Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, Back when we first found out that vaccines for COVID-19 were being given my cousin and I had signed up many places to receive it…. including a clinic in Madison and Sauk-Prairie Hospital/Clinic and several other places. We are both elderly and so wanted very much to get the vaccine ASAP.  After waiting for weeks that seemed like forever, we heard that they were being given right here in Spring Green by our local fire department and EMS. We signed up online and immediately got dates for the first round of vaccine. We received our first one on March 2 and we got the second one on March 30.  I want to say that Spring Green may be a SMALL TOWN  but when it comes to our fire department and EMS we are nothing else but HUGE…in every way. Big thanks to the members of those departments for their service to all citizens of the area. You guys and gals are soooo  very special.    Mary Liegel Spring Green   Dear editor,  It was about 2006 that I drove up to Wausau to visit a Lyme doctor and Hannah came along for the ride. It was on that trip to Wausau that the idea of Mew Haven was born. On the trip home, we talked non-stop while Hannah filled pages of her notebook as the ideas came one after another. Long story short, in 2007 Mew Haven was incorporated by the state of Wisconsin followed by certification with the IRS as a 501c3 not for profit organization dedicated to the care of stray, abused, and unwanted cats. Over the years the word has spread. We have received calls from all over the state of Wisconsin and neighboring Illinois and Minnesota, and even Michigan. Locally, we have been a source for people who could not afford to get their cats spayed or neutered. We have underwritten or paid totally for both minor and major surgeries. And we have worked tirelessly for the little ones, taking in those who have lost their mothers until they are ready for adoption. Around 2008, as people were suffering from job and income loss during the recession, there was a motion before the village board to permit people to shoot feral cats. We recognized that the increase in feral cats in the village and its periphery were the result of people losing jobs and homes in the recession and we worked to find resources to enable keeping family cats in their homes instead of forcing people to choose whether to feed themselves or their pets. As a result, we developed a relationship with Nestle Purina in Jefferson to provide cat food to families at the Spring Green Food Pantry. Purina donates the food to us and we then bag it up in amounts to last each cat registered with us at the food pantry for a month. That program is still ongoing. Kevin Wilkins, police vhief at the time, was very grateful for our work in helping to reduce the number of stray cats in the village and the folks who continue to come to food pantry go out of their way every month to thank us for their families and their cats. More recently, several years ago we were contacted by the owners of Global View, a well-known art estate in the county which was slated to be sold. The need was to remove and rehome a colony of over 20 feral cats who had been living on the expansive grounds for years. Mew Haven took this on and after several months of daily work, all cats were trapped, spayed/neutered and resettled in new homes. It was a huge endeavor but well worth it in that all the cats were saved. BUT the pandemic has affected our well-being as well as that of so many in this country. Donations which in normal times keeps us functioning without limiting the assistance we can offer to people and their cats have been drastically diminished. Our financial resources have been drained to the point to where the Mew Haven bank account is currently hovering over empty.  To all of you out there, we are reaching out to you for help. If you feel that you can help us to continue what we have been doing for so long, we need you! A donation in any amount would be SO much appreciated! Please if you will, mail a check to Mew Haven Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 104, Spring Green, WI 53588. Thank you so very much! Pam Norman Spring Green   Dear editor, I would like to publicly thank Dr. Jeff Vodak and his staff for the exceptional optometry care he provides to his patients in the River Valley area.  My husband and I know our precious eyesight is assured due to his thorough and thoughtful exams.  Beyond that, Jeff has made room in his schedule for emergency situations for two of our friends (and many others, I am sure) and has he taken time, without additional compensation, to help me understand the vision issues of a family member who lives on the other side of the country.  Dr. Vodak is truly dedicated to his clients and our ability to see the beautiful surroundings of the Driftless Area.   Thank you Dr. Vodak! Marina Rosenberg Lone Rock   Dear editor, The year 2021 was a unique year for Sauk County Rural Safety Days. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event was held virtually. We had nearly 1,100 third and fourth graders (last year’s third grade who missed the event due to COVID-19) participate this year. This event would not have been possible without the generous donations and support from our numerous sponsors. We believe that prevention is the best medicine and are so thankful for their support.  This year’s event covered the following rural safety topics: chemical, fire, insect/plant, electrical, seat belt/roll over, internet, gun, farm equipment, small/large animal, water, and ATV. This event could not happen each year without generous support from: Allen Steele Company, Inc., Alliant Energy, Bank of Prairie du Sac, Baraboo District Ambulance Service, Baraboo FFA, Baraboo Fire Department, Baraboo State Bank, Baxter Dental, Cardinal IG, Circus World Museum, Compeer Financial, Culvers, D. L. Gasser Construction, Dental Associates, Downtown Family Dental of Baraboo, SC, Farm and Fleet, Foremost Farms USA, Gemini Concepts, Hartje Lumber, Herb Kohl Philanthropies, Hoof Funeral Home, I-Diehl Tap, LLC, Jay’s Power Center, Joey Van Dinter Insurance, Jose’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant, Kraemer Brothers, Lake Delton Police Association, Lake Delton Water Sports, Inc., MBE CPA’s, McFarlane MFG Co. Inc., McReath Orthodontics, Meyer Oil & LP, Midwest Dental, Mittelstaedt Sports & Marine Inc., Oral Surgery Center, S.C., Prairie Clinic, Quartz, Redlin Funeral Home LLC, Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Reedsburg FFA, River Valley FFA, Royal Bank, Sauk County Emergency Management, Sauk County Fairgrounds, Sauk County Home & Community Education, Sauk County Humane Society, Sauk County Sheriff’s Department, Sauk County UW Extension, Sauk Prairie FFA, Sauk Prairie Healthcare, Scott Construction, Inc., Slama’s Lawn & Sport-Reedsburg, SSM Health-St Clare Hospital, Sunrise Veterinary Services, Swim Reedsburg, United Cooperative, Village Family Dental Associates, S.C., Weston FFA, WI Department of Natural Resources, WI Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Metals-Reedsburg, and Wisconsin Poison Center. Sincerely,  Rebecca Szydlowski Public Health Nurse Sauk County Health Department Baraboo