by | April 3, 2014 · 10:09 pm

Hunting For Eggs On Saturday

The Easter Bunny returns to South Milwaukee on Saturday, as the Lions Club and Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse host the second-annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny & Easter Egg Hunt.

The event, held at the Grobschmidt Senior Center, includes a pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 11 a.m., with the egg hunt starting at 10:30 a.m. Breakfast is $6 for everyone 12 and older. Children 6-11 are $5, and those five and under are $4. Bring your own cameras for photos with the Easter Bunny.

A raffle is also planned.

See you there!

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by | April 2, 2014 · 7:27 pm

South Milwaukee Alumni Update: More Success For Kleppin, Gilane

From the South Milwaukee athletic department …

Lauren Kleppin (class of 2007)

Former standout SM Rocket CC and Track runner, WIAA State Cross Country Champion and multiple-time NCAA Division II All-American Track runner and 2-time NCAA Division II Cross Country 3rd place-finisher for Western State University in Colorado just keeps on running…fast!

Lauren ran in the World Half-Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark last Saturday and came away with yet another great performance in a recent string of distance races taking 14th overall with a time of 1:10:15. She was only 6 seconds off of the pace of the top American finisher Annie Bersagel and only 2 minutes and 47 seconds behind the champion. This set her new personal record time by 1 minute and 57 seconds!

Great job Lauren!!!

HERE IS A LINK TO THE FINAL RESULTS FROM SATURDAY’S RACE

http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-half-marathon-championships/iaafal-bank-world-half-marathon-championships-4955/results/women/half-marathon/final/result

HERE IS A USATF ARTICLE AFTER THE RACE

http://www.usatf.org/News/0-(37).aspx

HERE ARE 2 ARTICLES RELEASED RIGHT BEFORE THE RACE

http://running.competitor.com/2014/03/news/kleppin-pennel-take-different-paths-to-half-marathon-worlds_97854 

http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/josphat-boit-lauren-kleppin-lead-us-half-marathon-team

Deanna Gilane (class of 2010)

Former standout Rocket softball player Deanna Gilane has started out her junior season at UW-Eau Claire with a bang having been named as of one of the athletes of the week at UWEC. Great job Deanna!!! 

 Here is the link to the posting.

http://www.blugolds.com/sports/general/2013-14/releases/20140331aotw

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by | April 2, 2014 · 12:10 am

Humbled By A Mayoral Victory

Election results are in, and I’m proud to say I won the South Milwaukee mayoral race with more than 60% of the vote.

You can check out the full results here. Among them …

  • Turnout in South Milwaukee was 28%.
  • The final tally in the mayoral race: I had 2,021 votes, or 60.4%, to incumbent Tom Zepecki’s 1,248, or 37.3%. I’ll serve a three-year team.
  • In the only other contested race on the ballot, Laura Gramling Perez beat Cedric Cornwall in the race for Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge Branch 32, 53.9% to 28.7%.
  • In South Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Board pay reduction referendum passed, 66.5% to 20.5%.
  • Also winning re-election in uncontested races were City Clerk James Shelenske, Treasurer Karen Skowronski, and Attorney Joseph Murphy. They will serve three-year terms.
  • South Milwaukee School Board members John Haslam, Carol Dufek and Patricia Bordak also won re-election in uncontested races. They will serve three-year terms.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Also, thanks to all of the workers from the clerk’s office, led by Jim Shelenske, and those at the polls for their efforts with this and all elections. It’s thankless work, but critical. And it’s always run professionally.

And one final word on Mayor Zepecki. I want to thank him for his decades of dedicated service to South Milwaukee. He is a good man who leaves a strong legacy of leadership that I hope to build on in coming years. I can only hope to have the long-term impact he has had on this great city.

I promise to responsibly build on the foundation he has helped establish.

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by | April 1, 2014 · 7:02 am

Vote Today!

Tuesday is election day, and I humbly ask for your vote in the mayoral race.

Here are some details …

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • There are only two contested races on the ballot — the mayoral race and a race for a Milwaukee County Circuit judgeship between Cedric Cornwall and Laura Gramling Perez. Also on the ballot is a referendum to reduce the pay of Milwaukee County Board supervisors. Here is a sample ballot.
  • 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.

Of course, check back to South Milwaukee Blog for more coverage of the election Tuesday night.

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by | March 31, 2014 · 9:17 pm

More Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

Also, South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik has published her latest e-news update. See it here.

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by | March 31, 2014 · 7:56 pm

Congratulations, Capt. Dorangrichia!

20140331_152145_resized (1)20140331_151638_resizedSouth Milwaukee should be proud of its dedicated, longstanding public employees. There are lots of them — and it’s hard to see them go.

Such is the case with Fire Capt. James Dorangrichia, who is retiring after more than 26 years with the department. He will be missed.

Here are a couple photos from his ceremony today, including a shot with shift teammates.

Good luck, captain!

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by | March 30, 2014 · 9:42 pm

Big April: Terrific Music And More Coming To PAC, Indoor Market

Lots of chances to hear some great live performances around South Milwaukee in coming weeks …

  • Sunday, April 6: Knightwind Ensemble Presents “From Russia With Love,” 3 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Learn more here.
  • Tuesday, April 15: Red Green’s “How to do Everything” tour, 7 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Learn more here.
  • Friday, April 25: I’m Not a Pilot and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Learn more here.
  • Saturday, April 26: South Milwaukee Indoor Market. More than 60 vendors are expected for the latest indoor market at South Milwaukee High School. But don’t forget the live music, which includes everything from Celtic to folk to jazz clarinet acts. See the full schedule on the market Facebook page.
  • Saturday, April 26: Jason Moran Fats Waller Dance Party, 7:30 p.m. at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Learn more here.

Did I miss something? Post in the comments below!

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by | March 25, 2014 · 11:14 pm

No One Hurt In House Fire

Here is the update from South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter on the fire Tuesday morning on Elm Avenue …

At 10:28 this morning, SMFD Dispatch rec’d a 9-1-1 call of a smell of smoke in the house and smoke coming from the attic at 717 Elm Avenue.  SMFD responded and upon arrival discovered moderate smoke coming from the roof and attic vents.  SMFD Command upgraded the level of response to a Working Still which includes our mutual aid partners.  All of the occupants were out of the home upon arrival of SMFD. Attack lines were stretched to the interior of the house to find fire involving the area above the cabinet soffit in the kitchen up into the attic and exiting through the roof vent.  The fire was extinguished using minimal water.  Because the fire was primarily located in the soffit and attic area, damage from direct flame contact and heat/smoke was more severe in the attic. The first floor suffered minor water and smoke damage.  The occupants contacted their insurance company who was making arrangements for temporary housing. No injuries were reported.  Investigators identified the area of origin in the cabinet soffit in the area above the kitchen sink.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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by | March 22, 2014 · 11:31 pm

Headlines!

Check out these South Shore headlines …

NOW has published a new police blotter.

And the Oak Creek girls’ basketball team beat Superior Saturday night to win the WIAA Division I state title. Congratulations, Knights!

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by | March 21, 2014 · 7:16 pm

Do Your Part: Fundraisers Set For Senior Center, Track Team

Take advantage of a couple of opportunities to help two local institutions …

  • First, eat at Culver’s in Oak Creek anytime on Saturday, March 22, and present the voucher found here to ensure 10% of your purchase goes toward the Chester Grobschmidt Senior Center in South Milwaukee. Culver’s is located at 7841 S. Howell Ave.
  • Also, the South Milwaukee High School track team is hosting a Casino Night starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at the Knights of Columbus in South Milwaukee, 732 Badger Ave. Play blackjack, craps, roulette, poker and more — and raise some money for a good cause.

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by | March 19, 2014 · 9:12 am

Did You Hear Those Loud Booms, Too?

Well, it appears those booms on Tuesday night were from four grenades being detonated by the Oak Creek Police Department.

Here is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story. It says they were detonated in a “remote location” of the city.

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by | March 18, 2014 · 8:30 am

In-Person Absentee Voting Now Open

You can now cast a vote in the April 1 election.

In-person absentee voting is open, meaning you can vote at South Milwaukee City Hall during regular business hours through 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28.

You don’t need a reason to vote this way — you can simply show up and request a ballot and cast it right there. But I’d especially ask you to consider voting early if you think you might not be able to make it to the polls on April 1.

Learn more on the city’s elections web page.

Of course, I humbly ask for your vote in the race for mayor.

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by | March 17, 2014 · 11:31 am

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

20140315_194508_resizedHere is  a shot from Saturday’s Pullin’ o’ the Green event at the Grant Park clubhouse. Lots of fun, and some great Irish food and music.

Thanks to the Friends of Grant Park and all the important work they do in enhancing the experience at the county’s second-largest park. They are all volunteers, and we should thank them for their efforts.

Learn more about how to get involved at their website.

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by | March 17, 2014 · 10:42 am

More Headlines

Check out these South Shore headlines …

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by | March 14, 2014 · 9:52 pm

A Beautiful “Beauty And The Beast” At South Milwaukee High School

IMG_9847 IMG_9611 IMG_9953 smallCongratulations to the cast and crew of the South Milwaukee High School Theatre Company’s “Beauty and the Beast”!

Thanks to Leslie Henry for providing the following …

The South Milwaukee High School Theatre Company produced the show Beauty and the Beast last weekend and it was a tremendous success.  According to production director, Julie Pikulik,” the company was proud to present a show that the entire family could attend.”  About 70 students participated in the cast, stage crew, orchestra and direction of the show.  These youth masterfully learned their lines and the difficult music and performed with ease and grace.  They also designed and constructed imaginative costumes and intricate sets and where some show patrons remarked the show came out of a “Disney Vault.”   It was so realistic that a young member of the audience yelled out to warn the Beast when Gaston the show’s villain was going to get him. 

The SMHS Theatre Company’s mission is to create a safe, respectful and collaborative environment for students to learn the values and life skills of teamwork, confidence, honesty, kindness, perseverance and responsibility through the production of high-quality performances. 

This highly successful endeavor that drew an audience of over 400 each of the days in the three show run and brought many communities within South Milwaukee together. It was evident by seeing the variety of people including the ages and interests that this show was a true community triumph.  

Bravo to the directors, students, volunteers, staff  and community for supporting the dramatic arts for youth of South Milwaukee.

Do you have news or information to share on the blog? Please send it along. I try my best in writing about all things South Milwaukee, but I don’t have much time to do original reporting outside of city issues. That means I’m reliant on others to provide content … so keep it coming!

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