Burlington Spotlight
October 2006

MEETINGS

10/03 5:30 p.m. Community Development Authority 10/17 6:30 p.m. City Council
10/03 6:30 p.m. City Council 10/24 4:00 p.m. Library Board
10/04 6:30 p.m. Police & Fire Commission 10/26 6:00 p.m. Airport Committee
10/10 6:30 p.m. Plan Commission

10/26

 6:30 p.m. Historic Preservation Commission
10/12 6:30 p.m. Park Board      

See our website for updated agendas & minutes

 

Trick or Treat - Sunday, October 29th from 3-5 P.M.

Remember to be safe and always check all candy before eating

 

AUTUMN CLEAN-UP

By Judy Gerulat, Engineering Technician

 

LEAF COLLECTION
Leaf pick-up begins the first of October and continues through mid-November (weather permitting). Leaves should be raked into the gutter. It is advisable to rake them 6-8" out from the edge of curb to allow storm water to flow unobstructed.

 

BRUSH PICK UP
Local, at the curb, brush pick-up is a service offered to our residents, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, to help with the removal of brush and larger branches. In order for this service to be cost effective, we only pick up brush that has been called in. Please call 763-2060 to have your address placed on the Brush Pick-Up list each time that you need this service. Unfortunately if you do not call in your address, your brush will not be picked up. Please call in your address for a pick-up by no later then the prior Tuesday, and place your brush and larger branches next to, but not on, the street next to your home on Tuesday evening before the Wednesday pick-up.

COMPOST AREA
The Compost Area located on Maryland Avenue is a valuable asset to the City of Burlington, and is open daily for City residents only. There are designated areas for you to dro off your yard waste, leaves, brush, branches, oil and antifreeze. Also available free of charge at this site are wood chips and compost. No commercial dumping is allowed.

Concrete, building materials, appliances, carpet and any non-landscape waste may not be dumped off at the Compost site. When these materials are dropped off at the compost area then the taxpayer ends up paying to have the items removed. So please remember that Veolia, the City's residential garbage collector, will pick up these materials at your home and the service is free of charge. You must contact Veolia at 1-800-232-0860 to arrange for a pick up.

 

BOARD OF REVIEW

If, after meeting with an appraiser from National Appraisal at the Open Book meetings, you are not satisfied with your property assessment, you may go before the Board of Review and present your case. The Board of Review is comprised of a panel of City residents as well as the City Attorney and City Clerk. The Board of Review will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 with appointments being made by stopping in to City Hall and filling out an objection form contesting the assessment. Any questions can be directed to the City Clerk, Beverly Gill at (262) 763-7996.

 

PARKS CLOSE OCTOBER 1ST

The Park Board will officially close all of the City's parks on October 1st. While you may continue to enjoy their beauty and other amenities, we must shut off water supplies to restrooms to prevent pipes from freezing. The Riverwalk restrooms will remain open during the day throughout the winter.

Park reservations for 2007 can be made after January 1st. Arrangements can be made by stopping at the Department of Public Works located at 824 Milwaukee Avenue. Questions regarding park reservations can be answered by calling 763-2060. Reservations are on a first come first served basis.

 

BURLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY OCTOBER PROGRAMS

By: Gayle Falk, Head Librarian

1950's Family Story Time Wednesday, October 18th at 6:30 PM
Grandparents, parents and school-age children come experience the 1950's sights, sounds, music. Wear your 50's outfit if you like and share an evening remembering what life was like in the 50s!

Amish Program Thursday, October 26th at 6:30 PM
Ruth Irene Garrett, who was born into an Old Order Amish family, will do a program about growing up in the Amish farming community of Kalona, Iowa and what it has been like for her since she left to marry an "Englisher".

Book Discussion Group
Join the Burlington Public Library Adult Book Discussion Group on Monday, Oct. 23 at 7:00pm for a discussion of WHEN THE EMPEROR WAS DIVINE by Julia Otsuka. This book opens in 1942 as thousands of Japanese Americans have been reclassified as enemy aliens and sent to a dusty internment camp in the Utah desert. This story is told from the viewpoints of 5 family members and conveys the exact emotional texture of their experience.

Preschool Storytimes
Preschool storytimes are still going on during the month of October!  We've got classes for babies, toddlers, 3-4s and even kindergartners. Stop by the website for more details.

The last Lemony Snicket book is released this month, so in honor, we're having A Series of Unfortunate Events party on October 27 at 2 p.m.  We'll have games and crafts – you must be school age and you must sign up.

Both book clubs are meeting this month; see Ruhama for the title, date and time.

Ruhama Kordatzky Bahr
Youth Services Librarian
rkordatz@burlington.lib.wi.us

"Isn't the library just wonderful?" the first asked, her innocent eyes beaming up at me. "You can learn absolutely anything here!"
Kiki Strike, pg 158

Burlington Public Library
166 East Jefferson Street
262-763-7623

OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

By David Walsh, Chief of Police

The month of October is Domestic Violence awareness month. Domestic violence creates a conspiracy of silence. Battered women and their abusers are likely to minimize or deny the violence. The battered women is usually too ashamed or frightened to tell anyone about the violence and too financially or emotionally dependent to leave. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE escalates - growing more severe each time.

The Women's Resource Center has a 24-hour crisis line to help. Call (262) 763-8600.

There is a support group that meets on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and events scheduled for the month of October. Please call the crisis line for information.

The Women's Resource Center in Partnership with Law Enforcement.
The City of Burlington Police Department has had a long and successful relationship with The Women's Resource Center of Racine County. The Center provides a place in the community where women can confidently turn when facing a crisis.

  • 24 hour Crisis Line: Anytime of the day or night, they are there to listen, offer support and provide specific information regarding other services available in the community.

  • Advocacy: They will help you with a number of systems - including criminal, medical and social services. They give assistance with legal issues and restraining orders.

  • Children's Program: Counseling, weekly support groups, education and recreation programs, and tutoring are designed for children placed in a shelter.

  • Community Education: Center staff is available to present programs to service groups, churches, schools or other social service agencies. Special programs are also available for schools on dating and teen violence.

  • Counseling: Counseling services are available to meet the needs of women in crisis resulting from domestic violence or sexual assault. Both in shelter and out reach services are free of charge.

 

OCTOBER IS FIRE SAFETY MONTH

By Richard Lodle, Fire Chief

Every year approximately 24,000 Americans are injured in fires, 4,000 of which perish. Eighty-two percent of fires that lead to death are within the home. Installing smoke detectors on every floor of a home is the most effective life saver when it comes to fires. Be sure to check the batteries once a month and change them at each Daylight Savings Time. An emergency plan for the family is also beneficial. Teach children how to safely exit a house during a fire and set up a family meeting point outside.

Fire safety education for children in the City is being conducted by the Burlington Fire Department this month at most of the elementary schools. The importance of "stop, drop and roll" will be shown, discussions on the hazards of playing with matches and tips will be given to know what to do if they suspect a fire. These are only some of the lessons being taught. The middle schools and high school will have a fire drill conducted for safety measures.

For more tips and resources on fire safety, you can visit the U.S. Fire Administration website at www.usfa.dhs.gov.
 
 

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