COVID community level is medium, info meetings on airport, University Ave reconstruction, and Glenway Golf Park, events & announcements

Hello neighbors,

It sure seems like spring is trying it’s darndest to come through. Though it is Wisconsin, after all, so this meme really resonates:

The Midwest has 12 seasons:

Winter

Fool’s Spring

Second Winter

Spring of Deception

Third Winter

The Pollening

Actual Spring

Summer

Hell’s Front Porch

False Fall

Second Summer

Actual Fall

COVID

• Unfortunately, COVID numbers are up, and Dane County is now at the Medium Community Level, per the CDC’s updated metrics. Please consider masking up when you go into public places. If you haven’t gotten your booster (first, or second, if eligible), please consider doing so as soon as feasible.
• Multiple testing options are available in the community.

Airport

• Dane County is updating the Noise Compatibility Plan for Dane County Regional Airport. A public outreach open house will be held on Tuesday, April 26, from 5pm-8pm, at the Dane County Regional Airport in Conference Room 1, near baggage claim.

University Avenue Reconstruction

• Public Information Session: 4-6 p.m., May 3, IN PERSON at the Best Western Plus Inntowner, Bascom Meeting Room, 2424 University Ave.
• Construction to begin the week of May 9
  • The north side of the road will be reconstructed this year, and the south side in 2023.

Glenway Golf Park

• The community is invited to attend a virtual public information meeting on Wednesday, May 4 at 6pm to learn about the Glenway Golf Park improvements.

Events

• The Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison is offering a free online fair housing training seminar for owners and managers of rental properties, or staff operating residential programs, in Madison on Thursday, April 28, 11:00 – 12:30 a.m. Register for this free seminar online, or call 608-257-0853.
• Sickle Cell Blood Drive, April 30, 9am-2pm, the Urban League of Greater Madison, 2222 S. Park St., Madison.
• Make Music Madison is a free, citywide, outdoor day of music held annually on the summer solstice (June 21). Initiated in Madison in 2013, our festival is part of the larger Make Music Day, an international summer solstice music celebration occurring in 1,000+ cities across the globe. Registration to perform or host a performance opens this month.

Announcements

• Water main flushing will begin this week from University Ave. to Regent St. east of Franklin Ave., and south of University Ave. from Midvale Blvd. to Rosa Rd.
• No Mow May is an initiative to improve our bee and other pollinator populations. Consider letting your lawn go for the month!
• Are you a local musician? Do you want to be part of the city’s musician list? Please contact Angela Puerta, City of Madison Planning Division.
• The City of Madison is also looking for people with talents they’d like to share, such as face painting, balloon animals, yard games, spoken word/poetry, etc. for the Parks Alive initiative. If interested, please contact Nancy Saiz.
• Review the draft Greater Madison Regional Development Framework. Please submit feedback on this growth plan by May 13.
• Yard waste collection for the spring is wrapping up soon. Be sure you know when you should be setting out yard waste by checking here. Brush collection is ongoing. Get the dates when you should be setting out brush here.
• April is Earth Month! One easy way to celebrate is to be sure you’re recycling the right stuff. For example – just because it’s plastic doesn’t mean it goes into your recycling cart. Get the rules here.
• Take the Network Redesign Draft Plan Survey and give Metro your feedback. Over the next few months, staff will be analyzing feedback on Metro's Network Redesign Draft Plan and making adjustments. The online survey is available in English and Spanish and will be available until the end of the month. Paper copies of the survey are available in English, Spanish and Hmong. Call 608-266-4466 or email mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com to request a copy.
• The City of Madison Engineering Division will allow use of low-carbon concrete in the construction of public sidewalks and curb and gutter thanks to the work and initial passion of a couple local Girl Scout troops.
• Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Alder Nasra Wehelie proposed a resolution on Tuesday, April 19, to begin the process of treating Well 15 on Madison’s east side to remove PFAS contamination. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemicals that do not readily break down in nature, and have been linked to negative health effects. They were discovered in Well 15 on Madison’s east side during voluntary testing in 2017, and the well was later closed down.
• Support a Utility Box Installation in your neighborhood. Artists are compensated $500 for a license of each image used in the program. This project’s funds will be used to pay artists and cover the costs of installing the art on utility boxes. Contributions of any size are welcome, but a $2,500 contribution will fully cover the cost of a box wrap in your neighborhood and a box in a neighborhood where there aren’t as many financial resources.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver