Capital High tours, redistricting, budget, events and more

Hello neighbors,

A reminder that you have the opportunity to tour the future home of Capital High at the Hoyt School Building THIS THURSDAY, October 14. Most of the 6:30pm slots have filled, but there are still plenty of openings for the 6:50, 7:10 and 7:30pm slots. You will be able to meet Quinn Craugh, Capital High’s Principal, and I will be there as well. Principal Craugh will orient you to how the space will be reconfigured for 21st century learning, and the amazing amenities that will be available with this reconfiguration. Remember that all these amenities (commercial kitchen, science labs, art spaces, etc.) will also be available to the community outside of school hours through MSCR activities.

Redistricting

• The Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee has identified Option 7a as the option they will recommend to the Common Council. A few tweaks to this may still be coming. Please feel free to weigh in by emailing all alders, or registering for public comment at the October 19 Common Council meeting.
• At the County level, redistricting work has also nearly completed, with Option C being the preferred option. There was an excellent summary of this work in Sunday’s Wisconsin State Journal, in case you missed it.

Budget

The Finance Committee will be continuing discussions on the 2022 Executive Operating Budget tomorrow:

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

For additional information about other meetings scheduled for this week, please consult the City Meeting Schedule.

Events

• The next opportunity for the community to learn more about the Town of Madison Attachment is scheduled for 5 p.m., Oct. 14, at Penn Park Shelter, 2101 Fisher Street.
• The Overture Center for the Arts is seeking participants to honor loved ones who have passed by making an altar box. The Community Altar will be displayed at Overture Rotunda Gallery, October 28 through November 14. This participatory project draws on the Day of the Dead altar-making traditions in Mexico and remembrance traditions worldwide. You will receive the box from Overture, create the memorial altar and return it back to Overture by October 27 to be part of the Community Altar. You can make an altar in whatever way feels meaningful to you. If you are interested in participating, please reserve an altar box here. Please reach out with any questions at bracette@overture.org or head to the website.
• The date for the Focused Interruption conversation about the Gun Violence Reduction Strategy has changed: it will take place Tuesday, October 26, at 6:30pm virtually via Zoom. Please register in advance.
• On Friday, October 29, there will be fireworks north of the Wisconsin Union, for viewing from the terrace area, from 8:45-9pm.

Streets and Traffic

• Beginning Monday, October 11, the City of Madison will move to the next location of speed changes supporting the Vision Zero initiative. The posted speed limit on the .7 mile stretch of North Thompson Drive, from Sycamore to Hwy 30, will change from 30 mph to 25 mph. Temporary digital signboards are present in the areas to remind drivers of the speed limit changes.
• Fall yard waste collection begins the week of October 10. You can get the dates when you should set out your yard waste by entering your address into this form.

Beginning on Tuesday, October 12, Public Health Madison & Dane County will open a new, temporary vaccination clinic at the Arena building at the Alliant Energy Center. The site will provide first and second vaccine doses for anyone 12 and older as well as booster doses for those who are eligible.

It was an absolute delight to see so many of you participating in the Regent Art Walk on Saturday on such a gorgeous day. I was able to find a few gift items, and meet many of you in real life. Thanks so much to all the organizers and artists for putting on such a lovely event!

Best wishes,

Regina Vidaver