The Prairie Hills Neighborhood Association would like your help in sprucing up our neighborhood for Spring!

We invite you to attend one or both of the “Spring Pride Day” events we have scheduled.  Trash bags will be provided, but please bring your own gloves.  Treats afterward!

Meet at the playground in Lucy Lincoln Hiestand Park.  We’ll head through the greenway toward Prairie Road, picking up trash as we go.

Meet at the greenway by 2032 Westbrook Lane.  We’ll head north through the greenway toward Raymond Road, picking up trash as we go.

Can’t make these events?  Please spruce up your own block instead!

If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable about behavior of youth in our neighborhood, and been unsure how to respond, this meeting is an opportunity to clear up misunderstandings and become allies in making our neighborhood safe and comfortable for everyone!

From 6:30-8:30 pm, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (1701 McKenna), Richard Harris (Executive Director of Vision Beyond Bars) and Kris Anderson (Youth Program Director at Meadowood Neighborhood Center), will share their insights as to how we can best interact with today’s youth.

Please feel free to invite your neighbors to any/all of these events!

Tania Banak, President, Prairie Hills Neighborhood Association

More than 100 residents from Prairie Hills and surrounding neighborhoods participated in a peace vigil on Tues. Nov. 22^nd.  The event, precipitated by negative graffiti painted on several properties in Prairie Hills and Greentree neighborhoods, was a positive statement that we will not tolerate this type of negative behavior.  Instead, the graffiti actually gave the community a reason to come together in unity!  Some media coverage can be viewed at:

Memorial High School’s Black Student Union is planning a rally on Mon. Jan. 17, tentatively from 12 noon to around 2 pm.  If you would like to be involved in the planning process, and in helping to build on the momentum created by our recent peace vigil, please let us know (prairiehillsna@yahoo.com) and we will put you in touch with the organizers.

How safe do you feel in your neighborhood?  Your opinion about the issues helps police understand how best to serve our neighborhood. The West Police District would like residents of the South West side of Madison to complete their annual survey:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/757X753

Interested in getting involved in your community?  Consider attending Prairie Hills board meetings!  The next meeting is scheduled for Thurs. Jan. 12, 6:30 pm, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.  Topics will include activities for the coming year, recruitment of additional block captains, and more.

A community supper organized at Falk School in December by the SW Community Organizing Committee for the Hammersley/Theresa neighborhood attracted a nice turnout of local residents.  After area youth presented the results of a traffic safety survey they had done, attendees voted on the traffic safety locations of most concern to them.  Interested residents were invited to attend further planning meetings to address perceived issues in the neighborhood.  If you would like to be involved in this type of neighborhood planning, please contact us at prairiehillsna@yahoo.com.

The high school’s student services department is looking for mentors in its Study Skills program designed to help 9^th and 10^th year students build their study, organization, and note-taking habits.  Each mentor will meet with one student over a minimum of 6 sessions in a 4-6 week time period.  A 2-hour training session will be provided in January before you meet with your first student.  For more information, or to apply, please contact Dan Maloney at 663-6060.

Registration for youth (girls & boys) baseball and girl’s softball, ages 8-16, is open from Jan. 5-Feb 29, 2012.  Participants must live in the West, Memorial, or Middleton school attendance areas.  Online registrants (www.wmll.org) who meet the deadline are guaranteed a spot on a team!  Partial scholarships are available.  Questions?  Contact WMLL Exec. Director, Bill Battista, 608-239-6161, or email board@wmll.org.

Want to get out and enjoy whatever Father Winter brings us?  Then you may want to take ice skating lessons at Elver Park.  The 7-week lesson series begins the week of Jan. 3 and runs through Feb. 7.  For schedule and registration information, visit:  http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/seasonal/Winter/iceskatinglessons.cfm

Thanks so much to neighbors who submitted comments on the District 1 capital budget for the city of Madison.  Based partially on input from residents, a $900,000 proposal to purchase and rehabilitate a community center in the greater Elver Park area was withdrawn.  Provisional approval was given for a $700,000 spray park in the Park Ridge/Park Edge area, based on funding from the city’s general obligation fund and from park impact fees.  Resident opposition was based on the fact that the proposed spray park and community center do not directly address the district’s priority crime problems, and they add to an already overburdened tax base.

If convenient access to fresh, local food is important to you, please consider volunteering for the South West Farmer’s Market Workgroup.  This group will explore options for the best location for the farmer’s market in 2012, and will form a board of residents that will help govern the market.  For more information, please contact Amy Skora, student intern at Public Health, askora@publichealthmdc.com or 608-243-0481.

Click on their “December 2011” newsletter link to learn about how storm water affects our lakes, and how the city of Madison is addressing issues of salt, storm water treatment, and much more.  http://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/stormwater/index.cfm

Are you interested in safety issues in our neighborhood?  If so, our neighborhood’s safety committee is ready to launch.  Please respond to this email if you’d like to be involved.  Potential issues might include pedestrian crossings at Raymond & Prairie Roads, organizing neighborhood watch on your block, and securing your home and car to protect against potential break-ins.

Just a reminder that the neighborhood’s website offers a Google Group where neighbors can share safety concerns.  You can sign up for the list by clicking on the “PHNA Online Forum” box at the upper right hand corner of our website (www.prairiehillsna.org).

On Nov. 9, the West Police District held a listening session to acquaint the district’s new captain, Vic Wahl, with neighborhood concerns.  A number of people presented their views, including members of various Southwest side neighborhood associations.  The general consensus was that improved communication would be very helpful.  Residents would like to know more about what is happening, what their role is and how they can help.

Reminder: alternate side street parking rules are now in effect for Madison residents.  For details, see the city’s news release:  http://www.cityofmadison.com/news/view.cfm?news_id=2939

On Sunday, December 4, the South Point Road yard waste site will close for the winter.  The Badger Rd. and Sycamore Ave. sites will switch over to winter hours (M-F from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.)  For details, visit http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/yardWaste/dropoffsites.cfm

If convenient access to fresh, local food is important to you, please consider volunteering for the South West Farmer’s Market Workgroup.  This group will explore options for the best location for the farmer’s market in 2012, and will form a board of residents that will help govern the market.  Their next meeting is scheduled for Wed. Dec. 14, at 7 pm.  For more information, please contact Amy Skora, student intern at Public Health, askora@publichealthmdc.com or 608-243-0481.

The July/September edition of the West District Police Station’s newsletter is available at http://www.cityofmadison.com/police/west/newsletters/  Of special interest:  Lt. John Patterson’s tips on how to prevent home burglaries, and neighborhood police officer Brad Ware’s column

Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive, talks about his budget in the following column:

Green Madison, the city’s resource for saving money and energy at home, is teaming up with the Urban League to provide jobs starting Nov. 7.  The Ambassadors for Green Energy will target designated Madison neighborhoods to recruit homeowners to participate in the program.  For more information about what the program can do for you, visit http://www.cityofmadison.com/greenMadison/

Nicole Schaeffer, Toki’s principal, reports that the Middle School received a $500 Exxon Mobile Educational Alliance grant to help with the school’s programs.  The school also participated in a system-wide “Principal for a Day” program which allows schools to bring in community leaders to observe school activities.  Toki brought in Cathy Stepp, Secretary of the Dept. of Natural Resources.  For more details, check the school’s website:  http://tokiweb.madison.k12.wi.us

Do you have an ID for voting?  What about your neighbors, friends, and family members?  State law now requires voters to present identification when voting.  Voters who do not have an acceptable ID at the polling place will need to vote on a provisional ballot.  Provisional ballots will be counted only if the voter brings an acceptable ID to the Clerk’s Office by 4 p.m. the Friday after the election.  The City Clerk’s Office recommends checking your ID now to make sure your vote will be counted in 2012.  For more information, see www.cityofmadison.com/election or call the Clerk’s Office at 266-4601.

If you would like to help the Salvation Army raise funds for the disadvantaged and homeless by ringing the red kettle bells, please contact chris_ziemba@usc.salvationarmy.org.  Shift workers are needed from Nov. 18-Dec. 3.

Now that Wisconsin is smoke-free, marketers are promoting smokeless tobacco products in packaging that is especially attractive to youth.  Public Health is trying to educate community members about the dangers of these products.  If you would like more information, or would like to help, please contact Ryan Sheahan, Coordinator for the Tobacco Free Columbia Dane County Coalition at 242-6297 or rsheahan@publichealthmdc.com

Southwest Triad provides numerous educational opportunities for our neighborhood’s elderly.  To learn more, or to be placed on their e-mailing list, please contact Triad via RSVP Dane County at mstamstad@rsvpdane.org

Fitchburg’s Hospice Care has changed its name to Agrace Hospice Care.  If you would like more information about their services or would like to be added to the newsletter distribution list, please contact them at Agrace_HospiceCare@mail.vresp.com

A big thank-you to all who attended the Prairie Hills Neighborhood Association annual meeting on Sept. 22nd, and a special thanks to Leadership Greater Madison for the delicious treats and the door prizes.

The meeting was informative.  Chief Noble Wray talked about various factors that can cause problem neighborhoods:  lack of communication, transient non-connected residents, “broken windows” environment sends “no one cares” message, residents don’t take ownership/personal responsibility for where they live, density of low-income populations, drugs, gangs.  The take-home message is that we all need to be INVOLVED in our community.

Are you willing to take part in committees that address any of the following?  If so, please respond to this email and let us know!

            Safety Issues

            Promoting Attractive Homes & Yards

            Issues for Older Residents

            Connect People Who Need Help With People Who Can Help

            Activities for Children & Youth

After the police chief, representatives from Wisconsin Youth Company and the Meadowood Neighborhood Center talked about their programming.  We also introduced Brad Ware, the new Hammersley neighborhood police officer, and Ali Brooks, newly-appointed SW youth organizer (per a 2-year UW grant).

During a feedback session, those in attendance indicated they were not very interested in social events, but would like to know how to encourage neighbors to keep their properties up, how to deal with gangs of youth who make lots of noise and fight, and how to deal with lighting and trash issues.  Caveat:  the majority of those in attendance were older white folks, so these desires may not reflect everyone in the neighborhood.

Tania Banak was re-elected as president, and Sharon Whitney was elected as treasurer.  Kevin Wymore stepped up to fill the vacant vice president role until the 2012 election.  Gloria Meyer will continue as secretary.

Join the West Police District for a South West Safety Meeting at 7 pm on Wed. Nov. 9, at Memorial High School, 201 S Gammon Rd.  This will be a general listening session where people can voice their concerns to command staff of the West Police District and can consider solutions to problems.

The next meeting of the Prairie Hills Neighborhood Association board will be held on Thurs. Nov. 10.  Interested residents are welcome to join the board at 6:30 pm, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1701 McKenna (please call 278-1093 to confirm location).

If Facebook is your favorite way to stay in touch with friends, please consider “liking” the new Prairie Hills Neighborhood Association Facebook page.  http://www.facebook.com/Prairiehillsna It’s a great way to receive current event announcements, or to share neighborhood event photos with neighbors.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Whitney Way & Raymond Road) is conducting a drive for gently used adult winter coats.  They will distribute the coats to neighborhood residents who need them.  So far, they have collected 50 coats, but have received 200 requests for coats.  Coats can be left on the rack in the church lobby.  Special thanks to Best Cleaners in Meadowood Shopping Center for cleaning the coats prior to distribution.

Fall has arrived!  Which means it’s time to deal with falling leaves.  Remember, pile leaves on your property terrace, NOT in the streets.  Because decomposed leaves in the streets drain into the city sewer system, and end up in our lakes.  And become pollution that creates algae in our lakes over the summer.  For more information about fall leaf pick-ups, see http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/  To obtain yard signs or brochures, visit www.myfairlakes.com or call 224-3746.

Grants are available from the Madison Community Foundation to start up new community gardens or enhance existing ones.  Applications are due by Jan. 13, 2012.  To learn more, see http://www.cacscw.org/garden_grants.php  Check out their informative link on “how to start a new garden.”  Donations to the New Garden Project are also welcome.  For more info, contact Chris Brockel at 246-4730, ext. 206 or email at chrisb@cacscw.org.

South West Madison Triad offers safety information and much more for area seniors.  Recently, they held a FREE winter automobile safety inspection for seniors to make sure their cars were ready for winter.  Does this type of information interest you?  If so, contact RSVP at 441-7897 or mstamstad@rsvpdane.org to be placed on their email list.