The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 2

2A The Capital Times Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003 Doug Moe The Talk Poet celebrates 35 years in city at in Chicago and when asked where he grew up generally replies, Elsewhere.) He hadnt been back in 25 years but not only did Tuschen graduate from Columbus High, he was class president. In the manner of free spirits everywhere, Tuschen made a sign Columbus" and stood on the comer of State and Johnson with his thumb out. The young science major who picked him up was headed for Waterloo but so. charmed was he by the poet that he took him to the front door of the Columbus Country Club and flatly refused the 10-spot Tuschen offered in thanks.

It was after Frank Hilgenberg refused the $10 to impersonate the poet on West Gilman Street all those years ago that Tuschen first limbed on a Madison stage. He said this week that tonight at Avols hell read some of the early stuff, perhaps opening with 1970s Hitch Boston Hike Toronto and the Folks in Between They All Call Me Tonto, about his encounter with some northern rednecks in a bar in upstate New York, working his way to the new poemis his passion insists he keep writing. On the night of the first reading all those years ago, as Tuschens voice slowly grew more assured, a man in the audience named Felix Pollack, a UW librarian and poet, turned to his friend Larry Giles, himself a doctor and poet, and pointed at the stage. Now theres a poet, Pollack said. saved by his humor and sense of the absurd.

It was in that spirit he recently shared the stoiy of wandering into a Madison used book store and finding one of his poetry collections for sale for $250, and on inquiring why the volume was so expensive, being told the poet was dead. Fortunately there is a small but fanatic cult around the world that values Tuschens work in 1999, a major online journal, Poetic Voices, devoted 7,000 pages to the man and his poems. Not long ago he sent me a note recounting his efforts to get a Wisconsin Arts Board grant application filed before the deadline. Not surprisingly, Tuschen had waited until the last minute and found himself on lower State Street needing to get to the Capitol Square in less than three minutes. There were no buses.

But then a man pulling a rickshaw with a bicycle came around the comer and the poet flagged him down. Can you get me to the Square fast? Hop in, the rickshaw guy said. They beat the deadline. It was around this tune last year that Tuschen received an invitation to his 35th Columbus High School class reunion. (He was bom work, in 1985 Tonight at 7:30 p.m., in the same West Gilman Street building now Avols Books Tuschen will celebrate the 35th anniversary of his first Madison poetry reading with what promises to be a memorable evening of poems, perhaps some songs, and just maybe even a question and answer session with the poet.

Tuschen still much prefers to duck out the back door after a reading, but now, after 35 years, thousands of poems and some 700 readings from Paris to Toronto, he thinks it might be time to share a little bit. Too many in Madison may still need an introduction to Tuschen, who served as the citys official poet laureate from 1977 to 2000. People will always be able to name three local TV weather forecasters before identifying a local poet, even the citys laureate. Tuschen was so named by Mayor Paul Soglin, who remains a friend, at an early Isthmus anniversary party. A few years ago Tuschen passed the title to Andrea Musher.

Tuschen today remains, first and always, an artist, living on State Street, writing his poems, sometimes forgetting to pay the electric bill but ever defiant, with even the worst days John Tuschen, hard THIRTY-FIVE years ago this month a group of Madison poets and musicians and artists got together for an arts shindig downtown and chose for the location a womens center in the 200 block of West Gilman Street. The night of the event, Frank Hilgenberg, a UW student from Kaukauna, found himself seated next to a skinny and scared looking kid who seemed to be fervently wishing he was someplace else. Hilgenberg was a fledgling actor, a year or two away from helping found Broom Street Theater and acting in Stuart Gordon's notorious and partially nude production of Peter Pan at the Memorial Union. Whats the matter? Hilgenberg said. It turned out the kid was a poet, and scheduled to read some of his poetry that night.

This would be his frnst Madison reading. Now he was nervous and wondering why he had agreed to do it. The kid was prone to stuttering anyway and finally he said to Hilgenberg, Ill give you 10 if you go up there and say youre me. Hilgenberg, who today runs a successful theater company in Orlando, wouldnt hear of it. So when the time came the kid shuffled to the stage.

I was shaking in my boots," John Tuschen was recalling Wednesday. Heard something Moe should know? Call 252-6446, write PO Box 8060, Madison, Wl 53708, or e-mail dmoemadison com. jjCEUBIMnONSlI Announcements and events in and around the Madison area Celebration of Wilderness: featuring Walkin Jim Stoltz multi-media show, 7:30 p.m., Folklore Village, County BB between Ridgeway and Dodgeville. $12, $10 for members. 924-4000.

Aldo Leopold Fall Fest: seventh annual celebration, 5-8 p.m., Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 300 Femnte Drive, rain or shine. $15 nonmembers or $30 per family. 221-4038. Musician Sting turns 52 today. HILDREN For a listing of births and deaths for the past week, see www capti-mes com.

I ldla.SH I MERITER HOSPITAL BOBB, Knstine and Bruce, Madison, a daughter, Sept. 1. KALSCHEUR, Kelly and Dale, Mount Horeb, a son, Sept. 2. MAERZ, Tammy and Chad, Sun Prairie, a daughter, Sept.

1. PARKER, Holly and Toby, Verona, a daughter, Sept. 30. ST. MARYS HOSPITAL HANNA, Olga and Simon, Milton, a daughter, Oct.

1. HOUGHTON, Tma, and DECORAH, Justin, Baraboo, a daughter, Oct. 1. LOVELAND, Mr. and Mrs.

Daniel, Montello, a daughter, Oct. 1. READ, Jen and Joe, Verona, a son, Oct. 1. ROTT, Jennifer and Matthew, Stoughton, a daughter, Sept.

30. RUSCH, Jennifer and Timothy, Sun Prairie, a son, Oct. 1. SCHAEFFER, Dans and Timothy, Stoughton, a son, Sept. 30.

Mother-infant visiting hours are set by mothers at both hospitals. Fathers, grandparents and siblings may visit any time at both i i Kids events at Sequoya Branch Library: 9:30 a.m. drop-in preschool story time; 10:30 a.m. story and craft time, 513 S. Midvale Blvd.

266-6385. Toddler Story and Stroll: 10-11 a.m., Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave. Today is the 275th day of 2003 and the 10th day of autumn. TODAYS HISTORY: On this day in 1870, Rome became the capital of Italy. On this day in 1950, the comic strip Peanuts appeared for the first time.

i3- I Stoughton Health Fair: flu shots and important health screenings, 1 :30 a.m., Stoughton Area Senior Center, 248 W. Main St. 873-8585. i Where folklore rules On this day in 1967, Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first black associate justice to the U.S. Supreme Court.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), pacifist; Julius Groucho Marx (1890-1977), comedian; Graham Greene (1904-1991), author; Rex Reed (1938-), critic, is 65; Donna Karan (1948-), designer, is 55; Sting (Gordon Sumner) (1951-), musician, is 52; TODAYS SPORTS: On this day in 1947, The Federation Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA) formally established Formula One racing in Grand Prix competition. TODAYS QUOTE: Outside of a dog, a book is mans best friend. Inside of a dog its too dark to read. Groucho Marx TODAYS MOON: First quarter (Oct. 2).

I I Badgers in Training Day: free soccer clmic for kids, visit with womens soccer coach Dean Duerst and team players, presentation by team physician Kathleen Carr, 7:30 p.m., McClimon Complex, 700 Walnut St. $5 for adults, free for those 18 and under. Schoolchildren make their way to the entrance of Dodgevilles Folklore Village, where activities run the gamut from traditional craft exhibits to ethnic dances. On Friday, visitors will be entertained by Walkin Jim Stoltzs Celebration of Wilderness multimedia show. See Celebrations item in todays Friday listings.

RMlSCELLANEOUStti Tonight MNTEOTAINMENTfli WllSCEUANEOUSHi Redlining screening: Dan Bandas documentary exploring race realities from central Mexico to Milwaukee in advance of Oct. 14 airing on Wisconsin Public Television, 7 p.m., Catacombs Coffeehouse, 713 State St. 262-7546. Btenney locks BARNET, William 58, Sun PrairieGrand Forks, N.D., Sept. 30.

ENGELKE, Marion 78, Belmont, Oct. 1. GEISLER, James 88, Madison, Sept. 30. JOYCE, Patneia 72, Portage, Sept.

30. MERGEN, Rosemary 74, Plat-teville, Sept. 30. MORGAN, Margaret 92, Gratiot, Sept. 30.

SCHEPP, Janean Rae, 46, Milwaukee, Sept. 17. SYTH, Amy Sharpies, Sun Prairie, Sept. 29. TETZLAFF, Geraldine E.

Gerry, 71, Columbus, Sept. 30. TYLER, Francis 89, Madison, Sept. 28. WAHL, Helen 95, Lodi, Sept.

27. WATERS, Leon J. Jim, 62, Madison, Oct. 1. WITTMAN, Wilma 83, Madison, Sept.

27. YONASH, Violet 94, Blue River, Sept. 30. IPUBUC MEETINGSm World Dairy Expo: Alliant Energy Center, through Saturday, $6 daily entrance fee includes parking. Tonights highlights: National Dairy Shnne reception and banquet, 5:30 p.m.; World Ayrshire event sale, 7 p.m.

255-2537 or www.visitmadison.com. Parental Stress Center volunteers: Volunteers age 18 or over needed to help with child care on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays p.m. and to assist on the 24-hour Parental Stressline. 241-4888. Madison Chapter, Council of Independent Restaurants of America: launch meeting for new local chapter, p.m., Quiv-ey's Grove, 6261 Nesbitt Road.

$15. 273-4900. Friday dle School, 1717 Fish Hatchery Road. Special education teachers and assistants will be recognized. 250-6634, Ext.

110. Suburban Town of Middleton Board of Review: 6:30 p.m., Town Hall, 7555 W. Old Sauk Road. Visit www.town.middleton.wi.us. Belleville master plan update meeting: working session before Plan Commission subcommittee, 7 p.m., Village Hall, 24 W.

Main 424-3341. Oregon Plan Commission: 7 p.m., Village Hall lower level, 117 Spring St. Agenda items include Oregon Parks Neighborhood, Woodland Village, Hawthorne Estates. 835-3118. Sun Prairie Youth and Family Commission: 7:30 p.m., Municipal Building, 300 E.

Main St. Hot topics: youth member recruitment, MLK Jr. program, underage alcohol use. 837-25 1 1 Alternative Futures Open House: community participation in updating McFarlands comprehensive land use plan, 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., Municipal Building, 5915 Milwaukee McFarland.

www.mcfarland.wi.us. Medical marijuana benefit: music by the Avalons, plus speakers to benefit marijuana law reform in Wisconsin, $10 donation requested, 5-8 p.m., Cardinal bar, 418 E. Wilson St. 251-0080. American Red Cross blood drive: noon-5 p.m., UW-Madison Witte Hall, 615 W.

Johnson noon-5 p.m., Statesider private residence hall, 505 N. Frances St. 227-1357. Skilaufers TGIF: for newcomers, 5 p.m., Casa de Lara, 3040 Cahill Main. 231-1226 or www.ski-laufers.homestead.com.

Anime film screening: R.O.D.: Read or Die," three-part action series, 7 p.m., Alicia Ashman Branch Library, 733 N. High Point Road. Viewers younger than 16 need parent present or signed parental slip. 824-1780. October 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. I I Numbers Wednesday, Oct. 1: POWERBALL 4-5-19-21-50, Powerbali 41 Power Play 2. Estimated prize: $68 million. MEGABUCKS 11-1 4-18-27-28-41.

Estimated prize: $1 million. SUPERCASH 5-10-13-19-27-33. Maximum prize: $250,000. BADGER 5 15-17-18-20-31. Estimated jackpot: 1 1 1 ,000.

PICK 3 8-4-3. Maximum prize: $500. PICK 4 4-4-3-3. Maximum prize: $5,000. ILLINOIS LOTTERY Pick 3 Midday 6-9-5; Pick 3 Evening 6-7-0; Pick 4 Midday 7-9-5-0; Pick 4 Evening 0-0-0-8.

Little Lotto 1-3-7-24-29; Lotto 9-10-25-40-48-51. Estimated Lotto jackpot: $10.5 million. City Neighborhood forum: Ridgewood Neighborhood Association forum, p.m., Eastside Public Works Facility, 4602 Sycamore to review and comment on a proposed mixed use development of 307 apartments and condos. 244-4772. County Dane County Board: 7:30 p.m., Room 201, City-County Building.

Agenda items include reports on town zoning petitions, contract awards and several resolutions. 266-5788. Madison schools Second annual Building Bridges for Families Recognition, p.m., Wright Mid 1 ms BIENTERTAINMENTBi U.S. 12-18: lane closures be-. tween Interstate 39-90 and County in the four-lane divided section, with traffic restricted to one lane during pavement repair.

BOTHER CALENDARS Noon Musicales: Allisanne Apple, mezzo-soprano, with Jane Peck-ham on piano, p.m., Fust Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Drive. Sports: See Page 5C. MOW TO REACH US $2 15, Saturday and Sunday, $2 20, and Thursday through Sunday, $3 10. Rates vary with form of payment and term of subscnption. To place orders, temporanly stop service or inquire about billing, call 608-252-6363 between 4 am.

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The Capital Times was founded in 1917 by William T. Evjue. A significant portion of the newspaper's profits are returned to the community through The Evjue Foundation. The directors of The Capital Times Co. are Frederick Miller, chairman; Clayton Fnnk, president and CEO, Dave Zweifel, vice president, edrtonal; John H.

Lussier, secretary and treasurer, Nancy B. Gage, director. CAPITAL NEWSPAPERS The Capital Times Co. and Lee Enterprises are joint owners of Capital Newspapers, The Capital Times (1901 Fish Hatchery Rd) P.O. Box 8060 Madison Wl 53708 Publisher Clayton Frink 608-252-6402, cfrinkmadison com CONTENT CONTACTS Editor Dave Zweifel 608-252-6410, dzweifelmadison.com Managing editor Phil Haslanger 608-252-6436, phaslangermadison com Newsroom 608-252-6400 Section editor's phone numbers and e-mail addresses are printed on the first page of each section.

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