Month: August 2023

Public Market Open House September 12

The Market is only a few short months away from ground-breaking, and the community is invited to a sneak preview of all the market will provide with 20+ local vendors, including exciting newer businesses and a few of Madison’s long-time favorites. Vendors will provide culinary offerings inspired by a variety of cultures, in addition to unique handmade goods.

Ready! Set! Market! Open House
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 5 – 8pm
Future home of the Madison Public Market
(200 N. First St. near E. Johnson & N. First)

Parking is available in the back of the building or nearby on neighborhood streets. RSVP is appreciated but not mandatory – it will help get you through event check-in more quickly. More details are here:  https://madisonpublicmarket.org/2023/08/youre-invited-to-the-ready-set-market-open-house-on-sept-12/.

Spanish Language Book Fair September 16

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Madison Public Library will host a Spanish-Language Book Fair on Saturday, September 16 from 9:30am-2pm. The Library designed this event to highlight its Spanish-language collection for adults and children. “In the last 5 years, members of the Library’s Collection Management Team have participated twice in the Feria Internacional del Libro in Guadalajara, Mexico to source books for our libraries,” said Holly Storck-Post, a Children’s Collection Librarian for Madison Public Library, and one of the librarians who traveled to the book fair.

Participate in Madison Public Library Strategic Planning

The Madison Public Library leadership invites community input as it plans for the future of its services. The library will complete a 3-year strategic plan this fall and people can participate in one of two ways:

• Complete a short, 11-minute survey through September 30, online or at any Madison Public Library
• Attend a 90-minute virtual feedback session, September 20, 12-1:30pm

Links to both the survey and virtual feedback session are at https://madpl.org/strategicplan. The Library will share its final strategic plan with the community in winter 2023.

Dane Dances – Last Performance of the year TONIGHT!

The much-anticipated summer 2023 music series will end tonight. Feel free to bring a blanket, chair and picnic basket; seating on the rooftop is limited. Sorry, carry in alcohol is prohibited. Dane Dances! promotes inclusivity with a fun night of music and dancing to music and bands for all ages. Click HERE to learn more.

Streets Division Updates:

• August Moving Days: How to Recycle Televisions, Computers, and other Electronics: Electronics must be delivered to the Streets Division’s drop-off sites, or to a reputable private electronics recycler in the area . These steps will protect your data and ensure the hazardous materials inside them are handled and recycled safely.
• Food Scraps Recycling thru October 31:  Come to the Eastside Farmers’ Market and the South Madison Farmers’ Market to drop off the following food scraps:  raw fruits and vegetables, including peelings, cores, etc., coffee grounds, grains, rice and eggshells.
• Brush Collection Information
  • Every neighborhood in Madison has just one last set out date left before the end of the brush collection season in 2023.  In order to learn when you should set out brush to be collected for this final pickup opportunity, go to www.cityofmadison.com/BrushCollection. Enter your address into the form.  Set the brush out per the guidelines for pickup on the date provided. Brush can also be taken to a Streets Division drop-off site.
• Yard Waste/Leaves Collection Information
  • Curbside yard waste/leaves collection begins in early October.  Each neighborhood will get three curbside collection opportunities.  The dates for curbside pickup of yard waste are now available on the Streets Division’s website. 
  • Go to www.cityofmadison.com/YardWaste and enter your address into the form. Set your yard waste out for pickup per the set out guidelines on the Sundays provided on the website. Yard waste can also be taken to a Streets Division drop-off site.
• Have Questions about Brush or Yard Waste Collection?
  • If you have any questions about brush or yard waste collection, or about the drop-off site, please contact the Streets Division office that services your home.
  • If you live east of South Park Street, please call 608-246-4532.
  • If you live west of South Park Street, please call 608-266-4681.
  • The office is open for questions 7:30am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday.  You can also check out the Streets Division’s website at www.cityofmadison.com/Streets.

Cooling Centers Will Be Open During Heat Emergency The heat and humidity are creating a dangerous combination this week, with heat indices predicted to approach 110°. The National Weather Service has issued a series of warnings and advisories in the coming days. People most at risk of getting sick from the high temperatures and high humidity are older adults, those who work or exercise outdoors, infants and children, people without housing, and people with chronic medical conditions. Cooling centers are available to anyone who needs a safe, public space to cool off during the extreme heat. The list includes public places like City libraries, churches, and community centers. Please see the map of locations here.

Mayor’s Message  Now that we’re more than a month into Madison’s first full-scale Metro’s service redesign in more than 25 years, I wanted to share some insights about future improvements to come to the transit network. On Sunday, August 20, Metro will be implementing the first round of service adjustments. These updates include schedule tweaks to help make connections, added trips to better hit morning work shifts, some adjustments to help keep routes on time, and restored service to complete trips to the UW Hospital. Updated schedules and trip planning data are in development and will be available soon. Metro and I welcome the system-improving feedback and appreciate the patience the Madison community has shown as Metro works through these issues, including issues of accessibility, route timing, app function, and signage. I encourage all riders to let Metro know how your ride is going. How’s your trip working? Are there accessibility issues that we need to know about? What’s going well? What could be improved upon? Please let them know by giving Metro a call at (608) 266-4466 or by emailing mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com.  Be well,  Mayor Satya

Continue to Vaccinate as You Age Children aren’t the only ones that need vaccines. Many adults, especially older adults, need to be immunized in order to protect themselves against certain illnesses and diseases. Many preventable diseases can bring about serious illness and even death in senior citizens who fail to get the proper vaccinations. In fact, 45,000 adults die every year from complications due to vaccine-preventable diseases, says John Muir Health. You may not think you need vaccines or perhaps you have heard of side effects that come with the vaccine itself. However, the fact of the matter is, if you are 65 or older, you are at an increased risk of complications from many diseases. Get some answers to important questions about vaccines here.

This September Get a Library Card! September is Library Card Sign-Up Month! Started in 1987 by then Secretary of Education William Bennett, Library Card Sign-Up Month is a time to learn more about all the things you can do at your local library and to sign your kids or yourself up for a card. Celebrate with us by getting or renewing your Madison Public Library card. If you sign up in September you can take a picture with one of our BIG library cards at any location. Check out 30 Things You Can Do With Your Library Card!

Library Sunday Hours Resume 9/10 All Madison Public Libraries will be CLOSED on Monday, September 4 in observance of Labor Day. The libraries will be open on Tuesday, September 5 with normal hours. All libraries will also be closed Thursday, September 14 for an all-staff inservice day. Library service resumes this fall on Sundays at Central, Lakeview, and Goodman South Madison Libraries beginning Sunday, September 10.  In-person service hours at the three libraries are 1-5pm on Sundays, with no telephone service available on Sundays. For all hours information, visit madpl.org/locations.

Naturalist-in-Residence Program Madison-based doula, writer, agriculturist and mixed media artist, Qwantese Winters, is the 2023 Naturalist-in-Residence, a program returning for its second year this September! Her work is centered around inspiring black folks to connect with the land, and heal from land-based trauma through the use of joyful engagement with nature, and land practices. In partnership with Madison Parks, nature-based programs for all ages will take place in libraries, parks and natural areas across the city of Madison from September 1-30, 2023. Learn more and register for programs at madpl.org/naturalist.

One More Dane Dance! Dane Dances is a free, family-friendly event held every Friday evening in August on the beautiful Monona Terrace rooftop. The final dance of the summer happens this Friday, August 25th. The beloved summer music series is a great way to get down and dance with your friends, family, or coworkers. Dane Dances promotes inclusivity with a fun night of music and dancing for all ages. Learn more here.

Lake Monona Waterfront Update  Madison Parks held a public event at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center on Monday, July 24. Representatives from the Sasaki design presented proposed revisions to their lakeshore plan based on community input received during the first phase of the design challenge.  The presentation and Q&A session were recorded: LMW Master Plan Update Recorded Presentation LMW Master Plan Update Presentation Slides PDF  Please send Lake Monona Waterfront comments or questions to: lakemononawaterfront@cityofmadison.com.

Feedback Needed for NE Area Plan The City of Madison recently hosted community connect event for the Northeast Area where residents were able to learn recommendations for land use, transportation, and more for the Northeast Area Plan. Additionally, the City sought input from residents on what physical improvements they’d like to see in the Greater Sandburg and Burke Heights neighborhoods. if you couldn’t participate but still want to give feedback on the projects for Sandburg or Burke Heights neighborhoods, please click here to take a short survey.

Get Your Residential Parking Permit  Do you have your residential parking permit? The Residential Parking Permit allows residents to park in excess of the posted one- or two- hour time limits on designated streets in their area between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, or in locations designated for resident parking only between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. Permits for the following permit year, September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024, can be submitted beginning in July.  Those permits will not be mailed until mid-August.  Appointments to apply for and collect permits in person, began Tuesday, August 15.  Learn more about the permit program here.

Update on Violence Prevention  The City of Madison is working to address the growing and urgent issue of violence in our community. One leader in this work is Public Health is tackling violence prevention with a public health lens. That includes investing in community partners with more than $1 million in grant funding made available by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The second round of agencies and organizations to receive the funding can be found here.

Accessible Playground Opening  Madison Parks recently performed a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Frautschi Family Accessible Playground at Warner Park. The Frautschi family’s extraordinary philanthropy is felt across our community with their gifts of the Overture Center, Concerts on the Square, Frautschi Point on Lake Mendota and many others. Their generosity continues with the gift of an accessible playground at Warner Park, allowing people of all abilities to enjoy Madison’s parks.

Free Food & Family Fun at Northeast Area Connect Event

The City of Madison is inviting residents to two upcoming community connect events for the Northeast Area. Here you’ll learn about recommendations for land use, transportation, and more for the Northeast Area Plan. Additionally, the City is seeking input from residents on what physical improvements they’d like to see in the Greater Sandburg and Burke Heights neighborhoods. The first event is August 14, 2023 from 5-7 pm at Reindahl Park. The second event will take place August 16, 2023 from 5-7 pm at Sycamore Park. With free ice cream and food catered by La Taguara, firetruck tours, therapy animals, games, and face painting, residents are encouraged to make it a fun family outing!

BRAYTON LOT (BLOCK 113) REDEVELOPMENT

The Brayton Lot (Block 113), is a two-acre surface parking lot situated three blocks from Capitol Square along East Washington Avenue in the First Settlement neighborhood. The future of this site has been addressed in multiple City adopted plans over nearly 30 years. These plans have been consistent in their vision for the scale and massing of future buildings. Now, the community has an unique opportunity to implement those plans, and two public meetings have been scheduled to learn about that opportunity.

IN-PERSON MEETING Tuesday, August 22 7:00 pm Madison Municipal Building – Room 215 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

VIRTUAL MEETING Wednesday, August 23 12:00 pm (noon)

Please register in advance for this meeting at:

https://cityofmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpcOCurzsuH91h9DYEFVp7JM5jvT2tRphI
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
For more information, please visit the project website at:
https://www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/planning/brayton-lot-block-113/3907/
 

Dane Dances – A Season of Togetherness

Dane Dances will be recognizing Dane County Executive Joe Parisi for his great leadership in representing ALL of Dane County, Friday August 11th.  He created the first Dane County Office – Immigration Affairs, Equity & Inclusion and groundbreaking job pipeline partnerships with Centro Hispano, The Latino Academy for Workforce Development and The Urban League.  Joe proposed and developed the Beacon Homeless Day Resource Center, and put mental Health teams in Dane County schools.  Click HERE to learn more.

Parks Alive is continuing to build strong neighborhoods!

Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Checkout all of the Parks Alive events and other summer activities listed on the Parks calendar.

Elver Park | Movie: Wakanda Forever Monday, August 14, 2023 5:00pm to 8:00pm Location: Elver Park	Owl Creek ParkThursday, August 17, 2023 5:00pm to 8:00pm Location: Owl Creek Park
Aldo Leopold ParkTuesday, August 15, 2023 5:00pm to 8:00pm Location: Aldo Leopold Park	Warner Park | Movie: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Wednesday, August 23, 2023 5:00pm to 8:00pm Location: Warner Park (Trailsway)
Hammersley ParkWednesday, August 16, 2023 5:00pm to 8:00pm Location: Hammersley Park

Streets Division Updates:

• Madison Mini Marathon, Saturday, Aug. 12

Several streets will be closed Saturday morning, August 12, for the Madison Mini Marathon. The race starts at 7:00 a.m. at N Park St & State St, continues to the Capitol Square, through the UW Arboretum, and back to the UW campus.

• August Moving Days: How to Recycle Televisions, Computers, and other Electronics

Electronics must be delivered to the Streets Division’s drop-off sites, or to a reputable private electronics recycler in the area . These steps will protect your data and ensure the hazardous materials inside them are handled and recycled safely.