Dear Neighbors -
 
What a wonderful night we had for the winter party this year. More than 50 Damon Woods neighbors gathered in the festively decorated Kneeland-Walker house for a night of good cheer. While the food was good, the conversation around the table was more centered around the dishes, or should I say one of the serving bowls. While Agnes Radabough was unable to be there, she did lend us a serving bowl from the Damon Wood collection that she had picked up a few years ago. While there doesn't seem to be any correlation to our neighborhood, it was a curious coincidence.
 
Looking forward, there are a few upcoming events. Please join us on February 18th for the TGIF at the home of Mike and Kay Collins of Woodland Ave. We are still looking for a March host for a TGIF. The annual Easter egg hunt will take place at the Damon house on Saturday, March 19th at 10:00 AM. Bring the kids for a hopping good time.
 
I ask those of you who have not filled out your membership form to please do so soon. A list of those who have already paid is included on the membership form. Last year we had 215 member households which is great! We'd like to see all of those and more this year. Don't forget to include any special interests (even if they are not listed) or suggestions you may have as we will use this information to plan future events and groups.
 
One final note, with the school board vote to close Wilson school, this is a difficult time for the affected families. Many of the Wilson children are slated to come to Lincoln. I'd ask each of you to keep the Wilson families in your thoughts as they deal with this painful situation.

Karen McNeely
 

PLAY GROUP NEWS
The neighborhood play group is open to all moms, dads and kids in the neighborhood association. We will meet on the Thursdays listed below from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The host house provides light refreshments for all. Please join us for a morning of fun! Contact Julie Janisch with questions at info@damonwoods.org.

UPCOMING LOWELL DAMON WOODS ASSOCIATION EVENTS

TGIF Parties: If you are interested in hosting a future TGIF, please contact Kris Gehrke at info@damonwoods.org. This is a great opportunity to enjoy yourself with new and old neighbors. 

FEBRUARY-APRIL TGIF PARTIES
Here's the schedule for the upcoming TGIFs. Please bring an appetizer and beverage to share with the group. The fun starts at 7 p.m.

BUNKO ANYONE?
We are looking for ladies who are interested in joining our monthly Bunko group either as a permanent player or a substitute. We meet the first Thursday of every month and each player is responsible for hosting in her home once per year. We put in $5 each time we meet to go into the prize fund that gets distributed at the end of each night. We meet from 7-9ish with one hour of Bunko play time and the rest of the night is for socializing and snacking. It's fun, easy to learn and doesn't take a lot of concentration. Once a year we even let the men play when we host couples Bunko. Surprisingly, they were quite competitive!
Please contact Kris Gehrke, if you are interested in playing in either capacity, at info@damonwoods.org.
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BOOK CLUB
Date: March 28th, 2005 at 7:30 pm 
Place: Peter and Stacey Muller's home
The book will be Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold.
 
In Carter Beats the Devil, Gold subjects the past to the same wondrous transformations as the rabbit in a skilled illusionist's hat. Gold's debut novel opens with real-life magician Charles Carter executing a particularly grisly trick, using President Warren G. Harding as a volunteer. Shortly afterwards, Harding dies mysteriously in his San Francisco hotel room, and Carter is forced to flee the country. Or does he? It's only the first of many misdirection's in a magical performance by Gold.

NEXT BOARD MEETING
The neighborhood association’s next board meeting is at 9:00 a.m. on March 12th at the Mad Mug Coffee Shop, on the corner of 80th and Burleigh. Please join us and share 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 or accomplishments in your family. Pass it on to Larry Kopperud at info@damonwoods.org for inclusion in the next newsletter. 
  

 
NEW TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
Do you know of any family that has recently moved into the Lowell Damon neighborhood? The neighborhood welcoming committee would like to make sure they are presented with a welcoming packet. Please contact Kathy Kopperud, or info@damonwoods.org, so we can officially welcome the newcomer. 

A NEW MERTZ!
Mark and Stephanie Merz of Woodland Ave, received a last minute tax deduction when Henry Joseph Merz was born on December 31, 2004. Henry was 7 lbs, 11 oz and 21 inches long at birth. Henry has a big sister, Elizabeth, who is 22 months old.

VARILLA BABY!
Rhom and Peg Varilla of Stickney Ave proudly announce the birth of their new son, Vanner Vita Ray Varilla, born on January 18, 2005 at 6:50 am. While only weighing 5 lbs, 11 oz and 19 inches long at birth, Vanner is doing fine. According to his parents, he has the best temperament, he's a quiet little guy who just makes some noise when he is ready to eat. Otherwise, he is one content kid! Vanner's sister Lily is doing fine, although she is teething. She is too busy feeling miserable to even notice that there is another baby in the house!

WINTER PARTY A SUCCESS!
Our annual Neighborhood Association Winter Party was held January 8th at the Kneeland Walker House. Well over 60 neighbors attended and enjoyed the refreshments and conversation. Many thanks to Anne Fee for organizing this event.

WAUWATOSA'S WINTER WONDERLAND
The January 22nd snowstorm was an unplanned neighborhood event! Mother Nature had fun playing with us by providing 13" of powdery, drifting snow, prompting event cancellations, but providing an infinite playground to young and old alike. 

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” as the subject.
 
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.
   

NAC—NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COUNCIL NEWS
Representatives from Tosa’s 25 neighborhood associations meet every other month. Here are some highlights and information from the January 12th meeting. Anyone is welcome to attend NAC meetings. They are always interesting and informative. The next NAC meeting will be held on March 9th at 6:30 p.m. at Harwood Place Community Room, 8220 Harwood Avenue.

	Officer Paul Leist reported that August 2, 2005 is the date for National Night Out. Overall crime was down 2%, but burglaries were down 25%. Police calls to Mayfair Mall were down 5%.
	Officer Judy Yauck, who is the chairperson of the Tosa For Kids Food Pantry, urged neighborhood associations to sponsor food drives. The pantry is very poorly stocked right now.
	Guest speaker Mayor Estness reported: Plans for Hart Park are on hold until the MMSD finalizes their plans for the flood plain in the area. There will be ample opportunity for Tosa citizens to be involved in plans for the park design, and, of course, fundraising will need to be done. Regarding the Eschweiler Buildings; the City and County need to agree on design criteria for the development of this 60 acre area. Any plans submitted by developers must include the restoration and use of the Eschweiler buildings. Mayor Estness said she would like to see a small scale hotel/convention center there, with a small amount of retail shopping.   She supports the ‘bistro’ proposal for the Little Red Store. She also reported that construction of the GE Medical Center is on schedule. The complex should open about this time next year.   The area around 124th and Burleigh (this is referred to as the Burleigh Triangle) needs to be redeveloped, since Roundy’s and other large manufacturing plants have left empty space. Mayor Estness said her vision for the area is a complex of A1 office space, some high-end retail shopping, like the Sendik’s Square complex in Brookfield, and some condos which would overlook the third hole of the Currie golf course.
	It is time once again to make nominations for the Wauwatosa Distinguished Citizen Award. You can contact Linda Janis at lzj5123@sbcglobal.net for more information. Nominations forms are available at City hall. Nominations are due February 27th, and the banquet will be held on April 21st.
	Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 9th, when the Wauwatosa PTA Council will be sponsoring a School Board candidate forum. The time and location are to be announced.

BLARNEY RUN/WALK IS MARCH 12TH
With spring just around the corner, the 14th Annual Blarney Run/Walk on Saturday, March 12th, is a great kick-off to the season. The event starts and ends at the Hart Park Track and benefits the Wauwatosa Historical Society’s preservation and education activities.
A 3.1-mile run and 2-mile walk begin at 11:30 a.m. The Twinkle Trot, for children aged 10 and under, begins at 12:15 p.m. Advance registration is $18 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under, with day-of-race registration costing $20 and $7.
 
The first 700 Blarney Run/Walk participants will receive a commemorative long-sleeved T-shirt. Children will receive a short-sleeved Tshirt and participation award.
Refreshments will be served after the Run/Walk, and awards will be given to overall male and female winners, the first three males and females in each age group, and the top wheelchair finisher. 
 
Registration forms are available at the Wauwatosa Library reference disk, Rodiez’s Running Store and the Kneeland-Walker House, 7406 Hillcrest Dr., and on the society’s Website: www.wauwatosahistoricalsociety.org. For information, call (414)774-8672 or see the Website.

TOSA EAST MURAL CELEBRATION
Celebrate the completion of the mural restoration at Wauwatosa East High School at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Refreshments will be served, and the story of the Tosa High Project will be told. The many generous donors will be recognized, as well. If you haven’t yet seen the project in the old lobby at Tosa East, with restoration of ornamental plasterwork in the ceiling, beautiful ceramic tilework and, of course, the restoration of the 1934 murals, take this opportunity to celebrate with the Wauwatosa Historical Society.

LINCOLN SCHOOL’S “MISS G”
How many four or five year olds do you know that can identify and appreciate the artistic styles of Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Michelangelo, Warhol, and other famous artists? Well if you know any of the 4k students of Miss “G”audynski at Lincoln, then you know at least a few.
Living in the Damon Woods Neighborhood, you undoubtedly have heard the legend of how great a kindergarten teacher Miss “G” is. The first day of school you may mistakenly expect to meet a warm fuzzy teacher, but Miss “G’s” matter of fact style quickly makes the kids forget any anxiety they may have. If only she could do the same for the misty eyed moms! Miss “G’s” teaching philosophy centers on the whole child and it shows. By the end of the year the kids leave Junior Kindergarten with an appreciation for fine art, jazz and other musical styles, generosity to others through a service project and a certain degree of independence. Miss “G” is not only their teacher for reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic, but also for gym, music and art and she does an amazing job at all of them.
Kindergarten registration is at Lincoln (and all Wauwatosa public elementary schools) on Tuesday, February 1st from 1-4 pm and Wednesday, February 2nd from 4-7 pm.
 

NEIGHBORHOOD EASTER EGG HUNT MARCH 19TH

‘MYSTERY NIGHT’ FEB. 19TH
If you’re free on Saturday, Feb. 19 th, join Damon Woods neighbors for Mystery Night at the KneelandWalker House. The Hysterical Players will perform “A Hull of a Night,” (written by Wauwatosan Peggy Katz) as the audience helps to solve a mystery. Tickets for the popular Mystery Nights are $25, and they go fast. (Tickets also are available on Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 11, 12, 18, 19 or 25.) Beverages and hors d’oeuvres are served. Call the Wauwatosa Historical Society, 774-8672, for tickets.
 
The setup is that more than 100 years ago, freed slave Moses Hull died in Wauwatosa, where he spent the last 50 years of his life. Hull was a plantation-trained carpenter and carver, and today the fine furniture he built for his master on the Beauchamp plantation in Georgia, as well as the more primitive pieces he made for his fellow slaves, have become museum-quality antiques. A recent local discovery may well be the work of Hull and has created a buzz in the world of antiques. The discovery has also attracted the attention of the popular cable TV show, Antique Byways. The show, being “taped” at the Kneeland-Walker House, features host Kip Bevelsworth and his talented panel of appraisers decide … is it trash or is it treasure! But be forewarned. An unsavory character or two may be in the house to ensure the panel’s outcome is favorable. And if it isn’t, well, all Hull could break loose! 

LINCOLN PACK 474 PINEWOOD DERBY
The annual Pinewood Derby for Cub Scout Pack 474, based at Lincoln Elementary School, was held January 11th. Thirty-three scouts entered cars, which are made from a kit that includes a pine block, four wheels and four nails to attach the wheels. All cars must weigh 5 ounces or less, and are run on a four lane downhill track, using only gravity for power.
 
A trophy was awarded for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fastest cars in the Pack. This year’s winners were Cyrus Hoppe with a scaled speed of 167.3 mph (1st place), Merrick Wells at 165.9 mph (2nd), and Peter Minix at 165.4 (3rd). Additional trophies were awarded for the most original Car Design (Nathan Schoen for his Sponge Bob Squarepants car) and for Best Craftsmanship (Max Deveraux’s replica of a Police Interceptor squad car). The fastest car in each Den (grade level) received a trophy as well. This year’s Den winners were Merrick Wells in Den 1 , William Gorecki in Den 2 (165.0 mph), Bobby Russ in Den 3 (155.8 mph), Cyrus Hoppe in Den 4 (Peter Minix had the misfortune of competing against Cyrus for both the Pack trophy and the Den 4 trophy), and Sam Rose in Den 5 (160.7 mph)

Front row - Peter Minix, Merrick Wells, and Cyrus Hoppe. 
Back row - Merrick Wells, Joe Devereaux, and Bracken Heiges.

After the evening’s main event, cars built by parents competed in the Parents Division race. Bracken Heiges won that race with a speed of 170.0 mph, and will take possession of the traveling Parents Division trophy, pending the results of the mandatory steroids test.
There has been speculation among the Pack administrators that next year’s Pinewood Derby at Lincoln may include a separate race open to the public at large.
 
Pack 474 unveiled a brand new extruded aluminum Pinewood Derby track for this year’s race. A donation from the Richard G Jacobis Family Foundation made the purchase of the new track possible. Rob Bertz donated a computer to run the timing and race organization software. Although the Pack owns a wooden track, it is in poor condition. In the past, the Pack has rented a track from another Scout Pack for the race.

NATIONAL NO TV WEEK
The neighborhood is looking to plan a variety of events to support National No TV week 4/25 - 5/1. If you would like to help coordinate or if you just have ideas for either indoor or outdoor activities that might help all of us forget the boob tube and get more physical, meet more neighbors, or do more reading, please email Karen McNeely at info@damonwoods.org.

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION
THANK YOU—to those who helped deliver the January newsletters! Ellie Bjorkman, Jeanine Schoen, Michele Teofilo, Diane KaiserRockenbach, Betsy Daniels, Kathy Mannebach, Karen McNeely, Beth Brown, Frank and Joanne Shansky, Pam Christopherson, Agnes Radabough, Linda and Erin Merklein, Cathy Kebbekus, Kathleen Romfoe.
If you would like to help deliver, contact Karen McNeely.