Dear Neighbors -
 
Walking out the door the other morning I noticed the spikes of my daffodils poking up through the ground, a sure sign that spring is on the way! I know my garden won't be in great shape this year, but many gardens in Damon Woods will be. If you have a garden that might inspire the rest of us, we'd love for you to share it with us during the garden walk on June 26th. And for those of you like me who are still trying to determine your gardening style, I'm sure this walk will give lots of inspiration.
 
Thank you to Jeff Enders and Ellie Bjorkman for hosting the most recent TGIF. The next TGIF will be in my home. As many of you know, we are finishing up a major addition to our home, so please excuse us if everything is not quite in place!
 
The Easter egg Hunt took place on April 3rd. Thank you to Pam Christopherson, Laura Glawe and the other volunteers who make this event successful. The neighborhood rummage sale will be held June 4th and 5th. What a great way to get rid of your junk and pick up some treasures!!!
 
Many neighbors have found the contractor's listing helpful, but I know we have not captured all of the great contractors out there. If you have a great contractor that you would like to recommend, please submit your information on the form to Mark Steimle. The form can be downloaded on our website.

We've also included a membership form on the website. Please check to see if you have already sent in your dues and, if not, please get them in now. Remember, the very convenient neighborhood directory as a well as the contractor's list will be delivered to every member home in August.

--Karen McNeely

PLAY GROUP
As winter comes to an end the playgroup will start forming again as a large group. Our kick-off event for seeing each other again will be a play date at Swiss Turners Gymnastic Academy, on Wednesday, April 7th from 10:00-11:30 am. The cost is $4.00 per child, adults are free. They have trampolines, foam pits, balance beams that are a few inches from the ground, foam blocks for climbing on, and a huge parachute that the kids are wild about. There is plenty to do for the preschoolers.
 
In general, the hours for playgroup are 9:30-11:30 am and the host provides light snacks. If you have any ideas for group events, please email info@damonwoods.org.

DAMON WOODS GARDEN WALK 2004
Attention all garden enthusiasts. This year’s garden walk will be on June 26th and promises to be bigger and better than ever. Watch for more info on a kick off event in the June newsletter. We hope to include one or more informational speakers, children's activities, and drawings for prizes.
 
We plan to publish the list of gardens in the June Newsletter, so if you would like to show off your yard or if you can help in any way with the event, please email Karen McNeely at info@damonwoods.org. If you plan to attend and would like to have the final garden list emailed to you, please email Karen as well.
 
UPCOMING LOWELL DAMON WOODS ASSOCIATION EVENTS

• TGIF Parties:
  Mark and Karen McNeely will host on April 23rd.
  Larry and Kathy Kopperud will host on June 26th - see the next issue for details.
  Contact Karen McNeely if you are willing to host one in the future..
• Neighborhood Association Picnic / Annual Meeting, July 17th.

APRIL TGIF
Come christen the McNeely addition. The big orange dumpster is gone, so please join Mark and Karen for a TGIF on Friday, April 23rd at 7:00 pm.
Please bring an hors d'oeuvre or beverage to share! RSVP info@damonwoods.org.

THE EASTER RABBIT THANKS YOU!
A special thank you to Mike Day of Dependable Auto for underwriting the cost of renting the Easter Rabbit costume for the Lowell Damon Woods Easter Egg Hunt.

DAMON WOODS BREW-IN ON MAY 8TH
It’s time to fire up the brew kettle and brew some beer for the summer picnic! Our annual Damon Woods Brew-In will be at the home of Jeff Enders on Saturday, May 8th. Brewing will start at 9 am and go all day, so feel free to stop by and stay for as long or as little as you want. We’d rather see you for a short time than not at all.
 
Styles for this year’s beer haven’t been selected yet, so call Jeff Enders if you have any requests. Last year’s English Summer Ale was a big hit, so it’s likely we’ll brew that one again. But we’ll need at least one other beer. Final decision rests with the Brew Master, but he can be persuaded. Feel free to bring some beer or food to share. Cheers.
 
Damon Woods Brew-In
Home of Jeff Enders, Stickney Avenue (in the back yard)
Saturday, May 8th at 9 am until ???
  
BOOK CLUB
May's book selection will be "The Lovely
Bones" by Alice Sebold. This book tells the story of a family devastated by a gruesome murder – a murder recounted by the teenage victim. From her vantage point in heaven, Susie Salmon describes her confrontation with her murderer and watches her family and friends struggle with a reality she is no longer a part of. It may sound upsetting, but the author takes this difficult situation and delivers a
compelling and accomplished exploration of a fractured family's need for peace and closure.
 
Discussion will be held Monday, May 24 (note the new date--was originally May 17)
Place: John and Patti Hartwick’s home on Aberdeen Ct.
Time: 7:30 pm
 
NEXT BOARD MEETING
The neighborhood association's next board meeting is at 9:00 a.m. May 8th at the Mad Mug, 80th and Burleigh.
 

 
NEWS TO SHARE?
Has someone in the neighborhood had a birth? Do you know of new neighbors moving into the neighborhood? How about newsworthy items about your neighbors. Pass it on to Larry Kopperud at info@damonwoods.org for inclusion in the next newsletter.
 

 
CREATIVE FIRE
Here is some information about a new business that one of the neighbors has just opened. As of New Year's Day, Tiffany Bruett of Hillcrest Drive and her friend Sue Seymour are business partners and owners of Creative Fire, LLC.
 
Located in East Town Wauwatosa at 6427 W. North Ave, Creative Fire offers a fine selection of original artwork in the storefront gallery. In addition to being a great place to pick up that one-of-a-kind gift, Creative Fire offers Pottery Classes with instruction by Sue and Tiffany for both children (6 years and up) and adults.
 
Creative Fire is also a great place for your next group outing, birthday party or special event. Other services offered to local artists are pottery supplies and tools, kiln firing and open studio hours for those looking for an affordable space in which to create.
 
Drop by and check it out or call Creative Fire at 414-443-9402 to ask about their offerings. Look for Creative Fire pottery and ceramics at art fairs around the state this summer!
 
DAMON WOOD INFORMATION
Keep in touch with upcoming events and news as it happens. Sign up to be a member of our neighborhood news list at Topica.com. Send an e-mail to damonwoods@topica.com with “subscribe” in the subject. Contact Jim Zinda by e-mail at info@damonwoods.org if you have any trouble.
 
Follow the online Topica instructions. The information you fill out is confidential and you will not get e-mail spam. If you find out that you don’t like it, you can unsubscribe from the service.

NEW NEIGHBORS
Hi, neighbors. Looking forward to meeting my new neighbors, and seeing many of our old friends again. Lena and I moved to 81st on January 9th, our third house and fifth location in Wauwatosa. After 5 years of renting, it is great to be a homeowner again! I moved into Wauwatosa in 1978. Both daughters, Erika and Lena, went to Lincoln, Longfellow and Tosa East, both involved in girl scouts, soccer, and swimming. Erika graduated in 2000, and Lena is currently a Junior at East. Meet you at the next TGIF!
- Carol Janssen
 
ANGEL INSPIRED HOME BUSINESS
My husband and I were expecting our first child in the winter of 2002. The week building up to our 20th week of the pregnancy we were excited to have an ultra-sound where we could see fingers and toes and possibly find out the gender of the little one. Instead, the ultra-sound technician wasn’t able to distinguish much. Five minutes into the ultra-sound she stopped and told us she was going to go consult with our doctor.
 
I was diagnosed with oligohydramnios, a severe lack of amniotic fluid. It was determined that my membranes ruptured around the 16th week and had gone undetected. With this kind of complication, lung development is incredibly difficult.
 
During the following two months, I was on bed rest at home and at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. I had to let go of my job as a Social Worker at a nursing home. While the prognosis was not encouraging, we were ready to do whatever it took to give this baby every chance for survival. Our spirits flew every time the baby kicked or the nurses and doctors would monitor strong heartbeats and steady growth.
 
On the cusp of our 28th week our tiny daughter Vita Ray was born. She lived eleven hours; long enough to have the best doctors apply the latest technology to give her what her tiny lungs could not. Eleven hours was long enough for God to give us the strength, courage, and eventually the wisdom to handle the situation in front of us.
 
The morning of her death, she was brought to us wrapped in a hand made blanket and clothing that was donated to the hospital. We had to say hello and goodbye all in one day.

After returning home, without our daughter, I did a bit of soul searching. I knew that I needed to do something to honor the little girl that has brought my husband and me closer to each other and a stronger sense of faith. After some encouragement from family and friends, what was a hobby since I was 16 years old has been turned into a full-time business.
In early 2003 we established Vita’s Boutique in memory of our daughter. We donate our hand crafted blankets to St. Joseph’s every month. We know what it is like to receive a hand made memento during what can be the most trying times of your life.
 
It gives me such joy to know that I can give a gift to the little one’s that struggle in the NICU and that their parents will keep the blanket as a keepsake for their child. I take out the blanket that Vita was wrapped in every now and then, just to remind me that even though she is not physically here, she is always here in spirit.
 
If you are interested in viewing my creations, please visit our website at www.vitasboutique.com. We are offering a 15% discount to all of our friends and neighbors. Just use the code "LowellDamon" for all of your purchases. You can save on shipping charges, by contacting me through the website prior to your purchase.
 
And lastly, on a very positive note, Rhommer and I are happy to announce that our second daughter was born on November 26, 2003. She is a happy and healthy girl and a wonderful addition to our family!
- Peggy Varilla
 
NEW NEIGHBOR
Kristen Henson and Matt Hughes moved from the East Side of Milwaukee to Aberdeen Court and are getting married on October 2004. Kristen is a Buyer at Carson Pirie Scott & Co. (Boston Store) and Matt is Director of Franchise Sales for Cendant Corporation.
Kristen and Matt are originally from Illinois, but really like living in Milwaukee. They are looking forward to becoming acquainted with Wauwatosa. Welcome!
  

NAC—NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COUNCIL NEWS

	Todd Kucharski, from the City Parks and Forestry Dept. spoke. Because of budget cuts, the City will not be planting and maintaining many of the boulevard plantings. Seasonal employees were cut from 8 to 2. The City will maintain about 25 beds, mostly in the Mayfair Mall and North Ave. area. The City and the Wauwatosa Beautification Committee are hoping that neighborhood associations and other civic groups such as girl scout troops, will step forward to plant and maintain the beds. There was a form regarding volunteering in the last City newsletter. If beds are not adopted, the City may have to remove the beds in the fall and plant grass. The Beautification Committee is also soliciting funds to help pay for bedding plants.
	Michelle Pike, from Elder Link of Milwaukee County Department on Aging spoke to us regarding the services they provide to the elderly of Milw. County. A staff of nine answer about 52,000 phone calls annually, on a wide variety of concerns. Their phone number is 289-6874. Of the 18 Milwaukee suburbs, Wauwatosa is 2nd in percentage of elderly (West Allis is #1.)
	June 22nd is Stroll the Avenue
	National Night out is August 3rd. Because of budget cuts, there will be no flashlight walk – but there will still be many activities at Hart Park, and great fireworks that evening.
	Images of Wauwatosa, a book published by the Wauwatosa Historical Society is now available for $19.95. You can purchase it at Little Red Book, but the Society gets more profit if you purchase it directly from them.
	The Wauwatosa Civic Celebration Committee is looking for 2 to 3 volunteers per neighborhood association to help with the annual July 4th parade. About 50 volunteers are needed, beginning at 7:15 a.m. at Mayfair Mall, where the parade begins, throughout the parade route, and at Hart Park, where the parade ends. If you can volunteer, please call Mike and Nanette Gaffrey at 476-1708.
	There was a discussion about Hoyt Pool. Sue Black, the new head of Milwaukee County Parks, will attend a meeting of the Wauwatosa Parks and Forestry Board on April 20th at 7:30 a.m. at the Meullner Building. There will be a dialogue between City and County officials as to how to proceed with the property. Plans to renovate the pool into a ‘water park’ were approved in 2001. The plans need to be re-examined. Many in the City feel strongly that a city the size of Wauwatosa needs and can support a community pool. Many residents would like the City to purchase the site and renovate the pool, however, Bill Kappel (Director of Public Works) told us that the City could not financially even explore this at this time. The meeting on April 20th is open to the public.

ALL-NEIGHBORHOOD RUMMAGE SALE
Once again, it’s time to clean out those attics and garages and get ready to sell it all at the annual All-Neighborhood Rummage Sale. Mark your calendars now for Friday, June 4 from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday, June 5 from 8 am to 4 pm.
 
Last year’s sale was a great success, with quite a lot more homes involved than the previous year. Hopefully this trend will continue, with even more families joining in on
the selling! Our goal is a sale on every street!! And get the kids involved…Kool-Aid stands, popcorn and snack sales or, how about a sale to get rid of all the old Happy Meal toys!!
 
The sale will be advertised in the Journal-Sentinel, on flyers at local businesses and with signs around the neighborhood on the days of the sale. Balloons will mark the homes participating, and sellers will receive a few copies of a map and a list of sellers that they can reproduce and give to shoppers.
 
To sign up and be included on the map of sellers, please complete the form and return it (along with $3.00) by Friday, May 28. You can then pick up your balloons, maps and seller’s list on Thursday, June 3.
 
If you have any questions, email Laura Buege or Susan Patton at info@damonwoods.org.

HARVEST FEST VOLUNTEERS
Last fall we had a successful start to what may become an annual Lowell Damon Woods tradition. The first Harvest Fest was a great success. Karen Roy is going to chair the event this year and is looking for volunteers to make it even better. Contact Karen at info@damonwoods.org.

QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY, TREASURES OF ANCIENT EGYPT
The largest collection of antiquities to ever travel outside Egypt opened at the Milwaukee Public Museum on March 28th and runs until August 8th. The exhibit focuses largely on the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC), Egypt’s grand imperial age, the era of Egypt’s greatest wealth and power. Having traveled to four other major museums throughout the country, this will be the exhibit’s last stop and only Midwestern venue. A free antenna audio tour is available in both adult and children’s versions. For further information call the Milwaukee Public Museum at (414) 278-2728.
-Betsy Foard
 
ANNUAL MEETING AND PICNIC
It’s not too early to mark your calendars for this year’s Annual Business Meeting (the short part) and Picnic (the long part and the most fun), which will be held July 17th on the Lowell Damon House grounds. In place of the roast pig will be a more traditional fare of bratwurst and hamburgers. More details in the next newsletter.
 
INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are needed for the Wauwatosa Independence Day Parade. Jobs available are:

• Beginning of the parade organization - 25 volunteers needed
• Parade Official - 6 volunteers
• End of Parade - 5 volunteers
• Hart Park Activities - 5 volunteers

If you are interested or have questions contact Nanette Gaffrey at 476-1708.
 
A GREAT START!
Many Damon Woods neighbors were seen at Sendik’s Market during their “unofficial” opening the weekend of March 26th-28th.

Positive comments were heard from many regarding their bakery, fresh meat and seafood counter, delicatessen, fresh produce, and a wide selection of wines. Store Director Kevan Oberdorf said that Sendik’s is really happy to be in Wauwatosa. They are planning an official “grand opening” later this year to coincide with the new store they are opening in Mequon.
- Larry Kopperud 

It’s here! It’s open!
The neighborhood was thrilled when it learned that Sendik’s Food Market was moving into the former Kohl’s Food Store on North Avenue and watched with great anticipation for the grand opening. Sendik’s pleasantly fooled us all on Friday, March 26th, by announcing their opening with a simple sign in their front window. Wauwatosa responded with resounding support for the new store.


The produce section is a work of art with many wonderful choices.

NEWSLETTER AND FLYER DISTRIBUTION
THANK YOU- to those who helped deliver the February newsletters! Ellie Bjorkman, Beth Brown, Betsy Daniels, Pam Christopherson, Diane Kaiser-Rockenbach, Phil, Jim, and Allen Kroner, Erin and Linda Merklein, Kathy Mannebach, Susan Patton, Frank and Joanne Shansky, and Dave Vogel. If you would like to help deliver, contact Karen McNeely at info@damonwoods.org.