Parents, students and others upset at the proposed cuts to the South Milwaukee school music program are making their voices heard on the issue.

Click here to see a WISN-TV story on the topic. From the story:

In South Milwaukee, the music has played as long as anybody can remember, but unless there is a dramatic change for the good in the district’s school budget in the next few weeks, the entire string orchestra could be cut. “I came from a broken family and the orchestra program saved my life, so I’m very strongly opposed to them cutting this program,” Music Alumni South Milwaukee member Carol Rehak said.

Parents, students and citizens are outraged at the mere thought of it. “I really don’t want them to cancel the music program, cause it’s pretty much everything to me,” student Travis Paget said.

Said Superintendent David Ewald: “We’ve tried not to gore anybody’s oxen, at this point, though, we can’t not do that. Things that we treasure are being eliminated and they will be eliminated because we have no choices except to do that.”

Be sure to check out Blogging Blue, a blog run by former South Milwaukee School Board candidate Zach Wisniewski, for more thoughts on the topic. And you can visit the South Milwaukee Music Portal, which has even more information, including links to join a Forward South Milwaukee Facebook page devoted to the issue.

Also check out my previous post for links to the key budget documents.

So, what do you think?

Learn more at the South Milwaukee School Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, when a public hearing on the preliminary budget recommendations is planned.

Here is the meeting agenda.

A stabbing was reported at Sportz Medicine II on Milwaukee Avenue last night.

Click here to see the story from WTMJ. From the story:

A fight over a woman, or possibly even the song selection at one South Milwaukee bar, ends in a stabbing. Police in South Milwaukee say a 29-year old man reportedly stabbed another 29-year old man inside the tavern Sportz Medicine II, on the 1100 block of Milwaukee Avenue. Authorities have arrested a suspect after a chase. Police caught up to him two blocks away.

I’ll post an update as I get one.

When I was elected alderman last April, I wanted to hit the ground running, tackling some of the biggest issues I raised in my campaign quickly. Downtown development was, and still is, the biggest one.

That’s why I am so glad to have co-founded (with Alderman Jim Shelenske) the South Milwaukee Downtown Market.

It launched last July and quickly grew into an amazing success with the help of a dedicated committee of volunteers and others.

Unlike other farmers’ markets, our goal is to use the event to help get people excited about coming downtown again … and open their eyes to the opportunity of our city center. We achieved that goal in 2009.

We want the same thing in 2010, as we bring back the market even bigger and better this summer. We hope can join us.

The Downtown Market, located at 11^th and Milwaukee Avenues, will again be held on Thursday afternoon and evenings from June 3 through October 14. It will be open from 3 to 7:30 p.m. in June, July and August and from 3 to 7 p.m. in September and October.

We’re also holding a one-day Downtown Spring Market and Business Fair on Saturday, April 10, at Bucyrus International. The market, which will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature many of the same vendors found at the summer version of the market, including produce, food, jewelry, art and craft vendors. It will also feature a South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce Business Fair showcasing some of the city’s top merchants.

 The spring event will be held at the remodeled Bucyrus Heritage Building on 10^th Avenue just north of Milwaukee. The hours coincide with those of the Bucyrus History Museum, which is also located in the Heritage Building.

Learn more about both events in this press release, and check out our website at www.smdowntownmarket.org for more information, including information on how to sign up as a vendor at both the spring and summer markets.

To all who supported the 2009 market, thank you. We can’t wait until 2010.