As I write this, we still haven't had any appreciable snow. Sometimes I feel as though I am back in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, where winter weather was 40 degrees and raining, week after week after week. Trust me, cold and dry weather is preferable, unless you have a second home in Arizona, of course. It's hard to believe that last year at this time the children on our block were sledding off of the snow pile at the end of the street.

This begins a busy time for our neighborhood association. Our annual Winter Party is Saturday, February 23, at the Kneeland-Walker House. This is always a fun time, and a great chance to make some new friends. We are limited to about 90 people, so call early to make your reservation. (See more information.) It's also time for our annual membership drive. I want to thank all of you who were members last year, and I encourage you to join us for another year. We have increased our membership for several years in a row now, which is a trend we hope to continue.

Our new website continues to grow. It contains information about our association, pictures from recent events, and links to community-related sites. Please visit the site and let us know what you think. Jim Zinda designed the site for us, and he did such nice work that we decided we just couldn't let him go. So, at the January board meeting we asked Jim to fill the vacant board position, which he agreed to do. We're happy to have him join us. In addition, Karen Roy of Jackson Park Blvd. volunteered to help us with the Crime Watch/Safety program run by the Wauwatosa Police Dept. Karen works at the Police Dept., so this should keep us up-to-date on the latest developments in the program. Thanks, Karen.

See you at the Winter Party!

--Phil Kroner

PLAY GROUP
Mothers with preschool-aged children are invited to join in for these social gatherings for mom's and kids. This group meets on alternate Thursday's from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, email info@damonwoods.org.

CHRISTMAS 2001 IS ONE FOR THE DAMON WOODS MEMORY BOOK
With the mild temperatures of December 2001, it was hard to go wrong in staging the first Damon Woods Christmas Party outdoors. Even without the warm temperatures, this event created enough neighborhood warmth to go down in the books as an unqualified success. Here’s why: More than two dozen children visited with Santa inside the Damon House Museum. We challenge even Mayfair to top our convincing Santa (thank you, Steve Mannebach). Many children were accompanied by parents who never before had set foot inside the house. The Milwaukee County Historical Society owns the museum. It’s an architectural gem and the oldest house in Wauwatosa.

Our party was blessed with musical performers from the University of Wisconsin Alumni Marching Band (thank you, Dean Teofilo).

Our party included distribution of Christmas lawn trees that more than 75 neighbors decorated, about 20 feet yards. This tradition, started in 1996, sets our neighborhood apart, helping to create our identity. If you didn’t participate this year or were disappointed that too few neighbors joined in, now’s the time to talk up next year’s holiday celebration. Participation seems to stay at the same level each year, but each year a high percentage of participants are putting up trees for the first time. Don’t let the humbug get you down. Stick with us and watch the tradition grow. We hope you had a chance during the holidays to see the 2000 block of Pleasant Street where trees were placed in front of nine of the street’s 14 homes (thank you, Pleasant Street). This is how every street in the neighborhood should have looked.

A couple dozen spirited neighbors gathered inside the garage for the annual cookie exchange and stuck around to enjoy the music and huddle around the Damon Woods Yule log while sipping on hot cider or hot chocolate.

We can’t guarantee equally mild weather in 2002, but we’re sure we can build on this year’s experience. Please let us know your thoughts on ways to make next year’s party an even greater success.

By the way, the lighted Christmas tree, the wreath and garland decorating the Damon House once again were courtesy of the neighborhood association. Thank you to Tom Krause and Brian Bloczynski for putting up the tree.

Here are the wonderful neighbors who placed trees on their lawns in 2001. Refer back to this list a year from now and see how it has grown.

83rd Street: George and Marilyn Evaska, Kacie and James Chitwood, Judy and David Eklund, Elaine Strothenke, Delia Schowalter, Kay Cascio-Blazek, Therese and Zoar Palma, Lisa and Kevin Keyes.
Aberdeen Court: Jeanette Quindt, Mia and William Kodzik, Charlie and Kathy
Causier, John and Patti Hartwick, Joe and Genie Dally.
Church Street: Eric and Ann Anderson, Tom and Patti Krause, Paul and
Elizabeth Bargren, Tom and Jill Gaertner, Bill and Leslie Duyser, Cindy
Taira, Robin and Brian Bloczynski, Agnes Radabaugh.
Forest Street: Donna Johnson.
Jackson Park Blvd: Chris and Linda Drager, Dean and Renee Mabie, Chad and Laurie Lehman, Phil Kroner and Jean Baker, Tina Sobotta, Karen and Mark McNeely, Tom and Jeanine Schoen, William and Lois Tetzlaff, Tom Joanne Schoenecker, Dan and Sandy Hayes.
Pleasant Street: Lucy Miyazaki, Dave and Chris Vogel, Mike and Caytee
Griffin, Steve and Michelle Matthai, Linda and Dave Merklein, Jon and
Jennifer Carlson, Mike and Julie Brown, Ray and Char Allmann.
Richmond Court: Nancy and Peter Schlaikowski.
Rogers Avenue: Dan and Linda O'Brien, Marion Benz, Ann Woodward, John and Marion Griffin, Bob Storm and Cathy Shaw.
Stickney Avenue: Chris and Claudia Shea, Judy Olson and Richard Stollberg,
Dan and Lynne Green, David and Jackie Lichter, Tom and Sherry Wanta, Lynn
and Glen Pawelski, Chris and Betsy Daniels, Bill and Sandy Scallon, Jeff
Enders and Ellie Bjorkman, Bob and Margaret Gintoft, Patty and Peter Hovel,
Diane Kaiser-Rockenbach, Robert and Jennifer Weiss, Dean and Michelle
Teofilo, Ron and Jackie Daveley, Rhommer Varilla, Marilynn Bye, Terry Teske,
Mary Lou Ditore, Stefanie and Donald Rossner, Neil and Kristen Palash.
Underwood: Jack and Dona Albee, Susan and Barry Patton, Bill and Beth
Anderson.
Wauwatosa Avenue: Mary Ann and Michael Muzi, Lowell Damon House Museum.
Woodland: Rachael Ver Duin, Jerry and Margaret Leising, Ray and
Jennifer Farrell, Eunice Frieseke, Peter and Stacey Muller, Jeff and Julie
Gunderson.

NEXT BOARD MEETING
The neighborhood association’s next board meeting is at 9 a.m. on March 9th at Jitterzz. Come and have coffee and offer your ideas.

TEEN ROCK CLIMBING OUTING Based on the great time we all had last year climbing indoors and outdoors, we are going to offer it again. At dates yet to be determined in spring, we will hold at least one session at Adventure Rock to learn how to safely rock climb and then have a day outing to climb the bluffs at Devil’s Lake. This activity is open to teens. Email info@damonwoods.org if you are interested.

BOOK CLUB
Next meeting of the neighborhood book group: Wednesday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.

Book: East of the Mountains, by David Guterson (author of Snow Falling on Cedars). A retired heart surgeon sets out through the mythic American West on journey of discovery. Along the way, he meets a variety of heart-wrenching and mind-testing characters who challenge his ability to understand life's choices.

• Easter Egg Hunt - Saturday, March 30th 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Hart Fest - May 17th & 18th
• Green Market - Cancelled
• Bike Race - Sunday Jul 17th to Aug 22nd
• Summer Nights Concert Series - Every Tuesday evening, Jun 11, 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16,23 & 30. 6:30 p.m - 9:30 p.m.
• National Night Out - Tuesday Aug. 6th
• Hot Time/Cool Village - Aug 22, 23, 24
• Tosa Fest - Sep 6,7, 8
• Halloween Trick or Treat in the Village - Oct 19, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p. m.
• Holiday Tree Lighting and Open House - Saturday, Dec 7, afternoon

NAC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
Representatives of the 22 neighborhood associations in Wauwatosa meet six times a year to exchange information. The minutes are posted at http://www.wauwatosatomorrow.org. Wauwatosa Tomorrow is a group of private citizens who, since 1990, have been instrumental in the development of neighborhood associations in Wauwatosa. Meetings of the Neighborhood Association Council are open to the public. The next meeting is Wednesday, March 6,from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the Firefly Room of the Wauwatosa Public Library. 

TOSA TONIGHT AND THE MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
Tosa Tonight (the summer concert series people) has 500 tickets for sale for an upcoming Milwaukee Admirals Hockey Game. Tickets are $10.00, of which $4.00 will go toward the Tosa Tonight fund for building an outdoor performance pavilion at Hart Park. That's the WHY.

Here's the WHEN 

Saturday, February 9th
Bradley Center, 4th and Kilbourn
Milwaukee Admirals vs. Utah Grizzlies
7:00 p.m. Lover Boy
8:15 p.m. Hockey Game

Purchase tickets at: Little Read Book Store, The Flower Lady, Jitterzz, Leff’s Lucky Town, Wauwatosa Savings Bank, Hectors, Colonel Harts, The Chancery 

FUN IDEA: why not get a whole group together and purchase a bunch of tickets at one time from one of these locations. And here's the big thank you for your support of this community project.

Make Checks for tickets Payable to: Wauwatosa Village Improvement District. ($4.00 per ticket is tax deductible.)

NEWS AROUND TOSA
Neighbors may nominate candidates for Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award. Forms are available starting 1/9/2002.

LOOK FOR CRIME STOPPER TIPS IN NEXT MONTH'S NEWSLETTER.

Is There Cash In Your Trash?

	There is if you are saving General Mills/Betty Crocker Box Tops for Education, Campbell's/Pepperidge Farms Labels and Tyson A+ labels. Each Tyson A+ symbol is worth 24 cents so start collecting them now. Until there is a separate box set up at Lincoln School for this program, feel free to drop them off with your other box tops or labels at Lincoln School or my home.
Here are some suggestions to help us greatly increase our collections.

	The more people collecting, the more labels we will get, so ask your coworkers, neighbors & other family members (grandparents, aunts...) to collect, too. Offer to drop off the labels and box tops for neighbors who do not currently have children in elementary school.  Look for and participate in offers for bonus coupons.
The March mailing is the last for the school year for box tops. Please try to get your box tops turned in before the end of February, so we can get as much money this year as possible.

Remember, collecting labels is an easy and free way to help Lincoln School. In addition to Lincoln School, labels & box tops can be dropped off at most Lowell Damon Woods neighborhood functions, or at my home at 7938 Jackson Park Blvd.
For further information or questions, email info@damonwoods.org.

Thanks,
Karen McNeely

Then you should know about the Adoptive Family Connections – an organization dedicated to providing education, support, and resources for prospective, new and experienced adoptive families in the greater Milwaukee area. The Mission of Adoptive Family Connections is to connect families and children touched by adoption and the professionals who serve them. Our goal is to maintain the children’s connection to their cultural heritage as well as their connection to the wider adoption community.

The Adoptive Family Connections sponsors:

Pending Parents – a seminar series for prospective adoptive parents, covering legal, health, and social aspects of both domestic and international adoption. The seminars are presented by some of the most experienced social workers, lawyers, agency representatives, and adoptive parents in the area. They are held monthly at The Adoption Network, 1126 S. 70th St., West Allis. For information about the series, call 414 475-1246.

Gatherings for adoptive families – Summer and winter get-togethers with activities for the family, giving parents a chance to meet and share experiences. A bimonthly Newsletter – with articles on parenting, resources, and the adoption experience, plus a calendar of local and national events.

For information on membership in the Adoptive Family Connections, email info@damonwoods.org.

News in Lowell Damon Woods

GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY AND HELP WITH THE GARDENS!
We’ve got an ambitious plan for restoring the gardens of the Damon House and could use your help this spring and summer.

We’ll be digging about from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, May 4th and 18th, thinning out some of the overgrown patches and transplanting some plants. Bring a spade and join us.

The same goes for Saturday, June 1, when we’ll be planting a few flats of annuals.

The less glamorous work of weeding and watering follows with our garden group tackling these chores on the first and third Saturdays of June through October, each day from 9 a.m. until we’re done in about an hour or two. 

There no need to sign up in advance or commit yourself to volunteering all of these dates. But the gardeners would appreciate your help. There’s great satisfaction in seeing up close how the gardens are being improved. But gardening at the Damon House also is a fun way to get to meet more of your neighbors. Mark these Saturdays on your calendar and join us as often as you can.

ANNUAL GARDEN CLEAN-UP DAY APRIL 27
Bring a rake and join with your neighbors from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 27 for our neighborhood association’s annual spring clean up of the grounds of the Lowell Damon House Museum, 2107 Wauwatosa Avenue.

The non-profit Milwaukee County Historical Society owns the property. Our cleanup effort is one way of expressing thanks to the society for allowing our neighborhood association to use the grounds each year for our summer picnic, Easter Egg Hunt and annual Christmas party.

We expect to have coupons available to volunteers that are good for free admission to the County Zoo or for use of water slides at county pools.

HOP ON OVER TO THE EASTER EGG HUNT!
Mark you calendar for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt at the Damon House on Saturday, March 23rd at 10:00 a.m.

This is a free event for all the children in Damon Woods. It is packed full of fun games, crafts and even a visit by the EB himself. Grown-ups have fun watching and can bring a plate of muffins to share.

If you would be able to help with the preparations (hint: chocolate, more chocolate, and plastic eggs), or help during the event please email info@damonwoods.org.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE!
Lincoln Elementary School is looking for three more adults who enjoy children to help with the AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM. Volunteers would work under the direction of a Lincoln Teacher and would be with the same student(s) until the end of May. These 1st through 5th graders have been identified as needing a little extra guidance to achieve their full potential. There are currently about 25 students being served.

The program meets every Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Lincoln. There could be a Monday time added if there are enough volunteers.

This is a perfect opportunity for you to get involved with your neighborhood school and to positively influence a child’s’ education. No degree is necessary. Call soon!
Contact Tom Curtis, Principal at Lincoln at 773-1300, or email info@damonwoods.org.