Author Archives: Erik Brooks

Bucyrus Commons is home to two car shows this week, as the impressive list of summer events in South Milwaukee continues. Click on the images for more details.

From the city …

The current South Milwaukee Water Tower was built in 1999 and is due for significant exterior and interior rehabilitation work. The surface of the tank will be sandblasted and repainted. The water distribution pumping system has already begun to account for the water tank being out of service.  

Residents who experience low water pressure or cloudy water should call the South Milwaukee Water Utility at 414-768-8070. This project is expected to be completed by the end of October.

Of note, the water tower is not being rebuilt, just refurbished. So it will look like what you see below in shape. Sandblasting begins this week.

And I’m told there will be a Rocket logo painted on the side facing Bucyrus Stadium.

Thanks, J&JDoubleTake, for the photo. Beautiful shot, as always.

Learn more on the team’s Facebook page. Go Rockets!

From the South Milwaukee Celebrations Committee …

Join us at Bucyrus Commons (1028 Madison Avenue) at 5 p.m. for hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, bouncy houses, and more! The movie starts at 8 p.m.

And bring a lawn chair!

Learn more about all the city Celebrations Committee events here. Next up after Movie Night:

• Saturday, September 9: Open Doors. 10am – 3pm. Go behind the scenes to celebrate South Milwaukee’s art, architecture, culture, history, and people. We have 20 stops booked, including several new ones for 2023. Learn more here: Open Doors Event Webpage
• Saturday, October 21: Family Spooktacular at the Commons. 4pm – 7pm. Movie begins at 7pm. Event to be held at the Bucyrus Commons. More details coming soon!
• Saturday, December 2: Christmas at the Commons. Mark your calendars for a new holiday event with food, music, family fun, and the lighting of the Bucyrus Commons Christmas tree. More details coming soon!

South Milwaukee is our schools. Our schools are South Milwaukee.

The fortunes of both are inexorably linked, their bonds strengthened by issues of common interest and concern, existing (and hopefully new) areas of collaboration, and, most importantly, passionate people who understand just how important the success of one is to the other.

That’s why all of us — whether you have one the nearly 3,000 kids in the South Milwaukee School District or not — should care about what the district’s new superintendent, Diedre Roemer, has to say, from concerns over the state budget to early observations since she joined the district this summer.

Diedre appears in the latest edition of the #SMWay Podcast. Access it (and all of Season 1) here.

From the school district …

We can all learn something, right? The #SMWay podcast answers questions from South Milwaukee parents about education, how the school district operates, what challenges are in front of us, and what we as a community can do about it. When we’re not answering parent questions, we’re sharing what’s best about our schools – our student successes, and our teachers’ dedication.

Today we’re introducing South Milwaukee’s new superintendent, Deidre Roemer. We’ll hear a little bit about her family, her career, where she’s been and what led to South Milwaukee. I’ll ask her about first impressions of the District and the city, about what we should celebrate, and what we need to work on. Spoiler alert, she’s hit the ground running. I’ll also ask her about the state’s education budget, what’s changed since our last podcast episode, and what it means for South Milwaukee.

It’s worth a listen. And welcome, Superintendent Roemer!

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And at the South Milwaukee Downtown Market, it’s music by Sawdust Symphony …

794 is at a crossroads, quite literally.

Should the Lake Interchange be rebuilt essentially as is, or should it be brought to grade level, creating a downtown boulevard? Or is the answer somewhere in the middle?

Those are among the questions in front of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, as it explores concepts related to the upcoming reconstruction.

The DOT wants to know what you think.

Public involvement meetings are planned this Tuesday and Wednesday, August 1 and 2, at the Milwaukee Marriott Downtown and Saint Thomas More High School. Details are in the flyer.

And here are details on the project and concepts under consideration.

South Milwaukee’s Common Council — and those in Cudahy and St. Francis — have already weighed in. Their position: Keep it as is. The South Milwaukee council passed a resolution passed on April 18 to “oppose the replacement of I-794 with surface street ramps.” Cudahy and St. Francis passed similar measures. From the Journal Sentinel story on this …

South Milwaukee Mayor Jim Shelenske said on his Facebook page potential future plans to create a surface boulevard “could significantly increase your drive times.”

South Milwaukee’s resolution opposing the project, passed by the common council April 18, highlights some potential negative affects including the loss of Route 48, an MCTS freeway flyer route. The resolution also asserts a likely increased density of traffic on I-94 from Racine County to downtown Milwaukee as drivers change habits.

The Cudahy Common Council has passed an identical resolution, calling I-794 “an essential transportation connection.”

St. Francis expressed similar opposition to the project, which officials said that “would sever a key economic gateway to the South Shore and increase drive times between Milwaukee and the South Shore, I-43 and I-94.” The St. Francis resolution, which passed May 2, also suggested the proposal would increase congestion on surface streets within the three South Shore cities. “(The resolution is) just to let the powers that be know our citizens are against this,” said St. Francis Mayor Ken Tutaj.

“You’re going to have cars congested on a very small street,” Tutaj said, adding that the skinnier streets are proposed to include longer sidewalks and bike paths.

“The City of St. Francis opposes any transportation alternative that incorporates demolition or decommissioning of the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge or any other part of the existing I-794 … within the City of Milwaukee,” the St. Francis resolution reads.

My view: It’s too early to make statements like this. And it’s too easy.

As someone who uses 794 daily to get to and from work and has valued this fast and easy connection with downtown and points west, I suggest a key piece of information is missing.

How will travel times be impacted by the various concepts? The answer is, no one knows. Yet.

I asked that question of Project Manager David Pittman, and he responded via email: “At this time, that level of analysis has not been performed. As we further develop our various concepts into alternatives, we anticipate doing more detailed traffic modeling that will be able to provide travel time predictions.”

In other words, we don’t know perhaps the most important data point for those in the South Shore — the ones most likely to use 794 as their connection through downtown — to make up their minds on this.

If travel times are impacted by just a few minutes with even the most “at-grade” concept, then I’m all in on what would be a generational opportunity — a chance to unlock more than $1 billion in development potential, connect the Third Ward to downtown Milwaukee and the lakefront, and breathe new life into streets and public spaces below the bridges. A boulevard would also encourage other modes of transportation beyond the car.

And if the drive times are significantly higher? Then maybe I’ll need to rethink my position.

Either way, why shut down debate now? We may get one chance in my lifetime to do this right.

From the City of South Milwaukee …

Beginning July 31st, 15th Avenue will be closed from Madison Avenue to Missouri Avenue for much needed bridge repair work. The proposed timeframe for the project is July 31st through September 30th (weather dependent).

Please follow the detour signs while navigating an alternative route during this project.

Here is the detour map.

A clinic doing God’s work in Tanzania is not tens of thousands of miles away. It’s down the block — and needs your help. A unique special event gives you a chance to do just that next month.

The Mt. Meru Tumaini Health Clinic — started and operated by the family of Exaudh Mbise, husband of Trinity Lutheran Church (my church) Pastor Denise Mbise — is holding “A Starry Night Dance” fundraiser on Friday, August 11, at the Bucyrus Club.

In addition to Tanzanian-inspired and other appetizers and desserts, dancing (think prom theme, with DJ Pete) and a silent auction, it also features a boutique filled with handmade artisan goods from Tanzania and Exaudh’s terrific Kumbe Coffee, made from beans grown near the Tanzanian clinic. Dress is formal.

Learn more and purchase tickets by August 3 here.

The clinic is making a real difference and can definitely use your help. From its website …

In 2001, work began in the United States to form a non-profit to raise funds for a clinic and to provide ongoing support for the work being done in Ndoombo. By 2002, enough funds were raised to construct a clinic building with running water, electricity and plumbing. The original building was designed by Troy Steege.

​In August of 2002, thirty people went on the first mission trip to Ndoombo and witnessed the beginning of building a 9-room building to serve as a clinic for the village and surrounding area. Once completed, Romini could move into the new building.

On this initial trip was one Dr. Deborah Sweet and her sister, Coral Mack.  Deborah is an oral surgeon and she worked on patients outside under the bougainvillea. Rev. Moses’ youngest son, Polite Mbise, helped Deborah with her work. Deborah and Coral noticed Polite’s interest in dentistry and subsequently funded his schooling in Dar es Salaam to become a dentist.  He started working with his sister Romini at the Mt. Meru Tumaini Health Clinic in 2009.

Continued monetary donations and work performed by volunteers on yearly mission trips have made it possible to maintain and improve clinic services. In 2016, MMTHC received a license to provide healthcare to deliver babies and register births.  Because of the wide service area of the clinic (10,000 people living in the area), and a lack of nearby medical services the Tanzanian Ministry of Health upgraded the clinic license to a dispensary.  In Tanzania, a dispensary is a step up from a clinic. The staff will now work with the Ministry of Health to provide immunizations, maternity/delivery/well-baby care and health education.

More details here.

I’m not sure I’ve seen a local event calendar this packed. And it starts today.

Here is what’s coming up between now and the end of the month, starting tonight with the Downtown Market and Community Dinner; continuing into the weekend with shows at the South Milwaukee PAC, the Friends of Grant Park Art Fair; and leading into Heritage Days. Enjoy, South Milwaukee!

• Thursday, July 20: South Milwaukee Downtown Market, 3-7 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Performance by South Milwaukee Youth Theater and music by Hankerins. Details
• Thursday, July 20: Community Dinner, 5-6:30 p.m., First Congregational United Church Christ. Details
• Sunday, July 23: Friends of Grant Park Art Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Picnic Area 5 and 5A. Details
• Monday, July 24: South Milwaukee Police Department DARE Golf Outing, Grant Park Golf Course. Details
• Tuesday, July 25: Veterans Appreciation Day at Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home. Details
• Wednesday, July 26: South Milwaukee Fire Department Brat & Tot Fry, 4-7 p.m. Details
• Thursday, July 27: South Milwaukee Downtown Market, 3-7 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Music by Radiation. Details
• Friday, July 28-July 30: South Milwaukee Lionsfest. Car Cruise on July 28. Details
• Friday, July 28-Sunday, July 30: South Milwaukee Youth Theatre Senior Cast presents Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” shows all three days, South Milwaukee PAC. Details
• Saturday, July 29: South Milwaukee Heritage Days Parade. 11 a.m. Details
• Saturday, July 29: Great Duck Race, presented by Friends of Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse, 1 p.m., 15th and Milwaukee Avenues. Details

For a full list of events, please see my blog’s Events page. I updated it frequently.

And let me know if I missed anything …

From the South Milwaukee Lions …

Hello friends, family & community members! We are still in need of several volunteers to fill our festival shifts. If you have 4 hours to donate during festival weekend, we’d love your help! All volunteers get a tshirt & volunteer meal. Thanks, in advance, for your support!

Interested in signing up individually, or as a team or organization? Do so here.

So glad to see the economic (re)development momentum strengthen in our city!

Here is the city’s press release …

From 2017 to 2022, the City of South Milwaukee had a 525% increase in approved new business occupancies. The Downtown District is now home to over 100 businesses. Bolstered by a determined business community and a proactive focus on economic development in the City’s strategic plan, the accelerated activity can also be credited to the generous contributions of the Bucyrus Foundation and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Main Street Bounceback Grant program.

The Bucyrus Foundation funds were the catalyst for the Bucyrus Club & Event Center redevelopment, the Bucyrus Commons downtown park and event space, a Downtown Strategic Plan, and multiple business and commercial property grant programs.

The WEDC’s Main Street Bounceback Grant program awarded $10,000 grants to new and existing businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant commercial space. Over the life of the program, $250,000 was awarded to South Milwaukee small businesses.

Immortal Toys and Collectables is one of South Milwaukee’s newest small businesses and a Bounceback Grant recipient. “I love having my first small business in South Milwaukee,” said Peter Burgos, owner of Immortal Toys and Collectables. “My wife and I also enjoy being part of the revitalization of the business district along Milwaukee Avenue.”

Said Mayor Jim Shelenske: “South Milwaukee is a business-friendly community that prioritizes attraction, retention, and expansion of new businesses. I am grateful to those choosing to do business in South Milwaukee and I encourage anyone interested in opening a business to strongly consider making South Milwaukee their home.”

Those interested in starting their first business, moving, or expanding their operations can learn more about the Bucyrus Economic Development Grants and other opportunities on the City’s economic development webpage.