Community

MIDDLETON–Conversation at the Middleton Equity Team (MET) meeting last week centered mostly around the redistribution of wealth within the community and how that could be achieved. 

After watching a short video about redlining, the practice of rating neighborhoods and drawing red lines around those deemed least desirable, the committee broke into small groups to discuss the practice and what it means in regard to wealth, how racist neighborhood covenants have affected the city and the impact of redistribution of wealth. The members returned to as a whole and discussed the factors that affected wealth distribution. 

One concern was some of the neighborhoods with infill housing lack green space and transportation options. One idea was to include green space when planning infill projects in existing neighborhoods. 

WISCONSIN–Wisconsin Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk told a group of reporters at a virtual press conference Monday that slow shipment of COVID-19 vaccines by the federal government is to blame for the low number of doses administered in the state. She joined Gov. Tony Evers in asking that the feds step up their shipment of vaccines. She said that although Pres. Elect Joe Biden has said his administration will get one million doses shipped per day, at that rate it would still take nearly a year to vaccinate all adults in the United States. As of Monday, 151,502 doses had been administered, 11,586 of which were second doses.

“This is a great accomplishment, but it’s not enough,” Willems Van Dijk said.

DANE COUNTY–Meinholz Quarry LLC, (owned by Yahara Materials), filed a writ of certiorari seeking to have the Dane County Circuit Court reverse the Dane Town Board of Zoning and Appeals (BZA) decision, which affirmed the Springfield Zoning Administrator’s finding that the non-conforming use status of the quarry was invalid. Meinholz also filed a declaratory relief against the Town of Springfield. On Dec. 23, two years after the Town of Springfield Board of directors initially approved the quarry’s proposed expansion, both filings were dismissed by Judge Frank D. Remington.

At a Dec. 2, 2019 meeting the BZA made a decision on a piece of land slated for quarry expansion by Yahara Materials. The board found that the 40-acre parcel, known as the Meinholz property, was conforming status and did fall under the Town of Springfield ordinance jurisdiction, which would require a conditional use permit from the town for mineral extraction.

WISCONSIN–After the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) emergency use approval (EUA) of the Moderna vaccine, the second in as many weeks, on Dec. 18, Wisconsin is poised to 101,000 doses this week.

Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, approved on Dec. 11, the Moderna vaccine can be handled like other vaccines and does not require extreme cold temperatures. It will be distributed directly to health care providers rather than follow a hub and spoke model of distribution which is the distribution model for the Pfizer vaccine.

In spite of reports of several allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine, inoculations continued around the country, including Wisconsin. Though the company has told recipients with reactions not to get a second dose of the vaccine.

MIDDLETON–Parents and students took to streets on Dec. 21 calling for the school district to implement in-person learning for students in all grade levels beginning at the start of the second semester. About 50 people gathered at Middleton High School (MHS) and marched to the district administration building on South St. hours before the board voted on implementing a blended instruction model for all students.

An organizer of the march and parent of a student at MHS, Joel Moyer, said families want a commitment from the board that the district will implement in-person learning as soon as possible. Moyer says he supports getting kids back in schools even if that means only partially in a virtual/in-person blended instruction model, which the school district did approve for grades 4K-2 beginning Feb. 1.

DANE COUNTY–The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is urging people to stay off the ice. Although ice has been forming on area lakes throughout the week, the conditions are still unsafe for ice fishing and other activities.

Marine and Trail deputies, along with Madison Fire and Rescue, have responded to at least three calls already today to rescue individuals who have fallen through. One ice angler on Mudd Lake was able to get himself out of the water but lost all of his fishing gear.

It’s understandable that people are anxious to get outside and enjoy winter activities, but safety needs to be the top priority. If you do decide to take the gamble, make sure you are wearing a life jacket and that you have communicated with a friend or family member on your location.

Above all, remember that the ice is never 100 percent safe.

MIDDLETON–On Dec. 19 starting at 12 p.m., Middleton First Responders will escort Santa, himself, through the city. The small neighborhood parade using a route similar to the August first responder parade, will give kids a chance to see Santa during the pandemic, since in person Santa visits are limited this year.

Come out and wave to Santa and your local first responders as they travel through your neighborhood. The route will start and end at the police department, and travel in the direction of the arrow in the map. An interactive map can be found at https://bit.ly/MiddletonSantaParade, so you can see the exact route Santa will be taking.

Due to COVID 19 concerns, please follow social distancing and face covering recommendations.

MIDDLETON–Three Middleton businesses were among the 231 winners in the We’re All Innovating contest held by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Community CoWorks, Meg’s Masks and Regal Find all received funding as winners in the competition. 

Kristi Warriner, owner of Community CoWorks said she learned of the contest through multiple sources including the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and WWBIC Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC). “City of Middleton leaders and the Chamber also sent out press about the award.  Mike Davis at the city and Lisa Quam at the Chamber have been really fabulous about looking out for us,” Warriner said. 

MIDDLETON–Three Middleton businesses were among the 231 winners in the We’re All Innovating contest held by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Community CoWorks, Meg’s Masks and Regal Find all received funding as winners in the competition. 

Kristi Warriner, owner of Community CoWorks said she learned of the contest through multiple sources including the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and WWBIC Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC). “City of Middleton leaders and the Chamber also sent out press about the award.  Mike Davis at the city and Lisa Quam at the Chamber have been really fabulous about looking out for us,” Warriner said. 

Editor’s note: In a previous vaccine article published on Dec.10, Julie Willems Van Dijk’s name was misspelled. It is corrected in this story.

WISCONSIN–After FDA (Food and Drug Administration) emergency approval on Dec. 11, Pfizer began rolling out their COVID-19 vaccine immediately. Wisconsin, which is poised to receive 49,725 doses, started receiving the vaccine on Monday. The first 10,000 doses arrived in the afternoon.