Northside News

By Lauri Lee
Northside News

Keep Calm Sensory Zone, a new inclusive environment for families with neurodiverse children or young adults, is opening soon at 1736 Roth Street, in the NorthGate Shopping Center. The grand opening will be held Saturday, April 15, 10 am–6 pm and Sunday, April 16 11 am– 4 pm to introduce the new 11,000 square-foot facility where neurodiverse children and their families can play and relax while receiving holistic care. Although you don’t have to have a diagnosis to enjoy the facility and no one is going to ask.

By Lauri Lee
Northside News

If you’ve become addicted to the Far Breton French pastries found at the Northside Farmers’ Market and other mobile locations, don’t fret. Our favorite Northside French bakery is moving from the FEED Kitchens small business incubator and staying in the neighborhood in the brick-and-mortar storefront of the former New Orleans Takeout. 1924 Fordem Ave. The bakery counter is open Thursday through Sunday from 8 am–1 pm.

The inspiration for the Far Breton rustic French pastries comes from Brittany, France, the family roots of owner Marie-Anser Young. The mouth-watering, all-butter pastries offered in the bakery include the pain au chocolat, kouign-amann, spiced sugar morning bun, fruit-filled galettes and savory quiches. Dark chocolate lovers take delight in the croissant noir with double dark chocolate-espresso dough filled with dark chocolate.

The Far Breton mobile bakery will continue to sell at the Northside Farmers market and, new this year, the  Dane County Farmers’ Market on the capitol square each Saturday.

Visit farbretonbakery.com for additional details and updates.

By Becca Carpenter
The River Food Pantry

In recognition of Earth Day, The River Food Pantry is focusing on strengthening sustainability efforts to feed more people and help to protect our environment.

The River not only provides food and supplies to over 2,500 people in Dane County every week, it also plays a significant role in protecting the environment by rescuing more than 1 million pounds of food annually from the food industry, agricultural producers, and food wholesalers and retailers.

By Chris DePre
Lakeview Lutheran Church

With the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and now lingering high inflation, our neighbors facing hunger are increasingly turning to food pantries to feed their families.

Food insecurity is expected to remain high as inflation continues and the pandemic-era increase in SNAP (food stamps) benefits expired at the end of February. One of the local lifelines for those families is the weekly pantry at Lakeview Lutheran Church, 4001 Mandrake Road.

By Justin Markofski
Northside Planning Council

Not everyone is looking for any police contact, and that is fair and understandable, in my estimation. Not everyone has the same experience and history with police interactions. While this is true, the Madison Police Department (MPD) is working hard to change everyone’s perspective and experience to a more positive one.