Check out these South Shore headlines …
Supervisor Pat Jursik has a new newsletter.
And NOW has published a new police blotter.
Filed under South Milwaukee
A hearftelt note of thanks to the South Milwaukee Community and Business Association (formerly the chamber) and everyone who contributed to our new downtown Christmas lights this year …
I think they look terrfic, and have heard from plenty of people who agree. There are more than 60 new fixtures in all.
The association and its members are great community partners, stepping up to improve South Milwaukee in ways big and small. This is a great example, and much appreciated.
And thanks to Shannon Wucherer Photography for providing these images. Shannon’s studio is at 914 Milwaukee Ave., and you can learn more about her busines on her Facebook page. Really good stuff from another successful Milwaukee Avenue business.
Filed under Community, Downtown, South Milwaukee
The local Christmas shopping list continues …
This time, it’s a shoutout for our terrific local children’s book author, Janet Halfmann.
We’re the happy owner of several of her books, and I highly recommend many of her titles.
Learn more on her website. Janet also has a Facebook page.
P.S. I also want to call out a really cool new book written by a friend and colleague of mine, Tom Ryan. It’s called “Peeve, My Parents’ Pet,” and it’s a funny story about the interactions with his young son. Buy it on Amazon.com.
It was a blast having John McGivern and John Gurda in town last summer shooting “Around the Corner.”
The end result? See for yourself as McGivern and Gurda return to our fair city for the premier of the South Milwaukee episode on Monday, Feb. 23, at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
The program starts at 7 p.m., after a special performance of the South Milwaukee Municipal Band.
Mark your calendars — and look for more information soon on how to get (free) tickets.
This will be a really fun community celebration. I hope to see you there!
The actual episode airs on Milwaukee Public Television on Thursday, Feb. 26. See the season trailer here.
Filed under Community, South Milwaukee
Today, some love for our local jeweler …
You have a lot of choices on where to buy your jewelry, and I encourage you to shop local this holiday season and pay a visit to Donn Powers Jeweler.
You get a nice selection, along with terrific customer service with an expert staff — in fact, chances are you’ll run into Donn if you stop in. And they do some great specialty pieces.
We’re putting renewed focus on economic development in 2015 and beyond — with the hiring of a single person to lead our efforts in attracting and retaining business, marketing our city and downtown redevelopment, among other duties.
Know someone who might be interested in being our new economic development coordinator?
Here is the job description. Apply here.
I’m excited to get this person on board as soon as possible. There’s lots of work to do!
I’ll still play a big role in economic development going forward — it’s a top priority for me as mayor and a passion — but it will be a huge help having someone inside City Hall (almost) every day driving these efforts.
It’s a big step forward for South Milwaukee.
Filed under City Services, Development, Downtown, South Milwaukee
Next up in “12 Days,” an anchor businesses of downtown South Milwaukee … Parkway Floral.
Why not give the gift of flowers this Christmas? Or maybe pick up that perfect poinsettia.
We’re lucky to have such a first-class florist in town. Please support them this holiday season — and all year long.
Give the gift of performance art this Christmas!
Perhaps a St. Nick stocking stuffer to one of the great Christmas shows coming up …
Or tickets to another show that is part of the PAC’s 10th anniversary Performing Arts Series … learn more here.
Update: Check out coverage from TMJ 4, WISN and Fox 6.
Here is the press release …
And great work by the South Milwaukee Police Department and the school district to get to the bottom of this.
Thankfully it was only a threat.
Filed under Police, Schools, South Milwaukee
Happy to kick off another “12 Days of South Milwaukee Christmas” series — an annual look at some of our best local shopping options …
And I start with information on a couple big “shop local” events this Saturday.
First, there is the annual South Milwaukee Christmas Market, set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at South Milwaukee High School. It’s a full house once again, with more than 60 vendors selling terrific locally made gift items. Live music is also scheduled throughout the day.
Learn more on the market Facebook page.
I also want to call out a special event presented by the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. Check out the flyer above, and like their Facebook page for more.
And shop local!
Check out coverage from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Business Journal. And here is the press release.
So, what does it mean for the South Shore Y? From the Business Journal story …
The buyer of the Wauwatosa, Greenfield and Menomonee Falls branches was the YMCA of Central Waukesha County. The Feith Family Ozaukee YMCA in Saukville was sold to the Kettle Moraine YMCA of West Bend.
Three other properties the Milwaukee Y owns will be placed in a trust until the properties are sold with proceeds going to the bank group. The properties are: undeveloped land in Franklin, the downtown Milwaukee branch in the Plankinton Building condo and the South Shore branch in Cudahy. …
The Milwaukee Y will focus on health and wellness and youth development not directly related to academics. The organization will emphasize swimming classes, corporate and community wellness, senior wellness, before and after-school care, day and overnight camps. The Y will continue running the following branches: downtown Milwaukee; at the Parklawn city of Milwaukee housing project; 1350 W. North Ave.; 9250 N. Green Bay Road in Brown Deer; and 3244 E. College Ave. in Cudahy.
The South Shore branch in Cudahy could close if a buyer cannot be found, Tolan said.
I’ll keep you posted.
Filed under Community, Cudahy, South Milwaukee
Thanks again to all of our public safety workers. They never know what the next call will bring.
From the fire chief …
Earlier today, SMFD units assisted the Oak Creek Fire Department at the scene of a mobile home fire in the area of 27th & College Avenue’s. Upon returning to the station from that fire, personnel were closely monitoring radio traffic from the Oak Creek Fire Department who were now responding to a report of a large excavator that was driven over the lake bank and ended up in Lake Michigan, approximately 25’ from the shore. The lake bank at the location is approximately 200’ high and very inaccessible because of brush and construction debris. Hearing that OCFD had no way to conduct a search of the cab of the excavator to determine if there were any occupants, SMFD offered up the services of their inflatable rescue raft and personnel to perform the search. Our larger rescue boat is currently in storage for the winter and unavailable. Oak Creek accepted the offer and our inflatable raft was launched from the South Milwaukee Yacht Club with two personnel in cold water suits on board. Upon arriving at the scene, the crew in the rescue raft conducted a cursory search of the machine from the boat and then beached the boat in order to conduct a more in-depth search of the cab and surrounding shoreline area. All searches turned up negative.
Once again, the crew from SMFD did an outstanding job of maintaining their personal safety while completing their mission under very difficult conditions. The air temperature at the time of the incident was 18 degrees with winds out of the North at 10-15mph resulting in wind chills near 5 degrees. In addition, the Lake Michigan water temperature is approximately 40 degrees with 3’-5’ waves.
More details on the department’s Facebook page.
Filed under Fire
By the end of today, city crews will be done with loose leaf collection for the season.
Crews made last passes through the city in the last several weeks, including working overtime on Saturdays, to rid the streets of leaves.
Now, with winter fully here, leaf equipment is coming off the trucks by end of day today (after one last pass).
I thank our Street Department for their hard work on this — and thank you for your patience. As I’ve said, I expect we will continue to offer this service going forward, but we will also take a hard look at how we deliver it in 2015 and beyond.
And my ask will always be the same: If, when and where possible (and I realize it’s not possible for some residents) I strongly encourage residents to mulch. It’s better for the environment, better for your lawn, and, due to the inefficiency of collection, helps our budget, freeing up time and manpower to tackle more core services.
Filed under City Services, South Milwaukee
Just a quick reminder that winter parking restrictions kick in on Monday …
From the South Milwaukee Police Department website:
During the period from December 1st to March 31st, no person shall park a vehicle on any street in the City of South Milwaukee between the hours of 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM.
However, vehicles may be parked during such hours if a permit is obtained from the Police Department …
Any vehicle parked in accordance with the above shall only be permitted to park on the EVEN numbered side of the street on those nights whose calendar date before midnight is even (N and W sides of the street are even), *Where parking is normally permitted only on one side of the street this section shall apply.
Learn more about buying a permit in my previous post.
Filed under Police, South Milwaukee
From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …
At approximately 3:43 AM this morning (Sunday, Nov. 30), SMFD rec’d a 9-1-1 call reporting a house fire at 509 Madison Avenue. Upon arrival of SMFD units, light to moderate smoke was found issuing from the basement and 1st floor of a two-story residential dwelling. SMPD units were already on scene and could not confirm the presence of any occupants, so a hoseline was stretched to the interior and a primary search was conducted while a fire in the basement was extinguished. Additional arriving mutual aid companies were assigned to search the rest of the building. All searches were negative, however, fire was also located on the first floor and extinguished. Overhaul was conducted and all areas of potential fire spread checked for extension. Damage to the building was limited to one room on the first floor and a small area of the basement. The fire is currently under investigation by SMFD and SMPD investigators. No injuries were reported.
Filed under Fire, South Milwaukee
