In an effort to help reduce incidents of bicycle theft and help police identify owners of the hundreds of lost bicycles picked up each year, the Middleton Police Department has launched a free online bicycle registration system.

City of Middleton residents should go to the Police Department website, www.MiddletonPD.com, and look for the bicycle registration link under online services. You will be able to submit descriptions, serial numbers and even upload pictures for up to five bicycles per transaction.

Donate a little time Madison Parks for some spring cleaning.  Sign up below and join us for two upcoming volunteer work days.

Dog Park Clean Up Day, March 31, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Volunteer to help out at one of our six dog parks.  Volunteers will help spreading mulch, weeding, and cleaning up the parks.

Sign up today to help out.

Earth Day Challenge, April 21, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Volunteers may assist with cleaning up various parks, clearing brush, planting shrubs, or other beautification projects.

Sign to volunteer or host a project here.

The Salvation Army of Dane County said more people are ringing bells and giving this holiday season.

Preliminary retail numbers show more people are shopping this holiday season, and it looks like Dane County's shoppers are giving more to those famous red kettles.

The Salvation Army of Dane County said its current kettle donation total of $156,000 is up $10,000 from last year at this time. And bringing technology to the forefront of its Red Kettle campaign, the Salvation Army is hoping QR codes help recruit volunteers and prompt shoppers to make credit card donations.

"We have worked very hard this season to get the coverage," said Maj. Loren Carter. "Because we figured that each shift represents about a $100 of income at each location. And so the coverage is very important."

Out of 12,000 total bell ringing shifts, 7,000 shifts are left for the season. The goal for this year's campaign is set at $715,000.