Updates/Event Highlights for the Week of January 20, 2025

Good afternoon neighbors,

Hope your new year is at good start. Following are some updates and events for this week.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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!
• 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

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.
• 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.
• 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.

  Announcements:

• 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.
• 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.

• 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.

  Please visit the City's news webpage for additional news and announcements and subscribe to receive notifications of news releases as they are posted.

  Be safe and stay warm,

  ~Alder Nasra Wehelie