November Newsletter

through November 2, vote absentee in person at your municipal clerk’s office
(contact clerk for details) OR on Tuesday, November 6, vote at the polls.
For complete voting info, please visit myvote.wi.gov.
 

John Muir Chapter endorsements* for Coulee Region Group voters:
US Senate: Tammy Baldwin, 3rd US CD: Ron Kind,

 Governor: Tony Evers, Lt. Governor: Mandela Barnes,
SD 17: Kriss Marion (D-Blanchardville); SD 31: Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire),
AD 49: Mike Mooney (D-Platteville), AD 50: Art Shrader (D-Reedsburg),

AD 51: Jeff Wright (D-Plain) AD 68: Wendy Sue Johnson (D-Eau Claire),

AD 70: Carl Fay (D-Merrilan), AD 92: Rob Grover (D-Galesville),

AD 94: Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska), AD 95: Jill Billings (D-La Crosse),

AD 96: Paul Buhr (D-Viroqua)

* The Sierra Club endorses candidates who are and/or will be strong environnmental and conservation leaders working to stop attacks on recycling, renewable energy, transit, clean water and air, mining protections and more.

 
View all John Muir Chapter Sierra Club endorsements at tinyurl.com/jmcendorsements18

“Polls show that voters connsistently rank environmental issues among their lowest concerns in every election. ... Yet polls also show that tens of millions of Americans strongly prioritize progressive environmental policies - the real problem is that these people do not vote. Indeed, even in recent nation-wide elections, over 15 million individually identifiable environmentalists have stayed at home on Election Day.” - www.environmentalvoter.org/our-mission

Arrive Together: Transportation Equity and Access in Wisconsin  On October 23,  the Sierra Club along with 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, WISDOM and WISDOM affiliates, the Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance released a report on transportation in Wisconsin - Arrive Together: Transportation Access and Equity in Wisconsin.  A first of its kind report, Arrive Together shows how people’s needs are not being met by Wisconsin’s transportation system. The report examines the effectiveness of public transit access to major employers and other areas of interest in nine cities and regions across Wisconsin. It highlights stories from transit riders, opportunities for improvement within transit systems, and the serious barriers and needs for improvement at the state level.  

In La Crosse, a media event at the Grand River Station Transit Center included several speakers highlighting important aspects of the study: Cassie Steiner, co-author; Obbie King of La Crosse Area Transit Advocates; Maureen Freedland, CouleeCap; and Rep. Jill Billings. Thank you to the MTU staff for their gracious and generous support for the event and to local media: WKBT, WXOW, WLAX, WEAU and Wisconsin Public Radio.

"As a former county board member and now as a state legislator, I have seen firsthand how important proper transit funding is to ensuring vibrant communities, a thriving economy and a high quality of life for all of our residents." – Rep. Jill Billings, Assembly District 95.

SOLAR GROUP BUY  On October 16, Elizabeth Ward from the John Muir Chapter and Chris Collins from Sunvest Solar spoke to Coulee Region residents about the Sierra Club's solar group buy program. The solar group buy allows people to get a discount on solar PV installation from a Wisconsin-based company that will make a $500 donation to the Sierra Club for each completed project. So far, the group buy has lined up 114 kw of installations across the state, earning participants a rebate of at least $100 per kw of solar in their system! You do not need to be a Sierra Club member to sign up for this program which includes a solar site assessment, a persoalized cost/benefit information packet, and, for those who decide to move forward, complete installation of a solar system. For more information on the group buy, check out www.sunvest.com/programs/sierraclub/ 

READY FOR 100 IN LA CROSSE  At its October 2018 meeting, the Sustainable La Crosse Commission voted to recommend partner municipalities pursue Ready for 100 resolutions. This official first step will allow staff and elected officials to work on legislation and encourage public discussion. In the meantime, the Ready for 100  team is still looking for Sierra Club members to help educate our communities about the benefits of moving as quickly as possibly to 100% renewable energy sources. Please email us if you’d like to be on the team.

TWO OCTOBER CLEAN UP PROJECTS  On October 2, six Coulee Region Group members did our autumn clean up of La Crosse’s River Valley Drive through the La Crosse River Marsh. It was fairly clean and we completed the task in a little over an hour, after which four of us went to Rudy’s Drive-in to eat and socialize.

On October 20, Coulee Region Group members David Boen and Pat Wilson participated in the Kickapoo River clean up sponsored by the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Pat and Dave were the only ones to paddle a canoe down the river on this cold windy day with occasional snow showers. The photo shows Pat and the heap of trash filling the canoe at the takeout. Unfortunately, there was a lot more we couldn’t get, deposited by the record flooding on the Kickapoo in September. 

GROUNDWATER POLLUTION UPDATE  In October 2017, the Coulee Region Sierra Club hosted a standing room only forum on groundwater pollution in La Crosse county.  A county water task force was set up at the end of 2017 and they have recently released their findings and recommendations.

As reported in the La Crosse Tribune on October 15, the team found that, “Much of the groundwater in the towns of Onalaska and Holland contains nitrate levels considered unsafe for human consumption, with the threat especially high for infants and pregnant women.”

The task force recommends further study, better eduction of residents about the need for proper water filtration systems, better zoning and enforcement, possible re-purposing of currently farmed land, and pursuing local and state legislation to further protect groundwater.

Also in October, three southwest Wisconsin counties (including Grant, a Coulee Region group county) agreed to help fund a new study of private wells to determine the amount and sources of contamination. Well water pollution is among the top issues of residents there.

Groundwater pollution and protecting the state’s water resources is one of the John Muir Chapter’s highest priorities and there is a state water team working to coordinate efforts around the state to help communities protect clean water resources. If you would like to be on the state Sierra Club water team, please call (608) 256-0565 or email cassandra.steiner@sierraclub.org.Also, see facebook.com/WisconsinWaterSentinels/

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS  Again this year, the Coulee Region Sierra Club is offering grants of up to $200 for environmental  education projects involving young people at the elementary and middle school level.

The application and more detalis are available at tinyurl.com/crscedugrantapp OR email crsierraclub at gmail and we can mail you an application. The application deadline is JANUARY 5, 2019. Please spread the word about this opportunity available to those in Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau and Vernon counties. You may also complete the online application form.

SIERRA CLUB 2019 CALENDARS  Again this year, your purchase of Sierra Club calendars will benefit our club and environmental programs and protection activities. The calendars cost $14.95 for the wall  calendar and $15.95 for the engagement book.

Get your calendar at our December gathering or order from Maureen Kinney: 608 784-9324/784-5678 or email maureen @ johnsflaherty.com. SIERRA CLUB NOTE AND HOLIDAY CARDS are available at store.sierraclub.org/calendars--cards-c28.aspx

Thank you Sue Knopf for editing and publishing the October issue of the Coulee Region Sierra Club newsletter!
 

COULEE REGION GROUP BOARD ELECTIONS  We are seeking candidates to run for the Coulee Region Group board of directors! Board members will try to attend monthly meetings - in person or by phone or computer - and work to forward the goals of our club in the community. It would be fantastic if we could add some board members from counties outside La Crosse. Each area in our group has important issues and concerns (and potential programs and outings) and we would like to make sure all important matters are included in our program and event planning.

We will put a ballot in the December newsletter. If you are interested in serving on the board, please complete the online form at tinyurl.com/crscboardform OR call Pat at 608 788-8831 with your name, contact info, county of residence, and a brief description of your experience and interests demonstrating why you would like to serve on the board. 

LA CROSSE COUNTY NATURE GUIDE  The La Crosse County Nature Connections program has developed a one-stop electronic resource for connecting with nature in La Crosse County. This electronic Nature Guide aims to make outdoor, nature-rich places in La Crosse County easier to discover.

The Guide's interactive map allows you to search outdoor places by location with a specific page for each trail, identifying access points, directions, parking, and trail terrain and difficulty. A unique feature of the Guide is a biodiversity rating for each area (variety of different types of life throughout a given environment) and a listing of dominant features (i.e. scenic overlook) expected in each location.

NOVEMBER 14 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPEN HOUSE  Please join the City of La Crosse Muncipal Transit Utility (MTU) for an evening of information, tours, free bus rides, and a celebration of Public Transportation! The OPEN HOUSE will be held on Wednesday, November 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Transit Center, 314 Jay Street. Please call 608-789-7350 with questions.

The private vehicle is a household’s largest contributor to greenhouse gases. By taking existing public transportation instead of driving a car, an individual can reduce annual carbon emissions by an average of 4,800 pounds, (tinyurl.com/apta-businfo), A strong public transportation system is good for the environment.

NOVEMBER 7 RESILIENCE AND EQUITY SYMPOSIUM  Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. This Novmber 7 symposium (8 am at the Lunda Center) will examine how these inequalities affect the entire community, what are the costs, how do land use and other policies contribute, and how to support local organizations and initiatives addressing these equity issues. Registration is $30 per person and includes breakfast. See tinyurl.com/resilequity