May budget meetings, N-S BRT and passenger rail public meetings, Measles is here, Announcements & Events

Hello neighbors,

During the month of May, the Common Council will be holding a series of informational meetings about the 2025 operating budget, which is facing a significant shortfall. Our district’s “official” meeting will be May 29, from 5:30-7:30pm at Goodman South Library. While these meetings are designed for various areas of the City, you should feel free to attend any and all that fit your schedule and location needs. Some of the events will be in person, and some will be hybrid, in an attempt to accommodate everyone. The first meeting is this Wednesday, May 1, 6:30-8:30pm at John F. Kennedy Elementary School.

Public Information Meetings

• Public Meeting - North-South BRT, Monday, April 29: Planning Continues for North/South BRT. At the next round of meetings, the public can provide feedback and see changes that have been made based on input we received, including updated station locations and routing.
• Passenger Rail Virtual Neighborhood Information Session, Tuesday, April 30: The City of Madison is conducting a study to identify a future passenger rail station location, which would be served by a planned extension of Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service, linking Madison to Milwaukee and Chicago and, eventually, to Eau Claire and the Twin Cities. Join Alder Mike Verveer (D4), Alder Marsha Rummel (D6), Alder Amani Latimer Burris (D12), and Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford (D15) for a virtual neighborhood information session that will discuss the various station locations under consideration and what the planning team expects regarding other aspects of the project.

Announcements and News Releases

• Confirmed Case of Measles in Dane County: Public Health Madison & Dane County reports that there is a confirmed case of measles in Dane County, with travel and employment in Rock County.
• City of Madison Honored as a Tree City USA for 35 Years: Madison’s first year recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA was 1989. We have received the award again this year, making it our 35th year of being a Tree City USA, and it is the 19th year we have received the Growth Award.
• City of Madison Reaches Major Solar Milestone: The City of Madison is proud to announce that it has reached the significant milestone of 2 megawatts of installed and commissioned solar on its buildings and facilities.
• Food Scraps Recycling Returns to Eastside Farmers’ Market Tuesday, April 30, 2024: Food scraps recycling drop-off will return to the Eastside Farmers' Market starting on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.Individuals may drop-off certain allowable food scraps to a designated drop-off booth for free.
• Hundreds help paint State Street; Pedestrian Mall Experiment to launch May 8: More than 600 people from across the Madison area signed up to help paint State Street on Sunday, April 21, adding vibrant colors in the form of murals, stencils and polka dots across the 400 to 600 blocks of State Street.
• Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center’s 2023 Annual Report, which looks “Beyond the Building”, is now available. This report highlights the recently completed Economic Impact Study commissioned and funded by Friends of Monona Terrace. The Tourism Economics report shows that Monona Terrace was directly responsible for $46.2 million in total business sales in 2023 generated by our conferences, conventions, and consumer shows. Those are sales resulting from events that would not have been hosted in Madison without Monona Terrace and have a ripple effect on our local economy. When Tourism Economics included all Monona Terrace events (including local) our total business sales climbed to $53.4 million.

Events

• Yoga Core, Tuesday, April 30, 2024: 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.
• Business Certification Roundtable Luncheon, Tuesday, April 30: Join Madison Black Chamber of Commerce for an exclusive roundtable session, immediately following the Small Business Academy, where we dive into the crucial significance of certification. Complimentary Session, lunch included.
• HUD Homebuyer Education Workshop, Tuesday, April 30: HUD approved homebuyer certification class in three-parts on April 25, April 30, and May 2nd. Your path to successful homeownership. From mortgages to closings, empower yourself with the knowledge you need to make informed decision and achieve your homeownership dreams. If you have questions, email Kielley (klemkuil@ulgm.org).
• Meditation At Monona Terrace, Thursday, May 2: Life can be stressful, meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. All experience levels and drop-ins welcome.
• Open House: Park & Open Space Plan, Thursday, May 2: The City of Madison Parks Division is updating its Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) and is seeking input from area residents on the plan! The purpose of the POSP is to guide and inform public parks policy and park facility decisions in the City of Madison.  Parks, working with a consultant planning team led by MSA Professional Services, Inc., is hosting a series of open houses to introduce the project and gather input from attendees.  The open houses will be held at various locations throughout the city in April and May and are considered “drop-in” sessions – feel free to attend for the entire time or just stop in for a short while to share your thoughts & ideas with staff.
• Yoga Core, Friday, May 3, 2024: 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.
• SpringFest Arts & Crafts Fair, Saturday, May 4: Join us for the 19th annual SpringFest Arts & Crafts Fair. Over 80 crafters from the Midwest will be selling their handmade goods. You can expect to see a variety of jewelry, baskets, garden art, cards, pottery, woodwork, baby gifts, soaps, balms, lotions, knitwear, paintings, home décor and more! It's the perfect place to find a unique gift for that special someone (or for yourself).
• Inspired by Wright: Tour & Art Making Activity, Saturday, May 4: Tour the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center and discover how Wright saw geometric shapes in the world around him. You’ll learn how Monona Terrace’s unique landscape influenced his choice of geometry, expressed in nearly every aspect of the building. Then, use this newly gained knowledge to create your own Wright-inspired glass piece of art.
• Resource Fair and Family Fun Day May 11 at Meadowridge Library: The Southwest Family Resource Fair is a drop-in, family-friendly event where families living in southwest Madison and beyond can stop by Meadowridge Library to learn more about the organizations and resources available in their community.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver