Mayor Dave Cieslewicz declared March 9 the start of spring rather than the traditional date of March 20 Friday. Local paddlesport shop Rutabaga demanded the date change to coincide with Canoecopia, the world’s largest canoe and kayak expo held at Madison’s Alliant Energy Center from March 7-9. Cieslewicz honored their request and issued the following proclamation:

“Whereas, the winter of 2007-2008 will go down as one of the most severe in Madison history with record snowfall, strong winds, freezing rain, below zero temperatures and now on top of it all Brett Favre retires (for cryin’ out loud); and

“Whereas, these conditions make us better, hardier people of higher character than our friends who have fled to places like Florida where they can’t even get a primary election right; and

“Whereas, even with those advantages, we’ve had enough already; and

“Whereas, Madison has never been a community that simply accepts the status quo whether that be the results of national elections, the realities of nuclear fallout, general market conditions or, for that matter, mere astronomical forces; and

“Whereas, spring is a state of mind brought on by the thought of paddle sports and the sight of sleek new canoes and other cool canoe gear; and

“Whereas, Madison has been described as so many square miles surrounded by reality; and

“Whereas, Madison has been growing at a nice pace which must mean that reality is therefore shrinking; and

“Whereas, reality is overrated.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved that spring officially begins in the City of Madison at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9.”