A whole bunch more . . .
JAPANESE KNOTWEED REMOVAL
Please join us Saturday, April 13 departure 10 am from Goodman Center parking lot to hunt for Japonese Knotweed in Starkweather wetlands. We have several locations we want to follow up on, will brief on plant specifics for identification and touch on eradication strategies and risks to wetlands. Plan 2 hours from 10 am to noon, Saturday April 13. Wear appropriate clothing and foot wear for possibly slightly soggy and brushy locations.
UPCOMING ROAD PROJECTS
Update from Marsha Rummel
Here is a link to the 2013-2018 adopted TIP, aka transportation improvement program. This year District 6 will not undergo any major road construction. The TIP is updated every year. Here is some info from the Madison Area MPO:
The Madison Area MPO (metropolitan planning organization) also known as the Madison Area TPB (TransportationPlanning Board) coordinates all projects in the area. The TIP is not a final schedule of project implementation. The time frame shown in the TIP is a “best estimate” at the time of TIP development. The timing of projects can change due to lack of available federal or local funds, delays in project development activities, changes in implementation priorities, and other factors. The annual updating of the TIP allows for these adjustments to project schedules and changes in relative priorities of transportation improvement. In addition, the TIP may be amended after it is adopted in order to add or delete projects, advance a project into the first year, or accommodate cost, phasing, or scope changes to a project.
Projects within the Madison Area TPB Planning Area must be included in the TIP in order to be eligible to receive federal funding assistance. Outer county area projects are also listed for information and coordination purposes. The list is multi-modal. In addition to streets/roadways, it includes transit, pedestrian and bicycle, parking, and rideshare/transportation demand management projects.
http://www.cityofmadison.com/business/pw/documents/TIP2013-18.pdf
WPNJ’s SOWING SEEDS SPRING FESTIVAL
Mark your calendars and join us on Apr 21! The festival is free and open to the public (though donations are, of course, greatly appreciated).
Sunday April 21 in Madison – WNPJ’s Sowing Seeds Spring Festival – 11 am to 2 pm at the Tenney Park Shelter on Madison’s east side – 402 N Thorton Ave, off of E Johnson Ave (click here for map)
Come enjoy refreshments and live music by the Raging Grannies, Solidarity Sing Along, and local bluegrass band Off the Porch!
You can also bid in a silent auction featuring gardening essentials and other spring goodies from Community Pharmacy, Family Farm Defenders, Madison Area Permaculture Guild, Farley Center for Peace Justice and Sustainability, Echo Valley Farm, Catholic Multicultural Center, Andrew Dutcher Photography and Offbeat Press.
For more information, visit http://wnpj.org/spring2013, call 608-250-9240 or email diane@wnpj.org.
RHYTHM AND BOOMS IMPACT ON WARNER PARK – STILL TIME TO SPEAK UP
Dear Friends:
This is an urgent appeal to all Northsiders who love our wetlands and wildlife. Under Files you will find a verbatim transcript of the last city Committee on the Environment meeting. If you want to know how our area is viewed–as the city’s trash receptacle– read this important document. And then do something about it.
According to our elected representatives, the contract for Rhythm and Booms has not been finalized. Three committees and the City Council still have to approve the resolution. There is still time to influence the process and try to at least move the fireworks out of the wetland.
One alternative is to launch them in the baseball stadium or Warner parking lot.
We also want them to be “green” fireworks, the kind that Disneyland uses, without perchlorates.
We need to continue to raise the environmental questions about the impact on our water and wildlife.
Even if we do not succeed this year, we will be influencing the decision-making process for next year.
Please attend one of the following meetings and speak out. Bring a friend or neighbor. The Committee on the Environment meeting is particularly important since some members are concerned about the fish kills and impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Chemical-laced fireworks should not be launched in any waters of the Yahara system.
Here are the scheduled meetings:
Board of Estimates: April 8
Parks Commission: April 10 at Goodman Center
Committee on the Environment: April 15
City Council: April 16Let’s celebrate our national holiday in a way that does not pollute our local environment, hurt our wildlife or desecrate our waters.
Thank you,
Wild Warner
BASKERVILLE BIRTHDAY
The Baskerville celebrates its centennial with a free building “Tour of the Century” May 10, 4:00 – 7:00 PM and May 11, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 2013, at 121 S. Hamilton Street in Madison. The free guided tours will be led by docents from the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation.
In 1907, local Methodist pastor and evangelist, E.J. Baskerville, purchased the parcel that The Baskerville now stands on from the Democratic Printing Co. next door. The Baskerville building was built by the Reverend Baskerville for $50,000 in 1913-1914, during the time of the construction of the present and third state capitol building. It was designed by architect Robert L. Wright, who was also known for the Prairie Style City Market on E. Mifflin Street. The architect described the Baskerville as a Neoclassical Revival-inspired four-and-one-half story triangular-shaped apartment block (i.e., a flatiron building, as are many around the Capitol Square). The exterior material is comprised of tan brick with white belt courses. The cornice is of Atlas white cement. The balconies are iron and reinforced concrete, originally painted hunter green. Early ads bragged about the building saying, “Every apartment has a balcony. Hot and cold water! A splendid light in every apartment. A large marble entrance. Say, I have not told half”.
Because The Baskerville is representative of larger 1910-1920 Madison apartments and because it has been continuously used for its original residential purpose, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, to the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places in 1989, and made a Madison Landmark in 1992.
There will be an opportunity to make a free-will donation to benefit several charities: Rubin for Kids, with scholarships going to high school graduates; Porchlight, to bolster a peer support program for those transitioning into long-term housing; Japan International Volunteer Center, to help dig village wells in Laos; and to The Baskerville Preservation Fund (10%) to help preserve and maintain The Baskerville.
For more information contact:
Samantha Crownover, Manager
(608) 259-1234 (Wednesdays), (608) 238-3577
samanthacrownover@sbcglobal.net
or Dave Baskerville
(608) 259-1233
bask1913@aol.com
www.thebaskervillecondos.com
Feel free to share this news!
SPINAL CORD INJURY RUN
Hi, neighbors and friends:
I’m registered and would love you to join me in just about 2 weeks for the first 5K “scramble” to benefit the Spinal Cord Injury group of Madison.
Warm up your bodies for the season with a 5K!This group is a local gem, a valuable support to all those living with mobility issues in our region (Madison and beyond). It includes support and mentorship for those newly injured, information about resources, education about how to live with mobility challenges, and tons of activities and social events. And more.
I have played with the group a lot with hand-biking outings. It’s a great group of diverse folks.
Come on out for their first 5K event. Walk, run, bike, wheel, roll, push…whatever!
WHERE AND WHEN: The course starts on the UW campus, from 12-2pm.
Form a team, or just register yourself.
If you cannot come, consider a donation or sponsorship! Money currently goes toward events and equipment for members.
If nothing else, consider posting a flier about the event.
More information about the group and this event here: http://sci-madison.org/
POLICE HORSES BACK ON THE STREETS
This could be a little startling at first . . .
The Madison Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit is “back in the saddle” as of April 1st. You will see the unit doing neighborhood, bike path and parks patrol city-wide. Today, motorists took a double take as Officer Mulry and his partner “Bubba” monitored traffic in the Monroe Street area during rush hour!
Find out more about the Mounted Patrol unit by visiting www.madisonmounted.org or see them on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/madisonmounted.
REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER RELEASED
This one seems a little creepy to me. Of course, would be great if this person had a home for so many reasons – but with this record it will be near impossible for this person to get one.
The Madison Police Department has been informed the below listed Registered Sex Offender has been released from custody by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and is currenlty in the Madison area:
Name: Jesse I. Turner
DOB: 08/05/1969
Sex/Race: Male/Black
Height: 5’09”
Weight: 195
Hair: Black
Eyes: BrownMr. Turner was convicted for sexually assaulting a college age female near the 500 block of S Park Street during daylight hours in 2002. Mr. Turner is likely to frequent the S Park Street area now that he is back in the Madison area. Mr. Turner does not currently have a permament address, though has family in the South Madison area.
Joe Balles
Picture and more info here.
PLEASE DON”T ENJOY OUR PARKS YET!
Please STAY OFF the Madison Parks Turf
As the spring thaw begins, the Madison Parks athletic fields are also beginning to thaw. The athletic fields (soccer, softball, football) are not in condition to handle large numbers of people. Please stay off of these fields during this early spring thaw.
When games or practices are played on fields with poor or unsafe conditions – such as 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.
We thank you for your understanding and patience!
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOOMENT DESIGN WORKSHOP
Join us at the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Design Workshop!
April 9-11, 2013 | Mautz Building, 945 E. Washington, Madison
Communities in Dane County are continuing to explore a transit-oriented development strategy that can generate significant economic, community, and environmental benefits across the region. Help our architects/planners produce conceptual designs for vibrant transportation corridors that preserve what makes our region’s neighborhoods great. Our consultants will create illustrative designs for three representative sites along the proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) system, taking into account what you and others say is important to “get it right!”
Tuesday, April 9th | 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Opening Presentation and Public Input (Open to Public)Wednesday, April 10th | Designers at Work in Studio
Thursday, April 11th | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Presentation and Discussion of Designs (Open to Public)
MEET THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF MADISON SCHOOLS
Give advice, share your thoughts on our values, identify strengths and challenges for the schools
Meet and greets with Dr. Jennifer Cheatham, MMSD’s new Superintendent of Schools, will be held from 6:30 – 8:00 pm on the following dates:
Thursday, April 18 – East High
Thursday, May 9 – West High
Thursday, May 16 – Memorial High
Thursday, May 30 – La Follette High
FREE FAIR HOUSING TRAINING FOR LANDLORDS
The Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison is offering a free fair housing training seminar for owners and managers of rental property:
Tuesday April 30, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Madison Public Library – Pinney Branch, 204 Cottage Grove Rd., MadisonWhile the seminar is free, we ask that you register so we’ll be sure to have enough of our training materials available. To register, or for more information, call the Fair Housing Center at 257-0853.
The seminar will include information about the protected classes and prohibited practices delineated by local, state and federal fair housing laws; reasonable accommodations and modifications for tenants with disabilities; advertising rental units in compliance with fair housing laws; non-discriminatory negotiation with prospective tenants, and much more.
In addition to fair housing training seminars for members of the rental housing industry, the Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison conducts fair housing education for social service agencies, neighborhood groups, community organizations, and the general public. Please call 257-0853 if you’d like to learn more, and feel free to share this message with others who may be interested!
This seminar is supported by funding from the City of Madison Community Development Block Grant Program.
BUS ROUTE CHANGES
These are PROPOSED changes. Your input is important. The TPC is no longer a rubber stamp for Colin Conn. It no longer votes right after testimony. So check the routes you know about. How can you get from A to B? Are buses passing you up? Remember that the fare increase was directed toward adding service to Owl Creek and the #2. So what is all this other stuff? I’ll say more in another message, but this just came in from Metro:
——————————————— PROPOSED AUGUST SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS
Wednesday, April 10; 6:00 PM
Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transit and Parking Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss proposed service changes in August.
Adjustments to Routes 2, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 25, 28, 31, 33, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 44, 47, 48, 56, 57, 71 and 72 are being considered along with the creation of a new Route 31 to the Owl Creek Neighborhood.
The hearing will take place at the Madison Municipal Building Room 260 at 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Complete Info|Detailed Information Booklet | Bus Flyer | En Español
CITY OF FITCHBURG – PROPOSED SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS
Thursday, April 11; 6:30 PM
Metro Transit and the City of Fitchburg Transit and Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss potential service changes that affect Routes 16, 18, 40, 44, 47 and 48.
The hearing will take place at the Fitchburg Community Center at 5510 Lacy Rd., in the Prairie View Room.
Complete Info
NORTHSIDE SPEED TRAILER
Dear neighbors,
With the advent of nice weather, we are once again able to entertain suggestions for our speed trailer placement. Please send ideas directly to ddexheimer@cityofmadison.com The trailer will be out next week and will be available until the snow flies again. Not every location is suitable for setting up the trailer but we will do our best to accommodate all requests.PO David J Dexheimer
Vera Ct Neighborhood Intervention Officer
209-9813
BUS RAPID TRANSIT STUDY
Madison Area Bus Rapid Transit Study
Public Information Meeting
6 to 8 PM, Monday, April 15th
Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin StreetThe Madison Area Transportation Planning Board (MPO), in cooperation with Metro Transit and the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC), has been leading a study to explore where and how to implement Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the Madison metropolitan area and estimate its potential benefits, cost, and impacts. The study is part of the Capital Region Sustainable Communities (CRSC) initiative led by CARPC.
BRT is a high-frequency, limited-stop transit system that offers faster service and improved urban mobility. Faster service is accomplished by speeding passenger boarding, transit priority at traffic signals, less frequent stops, and in some cases restricted or fully dedicated bus lanes. Station improvements, information technology, and improved service reliability and vehicle comfort create a more user-friendly experience. BRT is part of a larger group of premium or high capacity transit systems, including various types of rail service.
The consultant team has nearly completed its work and will be presenting its findings for public review. Come learn about the potential for a Madison area BRT system and share your thoughts and comments.
For more information on the BRT Study, go to http://www.madisonareampo.org/BRT.cfm
For more information on the overall CRSC Initiative, go to http://www.capitalregionscrpg.org
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INFO MEETINGS
Habitat for Humanity of Dane County will be building in Madison, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie and Brooklyn in 2013-14. Informational meetings for families interested in building with Habitat will be held:
Tuesday April 9, 6 p.m., Oregon Public Library, 256 Brook St., Oregon
Sunday, April 14, 2 p.m., Warner Park Community Rec. Center 1625 Northport Dr., Madison
Tuesday April 16, 6 p.m., Sun Prairie Public Library, 1350 Linnerud Dr., Sun PrairieApplications will only be distributed at the meeting. To learn more about program requirements, contact Habitat for Humanity of Dane County at 255-1549 or www.habitatdane.org.
ART CART IN WILLY ST PARK
The Art Cart will visit the Willy Street Park twice this summer. The FREE art program for children age 3+ and their families will be in the community park at Williamson and Brearly June 26, Wednesday afternoon, 1-4; and again August 13, Tuesday morning, 9-12. Art Cart is sponsored by the Madison School Community Recreation program, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Art Cart people bring all supplies, and everyone gets to make something.
Ok, that’s it for the day . . . more coming . . . .
