Monthly Archives: February 2023

I love to see small businesses open and expand in South Milwaukee!

First, welcome to Bakehouse 23 mke, which opened at 1309 Milwaukee Ave. earlier this month. Learn more here and here, check them out on Facebook. From the OnMilwaukee.com story …

If it’s been a while since you ventured to South Milwaukee, you might want to make it a point to pay a visit.

Recent years have brought numerous new businesses to Milwaukee Street, a growing Downtown strip which currently houses businesses including South Milwaukee Sausage and Meats, Immortal Toys & Collectables and Omen Subculture clothing stores along with longer term businesses like Avenue Coffeehouse.

Soon, there will also be a new spot where you can satiate your sweet tooth.

Bakehouse 23 – a retail bakery specializing in whimsical, creative sweet and savory treats – will be opening its doors at 1309 Milwaukee Ave., with a soft opening debut planned for Saturday, Feb. 11.

Behind the bakery is longtime pastry chef Sarah Mironczuk who launched the Bakehouse 23 concept in early 2022 alongside her husband, Kirk Skorlinski (also a chef). Initially, they operated out of a commercial kitchen space at the Branch at 1501 in Racine. There, she began making baked goods to sell to the public as well as wholesale accounts like Wonderland (Riverwest), Esperanza Coffee Collective (Racine) and X-Ray Arcade (Cudahy).

Mironczuk says she hopes to build on that business with her new venture, which she says will start off as a little boutique bakery where she can showcase some of the things that she loves best.

And some breaking news for one of my favorite local restaurants (and the best BBQ in the region) … Atwood Hwy BBQ Company is adding a second location on the East Side of Milwaukee. Its South Milwaukee home is at 925 Madison Ave.

Learn more here, here and here. From the Milwaukee Record …

“Atwood Hwy BBQ is all about family,” explains owners Donteah and April Morehouse. “We both learned to cook watching family members in the kitchen, and food has always been something that brings our families together. We put a lot of love into each dish we make, and it’s because when we serve food we’re really welcoming you into our family.”

That concept of Southern hospitality is referenced in the restaurant’s name. Atwood Hwy refers to a highway in Tennessee where Donteah spent time growing up. April worked at her father’s restaurant in Nashville, and both she and Donteah emphasize that guests will feel like they’re in the South when they take the first bite.

“Good food helps people connect and feel at home with one another,” remarks Donteah. “It’s not fussy or overcomplicated. We’re just creating a place where our customers get to know us, where they know that our staff is excited to see them, and they feel the love that goes into every bite.”

“Atwood Hwy BBQ is an exciting addition to our food hall,” comments Paige Hammond, General Manager of Crossroads Collective Food Hall. “Our customers have been asking for it, and there’s no better duo than April and Donteah to bring good Southern barbecue to Milwaukee’s East Side.”

Update: Janet Protasiewicz garnered more than 48% of the vote in South Milwaukee, followed by Jennifer Dorow and Daniel Kelly. Full local results here.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here is where you vote …

• District 1 (Wards 1 through 4): South Milwaukee Public Library, 1907 10th Avenue
• District 2 (Wards 5 through 8): Divine Mercy Gathering Room, 800 Marquette Avenue
• District 3 (Wards 9 through 12): City Administration Building, 2424 15th Avenue
• District 4 (Wards 13 through 16): Grobschmidt Senior Center, 2424 15th Avenue

Check out a sample ballot here.

Just one race on the ballot locally — for Wisconsin State Supreme Court.

Not registered? You can do so at the polling place on Election Day. Details here.

Visit the city’s Election Information page for more.

And look for local election results on the blog later tonight or Wednesday.

From the South Milwaukee Public Library …

Beginning Monday, February 27, open hours for the South Milwaukee Public Library will be reduced by 10 hours per week. The city’s Library Board approved a new schedule of open hours at a February 9 special board meeting.

The loss of hours coincides with a reduction of two part-time staff positions through attrition. Budget constraints built up over the last few years, including 2023 are necessitating the actions.

“These are moves that the Library Board undertakes very reluctantly,” said Board President Lynn Meidam. “While there will be some inconvenience, we are committed to ensuring our library continues to provide our thousands of patrons with excellent services and programs.”

The current popular children’s programs will remain unchanged, the library will have open hours six days a week and there will be access to evening hours two days per week. New hours will be:

• Monday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Thursday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

One option available for community members to assist the library as it continues to navigate through budget/funding challenges is to become involved in the Friends of the South Milwaukee Library, an integral organization that supports the library through fundraising and advocacy. More information at: smlibrary.org/friends/

The South Milwaukee Public Library is the city’s most used non-school public facility. In 2022 there were 48,049 library visits; total circulation of 102,389 items, including 34,973 children’s materials; 21,345 uses of e-materials; 306 programs attended by 9,654, including 8,490 children; and 6,969 uses of 15 public-access computers.

More information at: smlibrary.org.

A quick personal note on this, having lived through some of these discussions as mayor …

While it makes me sad, I respect and fully understand the decision to reduce hours. At the same time I am happy the library remains a 24-7 resource for the community. I say “24-7” because I continue to be impressed with its online offerings.

Look no further than the “Resources” tab on its website.

Click on this link, and then dive into a few databases. I’ll wait …

The library has literally made the world a few mouse clicks away from its users.

Balancing these opportunities with in-person services is the future. It is how libraries will continue to add value for generations, as I suspect budgeting won’t get any easier for the library — or any government institution — going forward.

In the end, libraries will rise or fall because of their people. Ours is rising.

From its innovative director to its passionate and caring Board members to its committed and growing Friends group, these are people dedicated to doing more with less, to ensuring the South Milwaukee Library is sustained for generations, whether that’s in-person, online or in the community. Thank you to all of those people who are making a difference.

From the press release …

In late 2022, the South Milwaukee Police Department announced our intent to fundraise for and implement a K9 unit. An internal committee has been created with representatives from the SMPD and the City’s Administration Department. In January, paperwork was filed with the IRS to establish a 501(c)(3) organization.

Through donations already received, sales for our K9 t-shirts and plush dogs, and a penny war being organized by the School District of South Milwaukee, our fundraising is off to a great start. With the public’s help, we expect to have a K9 join the force by the end of 2023.

Sales of our t-shirts and plush dogs will continue at the SMPD counter at South Milwaukee City Hall. Donations can also be dropped off or mailed to the SMPD at 2424 15th Avenue in South Milwaukee. Checks can be made out to the SMPD K9 Program.

A fundraising campaign with our business community will be starting soon as well. Commitments to support the K9 have already been made by Oak Creek Veterinary Care Clinic, Walmart, Farm & Fleet, and the South Milwaukee Lions Club.

A key part of the $10 million Bucyrus Foundation funding award from 2021 was a promise to help local nonprofits — and I am excited to see that promise become reality.

Letters of interest and applications are now being accepted for grants of up to $25,000 for local nonprofits.

Learn more about the city’s various Bucyrus Foundation grant programs, and get an application, here. Letters of interest are due by March 1, with completed applications due April 31. From the Program Guide …

BACKGROUND

The Bucyrus Steam Shovel & Dredge Co called South Milwaukee home for 118 years until 2011 when the company was acquired by Caterpillar Global mining. In September 2021 the Bucyrus Foundation (established in the 1970s) announced a $10 million contribution to institutions and infrastructure for the City of South Milwaukee (City), stretched over a 10-year period. These funds are allocated between the City and South Milwaukee School District and a portion of these funds are designated for local nonprofits.

CIVIC GRANT PROGRAM PURPOSE

The purpose of the Bucyrus Civic Grant Program is to benefit the community, allocating funds to South Milwaukee’s nonprofit organizations. Projects must demonstrate how they benefit the community. Grants may address a community need, improving community support, solving a problem, or enriching the people of South Milwaukee educational, health, or cultural experience. Grants may be for programs that address the workforce skills gap, support economic empowerment initiatives, foster effective public private partnerships, or boost neighborhood revitalization programs.

Funding priorities

• Civic development
• Arts and Culture
• Health and Human Services
• Education
• Public benefit/community improvement
• Environment

GRANT FUNDING

The Bucyrus Foundation will fund eligible projects that are not less than $1,000 and up to $25,000. All grant awards are subject to annual funding. Each grant awarded will be evaluated and a post-grant report is required for each grant received.

South Milwaukee Alderman Tim Backes has graciously volunteered to write regular updates for the blog coming out of the South Milwaukee Common Council.

You can see his latest installment here. It has information and discussion on the recent council meeting and a Q&A — including a tribute to Tim’s dad, David, who passed away in December.

Thanks, Tim, for bringing this idea to the blog! I am always looking for content to further our mission of keeping South Milwaukeeans informed on key issues, while also providing important context and depth where possible. It is why I started this blog as an alderman in 2009, and why I continue it today.

Please note: All content is written by Alderman Backes, and shared verbatim through the blog. Any opinion offered is Tim’s and Tim’s alone.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel …

Schools in the South Milwaukee School District are in a “secure” after a threat was made toward South Milwaukee High School.

In a letter to parents, the South Milwaukee School District said an unverified threat against South Milwaukee High School was called into a police department outside Milwaukee County. The letter did not specify what the threat said. The South Milwaukee Police Department informed the school district of the threat, which did not specify a time or day.

In an email to a reporter, South Milwaukee Police Chief William Jessup wrote that the threat was “essentially a bomb threat.”

And this from the school district …

There was an unverified threat called to a police department outside of Milwaukee County. The South Milwaukee Police Department informed the district that this threat was directed at the SM High School but it did not give any time or day of the threat. Out of an abundance of caution, we placed all buildings into a SECURE until more information was available. 

All students are safe and proceeding with their school day. They are able to move between classes, go to lunch, and have all other inside activities. The only limitation is that they are not able to go outside and we are not accepting any visitors to the schools.

At this time we plan to keep all buildings in a SECURE until dismissal. SMPD will make increased patrols throughout the day.

Excited to see this on the calendar, and for this game-changing downtown project to be nearly complete …

With its opening, the vision laid out in 2020 will be complete, thanks to the Bucyrus Foundation, Tim Sullivan and the hard work of many, many people. Forward!

This sounds like a terrific event …

Be sure to visit the Events page on the blog for a full list of upcoming events across South Milwaukee.

Did I miss anything? Email me at erikbrooks32@gmail.com.

Here is what’s happening in the next couple months …

April 2023

• Saturday, April 1: South Milwaukee Lions Breakfast with the Easter Bunny & Easter Egg Hunt, 8:30-10:30 a.m., hunt to follow, Grobschmidt Senior Center. Details
• Sunday, April 2: Knightwind Ensemble, 3 p.m., South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Details
• Thursday, April 6: “Animal: A Farm Story,” by Cirque Alfonse, 7:30 p.m., South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Details
• Thursday, April 13: Poetry Open Mic Night, 6 p.m., South Milwaukee Library. Details
• Thursday, April 20: Free Community Dinner, First Congregational Church. Details
• Thursday, April 20: Growing South Milwaukee Earth Daze Bake Sale/Community Garden Fundraiser, 4:20-7 p.m., Parkway Floral. Details
• Saturday, April 29: South Milwaukee Earth Day celebration, 9 a.m.-noon, Grobschmidt Senior Center parking lot. Details

May 2023

• Saturday, May 6: South Milwaukee Little League Opening Day. Details
• Saturday, May 13: South Milwaukee PAC SMArt Walk/Run, Grant Park. Register now
• Thursday, May 18: Free Community Dinner, First Congregational Church. Details
• Sunday, May 21: Afternoon at the Commons, Bucyrus Commons dedication. Details

Support this terrific local event! More details here.