Letters to the editor

Time Is Running Out –  Respond to the 2020  Census Now    As the 2020 Census draws to a close, I urge each one of you reading this to respond before it’s too late. This is the final month to be counted and to help guarantee the Villages of Prairie du Sac and Sauk City receives funding for essential services that will shape the future of our communities for the next 10 years.    Whether you live alone, with family, or others, I’m asking you to do your part and count everyone who lives in your home if you haven’t already. And while you’re at it, remind other family, friends, and neighbors to be counted, too. Text them. Call them. Share a note on your social media. While many people know the census is what determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress, it is also used by lawmakers in Washington and Madison to allocate funds for programs and services that impact the Villages of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, including the roads we drive on, the schools our children attend, and the hospitals and healthcare clinics we visit when we are sick. An undercount in the Villages of Prairie du Sac and Sauk City could mean our community loses out on important federal funds that will leave us behind as others progress into the future.  The deadline to respond is September 30. But don’t wait—you can respond now online at 2020census.gov, by phone at 844-330-2020, or by mail if you received a paper questionnaire. You can respond in English, Spanish, and 11 other languages online or by phone.  If you don’t respond on your own, you will be visited by a locally hired census taker to make sure you are counted. If a census taker comes to your home, please cooperate. They have been trained on CDC and local health guidelines, will maintain at least a six-foot distance, and will be wearing masks and carrying other personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep everyone safe. A census taker may also call you at home, so please answer the call.  The census asks only 10 questions about you and who lives in your home with you and will only take a few minutes to complete. And remember: Your answers are confidential, and can never be shared with federal or local law enforcement agencies. The 2020 Census is so important. If we want our voices to be heard at the local and federal level, we all need to do our civic duty and respond. If we want to continue receiving support for critical programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, school lunches and education programs like Head Start, historic preservation and wildlife conservation grants, bridges, bike paths, and other infrastructure, we should respond.  Time is running out. If you haven’t already, you are about to miss this once in a decade chance to shape our future and better our community for the next 10 years.   Niki Conway, Clerk Treasurer, Village of Prairie du Sac Heidi Koch, Deputy Clerk, Village of Sauk City   Dear Editor:   September 13 – 19 is National Assisted Living Week.  This annual observance was established by The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) as a way to celebrate those who choose this type of living option and the caring, dedicated staff members who serve them; and to educate the general public about the importance and benefits of this type of long term care.  This year’s theme is “Caring is Essential.” As the owners and the management company of The Pines Senior Living in Prairie du Sac, we first want to express our thanks to our residents and family members for entrusting us with your care.  We are privileged to walk beside you on your journey of aging. We also want to express our deep appreciation to Deb Pete, RN Campus Administrator; Amanda Jacobs, RN Care Coordinator; Kelly Breunig, Pine Glen Property Manager, and all of the resident assistants, administrative staff, activity staff, dietary staff, housekeepers and maintenance technicians who provide the highest quality of care to our residents every day.  The past six months have been especially challenging due to COVID-19, and we are so proud of your dedication and vigilance to keep our residents healthy, happy and engaged.   Our frontline staff members are the heart and soul of The Pines Senior Living, and we’re always interested in speaking to people with their kind of caring heart about joining our team.  We can’t provide high-quality services without high-quality people. Visit pinesprairiedusac.com or call 608-643-5433 to learn more about who we are, what we do and why we do it.  It’s an honor to be of service to the families and residents who call The Pines Senior Living their home.  Join us and find out how caring for others can change the way you see the world.     Greg & Carol Griffin, Owners, The Pines Senior Living David Griffin, President & CEO, ElderSpan Management, LLC