Plus, listening to Gospel music in Madison.
 
12.08.2023 6AM-Top banner logo-small.png

SUBSCRIBE | REFER

Today’s Forecast

35º | Cloudy | 15% chance of sleet | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 4:39 p.m.
 

🛼 We be rollin’

Madison Roller Derby is a-BOUT to go down
Roller derby bout with Madison Roller Derby.jpg
Madison Roller Derby celebrates its 20th season this year. It’ll be a jam. | Photo by Douglas Otto
She was 32-years-old. She hadn’t had wheels on her feet since she was a little kid, gingerly rollerblading around her neighborhood. But now she had her helmet cinched tight, her pads on, and her adrenaline on high. She was in her first roller derby bout.

“I was jumping and dancing around with excitement and intermittently filled with dread,” said Amy Wasney, aka Scary Fisher, a member of Madison Roller Derby, which has its season open this weekend. “I had the time of my life.”

Amy Wasney is a member of Madison Roller Derby.jpg

Amy Wasney, wearing the star helmet, is a star on the Madison Roller Derby track. | Photo by Douglas Otto

She’s had a blast ever since, particularly while blasting opponents. “Every time I’m on the track I feel an overwhelming feeling of euphoria that lets me shed all the stresses of my life.” Wasney, now 34 and living in the Indian Springs neighborhood, continued, “Also, being able to slam into other people as hard as you can is incredibly therapeutic.”

Plenty of people, like Wasney, have joined roller derby barely knowing how to skate at all. She said, “Watching them go from looking like a baby giraffe to absolute dominating powerhouses on the track is great to see.”

Madison Roller Derby action.jpg

The Madison Roller Derby league has over 100 participants and are always looking for more. | Photo by Douglas Otto

To those who participate, and those who watch them, it’s more than just winning and losing. “I now have an incredible community of folks that I know have my back and support me both on and off the tracks,” Wasney said.

Madison Roller Derby is celebrating its 20th anniversary season this year. The league is now made up of over 100 volunteer skaters, referees, officials, and staff. Teams have included the Quad Squad, Reservoir Dolls, Unholy Rollers, Vaudeville Vixens, and the Dairyland Dolls. The organization also has a Mad Calves Junior Derby for children aged 8-17.

Thinking about lacing up and getting out on the track? Or buying a ticket to see the bruising action? Do it. It’ll be worth your while, Wasney believes.

“Roller derby allows you to be whomever you want to be and allows people the chance to be their true selves in whatever way that means to them.”
Asked

What wheels have been under your feet the most?

A. Rollerblades
B. Roller skates
C. Scooters
D. Skateboards
Keep it wheel
Events
Friday, Dec. 8
  • Studio Class with Isidore String Quartet | Friday, Dec. 8 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., Madison | Free | Take note that you can attend a free studio class with musicians.
  • Open to Grow: A Public Health & DAMA Collaboration | Friday, Dec. 8-Wednesday, Jan. 17 | Times vary | Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison | Free | Learn about the recent Community Health Assessment with your community and check out a cool new mural in the process.
Saturday, Dec. 9
  • UW Horn Choir | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 12:30 p.m. | Chazen Museum of Art, 750 University Ave., Madison | Not to toot their horn too much, but the UW Horn Choir will be performing.
  • Jingle Paws | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 4-8 p.m. | Wisconsin Community Veterinary Center, 4475 Robertson Rd., Madison | $0-$20 | Have a happy paw-lidays with arts, crafts, face painting, a chili bar, and more.
Sunday, Dec. 10
  • Madison Comic Con | Sunday, Dec. 10 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison | $8 | Put on your cape and fly to a comic book paradise.
  • Downtown Madison Cookie Walk | Sunday, Dec. 10 | 1-4 p.m. | Downtown Madison Visitor Center, 452 State St., Madison | $7-$20 | Cookie samples, cooking decorating, cookie eating. Cookies, cookies, cookies.
Monday, Dec. 11
  • Read a Book & Learn to Cook: Peppermint Sugar Cookies | Monday, Dec. 11 | 10-11 a.m. | Willy Street Co-op - West, 6825 University Ave., Middleton | $15-$25 | Join Chef Lily in this hands-on cooking class for preschool-age children, where they’ll learn about food through storytime, music, movement, and making peppermint sugar cookies together.*
Tuesday, Dec. 12
  • MELVIS Xmas | Tuesday, Dec. 12 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Red Rooster Madison, 2513 Seiferth Rd., Madison | $8 | You’ll have a blue blue blue blue Christmas if you don’t see this Elvis impersonator.
Wednesday, Dec. 13
  • Jingle & Mingle Mixer | Wednesday, Dec. 13 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Blind Shot Social Club, 177 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Madison | Free | Mix and jingle with other local professionals.
  • Q-Cinema | Wednesday, Dec. 13 | 7-9 p.m. | OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center, 2701 International Ln., Madison | Free | Gather and watch LGBTQ+ films with snacks and drinks provided.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Announced
  • The weather just won’t be the same. Gary Cannalte, who has been providing Wisconsinites regular weather updates for 33 years, will be retiring from News 3 in early 2024. He plans on spending more time with loved ones and cheering on the Chicago Cubs. (Channel 3000)
Civic
  • Gov. Evers has been busy signing over 40 bills into law. Laws include allowing parents to anonymously utilize baby boxes, and another that requires schools to start offering, or improve, their financial literacy curriculum. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Cause
  • Do you have the bandwidth to help a local nonprofit in their radiothon? La Movida Radio is broadcasting live, today, from the Catholic Multicultural Center. They’re sharing stories and encouraging people to support the nonprofit that serves Madisonians with community meals, ESL classes, employment services, and more. (Madison365)
Development
  • The area’s next event center could be centered in Verona. There were initial discussions this week about building an event space along the 500 block of West Verona Avenue. Madison’s Garver Feed Mill inspired the event center’s initial design plans. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Biz
  • Nom, nom, nom. A Madison startup that ships meals from ethnic restaurants using a subscription box model recently received a $10,000 grant through the MKE Tech Hub Coalition’s FOR-M startup incubator program. The startup, Nommli, was founded this year by Padmini Chintakayala. (Wisconsin Inno)
Edu
  • Jnae Thompson will be this year’s student speaker for the UW-Madison winter commencement. It takes place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17 at the Kohl Center. The African American Studies major applied because, she said, “I want to uplift the people around me.”
Cause
  • The Enjue Foundation, the charitable arm of the Cap Times, has given $936,500 to Madison-area causes. Among 74 gifts given, the largest grants totaled $150,000. Centro Hispano of Dane County and the Latino Chamber of Commerce both received $75,000. (Cap Times)
Sports
  • How does the Kohl Center change the floor from a basketball game to a hockey game in a matter of hours? There are professionals for such things. (Channel 3000)
Art
  • Arizona-based mural artist Cinque Smith has a lot of moxie. Smith’s new mural spans a full side of the Moxy Madison Hotel. The piece, Smith said, is to “illuminate the divine aura and blinding beauty of the female figure through power, purpose, and divinity.” (In Business)
Concert
  • Don’t take our word for it, it’s the Gospel truth. The 19th annual Gospel Fest takes place tonight at Mount Zion Baptist Church on Madison’s South Side. Gospel artists LaTanya Maymon, Mervin Mayo, and Ricky Dillard & New G will perform. (Madison365)
Travel
  • The realm of winter is upon us. With that, Lake Geneva’s Winter Realms is beginning to take shape with tickets on sale now. Formerly Ice Castles Wisconsin, the winter wonderland includes slides, tubing, ice volcanoes, and more. (WMTV)
Wellness
  • As we age, our hormone levels decline, affecting bone density, sleep, libido, and more. Test + optimize your hormones with Wellcore’s At-Home Assessment Kit — only $79 with code NEWYOU.*
 
Cause

How to help Dane County’s unhoused

Helping people who are unhoused in Dane County
Unhoused people in tents during the winter months.jpeg
Around 1,000 Dane County residents experience homelessnes on any given day. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
On any given night in Dane County, around 1,000 residents experience homelessness. The Madison Metropolitan School District noted in November that 751 of its students were experiencing homelessness.

With the winter months bearing down, and the holiday season upon us, there are organizations combating homelessness that one can support.

Elizabeth House
The group home gives mothers a place to live during pregnancy and after the birth of their child with other women in similar situations.

Friends of the State Street Family
Working to fill the gaps of an individual’s basic needs, the nonprofit is always seeking donations and volunteers.

Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County
The organization is a partnership of agencies, founders, advocates, and formerly homeless persons.

The Road Home Dane County
“Every child deserves a home,” is its vision statement. Check out the variety of volunteer opportunities.

These organizations are but a few of what the city offers. There are many other ways to support.
The Buy

The Buy 12.08.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
The cheeriest French press to bring some sunshine into your kitchen + make you a smooth, well-brewed cup of coffee.
Share 608today
ReferralGIF1-608.gif

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

{{profile.vars.rh_reflink_4}}
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_4}} friends are tapped into all things local because of you.
Claim your rewards
 
The Wrap
 
Jonathan Shipley 2.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Jonathan
From the editor
I live not far from Porchlight’s men’s emergency shelter near the East Towne Mall. Porchlight has been providing shelter to men experiencing homelessness since 1984. As winter cold bears down, let’s show them some warmth.
Missed our previous newsletter?     ›
Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback     ›
Become a Member     ›
Advertise     ›
Shop     ›
 
 

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY