Our next meeting will be Friday at CUW - Friends of Concordia room. Our program will feature Jason Nickels from the Mequon Nature Preserve who will be speaking on bird migration. For Jason's bio click here.

Message from Jennifer: The Community Services committee will be meeting immediately after our Rotary meeting this Friday, April 8th from 8:00-8:15am. We hope those on the committee will be able to attend!

The greeter will provide either the thought, Rotary minute or anything they would like to share to start off the day positive.

Upcoming "It's your Rotary moment" assignees:

• Lynn Streeter (4/8)
• Jennifer Sutherland (4/15)

Note: If you are unable to to act as "It's your Rotary moment" assignee when scheduled please arrange for your replacement.

Spreading throughout Mequon - Thiensville, teasel grows in tall, barbed stalks, blooming with purple and white thistle flowers in Summer.

Sinking deep taproots into the soil, teasel depletes land of nutrients and crowds out native plants, disrupts ecosystems, diminishes native plant diversity and destroys food and habitats for birds and wildlife.

Eliminating teasel is a multiple-year effort regardless of treatment, since seeds persist in the soil for several years. Getting a control on teasel now, will greatly benefit the region in years to come.

What: Teasel Take-Out Day
Where: Oriole Lane School
When: Saturday, April 23, 2016 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Note: Dress right for conditions

Mequon voters choose familiar faces in re-electing mayor, aldermen
By Jeff Rumage

Mequon - Mequon Mayor Dan Abendroth and 1st District Alderman Rob Strzelczyk emerged victorious on Election Day despite a strong challenge from newcomers.

Abendroth won a second three-year term to the city's top job with 52 percent of the vote, staving off a challenge from college professor Aaron Armstrong. Abendroth previously served as 1st District alderman for 27 years.

Strzelczyk won a second term in office, beating challenger Ed Soleski with 59 percent of the vote.

"I'm thrilled to serve another term," Strzelczyk said. "I grew up in Mequon, and I've been involved in Mequon my entire life. This is a complete honor for me to serve my community in this role."

Both Soleski and Armstrong criticized the incumbents for the city's growth, the Mequon Town Center development, the use of tax incremental finance districts and the expansion of sewer into rural areas. They were among the candidates who took up the Republican Party of Ozaukee County's call to run against incumbents. Soleski said the incumbents are out of touch with their constituents.

"I was running against the insider's club and they want to keep their power structure," Soleski said. "They are changing the character of Mequon."

While the mayoral and 1st District races were heated, the race for the 4th District aldermanic district was more congenial. Former 4th District Alderman John Wirth received 68 percent of the vote in his race against political newcomer Janette Braverman, whom he credited with a clean, positive campaign.

Wirth will rejoin the council after not seeking re-election three years ago. Wirth took a more moderate stance than Soleski and Armstrong regarding the Mequon Town Center and development in general.

"In some ways I agreed with their positions, and in other cases I disagreed with their positions," he said of the challengers. "I think I add to the council by asking questions."

Braverman made history as the first African-American female to run for public office in Mequon. She said running for office was a positive experience, even if it was unsuccessful.

"I think we as a city were not ready for change," she said. "It was a memorable experience. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people and great leaders."

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog. ~ Harry S. Truman