Mailbag: 11/12

 

‘Music Man’ hits all high notes

A big congratulations to the Baraboo Theater Guild for their current production of the "Music Man."

Terrific cast, wonderful music, great dancing, a story to make you laugh and cry and sing.

Director Tina Lang has outdone herself. If you haven’t seen it, you still have a chance this coming weekend. Take your kids, your parents, your uncles and aunts, your in-laws.

You’ll go home a happier person.

 

Nijole Etzwiler, Baraboo

 

Lodi Health Forum ‘was great’

On Saturday, Oct. 7, 2009, some residents from Lodi gathered at the Lodi Woman’s Club Public Library to discuss health care legislation with our 2nd Congressional District candidates.

The Health Forum was great. Opinions from all sides were presented and we actually found out that there was common ground on certain subjects between those who came.

We would like to thank Prof. Peter Theron, a Republican candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, for attending.

Sadly, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin never replied. Dave deFelice, a Democrat Candidate and Chad Lee, a Republican candidate declined on Friday (deFelice had just announced).

Peter Theron was able to get acquainted with the different opinions of the citizens of Lodi. His expertise as a math professor came in handy when Theron made the complexities of the federal budget easier for the group to understand.

Through his great handle on history and government, Prof. Theron gave the group hope when he explained that every two years the Congress starts over and writes its House Rules on how they will conduct themselves during those two years (I am paraphrasing).

We found that this would be the time to have our new Congressional representatives pass a House Rule prohibiting any type of earmarks on all legislation — each piece of legislation must stand on its own. There were other subjects we agreed on, and some we disagreed on. All in all it was the beginning of great discussions in Lodi. I think you will really enjoy coming to the next one.

Hopefully next time more of the candidates will participate. Although legislation still goes on, we hope to obtain the attendance of all of the Wisconsin 2010 candidates for U.S. senator for our next forum. Stay tuned.

 

Anna Morgan, Lodi Chapter of CAN-DO Wisconsin

 

We must teach sex education

Ms. Wanda, I have known you since I was a pre-teen — I have to disagree with you on this subject.

It is all too obvious that parents taking the responsibility to teach their children about sex and protection is not working for the majority.

Everyday I see children who have children come to where I work. It has only gotten worse over the years of no one taking responsibility to teach. And no, I don’t mean to imply that all parents do not teach, but as you and I and everyone can see, a whole lot don’t, or don’t know how.

I had a very young man come into the place I worked and said, "I have a stupid question, can you show me where the condoms are?" I replied,"That is not a stupid question."

Stupid is having to tell your and her parents, "Oops, I was too stupid to ask where the condoms were so we are now having a baby," or to your grandparents, "Oops, I was too stupid to ask where the condoms were so now I’m sorry, I am dying of AIDS and you will outlive me."

Not only did I show him where the condoms were, he bought two boxes. I am very proud of myself and him for perhaps preventing an unwanted pregnancy or illness.

The average age of having sex is getting younger and younger, and it is not going to change. So we must do what needs to be done to ease the taxpayers from having to pay for these "oopses."

Teach them how not to get pregnant because they are going to have sex, and teach them how to take care of themselves and their children if they do become pregnant.

Teach them what it does to your social life and body to have babies at such a young age. Perhaps teach them to have some shame. But teach.

Teresa Ward Witt, Baraboo

Thanks from Breast Cancer fundraiser

On behalf of everyone at Swiss Maid Fudge, we would like to thank those who contributed to our fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research.

Thanks to your purchases of our "candy for the cure" confections as well as cash donations, we were able to donate $600 to this great cause. Many of us know someone who is or was touched by breast cancer.

We would like to remind everyone about our upcoming fundraiser for the Columbia County Humane Society during the month of December. We hope you will be able to provide the shelter with many of the supplies they need to operate again this year or a cash donation.

In return we will give you a "thank you" box of fudge from Swiss Maid Fudge. Watch the paper for the dates this year. We appreciate your continued support of both of these worthy causes.

 

Jane Heller, Swiss Maid Fudge

 

Board’s McNevin plans to listen

I would like to thank everyone in the community for their continued interest in the Baraboo School District.

Not a day goes by for me without conversations regarding different aspects of operation, direction, or performance of our district. Unfortunately many of those conversations require a greater dialogue than the time allowed.

Therefore, I would like to invite you to a listening session at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Baraboo Chamber of Commerce building in West Baraboo.

I am looking for input and a chance to address your concerns. I may not have all the answers, but will do my best and follow up if necessary.

I have not invited other board members, to avoid potential conflict with open meeting laws. I have also refrained from inviting staff members of the district.

While it would be helpful to have their expertise, I view this as a listening session to benefit me. I hope to see many of you there.

 

Sean McNevin, Baraboo School District board member