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Patricia Simms
Wisconsin State Journal

The Union House Tavern on East Washington Avenue, where Union soldiers from Camp Randall stopped to cash their paychecks before heading off to fight the South, will close in the next few weeks, its owner confirmed Wednesday.

Jane Curtis, who owned the historic tavern at 2609 E. Washington Ave. with her late husband, Earle Ehrhart, for 23 years, said the East Washington reconstruction hurt business and limited access to her parking lot, and heating costs on the 1850s-era building have been crushing.  read more »

September 25 was the second meeting about East Wilson Street car dwelling. Among those in attendance were home owners, car dwellers, police and local alder, Marsha Rummel. The meeting consisted of small group exercises to define a neighborhood that provided shelter and safety for all, actions that could achieve this, and ranking the top three short term and long term actions. At the end of the two hour meeting, Marsha Rummel agreed to review the ranked actions and create the next steps to address the issue. - contributed by Madison Commons reporter Sara Ishado  read more »

Williamson-Marquette Gazette

LaTanya Webb opened Reflections Salon & Barber Shop at 912 Williamson last year, the culmination of years of hard work and planning. A 21-year resident of Madison, she, along with her brother Fontainious Webb and cousin Janice Brooks, operate this small family business.  read more »

Williamson-Marquette Gazette

The Wisconsin Center for Book & Paper Arts has shared studio space available now for artists working in various genres such as works on paper, print-making, fibers, papermaking, artists’ books, `zines or other compatible non-toxic media.  read more »

Bill Novak
The Capital Times

A small army of shovel- and rake-wielding volunteers will head to the shorelines the next two Saturdays for the 20th straight year of spring cleaning of weeds, trash and gunk from the water's edge of Dane County's five main lakes.

The cleanups are a central focus of the 13th annual Take a Stake in the Lakes week of activities, with other activities ranging from the first Clean Lakes Festival to ski shows, rowing camps and pontoon rides, all in celebration of Madison's greatest natural resource.  read more »

Marv Balousek
Wisconsin State Journal

Willy Street Co-op will open a second store in January on the first floor of the recently completed Metropolitan Place II condominiums at Broom and Mifflin streets.

"This is a very good match," said co-op general manager Anya Firszt. "After 4 1/2 years of looking for a site, it is wonderful for us to announce our move."

Firszt said co-op members were familiar with the Metropolitan Place site because they helped the Mifflin Street Co-op research a possible move there before that co-op closed in December.  read more »

Susan Troller
The Capital Times

As Marquette neighborhood parents put down their red and yellow signs Monday night to cheer the news that both of their near east side elementary schools would remain open, some community leaders said they would work to pass a district-wide funding referendum next year to avoid the kind of sharp and divisive cuts the district was forced to make this year to conform to state financing rules.  read more »

Rebecca Wolfson
Madison Commons Reporter

In the 1980s, Eileen Doyle bought a house in the Marquette neighborhood for about $59,000. Today, the average property value in the neighborhood is $218,100, according to the city of Madison assessor. Doyle said she feels lucky about the increase in her home’s value, despite the fact that she pays what she considers to be outrageous property taxes.  read more »