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Rebecca Kemble, District 18 Alderperson

Rebecca Kemble
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Rebecca Kemble, District 18 Alderperson

On Monday, Aug. 19, approximately 50 people attended a public meeting at Mendota Mental Health Institute (MMHI) to learn about the State of Wisconsin’s plans for expanding the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center (MJTC) to accommodate 50 more children.

MMHI Director Dr. Greg Van Rybroek welcomed neighbors to the MMHI Conference Center and explained their philosophy and practice of treatment, which has been hailed as the gold standard in caring for children whom he characterized as “people who were born in hell.” He noted that five patients helped in the design process for the new building.

City, state and project staff shared information about the city’s Conditional Use Permit process, the state law that mandates and funds the building expansion, and site maps and building plans describing the new development.

Residents raised concerns about the following issues:

  • increased traffic and speeding on Green Avenue and Troy Drive
  • neighborhood safety procedures in the event of a patient escape
  • the enlarged building and parking lot footprints on land that is sacred and culturally sensitive to the Ho Chunk Nation
  • continued public access to the campus 
  • potential future re-use or discontinued use of the facility
  • the late stage of the planning and design process at which information about the project was being shared with the public, and the state’s failure to seek public input.

At their meeting Monday, Aug. 26, the City Plan Commission decided to refer making a decision on the permit application for 60 days pending the development of a Transportation Demand Management plan that would address parking and traffic issues, as well as validation by the Wisconsin State Historical Society that no archeological sites will be disturbed by the planned construction.

The project will be considered by the State Building Commission at their Oct. 16 meeting in the governor’s office. 

Melissa Sargent, State Representative

Melissa Sargent
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Melissa Sargent, State Representative

Protecting Wisconsin’s pollinators

One of the most important members of our growing community are the friendly pollinators who thrive in our backyards and farms. Besides their crucial role in pollinating our picturesque gardens, pollinators are vital to the well-being of Wisconsin’s agricultural sector. In fact, here in our state pollinators contribute to over $55 million in annual crop production, $3.5 million in commodities, and most importantly, one in every three bites of food we consume.

Sadly, these members of our community are suffering due to human development and unsustainable practices. During the past 30 years, Wisconsin’s native pollinator populations have suffered serious losses at the hands of human development, improper pesticide usage and invasive pests and diseases. Together, these factors are creating a perfect storm against our buzzing friends, and Wisconsin has seen over a 60% decrease in pollinator populations.

The truth of the matter is that our state’s well-being and economic capabilities are deeply interconnected with pollinator health, and our careless expansion into native habitats is coming back to sting us. Without action, pollinator populations will continue to shrink and our state’s agriculture-based economy will stagnate. 

I am proud to author several pieces of legislation that would enhance the well-being of Wisconsin’s pollinators and protect our state’s economy from drastic decline. This includes LRB-4138, which creates a task force on pollinator health. This task force will bring together academic experts, community stakeholders and state legislators to develop comprehensive recommendations and legislative priorities to address this environmental crisis. 

When it comes to protecting these keystone species, we must take an all-inclusive approach that prioritizes public education campaigns, integrated habitat restoration projects and limiting the use of detrimental pesticides. Through common sense legislation and community action, we have the ability to stop pollinator declines while developing a bright and buzzing future in Wisconsin.

What should pet parents think about in the fall of the year?

June Brooks
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What should pet parents think about in the fall of the year?

Fall brings color and temperatures that encourage us to enjoy the season. Here is a short list to turn your attention to as autumn days grow short and temperatures drift lower.

Continue to use preventatives for ticks and fleas. These critters are active when the temperature is 32 degrees or warmer. Oral or topical medications will protect your companion from irritating bites and disease transmission. They will also protect you.

Mushrooms and other oddities often appear on walks in the autumn. Do your best to keep your pet from eating them. Should your pet have a dietary indiscretion, try to gather a sample of what was eaten and contact your veterinarian or local emergency service. 

Halloween can be stressful for your pet. Dogs may be startled and frightened by costumes. When they feel frightened, they may react defensively. Keep your masks off when you are around your pets. My dog really enjoyed her morning walk the day after Halloween as she found lots of discarded treats in the grass; try to prevent your pet from scarfing down candy and other treats. Xylitol, a sweetener used in sugarless gums and candies, can be lethal to your pet. Keeping pets’ stress levels low and keeping human treats away will make for a happy Halloween.

During hunting seasons, blaze orange or blaze pink can protect both you and your pet as you enjoy the woods. 

Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to be grateful for companions who love us unconditionally. It is also time for celebration which can be stressful. If you are hosting or traveling, make plans in advance to keep your friends safe and calm. Show your gratitude for their devotion.

Enjoy the best of the season with happy, healthy pets.

Cure wrist pain

Ross Royster
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Cure wrist pain

Cure wrist pain

In this age of “mousing” and computer typing, wrist pain is common. Doing so with your wrist cocked back can overstress the muscles in your forearm. The same thing happens with sleeping or riding a bicycle or motorcycle with your wrists bent back. 

These muscles, the extensor wad, are not located at the wrist; they are just below the elbow. They have long tendons, like puppet strings, that go down the arm, between the bones in the wrist and over the tops of the fingers. If they are overly tight, the tendons will rub the nerves that go to the hand and the wrist bones. This results in wrist or hand pain (usually involving the middle three fingers). If this rubbing continues long enough, you will develop scar tissue in the wrists, which further irritates the nerves. This is carpal tunnel syndrome, which may require surgery to cut the ligaments around the wrist to relieve pressure on the spaces between the bones.

You can relieve wrist pain and possibly avoid carpal tunnel surgery by loosening the extensor wad muscles. With your forearm flat on a table, palm down, the muscles can be found on top of the arm just below the elbow. They are about 3 inches long. Using the elbow of your other arm, push into the muscles. If you find painful spots, these are active trigger points that are keeping the muscles tight. Keep pressure on these painful spots for 10 seconds at a time. I can usually find about three spots along the muscles. 

Once you have hit them all, start again and again. Each time, the trigger points will become a little less painful. When the pain is gone, either step into a hot shower or heat them with a hot damp towel for 5‒10 minutes. If you do this daily, your wrist pain will likely be gone in a few days. Then, all you have to do is figure out what you’ve been doing with your wrist cocked back and quit doing it.

From Captain Brian Ackeret, North District Police

Brian Ackeret
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From Captain Brian Ackeret, North District Police

Community policing on the Northside

The term “community policing” is used throughout the nation, but what does it really mean? The Madison Police Department has been practicing community policing in various forms for the past 30 years. Community policing in Madison is not just an action, we like to think of it as a philosophy, a way of doing business.

Here is an example of what community policing looks like on the Northside. During the summer there was a noticeable increase in police calls for service at the McDonald’s on Dryden Drive. Incidents increased from seven in May to 22 in June to more than 30 in July. Most of the incidents involved youth disturbances, fights, thefts and damage to property. At least one incident involved a witness observing a gun being shown to several teens. Officers reported having several conflicts when asking some of the youth involved in disturbances to leave the property.

In a problem-solving effort, several Northside community stakeholders and the North Neighborhood Resource Team met to discuss solutions. During the discussions, one member of the team stepped up to make a difference. Haywood Simmons Jr. has facilitated Community/Police Listening Circles, led several Youth Police Initiatives, and provided youth programming this summer at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center. Haywood and several of his assistants began contacting youth in the Dryden Drive area each afternoon and evening for several weeks. He was able to make connections and offer services. In August calls for service dropped to eight incidents — a nearly 75% decrease from the previous month.

McDonald’s made a few changes to the facility that enhanced safety and security. It is a partnership between community members, city agencies, area businesses and residents working together to reduce conflict. We are extremely grateful to Haywood Simmons Jr. and his team for their presence on the Northside.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed this column to former North District Police Captain Jay Lengfeld.

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