Category Archives: South Milwaukee

by | February 17, 2014 · 4:11 pm

Tuesday Is Election Day: Vote!

The South Milwaukee mayoral primary is tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 18, and I ask that my readers get to the polls.

Of course, I humbly ask for your vote. But even if I’m not your guy, please cast a ballot. It’s our duty as citizens, an important part of what makes America America.

Here are some details …

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • There is only one race on the ballot — the mayoral race. Here is a sample ballot. You’ll note I’m listed third; that’s the result of a random drawing done in January.
  • First District voters vote at Divine Mercy School, 695 College Ave.
  • Second District voters vote at Lakeview School, 711 Marion Ave.
  • Third District voters vote at City Hall, 2424 15th Ave.
  • Fourth District voters vote at Rawson Elementary, 1410 Rawson Ave.
  • Not sure what district you live in? Here is a map.

Check out more details on the city’s elections web page.

And check out my campaign website and Facebook page.

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by | February 15, 2014 · 10:38 pm

Life And Death: South Milwaukee Physician Vitulli Delivered 8,000+ Babies

Sad news about someone who likely brought many South Milwaukeeans into the world …

Dr. Vito Vitulli, a former chief of staff at Trinity Memorial Hospital, passed away at the age of 86 on Wednesday. Here is his obituary from Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home, where a visitation is set for Tuesday evening.

It says he delivered more than 8,000 babies during his career.

Did you know Dr. Vitulli? Did he deliver you or a family member? Post your comments below.

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by | February 14, 2014 · 2:19 pm

Reminder: Badger Band Concert Set For Saturday

Good seats are still available for the show at 2 p.m. Saturday at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

See more details in my previous post.

I’ll see you there, and on Wisconsin!

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by | February 14, 2014 · 2:18 pm

Big Win For Swimming And Diving Team

From the school district … next up, WIAA sectionals today and tomorrow.

Congrats to the boys swim and dive team for taking first place out of 9 teams in the Cudahy Packer Relays on January 30th and note the new meet record set by the 400IM team of Travis Lahr, Ryan Hagen, Joey Fischer & Andrew O’Neill!

  • 1st place 200 medley relay – Nick Calkins, Andrew O’Neill, Denis Lazaj, and Kody Kaszuba
  • 2nd place 400 free relay – Joey Fischer, Travis Lahr, Bart Brzezicki, and Noah Gear
  • 1st place 300 Back relay – Nick Calkins, Adam Brzezicki, Colin Sodemann, Brian Rewolinski
  • 1st place 300 Breast Relay  – Ryan Hagen, Matt Kwiecinski, Mitchell Budish, and Andrew O’Neill
  • 4th Place Dive Relay  – Kody Kaszuba, Josh Wegner, and  Tyler Osiecki
  • 2nd place 300 Fly relay  – Nick Calkins, Joey Fischer, Colin Sodemann, and Denis Lazaj
  • 1st place 200 Free Relay – Kody Kaszuba, Adam Brzezicki, Noah Gear, and Brian Rewolinski
  • 1st place and breaking a meet record!!! 400 IM relay  – Travis Lahr, Ryan Hagen, Joey Fischer, and Andrew O’Neill
  • 2nd place 100 Medley Relay  – Colin Sodemann, Matt Kwiecinski, Adam Brzezicki, and Mitchell Budish
  • 1st place 100 Free Relay  – Bart Brzezicki, Denis Lazaj, Noah Gear, Brian Rewolinski

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by | February 13, 2014 · 9:47 pm

Five Rocket Wrestlers Earn Conference Championships

Congratulations to the South Milwaukee wrestling team, which took second in the Woodland Conference meet last weekend and saw five of its wrestlers win individual titles. Good luck on the road to state!

From the South Milwaukee School District …

The Rockets took 2nd as a team in the dual match season with a 7-1 record. The Rockets also took 2nd as a team in the Woodland Conference Tournament held last Saturday as well. Great job this season thus far for Rocket Wrestling and Coach Shilling, Coach Sino and Coach Simmons. 

Of special note is the fact that the Rockets took home 5 Conference Championships which is a school record!!! Great work Rockets!

Rocket Conference Champion Wrestlers

  • Tanner Dorangrichia – 160
  • Ben Zbikowski – 170
  • Josh Wilkowski – 182
  • Tom Mitchell – 195
  • Kenny Senner – 285

3rd Place Wrestlers

  • Victor DeLao – 113
  • Calvin Shilling – 152
  • Jeremy Ratka – 220

4th Place Wrestler

  • Conrad Shilling – 106

WIAA REGIONALS

The Rockets next travel to Bay View High School on Saturday, February 15th to wrestle in WIAA Regionals. Matches are scheduled to start at 9:45am. Tickets are $5 for the entire session and $4 for the finals only.

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by | February 13, 2014 · 9:46 pm

Sports Update: Busy Schedule

Update: Adds cheerleading even for Feb. 15.

From the South Milwaukee School District …

Friday, February 14

Rocket Girls’ Basketball at Cudahy (JV @ 5:45pm and Varsity @ 7:30pm). Huge game for the girls…good luck!

Rocket Boys’ Basketball hosts Cudahy (4:15pm Frosh, JV @ 5:45pm and Varsity @ 7:30pm). Huge game for the boys as well…good luck! This will be South Milwaukee Youth Boys’ Basketball Night as well!

Saturday, February 15

Rocket Wrestling travels to Bay View HS for a 9:45am start for WIAA Regionals. I will update you soon regarding Sectionals as well depending on how Regionals go.

Rocket Boys’ Swimming & Diving travel down to Carthage College for the WIAA Sectional Swim meet at 11:00am on Saturday. Good luck Rockets!

Rocket Cheerleading travels down to Wilmot HS Saturday morning to compete in the WACPC Cheer Regionals. They will be competing in the co-ed competition for the first time in school history and they should perform around 1:30pm. Best of luck Rockets in your quest for State!!!

Monday, February 17th

Rocket Boys’ Basketball travels to Oak Creek (4:00pm Frosh, JV @ 5:30pm and Varsity @ 7:15pm).

Tuesday, February 18

Rocket Girls’ Basketball hosts Shorewood and Oak Creek (frosh only) (4:15pm Frosh v. OC, JV @ 5:45pm and Varsity @ 7:30pm).

Rocket Boys’ Basketball at Shorewood (Frosh at 4:15pm JV @ 5:45pm and Varsity @ 7:30pm). 

Thursday, February 20 – Note the earlier times

Rocket Boys’ Basketball hosts Heritage Christian (JV @ 5:15pm and Varsity @ 7:00pm). 

Friday, February 21

Rocket Girls’ Basketball hosts Greendale (4:15pm Frosh, JV @ 5:45pm and Varsity @ 7:30pm). This will be South Milwaukee Youth Girls’ Basketball Night as well!

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by | February 12, 2014 · 4:40 pm

Water Utility Alert: Run Your Faucets To Avoid Freezing Pipes

Update: The post now includes the official text used for the citywide phone alert.

An alert from the South Milwaukee Water Utility …

Due to the unusual depth of frost this year, Water Utility customers are being asked to run their water full flow from a cold water faucet for five minutes, five times per day, until March 1st. This request is to prevent water pipes from freezing. 

Residents leaving for an extended period should make sure that their basement is warm and have someone come to your house regularly to run the cold water to make sure your lateral doesn’t freeze.

To prevent your water main from freezing, you may notice a hydrant running in your neighborhood. 

From South Milwaukee Water Utility (414) 768-8070.
See http://www.smwi.org

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by | February 12, 2014 · 11:58 am

SM Chamber to Match Donations for Replacement Holiday Decorations

It’s never too early to think about Christmas …

From the South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, courtesy of SouthMilwaukee.org …

The Holiday Street Decorations, sponsored by the South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, are in need of replacement; but this can only be done with the help of your generosity.

In an effort to accomplish our goal of replacing 90- 100 holiday street decorations at an average cost of $300 each, the South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce is committed to matching your donation (excludinggovernmentalagencies).Your generosity is appreciated by the end of February to take advantage of “End of Season” reduced pricing.

No contribution is too small. All funds received will be used toward replacement of the holiday street decorations. Contact the SM Chamber Office to indicate your commitment for this worthwhile project.

Send funds to …

  • South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, 2424 15th Avenue, P.O. Box 207 South Milwaukee, WI 53172
  • Phone: 414-762-2222, ext. 141
  • Email: laurac@smaconline.com

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by | February 11, 2014 · 4:26 pm

Library Update: Fine Amnesty Week, Take A Survey And More

From the South Milwaukee Public Library …

  • The South Milwaukee Public Library is celebrating their 115th birthday with an amnesty from April 17-28.  We will forgive South Milwaukee fines on a person card up to $20 + 2 non perishable items.  Fines $21 and over will be forgiven with three or more non perishable items.  Food  will be donated to Human Concerns.  The amnesty excludes damaged or lost materials.  Those items must be paid for.
  • Join us for family fun night and ice cream social at the library on Tuesday, April 15th from 6-7:45.  We will have a magician and activities for kids, Ice cream  and cookies for adults and children.
  • On April 8th we will have a program on “Retirement investment: what you think you know might hurt you”.  The program is on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30.  Program is free.  You do not have to register.
  • The Library is doing  a survey.  We invite the community to participate.  Go to the library’s web site  www.southmilwaukee.org/library.  We appreciate your input.

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by | February 10, 2014 · 9:29 pm

South Milwaukee High School Holding Classes On Tuesday Following Water Main Break

Update: Here is video from WISN, which includes an interview with the high school principal and South Milwaukee water superintendent. We’ve already seen around 25 main breaks across the city this year.

South Milwaukee High School will hold classes as normal on Tuesday after shutting down early on Monday due to a water main break.

That’s according to the district’s Twitter feed.

Water service was restored to the school Monday evening after the district installed a valve isolating the broken main from the rest of the system, according to the South Milwaukee Fire Department, which also reports that the school will be without one nearby fire hydrant for the time being. Alternate water options for fire suppression have been identified and will be used, if necessary. 

I’ll keep you posted.

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by | February 10, 2014 · 3:58 pm

Evening Activities Go On Despite Main Break — Without Water

That’s the message from South Milwaukee High School officials, following today’s water main break that forced the early closure of the school.

From the activities and athletics website …

All Recreation & High School after school activities will be held tonight as planned. Due to the water main break no restrooms will be available for use in the High School this evening. Please bring your own water to drink and plan ahead for no restrooms to be available in the High School.

Here are the exceptions: Power Lifting practice and JV Girls Basketball practice was cancelled. High School Wrestling practice was already held today. 

 

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by | February 10, 2014 · 11:04 am

Water Main Break Sends South Milwaukee High School Students Home

Update: Check out coverage from Fox 6 and WISN. And from the South Milwaukee Schools Twitter page: “The high school will not have to make up the lost time for today as we are still within the required number of minutes.”

The break happened this morning.

The district website has a notice posted. It says the high school closed at 9:45 a.m. The middle school remains open.

WTMJ has more.

I’ll keep you posted.

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by | February 8, 2014 · 9:58 pm

A 2016 South Milwaukee Olympian? Kleppin Finding Success

Former South Milwaukee track star Lauren Kleppin is making a name for herself on the national — and soon to be international — running scene. Might the 2016 Summer Olympics lie ahead?

After a runner-up finish in the USA Half Marathon Championship, Lauren will compete in the World Half Championships in March.

Lauren, who now lives in California, talks about her recent success and future plans on the “Daily Relay” website. From it:

Daily Relay: You had a very strong collegiate career and now seem to be coming into your own as a professional. What are some of your goals moving forward in the sport?

Lauren Kleppin: I like to take my goals step by step, which I believe ultimately has helped fuel a steady but engaging progression throughout my running career thus far. Each day I am amazed that running continues to fuel and stimulate me. My goal is to take that journey as far as it lasts. Obviously an ideal path would ultimately lead to an Olympic Team. However, I was NOT that little girl that ever dreamed I would grow up to be a professional runner. (That’s not to say I wouldn’t have, had I known it was an actual possibility…because I pretty much believed I could be anything else whether it was an Oscar winning actress, a berry farmer, a veterinarian, a rocket scientist, a raft guide, a tattoo artist, or a brew master.) At this point, my main focus and goals are getting to that starting line of the 2016 Olympic Trials in the marathon, and to toe that line with the best health and the deepest confidence possible.

 I’ll keep you posted. Also, follow Lauren’s road to Rio on her website.

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by | February 5, 2014 · 9:59 pm

Ferch’s To Grant Park Beach?

Downtown Greendale is terrific — and one of the must-stops, at least for the Brooks family, is Ferch’s Malt Shoppe & Grille.

Now comes word that the owner is looking at opening a seasonal location at Grant Park beach. That’s according to the Milwaukee Business Journal, which also has more information on the restaurant’s desire to expand in Greendale.

Let’s hope this comes to pass … I’ll keep you posted.

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by | February 4, 2014 · 4:08 pm

Seeing Red At Friday’s South Milwaukee Basketball Games

Just got this from Darla Wack … good times for a good cause.

The South Milwaukee and Whitnall School Districts proudly announce RED OUT on Friday, February 7th. RED OUT is an annual local and national fundraising event sponsored by the American Heart Association and American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. 

 Join us at SMHS Jerry Sullivan Gymnasium this Friday, February 7th at the Girls or at Whitnall for Boys Varsity Basketball Games at 7:30 p.m.  There will be cool t-shirt sales, an opportunity to win Free Milwaukee Buck’s Tickets, an autographed Caron Butler basketball give-a-way and many other fantastic events.  Please help support Heart Awareness locally.  Questions feel free to contact Team Leader/Physical Education Teacher, Darla Wack, 414-766-5241 or dwack@sdsm.k12.wi.us

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