Lots happening around town the next few days! Please support these local events, at this special time of year. Like the Rocketober Facebook page for updated schedules and information.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
3-8 p.m. Crusher
Beer Garden at the South Milwaukee Downtown Market. Celebrate Da Crusher with
this first-time event featuring an outdoor screening of old Crusher matches.
And while you’re there enjoy the last market of the season!
SATURDAY,
OCTOBER 12
8 a.m.-noon.
Friends of the Mill Pond and Oak Creek Watercourse Fall Cleanup. Meet in the
high school parking lot for signup. Free lunch served noon at the Grobschmidt
Pool.
7:30 p.m.
Milwaukappella 2019.2, featuring Six Appeal. Presented by Landaas & Company
Investments, a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field. South
Milwaukee PAC.
SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 13
10 a.m.-2 p.m. South Milwaukee Ace Hardware Free Hot Rod, Classic Car and Truck Show. (rescheduled from September)
1-4 p.m. Friends of Grant Park Trek ‘n Treat. Registration is $2/participant at Area 5. Families trek through the 7 Bridges, stop at learning stations and receive treats. Pavilion has refreshments for sale and activities.
4-6:30 p.m. South Shore Soup. The South Shore Chamber presents a micro-granting soup dinner supporting creative projects in Cudahy, St. Francis, and South Milwaukee. Knights of Columbus Hall.
Your Rocket seniors. (Thanks, Kim Slusar, for the photo.)
On Senior Night, seniors led the way to an impressive South Milwaukee victory, 30-8 over Brown Deer on Friday night at Spaltholz Field.
Elijah Anderson ran for three touchdowns, and Danny Klemstein added a fourth — and senior Luis Ortiz added a field goal — as South Milwaukee moved to 5-2 and stayed tied with Whitnall atop the Woodland East.
Senior quarterback Tarek Slusar threw for 74 yards and ran for 49. Senior Calvin Kluz led the team with four catches for 54 yards.
This weekend’s Rocketober schedule includes a key Woodland Conference football game tonight, as well as opening night for the Halloween Lights on Edgewood. Tomorrow is a terrific magic show at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
Check out the full schedule and updates at the Rocketober Facebook page. It’s going to be a great month of October!
I say this a lot: South Milwaukee is as reliant on a strong Milwaukee County as any community. With almost 30 percent of our land owned by the county and county assets like Grant Park, the Oak Creek Parkway and Grobschmidt Pool, a strong county is a strong city in many ways.
With that in mind, County Executive Chris Abele released his executive budget on Tuesday, and it had mixed news for us.
First, the good news, which includes more than $1.4 million of capital investment in South Milwaukee in 2020-21.
The proposed capital budget includes $113,000 in funds to plan for reconstruction of the road leading into Wil-o-Way Grant — with another $888,000 for construction in 2021. For anyone who has driven to Picnic Areas 7-9 and the Wil-o-Way facility recently, you know it’s long overdue. This is also an example of a city-county partnership — South Milwaukee has co-written an application for a Community Development Block Grant to cover some of the costs.
And the proposed capital budget includes more than $606,000 for Oak Creek bluff stabilization along Oak Creek Parkway at Emerson’s Appleton Electric foundry, east of the Mill Pond/Lagoon. The steep slope has begun to fail, raising the threat of it collapsing completely, according to the county. The project — in addition to the large Oak Creek streambank restoration project that wrapped up last year further west — would reduce that risk, and limit the amount of sediment runoff into the creek during heavy rainstorms.
See full proposed capital budget here. Pages 55 and 72 have details on the Wil-o-Way Grant and Oak Creek projects.
Now, the bad news …
The budget headed to the Milwaukee County Board for consideration calls for the closure of Grobschmidt Pool. More details on page 370 here.
This is disappointing, but not surprising, especially given the water damage done to pool mechanicals in August, declining usage, its small capacity, and the proximity of other pools like Sheridan (not to mention indoor public pools blocks away at South Milwaukee Middle School and the YIM.)
The capital needs sealed the pool’s fate more than anything.
As the county executive’s chief of staff told me this week: “Between $75-80k of expenditures are required to get the facility back into shape from the water damage earlier this year. These are inclusive of clean up and mold prevention, furnace replacements, pool pump repairs, water main repairs, water heater replacements and asbestos remediation/removal.”
I have asked County Executive Abele and County Supervisor Steven Shea to find some money to do a long-range plan for the future of the pool — or whatever else should replace it, and they have committed to exploring it.
It would be a chance to ask the community what they’d like to see replace Grobschmidt vs. simply reinvesting in a decades-old structure that was becoming less and less popular.
That way, some good might come out of this.
And one more note, a heads up: The county budget could be a lot worse in 2021. County Executive Abele has made it clear that without passage of legislation enabling a Milwaukee County sales tax referendum — and ultimate passage of that referendum by voters next spring — cuts will likely be more significant in for 2021. As he wrote in his budget memo …
We began the 2020 budget process with yet another gap, this time projected at $28 million.
Over the past decade, Milwaukee County has steadily increased the amount of revenue we send to the state, while the state aids we receive in return have remained flat or declined. Unfortunately, we are heavily reliant on an antiquated funding system that also limits our ability to raise revenue locally.
By working together and by making the best of the situation at hand, we have set ourselves on a better path. On the heels of unprecedented collaboration through last year’s budget process, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the administration began to work together to find a solution to our budget challenges. Chairman Theodore Lipscomb and I launched the Fair Deal Workgroup to create a new partnership with the State of Wisconsin to protect public services and invest in our future. This effort has built an even larger partnership among legislators, the business community, local governments and community-based organizations called Move Forward MKE.
This group has introduced legislation to put the fiscal question to Milwaukee County voters and ask for a 1 percent sales tax increase, with property tax relief. Were legislature and voters to choose this option, we believe that next year we will have the power to adequately fund public services, maintain facilities, provide tax relief and invest in our community. This option will allow us to generate the revenue we need to stop making cuts to critical programs and services and start to invest in the future with confidence.
First, it has a day-part. It’s a workshop for high school and college age students who love a cappella. Instructors lead classes at beginning, intermediate and advanced skill levels in all aspects of modern a cappella: Vocal Percussion, Beatboxing, Arranging, Technique, Choreography and Presentation.
Then, there’s part two; the evening concert, open to the public, everyone welcome! The show begins performances by student workshop participants. It’s a chance to hear some of the best young voices in the midwest! Then, after intermission, a dazzling concert by the sensational, award-winning, international a cappella supergroup Six Appeal!
If you love a cappella music you’ve got to see and hear Six Appeal! Tickets for students and seniors – $19 in advance. Discount packages available. Children 4 and under are free.
If you are a student of a cappella, you can’t do better than learning from Six Appeal and our other professional instructors! Tickets for the day-side workshop are $45 and include classes, lunch, dinner and a great seat for the big show!
Ticket sales raise money for scholarships and benefit the many community service efforts of The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field.
South Milwaukee PAC has the rare opportunity to host the pre-tour preview of an all-new Illusionary Spectacular – ABRACADABRA Live on Tour from the Co-Creator of Broadway’s The Illusionists franchise Saturday, October 5. This show will feature five World-Class Magicians/Illusionists/Escape Artists/Sleight-Of-Hand Specialists along with a supporting cast of talented dancers and visual artists – not to mention Five Magnificent Macaws and Cockatoos who will appear from nowhere and fly high and low directly above the audience, ABRACADABRA promises “Thrills and Skills” in an all-ages family-friendly format.
World Champion Grand Illusionist Brett Daniels, in partnership with Legendary Rock and Broadway Promoter, Arny Granat’s Grand Slam Productions will stage magic and illusionary acts that have drawn industry raves “Magnificent!…Flawless!….A Dazzler!” – Variety. Genii Magazine said “Masterful! -Breathtaking! – A Killer Finish!” The International Conjuror’s Magazine said “The Audience Gasped!” and “Just When You Think You’ve Seen It All…” The Philadelphia Daily News lauded “The Entire Family Will Be Charmed!” Audiences will witness Five “The Best of the Best” Magicians together onstage presenting the Latest and Greatest Magic and Illusion as well as several New World-Premiere Illusion Acts Never Before Seen On Any Stage Anywhere On Earth!
From the South Milwaukee Fire Department Facebook page … “SMFD Chief Joe Knitter and Lt. Kurt Egner were on hand this morning to receive a generous donation in the amount of $860 from our good friends at the Milwaukee Sausage Company, 1200 Milwaukee Avenue. These funds were raised from the sale of 430 pounds of their specially formulated Firehouse Sausage . . . that’s 1290 sausages sold!!! Along with another $45 in cash donations they received, these funds have been earmarked to support our Stop the Bleed initiative that will provide training and special bleeding control kits initially in all public-access municipal buildings. SHOP LOCAL – SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES”
Quite a bit going on recently, and I’ll start with some budget news from Milwaukee County.
County Executive Chris Abele released his executive budget on Tuesday, and, in addition to “saving” bus routes 48 and 52, it calls for the closure of Grobschmidt Pool. More details here.
I’ll blog about the county budget more in coming days, but this is disappointing, but not surprising news, especially given the water damage done to pool mechanicals in August, declining usage, the facility’s small capacity, and a lifeguard shortage.
Some other news of note …
We received about 2.75 inches of rain in the past day or so in South Milwaukee, as measured by the Wastewater Department.
The South Milwaukee football team moved to 4-2 with a 24-0 victory over Milwaukee Lutheran, their third shutout win this fall. The game began Friday night, was stopped due to lightning at halftime, and resumed Monday. Next up: Brown Deer at 7 p.m. on Friday at Spaltholz Field. Go Rockets!
“South Milwaukee Spooktacular: A Citywide Halloween Party” got some great publicity this week. Mark your calendars to attend … and if you’re a business or organization wanting to be a part of this, please email me ASAP at brooks@smwi.org.
October 1 means the start of fall leaf collection, and we’re proud to continue to offer this service, even as many do not (at least not free of charge).
Check out some rules and guidelines below. And please keep my 2014 open letter on this in mind as you rake. 🙂 We started the fee waiver for leaves a few years ago. Please take advantage of it.
Barring some big breaking news, I’ll be taking a few days off from blogging. We’ll see you next week!
In the meantime, please check out the revised Rocketober schedule, which gets bigger every day. Look at October 19, for example … what an amazing group of events on that one day alone. Learn more on Facebook.
As to the awards …
The South Milwaukee Beautification Committee has announced its fall awards program, the Rocketober Awards, recognizing those with the best fall, Halloween or Thanksgiving-themed decorations on their homes or businesses. Winners will be selected to receive a sign and recognition on the city’s/mayor’s digital platforms. Deadline to enter is October 16th.
Ways to enter …
SM Works app (Look for Rocketober in the request list)
“South Milwaukee influenced the built environment of this area as much as anyone in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s.”
Ben Tyjeski shared that sentiment with me at a lunch recently, and he was referring to the beautiful tile that came from Continental Faience and Tile Co., which was located near 9th and Menomonee Avenue until it was razed more than a decade ago. The building also made history as home to the Lawson Airline Co., where one of the nation’s first airliners was built.
Ben’s love is tile, and this local artist, author and historian is presenting on the legacy of Continental Faience and Tile at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, at City Hall. Mark your calendars and join us for this detailed look at what was made in South Milwaukee, and where you can still that tile today.
(Note the date change; the event was originally set a week earlier.)
Ben, a Milwaukee Public Schools art teacher when he is not immersing himself in this topic, is finishing a book now on the subject.
Continental is responsible for tile installations in hundreds of buildings all across Wisconsin, and was used by architects such as Eschweiler, Russell Barr Willliamson, George Zagel, and even Frank Lloyd Wright. Continental’s major product was unglazed mosaic tile that was flashed by the fire in the kiln to produce warm earth tones in orange and buff hues. These tiles were commonly used in foyers and fireplace hearths, sometimes creating patterns and borders in which decorative glazed insert tiles were featured. …
This fascinating history of how the tile company came into being and transformed Wisconsin tile-making is the feature of my new book: Continental Faience & Tile Company. I am creating the book with two experts, Kelly Dudley and Kathy Roberts. Together we are writing, documenting, and designing a book that will be the definitive reference book on Continental Faience and Tile Company. …
Our collaboration began in the summer of 2018. While working on my book on architectural terra cotta I began to notice tile installations and began to dig into the subject. I quickly discovered Kelly Dudley and Kathy Roberts, a Phoenix, Arizona couple who have been collecting and researching Continental since the mid-1990s. Their passion for tiles and Continental have led them around the US and to Belgium, although it began in South Milwaukee on a visit to Kathy’s family. On that trip Kathy was astounded to discover that the empty warehouse building at the end of her block of Menomonee Avenue was at one time the factory and show room of a tile company, something she was unaware of while growing up. Whitney Gould wrote a fantastic article for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in 2005, featuring the factory building and the kaleidoscope of tiles inside. We have now located approximately 250 sites containing Continental tile, from Wisconsin to Florida. The search continues, with the hope of locating Continental tile in all 50 states. Installations include schools, churches, homes, storefronts, theaters, and municipal buildings. While most of these sites feature floor tile, others include fireplaces, fountains, pools, and wainscotings with compelling, decorative appeal. Most surprising about these sites is that many of them were built in the 1930s, during the Great Depression that saw many other tile manufacturers go out of business. Documenting these sites has been a privilege. Having a mental library of all their work really makes you believe in the influence and impact of art tile. However, these sites that make you appreciate local culture and community may not last, especially if the public is not educated about them.
You can get that education on October 17. See you there!
An official welcome to South Milwaukee, Kathy Manning!
Here is the press release on the hiring of our new library director …
Kathy Manning, a 13-year library administrator in Milwaukee County, is the new Library Director of the South Milwaukee Library (SML). The SML Library Board officially appointed Manning director at its September 24 meeting.
Since April Manning has been the SML Interim Director, leading the library as it continues to innovate and attract returning and new patrons.
“Kathy has provided meaningful and creative leadership during her six months as Interim Director,” said Dan Reszel, Library Board President. “Along with the terrific professional staff, we are confident this great community treasure is in the best possible hands.”
Among the recent innovations and successful programs at the SML during Manning’s brief tenure:
Begun implementation of self-checkout RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. Two kiosks (one near the library’s exit and one in the second floor children’s space) are expected to go live in December.
Created a “Teen Zone” on the first level with materials, games, whiteboard and study space geared to young people.
A highly successful recently completed Summer Reading program that attracted more than 1,800 participants from pre-school through adult.
Manning has worked in the Germantown and North Shore libraries. She was the head of Circulation Services at North Shore for more than 10 years. Manning holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
The SML is the city’s most used non-school public facility. In 2018, there were more than 78,000 patron visits, with almost 7,000 active library users, about one-third of the city’s population. It is located at 1907 10th Avenue. For news and updates, visit smlibrary.org and facebook.com/SouthMilwaukeePublicLibrary/
I’m a big fan of libraries, and ours in particular. They provide so much for so many different people, beyond just books. With the support of its board, ours has seen a lot of positive changes in recent years, and I’m excited to see where it heads next, under Kathy’s leadership.
The School Board for the School District of South Milwaukee has an available opening. Letters of interest, including why you are interested in being a School Board member, are due to the District Office on Thursday, October 10, 2019, by 4:00 pm. Letters may be mailed or dropped off to 901 15th Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172, attention Jessica Hess.
School Board interviews with candidates will be held on or about Wednesday, October 16, 2019, during an open meeting. It is anticipated that the selected candidate will be sworn into the School Board on October 23, 2019. The term will run through spring 2020, at which time there will be a formal election process for a standard three-year term.
I want to thank Carol for her nine years of leadership on the board. She served the community, and its kids, very well.
The Milwaukee Avenue streetscaping project hit a minor milestone today, with the installation of the first new LED streetlights to replace outdated fixtures from decades ago.
The result will be higher quality, more energy efficient lighting delivered from poles fitting of our city center’s new look.
It’s part of the first phase of the project, which includes …
Removal of existing banner poles and footings;
WE Energies removal of existing lighting and installation of new conduit and lighting;
Installation storm sewer and inlets at 9th & Milwaukee intersection;
Removal and replacement of designated curb and gutter, and installation of curb for new curb ramps, new curb on west side of 9th, south of Milwaukee Avenue. (Angle parking removed.);
Removal and replacement of designated curb and concrete pavement, as well as installation of new curb ramps at specified intersections;
Installation of temporary traffic signals at 10th and Milwaukee intersection, removal of existing traffic signal and installation of new equipment;
Modification of traffic signals at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue to 13th Avenue to remove and install new signal heads and poles (to replace banner poles); and
Installation of pavement markings for new signals and crosswalks, and bike lane on each side.
Phase two next spring includes sidewalk replacement, the planting of street streets and the addition of other amenities, like planters. Indeed, there still a lot of work to do. I thank you for your continued patience.
We are committed to strong communication on this project, and regularly share updates like this one posted this week: “Please be advised that ‘No Parking’ signs will be skipping around Milwaukee Ave as construction continues, especially over the next few days. One side of the street should always be available for parking. Thank you for your patience.”
On those platforms you can also find broader project description and timeline and other resources, including a downtown parking map.
As to parking, we have more public parking available downtown than many realize — including at 1008 Milwaukee Ave. made available through a partnership with Guardian Credit Union — and I encourage to make use of those lots during this construction and beyond.
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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