Here is what's playing this week on Eye on Oshkosh...

Be sure to join us starting Monday, Mar. 26 when Cheryl and Dan visit in the first segment with Oshkosh Police Chief Scott Greuel about the status of team policing and how he believes the concept he initiated several years ago when he was first named chief is going. Chief Greuel also discusses general crime and crime prevention, the Neighborhood Watch program, when people should call the police, and how people are able to more closely follow police calls that are made in their neighborhood. In the second segment, Cheryl and Dan are joined by Tim Hess and Dan DeGreef of the local Habitat for Humanity program who discuss a new program Habitat is starting called the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. This is a program that will help dozens, potentially hundreds, of homeowners in the Oshkosh area do small to major repairs and other projects to their homes. Applications to receive assistance from the Habitat program are being taken now, so this is one show you won’t want to miss. *Programming note: This show will run two weeks.

In the Oshkosh area, "Eye on Oshkosh" can be seen Mondays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. on local cable access channel 2 (Time Warner Cable). Check with your local cable company or its TV listings for replay times in other, more outlying areas. “Eye on Oshkosh” also may air at times other than just those listed. Check the guide on your cable access channel for other days and times, as well. “Eye on Oshkosh” is copyrighted and any unauthorized copying or use of any portion of the program is strictly prohibited by law.

Oshkosh Public Library presents: The Many Faces of George Washington

The Oshkosh Public Library is proud to present a national traveling exhibition and series of special events that examines the life of George Washington – as a farmer, a general, a visionary entrepreneur and our nation’s first president. The Many Faces of George Washington will be on display March 26-May 7, under the Dome at the library.

The road from Mount Vernon to Oshkosh was paved by Anne Neal Petri, Vice Regent for Wisconsin with the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and wife of Congressman Tom Petri. She approached the library in late 2011 to discuss staging the exhibit’s first Wisconsin visit in Oshkosh. Mrs. Petri has a true passion for sharing Washington’s story and showcasing the character and leadership he embodied.

“Washington was our first national hero and his leadership was once our nation’s greatest resource,” she explains. “He should be relevant to each new generation because his most prominent character traits – strong moral values, undaunted courage, solid and consistent judgment, unabashed patriotism and his complete commitment to what was best for his country – never go out of style.”

The Many Faces of George Washington is a large panel display that depicts different aspects of Washington’s life through colorful graphics and photographs. The exhibit goes beyond common knowledge and delves deeper into the experiences, insights and spirit that make Washington such an enduring figure in our nation’s history. The exhibit was produced by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, in conjunction with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Sunday, March 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. under the Dome at the Oshkosh Public Library. Special guests will include U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, Congressman and Mrs. Petri, along with state and local leaders. The Friends of the Oshkosh Public Library will provide refreshments. Music and other surprises will add to the colonial flavor of the event. The public is welcome.

As an institution that values preserving and sharing history, the library was honored to be selected as the site for the Washington exhibit.

“We all learned about Washington as children, but when you study his life in more detail, the significant contributions he made during the early days of the republic and as our country’s first president are phenomenal,” says Janice Dibble, the library’s Head of Reference & Adult Services. “It is very exciting to be chosen to share this exhibit with the community.”

To enhance the exhibit experience for visitors, several esteemed scholars, authors and presenters will offer fascinating perspectives on Washington’s life in a series of special programs. In addition, a week of children’s programs will bring colonial times to life for young visitors.

Mon., April 2, 4:30 p.m.

George Washington: A Great and Good Man

Dr. John Kaminski, director, The Center for the Study of the American Constitution, UW-Madison

George Washington was the glue that held the fragile, young American republic together, both in war and peace. He was also viewed as a good man who could be completely trusted in the leadership roles in which he served.

Tues., April 3, 7 p.m.

Stand Up and be Counted: The Federal Census from 1790 to 1940

Mara Munroe, Reference and Genealogy Librarian, Oshkosh Public Library

Learn the expanded uses of the census for genealogy and explore ways to find your ancestors through various indexing tools – just one day after the much-anticipated release of names and personal data of the 1940 census.

Wed., April 11, 6 p.m.  

Movie Night: The Crossing. Starring Jeff Daniels as General George Washington.

Thurs., April 12, 7 p.m.

What Was Washington Thinking? A Brief Tour of Washington's Mind from the French

and Indian War to his Retirement from the Presidency

Dr. Gabriel Loiacono, Assistant Professor of History, UW-Oshkosh

Trace the evolution of Washington’s mind - his concerns, hopes, and ideals - from his youth as an exceptionally tall and lucky young soldier, to his old age as the widely respected first President of the United States. 

Wed., April 18, 7 p.m.

Author visit: Carla Killough McClafferty, The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon.

Award-winning author McClafferty followed a team of historians and artists, who used everything from photos to 3-D skeletal models, to create three life-size statues of Washington as a young surveyor, the famous general and as the first president. Apple Blossom Books LLC will have the author’s books available for sale and signing at the event.

Sun., April 29, 2 p.m.

Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association: 150 Years of Restoring George Washington’s Home
Anne Neal Petri, Vice Regent-Wisconsin, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, offers the compelling story of the rescue and preservation of George Washington’s home by the vibrant organization of women that gave birth to America’s historic preservation movement.

April 9-13

Spring Break “Colonial Style”

Children’s programs at 2 p.m. daily bring Washington’s story to life. Dance the minuet, experience money mania, learn about Farmer George (with live animals) and try colonial crafts.

In addition to events at the Oshkosh Public Library, the Paine Art Center and Gardens will present colonial-themed family programs on March 24 and 31. Visit www.thepaine.org for information. For complete information about the George Washington exhibit and related events, visit http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/.

Do you know where to vote? (IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL VOTERS)

The spring general election is coming up on Tuesday, April 3. There’s been a lot of discussion and changes with regard to this (and future) elections.

For example, polling places for many residents have changed and will be effective with this upcoming election. I don’t know what other cities, local townships or the various counties have done, but the City of Oshkosh sent out maps with water bills and some people happened to see maps in other places. I believe the maps that went out with the water bills were in black and white. But there are some maps floating around the city that were done in color and people have commented that those maps in particular are difficult to read and it’s very unclear where people are to vote. It’s hard to say if the colored versions were not as understandable because of the color, or for some other reason. But it is probably a good idea if BEFORE going to the polls you give your city, town, or county clerk a call and ask them where you are to vote. Otherwise you may get to what you think is your polling place and not be able to vote there because of the change. And you can’t be guaranteed that those poll workers would know where your new polling place is.

If you’re voting absentee, you can either go to your city or town hall to vote (please call to find out when you are able to vote there) or you can request an absentee ballot be sent to you. If using that option, you need to make the request in writing and sign it, providing them with your name and address, of course.

The other change is with regard to the new Voter ID requirement. Poll workers have been trained in the new law, which was scheduled to be fully enforceable beginning with this election. But so far, two judges have ruled against the law, preventing it from taking effect for this election. So you shouldn’t have to present your ID at the polling places or submit a copy of it with a request for an absentee ballot. But if you want to play it safe, you can always either take it with you or provide it anyway. It’s never too early to start getting in the habit of doing something that we might eventually have to do anyway. 

The main thing is to make sure to vote – whether absentee or on April 3. It’s important to do as a taxpayer and as a citizen; it helps shape the kind of community we live in.

Here is what's playing this week on Eye on Oshkosh...

Be sure to join us starting Monday, Mar. 19 when Cheryl and Dan interview two more candidates for the Oshkosh School District’s Board of Education. In the first half, they welcome Kelli Saginak and later incumbent Matthew Weidenhoeft sits down to chat with them. Both candidates discuss why they are seeking your vote for the school board, what they are looking for in the next superintendent, how they feel about the current leadership on the school board, what kinds of budget cuts they would recommend, redistricting, board self-evaluation and what the effectiveness of the current board has been, and more. This is an important show to watch before casting your vote in the April 3 election.

In the Oshkosh area, "Eye on Oshkosh" can be seen Mondays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. on local cable access channel 2 (Time Warner Cable). Check with your local cable company or its TV listings for replay times in other, more outlying areas. “Eye on Oshkosh” also may air at times other than just those listed. Check the guide on your cable access channel for other days and times, as well. “Eye on Oshkosh” is copyrighted and any unauthorized copying or use of any portion of the program is strictly prohibited by law.

City Seeks Input on Menominee Park Plan

The Parks Department is inviting residents to take part in a citizen survey regarding Menominee Park. The goal of the survey is to receive public input on current park and recreation facilities at Menominee Park as well as future development and facility needs at the park. The feedback will be used as the Parks Department develops the master plan for the park. The survey is available on the city website, www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us, under the hot topics section. Hard copies of the survey are also available at the Oshkosh Public Library reference section, Seniors Center, Parks Department, and City Hall in the City Manager’s office. The deadline to complete the survey is March 16, 2012. If you have any questions, please call the Parks Department office at (920) 236-5080.

Oshkosh Voter ID Information Session Wednesday 3/7/12

Hello!

As you know, the Wisconsin state legislature passed one of the strictest voter identification bills in the country last year. Anyone who wants to vote in the upcoming recall elections will be required to show a photo ID to be issued a ballot. There is much concern and misinformation floating around regarding this new law and what it means. In order to attempt to clear up misinformation and educate the general public, we will be holding a public information session on the Voter ID law this coming Wednesday, March 7th at our Oshkosh office starting at 6:30pm. 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR THE VOTER ID INFORMATION SESSION!

It is vitally important that all citizens are aware of the provisions of this law. No one should be denied their constitutionally protected right to vote. We will arm ourselves with facts, and that is how we will win. Please attend and encourage anyone you know who has concerns about to the bill to do the same.

What: Voter ID Information Session
Where:  480 N. Main St.
When: Wednesday, March 7, 6:30-7:30 PM

RSVP HERE!

Thank you for being engaged citizens. Because of your efforts, we will win this election and end Scott Walker's attack on Wisconsin's working families. If you have any questions about this event, reply to this e-mail or call us at (920) 385-0495.

--
Aaron Campbell

FDL/Winnebago County Organizer

Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Office: 920.385.0495 

Email: aaronca@wisdems.org

Here is what's playing this week on Eye on Oshkosh

Be sure to join us starting Monday, Mar. 5 when Cheryl and Dan are joined in the first segment by Bob Tess and Shelly Muza from the Oshkosh Area Scholl District to hear the specifics regarding the Oaklawn Elementary School situation and why so many in the community are advocating for a new Oaklawn to be built. While, as district employees, they cannot take a position for or against, they do lay out the various reasons why something needs to be done with Oaklawn as it stands today, what it will cost to build a new Oaklawn and how that will affect taxpayers, what will happen if the school is not approved, and how the proposed school differs from the current Oaklawn. In the second segment, Cheryl and Dan are joined by a former Oaklawn teacher and a former parent of Oaklawn students to hear about the 60^th anniversary celebration they and others are planning to commemorate the school’s existence and evolution through the years. Because of its importance, this program will air for two weeks.

In the Oshkosh area, "Eye on Oshkosh" can be seen Mondays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. on local cable access channel 2 (Time Warner Cable). Check with your local cable company or its TV listings for replay times in other, more outlying areas. “Eye on Oshkosh” also may air at times other than just those listed. Check the guide on your cable access channel for other days and times, as well. "Eye on Oshkosh" is copyrighted and any unauthorized copying or use of any portion of the program is strictly prohibited by law.

Oshkosh Snow Shoveling Requirements

(Oshkosh, WI.) The city of Oshkosh would like to remind residents about the city’s snow removal regulations. Property owners are required to clear sidewalks abutting their property of snow or ice within 24 hours after the end of precipitation. These requirements include the crosswalk area for property owners on a corner lot.

When ice can not be removed, the property owner shall keep the sidewalk sprinkled with a material to accelerate melting and prevent slipping.

Depositing snow from private property onto any public right-of-way, public property, or fire hydrant is also prohibited.

Failure to clear the sidewalk will result in the city completing the work and billing the property owner for the snow or ice removal. The minimum charge for the cost of snow removal is $75. Property owners also face a potential citation for violation of the Municipal Code. This forfeiture is $232 for the first offense.

For more information or to report a violation, please call the Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works at (920) 236-5065.

Accomplished Wisconsin poet at Oshkosh Public Library for workshop, reading

Ordinary prose will give way to a day of poetry on Tues., Feb. 28, when the Oshkosh Public Library welcomes Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Bruce Dethlefsen, for a special workshop and evening poetry reading.

Local poets and the general public are invited to a reading by Dethlefsen, an award-winning poet, at 6:30 p.m., in the library’s lower level meeting room. An open mic session will follow the reading, offering local writers the opportunity to share their work.

“Poetry readings allow us to celebrate the music of the spoken word, give us pause to reflect, and help us pay creative attention to our lives and our loves,” Dethlefsen says.

He explains the continuing appeal of poetry. “Poets pay attention and ask not only the big questions but help us understand the little celebrations in our lives,” he says. “Poetry, much like music, is artistic expression and it's the arts that make us human.”

Dethlefsen has published two poetry chap books and Breather (Fireweed Press, 2009), a full-length poetry book which received an Outstanding Achievement Award in Poetry from the Wisconsin Library Association. He was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, the prestigious small-press literary award, in 2003 and 2009. His latest book is Unexpected Shiny Things, released in fall 2011 from Cowfeather Press.

Dethlefsen’s poetry has been featured on Garrison Keillor’s "The Writer’s Almanac" and "Your Daily Poem." A retired educator and public library director, he lives in Westfield, WI.

Earlier in the day on Feb. 28, Dethlefsen will conduct a poetry workshop at the library. The workshop is full, but names are being taken for a waiting list at 236-5205. During the workshop, Dethlefsen will lead a conversation about a variety of poems, discuss what makes a good poem and conduct hands-on exercises.

The position of poet laureate was created by Gov. Tommy Thompson in 2000 and is selected based on the recommendation of the Poet Laureate Commission of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Poet Laureate acts as a statewide emissary for poetry and creativity. The position has been supported by the Wisconsin Academy of Letters, Arts and Science since May 2011, when state support was discontinued.

“We’re lucky in Wisconsin to have a poet laureate, an ambassador for the arts, someone to give people, young and old, permission to be artists and to express themselves,” Dethlefsen says.

Since being appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle in 2010, Dethlefsen has worked to encourage and support local cultural and creative talent by organizing local poetry readings in public libraries, schools and coffee houses throughout the state.

The Feb. 28 event is co-sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library and the Apple Blossom Poetry Group. Apple Blossom Poets meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at Apple Blossom Books, 200 City Center.

For more information about this event or other library programs and activities, call 236-5205 or visit www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org.

Oshkosh Area School District Launches true dat(a).” Social Norms Campaign tells it like it is: students are making positive, healthy choices

[Oshkosh, WI]– The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) is collaborating with re:TH!NK, Winnebago County’s Healthy Living Partnership, in order to launch a social norms campaign titled “true dat(a).” This campaign is centered on correcting student misperceptions about alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among their peers. The ultimate goal is to decrease the number of youth who use these substances. The Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) has placed AmeriCorps member, Brenna Root, at the OASD to help launch the campaign.

The campaign will spread positive messages to middle and high school students, staff, families, and the Oshkosh community as a whole by utilizing data collected from Oshkosh’s 2010 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). In Winnebago County, the YRBS is administered every two years in high schools and middle schools in cooperation with Cooperative Educational Services Agency (CESA) 6 and countywide data is made available by the WCHD. This spring marks the second time that the YRBS will be conducted in Winnebago County, making countywide trend data available.

State of Wisconsin YRBS data released last week shows smoking rates among 9th through 12th graders have decreased by over 50% since 1993. Despite the significant decrease in smoking rates, teens still tend to think “Everyone is doing it.” The true dat(a) February campaign boasts that 82% of Oshkosh High School students do not smoke cigarettes daily. This positive statistic can be viewed on a billboard along Hwy 41, Northbound, near the Jackson Street exit.

“The true dat(a) campaign is truly unique in that it reaches and involves all stakeholders to include students, staff, families, and the Oshkosh community as a whole,” states Lisa McLaughlin, District Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Association (ATODA) Coordinator. “We’re proud to be spreading these positive messages to our students and our community in a new and exciting way in order to correct misperceptions and decrease substance use among youth.”

The true dat(a) campaign is centered on two distinct statements:

* If you think everyone is doing it, you are more likely to do it too, no matter what ‘it’ is.

* The true dat(a) shows everyone is NOT doing it.

“Informing students that the majority of their peers are acting in positive, healthy ways can create an environment in which students strive to imitate what they believe is typical of their peers.” says Kristin Walker, OASD Health Coordinator. School-based messaging and marketing includes posters and banners that highlight the monthly true dat(a) behavior. Teachers are encouraged to integrate true dat(a) into classroom discussions with students, as well as their conversations with parents and other staff members.

For more information about the 2011 Wisconsin YRBS results please visit www.rethinkwinnebago.org. For more information about the 2009 Winnebago County YRBS visit www.co.winnebago.wi.us/health.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday at Oshkosh Public Library

Calling all Plain-Belly Sneetches and Brown Bar-ba-loots! It’s time to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday at the Oshkosh Public Library.

On Sat., March 3, families are invited to Dr. Seuss's Birthday Open House & Film Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library’s lower level. This fun-filled day will include Dr. Seuss films, birthday cake, a book zoo, prizes, a giant birthday card to sign and plenty of songs.

“We’ve got a day of fun planned to honor one of our most beloved children’s authors,” explains Valerie Mattair, Head of Children’s & Family Outreach Services. “Children and parents alike have fond memories of learning to read with Dr. Seuss so this is an event that the whole family can enjoy.”

Children are invited to visit the “book zoo,” – an area with plenty of cozy cushions and favorite

Dr. Seuss books. Those who stay long enough to read a book (or have one read to them) will receive a small Cat in the Hat plush toy. Throughout the day, activities will come to a halt for a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” for Dr. Seuss. Each child receives a bookmark and can enter the drawing to win a copy of the book The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That: I Love the Nightlife!

The work of Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known to millions as Dr. Seuss, includes many familiar titles such as Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential children’s writers of all time. His sing-song rhymes and seemingly silly creatures draw young readers into engaging stories that teach basic reading skills in a way that is fun.

Families are invited to “celebrate Seuss” all year long by visiting the Oshkosh Public Library and checking out some titles from the library’s impressive Dr. Seuss collection. Besides traditional books, the library has Spanish-language versions, Dr. Seuss books on CD, downloadable audio books, read-along book-and-CD sets and DVDs.

Registration is not required for the Dr. Seuss birthday celebration. For more information about resources, programs and events for children and families, call 236-5208 or visit www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org.