By Paul Noeldner
Madison Friends of Urban Nature
Our birds of the month for April and May are mergansers, beautiful feisty-looking duck-like birds that gather on Madison lakes during spring and fall migration. The Latin word “merge” is a bird that dives under water, and “anser” is a goose-like bird. Mergansers are cousins of our more popularly known Common Loons.
By Virginia Scholtz
Northside News
After the whimsical and sometimes forbidding months of a Wisconsin winter, milder days call us to spend our time outdoors. Picnicking can be cool, even if the weather is cool as well.
Both Lakeview Heights Park (1621 Sunfield St.) and Burrows Park (25 Burrows Road) have fireplaces. Bring your own wood and have a weenie roast. You can dine on peanut butter sandwiches while watching Lake Mendota from the shore of Warner Park Beach (1101 Woodward Drive) and from Meadow Ridge Conservation Park (4002 Meadow Valley Drive). Consider Cherokee Marsh North Unit (6098 N. Sherman Ave.); bring a lunch and take in the great views of budding spring and wildlife.
If simple packed lunches aren’t your style, order something special from the food carts with businesses based at FEED Kitchens, 1219 N. Sherman Ave. Many of them prepare specialty foods daily and drive to venues around the city. There are many caterers based here as well. For a special occasion and fancy fare, you might like to try Twisted Radish (twistedradish.com). This caterer offers grazing boxes, perfect for picnics or partics and special events.
However you connect with nature this spring, consider this: “Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.” Robin Wall Kimmerer in “Braiding Sweetgrass.”
By Virginia Scholtz
Northside News
Madison is a “Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community” according to the League of American Bicyclists.* An estimated 20% of the city’s employees ride a bike to work. Plenty of bikers can be seen on the Northside, riding in bike lanes along the major streets and making their way to bicycle paths that span the Isthmus. North of Commercial Avenue biking is mostly along city streets. Sheridan Drive will take you to Warner Park or to Woodward Drive and Warner Park Beach.
NPC: Stop in Feb. 28, we’re open
By Lauri Lee, Chair
Northside Planning Council
The Northside Planning Council (NPC) is inviting Northsiders to visit Tuesday, Feb 28 at the organization’s new office located at 1855 Aberg Ave.
An open board meeting at 12:30 pm will start out the afternoon. A reception with light refreshments will follow from 1–3 pm to welcome Justin Markofski and Chris Brockel to their new roles. This will also be an opportunity to thank Martee Mikalson for serving as the NPC interim executive director and provide a welcome to her special projects coordinator position.
Guests will be able to tour the offices which are home to NPC and the Northside News which moved into the bottom level commercial space of The Madisonian senior apartments, Nov. 1.
The organization’s headquarters were moved to FEED Kitchens in 2016 to consolidate expenses. To keep the commercial kitchens safer during the pandemic, non-food-related staff worked remotely and later from an interim office on International Lane. The move to Aberg Avenue allows for small meetings in the NPC conference area. Programming may occasionally be scheduled at The Madisonian in their meeting and community rooms, so tours will also be available to see these spaces.
