Here 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.
Filed under Community, Milwaukee County, Parks, South Milwaukee
Congratulations 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!
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee
With spring here (such as it is), the South Milwaukee Health Department is asking dog owners to pick up their pet’s fecal matter … and asking for patience to give them time to do it.
Check out the memo here from the city’s Facebook page. It states no complaints about dog waste removal will be taken until after April 30 … and lays out the penalties after that point.
Please clean up after your pets. On the campaign trail, I’ve too often seen (and stepped in) the results of not doing your doody.
Filed under City Services, Health, South Milwaukee
… Four terrific-looking rain barrels designed and painted by students at Rawson, Lakeview, E.W. Luther and Blakewood Elementary Schools.
The rain barrels were unveiled at Thursday night’s student art show at City Hall.
What a great event!
Filed under Community, Schools, South Milwaukee
A quick shoutout to my alma mater, which is putting on “Footloose” this weekend.
The following cast members live in South Milwaukee …
More details from the school …
Numerous other cast members are from Cudahy and Oak Creek and three of the above cast members are graduates of Divine Mercy School in South Milwaukee.
Since the day Matt Zembrowski stepped on the scene as Theater Director at St. Thomas More High School, it has been a family affair. It is Matt’s second year as Director and the program is growing by leaps and bounds since his arrival. Many improvements have been made to the Auditorium and the surrounding areas, including new seats, paint and sound upgrades. This year’s spring musical, “Footloose” has a cast of 34 on stage while last year’s musical had 19. Zembrowski brings with him a whole cast of his own characters as well. His father Bill is in charge of scene design, while his mother Liz is House Manager. Matt’s brother Zach is in charge of lighting and his sister Rachel is Assistant Director. But the family connections don’t end there; Footloose boosts two sets of siblings on stage as main characters. Playing the lead role of Ariel is senior Kaitlyn Serketich, while her sister, freshman Carly Serketich, plays Vi, Ariel’s mother. In the role of Wendy Jo is senior Garbriella Hamilton, and her sister Freshman Francesca Hamilton is her side-kick Urleen.
This musical featuring the chart-topping classics “Footloose”, “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” and “Holding Out For a Hero”, is sure to get you on your feet! Footloose is being performed for the second weekend at St. Thomas More High School Auditorium, 2601 E. Morgan Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53207 – March 14 & 15 at 7:30 pm and March 16 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are General Admission. They can be purchased at the door, $10 Adults and $5 Students/Seniors. For more information visit our website at www.tmore.org.
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee
OK, so I’m bragging a bit because my kids’ artwork will be on display.
See you starting at 6 p.m.! Details here … including more on the city’s unveiling of four new rain barrels painted by local students. Refreshments will be provided.
Filed under Community, Schools, South Milwaukee
Check out these South Shore headlines …
Filed under Headlines, South Milwaukee
Update: More details here and here (and a great photo).
What an amazing result … Lauren Kleppin was the first American woman to finish Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon in a time 13 minutes better than her previous best.
Check out the story here, and see my previous post for more on Lauren’s journey.
Congratulations, Lauren!
Filed under South Milwaukee, Sports
Update: Belmont lost.
Looking for a Cinderella to cheer for in the upcoming NCAA Tournament?
Well, a former South Milwaukee star has led his team to one win shy of the Big Dance.
Drew Windler (2009) is a starting forward for Belmont, which plays in the Ohio Valley Conference championship at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday on ESPNU. The winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The 6-foot-9 Windler, who transferred to Belmont after two years at Samford, had nine points in the OVC semifinal win over Morehead State Friday and is averaging 10 points and 4.2 rebounds per game for the Bruins.
Belmont won its division and is 24-8 overall after finishing 14-2 in the OVC.
Go Bruins! Go Drew!
Filed under Schools, South Milwaukee, Sports
Check out these South Shore headlines …
And NOW has published a new police blotter.
Filed under Headlines
The South Milwaukee City Council on Tuesday approved more than $6.3 million in borrowing for 2013-15 capital projects.
The 10-year loan will help fund road improvements, facility renovations and other big-ticket items for a variety of our city departments and functions. The interest rate is 2.4% — a low rate in part due to our strong bond rating.
The loan includes $1 million in funds for 2013 projects, something the council previously approved with the knowledge we’d repay this money with long-term loan funds upon the execution of our next borrowing. (We typically do these kind of large borrowings every two to three years.)
The rest of the funds is for costs contemplated for 2014 or 2015, including the following:
We will also spend $72,000 over the next two years to fund a “traffic preemption system” for South Milwaukee stop lights, helping speed response times and improve traffic safety. All in, we’ll be spending an estimated $144,000 over four years to allow our police and firefighters to automatically require lights to turn green as they respond to emergencies. Cudahy and Oak Creek intersections (and many others) already have this technology. The first three South Milwaukee intersections to get it in 2014 will be the intersections of 10th and Milwaukee, 10th and Marquette and 12th and Marquette.
These are just some of the projects put forth for the borrowing, and, obviously, more details (and final costs) on individual projects will emerge as the council formally debates spending on each one in the months and years ahead. Keep reading this blog for more details.
Filed under City Council, City Services, South Milwaukee
Good-bye, South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. Hello, South Milwaukee Community and Business Association.
The change in name — and goals of the group — was recently finalized, with the bylaws for the new association being approved at a meeting on Feb. 18.
The revised objective of the organization: “promoting civic and business interests of South Milwaukee.” And membership is open to “any individual, business, association, organization or any other legally organized group with legal standing interested in the welfare of South Milwaukee.”
So, what does this mean? It somewhat remains to be seen, as the organization plots a new path.
Previously, the mission of the chamber was “to promote the economic development of the South Milwaukee business community” and “enhance our city by offering a variety of social and marketing events; beautification programs; and ongoing support and camaraderie for our business community.” There will certainly be elements of this in the association’s future, including its holiday decoration and street banner programs.
I wish the association well with its new aim — and I remain a proud member of it.
Similarly, I look forward to the new South Shore Chamber of Commerce taking root. This organization should fill some of the void left by the end of a traditional local chamber while taking a broader approach to promoting business from Cudahy, St. Francis and South Milwaukee. Its goal, according to its Facebook page …
The business and purpose of this corporation shall be to advance the commercial and industrial interests of the communities it serves; to interest itself in legislation and administration in said communities; to inform the public as to successful commercial, industrial and civic expansion, all for the general interest and benefit of said communities; strive for a general recognition and understanding of the rights of legitimate enterprises; and generally carry on and conduct any lawful business or businesses whatever for the promotion of this corporation and its interests, the interests of its members and particularly the interest of the communities it serves.
I look forward to joining this organization as well — and to continue in the effort to promote and enhance local businesses. Communities are better off when the voice of local business is heard loud and clear.
Filed under Community, Local Business, South Milwaukee
Update: The victim has been identified as 58-year old Kay Bertrand, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Here is her obituary from Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home.
Tragic news from the South Milwaukee Fire Department: The woman rescued from Thursday’s blaze at 717 St. Sylvester’s Drive has since died.
Please continue to keep this woman’s family in your prayers.
Filed under Fire, South Milwaukee
From South Milwaukee Fire Chief Joe Knitter …
The SMFD ladder truck and myself responded to an apartment fire in Greenfield at 2:45 this afternoon on a 2nd alarm. Shortly thereafter, the fire went to a 3rd alarm and our crew was utilized to operate a Greendale ladder truck that was in close proximity to the building. I was assigned to supervise the back of the building during both the exterior operations and when coordinating interior operations on the 2nd floor. Both the ladder truck and myself were released from the scene at 7:00pm. None of our equipment was utilized and no injuries were reported. Staffing was maintained in our station with standby personnel who were already in quarters from a previous EMS call-in.
Please keep these families in your prayers.
Filed under Fire, South Milwaukee
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