Author Archives: Erik Brooks

Join me as we celebrate the new look of this community treasure!

We continue to make investments in our city center — and this is a big one. See what’s coming up on June 6 at City Hall.

Earlier this month, Aurora Health Care stepped up to raise funds — just shy of $20,000! — for the purchase of a second life-saving LUCAS automated CPR device for use by the South Milwaukee Fire Department.

It was yet another sign of the strong partnership between the health care system and the South Shore communities that came together to, quite literally, build Trinity Memorial Hospital in Cudahy (now Aurora South Shore).

In researching my remarks, I came across the story of how it happened. It’s fascinating — an example of what people can do when they work together for a singular purpose.

Of note is the leadership South Milwaukee played during the early days.

From a community survey commissioned by the South Milwaukee Lions in 1947, 11 years before the hospital would open, to the creation of a fundraising board by then-South Milwaukee Mayor Charles Plotz and the common council in 1951, our city proudly led the way in making this happen.

Check out the article to learn more … and thank those who came before us to make this happen, 60 years ago this year. Our community is stronger because of it.

Thanks, Barbara Kendall (mom), for the photo. 

Mark your calendars to meet Carol DeMarco and get a copy of her book on her Polish upbringing in South Milwaukee. Welcome back, Carol!

• June 2: Parkway Floral, book sale and signing. 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
• June 23: South Milwaukee Historical Society Garden Walk, book sale and signing. 10 a.m.
• June 28: South Milwaukee Public Library, presentation and signing. 6 p.m.
• July 21: South Milwaukee Historical Society , presentation and signing. 10 a.m.
• July 23: Grobschmidt Senior Center, presentation and signing. 10:15-11:15 a.m.
• July 26: Evening on the Avenue (10th and Milwaukee Avenues), book sale and
  signing.

From the South Milwaukee Police Department Facebook page …

The SMPD cares about your physical safety on the road. We have received funds from the Department of Transportation to focus on enforcement of seat belt laws. The department will be conducting additional traffic enforcement activities in the coming weeks. Please buckle up and drive safely!

More details from NOW here. Stay safe!

I love the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center in part because it challenges us artistically as a community, exposing us to new sights, sounds and experiences.

The 2018-19 Performing Arts Series doesn’t disappoint.

Celebrations of Vince Lombardi and Nelson Mandela? Got it. Youth dance, electric strings and mandolins? Yep. A radio version of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and a special St. Patrick’s Day-themed program? Sure.

From the PAC …

(South Milwaukee, WI) – South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center (SMPAC) announced its 2018-2019 Performing Arts Series on Wednesday, May 23, during a Preview & Tasting Party that was hosted by the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Council and SMPAC sponsors Skyline Catering & Express Deli, Azteca Restaurant, Barbiere’s Italian Restaurant and Scrappy’s BBQ.

“We’re excited to present an eclectic and diverse series that will include performers from across the globe and from our own richly-talented Milwaukee community,” said Rachel Sorce, Executive Director. “The season will include illuminating performances that honor or feature individuals who’ve motivated and inspired others in positive ways.”

The 2018-2019 Performing Arts Series will feature the Soweto Gospel Choir’s Songs of the Free: The Centennial of Nelson Mandela’s Birth, paying tribute to the anti-apartheid revolutionary featuring 20 incredible voices direct from South Africa. John Pinero’s The Life and Times of Vince Lombardi will portray the man considered to be one of the best coaches of all time. Unboxed will feature the Davis Boys and Girls Club Dancers in a media and dance stage play about the power of individuality created and directed by Cedric Gardner, an unrelenting source of inspiration for Milwaukee youth.

Female artists dominate the stage in Femmes of Rock featuring the stunning Bella Electric Strings performing music from AC/DC, Queen, Led Zeppelin and more. An all-female cast performs in LUMA: Art in Darkness, a “techno circus” of light, color and motion for all-ages. Seasonal programs include It’s a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre and Celtic Nights: Oceans of Hope. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Oceans of Hope is an epic story of the Irish diaspora featuring top dance and musical talent from Ireland. And, we’ll showcase the delightful Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra with special guests Misha Litvin, Stas Venglevski & Robin Pluer in Music that Made Milwaukee Famous.

Check out the full release and SMPAC website for more.

Josh Janusiak’s incredible run of success continues at Lawrence University, with an All-American (seventh-place) finish at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships today.

Details here. From the story …

The Lawrence University track and field star met the challenge on Thursday morning and raced to All-America honors at the NCAA Division III Championships at Veterans Memorial Field. Janusiak (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) finished seventh in the 10,000 meters in 31:02.02, and the top eight runners are All-Americans.

“I felt good when I started passing a couple of guys later in the race,” Janusiak said. “That’s when I was feeling the worst, and I think others were feeling their worst as well. That was a confidence booster to pass a couple of guys at that point.”

Once Janusiak improved his position during that stage of the race, he latched on to sixth place and held that until he was challenged by a host of runners. He finished more than nine seconds ahead of the ninth-place finish to maintain his position as an All-American.

Lots of local media coverage recently …

• Have You Visited South Milwaukee Lately? (Shepherd Express)
• Caterpillar Considers Temporary Offices for South Milwaukee Workers (Business Journal)
• Some Former Bucyrus Employees Are Determined to Keep its Memory Alive (Milwaukee Magazine)
• Milwaukee Startup Case Study: Meet Cheata Bikes (Milwaukee Magazine)
• What Caterpillar Can’t Keep up With a Boom in Demand (Reuters)
• Oak Creek Woman Allegedly Choked “Nearly to Death” by Boyfriend in South Milwaukee (NOW)
• Motorcyclist Has Drunk Driving Crash After Bike Blessing (Patch)

Also, check out this profile on Hibbie Hayslett, a South Milwaukee veteran with a harrowing story of escape from Iran who is helping lead the Rotary Club Club of Mitchell Field’s Flags for Heroes event in Oak Creek. (A similar one is planned for South Milwaukee in June; flag tributes are available now.)

A burger bar and arcade. Pet store. Sports rental store. Pottery studio. Corner grocery. A day spa.

Those are among the ideas and designs for vacant downtown buildings that students from Mount Mary University presented to the South Milwaukee Common Council last week. You can see their presentation here, and in the images with this post.

I want to thank South Milwaukee resident Gigi Szeklinski, assistant professor and chair of the Mount Mary Interior Design Department, for bringing this project to South Milwaukee. And to the students: Your work was impressive, professionally done and, most importantly, realistic. I can see any number of these businesses succeeding in these spaces. My goal as mayor is to help make sure that happens.

These designs can’t and won’t sit on a shelf.

We plan to present these plans to individual property owners, encouraging reinvestment in their  properties, potentially with the help of the city.

Let’s get to work!

More details on the Lions outing here, DARE outing here.

Love to see something for everyone — especially local kids — at the library! Thanks to the library staff for putting together a terrific schedule of activities.

On Tuesday, May 15, the South Milwaukee City Council recognized local law enforcement and citizens for their work in serving our community, keeping us safe, and saving lives.

I’m recapping those stories on South Milwaukee Blog. Here is today’s story …

On June 6, 2017, the South Milwaukee Fire Department responded to Rawson Elementary School for the report of a pulseless, non-breathing person with bystanders doing CPR. Upon the arrival of SMFD units, they encountered a 63 year old female that was unresponsive and without a pulse in the care of bystanders whom had recognized the female in distress (Stacy Sanford), notified Rawson Staff to call 9-1-1 (Kaylei Sanford), and initiated CPR (Bakalarski, Drake, Hagen, Lira) until resuscitation efforts were taken over by SMFD personnel. The patient regained a pulse and eventually began breathing without assistance and making purposeful movements while enroute to St. Luke’s Main Hospital. The patient soon regained consciousness and, although confused, was oriented to where she was and what had happened.

While CPR was in progress, the civilian rescuers asked for someone to locate an Automatic External Defibrillator. Unfortunately, this school, as well as the other elementary schools at the time, did not have one. In the following days, dialogue was established in identifying a way to outfit the schools with AEDs. Upon hearing of these concerns, I reached out to South Milwaukee Public Health Administrator Jackie Ove and, through a cooperative effort of securing funding, ordering the appropriate equipment, and arranging for their installation, all elementary schools are now outfitted with AED’s. Without the interest expressed by the rescuers and the cooperation of the Public Health Administrator, Fire Department, and South Milwaukee School District, the installation of the AED’s would not have taken place. In this case, the saying that Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM) couldn’t be more accurate.

Congratulations and thank you to the following individuals!

• Firefighters: Brad Sibley, Andy Mahn, Steven Bartlein (retired), Michael Landgraf, Jeremy Fronczak, Ryan Porter  and Tyler Anders.
• Civilians Cassandra Bakalarski, Rachel Drake, Debbie Hagen, Nicole Lira, Kaylei Sanford, and Stacy Sanford
• Public Health Administrator Jacqueline Ove

Some cities trumpet their “four weeks of live music in the park.”

We’ll, isn’t that nice? 🙂

We have 19, thanks to the South Milwaukee Downtown Market!

The schedule opens next Thursday, May 31, and it’s full of talented local musicians. See for yourself, and join me in thanking the volunteer market board (especially promoter Brian Morrison) and South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center for making these weekly special events a big part of the city’s summer rhythm.

On Tuesday, May 15, the South Milwaukee City Council recognized local law enforcement and citizens for their work in serving our community, keeping us safe, and saving lives.

I’m recapping those stories on South Milwaukee Blog. Here is today’s story …

Jason and Sean O’Neil and Jay Christenson

Citizen Recognition Award

On November 8, 2017, at approximately 4:00 pm, three South Milwaukee citizens, Jason O’Neil, Sean O’Neil and Jay Christenson, came upon a residential fire at 2604 S. Chicago Avenue. Noticing thick smoke coming from the second floor of the building, Jason and Jay immediately entered the residence and began searching for any occupants. Jay began searching the 1st floor while Jason climbed the stairs to search the upper. The smoke was very thick but Jason was able to find the lone occupant who had collapsed due to smoke inhalation. Jason began dragging the unconscious victim to the stairway when he was overcome by smoke and had to run down to get fresh air. Jay saw that Jason found a victim but needed help in removing him from the building. Both men climbed the stairs again and despite the heavy smoke they managed to pull the man down the stairs. At that time, Sean O’Neil arrived and assisted them in dragging the victim out of the house and into the rear yard.

Fire and police personnel arrived moments later and found all three men in the rear yard, covered in soot but attending to the victim. Thankfully, the victim was revived and none of the men suffered any lasting effects from the fire. Almost certainly the outcome would have been much worse if Jason, Jay and Sean had not risked their own lives. By bravely entering a burning building, ignoring the danger and enduring the dense smoke, these men were able to find and extract the sole occupant, thereby preventing the loss of life. For their heroic actions on November 8, 2017, Jason O’Neil, Sean O’Neil and Jay Christenson are hereby presented with a Citizen Recognition Award.

Congratulations and thank you, Jason, Sean and Jay!

On Tuesday, May 15, the South Milwaukee City Council recognized local law enforcement and citizens for their work in serving our community, keeping us safe, and saving lives.

I’m recapping those stories on South Milwaukee Blog. Here is today’s story …

Jeff Steren

Citizen Recognition Award

During the past several years, Mr. Steren, owner of the McDonald’s restaurant in South Milwaukee, has been a vital partner to this community and in particular to the South Milwaukee Police Department. His business has regularly sponsored a Safety Day at McDonald’s, inviting the Police and Fire Departments to participate. McDonalds also graciously contributes food and beverages for the elementary school students during our annual Bike Safety Rodeo and has assisted with “Coffee with a Cop” events. In addition, McDonald’s has participated in our Community Night Out each year, setting up a booth, providing games and other activities, and donating numerous prizes for attendees. Mr. Steren has consistently gone out of his way to support our department’s efforts and has demonstrated his strong and steadfast commitment to the City of South Milwaukee. We are grateful for his assistance and are lucky to have him as a reliable partner.

Congratulations, Jeff, and thanks for your partnership!