By: Anya Firszt, General Manager
Hello folks. Ah, July—some might say the peak of summer’s goodness. Warm weather, pleasant temperatures. Some folks will be celebrating the ripening of their tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers, and beans. At the same time, others will enjoy the local produce harvest available through their CSA or at one of a dozen Madison farmers’ markets or the Co-op.
For the Co-op, July marks the beginning of the new fiscal year. Thank you for making last fiscal year (our 50th anniversary year) a success! We will share financial and operational highlights at the Annual Meeting on October 7, following the completion of the annual financial audit.
Board Elections
Are you interested in running for the Board of Directors?
We will have three vacant seats in this election cycle. To learn more about the Board, the application process, and the requirements for running, please review the Board Candidate Packet, available at the Owner Resources Area at any of our three stores or willystreet.coop/run-for-board.
Candidate applications are due by 3:00 pm on August 28.
Willy East Refrigeration Project – update
The East Refrigeration Project has moved to the third week of August.
Why are we doing this work? It’s time to replace the freezer-door run, produce cases, and egg refrigerated case at our east location. This project is now scheduled for the last half of August and requires that the store be closed for five days to complete the work. We are also replacing the current refrigerant with a lower environmental impact and eco-friendly refrigerant. Look for details included in the August Reader or project timeline updates posted on the website. Willy North and Willy West are open regular hours during this project. Thank you in advance for your patience while we work on this upgrade to our east location.
Neighborhood music festivals on the near horizon
This month, Fête de Marquette celebrates its 19th year of bringing live music, delicious food, and community spirit to Madison’s east side from July 10 to 13 at McPike Park. And, during the last week of July, don’t miss AtwoodFest, July 26–27, on the two hottest blocks on Atwood Avenue between Monty’s Blue Plate and Tex Tubb’s. You’ll find music, food, and crafts. Check it out.
Festival Perks Passes
The Co-op is again offering Festival Perks Passes to 3,000 Owners, allowing them to receive half-priced meals and beverages (with or without alcohol) during a three-hour period at one of three community festivals near our stores: Fête de Marquette, Good Neighbor Festival, and Northside Festival.
Perks Passes for La Fête de Marquette will be distributed at Willy East starting on Monday, June 30. Perks Passes will also be available later this summer for the Good Neighbor Festival and Northside Festival; see the August issue of the Reader for details.
Festival Perks Passes are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Each Pass is good for the one festival with which it is associated—for example, the one distributed at Willy East is only valid at La Fête de Marquette. Owners with an individual Ownership account may receive a total of one Pass; Owners with a household account may receive a total of two Passes (for the same festival) if they wish. Festival Perks Passes are non-transferable.
For more information, please see willystreet.coop/owner-festival-perks.
Northside TownCenter Block Party!
Before heading to Fête on Sunday, July 13, check out the Northside TownCenter Block Party from 9:00 am—2:00 pm at the corner of Northport Drive and Sherman Avenue on Madison’s Northside. There will be food trucks, live music, kids’ activities throughout the parking lot, along with the farmers’ market. Our Willy North location will be hosting additional sales in-store, kids’ activities, and live music outside.
Additionally, the 16 participating businesses will have a River Food Pantry Barrel outside to help support our local food pantry during the party. If you would also like to participate in this way, you are welcome to do so. Join us for some northside community fun! For more information: willystreet.coop/block-party.
Willy East Rain Garden Sessions
Every Wednesday through Labor Day, except for the week of the East refrigeration project, Willy East will host live, free acoustic music featuring local musicians in the rain garden located on the Jenifer Street side of the building from 5:00–7:00 pm.
Grab a folding chair, drink, and a snack, and join in the fun.
Special Store Hours
Friday, July 4—closing at 7:00 pm–Independence Day
Monday, August 18–Friday, August 22—Willy East is CLOSED for a refrigeration project
Until next month, cheers.
Anya
