Halloween fun, Water main flushing, Road closures, Public meetings, Events and Announcements

Hello neighbors,

I love Halloween. The decorations in yards are so much fun, seeing little kids dressed in costumes brightens my day, and the community that we all feel with the kids going door to door trick or treating is heartwarming. I often get asked if Madison has “set” trick or treat times; we do not, but the recommendation is for folks to be prepared to greet trick or treaters from 4-8pm on October 31. There will be a haunted yard tour near the corner of Commonwealth and Leonard from 5-6pm (low scare), and 6:30-8:30pm (PG-13-level scare) – follow on Instagram at @hauntingofcommonwealth for the details!

There are also several different trunk or treat events with the Madison Police Department this week:

• October 31 - Salvation Army - 4-7 p.m.
• October 31 - Harmony apartments - 4 -5 p.m.
• October 31 - Meadowlands apartments - 4-5 p.m.
• October 31 - Tree Lane Apartments - 4 p.m.

A neighborhood resource officer or community outreach officers will be leading these events. For questions, contact Stephanie Fryer.

Water main flushing

Water main flushing will begin the week of October 30 between Rosa Rd. and Glenway St. north of Mineral Point Rd.

Upcoming Street Closures

• W Dayton St between N Lake St and Bernard Ct – Westbound traffic closed through November.
• A closure of Hill St. is scheduled to begin at 7 AM on November 3. Hill St. is scheduled to reopen by 7 PM on November 4. View this overview showing access to local businesses and access for pedestrians during the closure.

Public Information Meetings

• October 30: 6:30pm: Public Information Meeting on plans to make Midvale Blvd safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• October 30, 5:30pm and November 1, 5:30pm: Public information meetings on the City Budget.
• Listening Sessions Scheduled for City’s First Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management Plan: November 1, 20, and 28. The City of Madison Engineering Division has a number of upcoming listening sessions scheduled to help inform and receive feedback from residents and the community regarding the new Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management Plan, a plan that will incorporate public input and technical expertise to inform vegetation goals and priorities.
• November 6, 6pm: Imagination Center at Reindahl Park Public Information Meeting. The City’s Imagination Center at Reindahl Park is ready for the next step in the construction process, and the City needs your input at its next virtual public information meeting! Please register in advance.
• November 6, 6:30-8:30: Sauk Creek Corridor Plan Information Meeting, Vel Phillips Memorial High School, Wisconsin Neighborhood Center, 201 S Gammon Rd. Join the City in coming up with a plan for this stormwater corridor that can best serve the community! Please register in advance.
• November 9, 6:30-8:30: Sauk Creek Corridor Plan Information Meeting, online. Please register in advance.

Bus Rapid Transit Progress

Check out what’s happening with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)! Learn more about Metro’s proposed second BRT line to run from the north side of Madison through the downtown area, to Madison’s Southside neighborhoods and ending in Fitchburg.

North/South BRT Planning Meetings:

• South Side Wednesday, November 1, 5:30–7:30pm, Urban League (2222 S. Park Street)
• North Side Thursday, November 2, 5:30–7:30pm Warner Park Community Center (1625 Northport Dr.)
• Fitchburg Thursday, November 9, 5:30–7:30pm Fitchburg Council Chambers (City Hall, 5520 Lacy Rd.)
• Virtual meeting Wednesday, November 8, 6:30–7:30pm Register and receive meeting link at madisonbrt.com

Sustainability Survey

The City of Madison is looking for your vision for a green, climate-friendly, and resilient Madison. Where do you see opportunities for improvement? What are your top priorities? The City of Madison wants to hear your thoughts on the draft Sustainability Plan’s eight themes and supporting goals. This plan will help the City advance sustainability through its policies, programs, and projects. By taking this quick survey, you are helping ensure the draft themes and goals are in line with the community’s vision for a sustainable City of Madison. Ten lucky winners will receive a $20 gift card to The Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream! Let’s work together to create a sustainable City for both existing and future Madisonians! Take the survey today!

Events

• October 30, 5pm Meet and Greet, 6pm Film Screening, 7pm Panel Discussion - Public screening of “The Street Project”, an inspiring story about the global, citizen-led fight to make our streets safe, sponsored by Madison Bikes. Union South Marquee Cinema. Facebook: https://fb.me/e/4T08isXE5 RSVP: https://forms.gle/RmEoXs7d2G15d8Jt6
• It’s Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month! Use the opportunity to take advantage of the Madison Fire Department’s FREE hands-only CPR/AED classes! In this class, Madison Fire Department paramedics and EMTs teach the basics of hands-only CPR, how to use an AED, and explain why it is important for bystanders to perform CPR until first responders arrive. Dane County is a leader in the nation for sudden cardiac arrest survival, and its thanks in part to people stepping in to help someone in need of CPR! MFD has two classes coming up at Fire Station 1 (316 W. Dayton Street):
  • Register for October 31, 8:30-10:00 a.m.
  • Register for October 31, 10:15-11:45 a.m.
• Yoga Core, October 31 & November 3: Want to build your strength and increase body awareness? Yoga Core is great way to do it! This class incorporates a wide variety of seated, standing, balancing, and mat-based yoga poses focusing on strength, stability, and mobility. Core-based practices can help enhance balance and stability and prevent falls and injuries as we age. All levels are welcome! Tuesdays & Fridays, October 6 through December 15, 2023.
• October 31, November 7, and November 14: Support our youth in Mentoring Positives by dining on delicious, youth-prepared dinners through Muriel’s Plate.
• Last Wednesday Dane County Farmers' Market for the season November 1: The Wednesday Dane County Farmers’ Market is located on the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in between the Madison Municipal Building and the City County Building. While more intimate than the Saturday Market, you will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, bakery items, cut flowers, plants, and many specialty items.
• November 1, 5-6:30pm, 2241 Fox Ave.: Learn about the MORE for Madison affordable housing development planned for the St. Johns Lutheran Church site at a local info session hosted by Bob and Bonnie Block, Dawn McClusky, and Darrin Harris.
• Cyclocross Practice Ride | Aldo Leopold Park, November 1, 5-7pm: Join this free, temporary cyclocross course to practice your biking skills. You will need a bike with knobby tires, such as a mountain bike style, and a good-fitting helmet. Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing similar to cross country running but on a bicycle. Courses feature wooded trails, grass, pavement, steep hills, and obstacles. See Cyclocross for more information.
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is hosting a “ Meet the Artists of St. Andrew’s” event on November 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the parish hall (enter through the Regent Street door of the education building). Light refreshments, wine and cider will be provided. The night includes a free raffle of items donated by the artists. Artists include painters, quilters, basket makers, weavers, knitters, photographers, poets, and even a novelist! If you are able to RSVP, please do so to Elizabeth Kelly. If not, please just show up!
• Meditation at Monona Terrace, Thursdays, through December 14 - 12:00pm: Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. Anyone can practice; it is simple, inexpensive and does not require any special equipment. Join virtually every Thursday, September 7 - December 14, for this free 45-minute program welcome to all levels. Advance registration for Zoom webinar is required.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Tenney Park, November 4, 2:30-4pm: Nature-expert guided walks in Tenney Park along Lake Mendota and the Yahara River Parkway bike path through the Madison Isthmus are free, and family-friendly. The walk begins at the Tenney Beach parking lot, 1330 Sherman Avenue. No registration is required. No pets are allowed. Co-sponsored by Madison FUN Friends of Urban Nature, Madison Parks, Madison Audubon Society , Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association and Friends of the Yahara River Parkway .
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Cherokee Marsh, North, November 5, 1:30-3pm: Cherokee Marsh is Madison’s largest conservation park with three units - North, South, and Mendota. Each month we explore the north unit's beautiful trails through the woodlands, wetlands, and restored prairies along the Yahara ‘Catfish’ River. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks, Friends of Cherokee Marsh , Sierra Club and Madison Audubon Society . Follow North Sherman Ave. to the parking lot at the end of the gravel entrance road. Free, family-friendly guided nature walks at Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park – North are held on the 1st Sunday of each month.

Announcements

• Nominations for the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award sought. Deadline: October 30
• Fall is Here: Mulch Leaves, Compost, Connect on Collection Times: The City of Madison is excited to kick off the fall season with reminders of all things leaves that every City of Madison resident needs to know, starting with mulching the leaves in lawns.
• Get Your Fall Vaccines Ahead of Respiratory Virus Season: Public Health Madison & Dane County is encouraging everyone to get up to date on flu, RSV, and COVID vaccines ahead of respiratory season.
• The Wisconsin Well Woman Program offers free breast cancer screenings for un- and under-insured individuals. Spread the word!

Be well,
Regina Vidaver