Author Archives: Erik Brooks

Two terrific annual events! Details below and at the Rocketober Facebook page.

It’s a busy month in South Milwaukee, with some really fun activities in coming weeks, all leading up to trick-or-treating on Halloween. Yet again, we’re the only community in the county offering it on October 31, and I love it!

Crowdfunding creative ideas big and small … I love this!

From the South Shore Chamber of Commerce …

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce is introducing SOUTH SHORE SOUP – serving the communities of the South Shore Chamber. South Shore Soup is a micro-granting soup dinner supporting creative projects in Cudahy, St. Francis, and South Milwaukee; the communities that make up the South Shore Chamber. This innovative micro-granting event has been done throughout the Country and in Milwaukee.

• Sunday, October 21, 2018
• Time: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Place: Joe’s K Ranch side room, 4840 S Whitnall Ave, Cudahy, WI 53110

Register online under Events at ssccwi.com

PLEASE RSVP ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 17, 2018. (If registering children 12 and under, please email infossccwi@gmail.com with this information)

• How to attend: For a donation of $10 for adults (children 12 and under are free), attendees receive a variety of hearty soup, salad, bread, desert and they VOTE for a grantee. Pre-registration is recommended to get a count for the food.
• How it works: At the Soup dinner you hear from four presentations ranging from art, urban agriculture, social entrepreneurs, education, technology and more in hopes the attendees will “grant” them the proceeds from the soup dinner for their cause.
• What is the process: Each presenter has four minutes to share their idea and answer four questions from the audience. At the event, attendees eat, talk, share resources, enjoy and vote on the project they think most benefits the cities most. At the end of the night we count the ballots and the winner goes home with all the attendee registration money raised to carry out their project.
• Deadline to Submit Application: October 8, 2018. Winners will be contacted on October 15, 2018.

Please see ssccwi.com under Events for the link and the application.

Winners come back to a future Soup dinner to report their projects progress. (Next two events will be held in February and April 2019.)

Do you have a project you would like to support? Do you know a group that would like to sign up? Have them fill out an application.

Questions? Email Trish Wimmer at trish2@wi.rr.com.

I had a chance to visit last week with Chris Hitler, owner of My Storage Home at 1005 Columbia Ave.

I left impressed. He has transformed this property, making a significant investment in our city in bringing his growing small business to our community.

Construction on My Storage Home just recently wrapped up, and interior and exterior units are now available.

The facility has 250 units in all, with a potential future phase coming depending on lease-up rates. (That part of the property is currently used for outdoor parking.)

A variety of options are available, from small outdoor units to large, climate controlled indoor units with vehicle access. All have 24-7 access and are gated, with key pad entry and security cameras.

For Chris, it’s his ninth facility, and his first in the South Shore.

More details on the company here, and here is information on South Milwaukee.

Please join me in welcoming Chris and My Storage Home to South Milwaukee!

Congratulations to Parkway Floral and Chris Daniels, South Milwaukee’s two local honorees at last night’s South Shore Chamber of Commerce dinner.

Parkway (with owners Leah Manthey and Carly Johnson) was named South Milwaukee’s Business of the Year, and Chris — work-based learning coordinator and youth apprenticeship coordinator for the School District of South Milwaukee and South Shore Suburban Consortium — was named Honored Educator.

I can’t think of two more deserving honorees from South Milwaukee.

Here is Chris’ proclamation. And here is Parkway’s.

Also winning awards were St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, Joy Mark Inc., Paul Oestreich and James Papala. Well done, everyone!

And thanks to Alderman David Bartoshevich for pinch hitting for me, due to the Homecoming Parade and Bonfire. Much, much appreciated.

A message from the South Milwaukee Street Department …

Details here, and in this story from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

From the press release …

A public meeting to discuss the disposal of dredged material from the Kinnickinnic River in Pulaski Park (in Milwaukee) will be held by the Department of Natural Resources at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, in the Common Council Chambers of the South Milwaukee City Administration Building, 2424 15^th Avenue, South Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is proposing to place dredged material (solids removed from the bed of any surface water) from a portion of the Kinnickinnic River located in Milwaukee County’s Pulaski Park, Milwaukee onto the Falk Landfill, which is owned by Rexnord. The Falk landfill is located at 13^th Avenue north of Rawson Avenue in the City of South Milwaukee.

The MMSD is planning to remove about 60,000 cubic yards of soil and sediment along the banks of the Kinnickinnic River and approximately 10,000 cubic yards will be disposed on the Falk Landfill.

The purpose of the meeting is to solicit public comment and answer questions on the proposal. There will be a brief introduction and explanation of the project by DNR and representatives of the MMSD and Rexnord. 

Please consider attending to learn more about what is being proposed.

It’s fall in South Milwaukee, and what’s more fall than some homecoming football?

You can cheer on the Rockets in a couple of ways.

• First, be sure to check out the Homecoming Parade on Thursday, starting at 6 p.m. The route takes it from 15th and Maple north to Oak Creek Parkway, where it ends at the bonfire and pep rally, starting around 7 p.m.
• Then there is the game — 7 p.m. on Friday vs. Cudahy at Spaltholz Field. Stakes are high: Beyond the rivalry, a South Milwaukee win makes them WIAA playoff eligible. (And it means Cudahy Mayor John Hohenfeldt has to wear a Rocket jersey at his next council meeting. A Cudahy win means I’ll be a Packer for a night.)

Then, on Saturday, it’s Safety Days at the South Milwaukee McDonald’s and a Stars & Stripes Honor Flight at nine local taverns.

In other words, it’s a busy Rocketober weekend in South Milwaukee!

Here is a PDF version of the updated schedule. And be sure to like the Rocketober Facebook page for the latest information.

I love this! Details on the calendar, and how and where to buy it, below.

Thanks to all of Friends groups for all they do. Support the mission of the Friends of Grant Park through this unique fundraiser. Christmas gift, anyone?

From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …

Thanks to a very generous donation received from the FBI Milwaukee Citizens Academy Alumni Association, each SMFD Firefighter has now been issued a particulate barrier hood that is designed to reduce the risk of cancer-causing particulate contamination while being exposed to smoke and other products released during fires.

Cancer is a growing concern as more and more firefighters are being diagnosed than ever before. The SMFD has taken a very proactive approach to cancer risk reduction and prevention. Our philosophy is simple . . . If we can do one thing that prevents one exposure or one diagnosis or saves one life . . . it’s worth it.

This hood is in addition to the protective hoods that personnel are currently issued that will remain standard issue in order to always provide the opportunity for a clean hood while a soiled one is being laundered.

Here is the press release from the South Milwaukee Health Department …

State and local health officials are advising residents to continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites as they announce this year’s first confirmed human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in a resident of the City of South Milwaukee.

The majority of WNV human cases in the state occur during the months of August and September. However, the risk of contracting WNV and other mosquito-borne illnesses is present anytime mosquitoes are active, so it is important for people to be vigilant about preventing mosquito bites throughout the summer and early fall.

The chances of a person contracting WNV are low and most people infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms. Those who do become ill may develop a fever, headache, and rash that lasts a few days. Symptoms may begin between three to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. In rare cases, WNV can cause severe disease with symptoms such as muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma. Older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at an increased risk of severe disease from the virus.

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus other than to treat symptoms. If you think you have West Nile virus infection, contact your healthcare provider.

We’ve witnessed a lot of economic development wins in recent years — certainly some losses too — but my favorite ones are when we see a business choose to invest and grow locally, putting a stake in the ground in South Milwaukee’s future.

We’ve seen it occur in everywhere from small storefronts on Milwaukee Avenue to international companies.

Today, we celebrate ALDI, which had the grand opening of its newly remodeled and expanded store at 3105 Chicago Ave. today. I was proud to celebrate with them, dodging a few raindrops along with hundreds of others in line for the occasion.

The store is beautiful, a huge upgrade in the shopping experience.

I encourage you to check it out, and enjoy the latest example of the positive momentum we’re seeing in the redevelopment of our entire city.

There is a lot more to come.

Thanks, ALDI, for growing locally!

Thanks, Joe Knitter and Michele Perlongo, for the photos. 

Rocketober 2018 continues!

First, check out the latest South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center “Music at the Market” series show at the South Milwaukee Downtown Market on Thursday: the Hot & Dirty Brass Band, a 2018 WAMI Artist of the Year nominee.

From the market Facebook page …

“Hot & Dirty is not your traditional brass band. Influenced by Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Bonerama, and modern day brass bands, the Hot & Dirty players bring the party wherever they go. Band Members: Michael Clobes (Trombone/Vocals), Kevin Klemme (Trumpet/Vocals), John Vollmar (Tenor Sax/Vocals), Kyle Samuelson (Sousaphone), Matt Cordier (Drum Set).”

The market continues on Thursdays through Oct. 11, with its popular Fall Family Festival set for Oct. 4. Mark your calendars!

This weekend, also check out the last Suburban Soles Guided Nature Walk of the year, led by South Milwaukeean Bryce Ruddock, who has literally written the book on the subject. And get ready for Homecoming next week, including the parade and bonfire.

I’ve also added a couple events on Saturday, Sept. 29 … Fire & Police Safety Days and a Mini Golf Pub Crawl raising money for Stars & Stripes Honor Flight.

It’s fall in South Milwaukee!

Here is a PDF version of the updated schedule. And be sure to like the Rocketober Facebook page for the latest information.

It’s budget season, and here are some key dates to keep in mind in the weeks ahead …

• Oct. 9: Executive budget review, 6 p.m.
• Oct. 24: Proposed budget published.
• Nov. 19: Public hearing on proposed budget, 6 p.m.
• Nov. 20: City Council meets to adopt budget, 7 p.m.

All meetings are at City Hall and open to the public, and I encourage you to be part of the debate.

I will keep you posted on the budget as the process unfolds, as we do our best to continue to fund our first-class city services, innovating when and where possible and improving efficiency to ensure we are serving you, our taxpayers, as best we can.

That starts with this work in coming weeks.

Had a great time at “The Life and Times of Vince Lombardi” last night at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center …

And Rocketober 2018 is just getting started!

This weekend, it’s the Beach Walk, with Homecoming right around the corner.

Check out the updated schedule on the Rocketober Facebook page, which will also have the most current information on events, including photos.

Happy Rocketober, South Milwaukee!

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