Be leaf aware, No signs in terraces, Vote for electric garbage and recycling trucks, Lots of announcements and events

Hello neighbors,

As we transition to fall, please be aware of dates for getting your leaves out for collection. Please use this form to type in your address to find your set out dates. Drop-off sites also accept leaves and yard waste. Residents can also explore home composting options.

Also, with the election season upon us, please be aware that it is a violation of Madison’s sign ordinance to place campaign signs in the public right-of-way. The public right-of-way includes the street and the terrace (area between the sidewalk and the street). When sidewalks are not present, the terrace extends 15 feet from the curb into the adjoining property.

Signs should not be placed in the median strip of boulevards or displayed on posts, trees, or other supports in any public street.

Announcements and News Releases

• Brush Collection is Over for 2024: Curbside brush collection will return in spring of 2025.
• Traffic Engineering to Install Temporary Traffic Diverter on E Mifflin St: Starting Monday, October 14, Traffic Engineering will be conducting a vehicular traffic diverter test on East Mifflin Street at North Paterson Street. This project focuses on improvements to the East Mifflin Bicycle Boulevard.
• State Lawmakers Advocate for Fully Funding Dane County Cities : State legislators from Dane County and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway are calling on the Wisconsin Legislature to adopt bipartisan measures that address the chronic underfunding of local governments.
• Time to Vote for Your Electric Truck Names: Over the last two weeks, 792 unique names for Wisconsin’s first fully electric collection vehicles were submitted to the Streets Division.  There were many great names submitted and a group of finalists were selected. Now it’s time for you to vote!
• Innovative partnership aims to create more homeownership opportunities: The City of Madison is celebrating another step forward in expanding affordable homeownership opportunities with the groundbreaking of a “Missing Middle” development on the city’s southeast side.
• MPD receives new tool to help reunite lost pets with owners: The Madison Police Department has a new tool to help reunite lost pets with their owners. Lost Dogs of Wisconsin donated a pet microchip scanner to MPD. The volunteer-run group provides free resources to dog owners across Wisconsin.
• Free Breast Cancer Screenings Available: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This October, Public Health is urging women to get screened.
• A Mammoth Achievement: Food Scraps Composting Goal Reached: The City of Madison set an ambitious goal to compost 22,000 thousand pounds of food scraps at our farmers’ market drop-off sites this year. This is roughly the weight of two adult mammoths. We are thrilled to announce we have surpassed that goal!
• Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award: The City of Madison invites you to submit nominations for its annual Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award.
• New Art Exhibits Going Up at Six Madison Public Library Locations: A wealth of local talent can be found on the walls of your local library! Madison Public Library has six art exhibits going up in library locations during September and October.
• State Street Pedestrian Mall Experiment to end on October 30: If you haven’t visited State Street as part of this year’s State Street Pedestrian Mall experiment yet, you have about one month left to #FlockToState.
• Community Leaders, Elected Officials and Disability Rights Advocates Unite for the ‘Week Without Driving’: To kick off the Week Without Driving, disability rights advocates and representatives from Madison, Verona, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, and Middleton came together for a group ride on a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus.
• Madison-based artist Jennifer Bastian chosen to be Artist-in-Residence at Thurber Park: The Madison Arts Commission and The Bubbler at Madison Public Library are pleased to announce Jennifer Bastian as the 2024 Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence.
• A New Report highlights the positive impact of SEED grants on local food systems. As a long-time member of the Madison Food Policy Council, I’ve had the privilege of reviewing and approving these grants – I’m so proud of what these organizations have accomplished!
• The newest issue of Madison’s Vision Zero newsletter has arrived. Note the transition to “20 is plenty”, where our residential streets get signs posting a speed limit of 20mph, will be happening in phases through December, 2025.

Events

• Last day to establish residency for November General Election, Tuesday, October 8: Voters who move after today will not be eligible to vote from their new address in November because it takes 28 days to establish residency for voting purposes. They can remain registered at their previous address until after the General Election, and then should update their voter registration for the February Spring Primary.
• Energy Resource Fair, Tuesday, October 8: MGE will provide energy saving tips and a chance to win a SMART Thermostat, Energy Services will be on site to assist with Energy Assistance qualifications, and Project Home will discuss our Weatherization program and how they can improve health, safety and save energy in your home.
• Mayor Introduces 2025 Executive Operating Budget, Tuesday, October 8: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway will announce her 2025 Executive Operating Budget.
• Capitol View Farmers' Market, Wednesday, October 9: The Capitol View Farmers' Market is held weekly on Wednesdays (3:00-7:00pm) from late May through mid-October. Join us each week for great local vendors, live music, food carts, and special activities from week to week. Visit our website and follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and schedules!
• Conservation Park Tour, Wednesday, October 9: Conservation Park Tours are educational staff-guided walks held at various conservation parks on the 2nd Wednesday, May - October. Event starting times vary, depending on the sunset and typically last about 90 minutes. Walks are held rain or shine, free to attend, easy-paced and family-friendly. No registration is required.
• Homebuyer Education Workshop, Saturday, October 12: Take the first step to owning a home and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE Homebuyer Education workshop takes place in-person at the Atrium Villager Mall (2300 S Park St, Madison, WI) on Saturday, October 12 from 8:30am-3:30pm! Lunch will be provided. Our first-time home buying workshops cover the following: how to find the right home, how to apply for a mortgage, credit improvement tips, how much you can afford, barriers that can prevent you from qualifying for a mortgage and what down payment assistance may be available to you.
• Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift A, Saturday, October 12: Join us for a meaningful day of conservation efforts as we work together to protect and enhance our local conservation park! Your participation is crucial in safeguarding the biodiversity and natural habitats that make our park a haven for wildlife and a treasure for our community.
• Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift B, Saturday, October 12: Join us for a meaningful day of conservation efforts as we work together to protect and enhance our local conservation park! Your participation is crucial in safeguarding the biodiversity and natural habitats that make our park a haven for wildlife and a treasure for our community.
• The Randall Elementary School Garden and Outdoor Classroom is turning 25! In celebration, the Franklin-Randall PTO is hosting a celebration on October 12 from 1-4. Please stop by for some fresh food and garden tours! In addition, volunteers and food donations are needed to make this an event that will help kids and families in our community to appreciate the wonders of fall. Please sign up!
• Movie at The Glen, Sunday, October 13: Enjoy a free movie on the lawn of The Glen! We'll have yard games from 4-5pm and movie starting at 5:00pm.
• Budget Listening Session: Wednesday, October 16, 6pm-8pm, virtual via Zoom. You can join the virtual meeting using your computer, smartphone, or tablet or listen in via telephone. This session will feature a deeper dive into cut scenarios and the impact of cuts. Spanish and Mandarin interpretation will be available at this virtual meeting. Additional languages upon request.
• In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), you are invited to a film screening of Bottom Dollars, followed by a moderated discussion. October 17th, In person film screening: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Hybrid discussion: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
  • In person attendees: Madison Municipal Building, Room 206. Bring your lunch.
  • Hybrid attendees: View the film; Join the Zoom discussion at 12:00 p.m.
  • About the Film: “How would you like to work for two weeks, and come out with a $6 check?” That’s the reality for almost 250,000 Americans with disabilities who are paid below the minimum wage. Bottom Dollars is an award-winning film produced by Rooted in Rights.  When the Fair Labor Standards Act passed in 1938, it included a revolutionary protection: a minimum wage. But Section 14(c) of the Act included an exemption allowing some workers, people with disabilities, to be paid less than minimum wage.  It exposes this exploitative system and offers solutions to end segregation and discrimination against workers with disabilities.
• A Closer Look at Madison School, City Referenda, with the Wisconsin Policy Forum. October 17, 6-7:30pm, Edgewater Hotel. Please register in advance.
• Check out upcoming events at the Monroe Street library:
  • Oct. 16, 3:30pm: Read to a dog! A furry friend is a geat audience for emerging readers. Come and read to Lili or Roxy. Both are certified via Alliance for Therapy Dogs. Bring a favorite book, or grab one of ours. First come, first served.
  • Oct. 19 10am–noon: Make masks with Maria. Kids and adults are welcome. Maria will host a number of colorful and very fun Saturday art projects through December.
  • Oct. 19, 2:00pm. Join us for a Book Schmooze, an informal get-together to talk about books you’ve read lately, books you’ve loved, etc. Hear what others have been reading and get ideas for your next books. Space is limited. Please call 608 266-6390 during open hours to RSVP.
• UW Homecoming: There will be a Homecoming Block Party at 650 N Lake St. on Friday October 25th. During this party there will be a firework show on Lake Mendota, visible from the Memorial Union, beginning at 8:45pm.

For the full list of upcoming events, please visit the City events calendar.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver