Getting beyond Funchal by bus

[HarryPymn]

I am returning to Madeira after a few years away and have noticed that many bookmarked travel guides still describe the island as I remember it. Before fixing an itinerary I want recent information, especially around access to walks, transport, and events in Funchal. One source I came across was madeira island news alongside official notices and recent visitor reports. A news report can flag an issue, but it rarely tells me whether a particular plan is affected on the day I travel. A change in weather might matter greatly for one route and not at all for another. I am thinking of keeping a backup for each outing rather than building a schedule around a single viewpoint or hike. Which official notices would you check first and then use local reports to understand the wider context? I would appreciate advice on the timing of final checks, so I can make sensible reservations without treating every old recommendation as current. How do regular visitors keep track of changes without spending the whole holiday refreshing updates?