South Milwaukee Blog

Update: This meeting is now Feb. 20.

South Milwaukee School District Superintendent Rita Olson is retiring at the end of the school year. With more than 40 years at the district — in roles ranging from German and French teacher to principal to various district leadership positions — she leaves quite a legacy, and will be missed.

More details on her lifetime in education here.

I really appreciate her leadership in recent years, during my time as mayor, and I thank her for supporting our strengthening partnership with the district in ways big and small.

Now, the search is on for her successor, which brings me to the reason for this post. From the South Milwaukee School District …

The School Board invites all parents and community members to a feedback session on Tuesday, February 12, to hear your priorities regarding the hiring of a new school superintendent.

The meeting will be facilitated by a Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) search consultant and you do not need to complete any advance preparation. Your feedback will be used to in the preparation of essay questions for the applicants, the development of questions for use during the interviews, and the creation of a profile outlining the skills and characteristics sought in candidates for the position.

The parent/community feedback group meeting will begin at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, February 12, in the District Board room at 901 15th Avenue. The meeting will conclude by 6:45 pm. Please park in the district or high school parking lots and enter through Door #8.

Thank you for considering to participate in this important discussion! 

Here is the official meeting notice …

From Da Crusher Statue press release …

On Saturday, June 8, 2019, wrestling fans near and far will celebrate the unveiling of a bronze statue of Reggie “Da Crusher” Lisowski.  Mr. Lisowski, who died in 2005, was a renowned champion professional wrestler and billed as “The Man That Made Milwaukee Famous.”  Lisowski was also a life long South Milwaukee resident and World War II veteran. 

The fundraising to build the statue kicked off when a fan launched a website, http://www.dacrusher.org, in late 2017.  The fundraising quickly skyrocketed, and the effort raised more than $40,000.00 in 90 days.  Organizers commissioned the Milwaukee firm Vanguard Sculpture Services to create the bronze statue. 

The City of South Milwaukee, which is undergoing significant city-wide redevelopment, agreed to transform a city-owned parking lot at 1101 Milwaukee Avenue into a “pocket park” to house the statue.  Significant work on the area will be done by volunteers from Miller Monuments, KEI Landscaping, and the Bricklayers Union.  The area will feature a brick square that will resemble a wrestling ring for the statue to be placed on.  Fans can purchase an engraved brick at http://www.dacrusher.org.

Stay tuned for much more about the event itself. From what I’ve been told, it will be a weekend to remember.

I’m debuting a new regular event on Thursday, Feb. 7, at my favorite local coffeehouse — Coffee With the Mayor.

Join me from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Avenue Coffeehouse, 911 Milwaukee Ave. for an open discussion on what’s happening in South Milwaukee. There is no set agenda, and pretty much anything is fair game. So bring your questions, comments or concerns, and grab a drink while you’re there.

Look for special guests at future coffees, to tackle specific topics.

Thanks to Sara and Aaron for hosting!

Updated at 2:07 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

• All local schools are closed on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as Fitness Center and Recreation Department events. More details on South Milwaukee public schools here.
• Advanced Disposal ran into some cold-weather related issues with their equipment, and may have missed areas today. For anyone missed, Advanced Disposal will be picking up again on the next scheduled pick-up day. Thursday’s pick-up is still scheduled as usual. For questions on recycling, Advanced Disposal can be reached at (262) 679-0860.
• A reminder from the Street Department: Please keep your garbage and recycling carts in an area that is free of snow with at least 4 feet of clearance on each side of the cart.
• A water main break was reported Wednesday afternoon near Willow and Elm. Report main breaks and other frozen pipe/water issues to 414-768-8070; there is also an after-hours reporting option.
• The Grobschmidt Senior Center and Milwaukee County Meal Site program are CLOSED Wednesday and Thursday.
• City Hall will be OPEN regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• South Milwaukee Library will be OPEN. However, their hours of operation will be 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and the facility will be a warming site during those hours.
• All other City services will be as usual barring any unforeseen issues.
• If you or anyone you know is in need of shelter, please call 211.

For cold weather tips, visit here.

Working together across communities and across agencies to solve problems, and using innovative best practices to do so.

That is the spirit behind a potentially life-saving partnership among the South Shore Communities, endorsed by the South Milwaukee Common Council earlier this month.

From the South Milwaukee Health Department …

The South Milwaukee Health, Police, and Fire departments in coordination with these agencies in the cities of Cudahy, Oak Creek, and Saint Francis have applied for an Emergency Preparedness Grant to assist our agencies in responding to the Opioid Epidemic. The communities initially applied for $80,000 and received $70,000.  The City of Cudahy is the lead fiscal agent for the grant. Through this cooperative effort there are four main components that the communities will collaborate on: 

• The first is utilizing and reviewing the real time reporting of overdoses through OD Map.  This program is currently being used by our Fire Department to log overdoses as they happen within our community.  The health department staff recently gained access to this mapping system to review where overdoses are occurring in our community and to monitor for spikes in overdoses.  At this time there is no cost to use OD Map.
• The second component is to provide training for police, fire, and health in Trauma Informed Care.  This training will help our first responders and health care workers to better recognize and respond to the various types of trauma that impact children and adults in our communities. These adverse experiences have been shown to contribute to substance abuse, mental health problems, domestic abuse and child abuse. Training will be provided in coordination with SaintA, a leader in Trauma Informed Care.
• The third component of the grant is to establish a Quick Response Team (QRT) that consists of a police officer, public health nurse, and recovery or peer support specialist.  Each community will develop their own QRT.  The QRT will review recent nonfatal overdoses and will attempt to make contact with the overdose victim or family members to offer assistance in obtaining treatment.  This type of intervention program is relatively new but has been implemented with some success in communities such as Canton Ohio.
• The fourth component is an awareness campaign.  This will be done primarily through the use of social media. 

We consider this to be a $70,000 investment in addressing a crisis that does not seem to be abating.

According to the American Public Health Association, every $1 spent on mental health and addiction services saves $7 in healthcare costs and $30 in productivity and social costs.  Of note, the South Shore communities saw 28 accidental overdose deaths in 2018, and there were 74 non-fatal overdoses reported by the police departments.

If we can save even one of those lives, this is worth it.

John Galewski Field and the Bob Weber Dugout … it has a nice ring to it!

I am so glad to hear the longtime baseball coaches are being honored in this way, and I encourage you to put May 10 on your calendars for this special celebration. More details here.

From my blog post on John’s 2018 retirement, which celebrated his Hall of Fame coaching career …

More important to me than numbers is the positive impact Coach Galewski has had on so many lives in South Milwaukee, me included. I’m proud to have gotten to know him in recent years, and I’ve enjoyed him sharing even a fraction of the wisdom he has around the game, coaching and life.

John Galewski’s legacy is unmatched, his impact profound. He has changed lives … shaping boys into young men, young men into adults.

I wish my 13-year-old son could have played for him. Thankfully, hundreds of kids did, and our community is better for it.

The same words could be said of Bob Weber … and I can’t wait to celebrate their legacy on May 10. Join me!

This is a terrific event. RSVP here by Wednesday, so they can get an accurate count for food.

Updated: 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 27.

A few notes as we prepare for another winter storm and some of the worst cold we’ve seen in years …

• Salters went out around midnight, and we switched to plowing around 1:30 a.m.
• As for plowing, please be patient as we do our best to keep up with the snow. We have more than a dozen pieces of equipment that may be used at any one time, clearing our streets, alleys and sidewalks.
• City offices will generally be open. Monday garbage pickup is cancelled; it will be be collected on Friday. Other city services may be impacted. Check out our Facebook page for regular updates.
• The Grobschmidt Senior Center is also closed on Monday.
• South Milwaukee public school students were already scheduled to be off on Monday, with the end of a quarter. Activities and sports are also now cancelled, and staff does not have to report, according to the school district Facebook page. The fitness center is also closed.
• Divine Mercy and Zion Lutheran Schools are also closed. So is Knights of Columbus, according to WISN.
• Here is information on our local ordinances around snow removal. The basic rule: You have 24 hours to shovel from the end of a storm.
• Don’t forget to shovel out those hydrants, even if it’s not in front of your house. It could save your life, or property.
• And check out some cold-weather tips below …

The South Milwaukee girls’ basketball team is on fire, and making a strong run toward the WIAA postseason.

The Rockets moved to 14-3 after beating Greenfield Friday, two days after knocking off state-ranked Milwaukee Washington on the road. They were ranked No. 20 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel area poll this week, but are sure to move up.

The Rockets sit atop the Woodland Conference East standings at 9-0, just ahead of 9-1 Cudahy. The two play in a huge rivalry game at 5:45 p.m. on Friday at the Sullivan Gymnasium — mark your calendars.

South Milwaukee, coached by Jim Grassl, is led by sharpshooting senior guard Julia Meyers, who is averaging 15.5 points per game. She and Kayla Tierney (11.8 points) have each made 48 threes, and Tierney is shooting 42.9 percent from the 3-point line. Elaina Rivera is averaging eight points per game.

Araia Breedlove averages 6.7 rebounds per game, Hailey Johnson 5.7. Tierney and Rivera are averaging 1.9 assists per game. Rivera and Tierney both have 29 steals on the season. More details here.

I’ve seen several of their recent games, and the girls are really fun to watch, with a full-court pressing style and a host of three-point shooters (they have made 124 threes in just 17 games). More importantly, they play as a team, with a deep rotation that includes five freshmen who get regular minutes — which bodes well for the seasons ahead.

But the future is now for this team, with WIAA Division 2 postseason play starting on Feb. 19. Call it February Madness, and I can’t wait.

Let’s get behind this team, South Milwaukee. See you Friday!

Scandinavian Meatballs and all the fixings — including lefse — at Trinity Lutheran Church. Spaghetti to raise money for the Heritage Days Parade.

Enjoy dinner this weekend, South Milwaukee!

From the South Milwaukee Little League …

SMLL Early Bird Registration is Now Open!

To provide more opportunities, SMLL has updated its divisions:

• Rookie Ball – 4-5 years old
• A Baseball – 6-7 years old
• AA Baseball – 7-8 years old
• AAA Baseball – 8-11 years old
• Major Baseball – 9-12 years old
• Intermediate Baseball – 11-13 years old
• Senior Baseball 14-16 years old
• AA Softball – 6-8 years old
• AAA Softball – 8-10 years old
• Major Softball – 9-12 years old
• Junior Softball 12-14 years old

Baseball/Softball EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
CREDIT – $105 by February 13th, 2019 – thereafter $140
CHECK/CASH – $130 by February 13th – thereafter $140

Rookie Ball EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
CHECK/CASH/CREDIT – $70 by March 15th – thereafter $90

One fundraiser – Starting in April, sell $200 in candy bars OR select buyout option of $100 at the time of registration.

Volunteer deposit – $125 per family, refundable after three volunteer shifts (at least two in the concession stand).

Go to www.southmilwaukeell.org and select the “2019 Registration” button, then register your player for “Baseball” or “Softball” – divisions to be determined following skills assessment in February.

Interested in coaching, managing or umpiring? Contact Nick Sabel njsabel AT gmail DOT com. Questions? Contact Southmilwaukeelittleleague@gmail DOT com.

I am a big fan of our Little League program and encourage you to consider it for your children. My son played five years, including for the AA Durham Bulls when they won they won the championship under Coach Snead. (Gratuitous parent brag: That’s where the photo in this post is from.)

His experience taught him so much, not just about baseball, but life. And it’s the group of hard-working volunteers, from coaches to concession workers, who make it happen.

This program is something all of South Milwaukee should be proud of.

From the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center …

HIVE, a group of five fierce and very different vocalists who make music and sound effects solely with their voices, are headlining Milwaukappella, Jan. 19, 2019, at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center www.southmilwaukeepac.org.

HIVE’s 7:30 p.m. performance opens with students who will have attended classes in a daylong workshop at South Milwaukee High School conducted by veteran vocal teachers and HIVE musicians.

Formed in August 2017, HIVE has released singles and music videos which can be found on all streaming platforms. HIVE also has exclusive numbers on Patreon.​

Advance tickets for the evening performance start at $19 for students and seniors, $24 for adults. Family-savings packages are available. Children 4 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased on the SMPAC website, or click here: http://southmilwaukeepac.org/event/milwaukappella.

More information about the event and the student workshop classes, which will cover beatboxing, vocal percussion, belting, blending, arranging, vocal technique, blocking and choreography, is at http://www.rcomf.org/Stories/a-cappella-music-milwaukee-milwaukappella-2019.

The workshop advance $45 fee ($55 at the door) includes classes, two meals, participation in the evening performance opening number and a great seat for the remainder of the show. The workshop classes and performance are presented by the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field, with additional support from Pineapple Café in Oak Creek, McDonald’s, Meijer, Farm and Fleet, Jimmy Johns and Culvers.

Performance proceeds support charitable efforts of The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field. RCMF funds student scholarships, grants to local non-profits, a Christmas party for Goodwill workers, and a prom for senior citizens, and provides food to families at Thanksgiving. The club has been serving Cudahy, Franklin, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, St. Francis and Bayview since 1958.A portion of Milwaukappella proceeds also go to South Milwaukee Music and South Milwaukee Music Parents Association to support the district’s music programs.

This is the consecutive fifth year Landaas & Company Investments will have sponsored and provided major funding for Milwaukappella. Landaas & Company Investments is independent of big banks and brokerage houses and therefore uniquely qualified to provide objective, unbiased investment advice to help people meet their financial goals.

Check out these additional South Milwaukee headlines …

• South Milwaukee Bar Offers Free Pizza, Beer to Federal Workers (CBS 58)
• Statue Honoring Wrestler “Da Crusher” to go up in South Milwaukee (CBS 58)
• Two Injured After Rollover Crash in South Milwaukee (CBS 58)
• Animal Cruelty Ends With Cat’s Rescue in South Milwaukee (TMJ4)
• Spring Election 2019: Cudahy to Get a New Mayor as Spring Elections Take Shape in Milwaukee’s Southern Suburbs (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Last night, I was proud to help recognize nine individuals who all played a role in saving the life of Dean Evers last fall.

As I told the audience, South Milwaukee always steps up. We help people. It’s what we do — and it was on full display on an October night at South Milwaukee Middle School.

From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …

At last evening’s Common Council meeting, the SMFD had the opportunity to recognize nine “Citizen Responders” who came to the aid of an adult male who collapsed last October after experiencing sudden cardiac arrest while playing volleyball at the South Milwaukee Middle School. A HUGE thank you goes out to Joe Bialkowski, Joel Bushman, Josh Evers, Tom Maasch, Rick Meszaros, Amy Pinkos, Colleen Placzkowski, June Sehrbrock, and Clayton Zieroth for their efforts in resuscitating Dean Evers, who joined us in recognizing his LIFESAVERS.

Congratulations to everyone who made a difference that night, each one of them a hero in my book. We need to tell these stories, and we will.

Check out coverage from TMJ4 and CBS 58. WISN was also in attendance.