Once again LENA is assisting Sennett Middle School by contributing to scholarships for an upcoming Upham Woods trip. This is a wonderful experience for the students, as well as the assisting staff. We offer these scholarships to assist the school for students that might not be able to financially manage the trip and experiences.
 
Sennett has been sending over 20 students and staff on an environmental trip, every year, for over 40 years now. The trip is a tradition and a top memory of Sennett students.
 
Shawn Schroedl, the Trip Coordinator, explains that the students will travel to Upham Woods, in the Wisconsin Dells, to spend 2 nights and 2½ days immersed in outdoor education and building relationships with students. This experience allows the staff time, space and environment to further both goals.
 
The trip is an amazing experience that many of the students are not exposed to otherwise. The trip reinforces a 12 week unit about Life Science (from basic biology and ecosystems, to genetics). Shawn further details how the experiences emphasize academics, community building and relationships, which are key to the student’s development in middle school. While on the trip, the students explore the natural world, learn recreational activities (canoeing, archery, hiking, etc.) and overcome physical and mental challenges (ropes courses, team activities).  While academics are stressed, students are also learning life skills to help them reach their full educational potential. Students will learn how to apply effective social skills that are necessary in building strong community members for the future. These skills include:

• Problem solving
• Interpersonal communication
• Leadership roles
• Increasing tolerance for those different than themselves
• Strategies for friendships and peer pressure
• Self Assessment skills

 
LENA is glad to be able to assist this wonderful trip and experience for students of Sennett Middle School. We know they will be able to enjoy the trip.

What:    City of Madison Listening Session about Street Use Events with Neighborhoods & Residents
When:   Thursday, April 5,  6-8 pm
Where:  Goodman Parks Facilities Building, 1402 Wingra Creek Parkway (off Olin Av), First floor meeting room.  Google Maps: Goodman Parks Facilities Building
 
This facility is served by Metro Transit Route 13: http://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/schedules/Route13/index.cfm
 
 The City of Madison is fortunate to have an abundance of festivals, runs, concerts, marches, and other outdoor activities planned on the isthmus each year.  However, that also brings challenges for City staff, budgets, Metro bus riders, neighbors, and visitors.  The City of Madison is engaged in an analysis of special events in the downtown area and your feedback is requested.
 
Who should attend?  Anyone who attends or is impacted by City Street Use Events, Festivals, and Marches – especially those downtown on the Isthmus.  City staff will give an overview of concerns about events reaching a “maximum capacity” and facilitate a discussion to learn your concerns and ideas for the future of events downtown. This includes festivals, races, parades, marches, and demonstrations that close down a City street  in the downtown area.  (This meeting is not focused on events that are just held in City Parks.)  This is part of a Racial Equity and Social Justice Analyses of the permitting process for special events on City streets.
 
We look forward to a continued collaborative effort as we plan for the future of outdoor activities in downtown Madison.  You are an important voice in this process and we want to hear from you.  Our discussion will consider issues such as the number, location, size, and length (time and number of days) of events, particularly those on the isthmus, and the impact this has on residents, businesses and city services, staff, and resources. We look forward to your insights.
 
Please use this email, madisonevents@cityofmadison.com, if you have questions or comments.  Hope to see you April 5! 
 
Cordially,
 
Katie Sellner
Transit Planner
Metro Transit
608-261-9633

Like most people in our nation, I believe we need a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence; one that includes the enactment of reasonable gun laws as part of an overall strategy to keep our kids safe. Tragically our political system has failed to deliver on this time and time again and kids are dying as a result.
Today too many politicians blame mental illness for every shooting and use it as an excuse to do nothing about the gun side of the equation. The result is tragedy.
There is a lot we can do to stop the carnage; an approach that better addresses both mental illness and guns could make a real difference. Unfortunately, the NRA playbook doesn’t seem to allow for that. And too many politicians are following that playbook- blaming mental illness, doing nothing.
So to those with the power to enact change: We’re tired of excuses; we want action and we want it now. It’s time to come together as adults who owe it to our children to make their world a better, safer place. It doesn’t need to be this difficult.
I have called on Governor Walker and Speaker Ryan to pass the following common sense reforms to make sure dangerous people don’t have access to dangerous weapons:

• Mandatory universal background checks
• Assault weapon ban
• Ban aftermarket devices (bump stocks) that allow you to modify your gun into a rapid fire weapon
• Keep people who are subject to domestic violence protection orders from having guns

Join me in demanding action from Governor Walker and Speaker Ryan by signing our petition at CountyofDane.com.
 
 
Stephanie Wilson Miller
Communications Director
Dane County
608.267.8823 o
920.470.4618 c
Facebook @DaneCoJoe

My name is Susan Crawford and I’m running for Dane County Circuit Court Judge in the Spring election in 2018. After speaking with the Lake Edge Neighborhood Association earlier this year, I was pleased to be asked to introduce myself in this month’s newsletter.

When it comes to experience, this election presents a clear choice. I have extensive experience in Dane County courtrooms and criminal law.

For over 23 years as a lawyer, I’ve worked hard to advance justice and defended the rights of Wisconsin citizens in court. I fought against Act 10. The draconian Voter ID law. Laws that restrict women’s access to reproductive healthcare and threaten to punish doctors who provide that care. Attacks on public education and teachers. In these cases, I convinced Dane County judges to put a stop to government overreaches. I understand the court’s constitutional role as a check on the other branches of government. I will faithfully fulfill that duty as a judge. I’ve lived in Madison for over 20 years with my husband, Shawn. We’re raising our two teenage children here. As a longtime Dane County resident, I’m troubled by the deep racial and economic disparities in our neighborhoods, schools, and justice system. This election is for Branch 1 of the Court, which is assigned only criminal cases. Reducing racial disparities in Dane County’s criminal justice system will be my highest priority. As a judge, I will utilize alternatives to incarceration, guard against unconscious bias, and support transparency in sentencing data.

I’m prepared for the tough challenges of criminal court. As an assistant attorney general, I handled hundreds of criminal cases, including several in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. I’ve stood up for victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes. As director of criminal appeals at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, I managed thousands of felony cases, trained and advised prosecutors, and collaborated with public defenders, judges, district attorneys, victim advocates, and others. As chief legal counsel to Governor Jim Doyle, I was chair of the Pardon Board. I heard from hundreds of citizens struggling to access employment, housing, credit, and other needs due to long-ago criminal convictions. I understand the life-long consequences of a conviction. As a result, I strongly support the use and expansion of restorative justice and diversion programs (like Drug Court) that hold people accountable while giving them a chance to avoid a conviction. I support bail reforms to make sure low-income people aren’t held in jail solely because they can’t make cash bail.

I’ve earned the support of people who understand the challenges faced by our court and community, including former Governor Jim Doyle, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, Sheriff Dave Mahoney, District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, among many others.

Dane County judges, who know the job best, overwhelmingly support me, including Judges Everett Mitchell, Jill Karofsky, district Chief Judge William Hanrahan, and many others. 23 of the 24 current and retired Dane County judges who have endorsed a candidate in this race support me. I was also honored in January 2018 to be designated a statewide “Leader in the Law” by the Wisconsin Law Journal.

I am the only candidate ready to preside over criminal cases from day one. I know the courtroom and the complexities of criminal law. If elected, I will bring my courtroom experience, strong work ethic, and progressive values to serve our community as a Dane County judge.

Courts matter, and so do elections. Please vote for me on April 3.

Website: https://www.crawford4judge.com/

I am running for Circuit Court Judge because I care deeply about fairness and equal justice in our courts. My commitment is to put my judicial experience, legal skills and values to work every day, in order to be an impartial and thoughtful judge, help eliminate racial disparity, improve access to justice, and serve all the people of Dane County.

I am the only candidate for judge who is a judge. I have overseen and decided more than 3,000 cases. I have issued written decisions, effectively and fairly managed a courtroom, presided over trials, and ruled on matters of law. There is no substitute for experience. The issues we face in our courts require collaborative, active, and knowledgeable Judges, who are willing and able to tackle tough issues, understand individual circumstances, and make our justice system more just.

As a civil rights and public interest attorney for 38 years, I’ve stood up for the individuals against big corporations, I’ve defended workers, and I’ve been a tireless advocate to obtain justice for those who have been discriminated against. I have handled and won important cases, including a unanimous decision in the Wisconsin Supreme Court that will benefit workers statewide. For 25 years, I have been a volunteer attorney at the Unemployment Compensation Appeals Clinic. I also volunteer my time at the Veteran’s Law Clinic.

My appreciation of the challenges people face started young. I grew up on a farm in northern Wisconsin. My maternal grandparents immigrated from Slovenia and my mother was a first-generation American. Both my parents grew up during the great depression. Neither of them finished high school. My parents taught all eight of their children the values of hard work, perseverance, and giving back to our communities.

As a Municipal Court Judge, I am a strong proponent of initiatives that help reduce racial disparity in our criminal justice system. Municipal Courts are on the front lines of our justice system. We see the root causes of crime, often at the beginning of a potentially negative trajectory. As a Municipal Court Judge, when appropriate, I offer defendants the opportunity to avoid a record, by postponing sentencing to allow them to receive drug and alcohol assessment and treatment, or by offering community service as an alternative to a conviction and a record.

As a Dane County judge, I will support and participate in countywide initiatives to reduce racial disparity. Lots of good work is underway and can be expanded: restorative justice courts, treatment and specialty courts, efforts to combat implicit bias, and a pilot program testing better ways to determine the amount of bail. I will advocate for a Mental Health Treatment Court in Dane County.
I am also only candidate in this race whose campaign is voluntarily limiting campaign contributions. There is simply too much money in judicial races. The public should have confidence that justice is not for sale. Voters have a right to expect that the Judge they elect will be able to hear the cases that come before her, and should not ought to recuse herself. For those reasons, I have directed my campaign to limit contributions to $500.

I am honored to have earned the support of almost 800 judges, attorneys, elected officials and community leaders including former US Senator Russ Feingold, Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg, and former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. A complete list can be found at my website www.marilyntownsendforjudge.com

My desire to serve is strong. I will bring judicial experience, success in the Supreme Court, and a long history of commitment to equal justice and access to justice to my work on our Circuit Court. I would be honored by your vote on April 3.

The Draft 2018-2022 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Madison Metropolitan Area & Dane County is now available for review and comment.  The TIP lists major transportation improvements and studies anticipated to be undertaken during the next five-year period.  The draft document has been posted on the MPO’s website at www.MadisonAreaMPO.org. 

By Madison Food Policy Council

Fresh herbs. Tomatoes right off the vine. Sun-sweetened strawberries. Having your own garden can be one of the best things about summer. But what if you don’t have a back yard to garden in? What if you live in an apartment? Or your yard is too shady? Never fear – there are lots of options.
 
Gardeners around our city already make use of whatever patch of soil they can find. Anyone passing through Madison’s residential neighborhoods will notice the diversity and frequent creativity in what homeowners and renters plant around their homes, often extending to publicly owned street-side terraces. To promote more gardening opportunities, whether it be for food production, pollinator habitat, or beautification, the City of Madison has changed its policies to make it easier to grow a range of plants in residential areas. Plantings of many types are allowed in yards and on street terraces.
 
Yet many people are not sure what they are allowed to plant where, and sometimes neighbors have differing opinions. To guide Madison residents in what is and is not allowed in yards and terraces – and to reflect the growing interest in planting native plants, and edible and pollinator-friendly species – city agencies and the Madison Food Policy Council have collaborated in creating a new guide which is available online (https://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/priorities/food/edible-landscapes), and in hard copy at public locations citywide.
 
So, you ask, where and what can I plant? Essentially, you can plant anything you want in either your yard or the terrace adjacent to your property, with a few basic limitations:

• You can’t plant any noxious weeds.
• You have to keep plantings within some height limits for safety’s sake.
• You can’t plant trees or bushes on the terrace.
• If you want to plant large areas of native grasses, you may need a permit.

 
The details are spelled out in the guide and city policies. The guide, and more information, is available at http://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/priorities/food/terrace-and-yard-plantings.
 
If your yard and/or terrace is not enough space for you, see if there’s a community garden nearby - https://danegardens.net is a great place to start. Or maybe you’d like to plant fruit trees or bushes on public land? The City’s new edible landscapes permit allows you to do just that – see http://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/priorities/food/edible-landscapes. There are already little “food forests” popping up in our parks, thanks to ambitious gardeners around the city.
 
One of our goals as your Food Policy Council is to increase your opportunities to grow food if you want to. Hopefully, making it clearer what you can plant in your yard and on your terrace will encourage more people to garden, and allowing some plantings on public land will increase the availability of home-grown fruits and nuts. Happy planting!
 
For more information, please contact George Reistad, Madison Food Policy Director, at 608-266-4611 or greistad@cityofmadison.org.

The Madison Parks has released its 2016 Golf Annual Report.  See below for the document.  On page 14 of the document, Monona Golf Course is one of the courses recommended for elimination.  See below the excerpt from the document.  A public hearing has been scheduled.  Please join neighbors, friends, golf enthusiasts alike by attending the meeting.

Public Hearing at the Golf Subcommittee Meeting
Date: August 8
Time: 6PM
Location: Olbrich Gardens Atrium

Agenda - Golf Subcommittee August 8 Meeting Madison Legistar

Good news about a great opportunity for affordable rooftop solar electricity for Madison families. We know that our neighborhood cares about sustainability and energy from clean sources, so we’re excited to be part of spreading the word.

This summer, the City’s MadiSUN program is offering a special Solar Group Buy program to help residents save money and install rooftop solar panels together. The group buy simplifies the installation process and lowers costs by working with a pre-qualified, vetted solar company that offers a competitive group price.

Plus, MadiSUN is offering a Solar Energy Loan with a low, fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms on solar loans up to $20,000.

Visit Madisunsolar.com to learn more.

Putting solar panels on a home is a great way to lower household energy costs. In 2017, the price of installing solar has never been lower: homeowners can receive a Federal Tax Credit for 30% of the cost of their system, and Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program offers up to $2,000 in additional rebates. And installing solar means switching to a clean, renewable energy source that is great for the community.

Visit Madisunsolar.com and sign up for more information. The Group Buy program is recruiting interested households from now through August.
Want to learn more in person? Plan to attend one of MadiSUN’s free Information Sessions, which begin on May 16th.