From our friends at Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC)
 
In recognition of National Radon Action Month, Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) urges all residents to test their homes for radon. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that can ultimately be fatal.
 
Radon is normally harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air, but can reach harmful levels when it enters buildings though cracks in foundations, particularly in the winter months when homes and other buildings are closed up and heated.
 
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General's office estimate radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S.  About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked.  If you do smoke and your home has elevated radon levels, your risk of lung cancer goes up seven times.
 
Testing homes for radon is simple and inexpensive.  Test kits can be purchased at local hardware or home product stores usually for under $25.   PHMDC also has test kits for sale at $10 per kit. (See below for detailed information).
 
The EPA and the Surgeon General of the United States recommend that the test be done in the lowest lived in level of your home. After leaving the opened kit in the room for the recommended amount of monitoring time, all you need to do is to send it to the laboratory for analysis. The lab will send you easy to understand results within two or three weeks.
 
If testing shows that you do have a radon problem, you will need to install a system that will prevent the radon from accumulating in your home. Such systems should be installed by a certified mitigation contractor. According to Clint Marshall, Public Health Radon Specialist, “The cost of a radon mitigation system can vary, but typically runs around $1,200.”
 
This is why PHMDC joins the EPA during National Radon Action Month to remind the public that ignoring this hazard can have terrible consequences, and that it pays to take action against this invisible and preventable threat to the health of your family.
 
For more information regarding radon, including a list of qualified radon remediation contractors, visit the Wisconsin Radon Information Web site at:
www.lowradon.org.
 
For more detailed background on radon see the following link:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/brochure/profile_radon.htm
 
To purchase a test kit or to speak with the Public Health Radon Specialist, call the South Central Wisconsin Radon Information Center at (608) 243-0392.
 

This segment incorporate news from Dane County Regional Airport
 
It is winter in Wisconsin, so that means it is time to plan spring travel! There are lots of great direct destinations from MSN, one of the most accessible airports in the country with great, affordable parking. If you’re there, check out several of the great, new restaurants, including Vinoteca Wine & Tapas. If you’re planning a trip, check out a few newsworthy notes from the Airport Director:

• Delta has expanded the number of direct flights to Atlanta
• Frontier has resumed seasonal direct service to Orlando
• Travel deals from MSN… check out these recent rates:
  • Dallas (DFW) on Delta - $206
  • Daytona Beach (DAB) on Delta - $248
  • Denver (DEN) on Frontier - $146
  • Newark (EWR) on United - $200
  • New York (LGA) on Delta $200
  • Orlando (MCO) on Frontier $106
  • San Francisco (SFO) on Frontier $227
  • Sarasota (SRQ) on Delta $234
  • Tampa (TPA) on American $230

Fly frequently, fly locally!

A community gathering in support of our neighbors subject to deportation or discrimination. You are invited to join the city-wide gathering to support our community's immigrant residents in the face of potential changes by the next Federal administration. The event will be held on Sunday, January 29, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm at the Monona Terrace.
 
United We Stand, organized by a committee of community leaders, Madison Common Council members, led by Ald. Samba Baldeh, and Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith leaders, will provide information on the legal rights of immigrants, the perspectives of local, state and national elected officials and how we can help each other in the difficult times ahead.
 
Speakers include Mayor Soglin, representatives of the Latino and Muslim civil rights organizations, the ACLU and faith leaders. The afternoon meeting will be moderated by Rev. Everett Mitchell, Dane County Judge and Pastor of Christ the Solid Rock Church.
Location: Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, One John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI 53703

Resource: https://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/blog/