Occupy Nichols November 18th?

Blast it, the Rag beat me to a post on this already. Must not have much going on on a Saturday night...

So someone left me a comment on the Occupy Nichols movement, which is apparently calling for a full-on occupation of the Nichols building on November 18th. From their website:

Occupy Nichols is a leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants.


Fact. Nichols School has stood at the current location since 1869. The facility and grounds have been used by the community for education for 142 years. The current building was constructed in 1935.


Fact. In October at the annual meeting of the Monona Grove School district approximately 40 citizens voted to allow the school board sell Nichols Schools.


Fact. This means that .01% gave your rights away to the school board with little or no knowledge or information about the type of deal the district will get from the 1% for the property. These 40 citizens were in large part politicians and administrators from Monona and the Monona Grove School Board.


Once again, wealth will be transferred from the 99% to the 1% - all in the name of progress and additional property taxes. This leaderless movement is asking why not a senior center, a recreation center and youth center? We want the building and grounds to be utilized for something that furthers US and not THEM.


Does this community NEED another drugstore, department store or condominium complex that is all financed with bonds from another TID? Who pays for failed TID? The 99% who assume the risk - while the 1% assume the profits. What will the 99% receive from the selling of Nichols? A large candy bar at Halloween for our children? We want more and ask our leaders to STOP the transfer of wealth.


Hmmmm, not really sure what this has to do with Arab Spring, huge transfers of wealth to the school board or large candy bars, but I, for one, can't wait to see who will show up on the 18th. And I sure hope I will still get my king-size 100 Grand bar and and my 100k in cash.

Energ!ze Monona Presents The First Of Six Forums On Peak Oil And Monona

Peak Oil and Monona.

Wednesday, September 21, 6:30 - 8:00

Monona Community Center, Main Hall

Refreshments will be served.

From The Natural Step Monona:
Peak Oil and Monona with Justin Bloesch, UW Madison Student (and TNSM Member!); and Bob Stoffs, Madison Gas & Electric. An overview of the Peak Oil concept and the global response to tightening oil supplies, volatile prices, climate change, and growing international tensions over oil. What would Peak Oil mean for Monona? Although competing ideas exist about the future of oil, how should we move away from fossil fuels for a more secure future? An overview of electric vehicles, and MG&E's charging stations and the initiative to study them over the next few years will be included.

For more on peak oil and to check out one of my fave books to read when I want to plunge myself into the depths of despair, check out this 

Monona's Fall Festival This Sunday At 11am, And No, There Isn't A Packer Game.

Please plan on attending this year's Monona Fall Festival (or Family Fall Festival or Fall Family Fest or whatever it is being called now) in Winnequah Park this Sunday, September 25th. The Festival will begin at 11am sharp with our annual pumpkin scavenger hunt at the Dream Park. Free pony rides, balloon creations, caricature artist, games, crafts, storytelling by Karen Wendt, Rock Williams drum show and the Banned Wagon. Local vendors will be on hand and hot dogs, caramel apples and hot apple cider will be available. Rain location? Don't even think about it, because it's not gonna rain!

Waterlife: Green Tuesdays Movie At The Monona Public Library Tomorrow/ Park And Rec Board Meeting At The Same Time- Choices, Choices...

The Natural Step Monona will be showing the movie Waterlife tomorrow night at 6:30 in the Monona Public Library as part of their Green Tuesdays film series.

From their website: Waterlife follows the epic cascade of the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. From the icy cliffs of Lake Superior to the ornate fountains of Chicago to the sewers of Windsor, this feature-length documentary tells the story of the last huge supply (20 per cent) of fresh water on Earth.

Check out the Waterlife website here for more information about this great film!


Unfortunately I won't be able to make it on Tuesday as the Park and Recreation Board plans to meet at 6:30 in the Monona Community Center. Our agenda includes:

3. Director’s Report

A. Mark Modaff – Public Works Assistant Director
B. Jake Anderson – Parks & Recreation Director

4. Appearances
A. Jane Kuzma – Bur Oak Landscapes

5. Unfinished Business
A. Review/Discussion/Recommendation of 2012 Operating Budget for Community Center, Recreation, & Outdoor Pool Department
B. Review/Discussion/Update 2012-2013 Capital Budget for Outdoor Pool, Parks, & Community Center

6. New Business
A. Frost Woods Park Brush Clearing Information/Discussion
B. Stone Bridge Park Discussion/Master Plan Review

Under appearances, Jane Kuzma will be presenting her draft master site plan for improvements at Stone Bridge Park.

And unrelated, but while I've got your attention,  the Monona Family Fall Festival is coming up soon! Sunday, September 25 from 11am to 2pm in Winnequah Park- the festival will begin at 11am sharp with our third annual Pumpkin Hunt at the Dream Park. As always, if you are dying to volunteer a couple hours of your time, call me call me call me at 206-0062.

Don't Make Like A Tree And Leaf.

I know that it can't be possible that I am the only person in Monona who has noticed the sudden decline in Monona's tree canopy. It seems that every time I turn around another Monona park has been clear-cut. What is going on? First Oneida Park, then Birch Haven and now Frost Woods? Who is signing off on these decisions? I did a little researching and found that one of the duties of the Monona Park and Rec Board is to "serve as Monona's "tree keepers" by reviewing and making recommendations regarding tree planting, maintenance, removal, and landscaping." Hmmm, interesting. I've been on the Park and Rec Board for several years and we haven't seen any of these projects pass through for our approval. Well, this "tree keeper" is recommending that the city of Monona starts preserving our existing tree canopy in our city parks and that any more drastic tree removal plans are presented to the Board before they are carried out. One of the most wonderful things about Monona is our tree-lined streets and parks. We can't just grow these trees back in a couple of years. Let us be good stewards of our city lands and leave more than rubber mulch in our wake.

A Sign Of The Times.

From http://www.channel3000.com/:

The Janesville School Board is considering options such as cutting high school athletics, closing schools and selling off land and facilities to deal with an urgent budget shortfall.


The board has to make some major cuts after already eliminating $9 million from this year's budget.

The final decision will likely come sometime next month. The most recent proposal -- cutting athletics -- came late last week from Janesville School District Superintendent Karen Schulte.

Eliminating high school athletics beginning with the winter and spring season could save the district $500,000 in the current budget year and $1 million next year with no fall sports.

Read the rest of the story here

Hope To See You At This Summer's Concerts At The Park!

The Friends of the Monona Senior Center is putting on three free family concerts at Winnequah Park this summer.



LeeDing Zeros

Monday June 27th, 7:00 p.m.

Sponsored by the Monona State Bank and the Ultimate Spa and Salon

 

New Horizons Swing Band

Monday July 18th, 7:00 p.m.

Sponsored by: Dennis and Nancy Kugle

The Banned Wagon

Monday August 8th, 7:00 p.m.

Sponsored by Vendura Solid Surfaces

 

Free concerts open to the public!

Families are encouraged to attend. Bring lawn chairs, blankets,and snacks to enjoy an evening of music.
Popcorn and drinks will be available for purchase.

Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Monona Senior Center.