If you have concerns you'd like to share to with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., then his series of upcoming listening sessions scheduled around the 1st District is your big chance.

The sessions will be from Jan. 8-10. Ryan will visit 15 communities throughout Wisconsin's First Congressional District. These meetings are an opportunity for residents to share their ideas and ask questions they have about federal government issues.

Among other issues, Ryan will discuss the rising cost of health care and what can be done to lower costs while improving quality. He also will talk about taxes and his legislative proposal to give taxpayers the option of a simpler alternative to the current, overly complicated income tax system. National security matters and the war in Iraq also will be addressed at these meetings.

"These listening sessions are a great opportunity for people to share their thoughts and concerns on issues ranging from health care to jobs and the economy to our national defense. I want to hear directly from area residents about their views and interactions with government, and these meetings provide a forum to do that," Ryan said.

Upcoming listening sessions in the Racine and Kenosha areas:

Tuesday, Jan. 8

* East Troy: 9-10 a.m., Village Hall, 2106 Church St.

* Racine: 3:30-5 p.m., Gateway Technical College, Racine Building, Great Lakes Room 110, 901 Pershing Drive, use parking lot D.

Wednesday, Jan. 9

* Delavan: 9-10 a.m., City Hall, 123 S. Second St.

* Burlington: 10:30-11:30 a.m., Gateway Technical College, Room 100, 496 McCanna Parkway.

* Twin Lakes: Noon to 1 p.m., Village Hall, 108 East Main St.

* Pleasant Prairie: 2-3 p.m., Village Hall, Auditorium, 9915 39th Ave.

* Kenosha: 3:30-5 p.m., Gateway Technical College, Madrigrano Center, 3520 30th Ave.

Thursday, Jan. 10

* Elkhorn: 10:30-11:30 a.m., People's Bank, Community Room, 837 N. Wisconsin St.

* Lake Geneva: Noon to 1 p.m., City Hall, Senior Center upstairs, 626 Geneva St.

More Ryan news

On Friday, Ryan announced that his Kenosha Constituent Services Center will be moving to a new location on Sheridan Road beginning Jan. 3. The office's new site is 5455 Sheridan Road, Suite 125, Kenosha. Its phone number is (262) 654-1901 and the fax number is (262) 654-2156.

Ryan will host a grand opening ceremony and open house on Jan. 14 from 2-4 p.m. to welcome Kenosha-area residents to the new constituent services center and to let them know about the resources it provides. This event is open to the public.

Christmas Tree

Sturtevant Village President Steve Jansen announced Wednesday that the Village of Sturtevant will pick up discarded natural Christmas trees on Monday, Jan. 7 and Monday, Jan. 14. Trees, with ornaments removed, should be placed along the curb the day before one of these two pickup days. Jansen said the village is picking up the trees as a service to the community. There will be no pickups after Jan. 14.

For more information, call Public Works Director Chuck Stachowski at (262) 886-2862.

Phyllis Sides is a reporter for The Journal Times. This column, about the good stories of good people in Racine County, appears each week. She can be reached at (262) 631-1714 or by e-mail at

psides@journaltimes.com