Sharing this via the LaFollette Booster Club from the LENA Facebook page:

Long but important post ahead:

We are a group of La Follette parents (current, future, and past) who want to bring your attention to some serious inequities in funding within our district. We were elated when the MMSD funding referendum passed in November as it will allow La Follette to receive some much-needed improvements to its facilities. The referendum designates equal funding to the four Madison high schools which gave us hope as La Follette High School consistently comes up short in terms of district support in the areas of capital improvements, courses offered and staffing of courses.

At the January Board meeting, we learned that the MMSD Board approved a $10 million request in capital improvements for Memorial High School. This funding is coming from private fundraising and will be above and beyond the funding received from the referendum. In addition, much to our disbelief, it is our understanding that an additional $10 million capital improvement proposal will be considered for both Memorial and West High Schools at the Board’s meeting on February 22nd.

What does this mean for our students?

In simple terms, this means the westside high schools stand to gain $20 million in additional new buildings which translates to potential new fine art centers for Memorial and West students. This action completely contradicts MMSD's mission to promote equitable learning and close achievement gaps among our students. MMSD cites Building Excellence as a tool it is using to provide resources to identify and prioritize needs through a cyclical process that will allow for greater transparency and accountability, and this new approach will ensure that our facilities equitably serve teaching and learning needs district-wide.

We need your help to have La Follette voices heard!

There are several ways you can help us help La Follette.

1. Read this letter / letter in espanol addressed to the MMSD School Board and Dr. Carlton Jenkins and fill out this form to sign in support.     https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfHFIIAhgf.../viewform...
2. Attend the MMSD School Board Meeting on Monday, Feb 22nd at 6 pm to register your support of equitable funding for La Follette.
3. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! WE NEED LA FOLLETTE PARENTS' VOICES HEARD. Register to speak at the Board meeting.
   • To register to speak, you must log in 30 minutes before the meeting.
   • The link to speak will be on https://board.madison.k12.wi.us/ under Board Meeting Access
   • When you register you will have to include your name, email, agenda item number, and indicate whether you are in favor or opposed to the agenda item.
   • If you speak you are limited to 3 minutes.
4. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! WE NEED LA FOLLETTE PARENTS' VOICES HEARD. Send your own written support statement: Written Support or Written Statement

To register a written statement, go to https://madisonmetro.az1.qualtrics.com/.../SV...

You can submit a statement starting at noon on Friday, Feb. 19 until 3 pm on Monday, Feb. 22.
To reach all seven board members, please use the following group e-mail address: board@madison.k12.wi.us

Please reach out to Corey and Katy Finkelmeyer, La Follette Booster Club Presidents at finkelmeyer@outlook.com with questions or comments.

Thank you for your support of La Follette!

By Chris Wells, City Planning Department

      My name is Chris Wells and I work for the City in the Planning Department. I am the development reviewer handling the Conditional Use request to add an outdoor eating area at the Horseshoe Bar at 3900 Dempsey Road. I wanted to reach out to you all to inquire if you had any concerns with the proposed project. While I understand the applicant has done a good amount of outreach in the neighborhood, for the hours of operation for the outdoor patio, they are currently requesting to have it open (usable) from 9:00 am to 1:00 am, daily (note: the patio would close one hour before the bar’s closing time of 2am). While I understand that the location of the proposed patio is on the northerly side of the building, and away from the nearby residential units to the south and southwest, I wanted to bring it up with you all in case there was concern. I should also note that they are not proposing outdoor, amplified music for the patio and this would be locked in as a condition of approval. Regardless, please note that if approved, the Plan Commission retains continuing jurisdiction over this conditional use, meaning that should complaints be filed, the Plan Commission could take further action on this conditional use as allowed in MGO Section 28.183(9)(d).

     Lastly, please also note that the design of the patio structure has recently changed. Where as before it was a wooden deck with a roof structure, now it is a concrete deck without a roof. Only the entry vestibule will be enclosed. (I’ve attached the updated plan set in case you have any questions).

      Please let me know if you have any concerns (through the comments section below). This item is at the Plan Commission on Monday (7/2).

  Thank you for your time.

By Steve McCarthy, LENA Treasurer with Joyce Phillips contributing

How can you gain the holiday spirit and buy (neighborhood) local?  A visit to Dean Mueller's place on Maher Avenue for your Christmas tree will help.  Dean has sold Christmas trees, from his front yard, since 1987.  Right here in the middle of Lake Edge neighborhood.  These are trees he grows on the family tree farm, in Adams county. 

You walk up his driveway to look through the available trees.  He typically offers white pine, balsam, and Frasers fir trees, with heights varying from about 5' to 9'.  This year he added concolor firs, for people looking for a tree with needles between the long needle white pine and a shorter needle tree.  Most of the time, Dean will meet you right away.  If he is not there, look around, pick a tree, and use the "honor system".  Very neighborly!

Many of the customers are neighborhood regulars.  You may be one of them.  Some people walk over, and carry the tree home.  Others bring a cart for a slightly longer haul.  Most will tie it to the car.  People have been known to come from far off Verona, just to buy from Dean - and to visit. 

Selecting a tree is only part of buying a tree from Dean.  A conversation is often a part of the holiday routine.  With Dean, this could be a time to catch up.  And since many are from the neighborhood, it is another change to visit with your neighbors.  Friends come from when Dean taught at Lafollette High School for six years, and then as an unemployment compensation adjudicator for the state.  You have to be ready to buy Dean's trees.  The neighborhood Christmas spirit is strong.  You cannot buy them before Thanksgiving, and you can't wait until Christmas.  Here it is a week before the holiday, and Dean already has a sign up: "Sorry, Sold Out, Merry Xmas - Dean"

By Chad J Corfits, Accurate Custom Creations, LLC

The Lake Edge Neighborhood on the east side of Madison has made some very positive changes recently including the expansion of the bike path, tear down of the old Royster Co. factory, new condos, small businesses coming back, just to name a few.
 
Mitat (Mike) Ibrahim has been a long time business owner in our community who has owned and managed the Horseshoe Bar on the corner of Dempsey and Cottage Grove Roads for almost 25 years. Some recent structural damage to the main entrance facing Cottage Grove Road has sparked interest to not only replace as was, but upgrade to add value to the business appearance, customer appeal, and neighborhood as a whole.
 
We are proposing to build a beer garden to the front entrance rather than replacing it to original and outdated look. The outdoor seating area will include a composite deck, pergola, and small tables for patrons to gather, enjoy conversation, and food with a drink. There will be no bar, television, or loud music included to the proposed outdoor area. As well as adding to the visual appeal, it will encourage patrons to the front (commercial area) rather than the rear entrance (residential area).
 
The Horseshoe Bar now sits on the corner of the bike path. We are hoping that this will attract a positive group of customers to enjoy a relaxing outdoor setting.
 
We were able to gain over 203 signatures in less than a week from people who frequent Mike’s and are excited about proposed upgrades. Mike is a responsible business owner and is not on any lists for neighborhood disturbances, arrests, or criminal activity. He employs security guards to ensure that it remains a positive and enjoyable place to be.
 
I can provide our signed petition from neighborhood residents and customers who would like to see this upgrade become a reality if requested. Here are some of the street names of current signees:

For more information, contact Chad directly:

910B Cottage Ct.
Madison, WI  53716
www.accremodeling.com

By Sue Carr, Monona Grove Nursery School

Three and four year olds are certainly a bundle of energy with lots to do and say all day every day. In a preschool environment, in a class of 15 or 16 other kids, the collective energy can be overwhelming for some children. Often, children need to be taught how to help themselves calm down, take stock and breathe. This is often referred to as mindfulness, and here are some good techniques for preschoolers to practice. Remember that with little people, it takes a lot of practice for these things to become intuitive and regular.  So keep at it!

*Breathing—with a kiddo who is really riled up we often start with breathing- “take three big breaths from your belly”. Putting one hand or both on their belly helps them to feel the movement of the air through their body. This is also a great way to get a group of kids to settle in after a transition—playing or clean up to circle time, or a singing-dancing circle time to a book. We often close our eyes, put our hands on our bellies, and sit still listening to the breathing for a few minutes. For a family, it might be a way to start a meal or a family activity—take the moment for everyone to gather themselves.

*Stretching- another way that we help kids to be very present in their body is to talk them through some simple stretches and helping them to focus on the various muscles in the various parts of their bodies- Focusing on their feet, stretching each toe, the ankle and their leg, or on the hands, stretching each finger and the palm, allows them to focus on their own body and can bring them back to a central sense of being especially when things with friends get a little crazy.

*Yoga- We use some ABC yoga cards with our kids- helping to get them to form their bodies into various letters and then holding that position carefully. There is also wonderful resources where young kids can be taught various animal based yoga positions. Yoga brings down the level of activity, and brings kids into clear focus with exactly what their body is doing.

*Focus on the Senses- Sometimes we practice mindfulness by having a noticing moment. Whether in the classroom, waiting in line, outside on the playground or on a walk, we help the kids to use all 5 senses to notice things. What do you hear, what do you smell, what do you feel (how is your body touching the ground) and what do you see. We have a bubble fountain in our classroom, and sometimes just taking a moment to focus on that sound (which is a constant background noise) brings everyone in the room back to a more calm, present, and peaceful place.

Teaching children to be present in their own bodies is a lifetime skill that in this crazy busy, media focused world can be a lifesaver for both you and them!

Sue Carr is a teacher and the director of Monona Grove Nursery School, a fixture on Madison’s East Side for almost 60 years.

By Ross Cohen, REAP Food Group

Family Food Fest - Sunday, May 21 11am-2pm at Lincoln Elementary School, is a free community-based event put on by REAP Food Group that brings together students, parents, and community members to explore Farm to School! At Family Food Fest, kids will have the opportunity to partake in fun farm to school games, delicious local food samples, creative art projects, garden exploration, and physical activity challenges! Families will be able to meet local farmers, taste locally-grown produce, engage with community groups, and experience student dance performances. Activities will be fun, educational, and free for all ages.
We currently have 30 local businesses and organizations signed up as exhibitors who will be facilitating children-focused activities.  Some activities include; making smoothies with a bike-powered blender, planting herbs and flowers that can be brought home, cooking demonstrations and many art projects.  In addition, there will be a few food carts there selling affordable food and the first 200 attendents get a voucher for a free meal.

This free festival would be a great opportunity for Lake Edge Neighborhood children and residents to come engage in healthy, outdoor fun while growing their understanding of sustainable agriculture and farm to school practices.  

Please contact Ross Cohen rcohen@reapfoodgroup.org for more information.

The Family Food Fest will be held rain or shine.

By David Benforado, Madison Gas and Electric Company

As we announced in October of last year, Jeff Keebler succeeded Gary Wolter as President and CEO on March 1, 2017. Gary continues to serve as Chairman.  Jeff has been with MGE since 1995 and has served in various leadership positions across the company. To help introduce him to the community during this planned transition, we have a number of online updates, including a Q&A with him at https://www.energy2030together.com. Jeff was instrumental in developing our Energy 2030 framework and is committed to MGE remaining a trusted energy partner in our community. He talks in the Q&A about a number of things beyond energy. We also have a new video with him at https://www.mge.com/Energy2030.  You might see Jeff out and about in the community. If you do, say hello!

Since the introduction of our Energy 2030 framework, we've been working on a number of initiatives, including a proposal for a major wind farm:

• In late February, we announced that we are seeking approval to build MGE's largest wind farm to date. We began scouting for new wind sites more than a year ago and signed an initial agreement for the site last fall. This site, which is located about 200 miles west of Madison near Saratoga, Iowa, will help MGE work toward its renewable energy and carbon emissions goals under Energy 2030. If the project is approved by regulators, Saratoga's turbines could be under construction in spring of next year. You can find more details about it at https://www.energy2030together.com.
  
• MGE's Shared Solar pilot project in partnership with the City of Middleton began generating clean energy for subscribers in January. A video from the recent celebration with customers is online at https://www.energy2030together.com under Cleaner Energy. We continue to add customers to the waiting list for possible additional community solar projects in the future.
• MGE staff continue to meet and discuss with the City of Madison how we can collaborate further as the City seeks to move its own Energy Work Plan forward.
  
• And, later this year, we'll be introducing a new pilot program for residential customers who have smart thermostats. If you're interested in a smart thermostat, Focus on Energy currently has an incentive offer.  You can read more about it on our Energy 2030 site:  https://www.energy2030together.com/our-energy-use/smart-thermostat-incentive-offer-focus.htm

Thank you for your time and interest in these matters. Please stay engaged in our energy future. We look forward to sharing updates with you periodically and through stories on our Energy 2030 website,
https://www.energy2030together.com.

David J Benforado is the Community Services Manager at MGE - a proud sponsor of LENA!

by Paula Tiffany, Movin' Out, Inc.

Movin’ Out, Inc. is looking for homeowner’s in the Lake Edge neighborhood who have a family member with a disability and are in need of home repair or accessibility improvements. Movin’ Out Inc. is an agency committed to helping people with disabilities with housing. The ability to provide this assistance was made possible because of a generous gift from a family in the Lake Edge Neighborhood. In addition to having a family member with a permanent disability, families must also be below 80% county median income. If interested, please contact Movin’ Out for further details at 251-4446 ext. 7.

Paula Tiffany is the Housing Counselor at Movin' Out, Inc. located at 902 Royster Oaks Drive, Suite 105 - a proud sponsor of LENA!