Parkside Elementary would like to give out blossoms to those who made our Environmental Education Day program a success. Thank you to David Parr, Kathy Hauck, Abby Foulker and Caleb Ahrens for getting our school garden started and for supplying seeds and plants. Thank you to Parkside PTO, Colony Brands, and Farm and Fleet for your donations. Thank you to Jennifer Spielman, Carmen Montgomery, Bruce Scott, Cathy Peters and Parkside Staff members for your help organizing the activities for the students. - Environmental Education Day committee: Lynda Miller, Juanita Butler, and Lindsey Weigel
A blossoms to the amazing number of blossoms today (Saturday, April 30.) While I support everyone's right to write a barb, it was just nice to see so many blossoms to recognize the good in our community. It was a great way to start the day. Thanks. - Thankful
A huge barb to The Monroe Times. Why are comments chosen to be or not to be on the web? Why can someone post irresponsible rants with invalid data, but we can't respond back to that person? If you want to have comments, then let it all go. The Times shouldn't pick and choose which comments are displayed. Get into 2011 and allow for flagging of comments that are not appropriate, but don't pick and choose. I also want to know why fire department related comment strings mysteriously disappeared from the website when they still have active comments being posted. Sounds to me like politics has a role in our local paper and news. What's new! - Angry submitter
A big blossoms to Julie's Bridal Gallery in Monroe. Julie and her staff have turned what was this bride-to-be's nightmare into the most wonderful bridal experience ever. I want to thank you for going above and beyond in making my wedding dress experience a joyful one. No one will be disappointed in the service or friendliness of the staff. Many, many thanks. - Tammy G
A barb to Donald Trump. Why don't you produce your college records and grades? Do you have any to show the public? Why don't you have to prove where you were born? Other presidents never had to prove if they were citizens of the United States, or were questioned and degraded in such a way. My theory for this horrible stunt is an intelligent African-American beat the Republicans, and the Republicans are proving to be very poor losers. What a major backward step has been taken here! Good journalists and newspapers don't have to print this garbage to sell papers. The TV media don't have to air such garbage either. Republicans, it's time to stop this nonsense and start doing your jobs in Washington! - Sick of Trump and his cronies
A barb to Monroe school officials and the school board for staff cuts without eliminating administrative jobs. Like corporations elsewhere in America, the workers go and the bosses keep their jobs and their high wages and benefits. - Concerned taxpayer and "no" voter on referendum
A huge blossoms to the lady who bought my coffee at the McDonald's drive-thru (last) Friday. What a surprise to receive such a small act of kindness. It made my day. Acts of kindness: pass it on. It will make someone's day! - Anonymous
A huge barb to Monroe School Superintendent Larry Brown and the whole school board for that matter. Monroe's administrative cost is 8.4 percent, which is above average for the state. The teachers have agreed to an 8 percent cut, and there is absolutely no reason why the administrators can't also share some of the pain with a 10 percent cut in their wages / benefits and /or paying some of their own health care and pension costs. Monroe's highest paid couple of principals are making $132,000 with the lowest making $98,000. If the administrators believe that this is unreasonable, open their jobs up and see how many qualified applicants you will find that that would be willing to work for $80,000-$90,000 in Monroe. As long as you keep the office staff, whom deserve a raise, the school district will keep operating smoothly. Also, instead of using some analysis from the Wis. Taxpayers Alliance, do your own top to bottom revue of the staff and determine which, if any, additional cuts can be made. Comparing Monroe to other school districts is meaningless to me. The school superintendent and school boards job is to determine what "Monroe's" school needs are and which jobs are necessary. By trimming other nonessential costs, more school teachers can be retained as they are the most important people in the school district. - A taxpayer
The students and staff at Parkside School would like to deliver a bouquet of gorgeous blossoms to Studio 906 stylists and fellow Parkside parents, Cheri Sigafus and Carrie Wyss, for providing their hair styling expertise during Monday's school assembly. These wonderful ladies volunteered their time in support of a school-wide effort to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The students' reward for nearly tripling the set goal was to assist our fantastic stylists in the cutting of three staff members' hair. In one week alone, students and staff members collected just shy of $450 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Green County. - Parkside Staff and Students
My barb is I took my child to Recreation Park Tuesday night. My child had to use the restrooms and when I took her in someone put a stroller in the stall and covered it with toilet paper. Then when we were playing I saw that young adults had written their name on the apples that were on the playground toys. And at the park by my house they draw pictures of naughty body parts and write profanity all over, so where are their parents at when all this stuff is happening? - Monroe family
A big bunch of blossoms: On behalf of the Green County Humane Society, we would like to thank everyone who donated items for their recent garage sale and bake sale. A special thank you to Sherri Fiduccia and Monroe Auto for letting us use her display room; the Rent-It Center for helping us with our tables; the two ladies that gave so much of their time to set up, sell, and take down, Vickie Holland and Mary Hamilton; and The Monroe Times, WEKZ, and the Shopping News for all the publicity. Without all of you, none of this would have been possible. The bake sale was a complete success and we would like to say a special thank you for all those who donated to the sale, and especially the "bakers" at Pleasant View nursing home. The GCHS took in almost $2800 from sale, all of which goes to the shelter for the cats and dogs. Thanks to you all. - Geri Bartholf and Kathy Dreikosen
A barb to the fact that respect and common decency for your neighbors and neighborhoods is still lacking. Case in point: I have walked the same route over the years several times a day just north of the Square. It's the quickest route and it's very scenic but what happened to keeping your children in check. It's gotten worse over the years as now you have five, six and seven kids throwings stuff and constantly screaming and yelling all at one location. It's not we're having fun noise, but rather where in the world are the parents and who's watching these kids.I'll take my wife and dog with me along on weekends and she wondered aloud what's going on. I'll be three blocks away sometimes and can still hear them crystal clear. What happened to taking responsibility for your children and showing respect for your fellow neighbors? I taught my children that value like most people do and they have in turn passed that along their children. Not trying to be a jerk but I'm happy I don't have to deal with that all day. - Frank
A blossoms to the amazing number of blossoms today (Saturday, April 30.) While I support everyone's right to write a barb, it was just nice to see so many blossoms to recognize the good in our community. It was a great way to start the day. Thanks. - Thankful
A huge barb to The Monroe Times. Why are comments chosen to be or not to be on the web? Why can someone post irresponsible rants with invalid data, but we can't respond back to that person? If you want to have comments, then let it all go. The Times shouldn't pick and choose which comments are displayed. Get into 2011 and allow for flagging of comments that are not appropriate, but don't pick and choose. I also want to know why fire department related comment strings mysteriously disappeared from the website when they still have active comments being posted. Sounds to me like politics has a role in our local paper and news. What's new! - Angry submitter
A big blossoms to Julie's Bridal Gallery in Monroe. Julie and her staff have turned what was this bride-to-be's nightmare into the most wonderful bridal experience ever. I want to thank you for going above and beyond in making my wedding dress experience a joyful one. No one will be disappointed in the service or friendliness of the staff. Many, many thanks. - Tammy G
A barb to Donald Trump. Why don't you produce your college records and grades? Do you have any to show the public? Why don't you have to prove where you were born? Other presidents never had to prove if they were citizens of the United States, or were questioned and degraded in such a way. My theory for this horrible stunt is an intelligent African-American beat the Republicans, and the Republicans are proving to be very poor losers. What a major backward step has been taken here! Good journalists and newspapers don't have to print this garbage to sell papers. The TV media don't have to air such garbage either. Republicans, it's time to stop this nonsense and start doing your jobs in Washington! - Sick of Trump and his cronies
A barb to Monroe school officials and the school board for staff cuts without eliminating administrative jobs. Like corporations elsewhere in America, the workers go and the bosses keep their jobs and their high wages and benefits. - Concerned taxpayer and "no" voter on referendum
A huge blossoms to the lady who bought my coffee at the McDonald's drive-thru (last) Friday. What a surprise to receive such a small act of kindness. It made my day. Acts of kindness: pass it on. It will make someone's day! - Anonymous
A huge barb to Monroe School Superintendent Larry Brown and the whole school board for that matter. Monroe's administrative cost is 8.4 percent, which is above average for the state. The teachers have agreed to an 8 percent cut, and there is absolutely no reason why the administrators can't also share some of the pain with a 10 percent cut in their wages / benefits and /or paying some of their own health care and pension costs. Monroe's highest paid couple of principals are making $132,000 with the lowest making $98,000. If the administrators believe that this is unreasonable, open their jobs up and see how many qualified applicants you will find that that would be willing to work for $80,000-$90,000 in Monroe. As long as you keep the office staff, whom deserve a raise, the school district will keep operating smoothly. Also, instead of using some analysis from the Wis. Taxpayers Alliance, do your own top to bottom revue of the staff and determine which, if any, additional cuts can be made. Comparing Monroe to other school districts is meaningless to me. The school superintendent and school boards job is to determine what "Monroe's" school needs are and which jobs are necessary. By trimming other nonessential costs, more school teachers can be retained as they are the most important people in the school district. - A taxpayer
The students and staff at Parkside School would like to deliver a bouquet of gorgeous blossoms to Studio 906 stylists and fellow Parkside parents, Cheri Sigafus and Carrie Wyss, for providing their hair styling expertise during Monday's school assembly. These wonderful ladies volunteered their time in support of a school-wide effort to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The students' reward for nearly tripling the set goal was to assist our fantastic stylists in the cutting of three staff members' hair. In one week alone, students and staff members collected just shy of $450 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Green County. - Parkside Staff and Students
My barb is I took my child to Recreation Park Tuesday night. My child had to use the restrooms and when I took her in someone put a stroller in the stall and covered it with toilet paper. Then when we were playing I saw that young adults had written their name on the apples that were on the playground toys. And at the park by my house they draw pictures of naughty body parts and write profanity all over, so where are their parents at when all this stuff is happening? - Monroe family
A big bunch of blossoms: On behalf of the Green County Humane Society, we would like to thank everyone who donated items for their recent garage sale and bake sale. A special thank you to Sherri Fiduccia and Monroe Auto for letting us use her display room; the Rent-It Center for helping us with our tables; the two ladies that gave so much of their time to set up, sell, and take down, Vickie Holland and Mary Hamilton; and The Monroe Times, WEKZ, and the Shopping News for all the publicity. Without all of you, none of this would have been possible. The bake sale was a complete success and we would like to say a special thank you for all those who donated to the sale, and especially the "bakers" at Pleasant View nursing home. The GCHS took in almost $2800 from sale, all of which goes to the shelter for the cats and dogs. Thanks to you all. - Geri Bartholf and Kathy Dreikosen
A barb to the fact that respect and common decency for your neighbors and neighborhoods is still lacking. Case in point: I have walked the same route over the years several times a day just north of the Square. It's the quickest route and it's very scenic but what happened to keeping your children in check. It's gotten worse over the years as now you have five, six and seven kids throwings stuff and constantly screaming and yelling all at one location. It's not we're having fun noise, but rather where in the world are the parents and who's watching these kids.I'll take my wife and dog with me along on weekends and she wondered aloud what's going on. I'll be three blocks away sometimes and can still hear them crystal clear. What happened to taking responsibility for your children and showing respect for your fellow neighbors? I taught my children that value like most people do and they have in turn passed that along their children. Not trying to be a jerk but I'm happy I don't have to deal with that all day. - Frank
