Praise be to God – Miracles DO happen! Almost a year ago, the statue of our Blessed Mother at our Marquette Avenue church site was stolen. Today, we heard the good news that someone has admitted to taking her and South Milwaukee Police are in the process of trying to locate her. We hope she will be back with us in the near future. Continue to pray for her safe return and thank you for your prayers that aided in this turn of events and the change of heart in the person responsible. As Luke 15:7 states, “I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
At their meeting on August 26, 2024, the South Milwaukee Library Board unanimously selected Bethany Meyer to serve as the new Library Director. She first started with South Milwaukee as a Library Clerk in 2017 and she has worked as a Library Assistant, Reference Librarian, and Assistant Library Director in her time at the South Milwaukee Public Library.
“We are thrilled to promote Bethany to the Director role,” said Library Board President David Maass. “Throughout her time in South Milwaukee and in her tenure as Assistant Director, she has consistently shown her dedication to advancing our library’s mission and implementing our strategic plans. She is the right person to lead the South Milwaukee Public Library as we explore the possibilities to be studied by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.”
I wish Bethany nothing but the best, as she stewards this invaluable community resource during an important time in its history.
As I wrote in June: “Libraries define communities. Think of what nearly every city, village or town, from the smallest to the largest, has: A library. Why? They are public places in an inceasingly connected yet disconnected world, providing essential services that have the ability to touch residents of every age. It was that way in 1917, when the South Milwaukee Library was founded. It’s even more so today.”
Good luck, Bethany, as you lead this institution into its next 107 years.
Open Doors South Milwaukee is this Saturday, September 7.
We have 17 locations available this year, from one of our city’s largest manufacturers to places of worship to government buildings to iconic parks assets and much more. Where are you headed?
Summer may be winding down, but there are still plenty of special events around South Milwaukee. Check out the list below — and please let me know if I missed something!
Thursday, September 5: Downtown Market Music-Bourbon Jockeys (alternative rock). Details
Saturday, September 7: Doors Open South Milwaukee, presented by the South Milwaukee Celebrations Committee. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Details
Sunday, September 8: Suburban Soles — “Seven Bridges History, with Nels Monson,” 10 a.m., Grant Park 7 Bridges Main Bridge. Details
Thursday, September 12: Downtown Market Music-Sinsations (Classic Rock). Details
Saturday, September 14: Fire & Police Department Safety Display, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., South Milwaukee McDonald’s. Details
Thursday, September 19: Downtown Market Music-Saw Dust Symphony (American New Grass). Details
Friday, September 20: Chip for the Arts, South Milwaukee PAC golf outing, Grant Park. Details
Sunday, September 22: Flip Side | Festival of the Arts, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Bucyrus Commons. Details
Thursday, September 26: Family Fall Fest at the Downtown Market+Northliners (country). Details
Thursday, September 26: South Milwaukee Homecoming Parade, 6 p.m. Route: Starts at 15th and Maple Avenues, north on 15th Avenue to Oak Creek Parkway. Pep rally and bonfire follow. Details
Friday, September 27: South Milwakee Homecoming football game. 7 p.m. Details
Saturday, September 28: The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, 7 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC. Details
Very cool! Especially for us weather nerds. From the press release …
South Milwaukee, WI – As a part of the Wisconsin Environmental Mesonet (Wisconet) Program, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the City of South Milwaukee are partnering to install a new research grade weather station at the South Milwaukee Wastewater Treatment Facility. It will be the first Wisconet weather station located in Milwaukee County.
The station will constantly collect data on weather parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, rainfall, soil moisture, leaf wetness, solar radiation, and dew point. This will enhance weather monitoring in Milwaukee County and will help influence better decisions for outdoor activities. Weather data will be publicly available to all residents in real-time through the Wisconet website, helping them stay aware of weather changes.
After-game socials at Pat’s Oak Manor are planned for August 30, September 5 and 27, and October 11. And mark your calendars for the Homcoming Parade and Bonfire on Thursday, September 26.
We have 18 stops planned for 2024! Learn more on the city website and on the Facebook event … and look for additional details on the locations in the days ahead. Invite your family and friends, and we will see you on Saturday, September 7, for this terrific (and free) event.
Caterpillar – 1118 Rawson Avenue
First Congregational United Church of Christ – 1111 N. Chicago Avenue
Holy Resurrection Armenian Church – 909 Michigan Avenue
Masjid Al-Huda South Milwaukee – 1800 16th Avenue
Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral Home – 1314 Manitoba Avenue
Mill Pond Warming House – Mill Road & Oak Creek Parkway
Schlaraffia Milwaukia – 500 Marquette Avenue
South Milwaukee Fire Department – 929 Marshall Court
South Milwaukee High School – 801 15th Avenue
South Milwaukee Historical Society – 717 Milwaukee Avenue
South Milwaukee Human Concerns – 1029 Milwaukee Avenue
South Milwaukee Police Department – 2424 15th Avenue
South Milwaukee Street Department – 910 Marshall Avenue
South Milwaukee Wastewater Treatment Facility – 3005 5th Avenue
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church – 1314 Rawson Avenue
Sts. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic Church – 1308 15th Avenue
In this writing, Tim shares some summer highlights, thoughts on the city’s new mascot, information on major new developments, and more.
Thanks, Tim, for bringing this idea to the blog! I am always looking for content to further our mission of keeping South Milwaukeeans informed on key issues, while also providing important context and depth where possible. It is why I started this blog as an alderman in 2009, and why I continue it today.
Terrific turnout, a resounding yes for the incumbent Milwaukee County treasurer, and a resounding no on the two consitutional amendment referendum questions …
Here are your 2024 partisan primary election results in South Milwaukee.
Thank you to the South Milwaukee City Clerk’s Office for another well-run election, and thank you to all the pollworkers who made it possible. Next up: November 5!
It’s Election Day for the August 2024 partisan primary, and there are just two contested races on the ballot — the Democratic primary for Milwaukee County treasurer and Republican primary for United States Senator.
Democratic incumbent David Cullen is running against challenger Ted Chisholm for the treasurer position; there is no Republican candidate, which means the August 13 vote essentially decides this election. I am proudly supporting Ted Chisholm, as he brings new energy, ideas and a commitment to working with municipalities on areas where the treasurer’s office interects with their work, especially around redevelopment of properties in significant arrears on their taxes. (This is a big issue in redeveloping cities like South Milwaukee working to reinvigorate vacant buildings.) And this. And this.
Eric Hovde, Charles Barman, and Rejani Raveendram are competing in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, with the winner facing incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
There are also two referendum questions related to the power of the Wisconsin legislature. I will be voting “no” on both of these questions, which represent the latest partisan power grab from a Republican-controlled legislature that, soon enough due to new maps, won’t be nearly as red.
You may have noticed something new on South Milwaukee Blog: Advertising.
Thank you to Milwaukee County Treasurer candidate Ted Chisholm for sponsoring this website the first couple weeks of August. For his investment, he received:
A sponsored profile post, emailed to the blog’s more than 900 subscribers.
An ad included in each blog post during the time of the sponsorship — with each new post also emailed to all blog subscribers.
An ad included at the top of the left column of the blog front page for a month.
So, who’s next? Businesses, nonprofits, event organizers, governments, campaigns, anyone who wants to amplify their message and promote their product, business, service, organization or event with local residents … let’s talk about how you can be a part of a website that, since 2009, has delivered more than 1.7 million page views by nearly 600,000 visitors
We will be accepting just one sponsor per month, for $500. I can also customize opportunities.
Interested in sponsoring South Milwaukee Blog? Email me at erikbrooks32@gmail.com. Learn more here.
From the blog’s Events page … and please email me if I missed something!
Tuesday, August 13: South Milwaukee Municipal Band concert, 7 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. 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, “Toy Story.” Event starts at 5 p.m., with the movie at 8, Bucyrus Commons. Details
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
We’ve made a couple changes to the South Milwaukee Music Parents Association auction to get the bidding going. Opening bid is now $250 for each of three concerts — Apollo Jazz, Jazz Combo and a performance from music teacher Aimee Swanson.
Bid early and bid often. Buy it now for $1,000. All proceeds will help get South Milwaukee students to Nashville! The auction closes on Monday, August 12.
While money has already been raised for the trip, the group is looking to raise more funds to ensure more students who might not be able to afford the trip have an opportunity to go. “We don’t want any student to feel like ‘well I can’t go because I can’t afford it.’ So we’re a doing a lot of different fundraising things, both music parents and the kids doing their own fundraising,” Sarah Brooks said.
Swanson said at a South Milwaukee Music Parents Association meeting earlier this year that a colleague at her former school district, Lake Geneva, also played in the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra. She said her colleague asked her if she could donate voice lessons or playing the piano. She had played private concerts in the past, such as during cocktail hour at a wedding and a Christmas concert at someone’s home, that people bid on as part of silent auctions.
When asked by Erik Brooks, former South Milwaukee mayor and Sarah Brooks’ husband, if she’d be willing to play a private concert, Swanson said she would. Then the idea came up of having the Apollo Jazz or the South Milwaukee High School Jazz Combo perform outdoor concerts on porch steps, which came from a discussion about porch concerts happening during the pandemic. Swanson credited Erik Brooks for taking the ideas and bringing them together.
Erik Brooks said the idea is a continuation of momentum gained after a successful gala event called “Jazz and More” that was held in April at the Bucyrus Club in South Milwaukee that he said raised over $7,000. “For that donation, you’ll get a really special evening in your backyard or on your front porch or probably in your family room if you really wanted to. It’s an opportunity for the kids to show off what they can do and raise money for their trip to Nashville,” Erik Brooks said.
The trip to Nashville will include stops at the National Museum of African American Music, where choir students will possibly perform; the Grand Ole Opry, where the group will do an outdoor performance, take a backstage tour and watch a show; Fisk University, for a tour and choir clinic; Vanderbilt University, for a band and orchestra clinic; and Centennial Park. Fisk University is home of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, which performs spirituals “originally sung by slaves prior to the Civil War,” according to the singing group’s website.The group will also get to see the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and possibly tour RCA Studio B there, tour the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, go on a walking ghost tour of Nashville, take line dancing lessons and possibly tour Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, the home of the seventh U.S. president.
It’s Da Crusher, of course! Shot the night of Crusherfest, as we unveiled this statue to the world. Do you have a photo you’d like to share on the blog? Send it along.
South Milwaukee Blog 
