From PHNA president Tania Banak:

Hello Prairie Hills neighbors,

So sorry for the long pause in information about neighborhood happenings and opportunities. I was having problems with my email, and just recently was able to get them resolved.  So, here are some items which may be of interest.  Enjoy!

2009 Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable

Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa Street , Madison, WI

This year’s them is “Go Green – Save Green.”  Go to the City of Madison Neighborhood webpage to see the workshop and demonstration topics and to register: http://www.cityofmadison.com/neighborhoods/. You may also contact the City Planning Division at 267-1131, or 267-8727.

Have Bales of Fun on Madison Parks Hayrides

Enjoy a crisp fall evening with a hayride in Madison Parks.  Madison Parks is offering hayrides in Elver, Warner and Olin Parks this October and November.  For more information, please call 266-4711 or visit Madison Parks at http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/hayrides.html

Funding for New Community Gardens

Seed money is available for start-up of new community gardens in neighborhoods with many low-income residents.  Interested?  Check out http://cacscw.org/gardens/ Applications are due in late January. For more information, contact Janet Parker at 246-4730 ext. 218.

Madison Budget Process

Want to know more about the city’s budget process?  Details here:

http://www.cityofmadison.com/comp/budgetindex.htm

According to Alder Thuy Pham-Remmele (District 20), the budget cycle is a good time to remind the city about neighborhood safety or quality of life concerns.

Mayor@CityofMadison.com ( Mayor Cieslewizc)

Allalders@CityofMadison.com (all alders on Madison Common Council)

NWray@CityofMadison.com (Madison Police Chief Noble Wray)

JPlant@CityofMadison.com (Joel Plant: Mayoral Aide/ designated “Mr. Neigborhood Safety”)

HospiceCare Question-and-Answer Seminar: “ Holiday Grief and Remembrance”

The holiday season can be an especially painful time for people who are grieving. Learn ways to make it less painful at HospiceCare’s next question-and-answer seminar, “Holiday Grief and Remembrance.” The free, public seminar will take place on Tuesday, November 10, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Don & Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center , 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway in Madison . Pre-registration is requested; please call Carrie Glantz , HospiceCare public affairs, at (608) 327-7202.

http://www.hospicecareinc.com/

Dialogs on Homelessness

Saturday Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Jan. 9, Feb. 20, Mar. 13, Apr. 10, May 8, 1:30-3:30 pm, Madison Public Library, 201 W. Mifflin St.  Free, everyone welcome.  Refreshments served.  Contact Donna at dcassociated@gmail.com or 608/251-6610.

Holiday Blood Drive

Thurs. Dec. 24, 7 am – 2 pm, Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center .  Sponsored by the American Red Cross.  Free parking, child care, entertainment, refreshments, and raffles.  For an appointment, contact 1-800-GIVE LIFE or visit www.givebloodgivelife.org

West Police District Newsletter

Enjoy the latest issue of the newsletter at http://www.cityofmadison.com/police/west/newsletters/

Blaska’s Views on What’s Happening on the SW Side of Town

Some interesting commentaries and observations can be read on Dave Blaska’s blog:  http://www.thedailypage.com/blaska

Join the Prairie Hills Google Group

This is where our neighborhood posts items regarding neighborhood safety issues.  You can join by clicking the button at the right side of the website (or here).

From PHNA President Tania Banak:

Habitat for Humanity in SW Madison

Habitat for Humanity will soon begin renovating the property at 5834 Russett Road into two owner-occupied townhomes.  You are invited to attend an informational meeting on Thurs. Sept. 24 at 6:30 pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church , Whitney Way & Raymond Road .  Word is that Operation Fresh Start is finalizing purchase of a property on Prairie Road and will begin renovating there as well. Please support these efforts to take back our neighborhood.

Hearings about New Central Library

The Library Board felt it was important to meet with citizens who might have questions about a new Central Library.  As a result, they will be conducting informal meetings at several branch libraries to answer questions/concerns people may have.  We welcome your attendance as well.

The meetings have been scheduled as follows:

September 21 – Hawthorne – 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

September 22 – Lakeview – 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

September 23 – Alicia Ashman – 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

September 25 – Pinney – 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

September 28 – Sequoya – 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Sustainable Madison : Save the Date

Please come and learn what the city is doing to make Madison ’s community, economy and environment sustainable and voice your priorities to shape upcoming efforts that will improve and sustain our quality of life now and for generations to come.

Community Meetings:

·        October 22 at Goodman Community Center – 6-8:30pm

·        October 29 at Overture, Wisconsin Studio - 5:30-8pm

·        November 5 at Sequoya Library - 5:30-8pm

For more info, contact Jeanne Hoffman at (608) 266-4751 or jhoffman@cityofmadison.com

Free Vehicle Winterization Check for Folks 50 and Over

Fri. Sept. 25 at Firestone at West Town, 8 am – 12 noon

Call 441-7897 to make a reservation or mstamstad@rsvpdane.org

Sponsored by Southwest Madison TRIAD– A Crime Prevention and Safety Program

Strengthen Your Community by Becoming a Schools of Hope Tutor at Toki Middle School !

Tutors can make a real difference in a student’s attitude toward school.  Tutors work one-to-one with students on homework and class projects, as well as practice general study and organizational skills to promote academic success.  Extra support in math and literacy are the most frequent needs, but it is not necessary to be an expert to provide a real service.  Just knowing someone has taken an active interest in their academic performance positively affects students.

For more information or to apply, please contact Anna Weidemann (anna@chdc.us) or Ariana Hauck (ahauck@ulgm.org) at (608) 204-4763. An application can be downloaded from the Urban League website (www.ulgm.org).

UW-Madison Arboretum Earth Partnership Team Leader Training

If you are interested in getting your hands dirty while learning about native landscapes, and you enjoy working outdoors and meeting new people, consider becoming an UW Arboretum Earth Partnership Team Leader!  For more information contact Marian Farrior at 608-265-5214 or mlfarrior@wisc.edu

From PHNA President Tania Banak:

Wanted to let you know about several exciting events

occurring in the greater SW Madison neighborhoods area:

Wed. Aug. 26, 7-8:30 pm

Neighborhoods Restoring Safety Meeting

At Falk Elementary School , 6323 Woodington Way, Madison

(child care will be provided for children 2-12 to allow more residents to attend)

In June, Madison ’s Mayor called on neighborhood leaders to design responses and solutions to the many problems evident in our neighborhoods on the southwest side. Many neighborhood leaders have been working to respond to the Mayor’s call for grassroots efforts and action. This program will focus on solutions and actions regarding:

• Safety and positive behavior in public and in the school
• Safety enhancement and enforcement by city and county officials
• Housing issues

Please attend! And let your neighbors know about this meeting, too!

Sponsored by South West Alliance of Neighborhoods (SWANS)

> Click here for more information

Sat. Aug. 29, 11 am – 4 pm

United We Stand

At Elver Park

A huge all-community event designed to bring us together!

Free food! (hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, desserts)

11 am – 2 pm Basketball tournament and Games for All Ages
Noon – 2 pm Talent Show
2 pm – 3 pm Guest Speakers
3:30 pm – 4 pm Prizes and Awards

Sponsored by churches, businesses of our community, and county efforts.

Prairie Hills neighbors – can you donate a DESSERT? If so, please let Kimberly Lawrence know what you’re bringing (957-6322)

Willing to VOLUNTEER? (cook food, serve food, organize games, greet people, etc) Please call or email Dawn Knudtson at 608-622-0887 or ddxb@tds.net

Help Us Connect With Your Neighbors!

Prairie Hills Neighborhood Association wants to keep ALL of you informed about what’s happening in our neighborhood, but to do so, we need YOUR help. Please encourage your neighbors to join the association (only $5 per year). Need a membership form? Call or email Tania at tebanak@wisc.edu or 608-278-1093

It’s hard to reach everyone UNLESS we either have an email address for you (submit yours to Tania above) or we have block captains who are willing to keep their immediate neighbors informed (willing to serve? Please let Tania know!)

From PHNA President Tania Banak:

Hello neighbors in the Prairie Hills Neighborhood Association,

As this organization’s new president, I’m hoping to bring our community together. We’re very diverse, and that is a good thing. We’re also experiencing some growing pains, and I have some ideas on how we might address some of those issues.

Perhaps you do, too? Or perhaps you’d like to know more?

If so, please join me in a Neighborhood Association brainstorming meeting, to prioritize what direction/s we move in.

We will meet on Thurs. 8/13, 6:30 pm at the West Police District, 1710 McKenna Blvd.

Some initial discussion ideas:

• What are our community standards? (behavior, respect, etc)
• How can we best share these expectations with community residents?
• What are some activities that might bring the community together?

Hope you can join us!

Some additional opportunities to get involved include:

SW Alliance of Neighborhoods (SWANS), Wed. 8/26, 7 pm, at Falk Elementary School, 6323 Woodington Way (a coalition of area neighborhoods whose goal is to improve quality of life in our area)
Families & Communities United is planning a huge community event at Elver Park on Sat. 8/29 designed to build community and bring resources to low-income families in the area. Please mark your calendar to attend. Better yet, if you can volunteer to help, please contact Shamawyah Curtis at myacurtis25@yahoo.com or call Dawn Knudtson (608-622-0887) or Shaneka Davis (608-217-3879). We need lots of volunteers!

Interested in Madison ’s budget? The mayor is holding public hearings on this topic (or you can email him if you can’t attend):

Wed, 8/5, 6-8 pm, Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St .
Tues, 8/11, 6-8 pm, East District Police Station, 809 S. Thompson Dr .
Mon, 8/17, 6-8 pm, Alicia Ashman Branch Library, 733 North High Point Rd.
Citizens unable to attend any of the Mayor’s budget meetings can also send their ideas and comments by email, mayor@cityofmadison.com Let the mayor know what services are most important to you.

Finally, there will be an open discussion of racial issues, tentatively scheduled for 8/10.

I’m looking forward to working with all of you! Thanks for your interest in our community!

Tania Banak

Prairie Hills Neighborhood Assn. president

“To be Aware is to be Prepared”

September 22, 2009, 8a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Blackhawk Church, Madison, WI

Come and learn how to keep you, your family and friends safe in your home and community. All ages are invited. Seniors, law enforcement, EMS, fire personnel, neighborhood associations, city/county officials, human service professionals and the general public are invited to attend.

Workshops will focus on:

• Juvenile Gangs
• Internet Safety for You and Your Children/ Grandchildren
• Hiring a Reputable Contractor
• Fire and Falls Prevention
• Scams and Frauds
• Project Lifesaver and Safe Return Projects
• Youth Peer Court
• Financial Literacy
• Financial Fraud Risks for Older Adults in Economic Hard Times
• Elder Abuse

There will be an opportunity to participate in the AARP free Car-Fit Program. Drivers are assessed in how they “fit” in their cars for safety.

There will be Exhibits, Blood Pressure Screening, and Reflex Screening.

The cost is $15.00*. The fee includes lunch, breaks, and materials. C.E.H.s are available. If you need an interpreter, translator, materials in alternate formats or other accommodations to access this program please call 441-7897, 10 working days before September 22.

*Early Bird: $12. if registering by August 15th.

For more information or to register contact: RSVP of Dane County: (608) 441-7897

As many of you know, there is now a farmer’s market close by (details are here).  The association recently received the following request from organizers:

Are you interested in helping out at the SW Community Farmer’s Market? The Market is held on Wednesday afternoons at the Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ on Gilbert Road. The information booth volunteers greet people, hand out information, answer questions….and equally important, enjoy the setting and get to know more of your neighbors. We are looking for at least one volunteer per shift…the shifts are from 3:00 – 5:00 and from 5:00 – 7:00.

Contact Lisa Boerboom for more information at 276-7619 or boerboom6@tds.net.

Released from the City on 6/25:

Last week, I convened a meeting of community leaders to discuss two overarching questions: how do we address gun violence in our community, and how do we address issues causing concern about crime? The conversation during and since that meeting has been very productive and promising. That meeting was the continuation of the ongoing dialogue aimed at developing, implementing and evaluating our responses.

Today I am outlining specific steps we can take to address public safety concerns on the Southwest side of Madison. These initiatives are not limited to one part of the city, but are tools to address safety concerns throughout our community.

Most importantly, our efforts cannot be limited to things that are initiated in City government. At our meeting last week, Florenzo Cribbs reported on an effort he had already started to provide positive role models for young African American males. Ernie Horinek talked about his idea to create a “think tank” of area landlords. And Reverend David Smith volunteered to get his fellow clergy even more involved. All of these things came from the community and, in the end, it will be the community that solves these problems. City government can sometimes provide resources, but the most effective responses will not be designed or led solely by the City, but by the residents themselves.

So I have grouped ideas into three parts. One part addresses the specific issue of gun violence, a second builds on the initiatives we have already been taking, and a third and most crucial part suggests community-driven initiatives, some of which the City can partner on….

(click here to continue reading)

*Also, note that the next Neighborhood Quarterly Safety Meeting is this Monday, June 29 at 7 PM – West Police District Station. 1710 McKenna Blvd.

Our annual newsletter is hot off the presses and will be delivered to every doorstep in the neighborhood (all 1,200 of them!) in the next few weeks.

But you can be the first to view it in full-color pdf right here.

You can also read archived newsletters there as well. Enjoy!

If you remember, last year there was a period where no one was sure the annual Southwest Madison fireworks event would take place. Well they are definitely a go for 2009, sponsored by Woodman’s and Q106. Here are the details from the Q106 website:

Woodman’s Elver Park Fireworks

Queen Anne’s Catering will be grilling brats, hotdogs and prime rib sandwiches!

There will be tons of FREE games for the kiddies starting at 6 pm. They can jump in the bounce houses, get their hair braided, their face painted and join in on some sing-a-long songs!

Be sure to grab your spot, relax and have a good time… the fireworks start at dusk thanks to Woodman’s Food Markets!

Come on out and enjoy dinner at the park! Pizza from Papa John’s will be sold starting at 5 pm!