I’m excited to see South Milwaukeee remain committed to its Adopt-a-Tree program. Hundreds have been planted since it was launched — and we have a long ways to go.
The City of South Milwaukee, proudly designated as a Tree City USA since 2019, is excited to offer the Adopt-a-Tree Program. This program provides residents with a unique opportunity to enhance their neighborhood, support our urban forest, and make a lasting environmental impact. By adopting a tree, you’ll contribute to the beauty and health of our city while helping to create a greener future for all.
I came across this obituary of a former South Milwaukeean today, and I love it. I’m happy to share it here, and ask you to share it too.
From it …
The Fearless and Unstoppable Dr. Carol.
Dr. Carol B Whitmoyer DVM age 92 of Boulder City, NV passed away peacefully on December, 22 2024 in Henderson NV. Carol was born in South Milwaukee, WI to Horace and Helen Brien Beitzel. From a very young age, Carol knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. Carol graduated from South Milwaukee High School with honors in 1950. Instead of doing the norm for the time and becoming a homemaker, Carol pursued her veterinary dreams, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1954 from Michigan State College and her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University in 1956. She was the only woman in her class and the first woman to receive her full Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University.
After college Carol lived in Kansas, Florida Everglades and Utah before moving to Boulder City, NV in 1962. That same year “Dr. Carol” opened her practice, Boulder Animal Hospital. She was a founding board member of the Clark County Health District (now known as Southern Nevada Health District). In November, 1962 Carol adopted her son Paul and In September of 1963 adopted her son, Danny.
For 38 years Dr. Carol was Boulder City’s veterinarian and 30 of those years she was the only veterinarian. Dr. Carol loved being a veterinarian! It was her passion from childhood. She loved animals and would do whatever it took to help them and their owners in a time of need.
In the early years, Dr. Carol did both large and small animals in her practice. She took care of any animal in need of help even taking care of some exotics from snakes to orangutans and even a baby elephant. Carol spent a lot of time at the corrals riding her horses and taking care of their, and everyone else’s veterinary needs until large animal specialist veterinarian became available. She then switched her practice to small animals.
She considered herself very fortunate to have an occupation that she loved so much!
Dr. Carol was always up for an adventure! Her love for the outdoors and traveling is well-known. From week long backpack trips in the backcountry of Yosemite when her family was young, to canoe trips in the Boundary Waters and Yellowstone, or wherever else she could paddle a canoe. It’s hard to count how many white-water river trips she took down the Green, Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and so many more, many of them rowing or paddling her own boat. Dr. Carol was an avid scuba diver until her late 70s. She would do live aboard dive boats for a week (before they were even popular) and dove a lot of the top dive spots in the world.
She loved gardening and her backyard showed it. Photography was another passion. She had some of her flower photos published in a Southwest desert wildflower book. One of her many adventures was hiking coast to coast across England with her sisters, Helen, Sally and brother-in-law, Ron.
Dr. Carol retired in 2000 and instead of slowing down she turned it up! She continued to do more of everything. She was away more than she was home. She was off on African photos safaris, more diving, Hawaii, Europe, India, Costa Rica, Cayman Islands, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and so many more places, wherever else she thought she needed to see. People would ask not how is she, but where is she now? She ran the white water of the Pacuare river in Costa Rica along with an eight-stage zip line at age 85. Dr. Carol never passed on an adventure, even if she had to go by herself. She would always say, “do it while you can because you never know when you’re not going to be able to.” Words to live by!
I love that this event has become a monthly tradition in our city … and that the Bucyrus Club is hosting the next one. Details below. Thank you, Ernie and Elyse Wunsch and team, First Congregational United Church of Christ, and all of the community partners who make this meal happen each month!
This will be fun! Showtime is at 7 p.m. Saturday at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
Musical Theatre Cabaret: Celebrating 20 Years of Musical Theatre
Presented in celebration of our 20th Anniversary by South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center …
Join us for a musical stroll down memory lane since the first South Milwaukee high school production, Oklahoma! was performed here in 2005. You’ll enjoy music from a variety of other shows such as selections from Grease, Fame, Bye Bye Birdie, Hairspray, In the Heights, Fly by Night, The Sound of Music and the most recent 2024 production of Legally Blonde. You may even see some folks you recognize, as we proudly welcome back SMHS performing arts alumni for this cast. Some of these actors have been away for decades, while others graduated just a year ago. They all have a passion for musical theatre and can’t wait to perform for you!
This 20th anniversary Musical Theatre Cabaret stands to be the largest musical bonanza staged here by our alumni and students, and is designed to pay tribute to our community’s long-standing tradition of excellence in high school musical theatre. This show is produced by the talented and fearless SMHS Theatre Director, Tim Backes, and is sponsored by the SMPAC Council, a 501c3 organization.
Learn more (and reminisce) at the South Milwaukee High School Theatre Company Facebook page.
From my friends at the Friends of the South Milwaukee Library …
New Betty Brinn Children’s Museum Pass Added to Library’s Free Pass Collection
Patrons at South MIlwaukee Public Library can check out a three-day pass to visit local attractions for free. Explorer passes include:
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
Harley Davidson Museum
Milwaukee Art Museum
MItchell Park Domes
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Passes are first come, first served and may not be held.
Friends of the Library Social Set for January 16
Soul Music Celebration at the Library for Black History Month
This is an event that deserves a larger audience than we have been attracting. It feels like watching an intimate jam session with a bunch of very talented friends. They will cover a variety of soul styles including Windy City Soul, Classic Soul and Southern (Chitli’ Circuit) Soul.
The City of South Milwaukee is committed to making public health supplies available to anyone and everyone who needs them. With that commitment in mind, the South Milwaukee-St. Francis Health Department secured grant funding to place a public health vending machine outside of the City of South Milwaukee Municipal Building (City Hall), located at 2424 15th Avenue.
Placement of the vending machine at City Hall was unanimously approved at the South Milwaukee Common Council meeting on September 3, 2024.
The public health vending machine offers the following items at no cost: nasal Narcan (Naloxone), fentanyl test strip kits, Deterra medication disposal bags, gun locks, and condom kits. These items are always available for free at the Health Department; now, they will be available outside of normal business hours.
“The Health Department appreciates this opportunity from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and is excited to be able to offer our residents the option of obtaining these life-saving items 24/7,” said Jacqueline Ove, Public Health Administrator for the South Milwaukee-St. Francis Health Department.
Incredibly sad news, as Sandy Quinlan passsed away from cancer on December 27.
Sandy served the City of South Milwaukee for more than 34 years as the director of the Grobschmidt Senior Center, and I have never met someone more passionate about her work.
She attended UW-Milwaukee, where she met her husband Kevin. They both graduated in 1984 and began building their life together. Sandy was the Director of the Grobschmidt Senior Center in South Milwaukee for 34 years. She was just a few weeks away from retiring.
Sandy loved scrapbooking all of her family’s events, painting, cruising the Caribbean, and enjoying the relaxing scenes of local beer gardens. She was an avid volunteer within her community, especially the 40 years she dedicated to volunteering for Irish Fest. Most of all, Sandy enjoyed being with her family. Her family was the center of her world. She loved being a grandma and made sure everyone in her family felt loved when she was around. She created cherished memories each and every day with her family and friends.
Sandy was known for her kindness, compassion, warm hugs, and unwavering support for her family. Her smile was made of sunshine and her heart of gold. She touched the lives of many through out the years. Her stories, memories, and impact will live on forever.
Services are January 9. Details can be found in the obituary.
Rest in peace, Sandy, and thank you for your dedicated service to our city — which the city detailed in a proclamation from Acting Mayor Brett Breisemeister just last week.
Starting January 1, 2025, the fee at the Self-Deposit Station will increase to $5 per vehicle and $10 per vehicle with trailer. This change is necessary to help cover rising operational costs and ensure we can continue providing efficient and reliable services.
Mayor Shelenske and the Common Council are thrilled to announce that we have eliminated the $20 fee for electronics collection at the Self-Deposit Station! Dispose of your old electronics responsibly and without the $20 fee starting January 1, 2025. Please note that the Self-Deposit Station trip fee will still apply.
There are still plenty of ways to make merry in South Milwaukee this month! That includes the return of Lights on Edgewood, as well as Christmas at the Commons, “Flamenco Nutcracker,” and a Sts. Peter & Paul concert this weekend.
From the blog’s Events page … and please let me know if I missed something!
December 2024
Friday, December 6: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Saturday, December 7: Christmas at the Commons, 3-5 p.m., Bucyrus Commons. Details
Saturday, December 7: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Saturday, December 7: The Flamenco Nutcracker, presented by Studio K Flamenco, 3 and 7 p.m., South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Details
Sunday, December 8: “A Noel Celebration,” a Christmas Concert by the Milwaukee Circle Choir, 2:30-4 p.m., Sts. Peter & Paul Polish National Catholic Churt. Details
Sunday, December 8: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Friday, December 13: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Saturday, December 14: South Milwaukee Christmas Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., South Milwaukee High School. Details
Saturday, December 14: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Sunday, December 15: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Wednesday, December 18: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party, 7:30 p.m., South Milwaukee PAC. Details
Thursday, December 19: South Milwaukee Community Meal, 5-6:30 p.m., First Congregational Church Hall. Meal, provided by local organizations, is free of charge. Details
Friday, December 20: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Saturday, December 21: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Sunday, December 22: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Tuesday, December 24: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
Wednesday, December 25: Lights on Edgewood, 7 p.m. Details
We are pleased to share details of the City’s 2025 budget, which reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility and delivering essential services to the community.
The total levy for the 2025 budget is $13,127,877, representing a modest 0.25% increase over the 2024 budget. While inflation, measured at 3.2% by the Consumer Price Index, presents challenges, we are keeping increases in check. The City’s portion of the tax rate will rise from $7.83 to $7.89 per $1,000 of assessed value (a 0.77% increase). For example, a home assessed at $250,000 will see a $15 property tax increase for the City’s portion. The overall tax rate, which includes the School District, Milwaukee County, and MATC, will increase by 7.12%.
We have also made difficult but necessary reductions to meet our financial goals. These include closing the Senior Center at the end of 2024, reducing staffing in the Street Department, scaling back the Public Library’s allocation by 5%, and trimming seasonal help. Beyond these specifics, every major category of the City’s budget is being reduced aside from Public Safety and Debt Service. Public Safety remains our top priority.See the full budget document here: https://bit.ly/SM2025Budget
I shared my thoughts about the Senior Center closure here.
The city tells me the Street Department cuts will result in the reduction of staff by one full-time position and the hiring of only two seasonal helpers instead of the five employed in 2024.
As to the library funding cut, which comes as the Wisconsin Policy Forum continues its study of the future of the local institution, I asked Library Board President David Maass for his reaction:
Other than the continuation of reduced hours of operation, the effect of the five percent budget cut on library services will not affect patrons. Budget adjustments were made to non-public areas, one-time savings, and other shared Federated library costs. All parties entrusted with library services are committed to library services for the long run. The goal of the Wisconsin policy Forum study is to study how best to provide a wide array of library services within the city budget that is permitted by the state.
Also, starting in 2025, the library’s financial management functions will be handled by the city’s Clerk and Treasurer offices, instead of the library director. From the city …
To support this transition and cover the additional workload, the Library has agreed to fund an extra eight hours per week (416 hours annually) for the part-time employee in the Clerk’s Office, at an approximate cost of $12,800 per year. With this shift in responsibilities, the Library Board has decided not to proceed with hiring an Assistant Director, a position previously budgeted for. Instead, a 28-hour per week librarian will be hired to assist with reference desk responsibilities. Overall, this plan is expected to save the Library and the City up to $22,000 annually.
Efficiencies aside, all in, this was a really difficult budget, with the most signficant cuts seen in years. And much of it comes back to a challenge that has faced communities across the state for more than a decade: State-imposed levy limits. While the shared revenue increases in the current biennial budget helped, they did not make up for decades of disinvestment in the program, and they didn’t solve the core problem: The inability of local governments to raise revenue to fund city services.
In some ways, they are the same constraints put on local school districts. And their impact is real, across the state.
Consider: The City of South Milwaukee initially faced a negative levy limit for its 2025 budget, as the amount of “net new construction” — which determines how much a government can increase its tax levy, by far its largest revenue source — fell year over year. That means fully developed, small- or no-growth communities like South Milwaukee, and even those on the other end of the growth spectrum, can’t easily raise revenue to adequately fund current services, much less add new ones or innovate, or even fund pay raises.
That is a travesty, and I hope lawmakers in the increasingly purple legislature have the courage to address it in their upcoming budget.
News flash: They probably won’t. And we will be back here again in 2025.
Still in need of a permit? Visit the South Milwaukee Police Department to obtain one. Parking permits are available to purchase Monday – Friday, from 7:00 am – 6:00 pm. Have an overnight guest? A vehicle breakdown? Request Winter Parking Permission using our new Google Form: https://bit.ly/SMWinterParkingPermission. **Permission is at the discretion of the South Milwaukee Police Department for unusual circumstances. The South Milwaukee Police Department reserves the right to approve requests three (3) times per month per vehicle. **
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 after the filing of an application and the payment of $30.00 per month permit fee, $20.00 if obtained after the 15th of the month, or $100.00 for a 4-month permit. Hours: Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Excluding Holidays and Holidays observed (November 28 – 29; December 24 – 25; December 31- January 1)
Any vehicle parked according to (1) or (2) above shall only be permitted to park on the EVEN numbered side of the street on those nights when the calendar date before midnight is even (N and W sides of the street are even) and on the ODD side of the street on those nights when the calendar date before midnight is odd (S and E sides of the street are odd), *Where parking is normally permitted only on one side of the street this section (3) shall not apply.
In December 2021, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commision (SEWRPC) released its Restoration Plan for the Oak Creek Watershed report. As part of this report, SEWRPC presented several alternatives for the future of Mill Pond and the Mill Pond Dam. The next steps for Milwaukee County Parks involve exploring funding opportunities to pursue one of the options for Mill Pond and the dam. Milwaukee County Parks invites you to attend a Public Information Meeting to learn more about the proposed alternatives, ask questions and provide feedback.
The Small Business Saturday initiative has sparked a creative spirit – big time. Last year, South Milwaukee hosted what organizers called the Shop Small World Tour. The culturally inclusive holiday shopping event was such a success last year, they’re doing it again.
It works like this: All the participating businesses – and at last count, there are 15 – choose a country to represent, and for the day – Saturday, Nov. 30 – they honor that country with music, sales and bonus treats. They create the atmosphere of that country inside their retail establishments, says Sarah Mironczuk, co-owner of Bakehouse 23 (1309 Milwaukee Ave.), one of the participating businesses. “We kind of look at it like you’re shopping around the world,” says Mironczuk, whose bakery will represent Ukraine. “We’ll have borscht, we’ll have stew, we’ll have some Ukrainian treats, as well as our regular treats and holiday gift packs.”
Each store will have a raffle, and there will also be one giant raffle as well. Shoppers will be able to pick up a map/passport – designed by Lauren Marvell Illustrations – at each shop so they can plan their visits. Getting your passport stamped at the various locations will allow you to enter the raffles.
They’re also running a shuttle for businesses that aren’t located right on the main strip. Each shuttle stop will have a hot chocolate station sponsored by Bakehouse 23.
The extravaganza is spearheaded by Natalie Gajewski (owner of Omen, 1310 Milwaukee Ave.), along Mironczuk and Leah Minue, owner of Parkway Floral (1001 Milwaukee Ave.).
It’s Da Crusher, of course! Shot the night of Crusherfest, as we unveiled this statue to the world. Do you have a photo you’d like to share on the blog? Send it along.
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