After trading numerous emails with neighbors old and new, and sharing these ideas and more at the board meeting, I'm more excited than ever about the energy I feel in our neighborhood.

I'd like to share with you some of the things we have accomplished and some of the ideas that are a work in process, in hopes that you will be as excited as I.

I'm really excited to say that we have exceeded last years orders for Christmas yard trees. I’m sure that orders will continue grow in the coming years. It will be fun to walk or drive through the neighborhood and see all of the trees lined up & down the streets.

We now have an active welcoming committee, headed by Laura Lynn MacDonald. Every new neighbor will get a personal visit and a goodie bag to welcome them to the neighborhood. We'd also like to start quarterly gatherings to help welcome any newcomers.

Thank you to Amy Giampetroni and Jody Hanoski who are working on dinner/theater activities for the neighborhood.

We are resurrecting our garden walk. Taking our cue from the success in combining a number of smaller events into one bigger Christmas event, we hope to make this better than ever by possibly combining the garden walk with a garden party, a plant sale or????? If you have ideas to help make this another great event please share them with myself, Jeanine Schoen, or Dave Vogel.

As a neighborhood, I think we do an exceptionally good job of servicing the needs of families with young children. I think we have an opportunity to make our neighborhood even more cohesive by addressing other households in the neighborhood, such as singles & seniors. To encourage single memberships, we've lowered fee for single person households to $7. We would like to get together a dedicated group for different activities once a month or so. There is a new spot on the membership form to indicate interest, so we can get the neighborhood singles together for these activities.

The neighborhood has been without a Senior Citizens Liaison for over a year. I'd love to get a volunteer for this position. The main responsibility is to communicate the goings on at the Hart Park Senior Center to the neighborhood with a small article in each newsletter. On a final note, I'd invite all of you to fill out and send in the membership form in this newsletter. The best way we can get people involved is by knowing who is interested in what activities. In all honestly, it is also important to have the financial support of our members to assure that we can continue to offer the activities that so many of us enjoy, as well as adding new ones. And as you are filling out your forms, please feel free to share your ideas for making OUR neighborhood a better place for us all. Or feel free to drop me an email anytime at  info@damonwoods.org.

Your input is always appreciated. Happy Holidays to all!!!

--Karen McNeely

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUP
Wow! What a busy fall it has been for the playgroup! We had a great time picking apples in September and unfortunately got rained out for the pumpkin farm in October. Playgroup has become such a popular event for the mom’s in the neighborhood, and attendance had been so remarkable, as of January 2003 there will be two playgroups during the winter and one in the summer. We have been averaging 10-15 families a playgroup bring total attendance to close to 35 moms and kids, a very big number for most of the host families to manage.

The two new playgroups will be divided based on house numbers. Even house numbers will meet on the even dated Thursdays each month, odd house numbers will meet on the odd dated Thursdays. For example, if your address is 8008 you would attend playgroup on the even dated Thursdays (January 16, January 30 etc.) and if your address is 1937, you would attend on odd Thursdays (January 9, January 23, etc.). This, however, is not set in stone. If you can’t make playgroup one week and would like to attend the next week that is fine, or if there are more children your child’s age in the other playgroup you can attend that one. The new division is just to make it easier for new members to not feel so overwhelmed and to make playgroup a little easier for the hostess.

If you are unsure of where you should go in January, please email info@damonwoods.org and I will be happy to help you figure it out.

Here are the dates and places for playgroup for the next three months. As always, playgroup is held from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and families come and go as they please. If we find
that this new split is not working, the playgroup moms will discuss it and make changes for April.

If you are interested in joining the playgroup, please email info@damonwoods.org. 

TGIF PARTY Friday, January 10, 2003  7- 10 p.m. Please join your hosts, Dick and JoAnne Marks for an informal evening of conversation, appetizers and drinks. Please bring either an appetizer or your favorite wine or beer to share. Please RSVP info@damonwoods.org.

BOOK PUBLISHED BY JEAN ANN VON ROHR
It would be hard to find someone who has touched as many lives in Wauwatosa as Jackson Park Blvd. resident Jean Ann von Rohr. For the past 28 years, Jean Ann has been  introducing the children of Wauwatosa to the magic of books at the Wauwatosa Public Library. Recently, Jean Ann self-published a book titled “I’ve Got Peanut Butter in My Hair” that contains 29 of her original stretches, finger plays, and songs. Ellen Anderson, a local artist, supplied illustrations for the book and guided Jean Ann through the publishing process. The book is a perfect gift for parents, grandparents, teachers, and daycare centers, and can be purchased for $11.95 from The Little Read Book Store on State Street, Schwartz’s Bookstore in Brookfield, or by mail from Ellen Anderson Illustrations (476-1186). Jean Ann, who dedicated the book “For all the children who laughed and sang with me at the Wauwatosa Library,” is donating a portion of the profits to children’s programs at the library.

NEIGHBORHOOD TEENS IN GODSPELL If Damon Woods neighbors seem to be humming “Day By Day” lately, it’s undoubtedly because they were fortunate enough to see the Tosa East Players’ colorful production of Godspell during its two-weekend run in November. The neighborhood was well represented on cast and crew. Emily Heitzer of Jackson Park Boulevard was “Peggy,” one of the singers and dancers who help Jesus Christ preach through parables and storytelling. Emily was featured in the song “Light of the World” and the beautiful solo, “By My Side.” She has appeared in several Tosa East musicals, as well as with the Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove and the Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa. Dan Causier, in the role of “Herb,” provided the musical’s comic relief, including at least eight thud-producing falls during each performance. On the play’s fourth and final night, near the end of Act One, one such fall was also blood producing. Dan’s chin hit hard as he collapsed (as the grain that was planted upon rock), and he noticed he was bleeding. He covered his chin nonchalantly and sidled offstage, where costume mistress Anna Bargren of Church Street slapped a bandage on the chin and sent him back out.   Other neighborhood teenagers who helped Godspell’s nearly full house each performance were Tim Reck of 83rd Street, in the pit orchestra; Kat Lund of Woodland Avenue, Master Flyman and stage crew; Kate Beaudoin of Pleasant Street, House Manager; and Carrie Bargren, Church Street, and Melinda Ver Duin, Woodland Avenue, stage crew.

BOOK CLUB The Book Club will discuss "Summer Gone", a novel by David Macfarlane on January 23, 2003 at 7:30 pm at the Muller residence, 8120 Woodland. Macfarlane, an award-winning Canadian journalist, has written a beautifully contemplative first novel about fathers and sons, memory and the spirituality of wilderness. Please email info@damonwoods.org if you have any questions.

The novel explores the stories of three generations of lost summers: the girl in the blue bathing suit; the impenetrable and doomed camp counselor with the shifting features; the wife who comes alive to the rhythms of a cottage summer, wild blueberries, and lake gossip, though who remains blind to the secret that will change her life irrevocably. But the beating heart of this novel lies in the story of a divorced father and a young son separated by the silence of estrangement, and how during one extraordinary night on an ill-fated canoe trip the silence is broken. As the story unfolds and the mystery unravels, tragedy looms over father and son in ways they could never have imagined, and leads to the novel's gripping and startling conclusion.

BABYSITTING AND SNOW REMOVAL
A number of Damon Woods neighborhood youths can provide babysitting or snow removal services. For information, email info@damonwoods.org.

NEXT BOARD MEETING
The neighborhood association’s next board meeting is at 9 a.m. on January 11th at Lieda Biese's home. Come and offer your ideas.

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.  Email info@damonwoods.org for inclusion in the next newsletter.

CONDOLENCES
Our condolences to Rachael VerDuin of Woodland Avenue on the death of her father in September.

AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
We reported in the December 2001 issue that Erich Storm bagged his first buck. That was quite an accomplishment for an eighth grader. This year the Wauwatosa East freshman hunted elk in Colorado. As eager as he was to get to the hunt, he delayed his trip to support his band mates playing at the Friday night Tosa East football game and then again the next day in competition in southern Illinois. Erich bagged his elk late on the following Tuesday. Once he shot the elk, Erich had to wait a couple of hours in the dark while his dad Bob hiked out of the mountains to get a four wheeler to bring the elk back to camp. Congratulations Erich!

CONGRATULATIONS
Jon and Jennifer Carlson of  Pleasant St. had a boy, Aaron Jon, on October 23. We are told that Aaron's sister Samantha is thrilled "most of the time."

 

2002

Holiday Tree Lighting and Open House — Saturday, Dec 7, afternoon

2003

	Easter Egg Hunt — Saturday, April 19
	WestSide Art Walk — Saturday, May 3
	HartFest — May 23 & 24
	Rocking Chairs — June 13 thru August 16
	Summer Nights — June 10 thru July 29
	National Night Out — Tuesday, August 6
	Hot Time / Cool Village Art Fair — Saturday, August 16
	TosaFest — September 5, 6, 7

NAC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COUNCIL NEWS

• The Holiday in the Village celebration, sponsored by the Village of Wauwatosa Business Improvement District (BID), will be held Saturday, December 7, starting at 5:00. The tree lighting, choral and hand bell performances, Santa, and hot chocolate are all part of the ceremony. And on December 8 at 8:45 PM, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will make its only Milwaukee stop at Hart Park Lane (west of 72nd St.). The train is 800 feet, all lit up, and there will be entertainment. Bring a non-perishable food donation for the Tosa Food Pantry. For the BID's 2003 calendar of events, see www.wauwatosa.org. 

• A major ($6.25 B) expansion of I- 94 in the metro area is being planned. To see how it will affect our area, see www.sewrpc.org, and www.storyhill.net. 

• Bartolotta will open a pizzeria in the former Jitterz building. 

• Next year beginning in April, the village will get new street lights and new curbs.

• On Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00PM at Tosa West High School, a town hall meeting will be held to discuss options for preserving the Eschweiller Buildings and for developing the surrounding area.

• Covenant is building an office complex on Hwy 100 and I94, replacing the hotels. 

• The Interfaith Neighborhood Outreach Program is looking for volunteers to drive individuals 60 and older to appointments. Call Jean Davidson at 259-9859. 

Would anyone like to organize one of the following ideas from other associations? If so and you would like a contact person from the other association, email info@damonwoods.org.

	A chili party (Jacobus Park), say in April or next fall
	A haunted yard for Halloween (Ludington Commons)
	A Circle Supper (Olde Hillcrest)
	A Remodeler’s Group, with membership in Angie's List (Olde Hillcrest); they used to publish a contractor's list with input from the members. This year, they simply joined Angie's List, www.angieslist.com, for only $30, and they have access to the list on that web site.)

News In Lowell Damon Woods
 

KEEPING CONNECTED WITH LOWELL DAMON WOODS
What's the easiest way to keep up-to-date on the goings on in the neighborhood? Join the Damon Woods E-group. E-group members get emails reminding them of upcoming events as well as updates between newsletters. Signing up takes less than five minutes. Just go to our website www.damonwoods.org. click on About Us and then click on the on the Damon Woods email group. Just click on the link to join. It will send you an email asking you to reply to confirm and then you are set!
Joining the e-group will also allow you to send broadcast (nonpolitical) email messages to your neighbors, by simply addressing the email DamonWoods@topica.com. It's a great way to get advice on a contractor, find someone with a common interest or put out an A.P.B for a lost pet.
As a courtesy to all members, we recommend that you post items that might have an ongoing discussion on the discussion board on our website, then send out an email to the e-group asking interested parties to respond there.

DAMON HOUSE NOTE CARDS AVAILABLE
Looking for a neighborhood-related stocking stuffer? Note cards featuring our Lowell Damon House are available from the Milwaukee County Historical Society. The price is $2 for a set of five, plus 5.6% sales tax and $1 per set for shipping and handling (10% discount for members of the Milwaukee County Historical Society and the Friends of the Milwaukee County Historical Society.) For holiday delivery, checks made payable to MCHS should be sent by Dec. 15 to the Milwaukee County Historical Society, 910 N. Old World Third Street, Milwaukee, WI 53203.

LOWELL DAMON WOODS HOME
The Milwaukee County Historical Society, is still working on getting grant money to pay for a new foundation for the sagging porch on the north side of the house. There's still a need to find someone who could climb up the trees in the backyard and trim all of the deadwood. Dave Vogel reports that it would be impossible to bring in heavy equipment with a cherry picker. Let Dave know if you know of anyone who is willing to do the work.

ADULT VOLLEYBALL ANYONE?
If you are interested in playing volleyball with some of your Lowell Damon Woods neighbors, check off your interest on your membership renewal or contact a board member.
 

HOME SECURITY SURVEYS
The Wauwatosa Police Department continues to provide Home Security Surveys. If you would like an officer to come to your home, contact Laura at 471-8430, ext. 111, for an appointment.

WALKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Kathy Causier from Aberdeen Court, lower right, with her dog, Bailey, along with Trisha and Samantha Stone from 81st Street (not shown) joined the Vogel family of Pleasant Street (Dave, Chris, Paul and Jean and dogs Dodger and Winnie) and Dave's
brother, Paul Vogel, on the Lowell Damon Woods Neighborhood Association team in the
Memory Walk on Oct. 5. The Walk attracted about 2,500 walkers and raised more than
$160,000 for the Alzheimer's Association of Southeastern Wisconsin. Many other neighbors also did the Walk, on teams such as a huge one put together by the Lutheran
Home. Chris will try to pull together a team for next year's 10th Annual Memory Walk,
always the first Saturday of October. Let her know if you're interested in joining the team
or helping to sponsor a walker.

NEWSLETTER AND FLYER DISTRIBUTION
THANK YOU—The volunteers who stuffed and delivered the October newsletter were: Richard Stollberg, Jeanine Schoen, Ellie Bjorkman, Diane Kaiser-Rockenbach, Peter Hovel, Frank & Joanne Shansky, Lynn Pawelski, Debbie Koontz, Pam & Brien Christopherson, Kent & Jill Morin, Agnes Radabaugh & David Philleo, Julie Brown, Elizabeth & Paul Bargren, Jodi & Vince Hanoski. The volunteers for the Member Directories and Christmas tree flyers were: Mary Lorch, Chad Lehman, Diane Kaiser-Rockenbach, Lynn Pawelski, Mannebach, Michele Teofilo, Susan Mariscal, Phil Kroner, Margaret Leising, Frank & Joanne Shansky, Elizabeth & Paul Bargren, Dave Vogel, Jeanine and Tom Schoen, Bev Washcovic, Dave Vogel, and Colleen Poblocki. If you wish to help distribute newsletters or flyers please e-mail info@damonwoods.org.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT CONGRATULATIONS!
The Wauwatosa Police Department placed third in the nation for the National Night Out event held at Hart Park in August. Thank you to all who participated. Watch for next year's event to be even better.

TOSA FOR KIDS
This wonderful charity program, which is run by the Wauwatosa Police Department, is now accepting donations for Christmas items. All donations of non-perishable items will be accepted, however, they are in need of breakfast items such as cereal, oatmeal and breakfast bars. Also needed are women's personal hygiene items. Contact Judy Yauck at 471-8430, ext. 132, for additional information or questions. 
 

 
As a new member of the Lowell Damon Woods Neighborhood Association’s Welcome Committee, and as a woman who is three months pregnant with her first child, I have to say that I'm really excited to see what we can do to make newcomers to the LDW Neighborhood Association feel welcome and know that they're moving into a "neighborly" area. My husband, Dan, and I moved into the LDW neighborhood in June of last year, and we became members of the neighborhood association shortly thereafter, intending to get involved, meet people and be active members of our community. However, we’ve been so busy with fixing up our 107-year old house and with the normal activities of daily living that married couples our ages (28 and 36) participate in, that we haven’t made it to many of the events offered by the LDWNA. That is all changing this year. We’ve realized that we wanted to live in this city and in this neighborhood for very good reasons and we want to help others see Tosa and the LDWNA through new eyes: Ours.

Over the past year and a half, Dan and I have met so many wonderful people out on walks with our dog, and that is part of why we love Wauwatosa. The people here are friendly. We try to vary our walking route so that we can branch out into many different areas of Wauwatosa to look at all the great architecture of the houses in this area, to see which families have children that Dan’s 6-year old daughter and our baby-on-the-way can play with as they grow up, and to meet new people. We’ve been known to run into other dog-walkers meandering along, strike up conversations while our dogs get acquainted, and end up over at their houses 20 minutes later checking out the remodeling they’ve done since they bought their home-full-of-character, comparing notes about how best to re-do a kitchen, how to put in track-lighting, and other great conversations. We are both very social and outgoing people and we love when things like that occur out on a normal, everyday walk.

Dan and I also love that our neighborhood is safe. We live on Wauwatosa Avenue so we hear the ambulances, fire trucks and police vehicles rushing down the street with decent frequency, but we’ve never had a problem around our house, and we’ve not heard of our friends in the neighborhood having problems either.

There are a lot of young and middle-aged professionals and families in our area. I had dinner last night with another woman from the LDWNA who is expecting her first child as we planned a Dinner & Theater outing for our neighborhood. We’d never met before, but there wasn’t a lull in the conversation as we got to know each other and talked about our homes, our careers, our plans for our “impending arrivals.” It was great to know that I could meet a complete stranger from my neighborhood for a 2-hour dinner and leave the restaurant feeling like I’d just made a new friend. We’ve found this with many of our neighbors, both in our current neighborhood and in our old one (we own a duplex that we used to live in on the Tosa side of 70th and Center).

There are great neighborhoods in Wauwatosa – like ours - that you just don't find in the "newer" communities, where the houses are further apart and have less character and the kids are bussed to school. That’s another thing: We love how close the schools are from K through 12, and that our kids can walk to school like we did in our hometowns of Ashland, WI, for me and Flint, MI, for Dan. We like the idea that our kids will grow up in a REAL neighborhood, just like we did.

We have so many wonderful assets living in Tosa and in the LDW neighborhood that we can really emphasize to newcomers to make them realize how great a community they’re joining. And there is strength in numbers: If we can increase membership to the LDWNA and increase participation among those members in the various events and committees that make up our neighborhood association, then we can build something truly spectacular. We can have a neighborhood association that other neighborhood’s strive to build. We can be a driving force in the city of Wauwatosa to help bring about positive changes to keep the area the safe, wonderful community it is. And we can have a lot of fun together as individuals, as friends and as families if we come together and celebrate Wauwatosa and LDWNA life.

I look forward to meeting more of you, my neighbors, as the weeks, months and years go by. To those of you reading this who are new to the LDWNA, regardless of whether you’re new to Tosa, WELCOME!