Interest in the 30 balusters from old East Main Street Bridge over the Yahara River continues to run high. The great news is that so many people deeply care about the fate of the balusters as historic artifacts of our neighborhood. Suggestions for the balusters include public use ideas such as sculpture, benches along the Yahara, bus benches, a historic marker, or landscaping enclosures in park space. Private use options include "pulling names out of a hat" and giving them away, raffling them off, or auctioning them off. There are also proposals for a combination of public and private use, and proposals that any funds raised be used for specific neighborhood projects. Note that if we decide to distribute them to individuals in any way, we also need to decide who is eligible to participate. (You may also remember that equal numbers of bridge balusters were originally distributed to three neighborhoods; Wilmar, Emerson East and ours.) If public use is decided, we need committee volunteers to help guide the process.

To participate in deciding their ultimate fate, we invite everyone to come to the TLNA Potluck Dinner at Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 E. Gorham St. on Tuesday, January 18. The doors will open at 5:00 PM. At 6:00, we will have a slide show of Madison from the 20's and 30's presented by the Historic Society. Following that, we will have time for people to advocate options for the balusters and a vote on how they should be used. Finally, we plan to hold our regular monthly Council Meeting at 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. As always, the public is invited but not obligated to attend the monthly meeting.

If you are able, please offer a ride to the Potluck to your less mobile

neighbors who might enjoy the potluck, slides and some warm neighborliness with you. Many of our more senior residents might especially appreciate a ride. And certainly, we would relish the chance to hear more about the history of our neighborhood and city from them.

Recent neighborhood concerns have led to more opportunities for

collaboration in improving truck parking and traffic problems around the

Madison Dairy across from Lapham Elementary School. The holiday season is a busy one in the butter and dairy business so there has been even more truck traffic than usual. The main problem is that some drivers of the big trucks are parking and driving on nearby residential streets and not staying within designated areas. Some drivers are considerate and act like guests in the neighborhood. For those who don't, changing their behavior is not a simple matter since the drivers and their trucking companies are not directly employed by the dairy. Many are self employed. They come from all over the country and some have never been to Madison before.

One of the outcomes of meetings a couple of years ago between neighbors, Madison Dairy owners and city officials was an effort to have drivers notified to call ahead before arriving at the Dairy. That way it would be possible for the drivers to wait elsewhere (like the Hwy. 51 -- Interstate 94 truck stops) for their turn to load or unload. These efforts continue but a shortage of drivers and trucks has contributed towards the numbers of drivers who show up unannounced, park in the street and want immediate attention. If they are dissatisfied, they can actually leave and find another 'load' very easily. What to do now?

There are good short term and long term solutions to work on. Pressing problems can be best dealt with by first calling the Madison Dairy at 256-5561 day or night and asking for assistance. Owners Chuck and Gary Steinhauer are striving to get better cooperation from all drivers. Residents are also welcome to call the police non-emergency dispatch and to ask for parking enforcement at 255-2345. Note however, that the ability of police to respond does depend on the priority of calls; emergency situations come first. Motivated neighbors can work together with neighborhood, business and city representatives on longer-lasting solutions that can come from continued involvement and perseverance.

-TLNA President Tim Olsen