Northside News

The City of Madison is aware of the growing population of older adults. In Madison, more than 28,000 individuals are over the age of 60.

We are grateful that, despite advancing years and chronic conditions, many older adults serve our community as volunteers in our schools, faith communities and social service organizations. They are instrumental to the vibrancy and viability of the City of Madison.

Some seniors and their families need important social services, provided by both the City of Madison and Dane County. One important resource is the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Dane County (ADRC), which provides essential information and referral on senior services. Call 240-7400 or email ADRC@countyofdane.com or visit their office at 2865 N. Sherman Ave.

The City of Madison 2015 approved budget includes funding for senior services:

• Case management services and senior activities are provided through the geographically based Madison Senior Coalitions, including the North/Eastside and East Madison/Monona Senior Coalitions. A volunteer home chore program assists older people to live independently in their own homes.
• Special programs for LGBT seniors and a cultural diversity program focused on African-American and Latino elders continues in 2015. Hmong elders are served through Kajsiab House, sponsored through Journey Mental Health Center.
• Senior adults are encouraged to share their lifetimes of skill and experience in the community through RSVP of Dane County. RSVP interviews, places and supports older volunteers in schools and agencies so we all benefit from their meaningful volunteer service.
• The Madison Senior Center, a nationally accredited senior center located at 330 W. Mifflin St., provides programs and activities that promote “successful aging.” This municipal senior center is known for its unique programming and intergenerational activities. Look for a visit from Mary Todd Lincoln (historical impersonator Jessica Michna) Feb. 24 and the VFW Band March 19. Visit www.
  madisonseniorcenter.org.
• The Committee on Aging is appointed by the mayor to accomplish three major functions: monitor the Madison Senior Center, recommend service funding to the Community Services Committee, and advocate for Madison’s senior adults. You are invited to apply for vacancies on this committee as they arise. See the City of Madison webpage (www.cityofmadison.com) for more information.
• Stay well.

As the director of the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin (ADAW), I’m delighted the Northside News is emphasizing senior issues in this edition. Dane County funds many programs and services for seniors. Often seniors are reluctant to ask, but assistance with transportation, meals or in-home help allows folks to stay independent in their homes, a huge benefit to all. I hope this edition helps promote what is available to encourage ways to enhance quality of life.

For decades Dane County, the City of Madison, United Way and several municipalities have funded 16 senior focal points so seniors can easily access assistance close to home. This is unique in Wisconsin. We are fortunate to have the North/Eastside Senior Coalition (243-5252 or www.nescoinc.org), located in the Warner Park Community Recreation Center, where seniors can access information, local programs and case management.

We have a beautiful, state-of-the-art nursing facility at Badger Prairie (845-6601) for those who need specialized nursing care. I was proud to serve on the planning committee. Most seniors will never need this level of care, but it is there, just in case.

The county funds the Elder Abuse & Neglect Helpline (261-9933), which investigates reports of physical, emotional or financial abuse, and the Area Agency on Aging of Dane County (260-9930 or danecountyhumanservices.org/Aging/AreaAgencyonAging), which has numerous programs for seniors.

My organization, the ADAW (232-3400 or www.alzwisc.org), assists with everything related to dementia and is partially funded through a county contract. The newest Northside addition is the Aging & Disability Resource Center (240-7400 or www.daneadrc.org), funded with state dollars, where you can access general information on services, resources and programs available to the elderly and disabled, including financial assistance programs.

Supervisor Rusk can be reached at 249-9667 or rusk@countyofdane.com.

Greetings! I’m excited about some planning opportunities that are part of the 2015 city budget.

First will be a city staff-led Warner Park planning process. Here is an opportunity for community members to get together and really determine the future of Warner Park and the Warner Park Community Recreation Center. The Madison Parks Division has proposed that Jacob Tisue, Warner Park facility manager, work with other staff to develop a new parks planning process that should include plenty of community participation.

Over the past two years, many people and groups have engaged me about what Warner Park “should be.” Rather than piecemeal design, we should think ahead about what we want and, maybe more importantly, what we don’t want in the park. There are many important treasures already in the park that we all want to preserve. Let’s clearly identify and preserve them.

Alder Weier and I are working on a Northport Drive/North Sherman Avenue “block-face” planning process. Using the previously adopted Northside Plan, is there a way to be more clear and specific about how we want the commercial areas of Northport Drive and North Sherman Avenue to look? We’ll let you know more about this process as it gets going.

Also, we’re still finalizing the city-led planning process for the Northside TownCenter. Drafts clearly indicate that more infill development that hides the parking lot is not only economically sensible but would beautify the important Northport Drive/North Sherman Avenue intersection.

Finally, there’s also the Madison Public Library planning process for the Eastside and Northside branches. No fears — no one is looking at moving Lakeview outside the current area, but there continue to be questions about how all the branches work together to create a robust library system. Our library planner is working on the new Pinney Branch Library, but we should be looking at how to improve access and the experience for everyone.

I look forward to working with you on a terrific 2015.

Among my favorite things about being a Northside elected is getting to work with people in order to solve problems. I love it when people from different areas or different perspectives come together to make their shared community better.

For the past several weeks, I have worked closely with Northside Alder Anita Weir to problem solve around an issue unique to our area. District 18 is home to Mendota Mental Health Institute. As well-managed as this institution is, once in a while a patient escapes custody. Leaving Mendota grounds, an escapee would likely enter one of our neighborhoods. In a situation like this, it is important that neighbors are informed and can take any precautions necessary.

Mendota staff work closely with the Madison Police Department during a situation like this. While they urge people not to panic, they need a way to communicate information and instructions to neighbors. The most efficient way of communicating this information is through the Dane County 911 system. Anita and I are working with Madison Police and the 911 Emergency Management staff to create a protocol to follow so that information gets to neighborhoods as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Reverse 911 calls, as they are commonly known, are recorded messages that offer pertinent information and instructions to neighbors possibly affected by an incident. These calls go out to land lines in the affected area. Residents may also sign up their cell phones to the Dane County Alert system at www.countyofdane.com/
emergency/warning/default.aspx. Click the light blue button on the page that says “Sign up for Dane County Alerts.” Please note that, for data security reasons, this is a multi-step process that requires user validation before a new registration becomes active. Signing up will connect you to information about any type of emergency warning in Dane County.

I am grateful for the amazing emergency professionals in our city and county who work so hard every day to keep us safe.

Please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at ritt.michele@countyofdane.com or 335-6827.