The Northside News | Current Issue:

By Jeff Greger City of Madison Planning Division City of Madison staff will begin work on the North Area Plan in fall 2026. The North Area Plan will be the sixth of 12 area plans created under the updated Planning Framework passed by the Common Council in 2022. The order of the plans was determined by several factors, including the demographics of ...

By Tim Carlisle former NPC Executive Director and Northside News founding editor The Northside community lost a long-time champion with Char Tortorice’s recent passing, and many of us lost a wonderful neighbor and dear friend.  I can speak about both those losses, and about Char’s over 30 years of contributions to the Northside. Char and husband Da...

In an age when news can travel around the world in seconds, it is easy to overlook the value of a small newspaper that focuses on one part of one city. But, for me, that’s the real value of the Northside News; it reports on the happenings in this relatively small part of Madison. It includes articles on local government, schools, businesses, events...

Immigration has been a hot topic and divisive issue in the U.S. for a number of years, with current federal policies pushing the issue further up the list of things we, as citizens, are most concerned about. For those that support immigration and immigrants themselves, “No immigrants, no food” has become a popular meme, and for good reason. Immigra...

Who wants to come party with us? All are invited to come enjoy the upcoming Northside Festival Saturday, September 12, from 11 am – 3 pm at the Mallards/Night Mares stadium at Warner Park. This is the third year we (NPC) have organized this event with the strong partnership of our generous presenting sponsor Willy Street Co-op and the Willy North s...

Happy August…a time that is somehow both the peak and end of summer! August and September are my favorite transition months. You get those last glorious weeks of summer to enjoy the warmth of the sun, and by the end of September you’re sporting a hoodie and looking forward to crisp, cool air and time on the couch curled up with a book. Here on the ...

By Amanda Riley NettleWitch Herbs An herbalist works with plants in support of health and wellbeing. Herbalists are not licensed medical professionals, so we don’t diagnose or treat disease. Instead, we access plants that have been used traditionally to address particular symptoms, such as joint pain, head congestion, or difficulty sleeping. Someti...

By Mark Berglund Northside News The road from the University of Wisconsin Physical Sciences Lab near Lake Kegonsa and the former Oscar Mayer (OM) campus in Madison is shorter than we think. Developers of Realta Fusion hope to soon find an intersection between research at the university lab and development of the project at the OM site. A nationwide...

By Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) Stay cool and comfortable at home with these tips from MGE. 1.  Use a qualified contractor to professionally maintain your central air at least every two years. Be sure to routinely clean leaves and grass clippings off your outdoor air conditioning unit. 2.  Run major appliances before 10 am and after 9 pm or on we...

By Brendon Smith Willy Street Co-op Festival Perks Pass Once again, we’ll be giving out a limited number of Festival Perks Passes to Willy Street Co-op Owners. The Pass entitles the bearer to receive half-priced meals and beverages during a three-hour span at one of the following upcoming festivals: ▪  Good Neighbor Festival, valid Saturday, Aug. 2...

Charlene E. Tortorice died of heart failure on May 13, 2026. The cause of her death is ironic because Char had one of the most powerful hearts ever. She was born in Madison on August 6, 1950, to Norma and Donald F. Hayne.  Her father attended graduate school on the G.I. Bill after serving in World War II. She spent her earliest years living in temp...

By Beth Sluys Northside News When Pastor Twum (pronounced CHOOM) first moved to Madison to start a church in 2014, he had the vision and a keen sense of the future for his church and its members. This vision has not changed since 2014, and in February of this year, a stylized church building on Mandrake Road became the new permanent worship space f...

By Mary Albrecht Westport Squares Dancing is friendship set to music. You will get physical and mental exercise, socializing, and a whole lot of fun. At a typical dance, you can meet new friends and dance 2½–3 miles to a variety of music. You may even forget your troubles for a while. When was the last time you did that and let yourself have fun? W...

By Anita Weier Northside News In coming months, up to 80 new homes will be added to the mobile home park on Packers Avenue. There are currently 411 mobile homes in the Oak Park Terrace complex at 3901 Packers Ave. The addition was approved by the Madison Plan Commission two years ago, but requirements first had to be met for plans for stormwater ma...

By Jan Axelson Northside News A new community and arts event, the Commercial Avenue Bazaar, will take place Saturday, Sept. 5, 12–7 pm. The bazaar will feature open artist studios, creative activities, music, food, and special offers from small businesses. Activities will take place at multiple locations along the west end of Commercial Avenue, bet...

By Sabrina Hilton and Matt Galle Northside Farmers Market The 2026 market season is well underway with great attendance and a variety of strong new vendors. In this issue, we are highlighting My Mom’s Soap Co. They sell handmade soap based on a 25-year-old family recipe. Andrew handcrafts the soap right here in Madison with the goal of delivering d...

By Sarah Jacobsen East Madison Community Center On June 26, East Madison Community Center hosted a Family Fun Night with a theme of Glitter and Games with pizza for dinner. There were diamond dot paintings in a variety of pictures that went quickly. The craft of decorating a canvas tote with fabric makers, plastic gems and glitter makers was also a...

By Victoria Ruiz de la Vega Vera Court Neighborhood Center For over 30 years, Vera Court Neighborhood Center has been committed to ensuring our young people have the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed. Since we first opened our doors in 1994, and expanded our outreach to Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center in 2004, we have been commit...

By Allison Tardif The River Food Pantry Want to taste the best of Madison’s notable and ever-growing global food scene? Come to Sips & Slices: A Global Tasting for The River Food Pantry on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 1–4 pm at The River Food Pantry, located at 3301 Packers Ave. in Madison. Now in its fourth year, this fun culinary event will feature...

By Abigail Becker Girard Northside News After a Wisconsin winter of gray, snow white and dark nights, I crave green. Seeing spring daffodil stems, smelling freshly mowed grass, witnessing fluttering tree leaves that filter the sunlight. But I especially want to consume all things green: spinach, kale, arugula, sugar snap peas, and scallions. Being ...

By Laura Whitt Rooted Wisconsin With the Troy Drive construction concluding, we can’t wait to welcome the community to Troy Farm and Gardens for our upcoming free community events. Please join us on the land this season: Garden Nights, Thursdays, Aug. 27 and Sept. 24, 4:30–7 pm; Farm to School Aid, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2–7 pm; Troy Farm Harvest Fest...

Every election matters and impacts our lives. Wisconsinites will go to the polls in August and November to vote for representatives at the state and national levels. Do your research and make your plan to vote. Democracy is stronger when everyone votes! Election Schedule for 2026 Fall Primary Election – August 11 Fall General Election –...

By Zoey Thomas Wisconsin State Journal (reprinted from June 12, 2026 edition) The students biking through the 3-acre forest beside Lake View Elementary School came from 18 countries, from Vietnam to Honduras. Wearing matching cherry-red helmets, the young riders at the multicultural community school looked equally confident as they showed off the t...

By Julia Stevens BSA Troop 127 This summer, Troop 127 went on an unforgettable adventure of a week-long sailing trip in the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands. Scouts experienced the vibrant culture and breathtaking scenery of the Caribbean, making this a summer to remember. Throughout the week aboard the sailboat, Scouts learned essential sailing skill...

By Wally Meyer Cub Scout Troop 127 Cub Scouts from Madison and Dane County’s Northside gathered at Token Creek County Park for the annual Cub Scout Day Camp. This year’s three-day event was held June 15–17 and was labeled “Cubs Beyond Tomorrow … Adventures of the Future” and featured activities based on space travel and technology. The event drew o...

Muriel Simms I was born and raised in Madison. After living near campus. I moved to the Eastside, Southside, and then the Northside in 1997. The Northside was quiet, had access to shops and services, and was close to Black Hawk Middle School where I was assigned Assistant Principal. A few neighbors and I co-founded the Friends of Cherokee Marsh. A ...

What sets you apart as the best candidate to represent District 76 in the WI State Assembly, and what are some key actions you will pursue if you are elected? Dina Nina Martinez- Rutherford I don’t have the typical background of someone who runs for the Assembly. I’ve worked for $2.33 an hour in the food service industry. I’ve experienced homelessn...

By Ryan Stenjem City of Madison Engineering Division Early in 2027 the City of Madison Storm Water Utility is planning to begin a significant construction project at Castle Creek on the southeast side of Warner Park. The Castle Creek Improvements Project is the result of recommendations from the Warner Lagoon Water Quality Plan and the Warner Park ...

By Paul Noeldner Friends of Urban Nature Our birds of the month for August and September are two seagull species that are quite common in Madison, even though we are far from the ocean. Gulls like to be around any body of water. They look like giant grey and white pigeons when standing on the ground but become stunningly beautiful when swooping by ...

By Dan Tortorice Friends of Lake View Hill Park We all should know by now the multiple benefits of physical activities such as walking, biking, running and swimming. The list of good outcomes seems almost too good to be true — better moods, increased cognitive function, release from stress, better sleep, improved heart health, lower blood pressure,...

By Paul Noeldner Friends of Urban Nature Trees cool cities by shading concrete and buildings to avoid trapping heat (the urban heat dome) and by transpiring hundreds of gallons of water on hot days like giant natural air conditioners, which also helps dry out saturated ground and reduce basement flooding. After recent hailstorms, roofing inspectors...

By Jan Axelson Northside News Outdoor time in summer means being on the lookout for ticks. Related to spiders, ticks are the small, eight-legged critters that anchor themselves on humans and other animals to feed on their blood. Tick larvae look similar to adults but have just six legs and can be as small as a poppy seed. While feeding, ticks can t...

Library Hours Monday–Friday, 10 am–8 pm Saturday, 9 am–5 pm Closed Sept. 7 (Sunday hours resume Sept. 13) See all library hours at madpl.org/locations. All events are at Lakeview Library unless otherwise indicated. Please check madpl.org/calendar for the most up-to-date information on programs and services. Baby Storytime Tuesday, Aug. 4, 11:30 am–...

The Madison Police Department’s North District is committed to reducing hazardous driving behavior throughout the district with a focus on speeding. Year in and year out traffic complaints are a common theme. This summer from June 1 to Sept. 1, the North District will participate in a department-wide, data-driven, proactive traffic enforcement mode...

Phone eats first? A look at food tracking apps The concept of keeping a food diary has been around for decades, for good reason. It can support health goals, but it can also feel tedious. Enter food tracking apps. There’s an app for that. Not all are created equal, though. The “best” one depends on your goals. When choosing an app, think accuracy, ...

July is Parks and Recreation Month and it’s a great reason to check out something new that our fabulous City Parks Division has to offer. Madison has 296 parks, big and small, each with its own amenities and charm. There are also more than a dozen conservation parks that bring nature to the doorstep of our vibrant urban spaces. All this summer, Mad...

Building a greener future at Henry Vilas Zoo When people visit Henry Vilas Zoo, they come to connect with wildlife, make family memories, and experience one of Dane County’s greatest community treasures. They’ll also see sustainability in action. We recently celebrated the opening of our new solar pavilion, generously donated by the Couillard famil...

It’s been a busy few months since my last update, and I want to catch our community up on where things stand. This spring, my fellow alders elected me Vice President of the Common Council, alongside new Council President Sabrina Madison. It’s a real honor, and one I intend to use to keep pushing for stronger resident engagement citywide, especially...

When I was in 5th grade, I set a goal to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer. When I graduated from college, that is exactly what I did. I moved to South America for nearly three years. I immersed myself completely into Paraguayan life. I loved the people, the land and the food. I worked as a Special Education Volunteer. I developed a home visit progr...

This fall kicks off the North Area Plan public engagement process, and the following 18 or so months will bring many opportunities for Northside neighbors to come together and share your vision for the future of North Madison! The Southeast (SE) and Southwest (SW) Area plans came to council for final approval in late June and can serve as examples ...

For nearly a century, the Oscar Mayer plant defined North Madison. When it closed in 2017, it left behind an empty 200,000 square foot campus and questions about what comes next for this space. I am excited to have played even a small part in what might come next: An effort at all levels of government, from Governor Evers to the Dane County Board t...

Happy summer, Northsiders! As the legislative season reaches a lull, I’d like to take the opportunity to remind my constituents of the many services that you can access through our office. Whether you’d like to tour the Capitol; write to us about a policy issue or come in and discuss it in person; request a flag, citation, plaque or Blue Book; or g...

On three major issues facing Wisconsin — childcare, conservation, and college affordability — Legislative Democrats have put forward practical proposals, while Republican leaders have largely declined to engage. The consequences of that divide are becoming clearer. In June, Wisconsin’s childcare stabilization payments expired. These funds had helpe...

Financial insecurity is a growing concern among our elderly living on fixed incomes. As of 2024, more than 17 million Americans age 65+ are economically insecure, living below 200% of the federal poverty level. Rising costs for housing, healthcare and daily living have severely reduced the ability of those dependent on pensions and Social Security ...

ONGOING NORTHSIDE ACTIVIES Activities take place at Warner Park Community & Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Drive, unless otherwise specified. Bingo and Blingo: Every Friday, 10:15–11:15 am Book Club (Zoom): First Wednesday,10 am. Books will be available at Lakeview Library for pick up or order through your local library and pick up at your c...

Warner Park Community Recreation Center has had a busy summer, and the momentum is carrying straight into fall. Here’s what community members can look forward to as we head into August and September. Fitness Center grand completion After months of planning, preparation and efforts, the fitness center buildout is on track to wrap up in early fall. F...

I attended the June WPCRC Family Fun Night and spoke to parents and many of the kids. When I told them I was with the Circle of Friends (CoF) that funds the program, they thanked me and said they look forward to coming every month. Pizza and sandwiches were available, along with a movie, face painting, the craft room, bingo, ballon twisting, and tw...

By City of Madison Parks Here’s your checklist to reserve a court: Log into your  WebTrac Account: If you already have an account in WebTrac, please log in. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one. While creating an account, the system checks for duplicate accounts. If you receive a notice that your information is duplicated, cli...