Lassa Receives Voice of Courage Award

Madison — State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) will receive a 2012 Voice of Courage Award from the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault at a ceremony Saturday in Madison.

The Voice of Courage Award “formally recognizes and honors the outstanding work of Wisconsin individuals and organizations that have exceeded the very highest standards and expectations in their dedicated efforts to end sexual violence,” according to a WCASA release.

WCASA is recognizing Sen. Lassa for her leadership in passing a new law that removes the statute of limitations on prosecutions of sexual assault of an adult. A number of crimes, including sexual assault of a child were already exempted from the criminal statute of limitations; the new law adds sexual assault of an adult to the list of exempted crimes, ensuring that prosecutors will be able to bring criminal charges against perpetrators of sexual violence without time limitations.

“WCASA has been an effective advocate and a powerful ally in the fight against sexual violence,” Lassa said. “I’m humbled by this honor and I look forward to continuing to work with WCASA to support victims of sexual assault, bring perpetrators to justice, and work for an assault-free society.”

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sen. Lassa also passed the Internet Crimes Against Children Act, which allows prosecutors to seek maximum penalties in cases that arise from undercover investigations where the perpetrator is using the Internet to try to engage in sexual activity with a child. The new law also amends the criminal discovery statute to prevent inadvertent or intentional reproduction and further dissemination of child pornography images and video.

WCASA is a membership agency comprised of organizations and individuals working to end sexual violence in Wisconsin. Among these are 46 sexual assault service provider agencies throughout the state that offer support, advocacy and information to victims of sexual assault and their families. WCASA works to ensure that every victim in Wisconsin gets the support and care they need.

Absentee Ballots Available for May 8 Recall Primary

Ballots are available for City of Stevens Point residents who wish to vote early for the May 8 Recall Primary.

Voters have two options for voting absentee: the first is to vote at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall, 1515 Strongs Avenue, now through May 4; the second option is to submit a written request/application to receive an absentee ballot through the mail.

Requests to receive an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the Clerk’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 3. The completed ballot must be postmarked no later than Election Day in order for it to be counted.

City Clerk John Moe reminds individuals who have not already registered to vote, and those who have either moved or changed their name, that they will need to re-register before they will be allowed to vote. Applications for absentee ballots and voter registration are available at the Clerk’s office and here on the City’s website.

Please note that there are exceptions for military voters and indefinitely confined electors. Please contact the Clerk’s office at 715-346-1569 for more information.

Car Seat Recycling Day April 28

Wood County (April 2012) — Do you have an old car seat taking up space in your garage or basement? Safe Kids Wisconsin is providing a way for parents to drop off old car seats, free of charge, Saturday, April 28, across the state.

At Car Seat Recycling Day, seats older than 6 years old, purchased at a garage sale or thrift store or involved in a crash will be collected and dismantled to be recycled and disposed of properly. Safe Kids Wood County will be participating locally from 9:00 am – Noon at Marshfield Fire Department, 514 E. 4th Street, Marshfield. There will also be Safe Kids events held at Kohl’s Department Store, 3600 Rib Mountain Drive, Wausau and Kohl’s Department Store, 150 Crossroads Drive, Plover on the same day and time.

All car seats have an expiration date that can be found on the manufacturer’s label. If there is not an exact expiration date listed, a general rule is 6 years from the manufacture date. Seats used after their expiration date may not be safe or hold up in a crash.

Car seats purchased secondhand are dangerous as well. The history of the car seat is unknown and may have been involved in a crash or recalled.

The following also are good seats to bring to the event:
• Seats that have been recalled
• Seats that have broken or missing parts
• Unwanted seats

For more information, call Safe Kids Wood County at (715) 387-8646.

Car Seat Recycling Day is sponsored by AAA®, Safe Kids Wisconsin, Veolia Environmental Services, Safe Kids Wood County, and Marshfield Fire Department.

Earth Day Highlights Sustainability in Central Wisconsin

Madison — State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) released the following statement in recognition of Earth Day on April 22, 2012:

“Earth Day is a great opportunity to highlight the many innovative efforts underway in Central Wisconsin that are developing and promoting sustainable practices to reduce our demand for natural resources and release less pollution in our environment.

“At UW-Stevens Point, the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology is breaking new ground in biofuels research, creating energy from papermaking waste products and developing new sources of plant oils. WIST is also developing new recycling techniques for biodegradable plastics, researching commuting habits for UWSP students to determine and reduce pollution, congestion and fuel use, and educating students and the entire community on everything from sustainable papermaking methods to green chemistry.

“Recently I had a chance to visit Central Rivers Farmshed, a vacant greenhouse that is being converted into a center to promote the local food movement in Central Wisconsin. Farmshed enhances the relationship between local residents and their food, and strives to provide opportunities for participation, education, cooperation, and action to support a local food economy in Central Wisconsin. When food doesn’t have to travel far from farm to table, we reduce fuel consumption and pollution while we help support local farmers. Local food is good for the environment and good for our health—and it tastes great, too.

“And Central Wisconsin is home to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, which promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration projects. Its annual Energy Fair, the longest running event of its kind, attracts tens of thousands to the area to learn about the latest in sustainable energy technologies. The MREA’s ReNew the Earth Institute and hundreds of workshops develop our understanding of green energy applications and build the expertise of everyone from contractors to homeowners.

“Throughout Central Wisconsin, individuals, businesses and communities are finding innovative ways to reduce waste and consumption, using more earth-friendly practices, adopting Green Community resolutions, implementing water quality and conservation methods, turning manufacturing and agricultural wastes into green energy, and so much more. I’m proud to say that we’re a leader in building a more sustainable future. In Central Wisconsin, every day truly is Earth Day.”

Lassa: Honoring the Veterans Assistance Foundation

Madison — State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) released the following statement today in recognition of the opening of the new offices of the Veterans Assistance Foundation at 312 Superior Avenue in Tomah:

“I’m pleased to congratulate the Veterans Assistance Foundation on the opening of its new facilities. Since its founding in 1974, VAF has been assisting veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless maintain and improve their status in society by providing a safe and secure environment through which they can access a wide array of human services. In addition to housing, VAF helps homeless and at-risk vets access nutritional meals, essential physical health care, substance abuse aftercare, mental health counseling, job assessment, training and placement assistance.

“The problem of veterans’ homelessness is a crisis that demands our attention. Nationally, nearly 150,000 veterans spend at least one night in a homeless shelter each year. It is estimated that vets make up nearly a quarter of the homeless population. We need to do better than this for our veterans, who have sacrificed so much for us. VAF’s programs are part of a coordinated effort among federal and state veterans’ agencies and non-profit groups to make sure that our returning veterans can reintegrate into our communities and have the support they need to succeed. I commend VAF for its efforts and urge all Americans to join the fight to end veteran homelessness.

“Those interested in learning more about VAF and making a contribution online can visit them online at vafvets.org, or write them at P.O. Box 610 Tomah, WI 54660.”

Sibshops Event

Please join us Saturday, May 12, at the Marshfield YMCA from 9 a.m. to noon for Sibshops. The event is for children ages 5-12 and costs $5 per child, which includes a t-shirt and snack.

Sibshops is a globally known program that offers siblings of children with special needs like autism, down syndrome or general developmental delays an opportunity to get together, have fun and participate in new games and activities. Realizing that being a sibling to a child with special needs is sometimes good, sometimes not-so good, and sometimes in between, the program provides peer support and education in a recreational setting.

Sibshop Goals

1. Provide opportunities to meet other siblings in a relaxed, recreational setting.
2. Provide opportunities to discuss common joys and concerns with other siblings of children with special needs.
3. Provide opportunities to learn how others handle situations commonly experienced.
4. Provide opportunities to learn more about the implications of their sibling’s special needs.
5. Provide parents and other professionals with opportunities to learn more about the concerns and opportunities frequently experienced by siblings.

Hazen Paper And NewPage Earn Printing Industry Recognition

STEVENS POINT, Wis., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — NewPage announced today that the company’s 7 pt. Sterling® Ultra web cover paper served as a key component of an award-winning Super Bowl XLV collector’s edition program cover produced by its customer, Hazen Paper.

Hazen’s marketing entry swept the “decorative/display category” in the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) product competition awards.

Hazen created the custom holographic image and embossed it onto transfer film that was coated in-house. Hazen then metallized the transfer holographic material and transfer metallized the coated two-side NewPage paper stock. The final step involved sheeting and printing the 19×36 inch sheets in register with the holography. Once printed, the cover was bound to the program by Quad/Graphics, Sussex, Wisconsin.

The judges commented that they were impressed by how the elements of the 2011 Packers/Steelers Super Bowl program worked together. “These holographic images go beyond patterns to become an integrated design,” they concluded.

John H. Hazen, president of the Holyoke, Massachusetts-based company said, “Hazen Paper is excited to have scored a touchdown with NewPage Sterling Ultra on the Stadium Edition Super Bowl Program Cover.”

“With this award, Hazen has further distinguished itself in the customized holographics and transfer metallization industry,” said David Diekelman, NewPage executive director of specialty papers Sales and Marketing. “We are delighted to have teamed with Hazen to provide a high-quality, highly engineered paper that would support such a sophisticated, technical and successful printing process.”

New Police Officer, Tino Starke added to force

Tino Starke, the newest member of the Stevens Point Police Department, was selected from over 90 applicants who applied for the police officer position. Starke is a 29-year-old native of Germany who obtained his United States citizenship and has lived in Stevens Point for the past four years.

Prior to coming to the United States, Starke worked in law enforcement for over seven years and was employed as a liaison with the United States Military.

Tino graduated from the Police Academy at Mid-State Technical College in April of 2012. His wife of five years, Emily, is currently enrolled as a student at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.

Recreational Vehicles Auction

Common Threads Exhibit at the Riverfront Arts Center

“Common Threads – stories and visions in fiber” is an invitational exhibition featuring fiber as art from Friday, April 20 until Sunday, May 27. Opening Reception will be held Friday, April 20, from 5 to 7 pm.

Telling a story, painting and sculpting with fiber will be shown. Fiber Artists Marilyn Annin, Donna Kallner, Susan Leschke, Ann Phillip, and 8 members of The Fiber Arts Coalition; Pat Bishop, Kathie Briggs, Clairan Ferrono, Linda Witt Henke, Pat Kroth, Casey Puetz, Maggie Weiss, and Trish Williams work in the Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois. Their individual work has been shown in many parts of the U.S.

These artists were brought together to display their collective creative talents depicting their inspiration and journey to this point in time. They have traveled separate journeys using common threads to express their vision and inspiration, using various traditional and non-traditional techniques, materials, creativity, color and design to tell a story.

They come from multiple perspectives and speak in many voices. Their work holds a wealth of expression and variation as different as the artists themselves.