What we were reading about…by Rita Lord
30 years ago, June-July 1996
— The Mendota Hills Neighborhood Association raised funds to replace old wooden playground equipment in Warner Park. The city slated $6,000 for the project, but a multi-purpose play structure would cost $20,000. A new program called People for Parks offered matching funds, and the neighborhood association encouraged Northsiders to contribute to the cause.
— Rhythm & Booms was scheduled for Saturday, July 6. An article detailed the many activities taking place before the fireworks: Kids Crazy Olympics, Stage Coach Players, Vilas Zoo animals, bingo, and food and drink. The Northside Planning Council coordinated park cleanup Sunday, July 8, and volunteer groups could earn $300 for their organization, paid by the Madison Fireworks Fund.
— The Northside Planning Council and other community organizations proposed a cohousing project at the Troy Drive community garden property. The proposal was described as 20-30 semi-attached, privately owned houses around a courtyard with a shared common building for community meals, office space, workshops and playrooms.
20 years ago, June-July 2006
— The newly formed Friends of Cherokee Marsh met for the first time in May. The group was formed to advocate for the marsh and the Upper Yahara watershed to preserve water quality, provide refuge for wildlife, and protect the environs from inappropriate development that could have an adverse effect on the natural area.
— An article by Rev. Dean Kirst of Lakeview Lutheran Church described the work of church members who spent time in Mississippi helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. The volunteers replaced damaged drywall, dug trenches for new plumbing, removed damaged items, cut down trees, picked up debris, and worked in a food distribution center.
— The Warner Park Circle of Friends held the First Annual Golf for a Warner Pool event in May at Bridges Golf Course. Over 35 volunteers, 20 golf teams, 105 dinner reservations, and 63 local businesses joined the effort. The event raised almost $24,000.
10 years ago, June- 2016
— Katie Scharf, librarian at Lakeview Library for 20 years, retired. Scharf obtained a degree in library studies at UW-Madison, then worked for the Madison Public Library in a bookmobile and the central library before coming to Lakeview. Scharf said Lakeview was unique among neighborhood libraries due to the unwavering support of the Friends of Lakeview Library.
— The Friends of Lake View Hill Park worked to preserve a veranda remnant of the Nurses’ Dorm and planned to develop plaques telling the story of the sanatorium. Other efforts involved repairing the stone walkway, repairing the rock wall and grotto, and preserving a tunnel to protect bats.
— Dane Buy Local moved to the Northside at 2801 International Lane. A nonprofit established in 2004 to support small business practices, Dane Buy Local was founded on the concept that buying local makes a difference in that the neighborhood economy is supported and the quality of the area is sustained. .
