THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

MIDDLETON TIMES-TRIBUNE

PAGE 9

Middleton Times-Tribune
Good Neighbors and City Government
by Mike Davis City of Middleton Administrator
This is the third in a series of columns that I am writing to respond to citizen comments resulting from the Citys first ever comprehensive Citizen Satisfaction survey. Over 700 Middleton citizens participated in the survey during the summer of 2012. I intend to respond to several of the prominent themes presented in the citizens comments from the survey. My hope is to educate and clarify various City issues as best I can. One common theme of concern or confusion from the survey had to do with City communications to the public. Although 77% of respondents to the survey were either satisfied or very satisfied with city communications, about 5% were dissatisfied and 18% were neutral. Respondents noted that they received their city news primarily from the web site (21%) and its notification subscriptions (17%) although many who indicated the web site might have intended to indicate the subscription service through their responses. The secondary source noted by respondents was the Middleton Times-Tribune (20%), followed by regional newspaper (11%), online sources (10%) and utility bills (10%). I believe that those citizens who keep up with the City through its subscription services/web site and the Middleton Times-Tribune could be well-informed by all those sources. However, those relying on the Wisconsin State Journal and utility bills are not likely to be receiving sufficient information by which to understand whats going on in City government. As I mentioned in my last column, the City has a new and much improved web site, and I believe this web site and many of its features will help the City better communicate with the public. Please visit the Citys new web site at www.ci.middleton.wi.us. We are proud of a more robust presence with a much more interactive use potential, including social media. The new web site features the following, all on the Citys home page: Notify Me: The Notify Me module is replacing our GovDelivery subscription service effective December 20. Notify Me has 80 City news categories and allows users to sign up for those email categories of most importance. This communication vehicle allows the city to send out either a targeted e-mail or a mass email to subscribers with just a few easy steps. Agendas, Minutes, Bids, Blogs, Calendar, Jobs, and News Flash all have an automatic Notify Me component. Its easy to subscribe to this service, and its free of charge. Social Media Facebook and Twitter: Allowing the city to use social media for quickly providing and receiving information with our citizens. Community Voice: Community Voice uses an open forum in which citizens can interact while allowing the city to showcase projects we are implementing in the community. This module encourages citizen idea submission, engaging discussions and voting by awarding badges to contributors based on their activity level. Alert Center: The Alert Center graphically shows when there is an emergency / important notification in the area. Citizens can enable the alert

Opinion
on their own and post updates to the alert. The citizen can choose from multiple looks/layouts for their website to display the module. Notifications or updates can be sent out through email and/or text messages from the Notify Me module. Request Tracker: The Request Tracker allows for follow-up communication between the city and our citizens. We can create as many different categories as we would like in order to help our citizens locate their specific problem and report it easily. Good examples are Report a pothole or Street light Malfunctioning where someone can report the problem, and you can communicate through emails sent from the system. This module has a free app with iPhones/iPads that can be downloaded from the Apple online store. The new web site offers additional features as well. For community events, see: http://visitmiddleton.com/events/eventcalendar/. Moreover, we have all of the previous features on the former web site, and well also be able to conduct non-scientific surveys to gauge citizen concerns on current topics. For those who dont have access to the internet and even for those who do, the Middleton Times-Tribune covers a wide variety of city meetings, events and news items, and it remains the best source of City information in print form. However, for those who rely on watching City Council and Plan Commission meetings on cable television, cable telecasts will soon no longer be an option because the City is moving solely to streamed broadcasts online. We hope to have streamed broadcasts available by early in 2013 for both City Council and Plan Commission meetings. In my next column, I will focus on the communitys economic development efforts.

www.newspubinc.com

by Kathy Hansen, MOMExecutive Director

At The Heart of Giving

At the heart of true giving, there are no expectations that you will receive anything in return except the satisfaction that you did something good for the benefit of others. The holidays can be an especially trying time for those living in poverty and feeling the hopelessness and shame associated with not being able to provide for themselves and those they love. At Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM), we are especially tuned in to how difficult it is for our clients to actually ask for help. For many, they have been self-sufficient for a long time and circumstances beyond their control have led them to seek help filling basic needs. MOM has many programs that offer our donors a chance to further our mission of preventing homelessness and ending hunger in our community. One program, Sharing Christmas, allows donors to actually meet face-to-face with a client in need. The Sharing Christmas program pairs donors with individuals and families who put together wish lists for Christmas gifts. The donor then purchases gifts from the list and deliver them to the recipients. For many, this is an experience they really enjoy. For others, what they take away from the program can be unexpected for both the donor and the recipient. Last year, MOM learned of such a compelling experience on both sides that we wanted to share it as it really embodies what can happen when you least expect it. One of the families that signed up for the program was a single mother of two. She had been employed at the same full-time job for more than three years and had never had to ask for help before. Due to declining business, her work hours were cut and she was faced with not being able to purchase Christmas gifts for her two children. She came to MOM and was matched with a donor.

by Amanda Struckmeyer Middleton Public Library

Temperature Dropping? Pick Up a Book!

On Tuesday mornings, I have the pleasure and privilege of hosting two storytimes for young readers at the library. We have lots of fun reading, dancing, singing, and creating. Certain elements are present at almost every one of my storytimes: a much-loved bean bag song and dance, a happy hello song, and a hearty welcome by a favorite puppet who happens to be a meteorologist. In fact, I dont even know what his name is; Ive never asked. We just call him the meteorologist. Storytime attendees look forward to the meteorologists appearance at the opening of every session. He introduces the theme of the day (for our Halloween storytime, he was wearing a pair of cat ears) and gives us a weather report. Sometimes hes silly and tells us

that its raining when its really snowing, or he tells us that its really really hot outside on one of winters chilliest days. Dont worry; our storytimers are more than happy to correct him. Usually, though, the meteorologists reports are pretty accurate. And lately, the weather report reflects colder and colder conditions. It must be time to check out a book or two about winter and snuggle in for a cozy read. In Ten on the Sled, Kim Norman presents a fun twist on the familiar Ten Bears in the Bed song. Ten animals drag a toboggan to the top of a snowy hill one night. They all pile on and begin their descent. One by one, as the sled picks up speed, nine of the animalsa seal, a hare, a sheep, a walrus, a fox, a squirrel, a wolf, a moose, and a bearare thrown (gently!) off of the toboggan and into the snow, and the caribou is left alone on board, sliding to a halt. Readers will love

the fun rhythm and repetition, and many will appreciate seeing such a unique collection of animals all together in one picture book. Rich language keeps the book interesting for older picture book fans; for example, Bear bailed and Moose muddled his way off of the sled. Fast-paced and cheerful, this book is a sure-fire winner for the winter season. Dog lovers wont want to miss Sled Dogs Run by Jonathan London. This picture book follows the story of a young girl who is preparing to mush on her own for the first time. We meet her dogs in the spring, as adorable little newly born fluffballs. As they grow and develop, they learn to wear harnesses and pull a sled, and their personalities emerge. The year progresses; everyone is excited when winter arrives and the girl, after much anticipation, takes her team out alone. But a moose in the trail and an unexpected storm create trouble for the team. Will they find their way home? This story is compelling and engaging, and readers will enjoy the bits of information about sled dogs that are embedded in the fictional narrative. An authors note at the end of the book provides even more information. Dont be surprised if your child asks for more books on dog sledding after reading this one!

Here is what the grateful client told MOM: The family that signed up to help us came to our home to deliver our gifts. My high school aged daughter had made some hot chocolate for our guests. They were so,so,so kind and filled with compassion. They didnt only give us gifts, they also gave us the gift of signing up, looking for gifts, wrapping the gifts, delivering the gifts and most important visiting us and bring with them Tidings of Great Joy. One of my work friends ask me what I like best about the holiday, my hot chocolate friends was my answer. They are the kind of people that inspire hope in my soul. I will be forever grateful. I hope to be able to Pay It Forward someday. The donors also expressed great joy at the experience, telling MOM: My husband and I had the honor of being a part of a familys Christmas last year. The humble gifts we gave the mother and her children paled in comparison to the gift we received from them. They invited us into their home and graciously entertained us with holiday refreshments. Her son and daughter told us about themselves and their aspirations for the future. The mother shared with us her story and what she wanted her children take away from the experience. She is a wonderful mother and person because she gave us all the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you for this wonderful program. While no one can insure someone who is giving from the heart an experience such as this, we can be certain that if you give without expectation, you can know that you are helping someone truly in need. MOM is still in need of Sharing Christmas donors to be matched with nearly 100 families who are still on our waiting list. Please consider making the holiday bright for all of our neighbors, and we hope that you receive joy in return. Go to momhelps.org and click on Sharing Christmas for more information.

Winter driving tips from DCSO

The weekends weather may have provided the first refresher course in winter driving. Overnight and this morning, several crashes and slide offs were reported due to the slippery conditions, according to the Dane County Sheriffs Office. The sheriffs office released a statement Monday encouraging motorists to drive with caution. Even experienced drivers need an adjustment period when the snow and ice hit the roads, and for young drivers who may have never driven in snowy conditions, it can be especially challenging, said the press release. The Sheriffs Office offers these winter driving tips to help make your commute a safe one: 1.) Have your vehicle properly maintained. 2.) Keep your windshield clear of snow and ice. 3.) Drive with your headlights on, even during the day. 4.) Avoid using cruise control in wintery conditions. 5.) Stay tuned to the latest weather reports on your radio. 6.) Let someone know your travel routes and itinerary so that, if you dont arrive on time, someone will know where to find you. 7.) Be extra cautious on bridges and overpasses, where icy patches are more common. 8.) Keep a cell phone and charger with you when you travel. 9.) Maintain a winter survival kit in your trunk (blanket, snow boots, flashlight, shovel, snack). 10.) If you car should become disabled, stay with the vehicle, running your engine and heater for short intervals. Be sure to open a window slightly to avoid carbon monoxide build-up. 11.) If a storm becomes too much for you to handle, seek refuge immediately. 12.) Above all, take your time, wear your seatbelt, and drive sober.