June 2007

 This year just keeps moving right along. It will not be long for school to be out and for summer to be here; vacations, festivals, fireworks, picnics, the beach, and outdoor fun. What do you have planned for this summer?

I want to take a moment and ask for more involvement from everyone in our wonderful neighborhood. Many of us have special talents  or perhaps have children who have accomplished many things. Why not write something about it for our newsletter? After all, is that not what the neighborhood association is about, our neighbors?

How about new ideas for different events that can make our neighborhood even more exciting? Organize or suggest an event that can involve more of our neighbors; how about a Gumball Rally to someplace exciting in Wisconsin, maybe a group trip to Old World Wisconsin or a sporting event. We do have many exciting teams to support throughout the year (see Brewer’s game opportunity inside). Someone could even organize a group to go to one of the festivals. Maybe another wine tasting group or theater group, we have many wonderful playhouses around the greater Milwaukee area. Whatever your fancy, why not get more of our neighbors involved? What a great way to meet and make new friends.

Our neighbors bring many things to Wauwatosa, especially Damon Woods; let’s share more of what we do with everyone and continue to make Wauwatosa a great place to live.
 
William Duyser
President
 

DAMON WOODS NEIGHBOR’S LOVE OF LANDSCAPING

The yard outside Tom and Patti Kraus’ home at 2014 Church Street is a work of art in so many ways. Tom, a retired art teacher, has designed and built almost every aspect of their garden. This includes the trellis seen in the background of the photo, as well as the water fountain, and the creek leading to the fish pond, which is stocked with Koi. He has put into reality the ideas he has envisioned over many years and has made the garden a special sight to see. The garden can be toured during the 13^th annual Secret Gardens of Wauwatosa, 10 am to 5 pm July 14, rain or shine.

 HOW 'BOUT THEM BREWERS! 

Jim Gehrke is organizing a Brewers Tailgate party for members of the Damon Woods Neighborhood association.  Come and see the National League Central division leaders (currently) and soon-to-be World Series champs (hopefully) take on the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park on Saturday, September 15th.  The game starts at 6:05PM, but the tailgating fun starts at 4PM. The cost is $30 per person which includes your ticket, parking and tailgate food.  Sign up for the festivities with the form found on our forms page.

2007 TOSA EVENTS

• June 22^nd (Friday)— Annual Rummage Sale,  9:00 am - 5:00 pm and June 23^rd (Saturday) from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

• July 19th—Annual Meeting (changed from Pig Roast date.)

• August 4 - Firefly Art Fair

• August 7 - Wauwatosa National Night Out

• September 9th – Pig Roast-Picnic

• October 28 - Citywide Trick-or-Treat, in village

2007 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Wauwatosa’s Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee in cooperation with the Wauwatosa Police Department is pleased to announce that National Night Out 2007 has been scheduled for Tuesday August 7^th, 2007. Wauwatosa Savings Bank has once again agreed to be our major sponsor. NNO is designed to; heighten crime prevention awareness, generate participation in anti-crime efforts, strengthen community spirit and partnerships, and organize neighborhoods against crime.

The theme for our 13^th annual event is “Night Skies and Fireflies”. This year’s celebration will take place at Hart Park at 7300 W. Chestnut Street between 4:00 and 10:00 pm.

The event is free and everyone is welcome. Attendees may elect to officially register for the traditional “family flashlight walk against crime”. All participants who register for the flashlight walk will receive a commemorative t-shirt, a flashlight, and sponsored checkpoint items along the 1.5 mile walk route through the village area. Registration remains family priced at $8.00 per person or $19.00 for a family of up to five.

Our registration kick-off is in conjunction with the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers annual “Pancakes With Mom” pancake breakfast on Sunday, May 13^th, 2007 between 8:00 am and NOON.

Starting May 14^th, you will be able to register at the Little Read Book Store at 7603 W. State Street (during regular business hours.

When: Tuesday August 7^th, 2007: 4:00-10:00 pm.

Where: Hart Park, 7300 W. Chestnut Street.

4:00-8:00 PM: Scheduled family fun including: live entertainment, games, inflatable rides, coloring contest, safety displays, health and wellness exhibits, consumer protection information, kiddy train rides, and more. Food and refreshments will be available at family friendly prices.  Wauwatosa Savings Bank is a major sponsor of the event.

8:00 PM: “Family Flashlight Walk Against Crime.”

9:30 PM: Bartolotta Fireworks!!                                             

PLAY GROUP NEWS

Playgroup is regularly held on alternating Thursday mornings from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, with snacks provided by the host or hostess. Playgroup is a great time for the children to interact with one another while giving parents the chance to share stories and advice over cups of coffee.  We love to have new families join us, so if your busy summer schedule provides the opportunity, please do!   We would love to see you!
-Laurie Norman

UPCOMING TGIF PARTIES

July 20th — Kris and Jim Gehrke of 83rd Street

Aug 17^th — Tom and Jeanine Schoen of Jackson Park Boulevard 

Sept 21st — Rhommer and Peggy Varilla of Stickney Ave

TGIFs begin at 7:00 pm. We ask that you bring an appetizer and beverage to pass. These events are open to all Damon Woods neighbors and are a very casual way to meet new neighbors or do some catching up with old friends. If you have any questions about the TGIFs or if you are interested in being a future host please contact Kris Gehrke through the Damon Woods Neighborhood Association web site.

Please look for our official "TGIF" sign posted on the front lawn of our hosts' home the week leading up to the event.
-Kris Gehrke.

TASTE OF TGIF

It’s not new news that we have put recipes in the newsletters for quite some time now. We are putting a new spin on it though. We will be including recipes from the TGIFs under the banner “Taste of TGIF.” Here are two great recipes from the last TGIF, held at Mike and Kay Collins’ home on May 18^th. And as always, check the dates in the TGIF parties column to see when the next events are scheduled and look for the “TGIF Here” lawn sign as a reminder.

Marinated Cheese

A tasty, colorful, and best of  all, make-ahead appetizer!

 Marinade Ingredients

• ½ cup olive oil

• ½ cup white vinegar

• 1 (2 oz.) bottle pimento, drained

• 3 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

• 1 tsp. sugar

• ¾ tsp. dried basil

• ½ tsp. salt

• ½ tsp. fresh ground pepper

 Combine marinade ingredients in a small jar. Shake well to blend.

• 1 (8) oz. package cream cheese

• 1 (8) oz. brick cheddar cheese

• 1 (8) oz. brick Monterey Jack cheese

 Cut each block of cheese into ¼ inch slices and then into squares. (Freezing the cream cheese until just firm, makes the cutting much easier.) Stand the slices on end in a shallow baking pan. Pour marinade over, cover, and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

Arrange alternate slices of cheese on a platter, drizzle with a bit of remaining marinade and serve with crackers

Wild Mushroom & Gruyere Tart

 Prepare and bake pie crust in 8” tart pan with removable bottom.  Let cool.

 Filling

•  1 tablespoon unsalted butter

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 6 oz mixed fresh wild mushrooms such as cremini, oyster, and chanterelle

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot

• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/2 cup crème fraîche

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1 whole large egg

• 1 large egg yolk

• 2 cups grated Gruyere Cheese

 Heat butter and oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté mushrooms, shallot, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are tender and any liquid given off is evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature.

 Whisk together crème fraîche, heavy cream, whole egg, yolk, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl until combined.

 Preheat oven temperature to 325°F. Scatter mushrooms evenly in tart shell, sprinkle grated cheese over mushrooms and then pour custard mixture over the top. Bake tart in pan on a baking sheet until custard is just set and slightly puffed, 35 to 45 minutes.

 Cool tart in pan on rack at least 20 minutes, then remove side of pan. Serve tart warm or at room temperature.

BOOK CLUB
Date:     July 23^rd, at 7:30 pm.
Place:    Joyce Haight's’s home on Woodland
Book:  Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
 
Beginning with a detailed and heartbreaking description of Lily and her sisters' foot binding ("Only through pain will you have beauty. Only through suffering will you have peace"), the story widens to a vivid portrait of family and village life.

2007 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 22^nd from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday, June 23^rd from 8 am to 3 pm.

 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 which can be found on our forms page and return it (along with $3.00 for non-member) to Karen McNeely Jackson Park Blvd. by Wednesday, June 6^th.  You can then pick up your balloons, maps and seller’s list from Karen on Wednesday, June 20^th. 

If you have any questions please call Karen .

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Learn How Lifestyle Choices Affect Your Brain.  Friday, June 8^th from 11:30-1:00 pm at Lutheran Home, 7500 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa.  Get the latest research on maintaining brain health!  Renowned speaker, Diana Kerwin, MD will provide a wealth of information regarding brain wellness.  Learn how memory works, learn what is normal, what is not, and be able to tailor your lifestyle to maximize brain wellness. Enjoy a complimentary lunch.  To attend, please RSVP by calling 258.6170, ext. 750

NEXT BOARD MEETING

Plan to join us on Thursday, July 19^th at 7:00 pm at Vino 100 for our meeting.

Change can be a good thing. Sometimes it is inevitable and in some cases, it is necessary. In the case of the annual Pig Roast-Summer Picnic-Annual Meeting it is a little bit of all of these.

Over the last few years, we've noticed our attendance at the summer event decline. As much as we all love Damon Woods, summer vacations away from this great neighborhood seem to be part of every family's plan. In addition, our original Pig Roast chairperson unexpectedly became unable to continue as chair and we had no one else that could do it on short notice. Taking all these factors, as well as our budget shortfall into consideration, the board voted to move our annual Pig Roast-Picnic to Sunday, September 9^th. With vacation season over and school starting, the Board of Directors feels we will get a bigger turnout. And we know many of you will still be in a festive mood as Tosa Fest takes place that same weekend!

Per our by-laws, it is still necessary to hold our Annual Meeting in July and we have had manychanges to the board that need to be voted on.  Plan to join us on Thursday, July 19^th at 7:00 pm at Vino 100 for our meeting.

 
NEWS TO SHARE?
Has someone in the neighborhood had a birth? How about newsworthy items or accomplishments in your family. Pass it on to Larry Kopperud through the contact us page for inclusion in the next newsletter.
 

NEWCOMERS

Lynn Rutkeiwicz is the contact for new families moving into Damon Woods. You can contact her through the contact us page to let her know of a new neighbor or to notify
her that you are a new neighbor. We would like to make sure we welcome all new neighbors to Damon Woods.

ROTARY CLUB FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT

This August, 17 year old Pin-Yen Lee, will begin his year as a Rotary exchange student. He will arrive in Wauwatosa from his home in Taiwan. Pin-Yen will attend Wauwatosa East High School. Pin-Yen does not have a westernized name yet!

The Rotary club is sponsoring Pin-Yen and is looking for two additional host families in the neighborhood. We have Pin-Yen's first host family, who will host Pin-Yen from August till December.  Additional families are needed to host Pin-Yen from December through March 2008 and April through early July 2008. Rotary likes to have three families share in the hosting to give the student a diversity of family experiences.

Hosting an exchange student is a wonderful experience that will enrich your family. Rotary exchange students are great kids that are selected on their academic merit, emotional maturity and their willingness to immerse themselves in another culture for one academic year... usually in their junior or senior year of high school.  We ask that they be treated as you would treat your own children, which includes treating them as a family member giving them normal household chores and a safe nurturing home stay.

For more information please contact Kurt or Barb Mueller

DAMON WOODS BLOCK WATCH NEWS

by Karen Roy

I started to write this article back in March after a particularly warm day. The next day at work, I looked at the police calls from the night before as I do every day in my job as a Records Clerk at the Wauwatosa Police Department. It reminded me how great it is to be living in our neighborhood. Damon Woods is one of the safest, crime-free neighborhoods in the city. I, for one, would like to see it stay that way. That warm evening led to many calls about speeding autos, loud car stereos/mufflers, and “suspicious people” throughout the city. The “suspicious people” for the most part were found to be new neighbors finally able to get out and walk around. The auto related calls are harder to track. This brings me to the real purpose of my Block Watch article.

Racing autos are a major concern in every neighborhood, especially where there are children playing outside, bicyclists, and adults like me who don’t walk so fast anymore, trying to cross the street. The SPEED LIMIT in residential areas is 25 MPH unless otherwise posted. You are allowed to go slower than that, and should when you see that your neighbors and their children are out. Please drive slowly, STOP at those stop signs and don’t cut the corners too sharply. If you know someone’s son or daughter (or one of their friends) is racing around and you feel comfortable enough to talk to the parents, do so. I’ve talked to a couple of neighbors who have told me, “If you see my son flying down the road…tell me.” Sometimes there’s a trend: the same vehicle everyday around the same time or the same vehicle always goes to a certain house. Try to note the make/model/color of the car, describe the driver, and get the license plate (with modern technology, even a partial plate may be helpful although it’s not used much for the speeders – just so you know). Our Community Support Division will take this information and attempt contact with the driver – and often one visit or call from Officer Friendly does the trick. I’ve seen it work – it’s all a part of the Neighborhood Watch program. The non-emergency number for the police department is 471.8430. Of course, if you see racing in progress, call right away. And, if you are witnessing a crime, call 9-1-1 immediately. Please, adults and teenagers, keep our streets accident free this year. Please have a healthy, happy, and safe summer.

TOM WANTA RECOGNIZED WITH "CARES ABOUT KIDS" AWARD

Tom Wanta of Stickney Avenue and the staff of the Milwaukee County Detention Center received the Wisconsin Cares About Kids Award in April. The award, sponsored by Governor Jim Doyle and the State Public Defender’s Office, formally recognizes extraordinary efforts in working with children.

Tom is superintendent of the Milwaukee County Detention Center, which works with the juvenile justice system in providing a safe environment for children ordered held in detention. 

Public Defender Board Chairman Dan Berkos said of Tom and staff that they "treat each child at the center with respect and dignity, as well as with a genuine concern for their health, education and safety.” 

 RACHEL VERDUIN COORDINATES APRON EXHIBIT AT FIREFLY ART FAIR

Bring out your aprons…

The 21^st Annual Firefly Art Fair will be 10 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 4^th and 5^th, rain or shine, in the beautiful Victorian gardens of the Kneeland-Walker House, 7406 Hillcrest Dr.

The fair, which features 90 juried artists from throughout the Midwest selling a wide variety of art, benefits the Wauwatosa Historical Society.  Stroll the gardens while listening to live music, and enjoy sandwiches, beverages and desserts.

Be sure to stop into the mansion to see the special exhibit on aprons coordinated by Damon Woods’ own Rachael VerDuin of Woodland Ave. Plain or fancy, pockets or none, fabric or leather, buckles, or bows – aprons are used by cooks of all kinds, by cobblers, by blacksmiths, by artisans, and by anyone who wants to protect the clothing underneath. If you have an apron with an interesting story to tell, call Rachael or the historical society, 774.8672.  Rachael needs aprons and their stories by July 6^th.

Firefly admission is $3 and is free for children 12 and under. The historical society also needs homemade desserts to sell, as well as volunteers.

NEIGHBORHOOD MUSICIANS

Warming up before the Lincoln Middle School concert. The concert featured the Band,  Orchestra, Chorus and Sign Language Chorus. The concert was May 14^th

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION
THANK YOU - to those who helped deliver the December newsletters! Ellie Bjorkman, Tiffany Bruett, Kris and Jim Gehrke, Bob Heitzer, Diane Kaiser-Rockenbach, Kathy Kebbekus, Kathy Mannebach, Kelly Presser and Jason Dudley, Jeanine Schoen, Frank and Joanne Shansky, Dave and Chris Vogel. If you would like to help deliver, contact Karen McNeely.