Got any spare wheels?
Morning update: Friday, Nov. 18
In this newsletter
Happy Friday, friends!
Every year, Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison refurbishes and distributes donated bikes to those who can't afford them. Since 2017, the organization has given away more than 8,275 bicycles (!!!).
Tomorrow, Nov. 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison will be collecting used bikes at various locations around the area. Bikes of all sizes and styles are accepted.
Dropoff sites include Delta Beer Lab, Monona Fire Department, Lexus of Madison in Middleton, Salem United Church of Christ in Verona, and Starion Bank in Sun Prairie, and Waunakee Neighborhood Connection.
— Hayley
🚫 A small street closure of note.
- South Brearly at East Washington will be closed through the end of the month for work at the intersection.
- The work is part of the city's preparation for the upcoming implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
😷 You're eligible for (more) free Covid-19 tests!
- All Wisconsin households are now eligible to receive a free Covid-19 test kit every month. Each kit contains five rapid antigen tests
- You can order tests here.
- In addition to this program, there are several other ways to get Covid-19 tests. You can get a free test from Public Health Madison and Dane County, purchase a test from a pharmacy or retail store, or visit a health care provider.
🛍️ City Council said yes to the public market.
- In their budget discussions Wednesday night, Madison's City Council approved the 2023 capital budget and with it, more funding for the long-awaited public market.
- The council added $4.5 million to the budget for the project, which will come out of a Tax Incremental District 36 on the east side. That money, coupled with the $1.5 million the county board recently approved, closes the budget gap that left the project's fate in danger. The council voted in support of the additional funding in a 17-3 vote.
- Raises for alders and city employees: The council also passed a proposal to increase alder pay from $14,904 to $20,604 annually starting in April 2023. Pay for council president and vice president will increase to $25,071 and $22,226, respectively, according to the State Journal. The budget also provided a 3% raise for roughly 1,400 city employees.
- Other budget highlights: Expanding the Community Alternative Response Emergency Services program (CARES); Providing more services at Public Health Madison and Dane County's reproductive health clinic; Funding the "Imagination Center" at Reindahl Park; And raising the city's Affordable Housing Fund from $7 million to $10 million.
🖊️ Latest posts from Bank of Sun Prairie:
- Watch Out for These Convincing Financial Scams
- Budgeting 101
- Best Ways to Save for a Home Without Even Noticing
- Want to learn more? Bank of Sun Prairie's Financial Fitness Center offers 50+ digital short courses in English and Spanish.
☕️ No contract, no coffee.
- Workers at Madison's Capitol Square Starbucks held a strike outside the store on Thursday in protest of the company's alleged refusal to bargain with their union. Workers at the store voted to unionize in June.
- Employees at more than 100 Starbucks stores participated in strikes nationwide. The timing of this strike is significant — Thursday marked Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day, one of the busiest days of the year for the coffee giant.
- Related: More Wisconsin workers are organizing. How much leverage do they have? (Cap Times)
🦌Wisconsin's gun deer hunting season kicks off Saturday.
- Tomorrow marks the start of the state's nine-day gun hunting season. Wisconsin residents can get a deer license for $24 while non-resident licenses are $160. You can buy those here.
- According to WPR, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources expects to sell more than 550,000 licenses for this year's season, which would be a slight decrease from last year.
- The DNR is urging hunters to test their deer for chronic wasting disease (CWD) before consuming the venison. CWD has been detected in at least 60 counties statewide.
- Related reading: Why do people call it 'deer camp'? (WPR)
🦩 Your lunchtime read: Madison artist brings painted, wooden flock to east side neighborhood.
- Via Wisconsin Life: "There’s a street on Madison’s east side that’s dotted with large-than-life birds.
A sandhill crane, a red-winged black bird, a pink flamingo. No two are alike — except for a couple of cardinals.
Artist Jo Jensen is behind the eye-catching, wooden replicas. She says what started as a gift for one neighbor, exploded into a painted flock — transforming a stroll down the sidewalk into a birder’s paradise."
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📅 Events: The weekend
Today
- Cocktails in the Conservatory at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Just Between Friends Sale at East Towne Mall
- DJ PAULY D at Liquid
- Family Happy Hour in the Wonderground at Madison Children's Museum
- Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) at Goodman South Madison Library
- The Music Department at Harmony Bar & Grill
- Old Salt, DJ Han Cholo, and Lost Dead at Dark Horse Artbar
- River Valley Rangers, Gin Mill Hollow and Northsoul at High Noon Saloon
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Crucible
- Two American Masters at Overture Center
- University Opera: Albert Herring at Music Hall
- What to Expect reception at Arts + Literature Laboratory
Saturday
- Art and Gift Fair: Weekends at MMoCA at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
- Artist Reception - Joseph Mougel: Herbarium & Richard Moninski: Clash/Meld at James Watrous Gallery
- Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area at Olbrich Park
- Just Between Friends Sale at East Towne Mall
- Eviction Defense Clinic at UW South Partnership Office
- Elton and Billy the Tribute at Majestic Theatre
- Laura Doherty and the Heartbeats at Overture Center
- Madison Gem & Mineral Show and Sale at Alliant Energy Center
- Madison Night Market at 100 Block of State Street
- Masquerade: Cyberpunk at Crucible
- Pro Arte Quartet at Hamel Music Center
- Winter Madison Night Market & Shine On Madison Seasonal Lighting Ceremony at Downtown Madison
Sunday
- Daniel Nunnelee at High Noon Saloon
- Just Between Friends Sale at East Towne Mall
- Opus One and Sinfonietta Orchestras at McFarland Performing Arts Cente
- Headwar & Calamity at The Bur Oak
- North Pole Party at Hilldale
- Step Into Frequency at Crucible
- That's Messed Up Podcast Live! with Liza Treyger and Kara Klenk at Comedy on State
- Transgender Day Of Remembrance at Wisconsin State Capitol
- University Opera: Albert Herring at Music Hall
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Check out even more events on our community calendar.
🐶 Friday Floof
Time for your weekly dose of floof-ness! Meet Mylo. This big-eyed baby celebrated his first birthday back in August and, according to his owner Kristie, is known for his "spring-loaded" legs. Mylo loves to wrestle with other dogs at the local dog parks but above all is a love bug who who's always ready for snuggles and treats.
😸 Do you have a floof to share with the Madison Minutes community? Fill out this form for the opportunity to be featured.
📝 Miss a Minute? Check out yesterday's newsletter.
How to help your neighbors this Thanksgiving
Morning update: Thursday, Nov. 17
Hayley Sperling
