Egg Roll Sale!

 

The HCCA Spring Egg Roll Fundraiser is now in full swing, with PREORDERS open until February 28. Walk-in orders are also available.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will directly support:

1. Women's Health & Wellness: Fostering health education and resources for women

2. Sapha Cafe: Elderly Support Group - a community space for the elderly to connect and find support.

3. Hmong New Year 2024: Celebrating our rich cultural heritage and traditions.

4. Niam Tsev Line Dance: Promoting health and social interaction among our community members through dance.

5. Youth Program: Empowering the next generation through education, activities, and mentorship.

HERE ARE THE IMPORTANT DETAILS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
📆 Friday, March 1, 2024 - 11:00AM-6:00PM
📆 Saturday, March 2, 2024 - 11:00AM-6:00PM

• Vegetable/Dozen $22.00
• Pork/Dozen $24.00

📍 LOCATION: 1815 Ward Ave. La Crosse, WI 54601. Walk-Ins Welcome (possible wait time)

To place your orders, scan the QR Code on the poster, and it will guide you to the order form.

Here is the link: https://forms.office.com/r/tnhcgPWHhw?origin=lprLink

Please ensure that all pre-orders are completed by February 28, 2024, at 8:00PM.

You can choose to pay online using Venmo. The payment links/QR Code will be provided at the end of the order form.

For those preferring to pay by check, please make it payable to HCCA. You can mail in your checks or drop them off by February 28, 2024.

Cash payments will also be accepted in person on the day of the event.

If you require more than 10 Dozens/party orders, please contact the organizers directly:
📞 608-781-5744

Climate and parking ramps

First, Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m. at 401 West Ave. South (also accessible online). Learn more at their website. 

AND

Next, just say NO to another UWL parking ramp on March 5 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

In the pipeline for several years, the
proposed new 550-car structure will invite even more people to drive their cars to campus and do nothing to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Things are changing now with the fantastic new Sustainability Coordinator, but UWL has not done nearly enough over the past decades to hatch a comprehensive, long-term plan to reduce its overall carbon emissions. Transportation is a big part of the problem and needs to be part of the solution.

Their decision to remove the popular MTU route through campus many years ago still stands out as one of the most anti-climate moves in history. Ridership dropped when service was relegated to the edges of campus and has not recovered to this day. The wonderful UPass program which lets UWL students ride the MTU with their ID as a pass has not been pushed or well advertised. There is no transportation demand management plan or transportation advising that could help faculty and staff consider other options than driving and parking on campus. Most UWL communications about events and programs say nothing about taking the bus or encouraging car-pooling. Their only transportation information is how to pay for parking.

Now they want to convert what is currently a half-block sized surface parking lot to a 550-car structure. Millions of dollars to store cars when similar million-dollar facilities sit barely used just a 10 minute bus ride away in downtown La Crosse.

Even adding a parking ramp will probably not solve the problem until more people learn to use other transportation means. The buses (local and the regional SMRT) still go to campus. You can bike there. You can car pool to a park and ride lot. Until all other options are exhausted, this ramp should not be approved. And, studies show that when more parking is available, more people will drive!

Of course, this parking won't be free and the University will get quite a chunk of change on the taxpayer-funded facility. Could it be they are looking at parking as a revenue stream? I don't know. If so, we might think of these things as Car CAFOs with similar harms to the environment.

(Actually, what we need more of in our community is PEOPLE parking. Imagine if instead of building a car parking ramp, the city (this used to be part of a city residential block) built a multi-story 300 (or so)-person small apartment building here?)

The University needs a zoning variance to build its new car hotel. Be a climate activist and attend the next Judiciary and Advisory committee meeting at 6 p.m. on March 5 at City Hall and register or speak on item #24-0069 (get there by 5:50 if you want to speak). Put the brakes on more unneeded parking infrastructure!

Every decision made now to encourage more people to drive more cars is a wrong decision. Stop a new parking ramp and make UWL take real climate action.

Events coming soon

Several events coming up in the next couple of weeks. Please participate if you can!

First, RSVP BY FEBRUARY 23! for the March 8 Empower Women Summit!

Join together for a day of inspiring keynote speakers, including Wisconsin Secretary of State, Sarah Godlewski, interactive workshops, and panel discussions with multiple ticket options to participate. Special rates are available for groups.

For more information and to register, please visit: https://givebutter.com/EWS24

 

AND

On February 29, UWL Celebrates Black History Month with Keynote Panelists: Dr. Richard Breaux and Sergeant Nicole Miller

Lunch is provided starting at 11:00 AM | Program will begin at around 11:25 AM 

Program will be held at the UWL Student Union.

In honor of Black History Month, celebrate the remarkable journeys of two distinguished individuals within the UWL community. Moderated by Caleb Colon-Rivera, this event will feature an engaging discussion with esteemed panelists, Dr. Richard Breaux and Sergeant Nicole Miller.

Dr. Richard Breaux, a renowned scholar and educator, has made significant contributions to academia and beyond. With a career spanning decades, Dr. Breaux has been instrumental in shaping the academic landscape, mentoring countless students, and advocating for social justice.

Sergeant Nicole Miller brings her unique perspective as a dedicated law enforcement officer and community leader. Through her service and commitment, Sergeant Miller has demonstrated resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to serving others.

During this event, we will delve into the personal and professional experiences of Dr. Breaux and Sergeant Miller. From their career milestones to the challenges they've overcome, attendees will gain insights into their remarkable achievements and the impact they've had on our UWL community.

With a focus on celebrating their time at UWL, we will explore how Dr. Breaux and Sergeant Miller have shaped our campus culture, inspired others, and paved the way for future generations. Join us as we honor their legacies and celebrate the rich diversity and excellence within our community.

Registration available here

AND

International Women's Day Celebration

The International Women’s Day Committee invites members of the La Crosse community and beyond to join in a celebration of International Women’s Day. The celebration will consist of panelists from around the world discussing on how women are celebrated in their country as well as their experiences in both their home country and the U.S.. After the panelists speak, time will be set aside for questions from the audience.

International Women’s Day is celebrated in countries around the world each year on March 8th. The theme for the 2024 International Women's Day is #InspireInclusion. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion. Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity. IWD belongs to everyone, everywhere. Inclusion means all IWD action is valid.

Community members are encouraged to strike the IWD #InspireInclusion pose and email the selfie to international@uwlax.edu. We'll be posting selfies on the International Women's Day social media.

Sponsoring organizations include the AAUW La Crosse, the League of Women Voters of La Crosse Area, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, the Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse, Viterbo University, YWCA, and the International Women’s Group.

AND

On Saturday, March 9, join Enduring Families Project founders Rebecca Mormann Krieger and Denise Christy Moss to learn about the Black Women's Literary and Debating Society in the 19th Century. 

Rebecca and Denise will share the history of the organization in La Crosse and of their current work with the Enduring Families Project. Debating Society programs drew the Black community to La Crosse to celebrate what was yet to happen in this country, meet and share their stories, and find marriage partners.

From 10 to 10:30 a.m., enjoy a brunch catered by Mia's Kitchen. The program begins at 10:30  at the Viterbo University School of Nursing Room 195 (10th and Jackson). The cost for the brunch is $12. RSVP by March 1 by emailing Richards.Rob2@Eagle.uwlax.edu

 

Natural, Wild, and Free - Aldo Leopold Week

"Perhaps such a shift of values can be achieved by reappraising things unnatural, tame, and confined in terms of things natural, wild and free." 

Aldo Leopold ended the foreword to A Sand County Almanac with this quote in March of 1948. His collection of essays reveals what "natural, wild, and free" meant to him back then. But what does it mean to us today?

Join the Aldo Leopold Foundation March 1-8 for Leopold Week 2024 to explore this question and discover how you can more deeply connect to the land community. With one click of "Save my spot," you will be registered for all eight of these free, virtual speaker sessions.

Learn more and register for the virtual speaker series at the website www.aldoleopold.org/news-and-events/leopold-week

Replays of each event will be available to registrants after the live program.

In the La Crosse area, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The Refuge’s beginning came nine years before conservationist Aldo Leopold published his first textbook, Game Management, which transformed how conservation leaders thought about wildlife management and land stewardship. Growing alongside these evolving ideas, the Refuge has seen many seasons of change throughout these decades!

Celebrate this milestone anniversary and honor Leopold’s enduring legacy with a series of FREE events in the La Crosse area. Registration is not required.

The Visitor Center doors will open at 11:45 p.m.

12:00 p.m. presentation: “Fins, feathers and firebrands: 100 years of conservation on the Upper Mississippi River Refuge.” Come learn about the passionate and vocal visionaries who influenced the Refuge’s creation, major events which shaped its physical and social landscape, and how you can help shape the next 100 years to come!

1:00 p.m. presentation: “Prairie gardening 101: how to add beauty to your yard or public space” by Dr. Melinda Knutson. Join retired US Fish and Wildlife Service regional wildlife biologist and conservation planner, Dr. Melinda Knutson, to discover why we care about prairies, how you can get involved in local conservation efforts, and tips and tricks for adding native prairie and savanna plants to your garden at home!

2:00 p.m. Guided winter plant walk: Join a Refuge Ranger for a short walk on the prairie to learn about common native prairie plants in their winter condition! We’ll walk about a 1/2 mile along an unplowed paved trail. Please come dressed in warm layers for the weather!

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Native plant giveaway and native seed planting: One of the best ways we can help wildlife of all kinds is to grow native plants! Stop by anytime between noon and 2:30 p.m. to pick up a wild bergamot or butterfly milkweed starter plant to take home. From 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., we’ll have soil, pots, and seeds available for visitors who’d like to drop in to plant their own seed to take home. These recently planted seeds can be transplanted into a backyard garden or larger plant pot later in the spring.

This programming is the result of a partnership with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy and the Friends of the Refuge – Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8. PLANTS WILL BE AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, please limit 2 plants per person.

Check out more free activities in the La Crosse area!

The Nature Place in La Crosse will host free family activities between 9:30 -11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2. Activities will include games, crafts, scavenger hunts, and a visit with some of their live animals.

The D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics at Viterbo University will host a virtual presentation from environmental activist, Doug Tallamy, on Tuesday evening March 5 at 7 p.m. on their Facebook page - https://www.viterbo.edu/db-reinhart-institute-ethics-leadership/lecture-series. Doug Tallamy is a professor, author, and renowned speaker who will address challenges within our ecosystems with solutions such as reducing lawn, planting natives, and removing invasive species.

These La Crosse community events are planned each year by representatives of local environmental and conservation organizations.

Why I mask

Except in my comfy bubble on Twitter, most people I know have given up wearing masks to avoid COVID. I don't know if they're embarrassed to wear a mask, think we're over COVID, don't care if they get it, or what. 

I know - we have vaccines and COVID is less dramatically deadly (though it IS still killing people - per the NYT, more than 2,200 Americans during the first week of January). But the vaccines are only about 54% effective against symptomatic infections, you can still get and spread it if you are vaccinated, the virus continues to change, and there are many other health consequences no one seems to be considering.

After waking up from at least two car-caused bike crashes (and one actual car crash) with no memory of what happened to this day, I now wear a helmet when riding my bike. I wear a seat belt to avoid expensive, debilitating car crash injuries or death. I quit smoking to avoid health and financial disasters in my later life. I wash my hands, take bone-supporting vitamins, and try to avoid dangerous chemicals and contaminants in food. And, I wear a mask when in public to avoid getting and spreading COVID.

Here's why.

1. Every time someone gets COVID, the virus has an opportunity to mutate into something more contagious, more dangerous, more resistant to medical interventions. We need fewer walking incubators, so I wear a mask.

2. The list of damages even a mild case of COVID can cause continues to grow, with even worse outcomes for those who get it more than once. Here are a few, in no particular order:

• The risk of new-onset dementia after Covid in older adults (age 60+) from a systematic review of 11 studies vs controls is ~60% increased; after severe Covid, a 17-fold increased risk; shows up at 6 months, according to a new paper being prepared for The Lancet (quoting a tweet from Dr. Eric Topol)
• Almost every system in the body can be affected, sometimes permanently
• The virus remains in your body ("zombie COVID") and can cause other issues later on
• Babies born to infected mothers have a high risk of respiratory difficulties and issues with neurodevelopmental changes
• 
  
  Children who get long COVID may be in for a lifetime of struggles. Plus vascular trauma.
• Fit, healthy, vaccinated young adults with mild COVID are experiencing many reinfections and long COVID
• COVID has reproductive health consequences
• COVID is still particularly dangerous for elders who may have more underlying health conditions and fewer resources to access medical care
• Oh yes, I forgot this one. Twenty percent of COVID patients develop mental illness within 90 days according to a 2020 Oxford University study
• And accelerated biological aging in COVID patients

3. The health and financial effects on families and especially on children and their future adult selves can be terrible (as if trying to figure out how to survive on a burning planet won't be challenging enough).  

4. Long COVID. While vaccinations reduce one's risk of getting long COVID, who, really, wants to roll those dice, especially with medical costs (and bankruptcies) rising and health systems in many communities breaking down? Do I want to spend the last years of my life wracked with pain or in a brain-fog or unable to function? I do not. 

• Long COVID neurological consequences
• Severe muscle damage
• Extreme quality of life impairment
• Similarities to chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis or HIV or brain injury

5. Fellow humans. If we can make life safer and healthier for ourselves and others, why wouldn't we? Our actions are truly our only possessions.

I follow the experts. Dr. Eric Topol has free regular updates. Dr. Eric Ding on Twitter shares updates and studies. Dr. Rae Duncan is a doc & researcher with first-hand experience in what's happening. 

Good masks (not those silly blue things) are not expensive and can be used several times. Check out the Mask Nerd for advice if you are re-thinking your mask-free life. 

Viterbo programs

Ho-Chunk: From a Tribe to a Nation. Monday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Viterbo Nursing Center, Room 196.

And

Black Music History is American Music History. February 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Viterbo Nursing Center, Room 196.

Online learning - Black History Month

If you missed the Feb. 4 screening of The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks hosted by AARP Wisconsin for Transit Equity Day, you can stream the award-winning film on Peacock (free trial period if you don't have a subscription). Her vital role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott is really the tip of the iceberg. This incredible woman is a role model for us all.

Speaking of Transit Equity Day, watch the national livestream today from 11 to 1 from the Labor Network for Sustainability.

Stream this Academy Award-nominated documentary, directed by Raoul Peck, free using the public library's Hoopla Digital app. "I Am Not Your Negro envisions the book James Baldwin never finished, a radical narration about race in America, using the writer’s original words, as read by actor Samuel L. Jackson. Alongside a flood of rich archival material, the film draws upon Baldwin’s notes on the lives and assassinations of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. to explore and bring a fresh and radical perspective to the current racial narrative in America."

Learn more about and take a diy walking tour of Black history in our own area with the Enduring Families Project. This fantastic local group provides an inter-woven two-part venture exploring the local history of African-Americans and other non-white settlers. 

PBS has a full line up of documentaries, interviews, and events, including 

• The Cost of Inheritance - Considering Reparations 
• Racist Trees - landscaping as a barrier
• Biographies about Zora Neale Hurston, Carter G.Woodson, and more.

Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. explore the history of the African American fight for freedom during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods with historians Edda Fields-Black and James Oakes. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Register here for Zoom access.

If you haven't seen Summer of Soul, the 2021 Questlove  documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, watch it right now. You can stream it on Hulu (also, free trial if needed). And then, watch The Making of Summer of Soul on the public documentary app Canopy.

Another Constitution Center webinar on February 20 at 11 a.m. will examine the Center's exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality. Register here.

On February 28 at noon, a panel of historians and archivists will discuss Freedman’s Village, a community of formerly enslaved African Americans established in 1863 on the Arlington, VA, estate previously owned by the family of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. This is a free National Archives Foundation webinar. Register here.

Look forward to UWL's annual Reflections of Ebony event, too. More details when posted.

The Rebellious LIfe of Mrs. Rosa Parks

 

February 4 is Rosa Parks' birthday. And, since 2018,  it's also Transit Equity Day, when we remember Rosa Parks' work within a large, historic movement to end discrimination, not just on Montgomery buses, but across the south and, eventually, across the whole country. That movement provides inspiration, a model, and lessons for today's work to increase access and equity in public transportation. 

The AARP will host a free screening of the Peabody Award-winning film, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks at the Rivoli on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. While the film is free, you must register in advance at tinyurl.com/AARP-RosaFilm or by calling 877-926-8300. [NOTE: We were given an incorrect number originally, but this number is correct.]

Following the film, there will be a panel discussion about transit equity in La Crosse. This will be the last event of this year's local transit equity days events.

On Monday, February 5, the Labor Network for Sustainability will host a national livestream with transit advocates and professionals and elected leaders from around the country from 11 a.m. 1o 1 p.m. at their Facebook page,