very moment. Later this spring and into the summer, additional workshops will be held in our neighborhood for kids to apply the mosaic pieces to the designs.
Here’s an excerpt from the article that explains the stage Doyle is involved in now.
She [Doyle] explained, “Right now I’m taking different elements of different traces and putting them together. It’s not just about what the individual mosaic looks like, but how it tells a story all together. I’m trying to pull out those stories.”
In one tracing, four girls lay down on two sheets of paper, each with an arm pointed towards the center of their heads. Doyle is working to incorporate images representing the elements of earth, wind, water, and fire—one element into each body. One design features a silhouette of 17-year-old Cory Morovits seated in his motorized wheelchair. Another design shows two boys from the Second Baptist Church connected in a two-fisted embrace.
“We all have physical characteristics, but there’s something so beautiful about the body,” Doyle explained. “I think of the final design as seeing into a person or a group of people—seeing into gifts or dreams or energy and bringing out the beauty without bringing out the physical characteristics.”
She continued, “The image of the two boys connected at the hands is something they came up with. To me it represents that we’re all in this together, but there’s also a struggle. I love the stories our bodies tell.”
Doyle says she is enjoying the collaborative process and seeing the neighborhoods coming out from behind their typical boundaries. “It’s not just me collaborating on the design with the community, but the community is part of it. It was really important to the two neighborhood associations for the youth to be part of the art and to see that they have opportunities and are part of the neighborhood,” she said.
The full article is well worth reading. Find it at
<http://www.hngnews.com/monona_cottage_grove/news/local/monona/article_b9a34b8e-c028-11e3-86e5-001a4bcf6878.html>
by Mary Mullen
11 - Neighbors Say Nice Things About the e-News (Attachment : “4 pics Marsh Walk.jpg”)
Do you ever access the DMNA Facebook website? If you had looked there on March 31 you would have seen a nice compliment about our e-News. Anne Marie Hughes said,
I get more information in my NEIGHBORHOOD newsletter than I have in newspapers in the cities where I lived! To be fair, I couldn't read the German news so maybe the local news was great when I lived there. But have to say, I know so much of what is going on, the IMPORTANT stuff, that I would be worried ever leaving this area, I'm already spoiled and I haven't even been here a year!
Next day two other neighbors sent their comments by e-mail. Jo Kelly’s kind words were, “Thank you for another informative newsletter!! The pictures are awesome!” and Nathan Counley commented, “Thanks as always for your hard work putting this info together!” Back in the winter, another neighbor sent a generous donation to the DMNA along with a letter in which she also expressed appreciation for the photos in the newsletter.
My aim in this newsletter is to share what I know or have learned, to let you know about activities in and out of the neighborhood that I think might be of interest, and to provide a visual and written record of our neighborhood and the activities of Council members and other residents who are working for the good of all. It’s nice to get that occasional appreciative feedback.
Mary Mullen
12 - Neighborhood-Wide Garage Sales Coming Up in May
The DMNA Social/Welcoming Committee will be promoting neighborhood-wide garage sales for a weekend in May. If you want to be on the list of places holding garage sales, contact Thea Bach, 274-7730 or 239-9810.
The Social Committee will be picking a date soon. If you let Thea know you are interested, whe will give you details and get you on the list. Better yet, contact Thea and join the committee that will work on making these sales a success.
13 - It’s Not too Late to Sign Up to Make Music at MMM
Neighbors, put on your thinking caps and screw up your courage. Send me an e-mail right now saying you are interested in performing at this year’s neighborhood venue for Make Music Madison, June 21. Deadline for signing up is May 15.
If you play or sing, doesn’t matter how good you are. Just do it! If you don’t play or sing, think of someone who does and get them to volunteer.
The music, outdoors on the Prairie UU Society’s lawn, will be on Saturday, June 21, from 4 pm until 8 pm, or if enough sign up, maybe even from noon.
Contact Mary Mullen, 608-298-0843, or mmullen@chorus.net
14 - Broken Glass Endangers Bicyclists Near Lovell Lane
Thursday, April 10, 2014 8:31 AM
To: bikies@lists.danenet.org
Subject: [Bikies] Glass on SW Path!
Night Riders went south on the SW Path this morning about 6 a.m. Just north of Lovell Ln we encountered broken glass, apparently broken purposely on the path. It looked like a whole sixpack!
Two of the group tried to clear a way through the center of it with some cardboard that had been blowing around the area, but we left a lot of glass still on the path. Stick to the center line through it and check your tires for embedded glass when you get to your destination.
Next I'll "Report a Problem" on Madison's Web site. Be careful out there!
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On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 8:42 AM
Seems to be an annual spring ritual in that section.
While rolling along, it's generally effective to gingerly wipe each tire with a reinforced-palm riding glove right after passing through any area of glass, before it gets imbedded by riding on it more miles.
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Ahhh. If only this problem in this neighborhood was limited to spring. I commuted through there for several years, and I can assure you that it is a good idea to wipe your tires every time that you pass between Lovell and Verona Road. Winter spring summer or fall. It is always a problem.
[Editor’s note : This problem was also reported to Lt. Mike Hanson of the Madison Police Dept., West District.]
from the Bikies listserve
15 - Lt. Mike Hanson Offers Safety Hints (Attachment: “3 pics busy neighborhood”)
At the April 10 DMNA Council meeting, Lt. Mike Hanson of the Madison Police Department, West District, talked about law enforcement and heard neighbors’ concerns.
Now that the weather is warming up, issues that were fairly dormant over the winter are popping up. Concerns include traffic issues and drug issues. Britta Parkway and Drive are experiencing illegal parking, cars are stopping and people blocking Britta Parkway which is now serving as the Beltline Frontage Road since the real Frontage Road is blocked off, and speeding is also a problem there. The next day, Lt. Hanson reported that officers are aware of the parking issues in the neighborhood and will be doing enforcement.
In addition, neighbors complained about quickie drug deals are apparently taking place from car to car in several parts of the neighborhood, and drugs that are left and then picked up in the undeveloped areas of lower Allied Drive. Other complaints were about issues at the BP station, and boom cars.
Officer Hanson emphasized that residents should call the police about any suspicious activity. Even if a drug deal is over so soon that police can’t get there, hope is not lost. Get as much information as you can to pass on to police - description of vehicles and their license plate numbers if possible.
When you see crime happening, he encourages you to call a) 911, b) the non-emergency #255-2345, or 3) Crime Stoppers at 266-6014.
One of the officers who works in our neighborhood is Steve Mackesey. For behavior that is so frequent that it is getting “old” and very bothersome, let Officer MacKesey know by e-mail SMackesey@cityofmadison.com
Officer Hanson may be conducting “boombox” training sometime in the future. People who have taken the training can then report vehicles they observe that are playing noisy boombox music as they drive neighborhood streets. Trained boombox volunteers measure off 75 feet from their listening point and can report any vehicles they can hear at that distance.
by Mary Mullen
16 - Big Holes Presage Verona Road Crossings (Attachment: “5 pics destruction/construction.jpg”)
Those holes are getting very deep. One is along Verona Road very near the Beltline. The other is up closer to MacDonald’s. What are they all about?
They are about getting pedestrians, bikes, and motor vehicles across Verona Road once all the construction is completed.
In a recent discussion with construction supervisors I learned that the big hole near the Beltline intersection is the beginning of the ped/bike tunnel that will underlie Verona Road there. Rebar anchored in concrete is poking almost to ground level right now. But for now the big hole will collect excess stormwater runoff and keep it from running into Dunn’s Marsh.
The other, more extensive excavation up toward MacDonald’s is for the roundabout, the only motor vehicle crossing that will be left once the whole project is done. It will be 10 feet below grade - a big dip from the present-day level of the Verona Frontage
The place where cars now cross over to Home Depot will eventually be eliminated. Motorists wishing to get on the Beltline from the frontage road near Avalon Village and Walgreen’s will be able to turn right and head directly to the Beltline East. Those wishing to go to Home Depot or head out toward Verona, will have to use the roundabout. For an animation of the roundabout, go to <http://dotmedia.wi.gov/main/Play/abb8f14d05134dd6ad8fc5f4edc9754b > The new passage under Verona Road near Allied Drive and the Southwest Bike Commuter Path will also be eliminated when all the work is done.
Meanwhile, the scene around this big intersection are changing everyday: first all the trees cut down (April 1), then the growing and shrinking piles of sand and dirt, always the mud and dust-filled streets, mountains of broken up concrete and ground up blacktop, and the trucks and assorted specialty machines that whine, grind, roar, and bang.
Listened to in a positive way, the din creates a rough symphony of sound. No one likes silence like I do, but if I had to pick a favorite construction sound, it would be the pile driver that sends cymbal-like clangs that reverberate over the neighborhood. All we need is a saxophone player to riff around the rhythm of that gigantic beat.
By the way, have you noticed that Dunn’s Marsh is getting a modicum of protection from all the dirty runoff created by this project? Look at the black fabric pinched into the storm water grates, especially visible on Britta Parkway. The fabric is supposed to filter out at least some of the sediment and larger trash generated by construction.
by Mary Mullen
17 - Public Visioning Workshop for Madison Transportation Master Plan, April 24, 2014
You are Invited to a Public Visioning Workshop! Madison in Motion: the Sustainable Madison Transportation Master Plan. The workshop will happen on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at the Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin Street, 5:30 – 8:00 pm (Presentation at 6:00)
https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=3027360&GUID=3BB9A8F7-33AF-416A-B7C0-26A2AD234B87
----End of the 4/13/14 issue of the DUNN’S MARSH NEIGHBORHOOD E-NEWS ---
THANKS FOR READING
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News
March 31, 2014
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 & News contact: Mary Mullen, mmullen@chorus.net 298-0843
Website: http://www.dunnsmarsh.org
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dunns-Marsh-Neighborhood-Association/18765419350 <file://localhost/pages/Dunns-Marsh-Neighborhood-Association/18765419350>
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VOTE Tuesday (Articles 20-27), LOTS of Neighborhood News (Articles 1-9); TAX help (Articles 10-11); About the ENVIRONMENT (Articles 28-32); the CALENDAR (below).
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CALENDAR (Numbers refer to the articles that tell more. Red = DMNA events Green = Environmental
Tues., April 1, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. - ELECTION DAY, #20-27
Thurs., April 3, 6:30 p.m. - Fitchburg Water Conservation Campaign Kick Off, Fitchburg Library, #31
Thurs., April 10, 7 pm - DMNA Council Meeting, 2 speakers, Prairie UU Society, #6
Sat., April 19, 9 a.m. - Dunn’s Marsh Waterway Cleanup, Apache Pond, #31
April 21-22 & 24-27 – Inexpensive Tag & Microchip event for pets, #18
Sat., May 3, 8:30- 10:30 am- Shred Day Event for shredding and recycling confidential documents, #31
Sat., May 3rd, 7:30am – 10:30 am - Electronics Recycling, #31
Sat., May 3 - Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale, Alliant Energy Center parking lot, #32
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ARTICLES
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
1 - Route 59 Weekend Bus Service Change Proposed, Hearing April 9 (Attachment: “1 map bus 59.jpg)
2 - Garden Plots May Still Be Available (Attach.: “2 pics March 15.jpg”)
3 - CAC Ditches Community Gardens
4 - Stay Off the Grass! Use the Bike Path (Attachment: “3 pics approach of spring.jpg”)
5 - Fitchburg to Burn Prairies Near Seminole Highway
6 - DMNA Council Meeting to Feature Special Speakers April 10
7 - Chili Fest Draws Hot Chili, Lots of Kids, and a Good Time (Attach.: “2 pics March 15.jpg”)
8 - Bluestone Custom Homes to Build Single Family Homes in Lower Allied Area
9 - Calling All Musicians!
TAXES & OTHER CONCERNS
10 - Families: Claim Your Share of Earned Income Tax Credit
(Attachment: “4 tax assist2014 brochure.pdf”)
11 - Free Tax Assistance Available at Several Sites (Attachment: “5 tax docs to bring.jpg”)
12 - Someone Stole Me! How to Protect your Identity Online
13 - County/Fitchburg Announce Plans to Reconstruct McKee Rd./PD This Summer
14 - Residential Burglaries Increase in West Police District - What to do
15 - Submit a Concern to Fitchburg
16 - Become a City of Fitchburg Mailing List Subscriber
17 - For Current Subscribers: Questions & Answers about the City of Fitchburg Mailing List
18 - Dog & Cat Tag and Microchipping Offered at Discount
19 - City of Madison Puts Pit Bull Neutering “on File”
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
20 - Voters Will See Changes in Look of Ballot and the Machine that Counts Ballots
21 - Using the New Ballots and Tabulators (ballot counters) - in English and Español
22 - Polling Place for Madison Voters Has Changed
23 - April 1 Election Ballots Dominated by Uncontested Candidates
Marijuana and Nonpartison Redistricting Referenda Are on All Ballots
24 - Madison Voters Choose Between Two School Board Candidates
25 - Fitchburg Voters to Choose Between Two County Supervisor Candidates
26 - Use My Vote WI to Verify Voter Registration, Find Your Polls, and LOTS More
27 - Governor Signs New Elections Bills into Law (Won’t affect the April 1 election)
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
28 - Madison’s Spring Leaf and Brush Collection Begins March 31
29 - Organic Gardening Classes Offered for Beginners (Attachment: “6 gardening classes.jpg”)
30 - Fitchburg Emerald Ash Borer Information Sessions, April 10 & 12
31 - Fitchburg Green (Land) and Blue (Water) E-News Blast #47
32 - Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale, May 3, Alliant Energy Center
33 - Arboretum’s Earth Focus Day Camp begins in June
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ARTICLES
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
1 - Route 59 Weekend Bus Service Change Proposed, Hearing April 9 (Attachment: “1 map bus 59.jpg)
Five people from the neighborhood attended the Fitchburg hearing about proposed changes to bus route 59 that serves the western part of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood on weekends and holidays. Madison Metro Transit will hold another hearing about the proposed changes on Wednesday, April 9, 6:00 p.m., 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Room 260 (Madison Municipal Building).
The change has the purpose of serving Fitchburg better with direct service to Orchard Pointe - Aldi’s, Target, HyVee - and the West Transfer Point on Tokay that is close to Copp’s and Westgate where another HyVee is located. In our neighborhood, the changed route would add stops on the upper part of Allied Drive while taking away stops on one side of Red Arrow Trail, the loop of Crescent to Lovell Lane, and one side of Lovell. The route would go only one way through the neighborhood.
At its March meeting the DMNA Council went on record in support of the change, liking the more direct service to Target. The Council also asked for an additional stop in the vicinity of Crescent Road at Sentinel Pass to better serve the eastern side of the neighborhood.
The proposed route would be the first Metro route to go down Seminole Highway: it would come down PD/McKee Road from the area at Target, cross Verona Road and continue past the Star Theatre, take a dip into the commercial area near Seminole, and then go north on Seminole, crossing PD and coming into the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood at Sentinel Pass. Look at the attachment to see the route.
On the negative side, Fitchburg Alder Carol Poole said she was sure to get complaints about the noise of the bus on Crescent Road between Red Arrow Trail and Sentinel Pass. She also felt is was wasteful to have lengthy areas without stops as there would be on Seminole Highway.
Those who don’t go to the hearing may contribute their opinions in several other ways:
· Click on mymetrobus.com/feedback
· Call 608-266-4466
· Email mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com
· Mail: Metro Transit, Public Hearing Feedback, 1245 E. Washington Ave., Ste. 201, Madison, WI 53703
It may be important to know that many other route changes will also be dealt with at the hearing on April 9 including 8, 14, 15, 19, 26, 36, 44, 48, 50, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 78.
Although Route 59 serves a small portion of Madison on Allied Drive, all fares will be credited to Fitchburg. Fitchburg will pay for the service. Costs to Fitchburg will be similar to those at present time. Estimates are that ridership will increase by 30-50% due to the route change.
Attending the Fitchburg hearing on March 19 were Thea Bach and Mary Mullen, representing the Dunnn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association, Fitchburg Alders Carol Poole and Dorothy Krause, and Belmar resident Cathy Casper.
by Mary Mullen
2 - Garden Plots May Still Be Available (Attach.: “2 pics March 15.jpg”)
Interested in gardening in the Marlborough Park Community Garden? There may be a few plots left. Contact one of the people on the garden management committee. They will be assigning plots at their meeting on April 1. All live in the neighborhood.
Spanish speakers should contact Angelica Muñoz, 332-4832, angeolvido@aol.com
English speakers may contact one of the English-speaking garden management committee members.
James Luscher, 608-446-6131, jluscher@gmail.com
Charlotte Spors, 414-628-0479, pinkyloo27@gmail.com
Mary Mullen, 298-0843, mmullen@chorus.net
3 - CAC Ditches Community Gardens
OK, so this is a trashy headline, but it did get your attention, didn’t it?
The fact is that the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin (CAC) is withdrawing its support for all the community gardens it has involved itself in for a number of years
Garden leaders learned of CAC’s withdrawal of assistance via an e-mail from CAC Director Greta Hansen on March 27. She said,
After many years of consideration, CAC has decided to end its leadership role in community gardens in Madison and Dane County. While we thought we would be able to continue in our usual ways for 2014, changes in staff and other factors have moved the calendar up considerably. What that means is this: CAC’s major role in community gardens will end May 31, 2014.
Here’s some history. CAC became somewhat involved in the Marlborough Park Community Garden around 2004, but took over completely from the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association in 2006. The verb “took over” is used intentionally because it was against the wishes of the DMNA to give up management of the garden. The DMNA had successfully managed our neighborhood’s community garden in Marlborough Park since the 1970s, for many years under the leadership of neighbor David Martin.
At some point the City of Madison decided that all community gardens on city property should be managed in exactly the same way. In 2005 Bill Barker of the Madison Parks Commission asked to meet with neighborhood leaders and urged us to give up the DMNA garden lease with the city in favor of CAC. Negotiations followed. One thing DMNA leaders objected to was steeply graduated CAC rental fees for plots - $10/$35/$65 - when we were accustomed to charging (and paying) $9 per plot. But really there was nothing to be done because one condition of the lease was that it could be terminated at any time for any reason.
What does CAC’s decision mean for the Marlborough Park Community Garden? First of all, our CAC garden specialist, Micah Kloppenburg, has promised to stay on as a volunteer with our garden even though he is no longer working for CAC. That’s great because he speaks Spanish and we need a translator. Over half the gardeners are Latino families. He’s also been helpful as a leader in many other ways.
Secondly, registration should be completed by the May 31 date and the water should be turned on for the season. CAC will continue to hold the leases and insurance for the gardens until December 31, 2014. But plants, seeds, and other resources will have to be picked up rather than be delivered by CAC. Compost, mulch, and other amenities will also have to be coordinated differently. Finding someone to plow the tilled area of the garden may actually be the most difficult part for our garden.
On the plus side, Our garden has a strong management committee. It has been meeting on a monthly basis all year long.
Greta Hansen’s letter concluded with some hopeful notes.
The process for determining a sustainable, gardener-driven community gardens program is continuing with a planning group made up of several community stakeholders, including garden leaders, community agencies, local government, and others. This group will be responsible for identifying potential gaps after May 31, 2014 suggesting how the City of Madison and/or other agencies may be able to fill those gaps. This group will also be studying and ultimately proposing a new model for a community-wide garden program with funding sources, and hopes to have a structure in place before the 2015 growing season.
Fortunately, a working group of garden leaders formed at the City Garden Committee on March 25th will be meeting with you soon to regroup, rethink and reorganize your respective and collective roles.
by Mary Mullen
4 - Stay Off the Grass! Use the Bike Path (Attachment: 3 “pics Aproach of spring.jpg”)
As the temperatures warm up, the athletic fields and parks turf is starting to thaw. We are all feeling the effects of this long winter and want to get outside and play; however, we need people to continue to stay off the grass and athletic fields during this early spring thaw.
When games or practices are played on fields with poor or unsafe conditions - such as these early spring conditions, participants and spectators can be injured. Also, major damage to the fields can result. Afterwards, it can take months, or even years, for the fields to get back into quality playing condition.
Madison Parks asks that team practices and pick-up games refrain from being played on the fields and parks until we give notice that it is safe to be on the fields. This will help minimize the damage to the turf.
To help us educate the public, we are asking people to call the Madison Parks Rangers if they see teams out practicing in the parks. (608) 261-9295
We thank you for your understanding and patience!
from Laura Whitmore, Madison Parks
5 - Fitchburg to Burn Prairies Near Seminole Highway
In April, weather permitting, the City of Fitchburg will be conducting prescribed burns at the park and natural areas listed below.
The purpose of the burns is to promote native prairie vegetation and oak regeneration. Prescribed burns are an essential tool for restoring and maintaining prairie, oak savanna and oak woodland habitats. These habitat types have declined dramatically throughout Wisconsin since initial European settlement in the mid 1800s. Despite the rarity of these habitats, healthy prairies, oak savannas and woodlands support a disproportionate amount of biodiversity and harbor many regionally rare and declining species.
The burns will be conducted by Adaptive Restoration LLC, the company the City has hired to care for its prairies and conservancy areas.
Adaptive Restoration will provide City staff up to 24 hours advance notice of the burn, and they will notify all appropriate authorities prior to the burn. Their burn crew consists of trained firefighters with all the equipment necessary to keep the fire under control. In preparation for the burn, Adaptive Restoration will be mowing or cutting vegetation around the areas to be burned as necessary. These temporary paths will be used to contain the fire within the park.
On the day of the burn, we ask that you avoid visiting the park until the burn is complete, so the burn crew may do their work safely and efficiently.
The burn will be conducted on a day when weather conditions allow for a safe burn with minimal smoke impact on your neighborhood and local roads. However, we recommend keeping windows and doors closed to keep smoke or the smell of smoke out of your home.
For more information, please contact Urban Forester Ed Bartell at 608-270-4289 or Mike Healy, Restoration Ecologist with Adaptive Restoration 608-554-0411.
Prescribed Burns for April 2014 -- Burn sites are highlighted with purple or yellow outlines.
6 - DMNA Council Meeting to Feature Special Speakers April 10
Police coverage and road issues - those will be the subjects we will learn about from two special speakers at the April 10 meeting of the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Council. Any and residents may attend the meeting which begins at 7 p.m. at Prairie UU Society, 2010 Whenona Drive.
One speaker will be Lt.Michael Hanson from the Madison Police Department.
The second will be Cole Buerge. He is consultant to WisDOT hired to gather input from people along the Beltline corridor. Now that the Verona Road project is well underway, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is going on to plan what should be done about the Beltline.
7 - Chili Fest Draws Hot Chili, Lots of Kids, and a Good Time (Attach.: “2 pics March 15.jpg”)
It was a madhouse of happy kids getting their faces painted or doing crafts while adults enjoyed five different delicious chilis and each others’ company. That was the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Chili Fest held on Saturday, March 15. If you weren’t there, you missed a good time.
You might say that the success of this event was primarily in the hands of the three Figueroa sisters.
It was Yannette (Figueroa Cole) who presided over the chili, making sure everyone got samples to taste and then giving bigger bowls of the ones they liked best. It was her chili that got the most votes although she refused the prize. She also provided 3 Pampered Chef cooking molds that were awards for the second and third prize winners. Yannette was the major photographer for the event as well. Check out her chili and face-painting photos on the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association Facebook page. (Look in the right-hand column under Recent Posts by Others.)
It was Heidi (Figueroa-Velez) who secured the $20 gift card from Woodmans that was the first prize that went to Andy Kraus for his chili. Heidi also brought tons of crafts for kids and got them going with coloring and making crowns for themselves.
Those two sisters got their third sister Veronica (Figueroa Lazo) to do the face-painting. Veronica is a master painter as everyone could see as she proceeded to decorate all the kids’ faces.
While these three were major organizers, it is only fair to say that every single person who came to the Chili Fest was in part responsible for the great time we all had. Thanks for making this a wonderful event.
by Mary Mullen
8 - Bluestone Custom Homes to Build Single Family Homes in Lower Allied Area
Jim Roloff, project manager for Bluestone Custom Homes, spoke to the DMNA Neighborhood Council at its March 13 meeting. Bluestone was selected by the City of Madison to build 25 single family homes in the undeveloped area of Lower Allied Drive. The new area will be called Mosaic Ridge.
Roloff explained that much is being done to make the 2-,3- and 4-bedroom homes affordable. Some will be sold at below-market rates with help from the City. The lots normally go for $30,000-$35,000, but will be discounted by the city to help make the homes affordable. Market rate for these homes could be $180,000.
Greenpath is working with first-time low-income potential owners to help them clean up their credit and learn how to care for a new home.
Homes will range from 1,000-1,700 square feet. All will have basements and detached garages. All will be Energy Star homes which means they will be very efficient in the way they use and conserve energy.
Other homes, along Equity Lane in the Renaissance development west of Red Arrow Trail, will be built by Habitat for Humanity.
by Mary Mullen
9 - Calling All Musicians!
Can you play “Chopsticks” on the piano or “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on the violin? Have you participated in a school band or orchestra or taken up the guitar as an adult? Do you sing at karaoke events or in the shower? Or maybe you even get paid for playing music?
Doesn’t matter. As long as you play or sing, you are WANTED for the second annual Make Music Madison event that is held all over the City of Madison on Saturday, June 21. In particular, if you live in the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood, we want you to perform FOR US.
The DMNA and Prairie UU Society are again co-sponsoring Make Music Madison on the Prairie grounds on June 21. Make Music Madison is a live music event with music performed by anyone and enjoyed by everyone. Anyone, no matter what age or what level they’ve achieved is welcome to participate.
Now is the time to sign up to perform and to start practicing. We’d love to have a bunch of kids show off their abilities as well as adults with any level of skill. The point is, you enjoy music and we want to hear it.
For more information or to sign up, contact the point person for this in-the neighborhood event: Mary Mullen, 298-0843 or mmullen@chorus.net Even if you aren’t sure you want to perform because you never have done so, be brave and shake off those cold feet! Talk to your musical friends outside the neighborhood as well. You don’t have to live in the neighborhood to perform at the Prairie UU venue.
Last year one of the most successful events sponsored by the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association was Make Music Madison. The 4-hour live music event drew 8 acts and over 60 people all at one time, more if you counted all those who came and went.
by Mary Mullen
TAXES & OTHER CONCERNS
10 - Families: Claim Your Share of Earned Income Tax Credit
(Attachment: “4 tax assist2014 brochure.pdf”)
Tax Credit Benefits Working Families, but Goes Unclaimed by Millions
Free Tax Help Available to Help Low-Wage Madison Taxpayers Claim EITC
With tax season upon us, Mayor Paul Soglin is urging working families in Madison to take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a tax benefit specifically designed to help lower income families and individuals. The amount of the credit varies depending on the amount of earned income and the number of dependent children in the taxpayer’s household. The maximum earned income credit available for 2014 is:
· · $6,143 for a household with three or more qualifying children,
· · $5,460 with two qualifying children,
· · $3,305 with one qualifying child, and
· · $496 with no qualifying children.
The credit is available in 2014 for a family with three children, earning up to $46,997 ($52,427 if married filing jointly). Families with two children can earn up to $43,756 ($49,186 if married filing jointly); and those with one qualifying child can earn up to $38,511 ($43,941 if married filing jointly). A household with no qualifying children is eligible to receive the credit if earned income does not exceed $14,590 ($20,020 if married filing jointly).
"This tax benefit is designed specifically to help working families," said Soglin, "but too many taxpayers fail to claim their share." The U.S. Internal Revenue Service estimates that one in five eligible workers miss out on the credit each year simply because they do not ask for it.
"The earned income credit is a key resource that can help working families make ends meet," said the Mayor. "But families don’t receive the credit if they don’t claim it, and they can’t claim it unless they file a tax return. Even people who have earned wages during the year but don’t owe taxes are eligible for the credit," he added. "But they must file a return."
Soglin also noted that the value of the federal credit is enhanced for Wisconsin workers because the State provides an additional credit to workers with children. The State credit adds as much as $2,088 for a household with three or more children, up to $600 with two children and up to $132 for a household with one child. The State does not provide a credit for childless workers.
The Mayor urged families who need help claiming the credit to make use of free tax preparation assistance. "Madison has a strong network of skilled organizations and volunteers who are able and willing to help." Soglin noted.
11 - Free Tax Assistance Available at Several Sites (Attachment: “5 tax docs to bring.jpg”)
Free tax assistance is available at the Richard Dilley Tax Center located in the Villager Mall, at 2300 South Park Street. This volunteer site, provided through a partnership between the Dane County UW-Extension Financial Education Center and AARP, is open every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday through April 14 without appointment. Mondays and Wednesdays, the hours are noon-6 pm. Saturday hours are 9 am-3 pm.
For more information call 608-261-5077 or e-mail Gail Leinweber at leinweber.gail@countyofdane.com
This help is for low income, elderly and/or people with disabilities.
Help is also available from volunteers through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) at sites throughout the City, including the Madison Senior Center, the Central Library, and several library branches.
A complete list of all locations offering free tax preparation is included on the attached brochure, provided in English, Spanish, and Hmong. The information can also be accessed by contacting 2-1-1 or the Dane County UW-Extension Financial Education Center at (608) 283-1261 or by using their website: http://dane.uwex.edu/family-living/financial-education-center/ <http://dane.uwex.edu/family-living/financial-education-center/>
12 - Someone Stole Me! How to Protect your Identity Online
Online shopping sites have made getting the stuff you want easier than ever – but it’s also easier for identity thieves to snatch your personal information. What’s the big deal? A stolen identity means someone can buy things in your name, possibly leaving you in debt or destroying your credit rating. Here are a few ways to protect yourself:
- Make sure websites are secure before you turn over credit card information, advises the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education. Look for a closed padlock symbol in the address bar of your browser to make sure it’s secure. The web address should also begin with https:// -- the extra “s” is for “Secure Socket Layers,” a protocol designed to keep your information safe.
- Keep your passwords secret (even from friends) and change them frequently. Avoid using personal information like your birthday as part of your password. Longer passwords are better, as well as those that use a combination of numbers and letters.
- Be wary of emails from trusted folks that ask you to “verify your account information” with personal information such as your Social Security number. Odds are, it’s someone phishing for vital info about your identity. Don’t click on those email links – call instead to make sure it’s a legit request.
If you are EVER in doubt whether a person contacting you is really from your bank or credit union, take these important steps.
In addition to recent reports from [Summit Credit Union] members that they have been contacted by people posing as [credit union] representatives and requesting account information, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) recently warned consumers to beware of a new telephone fraud in which criminals are using the NCUA’s name in an attempt to obtain personal financial information.
Several Summit [Credit Union] members have been contacted by an automated phone call claiming to be from the NCUA and notifying consumers their debit cards have been compromised. The call then asks the receiver to follow prompts, which request personal information, including sensitive financial data and personal identification information.
These calls are NOT from Summit Credit Union or NCUA.
These types of scams are unfortunately increasingly common. It’s important for consumers to be continually vigilant about safeguarding personal and account information. Remember: Summit Credit Union does not call, email or text members asking for account information, passwords or your PIN as part of any offer or for any other reason. [This is true of all other credit unions and banks.]
If you are EVER in doubt whether a person contacting you is really from the credit union
1. Hang up immediately. Do not respond to or open any links in an email or text.
2. Call your credit union or bank immediately. Scammers may encourage you to call them back as a way to make you feel comfortable giving them information. Don’t fall for it. Hang up and call [your banking institution] directly. [The institution] can verify whether the caller was actually from the credit union or bank. And, if you did give any information away, early detection and response can be critical in minimizing damages.
In these types of scam attempts, fraudsters do not even know you are a [credit union] member. They are hoping that by calling many people they can come across a consumer who has an account relationship with the financial institution they are pretending to represent.
Remember, legitimate financial institutions will never contact you for information they already have—such as your account information, passwords debit card or credit card numbers —over the phone, by email or by text message.
Never share personal information such as social security number, passwords, user IDs and financial information with anyone who phones, emails or sends you a text message, even if they appear to be legitimate or claim to be someone you know or do business with.
from Summit Credit Union website
13 - County/Fitchburg Announce Plans to Reconstruct McKee Rd./PD This Summer
Dane County and the City of Fitchburg have reached a tentative agreement to reconstruct a rough stretch of McKee Road/Highway PD in the City of Fitchburg. Pending review and approval by the Dane County Board of Supervisors and Fitchburg City Council, work on the more than $3 million project will begin this summer and be complete before next winter.
In addition to replacing McKee Road/Highway PD between Seminole Highway and Fish Hatchery Road, the project will also include a drainage system under the road to move water away – the freezing and thawing of this water has caused heaving of the pavement the past two winters resulting in rough road conditions for motorists.
“By partnering together, Dane County and the City of Fitchburg will deliver a smooth, new road and ensure it’s taken care of the smartest way possible,” County Executive Joe Parisi said. “Safe roads are a core function of what we do, and that’s why I proposed moving this project up to this summer – motorists couldn’t go another winter with this road in the shape it’s in.”
Dane County and the City of Fitchburg will share in the capital construction costs of the project 50-50. The agreement calls for the City of Fitchburg to begin snow removal on McKee Road/Highway PD between Verona Road and Fish Hatchery Road starting with the winter of 2016/17.
The City will take on full maintenance of the road upon completion of the state’s reconstruction of Highway 18/151 – by January 1, 2020.
“I am pleased to reach an agreement with the County to fix CTH PD in 2014. This demonstrates that collaboration still works for the betterment of the residents we represent.” Fitchburg Mayor Pfaff also applauded the efforts of Alder Pat Stern and County Board Supervisor Jenni Dye for their efforts on this important project that impacts both Fitchburg and Dane County.
The agreement includes a couple of additional potential partnerships between Dane County and the City of Fitchburg – one that could dramatically improve safety for bicyclists crossing McKee Road/Highway PD.
The City of Fitchburg is seeking a large federal grant to construct a tunnel for where the Badger State Trail intersects with the road. Should this multi-million federal grant come through, the county and city would split the local cost match so the tunnel could be built.
Fitchburg Alder Patrick Stern was instrumental in helping to negotiate the eventual agreement between the county and city.
“When I reached out to the Executive’s office, I knew that the most important thing was delivering results to constituents,” said Stern. “We all wanted that, and keeping everyone talking despite any differences is what ended up being the key to coming to a tentative agreement that worked for both Fitchburg and Dane County."
County Supervisor Jenni Dye will introduce the tentative agreement to the County Board.
“This agreement reflects the progress we can make when the county and municipalities work together,” said Dye. “I look forward to working to ensure the proposed agreement is approved by the county board so that we can move forward with this important project.”
Resolutions authorizing the tentative agreement will be introduced at the next meeting of the Dane County Board and Fitchburg Common Council, respectively.
Press release from
Casey Slaughter Becker
County Executive Assistant/Communications Director
14 - Residential Burglaries Increase in West Police District - What to do
There has been an increase in residential burglaries in the West District over the last few weeks. District personnel are investigating these incidents, and will employ a variety of strategies to address this trend. Citizens can help us by taking some simple preventative steps:
- Keep your doors and windows locked, even while at home.
- Keep your garage door closed, and lock any door from the garage to the interior of your home.
- Keep the exterior of your home well illuminated; consider motion detecting lights as well.
- Leave interior lights on when you're gone; consider using a timer to turn them on and off. Also consider leaving a radio or TV on so it appears someone is home.
- Keep trees and shrubs near your home trimmed so that the exterior is visible.
- If you'll be away, take steps so it isn't obvious that you're gone: stop the mail and newspaper, have your driveway/sidewalk shoveled, keep your home illuminated using timers, etc.
- Get to know your neighbors, so you'll know what kind of activity is suspisious or unusual. Don't hesitate to call MPD if you see something suspicious.
- Don't leave keys concealed outside your residence.
- Keep a good inventory of your valuables, including serial numbers. This information can be a great help in case you are victimized.
from Madison’s West Police District Blotter, 3/14/14
15 - Submit a Concern to Fitchburg
Fitchburg, like Madison, has an online way to submit concerns. It is called “RequestTracker.” The concerns might go to Building Inspection, the Fire or Police Departments or to Public Works. If you have a concern about something in the community that is in Fitchburg, go to http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/requesttracker.aspx
There you will see all the suggested categories. For example under Public Works are concerns such as a backed up sewer, a broken street light or traffic signal, park maintenance, potholes, sidewalk or gutter repait, street flooding or a water main break, and a few others. Police Department issues that are listed include abandoned bikes or vehicles, animal complaints, suspicious or nuisance activity, and traffic complaints.
Once you click on one of the types of concerns, you will be asked to provide your e-mail address and a password. If you haven’t done this before, you will be asked to create a new account with your e-mail address, a password, and your name. Optional information is your address and phone number.
Madison’s “Report a Problem” can be found at http://www.cityofmadison.com/reportAProblem/
by Mary Mullen
16 - Become a City of Fitchburg Mailing List Subscriber
The City of Fitchburg has launched a new website, located at www.fitchburgwi.gov
As part of the new site, you can subscribe to newsletters, notifications, and other informational subscriptions using Notify Me, located here: www.fitchburgwi.gov/list.aspx <http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/list.aspx>
The new system offers many advantages, including the ability to send text messages to your mobile device. In addition, each committee has a separate subscription, so you can subscribe to exactly what you want.
Please join us on our new site, and sign up for those subscriptions that interest you.
Any questions regarding these changes can be directed to infotech@fitchburgwi.gov---
To unsubscribe from this list in the future, please send a message tp listserv@lists.city.fitchburg.wi.us with the words 'unsubscribe committees' in the message BODY. Do NOT send a message to the list itself.
Attachments may be in Adobe Acrobat format. To view them use the free Acrobat Reader available from http://www.adobe.com
from Kevin Wunder, City of Fitchburg
17 - For Current Subscribers: Questions & Answers about the City of Fitchburg Mailing List
Q: Why did I receive more than one copy of this message?
A: Because you are subscribed to multiple lists, you received multiple copies of the same message.
Q. When will the old system be removed?
A: The last message sent by the old system will be on April 18, 2014.
Q. Why didn't you migrate all the current users to the new system?
A. Because the new system offers many more options, including a separate list for each committee, migrating the current subscribers to the new system would almost certainly result in subscribers being added to more (or fewer) subscriptions than they would prefer.
Q. How many more of these messages will I receive?
A. You will receive three more messages regarding our transition to the new system, one each week for the next three weeks.
Q. How can I unsubscribe from the old system so I no longer receive these messages?
A. If you do nothing, you will stop receiving mail from this system after April 18, 2014.
If you'd like to unsubscribe before then, go to http://64.73.46.101/mail_list/index.php You can unsubscribe by selecting the checkboxes, entering your e-mail address, and selecting "Unsubscribe" Again, if you do nothing, you will stop receiving messages by April 18.
from Kevin Wunder, City of Fitchburg
18 - Dog & Cat Tag and Microchipping Offered at Discount
The Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) is offering a deeply discounted tag ($5) and microchip ($15) event April 21-22 and 24-27 at the shelter for both dogs and cats. Microchipping can also be done at the shelter on a walk-in basis any day during normal hours of operation or by appointment with your veterinarian.
The shelter is located at 5132 Voges Road off Hy. 51 south of the Beltline.
For more information, call 608-838-0413.
19 - City of Madison Puts Pit Bull Neutering “on File”
Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) is pleased with the Common Council's decision Tuesday night to "file" proposed Ordinance Nos. 23.60 and 23.61. Had this legislation been enacted, the spay/neuter of pit bull type dogs would have been mandatory in the City of Madison. In choosing to file the ordinance, its proponents removed the legislation from consideration in favor of looking at alternative solutions to the problems identified.
DCHS looks forward to working with the Common Council and all other stakeholders on this issue in an effort to provide positive solutions for the community and the animals affected. We also thank the community and our members for voicing their concerns with the proposed ordinance.
To learn more about why the DCHS opposed mandatory spay/neuter of pit bull type dogs, go to https://www.giveshelter.org/news.html <file://localhost/news.html>
from DCHS website
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
20 - Voters Will See Changes in Look of Ballot and the Machine that Counts Ballots
No need to panic - although both the ballot and the tabulator (counting machine you slip your ballot into) will be slightly different from the past number of years, and Madison voters in the neighborhood will vote in a different - but nearby - building. Please note that voters do NOT have to provide ID, although voters must sign the voter book.
It used to be that the voter had to fill in an arrow on the ballot. But that has changed. Now, to vote, fill in the oval to the left of the candidate’s name or the “Yes” or “No” of a referendum item. The important thing is to fill in the entire oval. It doesn’t matter if you go out of the lines. This is voting, not vying for an A in coloring.
The new tabulators - counting machines - look rather like a computer screen on top of a garbage bin. The County bought them because of flooding in a storage area that ruined the old ones. As with the old tabulators, there’s a horizontal slot for your completed ballot. WAIT until you get the message “Thank you” printed on the screen. If you have made a mistake on your ballot such as voting for two candidates for the same office, the ballot will spit back out at you, and the screen will tell you where your “overvote” is. Ask for a new ballot. Unlike the old tabulators, the new ones will accept a blank ballot.
by Mary Mullen
21 - Using the New Ballots and Tabulators (ballot counters) - in English and Español
Voting on the DS200
1. Mark Ballot
Mark the oval next to your choice using a black or blue ballpoint pen. To cast write-in votes, mark the oval next to the write-in space, then print the candidate’s name.
2. Insert Ballot
Insert your ballot into the DS200. Your ballot can be tabulated in any orientation (right side up, backward, or upside down).
3. Wait for Thank You
Wait to see “Thank you for voting!” appear on the screen. This is your confirmation that your ballot has been counted
Votación en DS200
««««««««««««««««««««
1. Marque el voto
Marque el óvalo que se encuentra al lado de su elección con un bolígrafo negro o azul. Para realizar un voto por escrito, marque el óvalo que se encuentra al lado del espacio para escribir y luego escriba el nombre del
candidato en letra de imprenta.
2. Inserte el voto
Inserte su voto en el dispositivo DS200. Su voto puede tabularse en cualquier orientación (con el lado correcto hacia arriba, desde el reverso o en posición invertida).
3. Espere el agradecimiento
Espere ver el mensaje “Thank you for voting!” (Gracias por su voto) en la pantalla. Esta es la confirmación
de que su voto se ha escrutado.
22 - Polling Place for Madison Voters Has Changed
Madison voters in the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood will vote in a different building - the Dane County Parent Council building at 4709 Verona (frontage) Road. It is right at the corner of the Verona frontage road and Red Arrow Trail, just across Red Arrow from the MacDonald’s parking lot. This building is in front of the Head Start building where Madison voters cast their ballots for quite a few years. See the picture at the beginning of this election section.
Fitchburg voters will continue to vote in the Fitchburg Fire Station #2, 5415 King James Way.
23 - April 1 Election Ballots Dominated by Uncontested Candidates
Marijuana and Nonpartison Redistricting Referenda Are on All Ballots
Whether you live in Madison or Fitchburg, it won’t be difficult to get through the ballot at the polls on April 1. Why? Because all of the Court candidates are running unopposed, only one other race on each ballot has two candidates, and there are only two referenda (opinion) items. The main issue will be getting yourself to the polls sometime between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
All Dane Country voters will be asked to weigh in on referenda about legalizing marijuana and changing the way the state draws redistricting maps after each population census. Voters will choose “yes” or “no” for each question.
The first question asks, “Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to require a nonpartisan system for redistricting legislative and congressional districts in the state?” Currently, the party in power usually dominates redistricting after each population census, and that party usually tries to change district lines to give party candidates an upper hand.
The second question is, “Should the state government enact legislation legalizing marijuana?” The referendum is not binding, but if passed, it would show legislators what the majority of voters think.
For more discussion of the referenda, look at Candidates Answers: http://www.lwvdanecounty.org/content/dane-county-referenda
Read the next articles to learn about the contested elections.
24 - Madison Voters Choose Between Two School Board Candidates
I think this is the first time two minority status candidates have run against each other for the Madison School Board. The two candidates for Seat 6 are Michael Flores and Wayne Strong. I’ve received mailings from both candidates.
Flores is a firefighter/paramedic while Strong is a police officer.
They answered questions for the League of Women Voters on several topics: experiences that qualify them for office, the issues they think are most important and how to address them, and the role they feel local school boards should play in advocting for K-12 public education. Find their answers at
http://www.lwvdanecounty.org/content/madison-metropolitan-school-district-seats-6-7
25 - Fitchburg Voters to Choose Between Two County Supervisor Candidates
For County Supervisory District 27, the current supervisor Dorothy Krause is being challenged by Patrick Stern. Dorothy Krause is a one-term County Supervisor and a two-term Fitchburg Alder. She lives in the Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhoood. Patrick Stern is also a two-term Fitchburg Alder. He lives in the Seminole Hills subdivision of Fitchburg.
Check out two sources for responses of the candidates to questions asked of them: p. 24 in The Fitchburg Star at http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/228 and the League of Women Voters at http://www.lwvdanecounty.org/content/district-27
See the complete sample ballot at http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/DocumentCenter/View/6618 The first ballot in the series is the one that Fitchburg voters from our neighborhood will see since the Fitchburg part of the neighborhood is in Ward 1.
26 - Use My Vote WI to Verify Voter Registration, Find Your Polls, and LOTS More
Visit http://MyVote.WI.gov <http://MyVote.WI.gov> to:
· Verify your voter registration
· Print and mail a voter registration form
· Look up your polling location
· View your sample ballot
· Check your absentee ballot status
· Look up your elected officials
· View your voting history (please note that voting history is manually updated after each election, and this process takes several weeks to complete).
from a City of Madison brochure
27 - Governor Signs New Elections Bills into Law (Won’t affect the April 1 election)
Governor Scott Walker signed several elections-related bills into law on March 27. We want to emphasize that these new laws will not affect the 2014 Spring Election on April 1, 2014. The Governor will likely sign several other bills into law sometime after the election. The Governmental Accountability Board (G.A.B. ) Staff is working on a detailed summary of how each of these new laws will change election administration and how clerks, election inspectors, and the G.A.B. will implement these new laws.
Again, it is important to emphasize that, because of their subject matter or their effective dates, none of these new laws will affect the 2014 Spring Election on April 1, 2014. Below is a brief summary of the general subject of each bill signed into law today.
- Assembly Bill 89 allows the governing body of municipalities with a population of 35,000 or more to combine election returns of wards with a population of 20 or less with an adjacent ward.
- Assembly Bill 396 changes requirements related to Special Voting Deputies.
- Assembly Bill 420 requires those who sign nomination papers or petitions to provide their legible printed name. This will be required of candidates for the fall elections.
- Assembly Bill 565 removes the elections calendar from Wisconsin Statutes. G.A.B. will continue to provide an elections calendar.
- Assembly Bill 606 lowers the nomination signature requirement for citywide aldermanic candidates in second and third class cities to between 100 and 200 electors.
- Senate Bill 20 changes the general requirement for election inspector residency to within the county rather than the ward. The law does not change requirements for chief inspectors or high school students.
- Senate Bill 324 limits the times for in-person absentee voting. The Governor issued a partial veto so that such voting may occur up to 55 hours during specified times on weekdays.
- Senate Bill 377 requires clerks to report statistics regarding EDR voter verification postcards.
- Senate Bill 548 transfers responsibility for mailing the voter list maintenance postcards from clerks to the G.A.B.
As stated above, none of these new laws will affect the administration of the 2014 Spring Election on April 1, 2014. The Governor also signed Senate Bill 655, making various changes to campaign finance and lobbying laws. G.A.B. Staff is preparing a separate communication regarding some minor potential impacts this law may have for candidates and committees involved in the 2014 Spring Election.
Reprinted from the Governmental Accountability Board website.
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
28 - Madison’s Spring Leaf and Brush Collection Begins March 31
Hey Friends,
The City of Madison will begin the annual Spring Leaf Collection, as well as regular brush collection, on Monday, March 31st
There will be no fixed schedule for collection. Streets Division crews will begin collecting leaves & brush with Monday’s refuse collection districts. After completing collection in Monday’s areas, crews will move into Tuesday’s districts, then Wednesday’s districts, followed by the Thursday and then Friday refuse districts. Upon completion of Friday’s refuse districts, crews will begin the cycle again in Monday’s districts.
You can find more information by calling 267-2088 or by visiting www.cityofmadison.com/streets <http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets>
Happy Spring!
Alder Maurice Cheeks
29 - Organic Gardening Classes Offered for Beginners (Attachment: “6 gardening classes.jpg”)
Starting early in April three sites will be offering classes in organic gardening for beginners. The cost for 5 sessions of 1 ½ hours each is $15, a measly $3 a class.
The three sites are the Lussier Community Center in west Madison, the Oregon Senior Center in Oregon, and the Madison Senior Center downtown.
View the attachment for details of how to sign up.
by Mary Mullen
30 - Fitchburg Emerald Ash Borer Information Sessions, April 10 & 12
When: Thursday, April 10, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Where: Fitchburg Community Center, Fitchburg Room, 5510 Lacy Road
What: Agenda <http://wi-fitchburg.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/6141>
Urban Forestry staff will provide information to help homeowners, business owners, and other property owners with ash trees on their properties make informed, cost-effective decisions on treatment options for EAB.
For more information, contact City Forester Ed Bartell at 270-4289 or ed.bartell@fitchburgwi.gov <mailto:> . Also, check out the Fitchburg website page http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/664/Emerald-Ash-Borer
31 - Fitchburg Green (Land) and Blue (Water) E-News Blast #47 & #48
(Released Mon., March 17 & Mon., March 31, 2014)
1. Oil in storm inlets = Illicit Discharge? What’s That? - Fitchburg staff recently received an e-mail from a resident reporting of concerns with people changing oil in their cars and possibly dumping the oil down storm sewers draining into Dunn’s Marsh. Most people know this is illegal due to environmental concerns of oil contaminating downstream waterways, many know the citation is $250/violation, but only a few know who to contact if/when they see something like this. For areas within the Fitchburg City Limits, you can report illicit discharges to rick.eilertson@fitchburgwi.gov or 270-4264 or felipe.avila@fitchburgwi.gov or 270-4277. Please make note of the date, time, location, as well as any other details that can help Rick or Felipe follow-up to take appropriate administrative or enforcement action. For spills that need immediate response, you can also contact the DNR Spills Hotline at 1-800-943-0003 or visit http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Spills/report.html <http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Spills/report.html> .
2. City of Fitchburg Water Conservation Campaign Kick Off – Thursday, April 3rd, 6:30pm at the Fitchburg Public Library – The Mayor and Fitchburg Staff have made water conservation a top priority for 2014. Learn about existing groundwater supplies in Dane County, how to fix your toilet, and outdoor water wise landscaping. The event will be held at the City of Fitchburg Public Library and will feature speakers from the Wisconsin Geologic and Natural History Survey, Benjamin Plumbing, and the City of Fitchburg Department of Public Works. Check out FACTv (http://factv.city.fitchburg.wi.us/Cablecast/Public/Search.aspx?ChannelID=3&SimpleSearch=PSA <http://factv.city.fitchburg.wi.us/Cablecast/Public/Search.aspx?ChannelID=3&SimpleSearch=PSA> <http://factv.city.fitchburg.wi.us/Cablecast/Public/Search.aspx?ChannelID=3&SimpleSearch=PSA <http://factv.city.fitchburg.wi.us/Cablecast/Public/Search.aspx?ChannelID=3&SimpleSearch=PSA> > ) for updated Water Conservation announcements from Mayor Pfaff! And don’t forget to sign up for the Mayor’s Water Conservation Challenge. Beginning April 1st you can pledge to conserve water in Fitchburg. Visit http://www.wylandfoundation.org/mywaterpledge/ <http://www.wylandfoundation.org/mywaterpledge/> for more details!
3. Tune Up your Bike for Spring – Saturday, April 5th, 2-4pm at the Fitchburg Public Library – Cycling enthusiasts (teens and adults) are invited to grab their bikes and come get their hands greasy. This free two-hour workshop will familiarize you with the different parts of your bike and how to perform simple fixes to prepare for a new riding season. This program is presented in collaboration with the Freewheel Community Bike Shop.
4. New Seed Library Available at the Fitchburg Public Library – The Fitchburg Public Library is participating in the Dane County Seed Library! Located on the 2nd floor of the library, near the gardening section, this new resource was made possible by the Madison Community Foundation and the John A. Johnson Fund. Check out seeds, take them home to plant, harvest at the end of the season, and return a portion of the seeds you harvest (by ~Sept. 1, 2014) to restock the seed library. For more details, please contact kate.hull@fitchburgwi.gov or 608-729-1763.
5. 014 Earth Day, Arbor Day and Migratory Bird Day Events:
· Sat., April 19th, 9am-Noon – Dunn’s Marsh Waterway Cleanup –Meet at Apache Pond, 4491 Crescent Rd.
· Sun., April 27th, 1-3pm – Schumann Greenway Cleanup with All Saints Lutheran Church – Meet at McKee Farms Northwest Pond near the Splash Pad, 2930 Chapel Valley Rd.
· Sat., May 3rd, 7:30am – 10:30am - Shred Day Event for shredding and recycling confidential paper documents,
· Sat., May 3rd, 8:30am – 11:30am - Electronics Recycling Event for computers, monitors, etc.
· Sat., May 3rd - Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale at the Alliant Energy Center
· Sat., May 3rd, 8:30am-12:30pm - Arbor Day / International Migratory Bird Day Celebration – Birding & Tree Planting in Fitchburg Parks, McKee Farms Park Tree Walk & Migratory Bird Day Celebration – (http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/707/Arbor-Day-Migratory-Bird-Day-Celebration <http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/707/Arbor-Day-Migratory-Bird-Day-Celebration> )
· Fri., May 9th, 6:30pm - Nine Springs Birding Event – Nine Springs E-Way parking lot, 1947 Moorland Rd. (www.madisonaudubon.org <http://www.madisonaudubon.org <http://www.madisonaudubon.org> > )
· Sat., May 10th, 10am-Noon – Fitchburg Bike Rodeo (http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=323&month=5&year=2014&day=31&calType=0 <http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=323&month=5&year=2014&day=31&calType=0> <http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=323&month=5&year=2014&day=31&calType=0 <http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=323&month=5&year=2014&day=31&calType=0> > )
· Sat., May 17th (morning) - Community Orchard tree planting at Senior Center
· Sat., May 17th - Harlan Hills Prairie Planting (www.fitchburgwi.gov/1145/Volunteer <http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/1145/Volunteer <http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/1145/Volunteer> > )
6. 2014 State Trail Passes Now Available at Fitchburg City Hall – With special thanks to a new partnership between the City of Fitchburg and the Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area, 2014 State Trail Passes are now available at Fitchburg City Hall from 7:30am-4:30pm Mondays through Fridays.
7. 2014 Bike Commuter Challenge Begins May 1st! – The National Bike Commuter Challenge (https://nationalbikechallenge.org/register) begins once again May 1 and will last through September. Stay tuned for more details on how you, your friends, your family and co-workers can participate in this summer long event! Do your part and help make Fitchburg a GOLD Bicycle Friendly City!
If you'd like to subscribe to future Fitchburg_Green E-News updates, please:
a. Visit: http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/mail_list/index.php <http://www.fitchburgwi.gov/mail_list/index.php>
b. Check the box for "Fitchburg_Green",
c. Enter your Email Address, and
d. Click the "Subscribe" button
Please note that Fitchburg’s web page is in the process of converting to a new format, which will include a new subscription mechanism to the mailing lists such as the “Fitchburg_Green” E-News. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments, and/or suggestions on future Green E-News topics.
from Rick Eilertson, City of Fitchburg, 608-27-4264
rick.eilertson@fitchburgwi.gov
32 - Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale, May 3, Alliant Energy Center
Spring is finally almost here and that means it’s time for the annual City of Madison Compost Bin And Rain Barrel Sale on Saturday, May 3rd at the Alliant Energy Center parking lot.
New to this year’s event is a wider selection. This year’s event features a modern rain barrel equipped with a high-flow spigot and a diverter. Rain barrels as well as a sleeker designed compost bin are available in 3 different colors. The smallest rain barrels start at 50 gallons and the larger systems can hold 200 connect to just one downspout. Just ½ inch of rain on a 1000 square roof space produces 300 gallons of harvestable rainwater.
Discounted rain barrels and compost bins are available to pre-order and are limited in supply. For more information and to pre-order visit in advance visit http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/compost/CompostBinSale.cfm
from Bryant Moroder
Register Now
33 - Arboretum’s Earth Focus Day Camp begins in June
Now in its 23rd year, Earth Focus Day Camp (EFDC) continues to create outstanding summer nature programs for children ages 3-14. With many different ecosystems, including the oldest restored tall grass prairie in the world, the Arboretum provides hands-on experience with native Wisconsin plants, animals and habitats.
The research and restoration taking place here teaches children that they can be a positive influence on their world. Our naturalists are enthusiastic and experienced, but the real teacher at Earth Focus Day Camp is our most treasured resource, the land.
Earth Focus Day Camp 2013 runs from June 14 through August 15. To go to the Earth Focus Day Camp website for detailed information and registration forms, click on http://uwarboretum.org/education/efdc/ Registration is due 2 weeks before a session begins.
If you have questions, contact Jennifer Mitchell at 608-265-5872 or mitchell5@uwarb.wisc.edu
from UW Arboretum website
----- End of the March 31, 2014 DUNN’S MARSH NEIGHBORHOOD e-NEWS- ------
Thanks for reading.
Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood e-News 
