03.27.2024

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Today’s Forecast

39º | 3% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:47 a.m. | Sunset 7:18 p.m.

🍎 Nourishing the community

From local farmers to Madison-area school kids

Two children cutting vegetables in a kitchen.jpeg

Madison’s Pasture and Plenty offers after-school cooking classes for area youth. | Photo via Pasture and Plenty

The Farm to School Council, through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, just announced that eight organizations statewide received grants totaling $250,000 — three of which are in Madison.

Formed in 2009 as part of Wisconsin Act 293, the council was created to advance a farm-to-school network, comprised of local food supply chain partners, child health and nutrition professionals, school food service workers, and more.

The goal of the grants:

Enable communities to develop farm-to-school partnerships
Implement farm-to-school initiatives
Strengthen Wisconsin’s state farm-to-school network

These grants will improve the meals and snacks given to Madison’s school-aged youth, and doing it with locally grown food. We call that a win-win.

A pile of red apples.jpg — Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection offers grants to organizations, connecting farmers with schools. | Photo by 608today

Madison recipients

Kids Forward
This organization advocates for children and families of color. The funds will be used to increase understanding of and access to fresh, local, culturally relevant foods, particularly in Spanish-speaking and Tribal nation communities.

Mad Local Food Group LLC (Pasture and Plenty)
The grant will go toward the Youth Black Excellence Life Readiness Cooking Class and Local Meal Kit Program. These after-school cooking classes will use meal kits containing locally sourced ingredients highlighting Wisconsin’s harvest seasons.

The program, said Pasture and Plenty’s owner Christy McKenzie, “demonstrates what successful community engagement with farm-to-school programming can look like when diversity, equity, and inclusion are centered in the work.”

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Inc.
The WECA food program is the only program in Wisconsin to serve providers, children, and families in all 72 counties and all Tribal nations. The newly acquired funding will be used to install edible gardens, improve local foods infrastructure, and make agricultural education and resources more readily available.

You can support Kids Forward, Pasture and Plenty, and WECA today.

Asked

What was your go-to lunch in elementary school?

Think: PB&J, nachos, pizza

Let's do lunch

Events

Wednesday, March 27

Four Course Civilized Supper: The Mediterranean | Wednesday, March 27 | 6:15-8:45 p.m. | The Deliciouser, 931 E. Main St., Madison | $65 | Have a spicy Mediterranean meal featuring the unique spices of Baharat, Za’atar, and Berber.
Vinyl Listening Session | Wednesday, March 27 | 8:30-9:30 p.m. | Lola’s, 617 N. Sherman Ave., Madison | Cost of purchase | Listen to Herbie Hancock’s essential album, “Maiden Voyage,” start-to-finish with other like-minded jazz heads with a chance to win tickets to his April 3 concert in Madison.

Thursday, March 28

Mindfulness and Self-Care Workshop | Thursday, March 28 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Lakeview Library, 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison | Take care of yourself with this workshop led by mental health advocate Nikyra McCann.
Twilight Bowl | Thursday, March 28-Saturday, April 6 | Times vary | Bartell Theatre, 113 Mifflin St., Madison | $15-$25 | This coming of age play is told by way of a small town Wisconsin bowling alley.

Friday, March 29

Maeve Gilchrist | Friday, March 29 | 8 p.m. | Overture Center, 201 State St., Madison | $45 | The Scottish composer and producer made her mark through harp playing, but has since expanded her repertoire to make music that includes strings, electronics, and poetry.
Good Vibes: A Comedy Show | Friday, March 29 | 8-9:30 p.m. | The Cardinal Bar, 418 E. Wilson St., Madison | $15-$20 | A night of comedy headlined by Mike Lester starring Ben O’Connell, Alecia Altstaetter, and Clarence Williams.

Saturday, March 30

Rugby 101 | Saturday, March 30 | 1-4 p.m. | Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex, 448 Clark St., Cottage Grove | Free | For those curious about rugby, all are welcome to learn about the sport and participate in a workout session with the Madison Minotaurs.
Parent Child Egg Hunt Happy Hour | Saturday, March 30 | 4-7 p.m. | Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison | $15 | A springtime affair including an egg hunt, games, and crafts for the kids, and cocktails for the adults.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Health

Healthcare

How to get quality online health care from the comfort of home

Presented by a 608today Partner

No matter if you’re an established SSM Health patient or it’s your first visit, SSM Health has you covered. | Photo via Pexels

Let’s be honest — when you’re feeling under the weather, the last thing you want to do is leave the house and sit in a crowded waiting room. Enter: SSM Health Express Virtual Care, offering Madisonians fast, convenient, and affordable care with online treatments.

SSM Health allows you to hop on a video visit to quickly connect with a provider via video conference, or opt for an e-visit where you fill out a form to get a treatment plan from a provider via email to get you on the path to feeling better.

Conditions treated via virtual care include:

Allergies + sinus infections
Cold, cough, flu, and fever
Diaper rash
Minor aches, pains, and infections
Minor cuts, scrapes, and burns
Skin conditions
And more

Learn more + feel better faster

News Notes

Development

The Lake Monona Waterfront redesign is coming closer to fruition now that the city’s Planning Commission approved the master plan. The revamp will include boathouses, boardwalks, and more. Construction is scheduled for 2027 while the plan now heads to the Common Council for further approval. (WKOW)

Sports

Badgers men’s basketball star A.J. Storr, the team’s leading scorer this season, has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. Storr averaged 16.8 points and 3.9 rebounds this year. (On3)

Civic

Local organizations interested in bolstering emergency preparedness are encouraged to apply for $70,000 in funding. Public Health Madison & Dane County is accepting applications now. The funds, provided by the Centers for Disease Control, are aimed to help organizations respond to moments of crisis. The deadline is Friday, April 19.

Announced

Madison Burger Week is sure to be a smash. Hosted by Cap Times, and sponsored by the Wisconsin Beef Council, the event will take place May 17-24. Participating restaurants will showcase a burger off the menu or concoct something new in hopes of being crowned Madison’s best burger. (Cap Times)

Health

Here’s a bright idea: giving away safety glasses for the coming solar eclipse. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin is offering free glasses at its clinics. Grab yours (no need to be a patient) at the Capitol, East, Hatchery Hill, Madison College, or Sauk Trails clinics by Monday, April 8. (Channel 3000)

Seasonal

A reminder for green thumbs — the Friends of the Arboretum’s online plant sale ends this Sunday, March 31. Trees, shrubs, garden mixes, and more are available. You can order your plants online and pick them up the week of Monday, May 13.

Opening

Come June, Madison’s West side will have a new Peruvian restaurant. Amar Peru is opening at 610 Junction Rd. in what was Mr. Brew’s Taphouse. Daniel Rodriguez and Esmerelda Bascones, former owners of Inka Heritage, plan on specializing in seafood. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Eat

Culver’s is bringing home the (new) bacon. Beginning Monday, April 1, Culver’s sandwiches will have new smoky, thick-cut bacon. By way of introduction, customers will be able to add two pieces of bacon to any sandwich on Monday at no additional charge. (Channel 3000)

Try This

So, you’re planning an event. With our self-service advertising options, you can create some buzz in Madison + make sure people show up. Psst… Your listing could be featured in this newsletter in as little as two days. Rack in the RSVPs.

Music

🎼 Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra scores

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra announces 2024-25 season

608today - Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra - Mar 24.jpeg

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1960 and has been playing music ever since. | Photo via Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) announced its coming 2024-25 season.

Subscriptions are on sale now, ranging in price from $93 to $385. Single ticket sales start Monday, August 5.

Masterworks Series

Fialkowska on Fire | Friday, Nov. 8
Pianist Janina Fialkowska will perform Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 4 in G.”

Márquez and Meyers | Friday, Jan. 24
Featuring violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, the bill includes a violin concerto by Arturo Márquez based on Mariachi music.

Davis & Dvořák with Madison Ballet | Friday, Feb. 28
The Madison Ballet collaborates with WCO on Oliver Davis’ “Liberty” suite.

Beethoven’s Fifth | Friday, March 28
The WCO will play the iconic work. Cellist Amit Peled will also perform music of the Romantic era.

Brahms and Jupiter | Friday, Apr. 25
The season concludes with a Brahms piano concerto and Mozart’s “Symphony No. 41.”

The WCO calendar year will also include winter concerts, Handel’s “Messiah,” and more.

Answered

How far will the Badgers go in the NCAA tournament?

Alas, the Badgers men’s basketball team did not go far. Most all of us thought they’d go farther.

Second round: 40%
Sweet Sixteen: 36%
First round: 9%
Elite Eight: 8%
National Championship: 5%
Final Four: 3%

As for the Badgers women’s basketball team, they won their first WNIT playoff game on Monday.

Their next game is against Illinois State University on Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center.

The Buy

The Buy 3.27.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

New denim on Nordstrom Rack. We’re seeing great finds in women’s jeans from Joe’s, Good American, and Lucky Brand, all perfect for a spring refresh.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jonathan

From the editor

When I was a kid, if you volunteered for crosswalk duty you got to have a free hot lunch at school. The best days were those days where the chocolate milk cartons weren’t sold out and there were plenty of square pieces of pizza left.

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