Week of October 5, 2026

posted 

District Niners,

        A few things:

  • Weather wise…the first few days of autumn has been great!  Get out there and enjoy it.
  • Regarding Public Records: Please be advised that, pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31-19.39, all electronic communications, including emails and information submitted through City websites, sent to City officials or staff are considered public records and are subject to open records.
  • It has been well documented …students attending Gillespie Middle School (formerly Jefferson Middle School) navigate one of ten of the most dangerous and hazardous streets (Gammon and Mineral Pt. Rd.) to walk.

Boards, Commissions & Committee Meetings

  • Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 6, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. 
  • Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, October 5, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing the Planning Division to lead the preparation of the Near West Area Plan and the North Area Plan, as well as development-related requests in Districts 6, 9, and 16.
  • Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 7, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include construction management in Districts 1, 9, 13, and 15. 

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

  • Public Meeting - Odana Hills Golf Course and Park, Wednesday, October 7: The community is invited to attend a virtual public information meeting as Parks staff provide an update on the Odana Hills Golf Course and Odana Hills East Park Master Plan redesign. 

Announcements and News Releases

  • New Oil Drop-Off Site Now Open : Madison residents have a new option for dropping off motor oil in the City.  A new location is now open at 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway, Madison, Wis. This is the City's third site it hosts for used motor oil and used oil filters. 
  • 2026 Fall Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Begins; First Set Out Date for Some Neighborhoods Is 10/4/26: Honey locust leaves are falling; backyard gardens are being harvested. It's time to start the fall leaf and yard waste pickup season! The first set out date for some - not all - neighborhoods was Sunday, October 4, 2026. 
  • Samantha Jane Mullen Named Next Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence: The Madison Arts Commission is pleased to announce sculptor Samantha Jane Mullen will be the next Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence. 
  • Early Detection Starts with Breast Cancer Screening(external): This October, Public Health Madison & Dane County is urging women not to skip or delay their recommended breast cancer screening.
  • Celebrate Native Nations with Teejop & Beyond Programs at Madison Public Library beginning October 12: MADISON, WI – The Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations program begins at Madison Public Library on Monday, October 12 (Indigenous Peoples' Day). The program is hosted in partnership with Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison. 
  • Share Your Input on Madison LakeWay SkyLine Public Art Designs: In May, the Public Art Selection Committee selected four finalists to develop design proposals for the public art for the first phase of the Madison LakeWay development project along Lake Monona, called the SkyLine. 

Events

  • School Vaccination Clinic - Leopold Elementary School (Madison), Monday, October 5: All vaccines are free for eligible individuals. Children six months and older who lack insurance, are under 19, and are either Alaskan Native or American Indian, as well as those with BadgerCare, Quartz, GHC, or Dean insurance
  • Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence Opening, Tuesday, October 6: The City of Madison and the Madison Arts Commission is holding an opening for the new Thurber Artist in Resident, Samantha Jane Mullen.

ARE YOU Bored? If so, consider:

  • Aldo Leopold Park Fall Fun, Wednesday, October 7: Come to the park on Oct 7 for complimentary sandwiches, social dance, frisbee, bike lessons and repairs.
  • 9th Annual Picnic in the Park, Saturday, October 10: Celebrate with the Madison Parks Foundation at this year's Picnic in the Park on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Warner Park Community Recreation Center (WPCRC), 1625 Northport Dr. 
  • Bird & Nature Adventures Turville Point, Sunday, October 11: Seeds and Leaves ~ Fall is the season of leaves changing colors and seed dispersal! Join Master Naturalist Stephanie Briand on a free, fun and family friendly Fall scavenger hunt to look for different kinds of seeds and leaves.

Your well-being

Before your excuse becomes “it's too cold" and the trees are bare, be curious, take a brisk walk in a park and smother yourself in the beauty of falling leaves. Observe those squirrels on a mission preparing their shelter and gathering food (nuts) for the winter. They know winter is coming.  Remember, if it's physical, it's exercise.

Until next time,

Joann

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