City Proposes Improvements to Capital City Trail

Posted on February 5, 2013 by TheEastSider

Intersections ordered closed by State Railroad Office not addressed in plan

The City of Madison is eyeing improvements to the Capital City Trail bike path and is seeking feedback from residents. District 6 Alder Marsha Rummel along with traffic committees from MNA and SASYNA neighborhood associations requested the draft report.

The plan examines each intersection that crosses a street in District 6 (from Blair to Waubesa Street), recommending improvements at 13 intersections including raised pavement, added sineage, bump outs, and the yet-to-be-approved diagonal crossing at the Atwood//Dunning intersection. Continue reading →

Snow Emergency Until Friday Morning

Posted on January 30, 2013 by TheEastSider

Park on ODD side of street for next two days

From The City of Madison: The City of Madison has declared a snow emergency. That means that alternate side parking restrictions will be in effect throughout the entire City of Madison including the downtown/isthmus snow emergency zone.

Madison residents are asked to remove all vehicles from the street if possible. Residents who must park on the street this evening should park on the ODD house numbered side of the street. Vehicle sparked on the street Thursday evening January 31st should also be parked on the ODD house numbered side of the street. Violations of the alternate side parking rules are punishable by a fine of $60 throughout the entire City of Madison. Violators could also be towed. Continue reading →

Gateway Sculpture Seeks Support

Posted on January 18, 2013 by TheEastSider

Facebook page launched to boost interest and donations

The tree sculpture will be located on the Williamson Street median. Created by Artist Dave Danforth

Driving west on John Nolen Drive sometime in the future motorists will round the corner onto Williamson Street and behold a tall metal sculpture in the form of a tree. The Williamson Gateway Sculpture will be located on the median at the west end of Willy Street as a greeter for the Marquette Neighborhood. Continue reading →

Green Turret Brings Retail to Mickey’s

Posted on January 6, 2013 by TheEastSider

Come down for a beer and maybe that Hay Rake you have been needing

A wide selection of "recycled treasures" available at The Green Turret including some wooden skis and a knife holder.

A wide selection of “recycled treasures” are available at The Green Turret including some wooden skis and a knife holder.

You might not have noticed it, or maybe you have; but since last July there are hidden treasures for sale on the second floor of Mickey’s Tavern. The Green Turret, named for the iconic Victorian-esque architectural feature that gives Mickey’s its unique appeal, deals in what proprietor Marybeth Gaffney says are recycled treasures; not really antiques, but interesting older items.

Passing from the bar area in Mickey’s to the back rooms we have all walked past that stairwell and wondered what was at the top. Was it an apartment for some lucky soul who lived above this hipster haven, not minding the bands late into the night and the lively chatter on the patio in the summers? Continue reading →

Gallery: Snowmageddon 2012

Posted on December 22, 2012 by CusterCutie

Images of the Wil-Mar and SASY neighborhoods during and after Snowmageddon 2012, December 19-21, 2012.

See more from the SASYNA facebook page

Small Planes Don’t Kill People

Posted on December 14, 2012 by TheEastSider

Why Otis Redding and other beloved musicians died

Otis Redding in front of his airplane. Courtesy: Zelma Redding

A few days ago was the 45th anniversary of the crash of Otis Redding’s plane in Lake Monona as it approached Truax Field in Madison on December 10, 1967. I wouldn’t be born until six years later; but sometime in my tweens, when my parents first told me of the very famous person who crashed in little ‘ol Madison, I was immediately transfixed.

At the time I devoured information about the crash, going to the Main Library to look up old microfilm (how quaint!) of the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times editions from the days after the crash. Now soooo many years later as a seasoned professional pilot, I have some educated theories as to the likely cause of the crash, and a desire to battle perceptions that general aviation aircraft (often referred to as “small planes”) are dangerous.

The truth is, and the statistics bear it out, its usually pilots that kill people, not planes. Continue reading →

Winter Solstice Celebration

Posted on December 13, 2012 by TheEastSider

The 10th anniversary of the Starkweather Solstice Bonfire is at dusk (4:30 pm) on Friday, Dec 21 at the Olbrich Park ball diamond.

This is the 21st event (twice a year). Volunteers are welcome. No weather postponement date. Contact John Steines is you are available to help with traffic, set up, or as a fire guard.

Winter Solstice 2009

Continue reading →

City Gives Tips for a Green Holiday

Posted on December 6, 2012 by TheEastSider

The City of Madison Streets Division has a new section on their website where you can find tips on how to green up your holiday and save the planet. According to Recycling Coordinator George Dreckman, we generate 25 percent more waste during the holiday season.

Among the suggestions are using more china and silverware instead of serving food on paper plates and plastic cups, giving gift certificates for local events and services, or giving the gift of your time.

“Two of my favorite gifts are cloth shopping bags and rechargeable batteries,” Dreckmann said. “It will help your friends reduce waste all year round.”

You can view the website here

Thornton to Challenge Rummel in District 6

Posted on December 4, 2012 by TheEastSider

Two very active neighborhood leaders vie for Common Council seat

Current District 6 Alder Marsha Rummel will be challenged by former MNA Board President Scott Thornton in elections next spring.

According to filings with the City of Madison Clerk’s office, Former MNA Board President Scott B. Thornton will challenge Marsha Rummel for the District 6 Alder seat on the Madison Common Council next spring. Thornton resigned from the Marquette Neighborhood Association Board in July after four years as president; and while he never publicly signaled his intentions, it was rumored that the action was in part so he could run against Rummel. Continue reading →

City’s Emerald Ash Borer Website Updated

Posted on November 30, 2012 by TheEastSider

The City of Madison Forestry Section has updated its Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) website. There are two new features including a direct email link to the Forestry section to report a suspected EAB sighting. The site also has a search function that will indicate if there is an ash tree planted in front of your residence or within the neighborhood.

At this time, there has been no confirmed sighing of EAB in Dane County but the City encourages residents to visit the website to keep learn more and keep up with the effort to prevent EAAB in Madison and Dane County

Visit the EAB site here

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