South Milwaukee Blog

The first thing I did when I was elected in 2014 was to create a new system for recruiting members to our boards and commissions.

It is a simple application process designed to introduce people to the opportunities we have available and to introduce me and city staff to a broader network of people who may have a passion or skill that we never knew.

It’s working. We’ve had dozens of applications in the past two years, and we’ve placed some of those applicants in key positions. Some of these people I had never met before they applied.

My continued ask: Apply. We regularly have openings to fill and, when we don’t, we want to keep a good list of interested candidates at the ready.

We currently have an opening on the Library Board.

Interested? Learn more and apply here.

South Milwaukee is a crossroads when it comes to economic development.

We have built a strong foundation for growth, are witnessing some real successes and have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape who we are and where we’re headed. At the same time, we are facing some of the biggest economic (re)development challenges we’ve ever faced as a city,

We need help — the right person to help guide us through this critical time.

With that in mind, we are creating a new Economic Development Director position, a limited term employee who will spend the next two to three years, maybe longer, leading our work to bring key elements of our comprehensive plan to life.

The council voted earlier this month to create the position, and we posted the job last week. From the position advertisement …

The City of South Milwaukee is accepting applications for the position of full-time Economic Development Director. This is a contract employment opportunity, with an expected minimum duration of two to three years. This position is responsible for providing professional-level leadership work in planning and implementing programmatic activities to develop and support economic development in the City of South Milwaukee. This position will provide professional-level economic development services, including management and execution of economic development projects, outreach, advertising and promotion, and other economic development-related tasks to achieve City goals and objectives. This position will serve as an advocate for economic development in the community, and as a liaison between business owners and the municipality to reach mutual economic development goals. This position is being advertised at a time where significant leadership is needed in the redevelopment of South Milwaukee’s historic downtown; one million square feet of available manufacturing, office and warehouse buildings in the city center, and other significant redevelopment “opportunity sites” across the city. The ideal candidate will have a passion for economic development and will work to capture and add to the recent positive momentum of the city and strive to encourage and maintain a vibrant local economy.

In other words, we need someone who is just as comfortable in meeting with a potential developer as he or she is in diving into the financials of a potential development, someone who can go from a discussing expansion options with a small business owner to discussing high-level policy at a council meeting, someone who is just as comfortable with the chamber president as the council president.

We’ll consider a wide range of candidates, but I am hoping to find someone who has already lived this work in their community, or someone who is living this work now. Perhaps he or she has a leadership role in economic development, or worked in the administration of a community that is overcoming its own development challenges, and is looking for a new challenge. Maybe he or she was a political leader in such a city, or a consultant that was part of that work.

Whatever their background, we need someone to come in and hit the ground running, get right to work on some of the big projects in front of us, projects like …

• The potential redevelopment of more than 1 million square feet of industrial, warehouse and office space downtown. This includes the Caterpillar campus, where 750,000 square feet of buildings were recently put up for sale or lease, and the Johnson Health Tech property along 12th Avenue, where more than 250,000 square feet is coming available as the company plans a move to a new location in Racine County later this year. That news broke last week.
• Our ongoing work in revitalizing Milwaukee Avenue and the rest of our city center, where the focus remains on working against the downtown plan. This includes a great start to our Downtown Revitalization Grant program, early work in forming a business improvement district, and a soon-to-be-announced designation as a Connect Communities (Main Street program) city, in addition to our continued work in business recruitment and retention efforts.
• The planned redevelopment of the property at 11th and Madison Avenues into a mixed-used development. The more than $6 million project is still very much alive, and developers Vetter Denk told me recently they remain committed to their plans to bring forward a development plan that will be a game-changer for our city center. Expect a plan soon.
• Redevelopment of other key “opportunity” sites across the city as identified in the comprehensive plan, including the former AMF property, areas along Oak Creek north of downtown, and key parcels near South Chicago Avenue.

So there is no shortage of work to do, and I’m excited to do it.

We are up for the challenge, and we will do this right. We have momentum, and we can’t lose it. Our new economic development director will help make sure of that.

Know someone who may be interested? Have them apply online.

I can’t think of a better time to bring a community together, and support law enforcement at the same time.

Join us this Wednesday, August 16, for South Milwaukee Community Night Out!

Back from vacation and back to blogging …

• First, a tragedy. Two South Milwaukee residents were killed in an ATV crash in northern Wisconsin. Please keep the families impacted by this terrible accident in your thoughts and prayers.
• I wanted to thank all of the city workers who worked long hours to fix the major water main break last weekend, and thank everyone for their patience. North Chicago Avenue has now reopened.  Pictures are included in this post.
• Thankfully, the Silver Alert issued for Richard Roidt earlier in the week was cancelled, as he was found safe.

Be sure to like mayoral Facebook page for more regular updates. I often share information there you can’t find on the blog.

South Milwaukee Police Chief Ann Wellens is retiring effective Jan. 19, 2018 — 30 years after she started in law enforcement and more than 28 years after she began at the South Milwaukee Police Department.

Ann has served admirably as South Milwaukee’s chief for more than 12 years.

Please join me in wishing Chief Wellens well as she begins the next chapter of her life, and in thanking her for her hard work in leading a department that has rightfully earned the respect of many others across the state. She leaves a legacy of dedication, integrity and professionalism that will be hard to match.

The Police & Fire Commission is meeting next week to accept her letter of retirement, and to begin the process of searching for a new chief. I will keep you posted.

Check out these South Shore headlines …

• Police Officers Stake out Dunkin’ Donuts to Support Special Olympics (NOW)
• Small Parts Give Caterpillar Big 2Q Earnings Boost (Associated Press)
• South Milwaukee Plant Sees Little of Caterpillar’s Recent Growth (BizTimes)
• Two Cats Die in Apartment Fire in Cudahy (Fox 6)
• Majority of St. Francis Convent Buildings to be Demolished (Bay View Compass)

And in case you missed coverage of the Gary Wetzel homecoming from a couple weeks ago, here are some links from that special day …

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• TMJ4
• Fox 6
• WISN

Also, NOW has published a new police blotter.

There are a lot of reasons to believe in the future of our city center. The biggest? The people stepping up to deliver game-changing ideas.

People like those you see in the above photo (and others) working to deliver a community garden in downtown South Milwaukee.

The group is called Growing South Milwaukee, and they are poised to start turning dirt on garden plots this fall, with planting starting next spring. It will be the culmination of an effort that started in the spring of 2015, with the committee considering several sites before choosing land south of the historic train station on 11th Avenue.

Thirty-three plots are available, measuring around 8×8 feet. Most plots are $30.

More details on Facebook and here … https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2qLEsKj8HyzWHZXOWpaakxtclpjWVV5VkFSNGRKSkVYTHdn/view

The group can also use your financial support. It has established a GoFundMe page, with a goal of raising $6,000. Other significant gifts have come from Caterpillar and Cousin’s.

I encourage you to get behind Growing South Milwaukee, and its mission …

Growing South Milwaukee has a deep rooted mission to create and maintain community gardens that inspire people of all ages to grow together. Our gardeners strengthen the community by planting the seeds of change, sharing knowledge and bringing nutrient rich food back to South Milwaukee.

It’s an ambitious mission, one embodied by its board members …

• President: Leah Manthey
• Vice President: Brooke Gilley
• Secretary: Patricia Heim
• Treasurer: James Davies

Thanks to everyone who is volunteering their time to make this happen!

Heritage Days is here! I’ll be sharing a post each day this week on what’s happening … and it’s a lot.

Today, it’s the South Milwaukee Heritage Days Parade, starting at 11 a.m. and ending at Lionsfest. I’ve been told it’s bigger than ever — around 120 units in all.

Be sure to check it out …

Then stop by the Friends of the Oak Creek Watercourse and Mill Pond Great Duck Race, starting at 2 p.m. at 15th and Milwaukee Avenues.

More details on the parade here, duck race here. See you there!

Sorce Martial Arts owner Peter Sorce is celebrating 20 years of operating a martial arts school and 35 years of martial arts training this month.

And in doing so, they have become an anchor for our downtown and city, an example of the opportunity for small business in South Milwaukee.

Please join me in congratulating Pete and his team on these milestones!

From the press release …

Sorce Martial Arts owner Peter Sorce is celebrating 20 years of operating a martial arts school and 35 years of martial arts training this month. His commitment to training and teaching the values of martial arts to others has had a positive impact on his students and the community in which he serves.

“Dedication, commitment and the love of martial arts training came easily to me,” says Sorce, who holds rank in three distinct martial art styles, all of which are taught at his school. A lifelong resident of the south shore and former electrical engineer, Sorce started his martial arts training as a young kid in Taekwondo. Now, he holds a 6^th degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 2^nd degree black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu and is recognized as Katalungan Guru in the Inayan System of Eskrima.

Sorce credits his team of instructors, mentors and students for the school’s longevity and success. “In the beginning, I taught every class, enrolled every student and sent every email. As the school expanded, I quickly learned that I couldn’t do everything,” he says. Now, there are two full-time instructors, three part-time instructors and a part-time office/program manager. There is also a leadership team of about two dozen instructors, assistants and junior leaders.

Over the past 20 years, the school has grown in size, programs offered and number of students. It currently serves about 300 students, including families, adults and kids. Adults make up about a third of the students. Teachers, health care professionals, fire fighters, police officers, military veterans and IT professionals all train for self-improvement and the benefits martial arts provides.

Heritage Days is here! I’ll be sharing a post each day this week on what’s happening … and it’s a lot.

It’s Friday, so that means it’s time South Milwaukee Lionsfest.

Today, it’s the car cruise, fish fry and much, much more. See you there!

Be sure to follow the Lionsfest Facebook page for updates throughout the weekend.

Heritage Days is here! I’ll be sharing a post each day this week on what’s happening … and it’s a lot.

Tonight, it’s Evening on the Avenue, and this year may be the best one yet.

Food, entertainment, vendors from the South Milwaukee Downtown Market and other local businesses … it’s a terrific celebration of our city.

More details here and here. See you in the dunk tank at 6:30!

Here is the third installment of South Milwaukee Business Spotlight, a collaboration with the South Milwaukee Community & Business Association where we’ll spotlight a local small business each month. Businesses will be chosen by the SMCBA.

This month, we profile Lovenote Creative.

The Basics

• Business name: Lovenote Creative, LLC (DBA Lovenote Photos)

• Address: 1300 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee, WI 53172

• Hours:  By Appointment Only

• Phone number: 414-550-2882

• Website: http://www.lovenotecreative.com

• Social media: http://www.facebook.com/lovenotephotos

• Founded:  2013

• Owner(s): Julie Arnold

• # of employees: 2: Julie & husband, Jason “Red” Arnold. Lovenote Creative also works with several talented consultants as needed.
• Primary business: Photography, Graphic Design & Web Design


Learning More

How did you get involved in the business?

I started my career in high school at Sears Portrait Studio. In the 10+ years that I was in the big-box retail portrait industry, either full- or part-time, I tried them all — Olan Mills (where I was a Certified Professional Photographer & District Trainer), JC Penney Portraits, The Picture People — you name it, I’ve worked it. I then tried my hand at secretarial work for a couple years, but found myself spending too much time prettying-up Excel spreadsheets, and that’s when I decided to go to college for web design. However, in 1999, the art of the website was still in its infancy and I learned little about web design, so I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design & Multimedia, and started a career in print design. For the last 15+ years, I’ve designed catalogs, advertisements, magazines, newspapers, flyers, etc. for all sorts of companies such as Kohl’s, Taste of Home / Reader’s Digest, Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee Tool, and even Summerfest.

My hubby, Jason, is a talented musician and has the best bass voice anyone could ask for. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from UW Parkside, sang with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, and has written, recorded & copyrighted 2+ albums of original music. He is also a master impersonator and can do fantastic impressions of Darth Vader, Alan Rickman, Bill Clinton, Christopher Walken & Arnold Schwarzenegger, just to name a few. He is also very analytical, is a great problem solver, has studied Six Sigma and is working towards his Black Belt Certification. I’ve been subtly teaching him the ropes of design, typography & composition since we met in late 2008, and now he’s working for Lovenote Creative full-time.

In 2013, I received a Canon Rebel DSLR camera for Christmas, and my passion for photography was reborn. I decided to start my own business later that year so I could utilize all of the multiple talents that I’ve acquired over the past 25 years in supporting others. I love helping other small businesses succeed via print & online marketing, while also providing families with heirloom portraits that they will treasure for generations.

What sets your business apart? 

Between the two of us, we are literally a One-Stop Shop creative company. We have a combined experience of 40+ years in wedding, portraiture & product photography, graphic & print design, marketing & advertising, web design & social media, videography & video editing, copywriting & proofing, voiceovers & audio mixing, efficiency practices, and so much more! If you can think it, we can create it!

What is your business’ biggest challenge?

These days, everyone has a phone in their hand 24/7, which takes high quality pictures and has apps that let you create a cute collage or meme on the fly. Similarly, everyone also has a computer & a printer, and can design a flyer, handbook or presentation with relative ease. Our profession has become a part of the DIY culture, which is completely understandable, so why pay for an “expensive” service when you can do it yourself, right? Well, sometimes, you just need a professional before you get featured on PinterestFail.com.

Tum ta ta TAA! Lovenote Creative to the rescue! If your business, organization or non-profit is growing faster than you can keep up with, or Microsoft Word isn’t cutting it anymore, then we can help. We will meet with you to plan a branding & marketing strategy, design some eye-catching online & print ads to help get your word out, and/or take some beautiful photos of your company, products or events to illustrate your vision. Equally, we can alleviate you from being behind the camera at all of your get-togethers so you can instead socialize with your family, friends & colleagues, and assist you in designing a beautiful wall art collage or custom designed album to enjoy for years to come.

What is your business’ biggest opportunity? 

Surprisingly, everything has recently come full circle. Once I started designing simple WordPress websites for other local small businesses, even more local small businesses started asking for web design services. Technology is just a tad bit different than in 1999, but I’m taking the bull by the horns and letting the demand drive my business; both my husband and I are in the process of earning a few web design certifications to better serve our area’s needs. This just adds another facet to the Jack-of-all-Trades moniker, and I’m excited to see where it leads us.


What are your growth plans? 

We opened 7 Bridges Studio in May of 2016, which is a photography collective; a space shared by several businesses. It’s the cream building on the corner of 13th & Milwaukee, across from The Tap Room, and was built in the late 1800s. It features Cream City Brick, which serves as a stunning background for any family portrait — just ask Mayor Brooks! (I enjoy joking that “I shot the mayor’s family with a Canon last summer.”) Anyway, we’re hoping to be chosen as a recipient of the generous Downtown Revitalization Grant to replace the large picture windows, eliminate the siding, and bring its olde-tyme charm back to life. We’re also planning on renovating the old barber shop, in the west 1/3 of the building, into a shared office for home-based and small businesses that need a private, part-time space to meet with their clients that’s a better alternative to a noisy & bustling Starbucks.

Why should others consider doing business in South Milwaukee? 

Being a Kenosha native, I used to think of living in South Milwaukee as a temporary move. However, the longer I’m here, the more I love it. The people are great, the businesses are amazing, and it has such a cozy, small-town charm that doesn’t feel like a big-city suburb. The Milwaukee area is big into the arts, and it’s making its way down the coast and turning South Milwaukee into a destination location for tourism and creative ventures alike. We, as a city, are on the cusp of something great that you can just feel in the air.

Both Jason & I love South Milwaukee so much that we regularly volunteer where we can. Jason sits on the board of directors for the South Milwaukee Downtown Market, while I am a director in the South Milwaukee Community & Business Association and part of the Project ReStore committee, which is focused on the downtown revitalization. Every interaction I have with SM residents is a positive one; all of the phenomenal business owners & volunteers have a goal of keeping our city great, and an end-game strategy to reach it. I’m now proud to say that I’m a permanent resident of the City of South Milwaukee and I will work tirelessly to build & sustain this wonderful community and its businesses. 


If you could change one thing about South Milwaukee, what would it be?

The current culture of smartphones & WiFi has us all moving so fast — and as that is happening, this enormous world of ours is becoming a vastly smaller place. We’ve become so accustomed to having large entities supply us with so many of our needs that the small-town Main Street has gone through a dramatic transformation over the past couple of decades. The very street that was the heart of the city when it was first placed on a map has become neglected as the corporate big-box stores dominate the area. Thankfully, in South Milwaukee, our Main Street — Milwaukee Avenue — is starting to make a comeback. All of the behind-the-scenes players have the town’s best interests at heart and we continually strive to make #SoMKE a fun place that everyone is proud to call their own. I mean, what other mayor runs a blog around here? Come on?! Talk about transparency! 😉 If anything, I wish there was more involvement with all of our many activities, even if it’s just coming out and enjoying them. We work really hard to create events that are family friendly and keep us all busy, especially during the summer, and even while Trick-or-Treating down Milwaukee Avenue (which I organize, hint, hint). Our work isn’t done until you’ve had a fabulous time, so put down your phones and come mingle with all of your amazing neighbors!

What is something people would be surprised to know about you or your business?

We host a monthly Girls’ Night Out Pop-up Shop that features 10-20 different home-based, women-owned businesses! It usually falls on the first Friday evening of the month, but will sometimes move to the 2nd Friday if it conflicts with holiday celebrations. We’re also adding a Saturday shop on August 19th, so make sure you come out & see all of the fantastic products offered by the wonderful women in this group. Visit us at http://www.GirlsNightOutSM.com for more details.

A surprising fun fact about me is: I traveled the country for 10+ years, riding roller coasters! You know those wacky coaster enthusiasts on the Discovery Channel that rave about all of the rides they’ve ridden? Those are my friends! (I’m even in one that was filmed on the Hades coaster in Wisconsin Dells lol) So! I’ve been to 80+ different parks and have ridden 300+ different roller coasters. I’ve made hundreds of friends throughout this awesome country and have thousands of pictures and hours of videos of my adventures (which was pretty unique back “in the day” before cell phones). I also started a pretty popular roller coaster photography website in 1998, which also influenced my decision to go to college for web design. Actually, one of my favorite long-term clients is a roller coaster engineering firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, run by a couple whom I became friends with because of this fun hobby! Now THAT’S a fun fact!

Heritage Days is here! I’ll be sharing a post each day this week on what’s happening … and it’s a lot.

Today, it’s the annual South Milwaukee Fire Department Firehouse Spaghetti Dinner, with dinner from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

More details here.

And a bonus event — the rescheduled Guardian Credit Union Movie on the Beach! Showing at dusk on Grant Park Beach: “Moana.”

See you there!

Heritage Days is here! I’ll be sharing a post each day this week on what’s happening … and it’s a lot.

Today, it’s the St. Luke’s UCC Ice Cream Social and South Milwaukee Municipal Band concert, from 4 to 8 p.m. at St. Luke’s, 2200 18th Ave. The band concert starts at 7.

Learn more here. See you there!

Heritage Days is here! I’ll be sharing a post each day this week on what’s happening … and it’s a lot.

Today, it’s the South Milwaukee Police DARE Golf Outing. And while it’s too late to sign up, please mark your calendars for 2018, and consider a donation now for this terrific program: Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

Coming Tuesday: the St. Luke’s UCC Ice Cream Social and Municipal Band concert.