REGISTRATION OPENING SOON! www.OregonSoccerClub.com http://www.oregonsc.com
adno=76374
O RE
N SOC
R
Thursday, May 9, 2019 • Vol. 134, No. 45 • Oregon, WI • ConnectOregonWI.com • $1.25
GO
CE
Oregon Observer The
Neighbors wary of library parking lots Pavement could threaten green spaces, increase flooding ALEXANDER CRAMER Unified Newspaper Group
On a sunny summer morning, coffee in hand, a reader grabs a book or a crossword puzzle and heads out onto the deck at the new Oregon Public Library for a quiet moment overlooking a pastoral green garden. That’s the vision Kermit Traska conveyed to the Village Board Monday night, speaking on behalf of the Near North Main Street Neighborhood Association. The group is concerned that vision could be threatened by a plan to pave over much of the area’s green space for parking.
Library director Jennifer Way told the Observer in an email that it’s still “very early in the planning process” and the plans will be refined and improved throughout. “This is a complicated project with many pieces to the puzzle,” Way wrote. “While green space is an important asset of the property, this is just one of many objectives which must be balanced with the programmatic needs.” Way wrote that village zoning ordinances will dictate the number of parking spaces based on the square footage of the building, which in turn will be based on the anticipated programming needs and overall budget, she wrote. “This is not a discretionary item; the library must follow the zoning ordinance — much like any
Turn to Library/Page 16
Scholarship finalist talks achievements, aspirations Zintel involved in biotech apprenticeship, teaches orchestra EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group
Two Oregon High School seniors have been named finalists for the National Merit Scholarship. Marissa Zintel and Julie Bull were among 15,000 students recognized nationally through the PSAT/SATscores and for their academic achievements.
Oregon High School principal Jim Pliner said “the school is proud” of the two students. Bull has been involved in Math Club, Science Olympiad and on the varsity cross country team, Pliner said. Zintel told the Observer she was “surprised” when she found out she was a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship. Zintel has been a peer tutor and also a Science Olympiad, like Bull. Zintel also has a love for music, she said, and has been helping Oregon Middle School orchestra teacher,
Turn to Merit/Page 14
Inside Read our annual Pets special section Pages B1-B7
Jasber and Jamous Johnson, ages 3 and 1, both of Oregon. sit inside a public works vehicle.
Photo by Emilie Heidemann
Teaching safety
Safety Day was back for another year, which provided a chance for attendees to learn more about the officials who protect the Oregon community. The annual event took place on Saturday, May 4, at the Oregon Area
Fire/EMS District building, 131 through, the flyer states. Spring St. The Dane County Sheriff’s RecreVillage of Oregon police, fire and ational Patrol was also present. public works officials were at the Email Emilie Heidemann at emilie. event to meet and socialize with heidemann@wcinet.com or follow attendees, and had their vehicles and equipment on hand for visitors to look her on Twitter at @HeidemannEmilie.
Staton reflects on career in government Second retirement affords time for family, travel ALEXANDER CRAMER Unified Newspaper Group
When Steve Staton was elected village president in April 2007, it seemed things were “going great.” “This is a breeze,” he recalled thinking. But on Aug. 3 he got a call from village a d m i n i s t r a t o r M i ke Gracz, who told him he’d better grab his waders: The Badfish Creek was flooding downtown. Staton He remembers standing in water nearly up to his waist on North Burr Oak Avenue and knowing the village would have to relocate the seven homeowners who lived in the floodplain
of the Badfish Creek, mostly on the since-abandoned Florida Avenue. He said he encouraged a “respectful” process to purchase the affected homes despite the perceived “mistake” of buying a home in the flood plain. The village ended up spending $380,000 to buy and raze those homes over the course of three years, a third of the overall cost, and went on to overhaul the village’s stormwater system and improve downtown infrastructure. The burden on village resources — in both staff time and money — ended up delaying the village’s expansion eastward beyond U.S. Hwy. 14 and the creation of a new business park, but the village government, under Staton’s leadership, said the work had to be done. Having retired from local government 16 years after being elected, Staton is proud of the village’s efforts to solve flooding — there were only minor inconveniences in March, for
example, when many other communities were inundated — but even more proud of two of his own initiatives: the Rotary Bike Trail and the village’s liquor licensing procedures. Both projects reflect deeply held values, as Staton is a passionate cyclist and enjoys spending time in nature, and worked as an alcohol and drug counselor at Oregon High School. The first time he retired was in 2004, when he stepped down as principal of Oregon Middle School. He would go on to work part-time as the high school’s Alcohol and Drug Resource officer for five more years, totaling 32 years with the district. But there isn’t a part-time village president position, Staton joked, so this retirement seems to be permanent — at least from government. He thinks the village is in “great hands” in regard to both staff and
Turn to Staton/Page 13
NOW OPEN
608.441.9999 avanteproperties.com
RAVEN APARTMENTS
5116 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, WI
Studio, 1, 1+Den, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments adno=66731