Martin Drive E-News
March 2008

MDN March Meeting
Saturday, March 8th Community Improvement Clinic
In place of our Monday evening neighborhood meeting in March, we will be holding a joint meeting with the Washington Heights. We have a very good agenda planned.

What: A morning of speakers offering ideas for improving quality of life and safety in our neighborhood.

When: Saturday, March 8th from 8 am to noon

Who’s Invited: Martin Drive Residents. Families, bring your children, we have activities and supervision planned for them too!

Where: Washington Park Senior Center Main Hall (adults)
Game Room (kids)

Why: You will leave feeling empowered and have better resources to deal with and prevent problems and problems on your block.
Presenters include City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, Milwaukee Police Department's Community Prosecution Unit, Royal Court Academy of Martial Arts, and more! Issues to be covered include inexpensive home security gadgets, crime prevention through environmental design, dealing with problem properties and property owners, using the website Milwaukee.gov and more! Our Kid's Corner will feature supervised board games, crafts, and a special presentation from Royal Court Academy about "stranger danger" and a padded weapons contest. And, games and crafts.

‘Trash 2 Treasure’ Junkies
Calling all: dumpster divers, curbside scavengers, landfill defenders and flea market cruisers. You show me yours and I’ll show you mine! Show everyone that you’re not just another pretty face. Show off your hidden talents and share your secret passion with us. Enter Déjà vu Consignments 1st Annual
‘Trash 2 Treasure’ Exhibition
March 16-22, 2008

Categories: Most Changed, Most Useful, Most Artistic

Guidelines: Only one per person, Project Item must be made of at least 75% recycled materials. Before and after pictures desired. Register now. Space is limited. Call Karen at Deja Vu Consignments, 265-0217

April
Earth Day Festival at Washington Park
On Saturday April 19th from noon to 4 pm, the Urban Ecology Center will be celebrating Earth Day by kicking off the lagoon restoration project. Visit the Urban Ecology Center and meet the staff. Organize your family or neighbors to take part in a park clean-up. Learn how the program manager, Joey Zocher’s car runs on vegetable oil and have fun with your neighbors! If you are interested in helping or your kids would like to participate, contact Betty or Al Siemsen of 42nd Street @ 344-3846.

May
Compost Bins and Rain Barrels
Recycling kitchen and yard waste in a compost bin creates a rich amendment that improves your soil, builds organic matter, saves landfill space and reduces methane emission. A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from your rooftop, which can later be used to water your lawn or garden or wash your car. This keeps excess water out of our sewer systems. Rainwater is far better for plants than chlorinated tap water.

Sturdy and reasonably priced rain barrels and compost bins are available through Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful. Compost bins cost $45 and includes The Composting Cookbook, a $6.95 value. Similar compost bins retail at $90 and up. 55-Gallon rain barrels cost $50 each, are mosquito-proof and child safe, and are built to last.

We are accepting pre-order for rain barrels and compost bins and they will be delivered to our neighborhood if we can get an order for 20 each. Put your name on the list by calling or e-mailing Pat at 933-4489 or pmueller17@wi.rr.com

June
Vliet Street Community Green Market
There is a new farmers market coming to town! The Vliet Street Community Marketwill open and operate weekly on Sundays from 11am – 2pm beginning June 1st for 18 weeks, and run thru September 28. It will be located in front of the Washington Park Senior Center, visible from Vliet Street.
An exciting collaboration between Milwaukee County Parks, Washington Park Senior Center, Hmong American Friendship Association and Radio Milwaukee 88.9, several neighborhood groups, local farmers and artists, will bring a true neighborhood market to Vliet Street offering locally grown close to home produce, handmade crafts, demos, and live music.

There will be a $200 seasonal fee for assigned 10’ x 10’ space at the market and a $15 weekly fee for vendors who want to participate at random. This money will be invested back into the market in the form of marketing materials, signs and a small fee for a market manager. We have started a search for a Market Manager and several people in this neighborhood have come forward. Radio Milwaukee has promised some live music. If you know of any vendors or people who might be willing to donate some performances or entertainment, please contact me. Pat 933-5589


Summer Community Building Project Under Consideration
Plant neighborhood tree lawns
Mosaic Art Project Involving Neighborhood kids and residents
Planter adoption of planters on Vliet Street
Porch repair project.

Neighborhood Directory of Contractors
As part of our newsletter or as a separate directory, we are looking for names and numbers of any licensed and insured skilled persons offering home repair or other services. Please call Pat at 933-5589 or e-mail your information to pmueller17@wi.rr.com

CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY OFFERS UNIQUE LOOK AT MPD
The Milwaukee Police Department is now accepting applications for its next Citizen Police Academy Class that begins Wednesday, March 19, 2008. Applications are available at the Police Academy, 6680 N. Teutonia Avenue.

The 10-week program designed to provide citizens with working knowledge of the Milwaukee Police Department. It consists of a series of classes held once a week for three hours. Instruction includes classroom academics and practical applications in law, police procedures, and defense and arrest tactics, firearms training and state-of-the-art technology used to combat crime.

Citizen Academy Facts:
Classes will be held every Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Class begins March 19, 2008 and ends May 28, 2008
The Academy is a 10-week program consisting of 30 hours of instruction, practical applications and demonstrations Most classes will be held at the Milwaukee Police Academy, 6680 N. Teutonia Avenue, however, tours and demonstrations are scheduled at other department facilities. Participants will be driven from the Academy to these locations by the Milwaukee Police Department motor coach during class hours Class limited to 30 participants for optimum interaction among instructors and participants. Participants must attend 80 percent of the course to graduate. Curriculum builds upon itself. Each class is critical to understanding the function of the Police Department. Participants missing more than two classes will be dropped from the Academy Citizens accepted to the Academy are required to provide photo identification and sign a release Attendees are required to wear a uniform polo shirt during all Academy activities. The cost of the shirt is $20 and it remains the property of the participant. All other material and supplies will be provided by the Milwaukee Police Department. Participants will be allowed to ride with officers on patrol and/or walk a beat with neighborhood foot patrol officers Participants will receive instruction concerning the training given to police officers in Self Defense and Arrest Tactics, Emergency Vehicle Operation and Pursuits and Firearms. Citizens will not discharge a firearm or operate a department vehicle as part of training.
Instructors are Milwaukee Police Department professionals

For more information, contact Sgt. Linda Reaves of the Community Services Division at 414-935-7926

Keep Your Doors Locked
This message refers to incidents that are happening in the Washington Heights Neighborhood just to our west but it includes good advice for everyone. Please keep your doors locked.

Message from Officer Kupsick:
We are now more than reasonably sure that the suspect in these burglaries (in Washington Heights) is a black male teen (14-17) going around asking to snow shovel. A suspect matching this description was recently seen trying the front and back doors of a home that did not answer his knocks.”This suspect is a black male teen 14-16 years of age, last seen wearing a hoodie blue or black in color, slim build, about 5'06 in height and 125lbs in weight. Also as a reminder, this suspect appears to prefer homes left unlocked so PLEASE make sure to lock all doors every time you leave”. Staying locked up while at home is also very good advice. Anyone seeing this suspect should immediately phone 933-4444 with the information. If you witness this suspect attempting or gaining entry to a home call 911. PO Thomas Kupsik, Community Liaison

Martin Drive Neighborhood on an upward curve.