Happy New Year...plus this week's updates

Hi Everyone,

It's the end of another year, an exhausting one in many respects. It'd be normal to exhale a sigh of relief as we turn the page, but I have no reason to believe 2026 will be any less challenging. Instead we press on, keeping the candle burning, holding onto hope and the promise of a new day.

Accordingly, I wish all of you a very happy and healthy new year.

Here are this week's updates as we bid farewell to 2025:

City of Madison offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 31, and Thursday, January 1, for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: All emergency services will remain open. To learn more about our holiday services, please visit: https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/holiday-schedules 

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings 

There are no Boards, Commissions, and Committee meetings for the upcoming week. 

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here. 

Announcements and News Releases 

• Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule for New Year’s Eve (12/31/25) and New Year’s Day (1/1/26): There will be no Streets Division collections performed on both Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026, in observance of the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day holidays. The drop-off sites will also be closed on these two days.… [posted December 26, 2025] 

• How to Have Your Christmas Tree Collected: The Streets Division provides two rounds of curbside collection for Christmas trees. The Rules for Christmas Tree Collection. If you do not follow the below, your tree will not be collected from the curb. [posted December 26, 2025] 

• Statement From the Office of The Independent Police Monitor Regarding an Ongoing Investigation: In the interest of transparency and in response to significant public concern, the Office of the Independent Police Monitor is issuing a statement to confirm that a review is underway regarding a recent police encounter. [posted December 22, 2025] 

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted. 

Events 

• Holiday Fantasy in Lights, Saturday, November 15, through Monday, January 5, 2026: Lighted holiday-themed displays set in beautiful Olin Park. Drive through from dusk until 10:00pm to enjoy this magical light show for free, brought to you by The Electric Group.  

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar. 

That's all for now.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag