Happy Fourth of July...plus a few updates!

Happy 4th of July!

Here are this week's updates featuring lots of fun summer activities:

Glen Golf Park Reopening

We're celebrating the reopening of The Glen Golf Park with a Sunday afternoon of family fun! The community is invited to join Madison Parks and Madison Parks Foundation at The Glen for the Grand Reopening Celebration on Sunday, July 10 (rain date Sunday, July 17), from 3pm-7pm. Read more here.

Art Fair on the Square 

One of the Midwest's most popular and highly regarded outdoor celebrations of the arts will return to the Capitol Square on Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, as the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art presents the 64th annual Art Fair on the Square. Admission is free! Details can be found here.

Madison Contemporary Dance, a Madison-based nonprofit dance company, will perform at Art Fair on the Square on Saturday, July 9, at 3:30. Contemporary and professional street-style dance will perform pieces created together. This is an opportunity to see ballet and modern-based contemporary dance, and street styles such as hip hop, krump, house, popping, breakdancing, and more.

MadLit is Back!

MadLit is back this summer on Fridays, 8pm-11pm, on the 100 block of State Street. Find the 2022 schedule of artists here.

Job Openings

The Common Council has an open and competitive opportunity for a Legislative Analyst with the City of Madison's Common Council Office.

As the upcoming school year quickly approaches, the City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division is hiring a number of qualified candidates to work part-time as a School Crossing Guard. Though vacancies exist in several areas, the city sees the greatest need for applicants on the west side of Madison. Learn more here.

Free Summer Youth Passes

As part of Mayor Satya's Metro Forward initiative, the City of Madison has teamed up for the second year with the Madison Metropolitan School District to distribute a summer Metro Transit pass to ALL middle and high school students, providing a safe and easily accessible way to navigate our community this summer. Details can be found here.

Fireworks

The City of Madison Fire Department reminds everyone to enjoy the holiday safely. Although fun for some, the use of fireworks is illegal in Madison, with the exception of professional pyrotechnic displays, which have a permit and are inspected. Sparklers, snakes, snaps, caps, and party poppers may be used with caution during your holiday celebrations. Read here for safety tips and more information.

To report illegal fireworks in your neighborhood, please call the police non-emergency number (608-255-2345) and give the most accurate location you can for where you are hearing the fireworks.

Lastly...

The Fourth of July is a time of celebration, but at this particular point in our nation's history, it's also a time of sober reflection. In watching the January 6th Congressional Hearings, it's apparent just how close we came to a full-blown constitutional crisis. If but for the courage of a handful of principled men and women, who knows what might have happened?

Meanwhile. we are dealing with a Supreme Court intent on turning back the clock with devastating impact. Tragically, another mass shooting, this time at a 4th of July parade in Highland Park north of Chicago. And we are witnessing abroad in the war in Ukraine, amidst all the horrific particulars, the courage of those who are fighting with their lives for the very freedoms we so easily take for granted.

Our freedoms are fragile and ever imcomplete. That's why we strive for that "more perfect union." And for that we need each other. As a neighbor remarked to me this morning as I was walking Bella, perhaps we ought to call it "Interdependence Day."  

Here are a couple of readings worth reflecting on:

Letters from an American

The Founders Bequeated Us Something Radical

Enjoy the rest of the holiday!

Take care and be safe,

Tag