West girls basketball team host PINK OUT night Jan. 11
The New Berlin West girls basketball team is holding the Vikings’ first-ever ‘PINK OUT’ Night to help raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Jan. 11.
When you donate online, you’ll receive an electronic receipt and be able to see how your donation is contributing to our team fundraising goal of $1,000.
Search under way for new library director
Franklin — Library Board members have begun interviewing candidates for library director, a position that came open last month when Barbara Roark stepped down.
Dennis McKnight, president of the Franklin Library Foundation, said he was happy with the number of qualified candidates that applied for the position, one-third of which were from other states.
Interviews are expected to conclude this week, and McKnight said he expects a decision will be made in about a month. The new director will earn an annual salary between $60,000 and $80,000, as allotted in the budget by the Common Council.
"Roark was not just a great library director, she's a great person," McKnight said of the woman who has served as Franklin's library director for the past 15 years. "We're looking for a person to be a clone of Barbara Roark."
Roark announced that she was leaving her post in late May to spend more time with her family in Indiana, and to take a job as assistant director of the Hancock County Library in Greenfield, Ind.
» Read Full ArticleNew Berlin Walmart opponents claim crucial city vote invalid
The group Neighbors First New Berlin, which opposes a plan to build a Walmart Super Center on Greenfield Avenue in New Berlin, has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging that legal notice of a public hearing affecting the project was not given the required 30 days in advance.
The hearing was held Jan. 7 before the Plan Commission. On May 6, the commission recommended on a 3 to 2 vote that the city change its Comprehensive Plan and zoning that cleared the way for the Walmart. On May 14, the Common Council made those changes.
If Neighbors First prevails, it will get to argue its case again in front of the Plan Commission that got two new members between the January hearing and the actual vote in May, said the group's attorney Dennis Grzezinski. Both the new members voted for the changes in the Comprehensive Plan and the zoning.
Even if those new members viewed the hearing on the city's computer replay system before they voted, the group hopes to change their minds through a full hearing experience, Grzezinski said. The group also will have more time to make its presentation more effective, he said.
The Walmart is proposed for about a block east of Moorland Road. The group's lawsuit also is against the Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust.
'Starry Nights' at the Wilson Center starts June 21
The Sharon Lynn Wilson Center is inviting families to pack blankets and picnic baskets for its annual Starry Nights outdoor concert series. All live shows are free and will take place at Mitchell Park, 19900 River Road, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase for those who aren't able to pack a picnic basket.
· VIVO with Warren Wiegratz, June 21
Wiegratz returns with the international flair of his group VIVO — a jazz, pop, bossa and samba music ensemble.
· Starry Nights Orchestra with Florentine Opera, June 28
The Wilson Center's Starry Nights Orchestra returns with a patriotic Americana program under the stars.
» Read Full ArticleTree crashes through Brookfield church roof during evening service
Members of Victory International Fellowship are in cleanup mode after a large tree fell through the church's roof at the height of Wednesday's severe storms.
Lead pastor Rory Grooters said about 130 men, women and children were inside the church, near Calhoun and Burleigh roads, at 7 p.m., when the tree fell.
"What I thought was loud thunder was actually the tree falling through the roof," Grooters said.
Adults were in the sanctuary, teens were in the gym and young kids were in the children's wing, away from where the tree had fallen.
Members immediately went into disaster mode and safely evacuated everyone from the building using the church's policies and procedures.
» Read Full ArticleParents, school leaders dissect Falls music program
The music department at the Menomonee Falls School District was dissected in a workshop Wednesday that involved parents, teachers, administration and school board members.
The group of selected individuals sat at a table to discuss ways to maintain music programming as the School District was forced to cut $2.4 million from its 2013-14 budget and looks to cut another $2 million the following year as state aid fails to pace with inflation, said Superintendent Pat Greco.
Orchestra is on the list of things that may be cut for the 2014-15 school year and prompted the School Board's Curriculum and Learning Committee to call a music work session that gave an in-depth look at the department. The workshop was also a way for interested parties to generate ideas on how to maintain music programming despite fiscal constraints.
"We have a very difficult couple of years coming up financially," said Committee Chair David Noshay.
One idea the district will pursue is creative scheduling at the elementary and middle school, an idea brought forth by parent Barb Nienow. She said there are ways that cuts can be made by looking at scheduling and teaching all the music courses more efficiently.
» Read Full ArticleMan robbed during stay at Brookfield hotel
A recent stay at the Courtyard Mariott in Brookfield was less than pleasant for one man after he was robbed overnight.
According to the city of Brookfield police report:
A man heard a knock at his door at 1:17 a.m. June 6.
When he opened the door, two men pushed their way in, taking an iPhone, cash and other items.
No weapons were displayed, and the men left the hotel through a rear door.
» Read Full ArticleSubdivision on tap at former Falls nursery site
The Menomonee Falls Planning Commission on Tuesday conceptually approved a 145-lot subdivision at a tree farm currently owned by Lied's Nursery.
The 82-acre plot of land, southeast of Town Line Road and Mill Road, bordering the Silver Spring Golf and Banquet Center, is no longer being utilized as the company looks to sell the land to Developer Jim Forester and Point Real Estate. There is a contract to purchase the land on the table, but it has not been finalized yet, said Director of Community Development Matt Carran. The conceptual design approved in a planned residential development district includes the development of 130 single family homes and 15 duplexes.
To be developed, the site needs to be analyzed for stormwater infiltration. The developer will have to extend the utility, sewer and water, put in roads, storm sewer and any other infrastructure needed before lots can be sold for the construction of homes.
The proposed layout includes a road to connect the subdivision directly to Town Line Road. The Planning Commission asked that an additional road be constructed to connect the subdivision to the golf course, Carran said.
Now that the conceptual design was approved by the village, the developer has to create a preliminary plat, followed by a developers agreement and obtain final plat approval from the state, Waukesha County and the village of Menomonee Falls. Once the final plat is approved, the lots can be sold. Carran said although they want to move quickly on this, he doesn't anticipate the lots to go on the market until next year.
» Read Full ArticleTosa police: Driver honest about being too drunk to drive
Mix 10 vodka pressers, a strip club and an El Camino with a dose of honesty and you have a second drunken driving offense for a man who was pulled over at 60th Street and Bluemound Road.
According to the Wauwatosa police report:
An officer saw the man speeding in a blue El Camino about 11:15 p.m. May 3. The driver of the El Camino swerved around another car, causing his tires to squeal. The officer decided to pull him over.
Before the officer could speak, the driver said "How ya doing? I'm drunk." The man continued to be honest about being drunk while the officer questioned him. He said he had been at a strip club earlier in the evening. When asked why he had cut the driver off, he admitted again that he was drunk and said that he "wanted to get around the other dude."
In the middle of reciting his ABCs during the sobriety test, he said "Q, R, S ... Oh, my god. I would have never thought I'd be ... R, S, P."
» Read Full ArticleCounty Executive Dan Vrakas to host Town Hall meetings
Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas will hold three Town Hall meetings to help residents learn about the budget process and take input on decisions that will affect 2014 initiatives on the following dates:
·July 16, 6 p.m., Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., N16 W23250 Stone Ridge Dr. #1, Waukesha
·July 25, 9 a.m., Oconomowoc Community Center 220 W. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc
·July 29, 5 p.m. Waukesha County Courthouse, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., Room 350, Waukesha
Specialized transportation will be available with a 72-hour notice and can be arranged by calling (262) 548-7828. For more information about the meetings, call the County Executive's Office at (262) 548-7902.
2013 WIAA State Track and Field photo gallery updated
MyCommunityNOW.com has just updated its photo gallery of the 2013 WIAA State Track & Field Meet in La Crosse with more images from Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Brookfield East boys team captured its third consecutive Division 1 title, edging Green Bay Preble, 51-50. Shorewood won the Division 2 boys title and Saint Mary's Springs the D3 title. Kenosha Tremper, East Troy and Edgar won the girls titles.
Results from this year's meet are available at the WIAA State Meet official results page.
You can see a photo gallery of the 2012 state track and field meet here.
"30 days, $30 adoptions" at Elmbrook Humane Society
Thinking about adding a new member to the family?
Elmbrook Humane Society, 20950 Enterprise Ave., is hoping one of its four-legged friends can be considered as a choice.
The shelter is offering a "30 days, $30 adoptions" special through June 2. All dogs who have been at the shelter for more than 30 days have a $30 adoption fee.
Viewing hours are 1 to 6 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.
Available dogs can be viewed at ebhs.org.
Olive Garden backs out of Germantown development
Olive Garden is no longer coming to Germantown, village officials confirmed Tuesday.
Though the development went through the Planning Commission and Village Board levels, the franchise restaurant planned for the Riversbend Development on County Line Road is no longer interested in the site, Village President Dean Wolter said.
The redevelopment of the 40-acre Riversbend Country Club property on County Line Road included the construction of Olive Garden and Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants on 3.5 acres in the parking lot of the current Riversbend Golf Club, W18034 County Line Road. A new golf club house is planned for the north end of the remaining 37.5 acres that is being developed by Menomonee Falls-based Continental 246 Fund. Buffalo Wild Wings is still planned for the site.
"They are still dedicated to this site and plan on developing and going through with the restaurant," Wolter said.
The Village Board on Monday approved a liquor license with outdoor patio hours for Buffalo Wild Wings.
» Read Full ArticleAre there cougars in Franklin? Police officer sees large, wild cat on bike trail
Franklin — A police officer is the latest in a list of witnesses to report seeing a large, wild cat near the Oak Leaf Bike Trail.
According to the Franklin police report:
A police officer was talking to a resident in the 6800 block of South 68th Street at 7:08 p.m. May 16. They were standing between the 68th Street entrance and the Rawson Avenue entrance to the Oak Leaf Bike Trail when they both saw a large, brown cat with a stub tail walk out from the wooded area, leap into the air over the path and walk back into the woods.
The officer and resident described the cat as being as tall as a large dog and having a light brown face, similar to a bobcat's. The cat had a nub tail and no spots.
The officer followed the cat into the woods to look for tracks, and also found and collected scat of unknown origin. The evidence was turned over to an area wildlife supervisor who is investigating the sighting.
» Read Full ArticleWater main project in Elm Grove could cause delays
The installation of a new water main in Elm Grove could create traffic headaches for drivers.
The village sent out a memo today to village residents to help them plan ahead.
According to the memo:
The installation of the water main on Wall Street and Elm Grove Road will start May 28.
This project will provide water service to a new senior-living facility on Wall Street and is expected to be completed by the end of August. Water main will be installed under Elm Grove Road from Bishops Lane in Brookfield to Wall Street in Elm Grove.
» Read Full ArticleGreendale police arrest boy for graffiti damage
Greendale — Police arrested a boy on May 10 for criminal damage to property in connection with several graffiti incidents throughout the village.
According to the police report:
Greendale police received information from a potential suspect's mother who saw the graffiti at the Community Center and recognized it to be similar to graffiti tagging she had seen in her house.
Police arrested the boy for the tagging and he was released with a court date in Children's Court.
After his release, new tagging began appearing again throughout the Village. An investigation found that the same suspect was tagging again, and he was subsequently arrested. This time, he was held in custody at the Milwaukee County Children's Court Center.
» Read Full Article
