To reach out to motorcyclists around the state and encourage them to enroll in rider training, The Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Motorcycle Safety Program will bring its new mobile training facility, THE REF or Transportable High-End Rider Education Facility, to Middleton's Good Neighborh Festival.

Built with federal funding, the 40-foot-long REF trailer is more than just a classroom; it is an interactive learning environment for both riders and non-riders to learn more about sharing the road, crash avoidance and awareness of traffic and road hazards, according to DOT officials.

To see THE REF, visit the Web at http://www.zeroinwisconsin.gov/TheREF/Default.asp.

THE REF will be on display Friday from about 4 to 9 p.m., on Saturday from about 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from about 9 a.m to 4 p.m.

The Madison area's first-ever expo to showcase gluten-free foods brought vendors from across the country to Middleton over the weekend.

About 50 vendors came to the Keva Sports Center to display their products catering to people with Celiac disease.

The wheat-free offerings included soups, granola and even pizza.

There was also a beer vendor selling beer made with the plant sorghum instead of barley or wheat.

The event's organizer said the expo makes it easier for those affected by the disease to discover the wide variety of foods available to them. She said she speaks from personal experience.

"When my husband was diagnosed with Celiac disease, we had to go to a gluten-free diet. Buying a loaf of bread that was $5 for him to try and find that he didn't like became a financial hardship. So, we thought, wouldn't it be fun if we could try a product before purchasing it?" said Julianne Karow.

It's been a year since the statewide smoking ban took effect, and despite a backlash from some, Gov. Scott Walker said the ban is working and it's here to stay.

There's no doubt some will continue smoking, but the ban is making many cut down on cigarettes.

The pack a day habit started 40 years ago for George Smid, who said the ban is getting him to reconsider.

"I would say the ban has cut down on my amount of smoking," said Smid. "You smoke a lot less when you have to go outside than when you're sitting in a bar stool lighting up one after another."

"We're not smoking like we used to," said Shelley Golackson, another smoker. "We're standing outside in the cold in the winter, and it does change your habits because you aren't smoking as much as you did, so it's a good thing for me."

The University of Wisconsin Center For Tobacco Research and Intervention said calls to its quit line rose sharply around the time of the ban.