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Celebrate Labor Day; If you See Something, Say Something with Report a Problem website; Friends of Hoyt Park Annual Meeting; Events & Announcements

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Hello neighbors,

This Labor Day, it seems especially important to recall the history of why the holiday was created. Heather Cox Richardson, in her September 1, 2024 edition of Letters from an American, describes the first parade and picnic in New York City to celebrate workers for Labor Day in 1882. Unionization of workers began after the Civil War, as people who had labored in support of wartime needs were no longer subject to calls of them being unpatriotic if they weren’t giving their all to their war-time employers. In 1866, the National Labor Union met with 60,000 people to demand an eight-hour workday, which was instituted for federal employees in 1868. Labor Day was finally made a holiday in 1894, recognizing the need for laborers, without actually giving in to their demands for more equity between the wealthy and the working class. Today, as the CEO of Starbucks makes more than 6,000 times the income of his average employees, the federal government is seeking to ban collective bargaining at multiple agencies, and billionaires are paying lower percentages of their income to the IRS than many middle-class professionals, celebrating our workers is more important than ever.

I commonly bike the SW Commuter Path. For several weeks, I had noticed graffiti on the asphalt and on a couple of the bridges. I thought, “that must have been reported already”. But the graffiti wasn’t removed, day after day. So, I used the Report a Problem website to report it to the city, and the graffiti was removed the next day. The moral of the story? Don’t expect others to have reported something, whether its graffiti, potholes, stormwater grates askew, or a house in dire need of repair – if you see something, say something!

Updates and Notices

The City of Madison will be closed for observation of the Labor Day Holiday. All emergency services will be open. For emergencies, please call 911.

  • Emergency Water Issue: Call Madison Water Utility at 608-266-4665, 24/7.
  • Sanitary Sewer Back-up: Call 608-266-4430. An emergency crew will respond to your call.
  • Report a Problem: Report non-emergencies that can wait until the next City working day.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

  • Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 2, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include approving a visual land acknowledgement at the Madison Public Market.
  • Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 3, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include enhancing the City’s street tree protection provisions.
  • Community Development Block Grant Committee: The Community Development Block Grant Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, September 4, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing the allocation of approximately $3.5 million of combined City and Federal funds among seven non-profit agencies to support the provision of homeless services and housing resources beginning in 2026.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

  • Public Input Meeting - Canter and Woods Farm Parks, Thursday, September 4: The City of Madison Parks Division is starting the design process for both Woods Farm Park and Canter Park on the northeast side of the city. Each park is approximately 5 acres. In anticipation of further growth in the neighborhood, a master plan is being put together to guide the development of these two existing parks. There will be public information meetings to discuss both parks.

Announcements and News Releases

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

  • From Council to Community: Meet your Eastside & Northside Alders!, Wednesday, September 3: Join us for an exciting event where you can connect with your local representatives in a casual setting. This in-person gathering will take place at Madison Area Technical College, giving you the opportunity to chat with your alders and learn more about their work in the community. Don't miss this chance to engage with the people who represent you and make your voice heard. We look forward to seeing you there! Please register in advance.
  • Friends of Hoyt Park Annual Meeting, September 4, 6:30pm, Sequoya library.
  • Live at The Glen | The Mike Schneider Polka Band, Friday, September 5: The Mike Schneider Band(link is external) has been entertaining audiences throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio since 1996. Since that time, Mike and his band have been nominated for 24 polka awards from five separate organizations.
  • Madison-Vilnius Sister Cities will have an annual picnic on Saturday, September 6, 2-6pm, Burrows park shelter. Bring some food to share, it can be "sumuštiniai" (sandwiches), salad, tomatoes from your garden, "tinginys" or any other dessert.
  • The 5th annual Madison Good Neighbor Gathering, September 7: The 5th annual Madison Good Neighbor Gathering is just around the corner! This year it will be on Sunday, September 7 from noon to 4 pm in Brittingham Park. Sponsored by DMNA, VNA, Greenbush, Bay Creek, Monona Bay, Triangle, and Bayview neighborhoods, local businesses, organizations and individual donors, this free event promises fun and exciting activities for all ages, including bouncy slides, a climbing wall, food trucks, a scavenger hunt, circus activities, educational tables, dance and music, and more. Kids who pre-register will get a gift bag. Click on the QR code to register here: Madison GNG
  • Connecting with Our Westside Districts: Alder Meet and Greet 2025, September 10: The Common Council invites residents to a casual meet-and-greet event to engage and network with Madison’s Westside Alders!
  • The Madison Fire Department, Madison Police Department, and the American Red Cross are sponsoring the Never Forget 9/11 Blood Drive, September 11, 8:30am-2:30pm, Goodman Community Center – Brassworks Building, 214 Waubesa Street, Madison, WI.
  • Rocky Bluff Neighborhood summer party: September 13, 3-6pm, 2922 Stevens St.
  • Save the date for the 22nd Annual Penny Carnival on Hillington Green! Sun Sept 14th, 3:00-5:00pm. Here's how it works: Kids/parents/families create a game or activity booth at the park, along with very small prizes or participation gifts (like candy, snacks, stickers, pennies, old stuffies or fidget toys that you want to get rid of, etc). Each game costs one cent to play. There are lots of easy options that kids of all ages will love. Google “DIY penny carnival games" for some internet inspiration.
  • The next major reconstruction that will affect our area and improve stormwater management is reconstruction of Regent Street. The City will host a public information meeting at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 15, via Zoom. During the meeting, City staff will discuss the upcoming construction project. Registration prior is required.
  • 25th Annual Bicycle Film Festival: October 2, 6:30pm, Barrymore Theater.

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver

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District 5 - Alder Vidaver

Alder Regina Vidaver

Alder Regina M. Vidaver

District 5, Council President
Contact Alder Vidaver

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