Construction updates, Olbrich north parcel PIM, Regent Neighborhood Association meeting, Sunset Woods Neighborhood Association organizational meeting, other announcements and events

Hello neighbors,

Joy of joys, construction season will be starting up again soon. I’ve just been given word that we can expect the resumption of work on University Ave starting around March 11, weather permitting. That work should be completed by the end of May. Stay tuned for more updates as the days lengthen and warm!

In other construction-related news, there is a proposal to widen the lakeshore path south of the limnology building, which is slated to start this fall. You are invited to read more about this project and provide any comments for the environmental impact assessment by March 15.

Public Information Meetings & Sessions

• Public Input Meeting #2 - Olbrich Park - North Parcel, Thursday, February 29 (VIRTUAL): Madison Parks is creating a Park Development Plan for the parkland north of Garver Feed Mill, referred to as Olbrich Park - North Parcel. Please register in advance.

Announcements & News Releases

• Affordable Connectivity Program: 23 million households nationwide rely on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to access reliable, affordable internet. Now is the time to let Congress know how important the ACP is to households in your community. Members of Congress and their staff are online and respond to outreach from constituents via social media. Use the sample social media posts and tag your members of Congress to let them know your organization supports renewed funding for the ACP.
• Three City of Madison Golf Courses Open Sunday: Good news golfers! The unseasonably warm temps are allowing three of the four City of Madison Golf Courses to open starting at 10:00 am on Sunday, February 25. Online tee time reservations may be made after 8:00 am Friday, February 23.
• Hartmeyer Redevelopment Project Street Closure: Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27 the intersection of Roth Street and Huxley Street will be fully closed for street work related to the Hartmeyer Redevelopment project.
• Madison Celebrates Adult Crossing Guard Recognition Week: The State of Wisconsin has declared the week of February 19th Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week. The City of Madison would like to recognize the 58 dedicated Crossing Guards who brave the elements to ensure students walk safely to and from school!
• MPD volunteers at Ronald McDonald House: Lending their hearts, hands and muscles, members the Madison Police Department recently volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House.
• Chief Barnes to be inducted into Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame: Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes will be inducted into the Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame this summer. 
• Police Be Our Valentine: Officers deliver flowers, candy to people across the city: Officers delivered candy, cards and carnations to hundreds of people throughout the city on Valentine’s Day. This is the third year for the department’s “Police Be Our Valentine” event.
• Starting on the evening of Sunday, March 3 the Streets Division will begin operating street sweepers from 10pm to 6am, as weather allows, in addition to the normal 7am to 3pm operating hours. We understand this work might disrupt residents’ sleep for one night, but cleaning up the salt, sand, and other debris from the road is one of the best things we can do to protect our lakes. Working sweepers at night is safer for crews because there are far fewer cars out.  Sweepers are very slow, traveling at a max speed of about 5MPH when they collect debris. So, keeping them out of conflict with traffic is safer for everyone.  Sweeping at night can also allow sweeping in high traffic areas that would be otherwise inaccessible during the day due to traffic. 
• Prescribed burns of native vegetation will be carried out from March 11 to May 31. At some point during this time period, expect the Crazylegs Pavilion native planting, at the intersection of S Breese Ter, Regent St and Monroe St to be affected. All burns are being conducted by certified staff with approval by Madison Fire Department. The burns will only take place under specific weather conditions in order to manage smoke and minimize impacts to neighbors. In addition, the burn professionals will install appropriate road signage on the day of the burn. For a full list of burn locations, please visit the project website.

Events

• Coffee with a Cop - East District Station, Monday, February 26: Officers serving the east side of Madison are hosting a Coffee with a Cop event on February 26. The goal of the event is to connect community members to the officers patrolling in their neighborhood.
• Learn How to Ride Metro at Meadowridge Library, Tuesday, February 27: Learn how to use Metro Transit’s fixed route city bus service. Topics include using Google Maps, the Transit app, and other digital options; paper schedules and phone service; and discounted fare options. Metro employees will answer your questions about bus travel and provide one-on-one assistance in English and Spanish.
• Yoga Core, Tuesday, February 27: Yoga Core is a great class to help build strength and body awareness. 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. Participants will need to be able to get up and down off the floor. Chairs or walls may be used for balance assistance.
• Learn to Nordic Walk, Tuesday, February 27: What is Nordic walking? Join us at Elver Park on Tuesday, February 27 and learn what it's all about! We've partnered with Madison Nordic Ski Club (MadNorSki) for this free workshop. Participants of all ages are welcome and will explore Elver Park and learn where to hike and snowshoe in this park.
• Regent Neighborhood Association meeting, February 27, 7pm. Join via Zoom 
• Meditation At Monona Terrace, Thursday, February 29: Mindfulness Meditation will be led by Sarah Moore M.D., a mind-body practitioner, therapist, and physician. Sarah has been practicing meditation for more than 20+ years and teaching meditation to groups and individuals for the past 15 years. Her personal practice has brought her much peace, joy and stability, and she is excited to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with others.
• Learn How to Ride Metro at Meadowridge Library, Thursday, February 29: Learn how to use Metro Transit’s fixed route city bus service. Topics include using Google Maps, the Transit app, and other digital options; paper schedules and phone service; and discounted fare options. Metro employees will answer your questions about bus travel and provide one-on-one assistance in English and Spanish.
• MPD Community Academy, Thursday, February 29: The Madison Police Department is now accepting applications for this year’s Community Academy. The program is designed to give people an understanding of the department’s values, goals and operations. The free academy will run six consecutive Thursdays starting Feb. 29. The evening sessions will start at 6 and end no later than 9.
• Yoga Core, Friday, March 1: Yoga Core is a great class to help build strength and body awareness. 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. Participants will need to be able to get up and down off the floor. Chairs or walls may be used for balance assistance.
• Learn How to Ride Metro at Central Library, Saturday, March 2: Learn how to use Metro Transit’s fixed route city bus service. Topics include using Google Maps, the Transit app, and other digital options; paper schedules and phone service; and discounted fare options. Metro employees will answer your questions about bus travel and provide one-on-one assistance in English and Spanish.
• Learn How to Ride Metro at Alicia Ashman Library, Saturday, March 2: Learn how to use Metro Transit’s fixed route city bus service. Topics include using Google Maps, the Transit app, and other digital options; paper schedules and phone service; and discounted fare options. Metro employees will answer your questions about bus travel and provide one-on-one assistance in English and Spanish.
• Sunset Woods Neighborhood Association organizational meeting, March 7, 6pm, Sequoya Library. The association is proposed to include the area east of Larkin Street from Mineral Point Rd north to Regent Street; south of Regent Street from Larkin St to Franklin Ave; south of Hillcrest from Franklin Ave to Speedway Rd; north of Speedway Rd from Hillcrest Ave to Glenway St; and north of Mineral Point Rd from Glenway St to Larkin St. Residents, property owners, and business owners in this area are invited to attend.
• Park & Open Space Plan Open House Drop-In Sessions: Madison Parks is updating its Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) and seeking input from area residents. The purpose of the POSP is to guide and inform public park policies and park facility decisions in the city of Madison.  Parks staff is working with a consultant planning team led by MSA Professional Services, Inc., to host a series of open houses to introduce the project and gather input from attendees.  The open houses are drop-in sessions, held at various locations throughout the city in April and May. Participants may stop by anytime during the two-hour event, each held from 5:30 – 7:30pm. POSP Open House Sessions:
• Thursday, April 4, Vel Phillips Memorial High School, 201 S Gammon Rd; Wisconsin Community Room
• Thursday, April 25, Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Dr; Meeting Room
• Thursday, May 2, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave; Atrium
• Thursday, May 9, Madison Parks Lakeside Offices, 330 E Lakeside St; Board Room
• The Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison is offering a free, in-person fair housing training seminar for owners and managers of rental properties, or staff operating shelters or residential programs, in Madison on Tuesday, May 14, 3-5 p.m. at the Madison Public Library Hawthorne Branch - Community Room, 2707 E. Washington Ave. Register online for this seminar, or call 414-278-1240. The seminar will include information about the protected classes and prohibited practices delineated by local, state, and federal fair housing laws, as well as reasonable accommodations and modifications for tenants with disabilities.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver