Author Archives: Erik Brooks

Today begins my favorite time of year! Learn more on the blog’s Events page.

And I’ll see you around town.

• Thursday, July 18: Downtown Market Music, Larry Lynn & the Decade Band and South Milwaukee Youth Theatre performance. Details
• Friday, July 19: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Zakk Daniel, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Sunday, July 21: Friends of Grant Park Art Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Grant Park Picnic Area 5 (Brown Pavilion). Details
• Monday, July 22: South Milwaukee Police Department DARE Golf Outing, Grant Park. Details
• Tuesday, July 23: South Milwaukee Municipal Band Concert, 7 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Details
• Wednesday, July 24: South Milwaukee Fire Department Brat & Tot Fry, 4-7 p.m., South Milwaukee Fire Department. Details
• Thursday, July 25: Three downtown events … Moran’s Pub Block Party, 4-10 p.m., 900 block of Milwaukee Avenue (details) AND Paint the Mural, 4-7 p.m. 907 Milwaukee Ave. (details) AND South Milwaukee Downtown Market Evening at the Commons and Market Music-Dog House Charlie (’70s and ’80s). Details
• Friday, July 26-Sunday July 28: Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” presented by South Milwaukee Youth Theatre. Three shows, South Milwaukee PAC. Details
• Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28: South Milwaukee Lionsfest. Details
• Friday, July 26: Lionsfest Car Cruise. Details
• Friday, July 26: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Ryan McIntyre, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Saturday, July 27: South Milwaukee Heritage Days Parade. Details
• Saturday, July 27: Great Duck Race, presented by the Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse, 1 p.m., 15th and Milwaukee Avenues. Details
• Sunday, July 28: Suburban Soles — “Dragonflies and Damselflies,” 1 p.m., Mill Pond. Details

From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …

South Milwaukee’s official newsmagazine — a partnership between the City of South Milwaukee and South Milwaukee School District — is out. Check out the full issue here.

In it, you’ll find the following articles …

• Message from the School Superintendent
• Giving Back and Making a Difference
• South Milwaukee Student Accomplishments
• A Focus on Student Artwork
• School District Highlights
• South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center Celebrates 20 Years
• Highlighting City of South Milwaukee Staff
• Bucyrus Commons Receives Mainstreet Award
• South Milwaukee Public Library Programming
• News from the SM Police Department: Fighting Scammers
• Bucyrus Civic Grant Program Awards Benefit City Projects
• Business Spotlight: South Milwaukee Sausage and Meats
• News from the South Milwaukee-St. Francis Health Dept.
• Out and About in the City of South Milwaukee
• Community Calendar
• Annual Consumer Report: Quality of Tap Water

See previous issues here.

It’s a beautiful summer night in South Milwaukee, a mild yet still slighly humid end to a warm, July day. Dusk is falling, the air is buzzing, fireflies are dancing. You and your friends, family and neighbors are gathered in lawn chairs on your backyard patio, sipping your favorite drink, the sounds of vocal or instrumental jazz all around you — at your own backyard concert.

This could be your reality with a donation to the South Milwaukee Music Parents Association.

The South Milwaukee High School choir and orchestra students are headed to Nashville for their spring trip in 2025 … and you can help get them there! The South Milwaukee Music Parents are offering five special concert opportunities to help defray the cost of these trips.

It’s simple: Donate $1,000 for the trip, and choose from one of five opportunities to enjoy music from our students and Mrs. Swanson in your backyard this summer. You don’t have to it alone. Team up with your family, friends and neighbors to make the purchase — and enjoy a night to remember.

“Buy now” bidding is open here. Only five opportunities are available.

You can also donate securely in any amount by clicking the green “Donate” button.

And here is a preview of what to expect, from last week’s Apollo Jazz show at Summerfest …

South Milwaukee’s events are special — and it reaches its high point in July. What a month! Be sure to check the Events page for the most up-to-date information.

• Thursday, July 4: South Milwaukee Independence Day Celebration, starting at 10 a.m., ending with evening fireworks. Grant Park Areas 5-6. Details
• Friday, July 5: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Blaine & Jake, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Sunday, July 7: Final Milwaukee County Traveling Beer Garden, Grant Park.
• Thursday, July 11: Downtown Market Music, Ivy Ford (soul) and South Milwaukee Youth Theatre performance. Details
• Saturday, July 13: “Willy Wonka Kids,” presented by South Milwaukee Youth Theatre, shows at 1 and 3:30 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC. Details
• Saturday, July 13: Shakespeare in the City, five different shows, 12:30-7 p.m. Details
• Sunday, July 14: Suburban Soles — “Watersheds and Water Quality,” 10 a.m., Grant Park Area 7 playground. Details
• Thursday, July 18: Downtown Market Music, Larry Lynn & the Decade Band and South Milwaukee Youth Theatre performance. Details
• Friday, July 19: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Zakk Daniel, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Sunday, July 21: Friends of Grant Park Art Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Grant Park Picnic Area 5 (Brown Pavilion). Details
• Monday, July 22: South Milwaukee Police Department DARE Golf Outing, Grant Park. Details
• Tuesday, July 23: South Milwaukee Municipal Band Concert, 7 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Details
• Wednesday, July 24: South Milwaukee Fire Department Brat & Tot Fry, 4-7 p.m., South Milwaukee Fire Department. Details
• Thursday, July 25: Two downtown events … Moran’s Pub Block Party, 4-10 p.m., 900 block of Milwaukee Avenue (details) AND South Milwaukee Downtown Market Evening at the Commons and Market Music-Dog House Charlie (’70s and ’80s). Details
• Friday, July 26-Sunday July 28: Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” presented by South Milwaukee Youth Theatre. Three shows, South Milwaukee PAC. Details
• Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28: South Milwaukee Lionsfest. Details
• Friday, July 26: Lionsfest Car Cruise. Details
• Friday, July 26: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Ryan McIntyre, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Saturday, July 27: South Milwaukee Heritage Days Parade. Details
• Saturday, July 27: Great Duck Race, presented by the Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse, 1 p.m., 15th and Milwaukee Avenues. Details
• Sunday, July 28: Suburban Soles — “Dragonflies and Damselflies,” 1 p.m., Mill Pond. Details

From the South Milwaukee and St. Francis Health Department …

This summer, the folks of South Milwaukee have the opportunity to make a difference in their community. There are currently two separate surveys open for the public to complete. One is the South Shore community health assessment (CHA) and the other is the Milwaukee County community health needs assessment (CHNA). By completing these surveys, YOU can help improve your community’s well-being. Your feedback is important and will influence local programming and health initiatives! 

If you live, play, or work in South Milwaukee, the South Shore, or Milwaukee County, your participation in these assessments is vital to shape the future health of our community. CHAs and CHNAs help inform local health policies by evaluating health status, identifying strengths, and prioritizing issues. In South Milwaukee and Milwaukee County, completing these assessments will guide resources and programs to improve health outcomes. Most importantly, community engagement ensures that priorities align with the genuine needs of community members. Take each survey at the links below:

South Shore CHA (3-5 minutes): https://bit.ly/SSCHASurvey
*Available in English, Spanish, and Arabic

Milwaukee County CHNA (10 minutes): https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5b51M9TicodOFDg
*Available in English and Spanish

It’s becoming quite a summer for Nate Snead.

Fresh off a College World Series title, the South Milwaukee High School graduate now has a chance to join USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Snead has been invited to the National Team’s training camp, joining an impressive list of players announced earlier this week.

More details here. Go Nate!

From TMJ4 …

Let’s talk, South Milwaukee! What matters to you is important to us. That’s why TMJ4 is embarking on a series of listening sessions throughout the area. We’ve held sessions in Kenosha, Waukesha, Racine, and now we’re coming to South Milwaukee.

Tell us what’s going well, what’s not, and anything else we should know about living in South Milwaukee at the Bucyrus Club on Thursday, June 27th, from 4-6 p.m.

Come and share your stories with TMJ4’s Milwaukee County reporter Elaine Rojas-Castillo, reporters Jenna Rae and Cassandra McShepard, anchor Shannon Sims, and sports reporter Ashley Washburn.

Don’t have a “story idea?” No problem! Come and mingle with our reporters and tell them what makes South Milwaukee special, or what could use some improvement in a relaxed setting.

The Bucyrus Club is located at 1919 12th Ave. in South Milwaukee. See you there!

Details here. From Milwaukee County Parks …

An ever-rotating selection of Sprecher craft beer is on tap at each tour stop. While Sprecher remains the featured beverage at the TBG, we also offer options from Third Space, New Glarus, and 3 Sheeps Breweries. Cider, gluten-free options, and non-alcoholic beverages are available as well.

Bring your own Parks Beer Garden branded (or other) pint glass to pay the refill price! All standard pour pricing comes with a commemorative glass to take home.

Here is the full menu.

This was a lot of fun, even from 500 miles away. Congratulations to a special young man and family. Go Nate Snead! Go Tennessee! You earned this.

And thanks to Moran’s Pub for going all in on the idea to be become Knoxville North. I love how South Milwaukeee rallies around its sons and daughters. This is what makes this community so special.

Find some more orange in the closet, as Moran’s Pub will once again transform into Knoxville North on Monday, with its College World Series Viewing Party II.

Saturday’s event was a lot of orange-filled fun, as 100+ people packed the pub to see South Milwaukee’s Nate Snead and Tennessee open the College World Series against Texas A&M.

Let’s do it again Monday for a decisive Game 3, as Nate (Rockets Class of 2022) and the Volunteers play for the championship! Nate (10-2 on the season) recorded the save in Game 2 and should be ready for the finals. Come cheer Nate and the Vols on at the pub. First pitch is 6 p.m.

More details in the Facebook event. Please share it!

This should be a lot of fun. Thanks, James Moran, for stepping up to support the community (yet again).

From the Moran’s Pub Facebook post …

Wear your orange and watch South Milwaukee High School graduate Nate Snead (Class of 2022) and the Tennessee Volunteers take on Texas A&M in Game One of the College World Series Finals on Saturday. First pitch is 6:30 p.m. Nate, a UT sophomore, is a key part of the Tennessee pitching staff (10-2 on the season) and has finished each of the team’s first three CWS wins behind 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Join other Rocket (and Nate) fans for some fun surprises as we sing “Rocky Top” and cheer Tennessee on to victory in game one of the three-game series. Go Volunteers! Go Nate! 

I love this initiative from the city, as a worthy investment of Bucyrus Foundation funds. Small businesses are the backbone of our city, and the city understands that.

From the city’s Facebook page …

At last night’s Common Council meeting, the 2024 Bucyrus Business Awards and Bucyrus Business Retention Grants were presented. Congratulations to Better Together Cafe for winning Bucyrus Business of the Year and Bakehouse 23 mke for being recognized as the Bucyrus New Business of the Year!

Azteca Restaurant MKE, Moran’s Pub, ChowChow Treats And Bakery, and The Chi Shed, LLC also received well-deserved honorable mention awards.

Awards were presented based on a public nomination and voting process that took place earlier this year. Over 1,100 ballots were cast to determine the winners.

Bucyrus Business Retention Grants were also awarded to the Golden Lion, Sorce Martial Arts, and Gray’s, Inc. These grants were distributed via random drawing from our 2024 business anniversaries list.

Our thanks to the Bucyrus Foundation for fully funding the awards and the grants distributed to our businesses. Economic Development Month and last night’s presentation are part of the S.M.ALL Business Program. The program’s goal is to recognize our businesses and encourage them to stay and grow in South Milwaukee.

Tennessee is two wins away from a College World Series title.

The Volunteers advanced to the best-of-three finals with a 7-2 victory over Florida State on Wednesday. South Milwaukee’s Nate Snead through a scoreless ninth inning and has now not allowed a run in three CWS games and 5 1/3 innings.

Tennessee will play either Florida or Texas A&M in the final series, which begins Saturday in Omaha, Neb. Game two is on Sunday and game three, if needed, is on Monday.

Let’s go, Nate! More on Nate in this story. From it …

“It’s honestly my dream. Dream come true, honestly,” Snead said. “It’s a lot of fun going out there and doing what I do.“

“This was absolutely the plan. This is why I came here,” said Snead on pitching in the CWS for Tennessee. “This is what I wanted to do when I was here. Getting to do it now is pretty exciting.”

There is so much going on in South Milwaukee this summer! This weekend alone there is the monthly Community Meal, Market Music, the Garden Tour, a Bonsai Society exhibit, and a cool South Milwaukee PAC show.

Here is an updated events list … with my Events page getting regular updates as they come in.

Did I miss something? (I’m sure I did.) Want to add an event? Email me at erikbrooks32@gmail.com. Otherwise, enjoy a special South Milwaukee summer!

JUNE

• Thursday, June 20: Monthly Community Dinner, 5-6:30 p.m., First Congregational Church Hall. Free and open to the public! Details
• Thursday, June 20: Downtown Market Music, Sonic Boomers (classic rock). Details
• Friday, June 21: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Jake Warne Duo, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Saturday, June 22: South Milwaukee Garden Tour & Art Fair, presented by the South Milwaukee Garden Club, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Details
• Saturday, June 22: Milwaukee Bonsai Society exhibit, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Grant Park Brown Pavilion.
• Saturday, June 22: College World Series Volunteers Viewing Party, 6:30 p.m., Moran’s Pub. Details
• Sunday, June 23: Late Night Catechism, 3 p.m. South Milwaukee PAC. Details
• Wednesday, June 26: Milwaukee County Traveling Beer Garden opener, 5 p.m., Grant Park Area 5 (Brown Pavilion). Beer garden runs through July 7 and is open daily. Details
• Thursday, June 27: Super Heroes Night at the South Milwaukee Downtown Market and Market Music-Radiation. Details
• Friday, June 28: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Do Wa-Wa, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Sunday, June 30: Suburban Soles — “Walk Through Wil-o-Way,” 10 a.m., Wil-o-Way Grant. Details

JULY

• Thursday, July 4: South Milwaukee Independence Day Celebration, starting at 10 a.m., ending with evening fireworks. Grant Park Areas 5-6. Details
• Friday, July 5: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Blaine & Jake, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Sunday, July 7: Final Milwaukee County Traveling Beer Garden, Grant Park.
• Thursday, July 11: Downtown Market Music, Ivy Ford (soul) and South Milwaukee Youth Theatre performance. Details
• Saturday, July 13: “Willy Wonka Kids,” presented by South Milwaukee Youth Theatre, shows at 1 and 3:30 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC. Details
• Saturday, July 13: Shakespeare in the Cityk, five different shows, 12:30-7 p.m. Details
• Sunday, July 14: Suburban Soles — “Watersheds and Water Quality,” 10 a.m., Grant Park Area 7 playground. Details
• Thursday, July 18: Downtown Market Music, Larry Lynn & the Decade Band and South Milwaukee Youth Theatre performance. Details
• Friday, July 19: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Zakk Daniel, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Sunday, July 21: Friends of Grant Park Art Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Grant Park Picnic Area 5 (Brown Pavilion). Details
• Monday, July 22: South Milwaukee Police Department DARE Golf Outing, Grant Park. Details
• Tuesday, July 23: South Milwaukee Municipal Band Concert, 7 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Details
• Wednesday, July 24: South Milwaukee Fire Department Brat & Tot Fry, 4-7 p.m., South Milwaukee Fire Department. Details
• Thursday, July 25: Two downtown events … Moran’s Pub Block Party, 4-10 p.m., 900 block of Milwaukee Avenue (details) AND South Milwaukee Downtown Market Evening at the Commons and Market Music-Dog House Charlie (’70s and ’80s). Details
• Friday, July 26-Sunday July 28: Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” presented by South Milwaukee Youth Theatre. Three shows, South Milwaukee PAC. Details
• Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28: South Milwaukee Lionsfest. Details
• Friday, July 26: Lionsfest Car Cruise. Details
• Friday, July 26: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Ryan McIntyre, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Saturday, July 27: South Milwaukee Heritage Days Parade. Details
• Saturday, July 27: Great Duck Race, presented by the Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse, 1 p.m., 15th and Milwaukee Avenues. Details
• Sunday, July 28: Suburban Soles — “Dragonflies and Damselflies,” 1 p.m., Mill Pond. Details

AUGUST

• Thursday, August 1: Downtown Market Music-Blue Grass Allstars. Details
• Friday, August 2: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Floor It, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Monday, August 5: South Milwaukee Community Night Out, 5:30 p.m., SMPD and Grobschmidt Senior Center.
• Thursday, August 8: Downtown Market Music-Jim Namio (Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra). Details
• Friday, August 9: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Todd Bryant Band, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Sunday, August 11: Suburban Soles — “Tree-Mendous Love for Trees,” 10 a.m., Grant Park Area 5. Details
• Thursday, August 15: Downtown Market Music-Val Sigal (polka). Details
• Friday, August 16: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Ben Harold Duo, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Saturday, August 17: South Milwaukee Celebrations Committee Movie Night, 7:30 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Additional details to come.
• Thursday, August 22: South Milwaukee Downtown Market Car Show and Market Music-Reverend Jerry K (country). Details
• Friday, August 23: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Ryan McIntyre, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details
• Saturday, August 24: Cheaterama 26th Car Show, Bucyrus Commons, noon-8 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Details
• Sunday, August 25: Suburban Soles — “Astronomy,” 8 p.m., Wil-o-Way Grant. Details
• Thursday, August 29: Downtown Market Music-Kal Bergendahl (jazz funk). Details
• Friday, August 30: Ferch’s Beachside Summer Music-Party Marty, 5:30-8 p.m., Grant Park Beach. Details