January Nieghborhood E-news

Martin Drive E-News
January, 2008
In this edition:
Thank-You’s
Three Ways to Beat Winter Blahs or Cabin Fever
1. Wed. Jan. 23 is Game Night at Deja Vu
2. Scrabble Anyone?
3. Whistling In The Dark Author Returns to Vliet Street
Michael Murpy Milwaukee’s Best Alderman
Urban Ecology Center Wish List
Winter Garbage Removal
Christmas Tree Disposal
Martin Drive Blog

Thank You’s
Thank you to the individuals who put up the festive holiday bows on every street in our neighborhood. Some of you performed this task in the bitter cold. We did appreciate it and it sets our neighborhood apart. Thanks also to the carolers who were met with surprise as they spread holiday cheer thru our neighborhood, especially Katie H who organized and Jerry W. who held the tune and light the way with his lantern. It was a fun event.

Three Cures for Winter Blahs
1. Wednesday is Game Night at Déjà vu Consignments
Winter getting to you? No matter what the weather, you can walk up to Déjà vu on a Wednesday night and play Board Games, a sure cure for winter boredom and cabin fever. Stop in on Wednesday, Jan. 23rd and play. On the menu, Déjà vu’s own Mulled Cider, Original Recipe Chex Mix and Cheese Fondue to finish off that totally 70’s experience! The fondue pot and cider will be hot by 6 pm. Come by yourself or bring a partner. If you have a game you would like to play, bring it along. What could be more fun?

Games available for play:
ScrabbleScruplesPokenoPictionary


2. Scrabble Anyone?
We have a neighbor, Mary, who loves to play Scrabble and is looking a like-minded Scrabble enthusiast to meet for a round or two of Scrabble, possibly at the Highland Park Pies or at Perpendicular. Sound like fun? If interested, contact Mary at 526-2742.

3. Whistling in the Dark – A Novel about two girls growing up on Vliet Street
Here is a sure way to beat the winter blahs. Go buy or borrow "Whistling in the Dark", read it and join us for a discussion of the book with many local references to our neighborhood and interesting commentaries about life in Mid-century Milwaukee.

This novel is the story of two sisters growing up on Vliet Street in the summer of 1959. The book has many references to Washington Park and local places and involves an intriguing mystery plot, loss of innocence as told through the eyes of imaginative, ten year old sister, Sally O’Malley. This book is Milwaukee. Samson the Gorilla and the Milwaukee Braves are in the story line. While the book has smatterings of biographical truths and characters and is a collection Lesley Kagen’s memories of childhood, growing up near the historic Hi-Mount Boulevard District west of Washington Park the mystery plot is fictional. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet and chat with Lesley, one of our own, when she returns to Vliet Street.

Wednesday, January 30th at 6:30 pm at Perpendicular Wine Bar Gallery, 5000 W. Vliet St.

Reserve your space by calling - Perpendicular Wine Bar Gallery - 456-1660

Books can be purchased at Rainbow Booksellers - 5704 W. Vliet Street
Open Wednesday evenings and Saturdays

Michael Murphy – Voted Best Alderman by Shepherd Express readers voted Michael Murphy best Alderman in Milwaukee. “Murphy is a clear common-sense voice on the Milwaukee Common Council, a representative who cares about a deal's details and doesn't forget about the little guy. He asks sharp questions in meetings, often getting others to reveal what they did not intend to talk about. And he has helped to establish the city's Housing Trust Fund, which will help residents find and secure affordable housing. In his low-key, no-nonsense way, Murphy doesn't seem to pursue an agenda beyond doing what's right for the city.”

Washington Park Urban Ecology Center Wish List
Volunteers are invited to help act as extra ears and eyes after school at the center when kids are hanging loose. If you have some extra afternoon time, call Joey at 344-5460 to help. The center is looking for donations of bird feeders, bird seed, clipboards, crayons and markers, a dehumidifier, film canisters, fishing nets and poles, flat bed sheets, kites, kids books, lined paper notebooks, a love seat, microscopes, musical instruments, pens and pencils, storage bins, sleds, snowshoes and stopwatches.


Winter Garbage Removal
There will be no garbage pick-up on New Years Day, Jan. 1 or Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 15. During the winter months, we are not required to take our carts to the curb. We are required to return the carts from the sidewalk within 24 hours. There are fines for non-compliance.

The city does assist elderly and disabled persons to have sanitation crews pull garbage carts to the curb. For information on these services, call the DPW Call Center, 286-8282.

Holiday Tree Disposal
Trees can be placed on the curb and will be collected by the City of Milwaukee crews. As a greener alternative, trees can also be taken to the Self-Help Centers at 3879 W. Lincoln or 6660 N. Industrial Road. Trees dropped at those locations will be ground into mulch or composted for use by city forestry crews.


Martin Drive Neighborhood Blog
A blog is a web log or a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

With that said, the Martin Drive Neighborhood Blog is informative and it is a chronicle of what is happening in the neighborhood. There are two ways to access the blog. Visit the Martin Drive Neighborhood Website: www.martindrive.org or go directly to the blog: http://martindrive.blogspot.com/