🚗 City loosens winter parking enforcement

🚗 A Kindler, Gentler Approach to Winter Parking Enforcement?

• The snow will come sooner or later and along with it will come some changes to how Madison enforces its alternate-side parking rules to keep streets clear for snowplows.
• This winter, parking enforcement will only begin once the Superintendent of Streets has declared a snow emergency or first plowing operation. Once that begins, alternate side parking will be in effect until March 15, 2026. However, ticketing may be paused during extended periods without snow or ice on the streets.
• City officials say the changes are a first step in a long-term shift in its winter parking program to make it more data-driven and responsive to conditions. [City of Madison]

💰 Frautschi Gives $4.5M For Madison College Scholarships

• Philanthropist W. Jerome Frautschi has given a $4.5 million donation to Madison College, the largest non-capital contribution in the school’s history.
• The money will be added to a $1 million gift Frautschi gave in 2022 to establish the Frautschi Family Pathway Scholarship Fund to support students with the greatest financial need with scholarships. Madison College Foundation said that with the support of Frautschi and other private donors, it has given scholarships to 2,300 students in the last academic year. [Madison365]

🏥 UW-Madison Health Officials See Rise in Viral Meningitis Cases

• University Health Services have warned UW-Madison students that they are seeing an uptick in viral meningitis cases.
• Viral meningitis is an infection that inflames the protective lining of the brain. Common symptoms include fatigue, fever, sore throat, and runny nose, although serious cases can involve vomiting, confusion, and stiff neck. At-home care can usually treat the disease, but students are urged to see a health care professional to determine the right course of action.
• To prevent the spread of viral meningitis, students are urged to take common disease prevention practices like washing hands, avoiding sharing drinks or toothbrushes, and staying home when feeling ill. [Daily Cardinal]

Video stores are a relic, a thing of the past. There’s even a documentary called “Videoheaven,” about how seeing a video store in a movie instantly pins it as a period piece of the ‘80s or ‘90s.

Except in Madison, where, despite our changing times and technology, Four Star Video has beaten the odds for 40 years. Now located on West Gilman Street, the store has a loyal following of members who treat Four Star’s 20,000+ physical media titles as part of their own collection.

In honor of its 40th anniversary, Four Star is hosting a party Nov. 7 at The Rigby featuring current and former customers and employees, including store founder Brian Smith. On Nov. 8, the store will host an open house party with a scavenger hunt, special deals and more.

In celebration of the milestone anniversary, co-owner Lewis Peterson talked about the store’s past, present, and future. Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What does it mean to you that Four Star Video is still here after 40 years?

I’m just so caught up in the day to day, week to week. So it’s nice to take a step back and be like, “Okay, this place has been around for a long time.” It’s lasted longer than many businesses. There are longer-running businesses on State Street, but stuff just turns over so much.

What do you attribute to it still going strong?

It’s partially just my own stubbornness, and selecting people that have the same kind of — maybe not stubbornness, but the same inclination. It’s interesting, we’re getting to the point where someone who is 18 years old and a college student coming here for the first time, they may not have a strong memory of going to a video store.

I’m constantly surprised at how interested young people seem to be in physical media. Obviously it’s not all of them, but that’s something that’s changed.

⬆️ Last Week’s Photo

These statues of former UW-Madison athletic director Pat Richter and former football coach Barry Alvarez are located at Camp Randall outside Kellner Hall!

🎉 Congratulations to Nancy S., Kate L., and Kristin S. for being the first three people to guess correctly!

⬇️ This Week’s Photo

Do you know where this fish is located? A few clues:

• It’s on Madison’s west side
• It’s in a bar (NOT a bait shop), and it’s on the ceiling!
• Jerry Seinfeld once famously got a cheeseburger here, but I recommend the brickburger!