Discover Janesville 2013 podcast #3

LISTEN RIGHT HERE

Featuring:

Conversation with Rock County Humane Society Executive Director Angela Rhodes about the latest developments involving the society, including greater involvement in our local animal control from Dane County and Rock County municipalities.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 28 minute mark

Ever thought about joining a service club?  Check out this extremely informative presentation by representatives of various service clubs in Janesville, explaining what their clubs do and why you should get involved.   36 minute mark

Get to know the new theater professor at UW Rock County - Zac Curtis.  Originally from Colorado, Zac's been Janesville resident for just a few months.  72 minute mark

Entertainment correspondent Eric Kuznacic previews upcoming comedy concerts featuring Nick Offerman of "Parks & Rec", Amy Schumer of the upcoming "Inside Amy", and Tracy Morgan of "SNL" & "30 Rock" and more.  88 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 103 MINUTE MARK

Also, check out music featuring nominees for the 3rd annual Janesville Area Creativity (JAC) awards Outstanding Band category:

Jazzguise 68 minute markLou Dog 111 minute markKind of a Big Deal 116 minute mark
Winners will be announced on February 16 at Janesville Performing Arts Center (JPAC) ceremony.

More Announcements:

Thank you for listening and sharing the program - now heard over 18,000 times!

Don't forget to check out Discover Janesville column now in the Janesville Messenger!

The next membership meeting of Discover Janesville with Yuri Rashkin will take place on January 29, Sunday, from ;6 til 8 pm at 515 St.Lawrence Ave in Janesville.  Hope to see you there!

Interested in becoming a sponsor of a fast growing, popular podcast for and about Janesville, Wisconsin?  Email DiscoverJanesville@gmail.com

DJ in JM: Roundabouts save time and lives

Here is the latest Discover Janesville in the Janesville Messenger column.

I admit: I like roundabouts.  Not when you see one for the first time and not at every intersection, and certainly not three in a row, but they do save time and lives.  Roundabouts are also admittedly safer than the alternatives such as stop lights and stop signs.  

Roundabouts are no longer just a nuisance; they are the way of the future.  Wisconsin Department of Transportation states that "Wisconsin has over 200 roundabouts installed and operating at this time.  Roundabouts move traffic safely through an intersection because of: slower speeds, fewer conflict points, easier decision-making.  The safety studies by the UW TOPS lab shows that roundabouts provide 52 percent reduction in fatal and injury crashes and 9 percent reduction for all crashes.  Roundabouts are also bringing about a significant decrease in severe crashes.”  Besides being a safer option, roundabouts are also a less expensive alternative:  according to WisDot, a roundabout can cost between $750,000 and $1.5 million, which is about the same as an intersection with lights or four-way stop signs but the federal government usually pays 80% of the cost of a roundabout, with state funds paying the other 20%, so yes, it’s also about the money. 

Now, I do not think that every roundabout at every intersection is what we need.  When on City Council, I voted against roundabout at the intersection of East Milwaukee and Wuthering Hills drive.  As a resident of that area, I think that the city public works department solved the existing traffic problem by narrowing East Milwaukee to one lane each way with a wider median, and a bike lane on each side.  I am, however, a strong proponent of examining possibility of a roundabout at the other "5 point" intersection in Janesville: where North Wright road and East Milwaukee meet, and is joined by Mt. Zion.  Just the other day, I witnessed another accident in that area involving two pickup trucks.

There are other places where an odd or a quirky intersection might be improved by a roundabout, such as off of Centerway street by Milton Avenue, and I'm sure there are others.  You may also want to prepare yourself for two new roundabouts on Racine street once the 90/39 ramp is redone and changes its shape from a clover leaf to a diamond.    

In fact, getting people used to the idea of roundabouts is probably the biggest challenge facing traffic engineers in getting the roundabouts accepted by the public and I found it interesting when I learned that the roundabout in front of the new Menard’s was put there by the city for that very reason.   Still, it’s the opponents of this form of traffic control whose voices are usually heard the loudest.  To them, I suggest that the city, if it so strongly believes in advantages of roundabouts, should erect one in front of the City Hall.  The intersection of Wall and Jackson seems like a great intersection to benefit from this kind of traffic management device.  What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, right?

Going forward, rather than fighting about whether roundabouts are a good thing or not, why not just agree that they are safer, and find some good locations where they will help us navigate our city better and easier.  Besides, requiring drivers to navigate around a large unmovable object requires a certain amount of attention and concentration, which most would agree is in short supply on today’s roads.  You may have heard the joke about a person who failed their driving test - when the question was asked "what do you do when you stop at an intersection?" the student replied "I check my email, update my Facebook status, and text".  If this is going to be our new reality, roundabouts make all the more sense.

Discover Janesville 2013 podcast #2

LISTEN RIGHT HERE

Featuring:

Conversation about the proposed referendum to raise property taxes, new roundabouts and businesses coming to town and more, with our city correspondent Dan Hartung.

Music correspondent Eric Kuznacic checks in with upcoming concerts featuring Reel Big Fish, Stone Sour and Murder by Death. 26 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 44 minute mark

Dennis Vindedahl talks about his new business Water Wellness Store providing customers with Kangen water machines by Enagic.  49 minute mark

We talk school board and Madison politics with our political correspondent Cathy Myers.  64 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 88 minute mark

State Senator Kathleen Vinehout speaks about the mining and healthcare reform in Wisconsin.  93 minute mark

This and music by the nominees for Janesville Area Creativity (JAC) Outstanding Original Song award: 

• Mitch Kopnick 49 minute mark,
• Evan Riley 83 minute mark and
• Greg Winkler 138 minute mark ,

on the next Discover Janesville with Yuri Rashkin!

More Announcements:

Thanks to all of you for listening and sharing the program: Discover Janesville has now been heard over 17,000 times!

Don't forget to check out Discover Janesville column now in the Janesville Messenger!

Next membership meeting of Discover Janesville with Yuri Rashkin will take place on January 29 from 6 til 8 pm at 515 St.Lawrence Ave in Janesville.  Hope to see you there!

Interested in becoming a sponsor of a fast growing, popular podcast for and about Janesville, Wisconsin?  Email DiscoverJanesville@gmail.com

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio

Discover Janesville on YouTube!

Starting this year, each episode of Discover Janesville is also available on YouTube.  Featuring photography by David Abb, the entire show, clearly labeled, is there for you to enjoy!  Here are the first two episodes:

Discover Janesville 2013 / podcast 1



Discover Janesville 2013 / podcast 2

Discover Janesville 2013 podcast #1

LISTEN RIGHT HERE

Featuring:

* In-Depth conversation with Janesville Superintendent Karen Schulte. Dr. Schulte answers the questions you asked on Facebook, as we discuss everything from dress code for teachers and students, to tragedy in Newtown, to whether guns have place in schools and everything in between.

* Newest Assembly Representative to represent Janesville, Deb Kolste checks in. 36 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS 46 minute mark

* State Representative Janis Ringhand who was just re-elected to her second term shares her thoughts on what she would like to see get done in the Assembly this year, and both women share their thoughts on what Wisconsin can do about moving up from being ranked 42nd in a recent rating by Forbes magazine. 52 minute mark

* Conversation with Rock County Economic Development Director James Otterstein about the state of the local and regional economy. Mr. Otterstein grades economic performance of 2012 and gives his forecast for 2013. What is the role financial incentives play in getting businesses to move to an area, and when is it a good idea to walk away from an economic development project? Listen in as these and other questions are covered in this long-ranging discussion. 69 minute mark

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 107 minute mark

*Part 2 of conversation with James Otterstein 113 minute mark

MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA 137 minute mark

Interested in becoming a sponsor of a fast growing, popular podcast for and about Janesville, Wisconsin? Email DiscoverJanesville@gmail.com

Check out our website at www.DiscoverJanesville.com and "like" the show on Facebook!

Listen to internet radio with Discover Janesville on Blog Talk Radio