The Dane County Food Council aims to create an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable local food system. At their celebration of National Food Day on Oct. 24, the council released an action plan to do just that.

Chair of the council, County Supervisor Melissa Sargent, welcomed the National Food Day crowd to Goodman Community Center. The audience included representatives from Sustainable Times, Community Action Coalition, Family Farm Defenders and Farm Fresh for All.

"We have a lot to celebrate," Sargent said. "Our farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA), our community gardens, and locally sourced foods in our grocery stores."

The Madison Streets Division will begin the final round of brush collection starting on Monday, Sept. 19.

"Every neighborhood in the city will receive one more brush collection, starting Monday, city officials said. They said it is their goal to be done with brush collection by the time leaf volume picks up so we can assign brush crews to leaf collection.

Madison residents should get their brush trimmed and to the curb as soon as possible to avoid missing the final collection of the season. You can get updated information on when crews are expected in your area by calling 608-267-2088 or by going to www.cityofmadison.com/streets.

Madison residents can also bring their brush to the Streets Division's drop off sites at 1501 W. Badger Rd. and 4602 Sycamore Ave. The sites are open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday they are open until 8 p.m.

There will be no refuse or recycling collection in the city of Madison on Monday, July 4, due to the Independence Day holiday.

Residents who have their refuse and recycling collected on Monday will have their material collected on Tuesday, July 5. Residents in Tuesday's refuse collection district will also have their material collected on July 5.

"Because of the double collection on Monday, July 5 it is important that residents have their material out by 7 a.m. to insure collection," Madison Recycling Coordinator George Dreckmann said in a news release.

Because of the holiday, the Streets Division's large item service may run a day late the week of July 4th. 

The city of Madison yard waste drop off sites will be open the following hours