WILY STREET FAIR-THIS WEEKEND! This is it folks!

Dearest Friends and Neighbors!

     I am writing with the heartfelt hopes that this note finds you all well and finding joy.  Speaking of joy!  Did you know that this weekend, September 18th and 19th, is the 44th Annual Willy Street Fair?  This event has always been special for me.  As someone who adores summer, I have always looked at the Willy Street Fair as the most amazing way to say goodbye to all the wonderful, outdoor happenings that Madison can offer.  This year’s Fair will be special for many reasons.  Just the fact that the Fair benefits two of my favorite community based institutions- the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center and Common Wealth Development Inc., is reason enough to visit the Fair.  Yet for me, there is also the opportunity to carry on my tradition of attending every Fair (with a couple of exceptions) to connect with hundreds of old acquaintances; listen to fantastic music; eat great food; marvel at the Bubble man; cheer on the beautiful parade of my neighbors; watch a few minutes of the Packer game in Tony’s tent; and fortify my soul for the upcoming winter.

     After these horrific two years, because of Covid-19 and massive inequalities within Madison, like many of you, I have been searching for opportunities to offer and receive love as a way to survive stay-at-home orders and witnessing the unneeded suffering from many that I serve with the UW-Odyssey Project and within our community.  This summer when we could finally gather together for festivals and outdoor events -before the variant continued Covid’s deadly march through our lives, at times as a Boomer, I wondered if I felt the same kind of giddy excitement as folks felt at the end of WW2.  Having spent time at the Sessions (thanks Bob and the Board) at Garver this weekend, I am so dang proud to call D6 my home.  Say what you want, but we in D6 have the best festivals in town.  How do I know?  I see you all over here- from all around the city and area. 

With the dark, cold days of winter fast approaching, this year’s Willy Street Fair will be my therapy to get me to better days.  Please join me and let’s send this summer out with a hoot and a holler! 

Sending you all my best wishes, love and care

BB