Dear Neighbors -
 
Summer is finally here!!! This Friday and Saturday will be the annual Damon Woods Rummage Sale. If you are not participating as a seller, please take some time to check out the sales around the neighborhood. Fabulous deals are sure to abound.

This year’s annual meeting and picnic will be held on July 17th. To honor a number of requests, there will not be a pig this year, but instead, we will have burgers and brats. As usual, please bring a side dish or a dessert to share and chairs. By popular demand, this year's picnic will again feature the band Three blocks to Murdock. Although most people really enjoyed the band last year, there were a few comments from those who preferred talking to dancing. To try to accommodate both, we will adjust the placement and the volume of the band. We'd love your input about the changes or any other aspect of the picnic or the neighborhood association. There will be a brief survey at the picnic. If you have great ideas, or if you have a concern, make sure your voice is heard.

I also want to thank those of you who attended the TGIF at my house in April. Although we were missing some finishing touches on our new space, I think it was still a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at the TGIF at the home of Kathy and Larry Kopperud on June 25th, and at Kris and Jim Gehrke’s on July 23rd. Our goal is to have a TGIF every month. If you are interested in hosting, please contact me to set up a date!

Here's to a warm, fun-filled summer. See you all at the annual meeting and picnic.

-Karen McNeely
 

PLAY GROUP
We started off the summer season of playgroup with a play date in April at Swiss Turners Gymnastics Academy. Eight families attended and had a wonderful time playing and jumping and running around in the safe, clean atmosphere of their facility. We enjoyed snacks and coffee in their cafeteria and agreed this was a worthwhile activity for the cold and rainy seasons. Please note, there has been a change of location for the June 3rd play date since the last newsletter. The June 17th and July 15th play dates will be at Wauwatosa parks. Volunteers are needed to bring snacks, juice and coffee. In general, playgroup hours are 9:30-11:30 am and the host provides light snacks. If you have any ideas for the group, please contact Holly Dobson at info@damonwoods.org.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BOARD MEMBER?
Are you interested in helping to:

• promote communication and coordination with governmental, private and public resources; strengthen the neighborhood; ensure greater safety through block watch groups; and lessen the burdens of government ?
• promote neighborhood stability and encourage beautification projects ?
• give the neighborhood a greater sense of identity ?
• bring neighbors together for social events?

Our neighborhood association by-laws allow up to 15 board members. We have a few openings. Please call any board member to express your interest and be nominated.

DAMON WOODS GARDEN WALK 2004 POSTPONED
We are sorry to report that due to a number of conflicts, the garden walk will be have to be rescheduled until 2005. However, if you would like to help organize or volunteer your garden to be added to the walk next year, contact Karen McNeely at info@damonwoods.org.
 
UPCOMING LOWELL DAMON WOODS ASSOCIATION EVENTS

• TGIF Parties:
  Larry and Kathy Kopperud will host on June 25th.
  Jim and Kris Gehrke will host on July 23rd. The theme is tropical, so plan on wearing bright colors or tropical prints and bring an appetizer or beverage to fit the theme. We'll be out on the deck and in the yard so feel free to bring your lawn chairs. Also, bring your fun party CDs that will put us in the tropical mood. We've got Jimmy Buffet covered... See you then!!
  Future hosts: The Gintoft and LaPorte-McCanles families.
  (Contact info@damonwoods.org if you are willing to host one in the future.)
• Neighborhood Association Picnic / Annual Meeting, July 17th.

JUNE TGIF
The next TGIF will be hosted by Larry and Kathy Kopperud. It’s planned for Friday, June 25th at 7:00 pm at their home on Woodland Ave. The party will be outside, if the weather cooperates, to celebrate the beginning of summer. You may want to bring a lawn chair. Please bring an hors d'oeuvre or beverage to share! RSVP info@damonwoods.org.

6TH ANNUAL DAMON WOODS BREW-IN 
Despite an early threat of ugly weather, the 6th Annual Damon Woods Brew-in on May 8th was a big success. A crowd of about a dozen helped me, well, maybe mostly encouraged me, to brew a batch of English Summer Ale for our annual neighborhood picnic. Neighbors John Fleissner, Dave Vogel, Larry Kopperud and his daughter Kristin, Brian Bloczynski, and newcomer Elena Boles, along with some “outsiders,” turned out to share good beer and food. I had a tasty brown ale and a hoppy pale ale on tap, my wife Ellie Bjorkman made a wonderful Indian biriyani, and others brought brats, cheese, sausage, crackers and assorted snacks and wonderful beers. It was a long but fun day, with brewing starting at 9 am and the last guests leaving well after dark. Thanks to everyone for their company and help. We hope to see you next year.
 - Jeff Enders
  
BOOK CLUB
Book: The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
 
In the center of Susan Orlean's mesmerizing, true story of beauty and obsession is John Laroche, a renegade plant dealer. In 1994, Laroche and three Seminole Indians were arrested with rare orchids they had stolen from a wild swamp in south Florida, filled with some of the world's most extraordinary plants and trees. Laroche had planned to clone the orchids and then sell them for a small fortune to impassioned collectors. After he was caught in the act, Laroche set off one of the oddest legal controversies in recent memory, which brought together environmentalists, Native American activists, and devoted orchid collectors. The result is a tale that is strange, compelling, and hilarious.
 
Date: July 19, 2004 at 7:30 pm
Place: Tom and Jeanine Schoen's home on Jackson Park Blvd
 
NEXT BOARD MEETING
The neighborhood association’s next board meeting is at 9:00 a.m. on July 17th before the neighborhood association picnic. Please join us and share your ideas. The all neighborhood association meeting and board of director elections is at held during the picnic. Your vote counts!
 

 
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. 
  

 
APRIL CLEANUP AT THE DAMON HOUSE
A dozen volunteers got together on April 24 for the annual Damon House clean-up, sponsored by the neighborhood association in conjunction with Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful Inc.

Daniel and Jesse Maude McNeely, of Jackson Park Blvd., and Sam Hierseman,
 of Oakhill Ave., pitched in with raking  at the neighborhood’s annual spring
 clean-up of the grounds at the Lowell Damon House Museum, 2107 Wauwatosa Ave.

Robert Marszalkowski, a Pack 474 Cub Scout leader from
 Ludington Ave., and Damon House caretaker Art Steadman 
move fieldstone to gardens at the entrance to the museum.

ANNUAL MEETING AND PICNIC JULY 17TH
This year’s Annual Meeting and Picnic is July 17th on the Lowell Damon House grounds. The cost for members is $8 per adult and $2 for children ages 5 through 12. The cost for non-members is $12 per adult, $4 per child. Of course, the savings is a great reason to join the neighborhood association if you are not already a member. See the picnic sign-up form to sign up for the picnic and membership. Reservations are required for the picnic to get an accurate head count to order food.
 
DON'S TABLE SAW
by Rhommer Varilla
 
All my life I have enjoyed working with abstract ideas. I am generally a more cerebral person than a tactile person. I have not really done anything you would consider “handy.”
I’m a musician. For most of my professional career, I wrote software to solve business problems. Now I spend more time thinking strategically and planning solutions, rather than implementing them. I enjoy philosophical musings. I have studied ancient martial arts. I guess if I had my choice, I would not have been born in the 20th century. I would have reveled somewhere in the middle of the Renaissance period.
 
Here I sit today in the living room of our classic early 20th century Wauwatosa bungalow. You know the kind... charming, quaint, and welcoming. These are all the words you’ll find in the fact sheet of the house you bought. You may also know that those words can be akin to “needs paint,” “windows need replacement,” “carpeting needs replacement,” “needs a new garage,” and “not enough storage space.”
 
Well, we have painted almost every room in the house. We started replacing the storm/screen windows. Half of the carpeting has been replaced. Our garage was finished in March of this year.
 
If you walk by our house this week, like many of you will, take a look down our driveway. You’ll likely see a garage door open and a jungle full of unorganized stuff. It’s pretty much everything that was in the old garage and everything that was stuffed in the nooks and crannies of the attic and basement storage.
 
What does that have to do with Don’s table saw?!
 
Some of you know Don. Or at least hear Don’s table saw. You see, Don built his own garage! He built his children’s play set. He made his own windows for his house. He put up his own fence! This spring, he finished his gazebo! Who KNOWS what he has built in his house!
 
Now it’s my turn. I want to pound nails, screw screws, and whatever else it takes to “be handy.” Yeah, I got your standard tools: hammer, power drill, tape measure, socket set. You know, the tools that you can get in the hardware aisle at Target. It’s right next to the prefabricated shelves, plastic storage containers, and Drain-O.
 
To solve my storage shortage, I scoured the Internet for garage storage solutions. Too expensive. So ,I decided to make my own noise. I bought a table saw! I even read the manual.
 
Yippee! It only took my two hours to assemble it. It only took me three days to overcome my fear of losing a digit. It only took me two weeks to decide on a design for corner shelves in the garage! I can now stow away a boom box, some citronella candles, and replacement flood lights. Go figure, my garage still looks the same.
 
I have searched the Internet, used book stores, and Amazon.com for shelving designs that will prove to be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and would make Frank Lloyd Wright proud of me. The fact is, I just need to store boxes, painting supplies, and tubs of stuff!
I have spent more time thinking about building than building!
 
This week I will start building the rest of the shelves! I WILL stow away more stuff. I WILL Feng Shui our garage!
 
If not, Don, what is your hourly rate? If you don’t have the time, can I put my stuff in your garage?

 - Editor's note: Don lives two doors down from Rhommer and Peggy Varilla on Stickney.

EASTER EGG HUNT A SUCCESS!
The annual Easter Egg Hunt, held at the Lowell Damon House on April 3rd was a great success. There were over 50 children who enjoyed face painting, decorating cookies, finding eggs, and of course, meeting the Easter bunny. The grown-ups had their own fun, socializing with neighbors while enjoying snacks and coffee.

A big thanks to Laura Glawe, Meg Lee, and Donna Johnson for their help coordinating this event and to the many neighbors and Girl Scouts that volunteered their time. We are also grateful to the following for their generous donations: Mike Day of Dependable Auto for bringing us the Easter bunny, Lighting Accessories for sponsoring the cookie decorating station, Carol Smiles of M&M/Mars for donating candy, and Anodyne Roasting Co. for supplying the coffee.

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.
   

	June 23, 2004 Wednesday 6-9 pm, Jacobus Park Honey Creek Parkway, east of 68th Street 6:00 pm - Kenny Todd Blues Band 7:00 pm - Main Act: Johnny Sparkle and the Doo-Wop Daddies
	July 14, 2004 Wednesday 6-9 pm, Wisconsin Ave. Park  10400 W. Wisconsin Ave 6:00 pm - Desperate Measures 7:00 pm - Main Act: Willy Porter
	August 3, 2004 Tuesday 5:30-9:45 pm, Hart Park Football Field 72nd and Chestnut - south of State Street  National Night Out Celebration “Hart Park After Dark” Main Act: Geoff Landon and The Wolfpack
	August 18, 2004 Wednesday 6 - 9 pm, Hoyt Park Approximately 82nd and Menomonee River Parkway 6:00 pm - Stas Venglevski / Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance 7:00 pm - Main Act: Seven Nations

These wonderful concerts are made possible by the generous support of Tosa Night Concert sponsors. Food and beverages available at 6:00 p.m. Froedtert offers a low-fat option this year. Miller products, wine, lemonade, soda and floats are available, except for National Night Out, August 3. The music begins at 6:00 pm. and main act performs at 7:00 pm.
 
Rain site location is at the Muellner Building in Hart Park, 72nd south of State Street. Proceeds benefit the Hart Park Rotary Stage Performance Amphitheater building fund. For more information www.tosatonight.com or call 414-708-2415.

NAC—NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COUNCIL NEWS

	Bill Kappel, Director of Public Works, spoke on the 4th of July Parade chair policy (see separate article).
	Hoyt Pool was discussed briefly. Sue Black, the new Milwaukee County Parks supervisor, needs to hear from Tosans regarding their wishes about reopening the pool.
	Steve Birney of Wauwatosa Recreational Department and Officer Doug Braun, both members of the City’s Wauwatosa Youth Commission, spoke about their organization, its members and activities, and particularly its plans to pursue a skateboard park for the City. The Youth Commission has broken up into subcommittees to focus on funding, site, etc. Right now, Hart Park, Hoyt Park and Madison Park are being considered, with Hoyt being the first choice. Officer Braun has visited other area skateboard parks and has interviewed police in these areas about the frequency of disturbances. Liability by the city for injuries has been investigated as well. The Youth Commission will continue to investigate the possibility of the skateboard park, and realizes it must focus particularly on funding, since the city will not be able to contribute. Another meeting was Monday, May 24th at City Hall Civic Center Room.
	Matt Mikolajewski is the new Coordinator of WEDC (Wauwatosa Economic Development Commission). He spoke about his plans for the organization. Visit the website at www.wedc.net.
	Richard Lowe from the ETBMA (East Towne Business and Merchants Association) spoke regarding issues along North Avenue. Stroll the Avenue, which had been scheduled for June 22nd, has been cancelled. City zoning for parking continues to be an issue for this area and its ability to draw new tenants and businesses.
	Stan Zurawski, from the No Fisher Park Rezoning organization, spoke about his group and its efforts to save the green space at Fisher Park. The organization has over 750 members at this time. The group will meet with Save Tosa Schools, whose main focus is to prevent the closing of any school buildings; together, they plan to work on ways to help the school district overcome its budget shortfall, without closing schools or losing Fisher Park.
	The Wauwatosa City Health Department has reprinted their booklet, Best Walks in Wauwatosa. Neighborhood Associations can get up to 25 copies by calling Sue Javarowski at 479-8942. Individuals can also stop by the Health Department at City Hall to pick up a copy as well.

GREAT AMERICAN BAKE SALE
Dear Lowell Damon Woods Neighbors,
 
Last year we held a bake sale to support Share Our Strength in its efforts to end childhood hunger in America. Thanks to the help of neighbors, friends and family, we raised over $1,100! We are holding our second annual Great American Bake Sale and are hoping to meet or exceed last year’s donations. We really need your support!

	Date: Saturday, June 12th (rain or shine)
	Time: 8:00 am – 11:00 am
	Location: Meg and DJ Lee’s house

Our French Cafe theme was so popular last year that it will be repeated this year, with the addition of made-to-order crepes. We will also feature French music, croissants, and a silent auction of French wine and chocolate.
 
Below is a list of things we need help with to make this event a success:

	If you enjoy baking, we need a variety of baked goods: bulk or whole items such as breads, coffee cakes, pies, cakes, etc., as well as individual items such as muffins, cookies, bars, etc., or anything else you enjoy baking (preferably items that do not need refrigeration).
	Patio tables (ideally with umbrellas) and chairs.
	Volunteers to cashier for one hour between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 am.
	Volunteers to distribute flyers around the neighborhood a few days before the event. If you are willing to help with any of the above, please email Meg and DJ at info@damonwoods.org.
	Come to the bake sale whether it’s for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or coffee with a neighbor (Coffee donated by Starbucks and other beverages will also be available).
	Spread the word to your friends and family!
	If you can’t make it to the bake sale, you can still make a donation. Checks can be made out to “Share Our Strength”. Please send donations to us before June 30th.

Your contribution will fund direct service organizations across the nation and in our own community. The millions of children who go to bed hungry would appreciate your support. Here are some facts about childhood hunger:

• Thirteen million children in America are hungry or are at risk of hunger.
• Every fourth person standing in a soup kitchen line is a child.
• Hungry children are more likely to get sick and be absent from school.
• Hunger impairs a child's ability to learn in school.
• Childhood poverty is more widespread in the United States than in any other industrialized country.

Thank you in advance for your support.
- Meg and DJ Lee
 
INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE SAFETY
Bill Kappel, head of the Wauwatosa Department of Public Works, spoke at the May NAC meeting and asked that we pass on the following information. The Independence Day Parade will be held on Monday, July 5th. The parade will start at 9:00 am from the Mayfair Mall parking lot and go east on North Avenue to 80th Street. Per city ordinance (passed last year) no spaces may be reserved PRIOR TO 6:00 am on the day of the parade. All chairs, ropes, blankets, etc, found prior to that time will be confiscated and taken to city yards.
  

GOING GLOBAL!
Congratulations to the Longfellow "Destinations in Time" team members, who will represent Longfellow and the State of Wisconsin at the DI Global Tournament at the end of May. The tournament will be held at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The team members are Marty Schoen (Jackson Park Blvd) and Alex Bzdawka (6th graders), Loren Weingarten (7th grade) and Rachel Elliott and Alicia Doberstein (8th graders); team managers are John Bzdawka and Jim Elliott.
 
The Longfellow “Destinations in Time" team worked for more than six months to create an elaborate solution to its long-term challenge. Its entirely team-constructed and designed, mechanical Egyptian tomb uses electric and hydraulic power to automatically inflate a miniature sun, open the tomb door, and rotate and transport the entire pyramid several feet, allowing the judges and audience members to view both the interior and exterior of the tomb. The team members used their technical, musical, artistic and improvisational skills to complete the challenge solution. They received a Renaissance Award for the design of the pyramid and outscored every team in its category to take first place in the state competition. Wish them luck at the Global Tournament at the end of May, sure to be an incredible experience no matter the outcome!

FRIDAY NIGHT FISH FRY AT LAKEFRONT BREWERY, JUNE 18TH
What’s more Wisconsin than a Friday night fish fry? Join your neighbors for a fish fry at Lakefront Brewery on Friday, June 18th. Besides dinner, they have a live polka band, and tours of the brewery. If the weather is nice, there’s also a deck overlooking the Milwaukee River.
 
The fish fry is served from 4 to 9 pm. We plan on meeting at 6 pm, and maybe catching the 7 pm brewery tour. Lakefront Brewery is at 1872 N Commerce Street, just north of downtown Milwaukee. Their phone number is 414-372-8800. For more information, email info@damonwoods.org. RSVPs would be appreciated, but don't worry if you decide to show up at the last minute. Hope to see you there.

2004 ALL-NEIGHBORHOOD RUMMAGE SALE
Don’t forget to come to the all neighborhood rummage sale on Friday, June 4 from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday, June 5 from 8 am to 4 pm.
This has been a perennial success with many neighbors participating (and getting good deals, too).

 
 
  
HARVEST FEST VOLUNTEERS
The Second Annual Harvest Fest has been scheduled for Sunday, October 10th (the Packers play on Monday night) from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm.
Your price of admission is your best chili, your favorite fall dessert, or an
appetizer. The location is to be determined. There will be activities for children, including a coloring contest and games. There are no prizes for the best chili, just your pride. Watch for a flier in the next newsletter. Karen Roy and Kris Gehrke are co-chairs this year. If you can help or wish to participate, contact Karen or Kris at info@damonwoods.org.
  
NEWSLETTER AND FLYER DISTRIBUTION
THANK YOU- to those who helped deliver the April newsletters: Ellie Bjorkman, Beth Brown, Pam Christopherson, Kris and Jim Gehrke, Peter, Lily and Patty Hovel, Diane Kaiser-Rockenbach, Phil Kroner, Laurie Lehman, Erin and Linda Merklein, Kathy Mannebach, Susan Patton, Agnes Radabaugh, Lauren and Kevin Rea, Michele Teofilo, and Dave Vogel.If you would like to help deliver, contact Karen McNeely at info@damonwoods.org.