Greetings Northsiders,

The summer is heating up — gardens sprouting, Mallards playing, concerts singing, campers laughing, farmers’ markets … marketing? You get the picture.

So much is happening on the Northside, and there are so many things to be proud of. I want all of us to take great pride in being a Northsider. The mission of the Northside Planning Council is to improve the quality of life for all Northsiders. Think about that for a moment. It’s a tall order. We need you all to get involved in order for that to happen. How do we improve life on the Northside for you? Get involved, try something new, do something different, meet a new neighbor, slow down, enjoy what your community has to offer. I encourage everyone to do this. 

There are two dates I want you to mark on your calendars. The first is Saturday, Aug. 8, from 4‒7:30 pm. This will be the Taste of FEED Summer Bazaar. You will experience a wide array of food and drinks from our FEED users. Bring your appetite and your wallet because you won’t want to leave empty-handed. There will also be children’s activities and free beverages. Join us at the FEED Kitchens, 1219 N. Sherman Ave.

The second date is the Sunday Supper, Aug. 30, from 4‒6 pm. We will be cooking up a storm at the outdoor Warner Park Shelter. The City of Madison Parks Department is our guest sponsor. The event is family friendly, as always. The Sunday Suppers are a collaboration between the Northside Planning Council, Warner Park Community Recreation Center, Madison School & Community Recreation, Northside Farmers Market and Boomerangs Resale Store. The dinner is free, but we accept donations, 100 percent of which are used to fund future suppers.

My last shoutout goes to my new friends in the Lerdahl Park area. Recently, a group of about 20 neighbors got together and decided they wanted to rebuild their neighborhood association. They all share a passion for their community, and they all want to improve their own neighborhood. They took the first step by making connections with the people around them. Those connections form the foundation for change, and together they can make great things happen for their neighborhood.

Please enjoy the pleasures the Northside brings you, and consider getting involved in something you are passionate about. You may get carried away.

See you around the neighborhood.