MLK Day events; Public Information Meetings; Announcements & Events

Hello neighbors,

As we recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I wanted to share a few resources with you:

• Madison area celebrations
• History of making of the holiday
• National Day of Racial Healing resources
• Black History for a New Day course

May we all strive to reach the dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr. in our daily lives.

Updates and Notices

City Offices are closed on Monday, January 20, 2025: Administrative offices are closed on Monday, January 20, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All emergency services will be open; please call 911.

• Emergency Water Issue: Call Madison Water Utility at 608-266-4665, 24/7.
• Sanitary Sewer Back-up: Call 608-266-4430. An emergency crew will respond to your call.
• Report a Problem: Report non-emergencies that can wait until the next City working day.

Public Information Meetings (PIM’s)

• Sauk Creek Greenway, Wednesday, January 22: Join the City for the fifth public meeting to learn about what is proposed in the Final Sauk Creek Corridor Plan! The virtual public meeting will take place on January 22 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Registration prior to the meeting is required.
• Public Input Meeting - Madison LakeWay Schematic Design, Thursday, January 23: As part of the Madison LakeWay development initiative, Madison Parks is seeking your comments on the proposed lakeshore and path features along the John Nolen Drive causeway. The area under consideration spans 0.6 miles of public lakeshore and is the first phase of implementation for the Madison LakeWay.
• Public Information Meeting on Midvale Blvd resurfacing, and associated opportunities for traffic safety enhancements, Thursday, January 30, 6pm. This meeting will be hybrid, with the ability to attend in person at Sequoya Library, or via Zoom. Zoom details to come shortly!

Announcements and News Releases

• Subzero Temperatures May Cause Trash & Recycling Delays on January 21, 2025: Due to the subzero temperatures expected for the morning on January 21, 2025, some residents may experience a delay in their trash and recycling pickup.
• Snowplow Name Submissions End on January 24 at 4:00pm: The first phase of this year’s snow equipment naming is ends in one week. You have until 4:00pm on January 24, 2025, at 4:00pm to submit your snowplow name ideas so they can be considered as finalists for the naming election!
• Building Neighborhood Strength, Supporting Food Security, and More: 2025 Neighborhood Grant Program is Now Open!: From now through February 18, 2025, small groups of five or more residents, centers of worship, nonprofits, neighborhood associations and other groups serving neighborhoods can apply for the Neighborhood Grant Program.
• No Trash & Recycling Collection or Drop-off Sites on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 20, 2025): There will be no trash or recycling collection by the Streets Division on Monday, January 20, 2025 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday. The drop-off sites and Streets Division offices will also be closed.
• Metro Service Reduced on January 20: Buses will be operating Saturday schedules on Monday, January 20 due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• Residents of Southwest and Southeast areas invited to share perspectives in community survey: The City of Madison’s Planning Division is mailing out postcards on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 to a group of randomly-selected people living in the Southwest and Southeast areas as part of the ongoing area plan process.
• Common Council Approves Grants for Older Adult Services: The City of Madison Common Council signed off Tuesday night on nearly $950,000 in grants to 13 community agencies that serve older adults in Madison. The decisions are the culmination of a months-long funding application process.
• City of Madison reaches agreement to keep ice arenas open under non-profit ownership: The Madison Common Council approved an agreement at its January 14 meeting that will keep two popular ice arenas in Madison open and address the outstanding debt owed to the City.
• City of Madison’s State Street Campus Garage Mixed-Use Project Moves into Phase Two of Construction: The City of Madison has completed the initial phase for its portion of the State Street Campus Garage Mixed-Use Project, and the housing development partner will now begin work on phase two of the project.
• Dane County Executive Agard, Madison Mayor Rhodes-Conway Announce 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award Honorees: Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway proudly announced this year’s recipients of the City-County Humanitarian Awards honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Madison Food Policy Council Announces Start of 2025 SEED Grants Cycle: The City of Madison Food Policy Council is announcing the opening of the 2025 SEED Grants cycle to address food access issues in our community.
• Pick Up Packets of Native Wisconsin Seeds for Free at Madison Public Library Beginning January 13: Madison Public Library's Seed Library returns with a collection of native Wisconsin plant seeds on Monday, January 13. Library visitors can stop into one of eight participating libraries (all locations except Central Library) to pick up seed packets while supplies last.

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

• Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Awards, Monday, January 20: The program will also feature the MLK Community Choir and presentation of the 2025 MLK Humanitarian Awards by Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard.
• Last day to establish residency for Spring Primary, Tuesday, January 21: Voters who move within Wisconsin after today may vote from their prior address in the February 18 Spring Primary.
• D7 Virtual Lunch and Learn with Water Utility General Manager Krishna Kumar: Understanding Your Water Utility, Thursday, January 23: Alder Nasra Wehelie will kick off the 2025 new year by hosting a virtual lunch and learn featuring Water Utility General Manager Krishna Kumar on Thursday, January 23, from 12 to 1 p.m. Kumar will discuss the Madison Customer Assistance Program (MadCAP) and other water quality programs implemented to ensure drinking water is accessible and safe for all Madison residents.
• Lakeside Lab Dance: BollyBeat, Thursday, January 23: Get your groove on and experience BollyBeat, a Bollywood inspired dance class which integrates fitness with infectious beats and lively rhythms. Expect easy to follow choreographed dance routines that ensure you not only move but also revel in the joy of dance! All skill levels are welcome in this cross-cultural and cross-generational offering. 6 – 7 PM (Doors Open 5:45 PM)
• Groove & Glide, Friday, January 24: Make the most of winter at a Groove and Glide event! Experience the fun and beauty of ice skating under the lights with fun music and games.  All ages and experience levels are welcome. Grab your friends, a date, or family, and have fun on the ice. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Edna Taylor, Saturday, January 25: Bird and Critter Tracks ~ Join Master Naturalist John Newman for a free, fun, family and kid friendly guided walk to explore Owen Conservation Park.  We will look for  and look fbird and animal tracks and signs!  Can you find White-tailed Deer tracks?  Wild Turkey droppings?  Signs of Grey Squirrels digging up acorns?  The meandering trail of a Deer Mouse in the grass or under the snow?  Try making some tracks and see who can guess what they are!  Dress warm and bring a camera or binoculars if you have them.  There may be hot chocolate and a campfire with smores after the walk.
• Mobile Vaccination Clinic: Badger Prairie Needs Network, Saturday, January 25 (this event occurs on multiple dates): Public Health is hosting mobile vaccination clinics throughout the county in partnership with community organizations!
• Learn to Ice Fish, Sunday, January 26 (this event occurs on multiple dates): Learn to Ice Fish with Madison Parks and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources! (link is external)There is no cost to attend (advanced registration is required), however, anglers ages 16 and older will need a Wisconsin fishing license, which can be purchased online at Go Wild. For first-time license buyers, the cost is just $5 for an annual permit.
• Congressman Mark Pocan is hosting a town hall on Wednesday January 29, 6pm at the Labor Temple, 1602 S Park St.
• Sustain Dane is hosting an open house for homeowners to understand how to convert their homes to all electric appliances (including heating) on February 13, 4-5:30pm. Sign up to attend!

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

Stay warm,

Regina Vidaver