South Milwaukee Blog

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

Orange is the new Rocket red this week, as South Milwaukee’s Nate Snead and the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers play for a College World Series title in Omaha, Neb.

And they’re off to a heck of a start!

Nate threw two and a third scoreless innings and picked up the win in Tennessee’s thrilling, 12-11 comeback win over Florida State on Friday night. With the win, the hard-throwing 2022 South Milwaukee graduate moved to 10-2 on the season.

Next up for Tennessee: fourth-seeded North Carolina on Sunday. Go Nate! Go Vols!

More on Nate’s road to Omaha here. Not referenced: Nate leading the South Milwaukee Little League Durham Bulls (including my son, Christian) to a Schattschneider championship in 2014. 🙂

That was then …

This is now …

A couple updates on two critical South Milwaukee redevelopment opportunities from two different Plan Commissions — the official one and another involving an innovative partnership between the city and Lakeview Elementary.

First, news from the South Milwaukee Plan Commission … there is progress on redevelpoment of the remaining portion of the former Bucyrus campus. The latest proposal is for $51.6 million and calls for 177 apartments, among other uses. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story …

Following previous proposals which have fallen through, Milwaukee-based Scott Crawford, Inc. is teaming with The Littlestone Company to present yet another modified concept for a mixed-use development on the former Bucyrus campus in South Milwaukee.

Preliminary plans show 177 apartments, 300 parking spaces and over 17,000 square feet of commercial space, according to the latest proposal for 1100 Milwaukee Ave.

This isn’t the first proposal from Scott Crawford, which partnered with J. Jeffers Co. for its last proposal in late 2022 which included 92 mixed-income apartments and loft units plus commercial space. In August 2021, the firm presented a $35.7 million “Bucyrus Community” project plan with 160 apartments and a restaurant, but that fell through. Those plans were modifications from an earlier proposal to renovate the existing Technical, Corporate and Heritage buildings and construct a new building for $46 million.

In the latest, and most expensive, $51.6 million proposal, Scott Crawford and The Littlestone Company are proposing a project which developer documents indicate is “part of a larger Transit Oriented Development that will connect South Milwaukee to the Northside of Milwaukee.”

The South Milwaukee Plan Commission held a meeting June 10 allowing the developer to introduce the proposal and gauge interest. While no action was taken on the plans, the commission voted 4-2 to approve preliminary considerations and the approval schedule outlining each step of approval needed and the expected dates.

Much more to come on this … and hopefully the Everbrite property too.

Details on the latter from TMJ4 …

In May, we told you the story of a local elementary school using an empty property to dream up a big future. The vacant lot that was formerly known as the Everbrite site sits across the way from Lakeview Elementary School in South Milwaukee. Rather than simply ignore it, teachers and students like Kristen Mortier and Besim Fejzoski decided to bring it directly into the classroom. “It has allowed students to envision possibilities for their future that they may never have ever considered before,” said Mortier.

Rather than simply ignore it, teachers and students like Kristen Mortier and Besim Fejzoski decided to bring it directly into the classroom. “It has allowed students to envision possibilities for their future that they may never have ever considered before,” said Mortier.

Those dreams can be seen in every corner of Lakeview’s library as the students gather to showcase their ideas to their fellow classmates and families. From large-scale models of a homeless shelter that could sit on the grounds to interactive presentations that explain a long-term plan for the community, Mortier says she is already seeing the benefits go beyond the grade.

South Milwaukee lost well-known local businessman Ed Abrams last week.

You can read the obituary for the owner of Spirits Bar & Grill here. From it …

Edward attended Wauwatosa West High School before embarking on a diverse career. He worked on Merchant Marine ships and also found joy in owning Tavern Middle Earth and Spirits Bar & Grill. His dedication to his work was evident in all his endeavors.

Beyond his professional life, Edward enjoyed a variety of hobbies, including fishing, playing pool, and visiting Disney World. He cherished spending time with his beloved dogs, Ellie and Bella, and was a familiar face at his establishments.

Described as a caring and giving man with a sharp wit, Edward was known for his kindness and willingness to help others, even if it meant forgetting about financial assistance he provided. His humor and candid nature left a lasting impact on those around him.

Rest in peace, Ed. Services are Saturday, June 15.

Longtime South Milwaukeee Mayor Chet Grobschmidt turns 104 years old today. Please join me in celebrating this local icon. Happy birthday, Chet!

Check out the TMJ4 story here. And here is the proclamation we gave him in 2020, as he turned 100.

WHEREAS, Chester W. Grobschmidt was born June 8, 1920, one of five children of John and Ann Grobschmidt. The family moved to South Milwaukee in 1926. Chet attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from South Milwaukee High School in 1938; and

WHEREAS, in 1938 Chet got his first job pedaling the Shopping News. Four years later, Chet began his 40-year career at Bucyrus Erie, retiring in 1983. Chet served in the Navy during World War II from 1942-46 in New Guinea (Admiralty Islands), and was discharged with the rank of Second Class Metalsmith. Chet was celebrated for his service by participating in an Honor Flight to Washington D.C.; and

WHEREAS, in January, 1948, during the Blizzard of ‘48, Chet married Leone Repech and they had two children, Richard and Karen. Leone passed away in 1982 after 34 years of marriage. In 1992, Chet married Lorraine Schweitzer and expanded his family with four stepchildren: Sharon, Patsy, Jim and Jon. Chet and Lorraine were married for 24 years until her death in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Chet has a long legacy of service to his community. He served as Alderperson for the Fourth District for nine years. In 1966, Chet was elected Mayor of the City of South Milwaukee and served the city in that capacity for 28 years, retiring in 1994. During his time as Mayor, Chet provided strong leadership for the city during a time of significant change.  This list of course is long, a few highlights are in 1982, City Hall moved to its current location at the former Parkway Elementary School on 15^th Avenue, and the mayor led efforts to fund and open the South Milwaukee Senior Center, which was renamed the Chester W. Grobschmidt Senior Center in 1996. The new fire station was dedicated in 1981, and Chet was instrumental in the bringing the Med-10 Unit to the city which began service in 1988. He also began the recycling program and led efforts to keep local control over the South Milwaukee Sewage Treatment Plant; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Chet’s dedication to the city and it didn’t end when he left office. Chet was a strong advocate for the beautification of the downtown area.  An avid gardener, he prized his dahlias and would bring some to City Hall every year for the employees to enjoy. He was a member of multiple veterans organizations, involved with the War Memorial and served as president of the Historical Society; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Erik Brooks and the Common Council of the City of South Milwaukee do hereby declare June 8, 2020, as “Mayor Chet Day” in the City of South Milwaukee in celebration of his 100^th birthday, wish Chet well as we recognize this milestone, and thank him for his lifetime of dedicated service to the city. 

The Grobschmidt Senior Center will close at the end of 2024, and the city will partner with the Wisconsin Policy Forum to study the future of the South Milwaukee Public Library following two South Milwaukee Common Council votes — and more than 90 minutes of comments from the public — on Tuesday.

The council voted 8-0 to close the senior center. The vote was 7-1 on the library study.

The votes came after more than 30 people offered public comments on the topics, with many making personal and passionate pleas to the city to continue to fund those services.

TMJ4 captured some of the emotion in the room in this story. A few of my takeaways …

• As I shared, I support both decisions.
• As to the library, I am hopeful the study contemplates more than just the options presented in the proposal, and I’m confident that will be the case. At the meeting, I suggested closure be removed as an option, as there could be a significant cost to do so — financial to the city and its taxpayers and personal to the thousands of users of the facility. And while that option remains, I am hopeful this study gives the council the information it needs to not only maintain the investment in our library, but enhance it. Will that be in the exact facility you see today? Unsure. But maybe now is the time to reimagine how we deliver this core service — and reinvent it for a new generation. Let’s begin that conversation now, grounded with the perspective the Policy Forum will provide.
• As to the senior center, it is clear from the people who spoke Tuesday just how personal this decision is. Closing it will have a real imapct. I do not doubt the senior center is incredibly valuable to its users, but there are simply not enough of them (225, a declining figure, with more half coming from outside city). I very much wish it was different and that the center could remain open. But the budget realities are what they are. And there are other good options operated by Milwaukee County in Cudahy and on the South Side of Milwauke and, as of this January, the Salvation Army in Oak Creek. I’d also link Tuesday’s two debates in this way: The South Milwaukee Library already offers a number of services and programming to adults of all ages. Maybe enhancing those for seniors at the next generation library can be explored as part of the study.
• The council’s rationale for these decisions is sound. Most aldermen pointed directly at state government for putting us in this position, and they are right. Decades of disinvestment in shared revenue and the reduction of options for local governments to raise revenue have come to roost. Act 12 helped, but not nearly enough. And until state lawmakers and Gov. Evers decide to make this a priority, it will not get noticeably better. “Nice to have” services will continue to be cut. My hope is the newly redrawn legislative maps and a more balanced legislature will make this issue a priority.
• And this: I give a lot of credit to City Administrator Patrick Brever, City Clerk Sandi Wesolowski, staff, and the council for hearing the people on these important issues. It’s really hard for elected officials to just shut up and listen sometimes. That included me. But it’s the right thing to do, and I thank the city for giving everyone in attendance the opportunity to speak on Tuesday.

So, what’s next? Keep speaking up! There is a still a lot to be decided, especially around the future of the library. This is just the beginning of that debate. Share your stories and your points of view.

While it may not always deliver the outcome you want, your voice makes a difference.