Congratulations to Shiva Bidar-Sielaff on her Urban League award; John Nolen Drive construction begins Monday 10/13; Nominations for Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Award open; Science on the Square joins Madison Night Market Thursday 10/16.

Hello neighbors,

I am often reminded of the shoulders I stand on as your Alder, not least of which is my immediate predecessor, Shiva Bidar-Sielaff. Shiva does so much for our community, and it was a joy to be in the audience as she was awarded the much-deserved President’s Community Champion from the Urban League of Greater Madison. Thank you, Shiva, for all you have done and continue to do to make our community welcoming, healthy, and resilient!

Image credit: Regina Vidaver

Shiva Bidar-Sielaff receiving her award from Urban League President, Dr. Ruben Anthony

Updates and Notices

Public Health Offices Closed: Public Health Offices will be closed on Monday, October 13, 2025, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. The City of Madison Offices will remain open and operate regular office hours.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Public Information Meeting - James Madison Park, Tuesday, October 14: Madison Parks plans to rebuild the existing retaining wall around the Lincoln School Apartments in James Madison Park. Advanced registration is required.

Announcements and News Releases

• John Nolen Drive Reconstruction Begins Monday, October 13: Reconstruction of John Nolen Drive will begin on Monday, October 13. During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Lakeside Street and Broom Street.
• Update - Nakoma Road Sidewalk Project: The Nakoma Road Sidewalk Project, which began August 27, is progressing as anticipated. The closure of the impacted intersection of Cherokee Drive at Nakoma Road will continue until the week of October 27th as the culvert installation concludes.
• Road Closure for Tree Planting: Starting at 9am on October 15, City of Madison Forestry will begin grinding tree stumps and planting new trees at 2903 Packers Ave. This work is expected to take 3 hours.
• SafeGrowth Initiative Brings New Public Art to Historic Downtown Corridor: West Gilman Street is being transformed by three distinctive public art projects, breathing new creative energy into the historic corridor.
• The Dane County Food Action Plan needs your input! Please complete this survey on your hopes for healthy, local food.
• October is Pedestrian Safety Month: As the days grow shorter and more kids walk to and from school, fall is a great time for everyone in Madison to get outside for some fresh air, exercise, and exploration. It’s also the perfect moment to focus on pedestrian safety.
• Next Phase of Public Meetings for Southwest and Southeast Area Plans Scheduled: Residents, community organizations, businesses, and others are invited to join in the second phase of the planning for the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans with a series of public meetings in the coming weeks.
• Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award : The City of Madison invites you to submit nominations for its annual Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award.
• Common Council adopts latest changes to encourage more housing opportunities: City of Madison Alders unanimously approved the latest set of Housing Forward proposals designed to make it easier to build more housing of all types across Madison.
• Mayor Releases 2026 Executive Operating Budget : The 2026 Executive Operating Budget proposal funds the services, programs, and staff needed for a well-run and thriving city.

• Swearing-In Ceremony for Madison’s New Chief of Police John Patterson:

  The City of Madison and the Madison Police Department invite community members and the media to attend the official swearing-in ceremony for John Patterson as our new Chief of Police.

• Announcement from the Office of the Independent Monitor: Robin Copley has informed the Police Civilian Oversight Board that she has resigned her position as Independent Police Monitor.
• Art Installations Begin at Madison Public Market: Work is now underway to begin installing some of the first pieces of art at Madison Public Market.

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

• Learn to Fish, Tuesday, October 14: Learn to Fish with Madison Parks. Participants will learn the basics of fishing. The Fishmobile, courtesy of Warner Park Community Recreation Center, will be on site with all the fishing equipment needed to participate.
• Science on the Square AND Madison Night Market, October 16, 5-9pm.
• MMSD Vaccination Clinics – open to all MMSD students over age 5:
  • October 17, 10am-2pm, Holzman Learning Center
  • October 18, 10am-2pm, Holzman Learning Center
  • October 20, 8am-12pm, Holzman Learning Center
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, October 18: Transitioning to Winter ~ Join Master Naturalist Sean Gere with Friends of Starkweather Creek for a free family friendly guided tour along Starkweather Creek.  Enjoy Fall outdoors and learn how plants, trees, birds, insects and other animals are enjoying the bounty of Summer and getting ready for Winter.
• Volunteer at The Glen, Saturday, October 18 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Volunteering at The Glen offers you a unique opportunity to contribute to your community, learn new skills, grow personally and professionally, and connect with like-minded individuals.
• Rock ‘N’ The Well Open House, Saturday, October 18: Rocks! Water! Motion! Welcome to Madison Water Utility’s Rock ‘N’ The Well Open House 2025! This event is FREE to all community members. Show up any time between Noon and 4 pm.
• Hayrides & Hikes, Saturday, October 18: Tour Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North Unit aboard a tractor-pulled hay wagon, enjoy nature activities, take a self-guided hike, participate in the scavenger hunt or do it all! Plus enjoy free hot cider, a campfire, and marshmallows to roast on the fire.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, October 19: Reflections and Changes ~ Join Master Naturalist Lynn Persson for a free family friendly guided nature walk on easy paths along the Warner Lagoon, quiet trails through Warner Woods, and follow the bike path to Sled Hill for a beautiful view of the Wild Side of Warner Park!
• Join the Neighborhood House Community Center (29 S. Mills) for two community events on Monday, October 20th. Both programs are free of charge, and you can come for one or both!
  • Memory Café – 11am-12:30pm. This social gathering for individuals with memory loss, along with their families, friends, and caregivers is a chance to connect, share experiences, and enjoy each other’s company.
  • Healthy Living Lunch & Guest Speaker – 12:30-1:30pm. After the Memory Café, we’ll have lunch together, and Dr. Rachel Bennett will lead a discussion about “Lumps and Bumps: What’s on my skin?”
• Save the date: Stand Down Madison, a day to help veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness: October 25, 8:30am-1pm, the Salvation Army, 3030 Darbo Drive.
• Save the date: Vaccines: Dispelling Myths and Making Informed Choices, October 27, 7-8pm. Please join the Morgridge Institute for Research for a Fearless Science Forum webinar exploring vaccines. Morgridge Investigator Paul Ahlquist will be joined by Drs. Jorge Osorio, Nasia Safdar, and John V Williams to discuss how vaccines protect communities, how rigorous safety processes work through each stage of their development before and after release, and how to start separating credible information from misleading claims. Participants will leave with practical tools for evaluating sources and making informed decisions.
• Save the date: Halloween events abound!
  • Halloween on the Green, Sunday, October 26, starting at 4:30pm at Hillington Green triangle park.
  • Hilldale-O-Ween, Sunday, October 26, 3-5pm. Meet at the Green, outside the Apple store.
  • Halloween will be celebrated in the Shepherd Terrace cul-de-sac starting at 6pm on October 31. Please bring a dish to pass and your own family’s beverages. Please bring a donation for pizza!

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