Hello Damon Woods Neighbors!
 
As usual this month I was having a difficult time deciding what to write about for this note - I think you are probably all tired of my usual references to the weather! Over the past few days, however, the topic became quite clear. This month I am asking for your help.
 
The Damon Woods Neighborhood Association relies on volunteers to act as board members and do the work necessary to keep the Association going. We have great, energetic people who are very generous with their time. At this point, however, we need more. All of the current board members are doing what we can, but due to the busy lives we all lead, some board members have been compelled to resign. Mike Collins and Amy Giampetroni were valued members of the board, but are no longer able to serve. I thank Amy and Mike for their contributions - each of you will be missed.
 
We need individuals to step forward to take their places and bring new ideas and energy to the Association. I ask that you consider serving on the board to help continue the work of the Association and the great events we all enjoy. If you have questions about what is involved, call a board member or send us a message at info@damonwoods.org.
 
The other opportunity to get involved is with this newsletter. Larry Kopperud spends many hours and great effort putting the newsletter together. I am constantly amazed that he is able to devote so much to this, and the product of his efforts is one of if not the best neighborhood newsletter in our community. Of course he, like the rest of us, has many other demands on his time, and he cannot do this alone. We need neighbors to write and contribute articles and other content to the newsletter. You don’t need to be on the board to be a contributor. Please consider what you can contribute and get in touch with Larry or any other board member. If you have ideas for recurring articles, let us know. We want to keep our newsletter at the quality level we have become used to, and Larry cannot do it alone.
 
Without being too preachy (I hope), I would say that I believe that each of us who values living in a community has a responsibility to help keep it vibrant, and at this time we need community members to step up. Call a board member or send us a message at info@damonwoods.org and let us know what you can do.
 
Anne Fee
President

P.S. Don’t forget to order your tree for the annual Damon Woods Tree-dition, and join us at the cookie exchange. It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season, which will soon be upon us.
 

PLAY GROUP NEWS
The Lowell Damon Playgroup will be having its annual Halloween party on Oct 26th. Please come in costume ready to enjoy Halloween treats, crafts, apple-bobbing and more.
Our group has a new coordinator. Laurie Norman will now be in charge of scheduling our play dates. She can be reached at info@damonwoods.org. Welcome Laurie!
Our group is open to all neighborhood residents and meets alternating Thursday mornings from 9:30-11:30am. The host/hostess provides light refreshments. We have a lot of fun, please join us!

UPCOMING LOWELL DAMON WOODS ASSOCIATION EVENTS

	Oct 31st - Neighborhood Association Trick or Treat
	Dec 2nd - Cookie Exchange and Tree-dition Tree Pickup

UPCOMING TGIF PARTIES
Amy and Mark Buckbee of Church Street will be the next hosts for our neighborhood TGIF on Friday, October 13th. Please bring a beverage and appetizer to pass.
 
The TGIFs are open to all Damon Woods Neighbors and it is a good way to meet your neighbors in a very casual setting. We would love to see some new faces at the Buckbee’s. If you have questions about the TGIFs or perhaps are interested in hosting an upcoming evening, please contact Kris Gehrke at info@damonwoods.org.
 
Due to a cancellation, we are in need of a host for the November TGIF. It was scheduled for the 17th, but I am open to any of the Fridays in November. Please, take a look at your calendars and consider hosting this neighborhood event. If you haven't hosted in the past, rest assured it is very little work. We basically need a place at which to have it. Everyone brings an appetizer and beverage, so you don't need to spend hours cooking, cleaning and shopping. Let me know ASAP if this is something you would consider doing.
-Kris
 
P.S. If the month of November does not work for you and you are interested in being a future hosts, I am looking to start filling dates in 2007. The following months are when we hold TGIFs: February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, and November.

BOOK CLUB
Date: October 16th, 2006
Place: Jeanine and Tom Schoen’s home on Jackson Park Blvd
Book: Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn, by Nell Gavin
 
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, is brought to vibrant life in this unusual historical novel. Anne's path from that of an unloved young girl to the Queen of England is presented by Anne herself as she looks back upon the circumstances that eventually led to her execution.
 
The author presents several different incarnations of Anne and Henry (along with family, friends, and lost loves), placed into different life situations and different historical times, each one exploring another facet of personality and circumstances. The technique is unique, intriguing, and in the end, beautifully coaxes the dark ghosts of a long dead past into the present for an introduction that won't soon be forgotten.
 
Gavin has created believable personalities with strengths and weaknesses, imperfections and understandable desires. Using a combination of fact and legend, she tells a story of passion, obsession, and heartbreak that will capture readers with its depth and humanity.
 
The next two Book Clubs will be spaced three months apart, rather than the usual two. The next Book Club (title to be announced in October) is Monday, January 15.

NEXT BOARD MEETING
The neighborhood association’s next Board meeting is at 7:00 pm, on Thursday November 16th, at Anne Fee’s home on Church St. Please join us and share your ideas.
 

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

OUR CONDOLENCES
Richard A. Rebholz, Jr. of Fairhope, Alabama (formerly Wauwatosa), passed away Sept 26th at the age of 50. Richard was the brother of Doug (Mary Ann) and Terese (Mike).
 
NEWCOMERS
Lynn Rutkeiwicz is the contact for new families moving into Damon Woods. You can contact her at info@damonwoods.org to let her know of a new neighbor or if you are a new neighbor. We would like to welcome new neighbors to Damon Woods.
 
YARD OF DISTINCTION
The front garden of Denis and Kathy Lichter’s home on Rogers Ave was named a Yard of Distinction this year. According to Denis, Kathy has worked hard to get the garden the way that she likes it. The perennials take some work every year. Denis puts in 5% of the effort digging the holes for planting and Kathy puts in 95% of the time and effort getting the garden the way she wants it. Congratulations Kathy and Denis!

NIGHT TIME TRICK-OR-TREAT
Damon Woods will again be having Trick or Treat at night this year. It will be Tuesday, October 31st from 6pm to 8pm. Karen Roy is the neighborhood contact. If you have any questions, email her at info@damonwoods.org.

SOCCER PLAYER TRAVELS FAR
Damon Woods resident Peter Lefaivre of Woodland Ave, a junior at Tosa East, participated in the WCS Verdi United States Soccer Club’s 2006 East Cost Tour in July. The eight day tour included soccer games in Ohio, Connecticut, and New York, culminating with the University of Pennsylvania-California tournament, in which the team placed second. Peter and his teammates enjoyed sightseeing; highlights included visits to Niagara Falls, New York City, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The club is planning a west cost tour for next summer.

ATTENTION ALL LANDSCAPERS 
We have been re-landscaping our backyard, and have removed a large terrace to make way for a future play gym for our little one. As a result, we have a large amount of flat Lannon stone that we no longer need. If anyone would like to add these to their yard or gardens (and chances are that these match other neighbors' landscaping stones!), please let us know. We'd love to have these go to a good home in someone's garden rather than the local landfill. Please call Maria or Sean Watson to let us know if you might be in need of these or if you want to come over and take a look at them.
 
A NICE EVENING FOR A TGIF
After a morning of heavy rain and a day that looked very tenuous for an outdoor get-together, the weather cooperated for a comfortable evening TGIF in the lovely backyard patio and gardens of Bob and Meg Gintoft of Stickney Ave. The food, as is always the case for TGIFs, boasted several new recipes. Check out the following Sun-dried tomato brie recipe.

DAMON WOODS RECIPES
This recipe comes to us from Meg Gintoft who, with her husband Bob, hosted the last TGIF on September 22nd.

     Sun Dried Tomato Brie
     One round or large wedge of brie cheese
     1-2 minced cloves of garlic
     1 package dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes (rehydrated with boiling water)
        OR 1/4 to1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil (sold in jars)
     large bunch of fresh parsley, chopped or cut finely with a scissors

     Place brie in an oven-proof pie plate or brie baker.
     Mix minced garlic with tomatoes.
     Pile this onto the brie and drizzle with olive oil. Mound chopped parsley on top of brie,
     completely covering cheese.
     Bake at 325-350º for 15-20 min. or until brie is melted.
     Serve with a sliced baguette or crackers. It can easily be warmed again in the microwave
     if it cools too much after serving.

HARVEST FEST
About 40 people came out to the Damon Woods Museum on October 1st to enjoy the afternoon’s event and to taste and vote for the best chili in the “Chili Cook-off.” This year had a record number of nine chilies entered in the competition. Anita Damon won the prized chili pepper ladle trophy by making a medium spicy vegetarian chili. Bob Damon, a descendant of Lowell Damon, and his wife Anita were last here in 2004 for Harvest Fest, and came again to visit and compete.
Afternoon events also included children’s games and making s’mores. Thanks go to Karen Roy and Kris Gehrke for organizing this fun event.

(Left-to-right) Ingrid Elzey, Anita Damon (with her trophy), event organizer Karen
Roy, Bob Damon, and Adrian Elzey. Ingrid and Adrian were guests of the Damon’s.

LONG TIME RESIDENT RESPONSE
The hunt for our neighborhood’s most senior residents turned out to uncover some of our richest treasures. We’ll publish three of the stories this month and will share more of them in the next edition. If you think you would like to be included, please contact the editor at  info@damonwoods.org, or drop off your information at Larry's home.
 
We’ll begin with a letter submitted by the longest-residing neighbor responding.

Bill Erwin
“I’ve lived in ‘Tosa for most of my 82+ years, and in the LDW “hood” – on and off – since age five.
We first moved into quite a new rental property at 514 Albert St. (now 2120 N. 81st St.) in 1928. After a few years there we moved around the corner to 8002 Rogers Ave. for a time where my fondest memory is of the chicken coop in the backyard. After yet another move to a duplex on Church St (out of LDW), graduation from Wauwatosa High School, college time and a couple of wars, I moved back to LDW in 1957. We’ll be in our 77 year old house on Stickney Ave. 50 years come next February.
What do I remember about LDW? Where does one start?
I remember when 83rd St. was called Western Avenue.
I remember when the elms on Stickney were so heavily branched you could climb over the middle of the street and watch cars, including some of the old electric battery-powered vehicles favored by a few of the local older ladies – pass directly under you.
I remember when Jackson Park Blvd. dead-ended at 81st St. and the City Hall parking lot was the Underwood estate apple orchard.
I remember when there were no houses in the 7700 block on the North side of Stickney. The open field was like a second playground year-round with sandlot and winter sports of every variety plus- in season all the apples you could steal from the orchard.
I remember when the parents of my kindergarten and grade school friend Blossom ran a florist business on Stickney with the green house and floral plantings occupying what is now 7932 Stickney.
I remember the early morning clop-clop of the horse drawn Gridley Dairy wagon making its morning calls and the same sound for the ice wagon.
I remember the Mother Goose House, Heiden’s grocery store on North Ave. and the tin can wire phone system for talking with my friend Joe who lived on Stickney three doors east of 81st St.
I remember knowing and being friends with the kids of the family who built the house I live in now and the fact that they had a drinking bubbler in the upstairs hall which seemed like the wonder of the age, and was still there and working when my daughter was growing up.
I remember when the City used to close off the hill on Hillcrest Ave. between Pleasant and Church in the winter for sledding and when the city used to plow the sidewalks for you. I remember the fellow from whom I bought my house in 1957 was a team member of the same municipal baseball nine on which my brother was the catcher. In short, I live in a house I saw built, played in as a child, and whose past residents have all been friends.

Cordially,
Bill Erwin

The next interviews come from Jackson Park Blvd. neighbors.

Ray Brussock
Ray Brussock is 98 years old. Up until last year, he mowed his own lawn and shoveled his own sidewalk. Recent health problems prevent him from continuing those chores but he and his new wife, Charlotte, still maintain the house he and his first wife built. They bought the lot for their house at the east end of Jackson Park Blvd. in 1951and construction took place the following year. It was the first house on that end of the block, but soon after other homes were built. When the Brussocks first arrived, the area now occupied by City Hall was still an apple orchard and their daughters, Jean and Ellen, were among the neighborhood children who delighted in throwing apples. Before retiring, Ray was a Physics teacher at Pulaski High School in Milwaukee. He is an avid collector of Abraham Lincoln books and documents.

Rich and Betsy Foard
By the time Rich and Betsy Foard moved into their home on Jackson Park Blvd. in 1962, all existing construction on their block had taken place. Their home, built in the early 1950’s, went on the market while they were considering moving from their home on 90th and McKinley to accommodate their three children, Rick, Pam and Barb. It was a friend, Sis von Rohr, who encouraged them to look at the home across the street from her. They have been neighbors ever since. The Foard children, ranging in age from two through seven when they moved in, had plenty of neighborhood playmates. There were nearly fifty children scattered throughout neighborhood. Until City Hall was built, the area it now occupies contained a mansion, also referred to as a ‘haunted house’, as well as the apple orchard. The orchard was where the girls would play house. The Foard girls are now adults. Barb and Pam are both musicians. Their son Rick, who lives in New Jersey, is a lawyer.
Memories of their time on Jackson Jackson Park Blvd. include their children’s involvement in the Children’s Theater and Pam’s lead in The Fantastiks while at Tosa East. A few years later, Pam was selected Miss Milwaukee and then became first runner-up to Miss Wisconsin in the Miss America Pageant.
Betsy recalled the occasion when Rich was away on business and she decided to put in a patio behind their home. This involved removing the backyard sidewalk and getting neighborhood boys to help haul sand. The project was completed by the time Rich returned home and a party was already underway to celebrate the new patio.
Rich and Betsy stay young through a variety of interests. They have traveled extensively throughout the world and every one of the fifty states. Betsy, a docent at the Milwaukee Public Museum for the past 20 years, recently received the Jean S. Lindemann award for the top docent. Rich is the Block Watch Captain for his street and delivers the LDW newsletter. They both have belonged to the YMCA for 25 years where they swim and walk twice a week. 
     

 
DAMON WOODS BOARD OFFICERS ELECTED
Congratulations to the new board officers elected at the September board meeting. The following are your board officers for the next year:
 
Bill Duyser, President
Maria Watson, Vice President
Jeff DeCora, Treasurer
Jennifer LaPorte-McCanles, Secretary
 
LINCOLN HALLOWEEN PARADE
Residents of the Damon Woods neighborhood are welcome to attend the annual Lincoln Elementary Halloween parade on Tuesday, October 31st. What makes this parade so special is that students and staff, dressed in costume, will march around the school to the sounds of the Wauwatosa East marching band. The parade steps off at 2:45 pm from the Lincoln playground..

LOWELL DAMON HOUSE ARBOR - A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

A labor of love Lowell Damon Woods Neighborhood Association member Tom Krause
of Pleasant St. recently completed crafting this beautiful arbor that now enhances the
grounds at the Damon Woods Museum. Funding for the arbor was donated by Sis and
 Jean Ann von Rohr of Jackson Park Blvd.

A cedar arbor that adds grace and serves as a new focal point for the grounds of the Lowell Damon House Museum has been erected, thanks to neighbors Tom Krause of Church Street and Sis and Jean Ann von Rohr of Jackson Park Boulevard. Tom proposed building the arbor last spring. After reading about his idea in the Neighborhood Newsletter, Sis and Jean Ann offered to pay the cost of the arbor materials. They also paid for the English Ivy plants that will climb the arbor. All told, the von Rohrs paid for about $300 worth of materials and Tom estimates he worked about 100 hours over three weeks to craft the arbor and its lattice sides.
 
The elegant arbor helps define the garden’s boundaries, marking its entrance and subtly signaling that the back yard of the Damon House is a place apart.
 
Bob Teske, executive director of the Milwaukee County Historical Society, which operates the Damon House museum, said of the donation, "The arbor provides the perfect complement to the landscaping and the plantings that the Damon Woods Neighborhood Association has contributed to the Lowell Damon House over the last several years. The Historical Society is grateful to all of the association's members for their many contributions, and especially grateful to Tom Krause for constructing the arbor and to Sis and Jean Ann von Rohr for donating the cost of the materials.”
 
Tom, who retired in 2004 after 31 years of teaching art in the Milwaukee Public Schools, explained what inspired him to propose the arbor:
 
“I think the neighborhood needs some sort of identity. And if that identity is to be built around the Damon House, we need to make it more visible to strengthen its identity."
 
"I looked at my own arbor, which I’ve enjoyed for a number of years, and thought it would be a nice focal point for the yard at the Damon House. Considering the Lannon stone walk that we put in, it seemed like a logical addition.”
 
Tom and his wife Patti have been members of the Damon Woods neighborhood association since it was launched in 1995. Patti was one of the original board members, and Tom has worked on all of the association’s garden projects at the Damon House.
 
Tom and Patti have lived on Church Street since 1977, raising their children, Amanda and Toby. When not puttering around their home, Tom and Patti research and explore the country with an eye on relocating to escape Wisconsin winters and taxes. So far, they’ve mostly been scratching off other states.
 
But Tom and Patti won’t be leaving real soon. They recently agreed to their garden being included in the prestigious Secret Garden Tour in July. The von Rohrs, also association members since the start, say they were attracted to the project because of their love of gardening and the neighborhood. Sis and her husband Jeane, who died in 1989, built their home on Jackson Park Boulevard in 1954. Their own beautiful garden was featured in the 2005 garden tour sponsored by the Suburban Women’s Club of Wauwatosa.

“When you get older,” Jean Ann said of her mother’s interest in the arbor, “you look for things you could do for the community.”
 
Sis and her husband raised their family on Jackson Park Boulevard, including Jean Ann and her sister Connie and brother Bill. Sis has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is a member of the Suburban Women’s Club of Wauwatosa, was active in the PTA at Lincoln School for many years and also worked for years with her husband in behind-the-scene duties with the Village Playhouse Theater.
 
Jean Ann has worked at the Wauwatosa Public Library the past 32 years as one of the children’s librarians. She is the author of a 2002 book of finger plays and songs, I’ve Got Peanut Butter in My Hair. She teaches Sunday school at Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church. Her storytelling at the library has made her so well-known that she was asked to serve as grand marshal in Wauwatosa’s 2000 Independence Day Parade.

RAIN GARDEN UPDATE
In the August 2005 issue of this newsletter, a story featured the work that Bill and Lois Tetzlaff of Jackson Park Blvd were doing to create a rain garden in their front yard. At that time the garden was some months away from completion. This summer, a finished product has blossomed. The yard is a beautiful addition to the neighborhood and is helpful to catch water that would otherwise reach out storm sewers and eventually contribute to potential runoff into Lake Michigan. The transformation is astonishing and includes a small waterfall and babbling brook with a small footbridge over the brook. Stroll by and see for yourself.

This picture was taken in August 2005 when quite a bit of work was left to be completed.

This picture was taken in September 2006.
Bill and Lois spent many hours planting to create the final product.

LIGHT UP DAMON WOODS
It's not too early to think about Christmas. This will be the 11th year that Damon Woods will be lighting up Christmas trees in our front yards during the holiday season. Peter and Stacey Muller of Woodland Ave. brought this idea with them when they moved here from Elmhurst, IL. The tradition there has been going on for decades and nearly 80% of the homes in those neighborhoods participate.
The tree pickup day is a fun social event, and the resulting lit up rows of trees on neighborhood blocks show a spirit of neighborhood unity throughout the holidays.
The key to a successful event is to have high participation - association members and nonmembers. We are looking for a coordinator to put together a team of people to go door-to-door to encourage participation. If this is something you would be interested in doing, contact Peter Muller. And don't feel you need to buy a tree if you already have a small evergreen tree in your front yard that you can decorate. Thanks to all of you who join in.

 
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES STOP IN TOSA!
Here is a website link to some beautiful photos of the monarch gathering near the Eschwelier buildings during the week of September 18th on their way to Mexico: http://www.mkeriverkeeper.org/projects/monarchpictures.htm.
 

CALLING ALL BAKERS...
Hopefully you have being looking through your cookbooks and family recipes for the annual holiday cookie exchange. The cookie
exchange will be Saturday, December 2nd at the Lowell Damon House from 3:00-5:00 pm.
It's fun and easy. The benefit is that you only have to bake once for the season and you come home with a wide assortment of scrumptious holiday cookies, bars, and candy for your family or to share at holiday gatherings. If any questions do arise, please contact Kris Gehrke at info@damonwoods.org. Please make sure you have your cookies to the Lowell Damon House by 3:00 pm. that day. See you there!
  
ON-LINE SURVEY FORM
The LDWNA survey form is now available on our website. It can be filled out on line and submitted electronically. We are always trying to make the neighborhood association better and want and need your input. You can go directly to the survey at http://www.damonwoods.org/surveyform.htm.

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION
THANK YOU to those who helped deliver the August newsletters! Ellie Bjorkman, Jason Dudley, Kris Gherke, Bob Heitzer, Diane Kaiser-Rockenbach, Cathy Kebbekus, Kathy Mannebach, Karen McNeely, Kelly Presser, Jeanine Schoen, Frank and Joanne Shansky, and Dave Vogel. And thanks for delivering the Harvest Fest flyer: Ellie Bjorkman, Jason Dudley, Anne Fee, Kris Gherke, Bob Heitzer, Kathy Mannebach, Karen McNeely, Susan Patton, Kelly Presser, and Sophie Prange. If you would like to help deliver, contact Karen McNeely.

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.