Water main flushing, Public information meeting on University Ave development, S Owen Drive & SW Bike path closures, other announcements and events

Hello neighbors,

Due to the “50 piece rule”, which prohibits a person elected to state or local office who becomes a candidate for any public office from using public funds for distribution of more than 49 pieces of substantially identical material during the campaign season, I will no longer be providing these updates directly to local listserves. Rather, I will supply them to individuals who can choose to forward them on. Similarly, the same information will be posted to my blog on the City website, but the distribution list for the blog is disabled.

Please be advised that water main flushing is starting this week west of Breese Terrace between Regent St. and University Ave.

I also want you to be aware that there is a new development proposed for 3535-3553 University Avenue. There will be a virtual public information meeting on this item on May 20, at 6pm. This is a first neighborhood meeting to get feedback. Please register in advance.

Announcements and News Releases

• Road Closure - South Owen Drive Reconstruction: Starting on Monday, May 6, South Owen Drive, between Regent Street and Hillcrest Drive, is fully closed for reconstruction.
• Southwest Bike Path Segment Closure – Crane Removal : Starting on Monday, May 6th at 6:00 am, Stevens Construction Corp. will close the Southwest Bike Path, from East Campus Mall to West Washington Ave, to remove the tower crane located at 750 Regent St.  This section of the Southwest Bike Path will remain closed until 5pm May 10.
• Street Closure for Madison Night Market: Starting at noon on Thursday, May 9th, portions of West Gilman Street, North Broom Street, West Mifflin Street, and North Carroll Street will be closed for the first Madison Night Market of the year.
• The Madison Water Utility has released its annual drinking water report.
• Make your voice heard on how Madison and Dane County should spend federal HUD funds.
• City of Madison’s Economic Development Division celebrates Small Business Week 2024: The City of Madison’s Economic Development Division is taking a moment as part of National Small Business Week 2024 to celebrate all of Madison's small business owners who are chasing their dreams and make Madison such a special city.
• City resources for small businesses: Small Business Equity and Recovery program: The City of Madison’s Small Business Equity and Recovery (SBER) program was started to support small, independent businesses owned by historically disadvantaged people.
• City resources for small businesses: Healthy Retail Access Program: The City of Madison’s Healthy Retail Access Program provides funding for businesses that increase access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food.
• City resources for small businesses: Commercial ownership assistance program: The City of Madison’s Commercial Ownership Assistance (COA) program helps business owners expand by transitioning from rental spaces to owning their own commercial property.
• City resources for small businesses: Kiva loan matches and Building Improvement Grants: The City of Madison offers a match program for Kiva loans for businesses that work with designated community partners, which gives qualifying businesses access to an additional match loan of up to $7,500.
• West Area Plan feedback summary, DRAFT Plan edit highlights, and additional public meetings announced: City staff are announcing proposed changes to the DRAFT West Area Plan and additional public meetings.
• Metro Transit and MMSD Schools Announce 4th Annual Summer Youth Pass Program: On Thursday, May 2, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, and Madison Metropolitan School District Interim Superintendent Lisa Kvistad held a press conference to announce Metro’s fourth annual free summer youth pass program for Madison residents.
• Engineering Crews Clean Sewer Overflow on City’s North Side: A sanitary sewer overflow is cleaned up and a sewer main is repaired after quick response from City Engineering crews.
• Limit mowing to twice in the next month as part of Low Mow May 2024: The City of Madison is asking people to support our local pollinators by limiting mowing practices in the next month as part of Low Mow May 2024.
• MPD captain recognized nationally as a rising police leader: Captain Stephanie Drescher with the Madison Police Department was recognized in Las Vegas last week as a rising police leader and for her research on domestic violence homicides.
• From Vision to Reality: Four Community-Led Teams Selected to Create New Events at Madison Public Library this Year: Library Takeover is an opportunity to support communities in making their ideas happen at the library. Following an open call for applications, four teams have been selected to host community events in library spaces later this year.

Events

• Learn to Fall Safely, Wednesday, May 8, 2024: SAFELY Learn to fall safely and to get backup without injury. Falls are a leading cause of death for older adults in Wisconsin. We will use thick “crash mats” for practicing .Classes are progressive. Attending all 4 classes recommended. Scholarships available.
• Music in the Park in May, Wednesday, May 8 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Free concert series at the Olin Park pavilion sponsored by FOOT - Friends of Olin-Turville and Madison Parks. Wednesdays in May from 6 to 8pm. Doors open at 5:45pm.
• Conservation Park Tour, Wednesday, May 8: Conservation Park Tours are educational staff-guided walks held at various conservation parks on the 2nd Wednesday, May - October. Event starting times vary, depending on the sunset and typically last about 90 minutes. Walks are held rain or shine, free to attend, easy-paced and family-friendly. No registration is required. Most locations do NOT have restrooms. As always, dogs and pets are prohibited in all conservation parks.
• Meditation At Monona Terrace, Thursday, May 9 (This event occurs on multiple dates): 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 9: 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 10, 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.
• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, May 10: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the game room or the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo!
• Homebuyer Education Workshop, Saturday, May 11: Take the first step to owning a home and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE Homebuyer Education workshop by the Home Buyers Round Table of Dane County takes place in-person at the Sunshine Place (18 Rickel Rd., Sun Prairie, WI) on Saturday, May 11 from 8:30am-3:30pm! Lunch will be provided.
• Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift A, Saturday, May 11: Join us for a rewarding morning of environmental stewardship as we work together to combat invasive garlic mustard at Heritage Sanctuary! Garlic mustard threatens the biodiversity of our local ecosystems, and your help is crucial in preserving the natural beauty of our community.  Help us protect the rich, spring wildflower display at this park.  
• Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift B, Saturday, May 11: Join us for a rewarding morning of environmental stewardship as we work together to combat invasive garlic mustard at Heritage Sanctuary! Garlic mustard threatens the biodiversity of our local ecosystems, and your help is crucial in preserving the natural beauty of our community.  Help us protect the rich, spring wildflower display at this park.  
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, May 11: Month of Maying ~ Join Naturalist Alex Singer for a free fun family friendly outing to enjoy Spring birds, bugs, flowers, and the burst of life occurring around you.  Can you find flowers blooming and bees buzzing? Do you hear a Song Sparrow singing its love song?  Can you spot a Bluebird pair making a home at a Bluebird Box?
• Please join the Friends of Hoyt Park for an acoustic survey of the Hoyt Park Bats on Saturday, May 11 at 8:15 p.m.  Meet by the kiosk in the Hoyt Park main parking lot.  This is a family friendly event so please bring the kids! FHP member Anne Reis will use an Echometer Touch Wildlife Acoustics instrument to help us hear, see and ID these  flying mammals foraging in the air above us. Learn what they eat, what they look like and why they are important to Wisconsin and the world. We will walk for a bit in the field and on some paths, so wear shoes for uneven terrain. The rain date is May 18.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, May 12: Month of Maying ~ Join Naturalist Alex Singer for a free fun family friendly outing to enjoy Spring birds, bugs, flowers, and the burst of life occurring around you.  Can you find trees budding, flowers blooming and bees buzzing? Do you hear a Robin singing its love song?  Can you spot an Owl pair by their nest in the pines?

Be well,

Regina Vidaver