Now IÕd like to ask you a question Š what are some of the generous acts that you thought of as you read the above? There are acts that are large and well-publicized and many more that are small and unsung. Every single one contributes to quality of life in our neighborhood. We know they are out there. We would like to know about them and to thank more people here -- just for their contribution alone if they would prefer to just leave their name out of it. Would you please take time to write to us and let us know about them?
Thanks to Mike Tuten and his Merry Band of Pancake Supper cooks, cleaner-uppers and assorted volunteers. Well over a hundred people came to the basement of Christ Presbyterian to eat, socialize and hear our State Assembly Rep. Mark Pocan speak. Thanks to the church for letting us use their facilities and especially to the choir for their tolerance of the somewhat boisterous visitors downstairs.
On Earth Day Saturday, April 17 Š 160 people showed up to plant trees and shrubs along both sides of the river in Tenney Park. 160. That was the State JournalÕs count. Channel 3 and Channel 15 filmed it. Hundreds of hours of volunteer time went into preparation alone. ŌTheyÕ said rain, wind and snow. People said they would come anyway and they did. Every shrub was planted and every tree was nestled with care into its new home. They were watered and mulched and then watered again. Work time was planned from 9 to 3 and we finished before lunch. Now thatÕs a problem in need of more, creative solutions. The trees and shrubs stand in testimony to the commitment of so many to making our green spaces a place that brings good habitat for people, animals and plants. So many from very young to quite senior can return to visit their investment and find it growing beautifully.
From within the neighborhood, we want to especially thank Susan Bauman-Duren, our Parks Chair, and the many neighbors who came and planted. Just a very few of the others include: Geri Weinstein-Breunig and Heather Mann of the Urban Open Space Foundation, Si Widstrand of the Parks Dept., Peggy Chung and our TLNA Special Projects-Yahara Parkway guy Ed Jepsen. These people have amazing qualifications for doing work with parks, landscaping, horticulture and natural resources. All of them freely volunteered many hours of their work.
And now many people are going quietly, on their own, to fulfill the greatest need of the new landscapings Š to water the new plantings and tenderly remove weeds that will come up to compete with them. As part of their daily walks along the river, you may see them carrying those big five-gallon buckets or hauling water from the lagoon. Or maybe as they wait for the fish to bite, or for the toddler to search for new bugs, or for a new bird to appear, they will pull out weeds from around the mulch. You probably wonÕt see much of them. But when you do, say hello, thank them, shake their hand. If you would, please tell us about one or two who stand out for you.
One person I hoped to see on Saturday didnÕt show but thatÕs ok. I want to thank Bill anyway. Thanks to Bill for doing a great job of removing dead sticks from some of the shrub thickets. Some of you who spend time at Tenney may know Bill Š he clears out sticks and makes piles of them for the Parks workers to truck away. He used to throw them in the water to make ripples but now he has a new plan. From an ecological-habitat point of view, we know that his work removing dead branches can contribute to the vigor of shrubs and trees. We know that the Green Herons who regularly make at least one (secret) nest in one of the thickets donÕt seem to mind. Bill is pretty shy about talking with strangers but you can always say hi and thanks to a caregiver who accompanies him.
Ever wondered what happens to the ice skating ramp that connects the lagoon to the shelter during the summer time? Or why the same city employees who help to camouflage nesting sites sometimes need to do their pruning with a chain saw? Have you ever walked through our neighborhood parks, seen some change and wondered, "Now why in the heck did they do that?" Chances are that one excellent person to ask, and who can also supply the good reasoning behind it, is John Wilson. John is the on-the-ground coordinator/get-the-work-done-now person for Tenney and many of our other parks in this part of town. YouÕll find John and others out in the parks. You can also contact Bob Wittman who is a East Parks Foreman at 246-4510. YouÕll find that parks workers are making good decisions and making the most of resources that they have. Parks are now #9 on the city budget priority list, right below the Monona Terrace. They deserve our support and encouragement.
I also want to thank some people who quietly, deliberately and sometimes courageously volunteer Š anonymously and for good reasons. Our neighborhood is by no means perfect, and just like our very affluent counterparts (for example) we have some bad things that happen here as well. As Police Chief Williams points out Š he depends on ordinary citizens to be the eyes and ears of the community to help the police do good work. Call them. Or if youÕre not sure where to start, call us. There are people in our neighborhood with considerable expertise and understanding covering a wide range from social work to social justice to community policing and enforcement. Everyone has a right to live in our neighborhood and to be respected as a person. No one has a right to behave in ways that are harmful and endanger others.
So there are just a few examples of people working for the good in our neighborhood. Send us more. Cheers, Tim Olsen
-TLNA President Tim Olsen
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