Voting location updates, Meetings, events and announcements

Hello neighbors,

I know you’ve had a million reminders to get out and vote, so consider this your one additional reminder!

If your November 8 polling place changed since the last election, you should have received a postcard from the Clerk’s office. If you want to double check, please see myvote.wi.gov. You may vote early until November 6 at multiple locations throughout the city. If you received an absentee ballot and have not yet returned it, it would be best for you to hand deliver to the Clerk’s office, vote early in person, or on Election Day. Please do not mail absentee ballots if you have not done so yet, as they are not guaranteed to be received on time.

Upcoming meetings of interest:

• November 3 – Coffee With a Cop – 9am, West District Station,1710 McKenna Blvd. Meet Officer Tyler Hess who has just taken over as the Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO) for the West District. There will be cake!
• November 9:
  • Metro Transit redesign virtual public hearing – 6pm
  • Board of Parks Commissioners consideration of changing Forest Hill Cemetery from a “dog friendly” park to a “dog free” park. Goodman Maintenance Facility, 1402 Wingra Creek Parkway – 6:30pm. Comments may be submitted until November 4 to PACommission@CityOfMadison.com

Events:

• November 2 – The MPD Community Academy will be held at various locations in the city from 5pm-7pm on Wednesdays in November. There is still room, but seats are limited. More information, including topics and how to sign up, can be found here.
• November 3 – Habitat for Humanity Behind the Build Event – 10am-noon, 1853 Beld Street. Habitat for Humanity of Dane County is building an affordable, single-family home in Dane County using insulated concrete forms (ICFs), a sustainable, noncombustible concrete building system that will reduce upfront expenses and on-site construction time while maximizing the structure’s durability and energy performance. You are invited to celebrate the progress made and meet the many people and partners who have helped bring this home to life.
• November 3 - The University Committee on Disability Access and Inclusion invites the public to join them for an evening with Kacie Lucchini Butcher, Director of the Public History Project, to reckon with UW-Madison’s history of eugenics - 5:30pm-7pm, Union South, 1308 W. Dayton Street. Please email cdai@secfac.wisc.edu with any questions or to request an accommodation for the event. CART services will be provided. Facilities are wheelchair accessible. RSVP here.
• November 4 - Madison Public Library Foundation12th annual Ex Libris fall fundraiser. Can’t attend in person? Check out the online silent auction!
• November 5 & 19 - Family History Writing Workshops with Sherman Funmaker (Bear Clan Elder, Ho-Chunk Nation)
• November 7 – Intro to Kiva Lending – noon-1pm, WWBIC Madison, 2300 S. Park St., Ste 113. Learn about the unique system of social underwriting at this event.
• November 9 - Indigenous Birth and Traditional Parenting presentation by Raeanne Madison(Crane Clan, Bois Forte Band Ojibwe Nation)
• November 11 – Social event for people interested in transportation issues, including commuting by bicycle. Union South, Daily Scoop, 4-5pm. All-transportation ice cream social (learning, doing, research, design, operations, policy, on campus, off campus, public sector, private sector.. you get the idea).
• November 12 - Art Walk in Monona with Kristie GoForth (Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians)
• November 12 – Free HUD-Approved Homebuyer Education Class. Villager Mall on Park Street, Atrium Entrance (2300 S Park St. Madison, WI 53713). Register by November 8th
• November 15 – Brigitte Fielder: I’ll Fly Away – Birds and the Enslaved in Flight in Audubon’s World – 6:30pm, Meadowridge Library, 5726 Raymond Road.

Announcements:

• There will be a flyover event of a KC135 Tanker aircraft for the Badger game on November 5 from approximately 10:50-11:05am.
• Nomination period for Erlanger Award extended! Please nominate residents of the City of Madison whose work, program, project, policy decisions or actions have made a positive contribution to the community and its residents. Please submit nominations by November 7.
• Local input sought on public art and design concepts: Michael Ford, also known as the “Hip Hop Architect”, is creating an integrated public art component for a new parking structure planned for 2300 South Park Street. Michael has refined his designs and is again seeking public input about his public art and design concepts by November 7 at noon. The results will inform his final design drawings which will then be submitted to the Community Development Authority (CDA) and City for approval. Respond to the survey here.
• Memory book-making workshops: Pinney Library's Artist-in-Residence, Angela Johnson, is leading a series of 2-part workshops where seniors and others can create their own memory book. Using photos and stories, attendees will put together a one-of-a-kind memento for themselves or loved ones. Workshops are taking place across 3 different library locations in November, with the next one beginning Nov. 1 at Goodman South Madison Library. Learn more by visiting the website, and reading the artist bio.
• Please put your pumpkins in your leaf pile for City pickup. Check out when to set out your leaves and pumpkins on the Yard Waste website.
• A new financial rebate fund, MadCAP, for lower-income families to support their municipal services bill, was approved by the Public Service Commission. Please watch for more details about this program coming in January 2023.
• Free native seeds available for Madison residents through our libraries!
• Birding backpacks available for 7-day check outs at our libraries! Backpacks include binoculars, field guides, and location maps.
• Wisconsin’s health insurance Open Enrollment period is now open through January 15.

Take care,

Regina Vidaver