South Milwaukee Blog

The United States Postal Service is holding its first public meeting, to share details about its upcoming development at the corner of Pennsylvania and College Avenues in Oak Creek.

It is this Thursday, March 12, starting at 6 p.m. at Oak Creek City Hall.

I won’t rehash all the concerns I’ve had with their lack of transparency to date in this post. You can read some of them here.

I joined Oak Creek and USPS leaders at a meeting last month, where they committed to scheduling this. I thank them for following through on that, even if it’s a meeting that should have happened about six months ago, before earth movers showed up and clear cut the site — before Oak Creek even had plans for the project in hand.

I’ll hopefully see you there. Be heard.

After the South Milwaukee High School Theatre Company musical this weekend, comedian Steven Wright is coming March 26, and a busy April.

Here is the full schedule. I love the South Milwaukee PAC!

Our downtown small business momentum continues.

In addition to the new soul food restaurant opening on Saturday — and the work happening with the Bucyrus Club and public space project — I’ve had the chance to welcome a couple small business owners to town recently.

First, I cut a ribbon at Hometowne Realty to South Milwaukee last month, at 911 Milwaukee Ave. Owner Jim Janikowski, his mother, Marilyn, and agent Randy Wesley all have strong South Milwaukee ties, and it’s great to see them return home!

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Let’s also welcome Off the Beaten Path to downtown South Milwaukee.

The record and music shop opened earlier this month at 1219 Milwaukee Ave., after moving from Bay View and the East Side before that. Owner Chris Kruse is excited for his new home, and I’m excited this true destination business is now in South Milwaukee. The store is a must-see for music lovers, and he wants to bring live music to his location, too. Very cool.

In the past week, I’ve been introduced to a really cool, and returning, South Milwaukee tradition: the Persian Market.

More details on the Persian Market below. The community is welcome to participate. Place your bids now here, or stop by for the live auction starting at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 13, at the High School Commons — followed by a student-run fish fry and the opening night performance of the South Milwaukee Theatre Company’s “Tuck, Everlasting.”

The City of South Milwaukee just added a couple items to the list: Mayor for a Day and a Ride in a Fire Truck.

Contact Ginger Culp for more information at gculp@sdsm.k12.wi.us.

Persian Market originated in 1961 from B.J. Kaminski, the psychology teacher at South Milwaukee at the time.  The money raised from the auction would be used to purchase Christmas presents for the children at Southern Colony, a home for students with disabilities.

The first Persian Market raised about $100.  However, as its popularity grew over the years, it went from a one day event to a two-day all-school event.  Crowds turned out for the auction. Students and teachers would bid against one another, with some bids becoming very large as the auctioneers drove up the bidding prices.  A conglomeration of items were up for sale, including blind dates, cakes, dinners, posters, grab bags, ski trip, pool party, and a page in the Baymist.

The Persian Market continued for 30 years, finally coming to a close in 1991.  Years later, in 2007, it was revived by the Art Department to raise money for students with special needs, a scholarship for Art honor and resources for the Art Department.  After a few years, the Persian Market went on hiatus…but it’s time for a comeback! In honor of the departure of one of Art’s finest, Rick Cartwright, we are reviving this grand South Milwaukee tradition once again!

The Persian Market live auction will be held on Friday, March 13, 2020 in the Commons beginning at 3 p.m. and will run until all items have been auctioned off… and then stick around for the FCCLA Fish Fry after, and the High School musical, Tuck Everlasting!  

There will be online bidding ahead of the auction, and items will be posted via email AND social media (it’s a new era of digital Persian Market!).  We are looking for any donations that can be auctioned off–favorites have been gift baskets, handmade artwork or crafts, food, baked goods, services, and trips, but we will accept just about anything that’ll bring in a buck or two!  Donations should be delivered to the Art Department no later than the end of the day Monday, March 9…but the sooner, the better! We are deeply appreciative of the SMHS community’s support of this endeavor! We “bid” you good luck!!!

Everbrite is closing its South Milwaukee plant after 57 years in the city.

Employees were told of the decision Tuesday, and the media began reporting it this morning. Check out coverage from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel here.

Here is the statement from Everbrite President Brian Kuhnau …

Everbrite has been successful for more than 90 years because of our ability to evolve to meet changing market conditions and find new, creative ways to efficiently and effectively meet our clients’ needs.

Due to a steadily declining market demand for neon signs, Everbrite will be exiting our neon-manufacturing business. As a result, Everbrite will be ceasing operations at our Mt. Vernon, Illinois facility.

Additionally, we will be consolidating our outdoor manufacturing footprint and ceasing operations at our South Milwaukee facility. The consolidation will be coupled with strategic investments in all of Everbrite’s remaining five production facilities.

We will be working with the individual employees at our South Milwaukee and Mt. Vernon locations to assist them with future job opportunities.

We operate in an extremely competitive and cost-conscious market and we see great opportunities for continued growth. We believe now is the right time to make these difficult but necessary changes to position Everbrite for long-term success.

My thoughts and prayers are with the impacted workers. I know some of them personally, as I bet many of you do.

This is a company that has spanned generations here.

I was informed of the news on Tuesday afternoon. As I shared with in a note with elected officials and city department leaders …

The closure is expected to happen by May 5.

A number of reasons were stated for the closure, including shrinking demand for the signs and other products made in South Milwaukee. This led to overcapacity for Everbrite more broadly, offering consolidation opportunities. The plant also needed significant investment.

I expressed disappointment we were not made aware of this possibility sooner. We have worked hard to strengthen our relationship with Everbrite leaders, corporate and plant, in recent years, including several meetings and a plant tour — making it frustrating for me that we were not made aware of this. 

The property will be put for sale. 

The building was originally home to Milwaukee Equipment, where they made rototillers. Everbrite moved here in the 1963 from Milwaukee and was headquartered here until moving its HQ to Greenfield in the late 1980s. It kept the plant operating since then. 

I have asked for the city to be a part of the discussions of the future of the property.

This is a blow to our city, as we lose another heritage manufacturer — and it makes our ongoing efforts to reinvent and revitalize South Milwaukee so critical. I look forward to continuing to lead that work in the next three years, and hopefully beyond, with your support. 

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Yesterday, I posted about Zion Lutheran moving its worship services from its previous home at 9th and Michigan to its campus on South Chicago Avenue. The new owners of the church — the Karen Buddhist Associate of Wisconsin Inc. — will only add to our city’s growing religious diversity, and that makes us stronger as a city.

The KBAW temple first hosted worshipers several weeks ago at their Sticky Rice Festival and are now meeting their regularly. It is their first official home after meeting for years in various rental spaces in and around Milwaukee.

I am proud to welcome them to South Milwaukee, and excited to learn more about their culture and the Buddhist religion.

I met with church leaders, families and others recently, and left thankful they have chosen our community, and excited to see them become part of our city. They have pledged to open their doors to those who want to learn more about them and their beliefs.

Many of the church members are recent immigrants fleeing war from Burma, and Myanmar, into Thailand. In that way, it’s a similar story to the Karen Chin Baptist Church at the former St. Mary’s in South Milwaukee.

Learn more about the Karen people here, and Buddhism here.

As we welcome the new temple, I reflect once again on the second generation reuses of our city’s churches. Besides St. Mary’s and Zion now hosting the Karen people, the former St. Mary’s campus is also being used as a funeral home, senior living facility and sports/pop culture memorabilia business. The former St. Adalbert’s Church is now the Masjid Al-Huda mosque and Guidance Academy. And the Muza Church.

I will always embrace that change, for a more promising future, together.

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

On Friday, February 28, 2020, at approximately 7:00am, South Milwaukee Police officers and paramedics were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Montana Avenue for an unresponsive four year-old child.

Life saving efforts were performed on the child, but were unsuccessful and the child was pronounced deceased at the scene.

UPDATE

Our investigation revealed that the victim was physically abused and her death was ruled a homicide. The South Milwaukee Police Department made two arrests in connection with this case and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office has reviewed the evidence. Jerome Millen, 22 years-of-age, has been charged with Physical Abuse of a Child, Repeated Acts Causing Death. The District Attorney’s Office also charged the victim’s mother, Christina Collado, 21 years-of-age, with Chronic Neglect of a Child Resulting in Death.

You can see more coverage from Fox 6.

As I wrote in a note to city employees yesterday … “I ask you to pray for our police, firefighters and paramedics today. They are husbands and wives, fathers and mothers who are forced to confront real evil in this world, firsthand. We should never take those sacrifices for granted, and recognize they grieve with all of us even as they do their jobs so well.”

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In February, I had a chance to wish the leaders of Zion Lutheran Church well as they held their last worship services at Ninth and Michigan Avenues and took one more step toward their plans to build a new church at their campus at 3600 South Chicago Ave.

From the proclamation I presented …

WHEREAS, Zion Lutheran Church was established in the City of South Milwaukee on July 3, 1892, when a group of 18 worshipers met for service at the home of John Ahrens, and organized the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Congregation; and

WHEREAS, later that year its first church was built on the southeast corner of 6^th and Milwaukee Avenues and was dedicated on September 18, 1892. In 1903, a Christian day school was established. Soon after, it became apparent the church needed to expand, so additional space was added to the original church; and 

WHEREAS, in 1924 construction was begun on a second church building on 9^th and Michigan Avenues, which was completed in 1925. Dedication of the new church and adjacent school was done in 1926, and the congregation would build on that foundation for the next 70 years. As the congregation grew, Zion Lutheran needed once again to build a new school, so in 1996 the new school was completed at 3600 S. Chicago Avenue. This also will be the home of the new church, as Zion moves from its current church location; and

WHEREAS, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church has been a strong and integral part of the South Milwaukee Community for 128 years, and will continue to be a part of our community and for generations to come. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of South Milwaukee offers its congratulations on the celebration of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church’s 128 years of worship, and the special service of thanksgiving for the 95 years of worship at the 9^th and Michigan location, and wish them continued success as a leader and partner in our community at their new facility at 3600 S. Chicago Avenue.

Additional information from Pastor Weber …

The congregation will be meeting in its fellowship hall at its school location on Chicago Ave in South Milwaukee until the new sanctuary is completed.  In addition to the sanctuary, Zion plans to build a new daycare, approximately twice the size of its current daycare, as well as a large fellowship area and fireside room that connect the church and school. Excel Engineering is designing the new buildings and with the Lord’s help it plans to break ground in late summer of 2020. The construction project, from beginning to end, will take 10-12 months. The people of Zion look forward to their future and new opportunities in the community!

Thanks, Pastor, for your church’s strong role in this community for more than a century, and for your commitment to growing in South Milwaukee!

As for what’s next at the church at Ninth and Michigan, it’s an exciting addition to our growing religious diversity in the city. I have met the new owners, and look for a post about them tomorrow.

Excited to hear about Annette Hall’s plans for the former Lloyd’s Lunch and Scrappy’s BBQ space at 925 Madison Ave.

Welcome to South Milwaukee, Pot Liquor Southern Style Food!

From their Facebook page …

🤗GRAND Opening March 7, 2020
Pot Liquor Southern Style Food
925 Madison Ave., South Milwaukee
📲Ph. 414-301-5022
Open: Tues.-Sun. 11am-8pm; Closed Mondays.
BRING THIS AD FOR SPECIAL DISCOUNTS:
😋$2.00 OFF any purchase of $15 or more
😋$5.00 OFF any purchase of $30 or more
😋$10.00 OFF any purchase of $50 or more
🤗SERVING:
✔️Fried Chicken
✔️Cat Fish
✔️Red Beans & Rice
✔️Shrimp & Grits
✔️Meatloaf
✔️Mac & Cheese
✔️Collard Greens
✔️Candied Yams
✔️Green Beans & more

The WIAA postseason is underway, and the South Milwaukee girls’ basketball team is on its way to the regional finals after a 52-38 win over Greenfield on Friday night.

Next up: The No. 3 Rockets travel to No. 2 Pewaukee for a game at 4:30 p.m. today (Saturday, Feb. 29). No. 1 New Berlin Eisenhower looms for the winner. Check out the bracket here.

The WIAA boys tournament starts Tuesday, and its starts with a rivalry rematch for South Milwaukee, as the eighth-seeded Rockets host ninth-seeded Cudahy at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to face top-seeded New Berlin Eisenhower.

Come cheer on both teams!

A tragic day in South Milwaukee today.

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

On Friday, February 28, 2020, at approximately 7:07am, South Milwaukee Police officers and paramedics were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Montana Avenue for an unresponsive four year-old child.

Life saving efforts were performed on the child, but were unsuccessful and the child was pronounced deceased at the scene.

An autopsy will be performed.

Two suspects, the 21 year-old mother of the victim and a 22 year-old male, have been taken into custody. This case will be reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office next week. Further information may be provided in the future, as this investigation continues.

My heart hurts tonight for the families, friends and co-workers of the victims of today’s shooting at Molson Coors.

Many know I worked at Miller Brewing Co. and MillerCoors for nearly 13 years. And while I left the company in December, I have many friends and co-workers who remain. My heart hurts for them, too.

I can’t begin to imagine what today was like on the campus, down the hill from my former office. And I can’t imagine what tomorrow holds for my former colleagues, as they try to make sense of this, as they mourn, and as they eventually unite to overcome this most tragic of days.

I pray for our first responders, those who run toward danger in situations like this, and did today. I pray for Molson Coors executives, as they lead the company through this, and grieve with them tonight. I pray for our city.

I’m angry. I’m frustrated. I’m depressed. I’m scared.

I’m also relieved it wasn’t me.

One thing I’m not is shocked. We can’t be shocked anymore when things like this happen. This is the world, the country, we live in.

This is America, where tragedies like this are now commonplace. And that fact makes me feel another emotion tonight: sadness.

Check out these South Shore headlines, starting with coverage of Thursday’s Bucyrus Club announcement in the following publications …

• Milwaukee Magazine
• OnMilwaukee.com
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• BizTimes

And check out the Facebook Live stream of the announcement.

Here are some other headlines …

• “She’s Like a Mom to All of Us”: South Milwaukee High School Budget Cuts Could Cost a Beloved Nurse Her Job (NOW) And CBS 58
• You Can Buy a Shirt Featuring the English Bulldog Who Was Rescued from Lake Michigan (NOW)
• Off the Beaten Path’s New South Milwaukee Store is Now Open (Milwaukee Record)