State Capitol Report |
State
Capitol
When: Saturday, June 10th from 2-10pm Where: Pete's Place, 4520 8th Avenue What: The Cajun Strangers will take the stage in the beer garden at 4:30pm.
When: Sunday, June 11th from 12-4pm Where: Anderson Park, 8730 22nd Avenue What: A free public event where families and their dogs come together for a few hours during the day and complete a short walk to honor the care giving qualities of their canine “Best Friends” and anyone who has been touched by cancer.
When: Thursday, June 15th from 10am-1pm Where: Madrigrano Auditorium, Gateway Technical College, 3520 30th Avenue What:
2017 Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast When: Saturday, June 17th from 6:30am-10:30am Where: Daniels Dairy Farm, 1077 248th Avenue, Kansasville, WI What: Enjoy a morning on the farm that includes: A big farm breakfast, milking demonstrations, a Wisconsin products tent with items for purchase, an Agriculture in Action tent to learn more about the workings of a farm, old-fashioned children's games, farm toys for sale and much more! Cost: $6/person for breakfast, but children under six are free
Kenosha Juneteenth Celebration When: Saturday, June 24th from 12-6:30pm Where: Columbus Park, 2003 54th Street What: The event commemorates the day the last slave was freed in America on June 19, 1865. The festival offers a variety of food vendors, youth activities with a jumpy house, local choirs and praise dancers and concludes with DJ’s and live entertainment. Music genre will be traditional Old School and R&B, featuring Motown classics. Cost: FREE
Wills & Power of Attorney Clinic for Vets When: Saturday, June 24th from 10am-3pm Where: Kenosha County Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Road Who: The State Bar of Wisconsin's pro bono program, along with Tabak Law, LLC, will have volunteer attorneys available to advise and provide free estate planning documents for participants To Qualify: An individual must meet the following conditions - Be a veteran or the spouse/surviving spouse of a veteran (documentation will be required prior to the day of the clinic) - A single veteran with an income of less than $3,000/month or a married couple with combined income of less than $6,000/month - Have less than $650,000 in total assets for a single person or less than $1.3 million in total assets for a married couple Registration information: You must register in advance and complete an estate planning questionnaire prior to June 9. Married couples must sign up for two separate time slots for the day of the clinic. Each spouse will have their own time slot to work with separate attorneys. To Register: Contact Kenosha County Veterans Service Office Ali Nelson at 262-605-6690.
Over the years, June has become a symbolic month in which LGBT people and their allies have come together in various celebrations of pride. Every June, I join many others in recognizing Pride Month because I believe doing so will help foster an atmosphere of inclusion, acceptance, and celebration to the community. This year, I have joined several colleagues in the legislature in sponsoring Assembly Joint Resolution 31, which would officially declare June 2017 to be LGBT Pride Month throughout Wisconsin.
While Pride Month and Pride-related activities tend to be concentrated during June, Kenosha Pride schedules its parade during a different month to remind us all that, as important as having a Pride Month is, it is equally important to continue our recognition and awareness of LGBT people and issues through all twelve months of the year.
This year, the 5th Annual Kenosha Pride event will be on Sunday, July 16 at Veterans Memorial Park. More details will be available in next month's State Capitol Report, on the Kenosha Pride website, and on the Kenosha Pride Facebook page.
Did you know
Kenosha has two public pools? Did you
know they open this Saturday June 10th weather permitting? The pools are
located in
Washington Park and
Anderson Park. Regular pool hours are
10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. - Cost for non-residents is $60 for a single pass, $180 for a group pass of up to five and $20 for each additional person on a group pass. - Daily pool fees are $4 for ages 3-17, $5 for ages 18-59 and $3 for ages 60 and older.
- Swim coupons good for five
visits also are available. Costs are $15 for children and $20 for
adults.
Here in Kenosha, we know what a special place we have in the Kenosha Dream Playground. But it's always nice to see it get recognition elsewhere, because we know that helps to spread the word about this amazing playground.
Late last month, the Play Across America blog named the Kenosha Dream Playground as one of the Top 10 Playgrounds in the entire country! The blog had these kind words to say:
"This fabulous, large, wooden play structure is certainly a sight to see! With it’s lighthouse and boat structures, kids can have fun pretending they’re heading out to the high seas. There are lots of musical toys here, too, so budding musicians can play their little hearts out. With all-inclusive elements like the swing that allows wheelchair bound children to stay in their chair but experience the thrill of swinging, kids of all abilities can enjoy playing here."
If you haven't had the chance to check out the Kenosha Dream Playground yet, I encourage you to do so. There's no time like the present.
On a related note, if you are interested in applying to be a Kenosha Dream Playground Ambassador so you can help promote safe play at the park, there will be an information meeting TONIGHT, June 8th at 7pm at the Boys & Girls Club (rooms 1,2,3). KPD Officer Ron Francis and Tammy Conforti will be explaining playground ambassadors roles and discussing playground safety guidelines. Applications to volunteer for the program will be available.
"Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence."
- Vince Lombardi
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I love putting this e-newsletter together to send to you each month because it reminds me just how lucky we are in the Kenosha community. From accessible farmers markets to live music performances to nonprofit organizations and advocates who work to improve life for everyone in our community, Kenoshans really enjoy spending time together and really value making our community a great one in which to live.
In this State Capitol Report, I've included a summary of my recent healthcare town hall, a quick update on the state budget, a shout-out to our very own Senator Bob Wirch, and much more. As the spring winds down and summer approaches, even though the biennial budget still seems a long way from done, I look forward to spending a bit less time in Madison and a bit more time in Kenosha. I hope you'll stay in touch with me about the issues most important to you and say hello if you and I cross paths around the city!
As always, if you would like something to be included in future e-newsletters, just let me know at (608) 266-0455 or Rep.Ohnstad@legis.wi.gov.
In solidarity,
Tod
Ohnstad
Pay More, Get Less Healthcare Town Hall A Huge Success
Earlier this week, ten legislators from all around the state joined me in Kenosha for a Town Hall/Listening Session on healthcare. With the attacks on healthcare going on in Washington and Madison it is more important than ever that we continue to educate and fight to make high quality affordable healthcare a right.
A full house at UAW Local 72 for the Pay More, Get Less Healthcare Town Hall
Amazing testimony was given by dozens of area residents. Thanks to everyone who came out to this event and to Curt Wilson and UAW Local 72 for making the event possible. It was great to show off the Union Hall to people from the community and to my colleagues in the Legislature.
L to R: Rep. Daniel Riemer, Rep. Peter Barca, Rep. Jimmy Anderson, Rep. David Crowley, Rep. Lisa Subeck, Sen. Mark Miller, Rep. Chris Taylor, Rep. Tod Ohnstad
Also special thanks to Planned Parenthood and Forward Kenosha for their work on promoting this event. If you missed the event you can see it by going to my Rep. Tod Ohnstad Facebook page.
Republicans Appear At Impasse on 2017-19 State Budget For several weeks now, the Joint Finance Committee has been taking up the 2017-19 state budget bill, section by section. Now though, budget talks seem stalled as Republicans fight amongst themselves about funding for transportation and education and who knows what else. The Joint Finance Committee was actually supposed to be meeting today, but cancelled the meeting at the last minute. As the Wisconsin State Journal reported yesterday, even Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald admitted this indicates the 2017-19 budget bill is in a "rougher spot" than previously thought.
It is time to start having an open debate about these issues important to everyone in Wisconsin.
Rep. Ohnstad Attends Memorial Day Events
Honor Guard presenting the colors at Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony at Library Park
I was pleased to attend several Memorial Day events with the kick-off hosted by the Kenosha County Veteran’s Council. I also attended the Navy Club Ship 40 Memorial Day Ceremony on the Kenosha Lakefront and the American Legion Post 21 Memorial Day Ceremony at the Green Ridge Cemetery. The Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans had their annual program at Library Square and the VFW held their flag burning ceremony both of which I was able to attend.
Congratulations to Senator Bob Wirch! Earlier this week, Kenosha's own State Senator Bob Wirch was named Conservation Legislator of the Year by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. This is an incredibly prestigious award from a very respected organization, and it is very well-deserved. As many of you probably know, Senator Wirch is an avid fisherman and he has been a strong advocate for legislation providing greater opportunity for Wisconsin residents to participate in outdoor recreation and preserving our precious natural resources.
Congratulations, Senator Wirch! We are fortunate to be represented by you in the Wisconsin State Senate.
Rep. Ohnstad with Kenosha County Health Division staff following a meeting with Pamela Smith to discuss possible legislation regarding infant mortality in our community
Some Reminders As Temperatures Rise As many of you will recall, I had a bill signed into law last session to make it legal for Good Samaritans to rescue children, vulnerable adults, or household pets like dogs and cats from being trapped in hot cars. With summer nearly here, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to remind everyone what the law requires if you encounter this situation.
If you see a person or household pet in distress in a locked car, you must call 911 before entering the vehicle so the 911 responder can help you assess the situation and deploy emergency personnel as needed. After calling 911, if you need to break the window of a car to enter, you need to wait by the car for an officer to arrive or leave a note with your contact information.
By following these steps, you can take the important action while knowing you're being advised by trained emergency personnel and minimizing damage to the vehicle.
Fox11News in Appleton did a nice story on the law, which highlighted the steps and clarifications I noted above. You can check it out HERE.
HarborMarket, Farmers Markets Are Open We are fortunate in Kenosha to have several outstanding farmers markets in town. Here is a list of the times and days of the week for each location.
In addition to the rotating farmers market, there is also the HarborMarket on Saturdays, located at 56th Street & 2nd Avenue. HarborMarket runs each Saturday from 9am - 2pm.
Farmer Markets accept WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks.
Local Summer Music Events Kick Off Kenosha is home to a rich tapestry of live music opportunities. Here are some of the regular summer music performances held in our community. This summer, make sure to stop by and enjoy some (or all!) of these outstanding musical performances.
Kenosha Independence Day Festivities As is the case every year, Kenosha will be home to some fun and family-friendly Independence Day festivities.
Kenosha's Civic Veterans Parade will take place on Sunday, July 2nd at 1pm. The parade will feature marching bands, floats, and local dignitaries, with more than 10,000 spectators expected. The two-mile parade route begins at 22nd Avenue and 63rd Street in the Uptown district.
Also taking place will be Celebrate America Kenosha, which will run from July 2nd through July 4th along Kenosha's lakefront. There will be live music, food, exhibits, and carnival rides. Admission is free.
Finally, on Tuesday, July 4th,
the Pennoyer Park Bandshell will feature live music from
3pm-9pm. Admission is free.
Festival Food Fireworks will begin just after dusk (about
9:30pm) on at Harbor Park, located at 56th Street and 1st Ave.
Pack a picnic or choose from a selection of hot, fresh food from
local vendors. |
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