Our street has entered the Halloween arms race. One house put up a single skeleton last weekend, and now there are three inflatable pumpkins, a twelve-foot something, and a fog machine on the block. Nobody talked about it. It just happened.

Respect to everyone involved. Here's what's going on this week.

— MH

Evergreen Theater will stage a special benefit performance of "The Lion King Jr." to support one of its young actors, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment. The theater announced the show this week. Proceeds will go to the actor and her family, and cast members are rallying behind a castmate who can't be on stage with them right now. In a photo shared by the theater, she is flexing in a physical therapy room, wearing a "Wicked" shirt.

Gen Tso and Zeya, the NEW Zoo's two red pandas, just had shovels go in on a brand-new home. It'll have climbing structures, since red pandas live up high, plus air conditioning and windows so you can see them whether they're indoors or out. It's the first project in the zoo's new "Renew the Zoo" campaign. Brown County has already raised $2 million, and the zoo is looking to raise $4 million more from the community for accessibility upgrades and long-term care. The African penguins are getting a new indoor viewing area too, so you'll be able to see them all winter, and the extra room means more nesting pairs and, hopefully, more baby penguins. The panda habitat should be done in January, with a ribbon cutting in the spring.

The self-serve cake pop cart on Lawrence Drive in De Pere is adding Strawberry Pop-Tart, Crème Brûlée, Chocolate Toffee Crunch, and Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin starting Friday. All October long, 25% of their profits go to a breast cancer awareness charity.

Grab a pop, do a little good.

A home sourdough operation that grew up through porch pickups, farmers' markets, and pop-ups is leveling up. Water Salt Flour does sourdough loaves, strawberry bagels, cheese crackers, cinnamon rolls, and runs baking classes once or twice a month for beginners and people who already know their way around a starter. Thursday pick-your-loaf pickups run 2 to 7. Class dates live on their Facebook page.

Shovels went in Tuesday on a new $1.2 million stretch of the Westside Riverfront Trail along the Fox River's west shore, kicking off phases two and three of the connector and campground project. When it's done, it will link Ashwaubenon and De Pere along the water, a missing piece for anyone who bikes or runs the river. Between this and the Shipyard beach, the riverfront is getting a real glow-up.

Six years after the village bought the property at 1905 S. Webster Ave., construction has officially started on a mixed-use building there. The rendering shows three stories of brick with street-level storefronts, green awnings, and patio seating along the sidewalk. It's the kind of walkable corner Webster has been missing.

Green Bay is moving ahead with a $2 million plan to restore about 11 acres of wetland at Emilie Park on the East River. Decades ago, that land was a natural floodplain before it got filled in. The city plans to dig out the fill, bring back the wetland habitat, and add boardwalks so you can walk right through it. The restored wetland will soak up stormwater from the surrounding neighborhood, which is a big deal for an area that floods repeatedly. The project is about half funded, with a $1.4 million grant still pending. If that money comes through, construction could start in spring or summer 2027. The city is also building a flood warning system for the East River that could be up and running within two years.

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The city is looking for residents to work as paid election inspectors. It pays $225 per election, or $340 for chief inspectors, and the city trains you. If you've ever wanted to see how elections actually run up close, this is the way in.

🍯 That's the week. Downtown's the place to be, so go catch a show, grab a treat, and I'll see you next Thursday.

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Stay local. Stay buzzing, and maybe see you at an event. Don’t forget to say Hiiiii!

MH.