Condolences to Sasha Rosen's family and friends; Plans for Virginia Terrace and surrounding streets at Board of Public Works Wednesday; Save the Date for Near West Alder Meet and Greet Feb. 23; Events & Announcements

Hello neighbors,

I am absolutely heartbroken at the tragic loss of Sasha Rosen on his way to West this last week. My condolences to the family, and everyone at West who knew and cared for Sasha. 

While the investigation into the crash is still ongoing, both the Madison Police Department and Traffic Engineering are developing plans to address the situations that led to this tragedy. In the meantime, if you are driving, please: put down your phones, obey the speed limit, and watch – and stop for – pedestrians in crosswalks. Had the driver done these things, Sasha would still be with us.

Construction Updates

The Board of Public Works will be considering the plans, specifications, and schedule of assessments for Virginia Terrace, Norwood Place, Rugby Row, and Hillington Way on February 11 at 4:30pm. If you live on the affected streets, you should have received the mailing for your assessment.

Updates and Notices

Neighborhood Grants – Due February 10: The Planning Division is accepting grant applications from organizations that serve neighborhoods and groups of 5 or more residents for community enhancement or leadership and capacity building projects. 

In person absentee voting for the Spring Primary is open! In our district, there is only one race on the ballot for the spring primary, Dane County Circuit Court Judge. Information about these candidates is available from the League of Women Voters, and the City Channel Know Your Candidates. Polls will be open on February 17!

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• E. Rusk Ave Shared-Use Path, Monday, February 9: The E. Rusk Ave Shared-Use Path project will create a 10-ft wide and approximately 2,500-ft long, shared-use path along the northwest side of E. Rusk Ave between N. Rusk Ave and Rimrock Rd. 
• Madison-McFarland Intergovernmental Agreement Meeting (McFarland residents), Monday, February 9: The City of Madison and the Village of McFarland are considering whether to enter into an intergovernmental agreement to address issues of mutual concern surrounding our shared border and to plan for how growth may occur in the future. The City and Village previously had an agreement in place that expired in 2018.

Announcements and News Releases

• Community Exposure Locations for Confirmed Case of Measles in Dane County: Public Health Madison & Dane County continues to investigate the confirmed case of measles in Dane County. So far, the investigation has identified several community locations where people may have been exposed. 
• Madison Public Market Achieves LEED Gold Certification: The City of Madison Engineering Division is proud to announce the Madison Public Market Facility has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. 
• Madison Arts Commission and Monona Terrace Announce Call for Art for Rooftop and Olin Terrace: The Madison Arts Commission invites artists to apply to the 2026 Art on the Rooftop exhibition at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. Art on the Rooftop is a free sculpture exhibition that showcases the rooftop gardens and the facility as another “must see” Madison destination. 
• MPD sees drop in theft from autos; here are ways to help continue downward trend: The Madison Police Department is sharing ways people can prevent having their property stolen from their vehicles. 
• Madison Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for the 2026 Historic Preservation Awards! From standout restoration and stewardship projects to individuals and groups supporting preservation, there are multiple categories to showcase excellence in historic preservation. Submit your nomination by February 20 and help celebrate the people and places that keep our community’s heritage alive.
• Affordable Housing Success Stories: Avenue Square Apartments, which has been open for a little more than a year, was supported through the city’s affordable housing funds. Residents have developed a strong sense of community and trust through both resident-organized events and building management.

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

• Lakeside Dance Lab: WERQ, Thursday, February 12: WERQ is a cardio dance fitness class that uses pop and hip-hop music to provide an intense and fun workout without the feeling of a traditional workout. 
• Visit RoundTrip @ Winter Bike to Work Day, Friday, February 13: We’re joining Madison Bikes to celebrate International Winter Bike to Work Day! Stop by and say hi—we’ll be set up just off the Cap City Trail near Machinery Row for a commuter station. 
• Black Love, Friday, February 13: Prepare to be immersed in an evening of captivating spoken word poetry that celebrates the beauty, resilience, and power of Black love. Join us for West High's Black Love event, where talented artists will share their stories, experiences, and emotions through spoken word, exploring the complexities, joys, and challenges of love within the Black community. 
• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, February 13: 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! 
• Groove & Glide | Vilas, Friday, February 13: Experience the fun and beauty of ice skating under the stars and lights with music and games.  All ages and experience levels are welcome. Groove & Glide events are free to attend and no registration is needed.
• Winter Market, Centro, Fridays, February 13-March 27: The Winter Market Series brings together local vendors, small businesses, and community members during the winter months at Centro’s indoor plaza. Each week, attendees can also enjoy community cooking workshops, where guest chefs prepare delicious, culturally rich sample-size dishes to taste and learn from.
• Kiddie Basketball Clinic, Saturday, February 14 (This event occurs on multiple dates): This basketball clinic is designed for boys and girls in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Kids will learn the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting, passing and game-play. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, February 14: Birds & Animals in Winter ~ Join Naturalist Paul Noeldner on a free fun educational family friendly guided walk to look for and learn about birds and animals in winter when love is in the air! Try making some tracks and see who can guess what they are!  Enjoy hot cocoa and smores around a campfire after the walk.
• Pour’n Yer Heart, Saturday, February 14: Pour’n Yer Heart ™ Out is more than just a spectator’s show; it’s a hands-on opportunity to access the art of metal casting. Workshops are open to all who are willing to try something new. Attendees can enjoy making a deeply unique, hand-crafted iron casting right from scratch!
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, February 15: Tracks and Signs ~ Join Naturalist Kathlean Wolf  for a free fun educational family friendly guided walk to explore the Wild Side of Warner Park.  We'll look for the footprints, scat, and nests of our wild neighbors, and try to interpret the story of their lives during the coldest part of winter.  We may have hot cocoa and a campfire with smores after the walk.
• Black Heritage Celebration, Madison Children’s Museum, February 19: Join Madison Children’s Museum on February 19, 5–8 pm, as we honor the contributions of Black people in our community with a celebration featuring Black artists, musicians, and leaders. Free admission begins at 4 pm, and activities continue from 5 to 8 pm. No event tickets required!
• Unjust Deeds: The History of Racial Covenants in Dane County, February 19: Racial covenants were made illegal with the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. Nevertheless, their impacts are pervasive and still with us today. This program, presented by local historian Rick Bernstein, will explore the history of racial covenants in Dane County and nationwide. Throughout the month of February, you can also learn about this through the traveling exhibit which you can view at the Central Library.
• The Wisconsin Book Festival has loads of events from February through May at various locations, including a presentation from the author of The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram, the queer, Black son of a housecleaner, who had nevertheless been decorated in the halls of Harvard and Columbia. The author introduces us to an unforgettable character who fled from country to country as fighting advanced, was captured by Nazis and outwitted them in a daring escape, and risked it all in a personal fight for a life of love, freedom, beauty and dignity in a world set against him.

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

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, February 10, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include celebrating Black History Month.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Board of Park Commissioners: The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 11, at 6:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an informational presentation on art proposals for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

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

Take care,

Regina Vidaver