Thumbs up to UW-Rock County, Rotary Gardens, Big Rock plaque
(Published Tuesday, April 3, 2007 11:12:17 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
To UW-Rock County. The campus on Janesville's south side has broken ground on two expansions-an engineering laboratory and the new Allen Hall and related renovations. The school is marking its 40th anniversary, and the projects demonstrate strong support within the community. Area businesses and foundations paid for the engineering lab, which will allow students to earn four-year engineering degrees. Allen Hall will benefit from pledges topping the lofty goal of $1 million. Allen Hall is named after the late Marion Allen, a longtime donor to the school and its students. County taxpayers will pick up most of the $11.2 million tab for the three-phase project after the county board unanimously approved it. The circular Allen Hall will house a new library, the school's biggest lecture hall and a student commons. It should be finished by Jan. 21. The second phase will put student tutoring resources and faculty offices in the space vacated by the current library in the lower level of Andrews Hall. Phase 3 will expand and remodel Hyatt Smith Hall.
To a foster program for dogs and cats. The new Rock County Humane Society program is designed to reduce stress for homeless animals and free up space at the shelter, which is already crowded heading into the typically busy summertime. A limited foster care program previously served mainly pregnant or nursing cats or those with special needs. Placing more cats and dogs in foster homes will make the animals more comfortable and introduce them to families that might later consider adopting them. Meanwhile, the program might help keep more animals from being euthanized because of a lack of space. The crowded conditions reemphasize the need for residents to get their pets spayed and neutered so unwanted pregnancies don't further overwhelm the shelter. For more information about being a foster family, call (608) 752-5622.
To Rotary Gardens. The Janesville botanical gardens have been selected as one of 80 trial gardens for Ball Seed and PanAmerican Seed. That means local gardeners will get sneak previews of annual flower varieties that won't be available until next year. The seed companies are part of the Ball Horticultural company, one of the world's largest horticultural organizations. The companies mainly use universities as trial sites. But they selected Rotary Gardens after director of horticulture Mark Dwyer invited Ball Seed's trials manager to visit. Susan Schmitz was impressed with Dwyer's enthusiasm and the display and care of plants here. This summer, local residents will have even more colorful reasons to visit Rotary Gardens.
To replacing the plaque at Big Rock. In 1958, the Rock County Historical Society installed a plaque atop a stone pedestal at Monterey Rock just east of Janesville's Center Avenue bridge. The plaque told of the site's historical significance. But someone stole it 18 years ago. Now, Adams School third-grade teachers Tiana Borchardt and Donna Erickson have gotten permission from school and city officials to raise money and replace the plaque. They quickly received $500 from Superintendent Tom Evert's discretionary fund and $400 from the Janesville Education Foundation. If they get $500 more, they could add the original raised rifle design. The rock, a large sandstone outcropping, marked a shallow spot where Indians and early settlers could ford the Rock River. The plaque's rifle pointed to the spot across the river where white settlers built the region's first log cabin. Replacing the plaque would emphasize the value of local history for schoolchildren and also be a great lesson in why vandalism is so senseless.
To UW-Rock County. The campus on Janesville's south side has broken ground on two expansions-an engineering laboratory and the new Allen Hall and related renovations. The school is marking its 40th anniversary, and the projects demonstrate strong support within the community. Area businesses and foundations paid for the engineering lab, which will allow students to earn four-year engineering degrees. Allen Hall will benefit from pledges topping the lofty goal of $1 million. Allen Hall is named after the late Marion Allen, a longtime donor to the school and its students. County taxpayers will pick up most of the $11.2 million tab for the three-phase project after the county board unanimously approved it. The circular Allen Hall will house a new library, the school's biggest lecture hall and a student commons. It should be finished by Jan. 21. The second phase will put student tutoring resources and faculty offices in the space vacated by the current library in the lower level of Andrews Hall. Phase 3 will expand and remodel Hyatt Smith Hall.
