Believe it or not, it’s time for one of the neighborhood’s favorite events – the Fourth of July Celebration! The bike parade will start gathering at 10:45 AM this Saturday, at the Thoreau school parking lot. Like all Nakoma events, this event depends upon the participation of many neighbors. The most anticipated part of the day is the carnival that follows the bike parade. Kids spend most of their time playing games for prizes and doing fun crafts, created and staffed by fellow Nakomans. 

Games and activities abound at the carnival every year. If you have children who are getting older or looking for service hours, the Fourth of July Celebration is a great way for them to give back to the neighborhood. Partnering with another family to host a game is another fun way to participate in the carnival. 

If you’re interested in participating, please contact Jill McNaughton at 238-9287 or Megan Senatori at 239-3413. To sign up to host a game or craft, or to volunteer in another capacity, please complete and submit the form in the most recent newsletter. You’ll be glad you did and we’d be happy to have you!

The gypsy moth is now well established in eastern Wisconsin. This tree pest goes through boom and bust population cycles and this year the numbers are expected to boom in our neighborhood. To protect our trees and reduce the population of gypsy moth caterpillars in the coming months, there are steps you can take starting now.

March: Check your yard trees and outdoor items for gypsy moth egg masses. Spray them with horticultural oil labeled for gypsy moth.  If applied at temperatures above 40 degrees, the oil penetrates the egg mass and suffocates the developing caterpillars before they hatch in April.

April and May: Use sticky and burlap bands to help reduce the population of caterpillars. This technique is labor intensive and messier than oiling egg masses, though. Plan to use a combination of techniques if you have high numbers of egg masses now.

The DNR Gypsy Moth Suppression Program will apply Btk, a naturally occurring soil bacteria, in specific areas of Madison this spring. The spray has been certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute as safe to use in organic food production. Its purpose is to reduce the population of caterpillars to levels that cause less than 50 percent defoliation of our trees and it is safe to humans, pets, birds, fish and bees. 

Gypsy moth is a master hitchhiker. Check your vehicles and other outdoor items for egg masses and caterpillars and remove them before transporting them. And don’t move firewood. 

For spray scheduling updates, call the Gypsy Moth Information Line at 1-800-642-6684 or sign up for automatic email updates in May and June via www.gyspymoth.wi.gov.