With the intent of preventing the riotous behavior of the previous two years, the Halloween Planning Committee proposed new measures at a meeting Monday.
If the plan for this year's celebration is passed at next week's meeting, the committee will install a sound system as well as projectors or screens up and down State Street in hope that such distractions will \set the mood"" and deter violent, riotous behavior.
""We are working on doing events throughout the day ... to try and make it a friendlier, more fun atmosphere,"" said Kristina Mueller, chair of Associated Students of Madison's Halloween Planning Committee.
The committee will also host events including hay rides and costume contests for families and students.
UW-Madison's Memorial Library debuted five original musical compositions Monday in celebration of the library's 50th anniversary.
The works, all with a theme of libraries and librarians, were commissioned by the Mills Music Library and were composed and performed by members of the School of Music composition program, according to a press release.
Memorial Library was originally dedicated Feb. 1, 1954, and houses over 3 million volumes, making it Wisconsin's largest library, according to the statement.
An increase in alcohol-related fines came one step closer to fruition when the measure received approval from Madison's Board of Estimates Monday.
The proposal, introduced by Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, and supported by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, will raise fines for such violations as disorderly conduct, possession of an open alcohol container in public and the selling of alcoholic beverages without a permit.
The next stop for the proposal, which was proposed by Verveer in part to help offset the costs of Halloween and similar events, is a hearing before the City Council. Officials say the proposal will likely pass and be implemented prior to Halloween.
""The focus will be really rooting out the very violent behaviors that are likely to cause problems or lead to property damage or safety issues,"" mayoral spokesperson Melanie Conklin said. ""We don't want this to be seen as a way to pay for the cost of [Halloween].""
