The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 19

Inside Deaths Classified Weather C3 C4 CIO E-mail: citydeskmadison.com City editor: Chris Murphy 252-6420 Assistant city editor Mary Yeater Rathbun 252-6484 The Capital Times Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006 Co-ops gaining in popularity in several towns More people seek organic foods By Karyn Saemann Correspondent for The Capital Times For 18 months, it has been McFarlands hotspot of liberalism. We have a lot of progressive meetings here, said Tim Tynan, owner of the News Brews coffeehouse and book shop that opened in April 2005 at 4840 Larson Beach Road. Of the two Madison daily newspapers, only The Capital Times is sold at News Brews. And the coffee and everything you might put in it from steamed milk to chocolate is entirely organic.

Tynan said it quickly became clear that his regular customers are the same kind of people who would go into a natural food co-op. Many already belong to established natural grocers like Madisons Willy Street Co-op. Some are heavily involved in the local farmers markets. Many of them are looking for organic, or at least ethical, food items, Tynan said. Tynan and his wife are also big advocates of the Slow Food Movement, an international effort to safeguard the link between culture and food and to discourage the global blurring of tastes by mass marketing.

Last spring, Tynan asked customers to sign a clipboard if they might be interested in forming a grocery coop in McFarland. Five-hundred signatures later, the idea took flight. This summer, 55 respondents to a community survey backed the notion. At an Oct. 1 organizational dinner, 29 people paid either $55 for an individual membership or $90 for a family one.

Three more have since joined, for a total of 32; Tynan said talk of a storefront can begin if membership reaches 50. Applications are available at his store and at other village businesses. At this pace, Tynan said a storefront could be a reality by early 2007. About a dozen McFarland residents have already formed a buyers club, a loose version of a co-op without a storefront. They purchase organic products in bulk through the coffee shops distributor and pick them up at News Brews.

See CO-OPS, Back Page PHOTOS BY HENRY A. KOSHOLLEKTHE CAPITAL TIMES Becky Rehl, manager of the Trillium Natural Foods Community Co-op In Mount Horeb, says, I think there is more consciousness that it really does matter where our food comes from, and how far It has come. There Is also an Increasing awareness that it really does matter what you put in your body. School food rules I eased a bit Vending machines, stores OK if choices are healthy By Susan Troller The Capital Times With candy banned and vending machines forbidden, its no secret that the Madison Metropolitan School Districts new wellness policy is causing a few headaches for students. But after some policy tweaks at Monday nights School Board meet- ing, vending machines that pass muster for approved foods and beverages will be back in business during the lunch hour at Madison high schools, beginning immediately.

Before Mondays changes, all vending machines, even those selling approved foods like milk, yogurt and healthy snacks, were off limits except before or after school, in part to encourage student use of the districts food service. I think this is a great compromise, noted West High senior Joe Carlsmith, the student representative to the board. It will be a relief to students who prefer grabbing something to eat from a machine rather than standing in line for prepared meals sold through the districts food service, Carlsmith noted. School stores, operated by student marketing clubs, will be allowed to sell approved snacks and beverages during meal times, provided that they are not doing so in the cafeteria and thus in direct competition with the prepared food service meals. School Board member Lawrie Kobza, who is the mother of an East High student, said the primary purpose of the new and far-reaching wellness policy, enacted after extensive study last year, was to encourage better student health and diet, not protect the bottom line for the food services budget.

The purpose of the wellness policy should be the health of the students," she said. But Superintendent Art Rainwater cautioned that its also important in a time of budget cuts and funding shortfalls to recognize the financial pres- See RULES, Page C2 Justices to be asked to shun Green case By Ryan J. Foley Associated Press The state Department of Justice will ask the Wisconsin Supreme Court not to step into a politically charged case to decide whether Republican Mark Greens gubernatorial campaign must give up $468,000 in donations. Mike Bauer, administrator of the Justice Departments Legal Services Division, said today that the Justice Department would argue that the standards for the states highest court to take the case have not been met. Green should first appeal the circuit courts decision to a state appeals court and, if unsuccessful, then ask the Supreme Court to take it, Bauer said.

Green withdrew the case from circuit court and asked the Supreme Court to take it as a new case. I find that to be an affront to the judicial system," Bauer said. Green's lawyers petitioned the high court to overturn an Aug. 30 state Elections Board order requiring the campaign to dump contributions from political action committees not registered in Wisconsin. The boards decision has come under severe criticism from Green and his allies, who contend it was a politically motivated attempt to weaken his campaign against Democratic Gov.

Jim Doyle. A Dane County circuit judge upheld the order last month after Green sued to try to block it. Greens appeal to the high court bypasses an appeals court in an attempt to have the matter settled before the Nov. 7 election. Bauer said the Justice Department would file its objection this week.

Four of the seven justices would have to agree to hear the case, which would be its first review of an Elec- See GREEN, Page C2 Tim Tynan (left), owner of News Brews In McFarland, features organic products, including coffee. At Trillium Natural Foods in Mount Horeb, shoppers can choose from a variety of natural foods (right). Bike trail wont get paved for 2 years Budget cuts hamper 6-mile stretch By Maureen Backman Correspondent for The Capital Times FITCHBURG Due to minimal funding for bicycle projects in Wisconsins transportation enhancement budget, a six-mile stretch of the Badger State Trail between Madison and Fitchburg will not be paved for two years. We feel left high and dry in the state transportation budget, said Fitchburg Aid. Steve Arnold.

Arnold along with Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, Rep. Terese Ber-ceau, D-Madison, Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Verona, and Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Executive Director Dar Ward expressed concern over lack of state funding for bicycle projects at a press conference Monday. Black said the 2005-07 budget for the Department of Transportation was an unfortunate decision by the state able to attract tourists and bicyclists by enhancing their trails, he said, meaning Wisconsin is falling behind.

We could be a star in this regard, he said. Black said he plans to hold several more press conferences around the state to gather support for the projects. In Fitchburg, Arnold said he is working with Aid. Andy Potts to put out press releases advocating more funding for the Badger State Trail, and might put a resolution before the City Council. streets" and thus preventing crime, according to Arnold.

The trail would also connect the neighborhood to employment and entertainment centers to the south, enabling residents to find jobs. This in so many ways affects our quality of life, Arnold said. In addition to the paving of the Badger State Trail, Black said lack of state funding will also hinder completion of the Fitchburg Bicycle Hub and phase one of the Cannonball Trail. I think these losses are very foolish and mistaken, he said. Were not talking about taxpayer money.

This is federal government money. Black said Wisconsin has a history of failing to support bicycle projects, adding he first introduced legislation 18 years ago. Other states have been Legislature that devastated the state's bicycle projects. The budget totaled $5.8 billion, but transportation enhancements amounted to less than 0.2 percent of that budget. Black said the Legislature agreed to take away 70 percent from the bicycle fund, leaving 92 projects unfunded.

According to Arnold, the completion of the Badger State Trail is integral for Fitchburg and the Allied Drive neighborhood. The 6-mile stretch begins at Lovell Road in the Allied Drive area and runs to Sun Valley Parkway near Fitchburg. Arnold said this is the most popular trail in the state, with visitors per year. The Allied neighborhood wants to see the completion of the trail because it brings visitors to the neighborhood, creating more eyes for the Joint black, Latino advocacy urged keeping us apart? Where can we work together? he asked. Juan Jose Lopez, an activist in the local Latino community, said that a past effort to harness the political influence the two communities, The Black-Brown Roundtable," faltered on personality conflicts among its leaders.

Communities United members are planning a retreat" late this year or early 2007 to explore differences between the two groups and how to overcome them. I think we definitely need to do this, and who is setting the example is our kids," Lopez said. I hope we can learn from them." Among adults, lapses in cooperation are glaring, such as the presence of only two Latino leaders at the annual NAACP banquet last Friday, he said. Stacy Harbaugh, American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin community advocate for the Madison area, said despite tension and fighting among the races in some local schools, youth who get it bridge the gap in a way that doesnt happen in the adult community. She encouraged the group to focus on emerging leaders from the two communities, instead of engaging the usual suspects.

E-mail psctineidermadison com By Pat Schneider The Capital Times Madisons Communities United is calling for joint political advocacy by local African-American and Latino communities. Its veiy important for us to work together," said activist Eamestine Moss, a co-chair of Communities United, at the groups monthly meeting on Monday. Our paths have been crossing for generations. Its time to stop these scapegoat tactics that keep us divided, she said. The group, dedicated to cooperative relations among citys racial, ethnic and social justice groups, sponsored a Saturday strategy session that was poorly attended by African-Americans, Moss said.

But those present on Saturday identified anti-immigrant legislation, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and a death penalty referendum as divisive and racist initiatives of the sort that the communities should ban together to fight. Since the leadership of the African-American community has not come forth, it will take a lot to get the players to the table, Moss said. Sol Carranza, president of Latinos United for Change and Advancement, LUChA, mused over why the two ethnic groups were not already working together more effectively. What are the perceptions that are i A nr 1.