Congrats to Sandburg's Principal, Friday's Office Hours, visit from Governor and more!

Hi there, 

I hope this message finds you well. As we dive into the heart of May, I wanted to take a moment to extend a warm hello and share some upcoming opportunities to engage with me and your neighbors in our district.

First and foremost, I am thrilled to invite you to join me for my office hours this Friday morning at Java Cat Coffee House. It's an invaluable opportunity for us to connect one-on-one, discuss your ideas, address any concerns, and explore collaborative solutions. I genuinely look forward to our conversations and the chance to understand your needs better. Your input and perspectives are essential in shaping the future of our district, so please mark your calendars!

But that's not all. As the month progresses, we have an eagerly awaited meet and greet event scheduled on Friday, May 26th. This will be an opportunity for Eastside Alders to come together with our constituents, meet new faces, strengthen existing bonds, and share our aspirations for a brighter future. I truly believe that together, we can achieve great things, and this event will be a stepping stone toward that shared vision.

Madison Police Department’s “Coffee With a Cop” rounds out the month with a meeting scheduled on May 30th at the East District Station. For this Coffee with a Cop they will have guest speakers presenting on the RAVE Emergency Alert System in Dane County.

In the spirit of unity and progress, let's embrace this opportunity to forge connections, foster dialogue, and build bridges within our district. Your active participation is vital in creating a thriving community that we can all be proud to call home.

Be sure to continue reading today’s newsletter for full details on each event. I am genuinely excited to see your familiar faces and meet new friends during these occasions.
Remember, it's our collective efforts that will make a difference, and your voice matters. Together, let's shape a district we can be proud of!

Today’s update includes the following: 

• Upcoming Office Hours
• Honoring Leslie Watkins 
• Eastside Alder Meet & Greet
• Addressing pickup/dropoff concerns at Sandburg Elementary
• Congrats to Principal Lopez at Sandburg plus a visit from Governor Evers and Senator Agard
• Eastgate Cinema Demolition 
• Purpose Built Shelter 
• Coffee w/ a Cop 
• Funding opportunity 
• Meeting & Event highlights for the City of Madison 

Office Hours with Alder Madison this Friday morning

Join me at Java Cat Coffee House on Friday, May 19th from 7am - 9am. It’s a great opportunity to chat with me in person about any concerns you may have, ask questions, or simply stop by and say hello.  I’ll provide pastries and coffee.

Address: 4221 Lien Rd
Time: 7am - 9am 

Recognizing and Honoring Leslie Watkins for her Exceptional Contributions to the Community

I am pleased to share that I am the sponsor of a resolution honoring the life and career of Leslie Watkins, one of the first Black women to own a small business in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. I’m looking forward to highlighting Leslie’s leadership and am working towards creating a permanent and visible marker to inform more Madisonians and visitors of her contributions to the small business community in downtown Madison. The resolution will be read at the beginning of the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 6:30pm. Leslie’s loved ones will also be in attendance to speak to and receive the resolution. 

You’re invited to attend the Eastside Alders Meet & Greet 

When: Friday, May 26th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm Where: La Taguara, 3010 Crossroads Drive, Madison, WI 53718Food: Light refreshments provided 
Save the date and plan to join me and Alders representing Districts 3, 15, and 16 for the Eastside Alders Meet & Greet! The evening will be filled with stimulating conversations and meaningful connections. Whether it's addressing community concerns, enhancing local services, or brainstorming innovative solutions, your input matters. Together, we can forge a stronger, more vibrant Madison that we're all proud to call home.

Donald Dr project at Sandburg Elementary gets approval from the Transportation Commission on April 26

Early on in my appointment as Alder (before I was recently elected) I met with members of Sandburg Elementary School PTO as well as with Principal Lopez and other school leaders.  My goal was to understand how I could best be a supportive partner in my role as Alder.  One concern shared with me was the challenges faced during student pickup and dropoff.  I was able to help connect Principal Lopez to the City Traffic Engineer, Yang Tao, Ph.D., P.E. to work with school leaders to problem solve this matter.  The school safety traffic team met with Principal Lopez recently in person at Sandburg. From that meeting, they developed some solutions to address the matter which got approval from the Transportation Commission on April 26th. 

Solutions include the following construction items:
-Bump out curb to reduce crossing distance and better delineate No Parking zone
-Continental crosswalk

For more info see: 
See the map on page 12
Watch brief summary starting at about 43:50

The Good Energy Keeps Coming at Sandburg Elementary

Congrats Principal Lopez on being permanently hired to serve as Sandburg’s Principal! Back in January when I organized a book fair for Sandburg, Principal Lopez was serving in an interim role.  Good news – she was recently hired as the permanent principal! I’ve really enjoyed working with the Sandburg school community and look forward to continuing to be a partner. 

Did you hear that Governor Evers and State Senator Melissa Agard recently visited the 5th Grade Investor’s Fair?  It was an engaging event and we all loved hearing the pitches from each brilliant student.  Ideas from the students ranged from a “Goal A Thon Fundraiser” to providing unhoused community members with personal hygiene products. 

Eastgate Cinema Update: 

Eastgate Cinema over on High Crossing Blvd will likely be demolished soon.  

“HM Brandt has requested a permit to demolish the long-dormant Eastgate Cinema at 5202 High Crossing Blvd., according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The cinema has been closed since 2015, when its parent company, Marcus Theatres, opened the Palace Cinema in the Prairie Lakes shopping center. 
B&G Realty, the owner of the Eastgate Cinema property, indicated in a letter to the city it has no plans for redevelopment of the property and wants the building removed by October. 
HM Brandt plans to install a fence surrounding the property as well as erosion-control measures before doing a “soft demo,” in which recyclable materials from the building’s interior are removed. The remaining demolition would commence afterward according to the permit application. The city’s Plan Commission is set to take up the request at its meeting June 12.”
Summary from InBusiness 

Bartillon Shelter

Get Involved: City’s First Purpose-Built Shelter Engagement Process Kicks Off
The City of Madison is collaborating with Dane County to plan for and design a purpose-built shelter facility that will serve primarily men in our community who experience homelessness. The facility, to be built at 1904 Bartillon Drive, will be Madison’s first purpose-built shelter. Please join the City of Madison, Dane County and Porchlight, Inc at our last, of a series of three, public information meetings to get an overview of the project, pre-design concepts and information on next steps.  The Public Information Meeting flyer is available HERE PDF .

• 5:30-7 p.m., May 17, 2023, in person at Hawthorne Library, 2707 E Washington Ave., Madison, Wis., 53704

If you need interpreter services, please contact: cdd@cityofmadison.com (Si necesita servicios de interpretación, comuníquese con) (Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais lus, thov hu rau)

Coffee with a Cop - 5/30/23

From Madison Police Department’s East District: “We will have our monthly 'Coffee with a Cop', at the East District Station (809 S Thompson Dr.) in the front community room. Coffee will be provided for those who join us! For this event and future Coffee with a Cop events we will be continuing our efforts of adjusting when we hold our event to allow for more flexibility across the community. My hope is by adjusting the time for our Coffee with a Cop event we can fit more individual's schedules. Our next coffee day is scheduled on Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 from 11:00am-12:00pm. Please feel free to stop in at any time to participate. Parking is available in the front lot of EPD. Please do not pass the fence line or park near the squads. Should the lot run out of parking spaces street parking is available as well as along a side of the EPD driveway. Please do not block the driveway as officers will need to come and go to address calls for service in the community.  As usual, we are excited about this opportunity and ask that you spread the word to anyone who might be interested in this community event.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at agraham@cityofmadison.com.For this Coffee with a Cop we will have guest speakers presenting on the RAVE Emergency Alert System in Dane County.” For more info and how to join virtually. 

Violence Prevention Funding Supports Community Programs

Starting today, Public Health Madison & Dane County is accepting applications  from local community organizations to receive funding that supports violence prevention efforts in Dane County.“We are taking a public health approach to tackling this complex and far-reaching issue. That means looking at things like poverty, housing inequality, and lack of social connectedness, each associated with violence. But, we can’t do it alone,” said Director of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, Aurielle Smith.In 2022, Public Health selected five agencies to receive the first round of funding available through this grant. All projects aligned with goals laid out in the Roadmap to Reducing Violence PDF . 
Read full details.

Meeting & Event Highlights for the Week of May 15, 2023

Meetings

Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in hybrid format at 6:30 PM. Agenda items include recognizing and honoring Leslie Watkins for her exceptional contributions to the community; and amending the City of Madison Official Map to establish mapped reservations for future streets and highways in the City of Madison consistent with recommendations in the adopted the Greater East Towne Area Plan; and more!

o Meeting Details

o Meeting Agenda

o Register for public comment

o Watch Online

Economic Development Committee: The Economic Development Committee will take place on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 in virtual format at 5:00 PM. Agenda items include adopting the Final Report of the Task Force on Farmland Preservation & more!

o Meeting Details

o Meeting Agenda

o Register for public comment

o Watch Online

Bartillon Shelter Public Meeting, Wednesday, May 17, 2023: The City of Madison is collaborating with Dane County to plan for and design a purpose-built shelter facility that will serve primarily men in our community who experience homelessness. The facility, to be built at 1904 Bartillon Drive, will be Madison’s first purpose-built shelter. Please join the City of Madison, Dane County and Porchlight, Inc at one of the three upcoming public information meetings to get an overview of the project, pre-design concepts and information on next steps.

• 5:30-7 p.m., May 17, 2023, in person at Hawthorne Library, 2707 E Washington Ave., Madison, Wis., 53704

Events

· East Side Farmers' Market, Tuesday, May 16, 2023: The Eastside Farmers' Market is Madison Wisconsin’s finest weekday farmers' market. Our goal is to bring the freshest Wisconsin grown food direct to the heart of the East side. Our vendor members are agricultural producers and food artisans who make value added products from Wisconsin's agricultural bounty.

· Movin' Out Financial Literacy Series (#2 - Budgeting), Tuesday, May 16, 2023: The City of Madison, in partnership with Movin’ Out, invite South Madison residents to participate in Movin’ Out’s financial wellness series! This six-session financial literacy program covers a range of topics to provide a solid understanding of the fundamentals of personal finance. In between sessions, interested participants can work with Movin’ Out’s Counseling staff on their own financial goals toward homeownership.

· Dane County Farmers' Market - Wednesday Market, Wednesday, May 17, 2023: The Wednesday Dane County Farmers’ Market is located on the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in between the Madison Municipal Building and the City County Building. While more intimate than the Saturday Market, you will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, bakery items, cut flowers, plants, and many specialty items.

· Edna Taylor Volunteer Day, Wednesday, May 17, 2023: Madison Parks and the Friends of Edna Taylor Conservation Park are seeking volunteers in conservation to assist in removing invasive plants in the park. Participants will learn plant identification, conservation methods, and help remove garlic mustard. Bags, gloves and instructions will be provided.

· Voices of Color with Host Melvin Hinton, Thursday, May 18, 2023: Our community is a rich mix of many different cultures. Being an inclusive community means learning about and appreciating our differences. It means unlearning stereotypes and ideas that we may have of one another; some of which are ingrained in the fabric of society. Join us on the third Thursday of each month at 10 am to learn about and meet individuals whose diverse leadership is shaping the future of our community. A virtual presentation sponsored by the Madison Senior Center.

· Wright Design Series: Taliesin Then and Now, Thursday, May 18, 2023: Ryan Hewson has been a preservation staff member at Taliesin since 2008. In his current role, he is responsible for the oversight and planning of preservation. Hewson received his Master’s degree in Architecture from The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.
You’ll learn about the history of the buildings on the Taliesin property that served as Wright’s architectural laboratory. And Hewson will discuss preservation techniques and plans that are underway, and share different ways to engage with what’s happening at Taliesin now.

· Annual Spring Break-A-Way 3on3 Basketball Tournament Series, Friday, May 19, 2023: After March Madness, the real tournament begins with the Annual Spring Break-A-Way 3on3 Basketball Tournament Series. Northside teens compete in a double-elimination tournament while enjoying a free meal. With on-site registration, players simply have to show up with two friends, or we will find a team for drop-in players. The tournament series is held on Friday nights: April 28, May 19 & May 26 (5pm-8pm), and includes middle school and high school divisions.

· Volunteer Day at The Glen, Saturday, May 20, 2023: The Glen Golf Park is establishing an ongoing volunteer program that helps volunteers learn, grow personally and gain professional experience. Projects vary and include land management of natural areas - weeding, planting, seed collection, woody plant removal; Horticultural detailing - maintaining landscape beds, mulching, weeding; and more!

· HUD-Approved Homebuyer Education, Saturday, May 20, 2023: Take the first step to owning a home, and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE HUD-Approved homebuyer educationworkshop takes place in person and lunch is provided.

· Heritage Sanctuary Volunteer Day, Saturday, May 20, 2023: Madison Parks is seeking volunteers in conservation to assist in removing invasive plants in Heritage Sanctuary Conservation Park. Participants will learn plant identification, conservation methods, ecological restoration efforts and methods, as well as park history.

· Bird & Nature Adventures – Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, May 20, 2023: Explore the Creek with James Winkelman ~ Join James Winkelman and Friends of Starkweather Creek for a free fun family-friendly canoe outing or take a healthy nature walk, bike ride or canoe outing any day in May along Starkweather Creek! Some canoes will be provided, bring your own canoe or kayak and vest and paddles if you have them. Join the Friends to help support preserving this amazing urban waterway ecosystem!

· Edna Taylor Volunteer Day, Saturday, May 20, 2023: Madison Parks and the Friends of Edna Taylor Conservation Park are seeking volunteers in conservation to assist in removing invasive plants in the park. Participants will learn plant identification, conservation methods, and help remove garlic mustard. Bags, gloves and instructions will be provided.

· Picnic in the Park, Saturday, May 20, 2023: Step back in time to a 1950s cocktail club as we re-create the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive's Annual Banquet which brought private citizens together & sparked the creation of our public parks as we know them today. The tradition continues at Burrows Park & features an expertly crafted, themed event that includes lavish food & drinks as well as live music to help us celebrate 128 years of Madison Parks!

· WORTstock, Sunday, May 21, 2023: WORTstock is WORT 89.9 FM Community Radio's multicultural live music festival with food and craft vendors, info tables, prize raffle, and children's activities.

· Bird & Nature Adventures – Warner Park, Sunday, May 21, 2023: Looking for Lichens with Steven Ansorge ~ Join Naturalist Steven Ansorge to look for and learn about the fascinating world of Lichens! These simple-looking growths on rocks and trees are surprisingly complex hybrid organisms based on a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) combination of fungus and algae. Their ability to grow on bare rock and break down minerals helps create the foundations of life for other organisms. Lichens only thrive when the air is clean and are used as a scientific indicator of air quality.

· Movie at The Glen – Moana, Sunday, May 21, 2023: Grab a blanket or bring a lawn chair and head over to The Glen for yard games and a movie! All are welcome!

SAVE THE DATE!

· Meadowlands and Tree Lane Resource Fairs: Does your organization provide activities, resources, or services that could benefit the children and families living in the Meadowlands and Tree Lane Apartments this summer? Public Health Madison & Dane County is hosting resource fairs at each of these locations in May.

Meadowlands Apartments – 6810 Milwaukee St., Saturday, May 20th 12-3pm

Tree Lane Family Apartments – 7933 Tree Ln., Wednesday, May 24th 3-6 pm

If you would like to attend one or both of these fairs, please complete the following survey to assist with planning. Or contact our team at violenceprevention@publichealthmdc.com.

YES MY ORG WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND! Responses requested by Friday, May 12, 2023!

Announcements

· Lake Monona Waterfront Design Challenge Team Selection: Madison Parks is pleased to announce the team selection in the Lake Monona Waterfront Design Challenge!

· Introducing the New City of Madison Forester Ian Brown: The City of Madison is happy to announce Ian Brown as the new City of Madison Forester.