May News

Martin Drive E-News
May 2008

Martin Drive’s Annual Meeting
Monday May 12, 6pm
Washington Park Senior Center
Don’t forget! Come to the annual meeting Monday May 12th. We are starting early so we can get out on time. There will be pizza, door prizes, and treats from Eat Cake. Learn about rebates and bring perennial plants to share with neighbors. Alderman Murphy will be attending and the lead landscape designer of Zimmerman design group will talk about easy, inexpensive ways to increase curb appeal.

Martin Drive’s Movers
As birds begin to sing and busy neighbors tend to their yards, the local walking group is getting their tennies out and lacing up their shoes strings! This year’s group is very excited for the walking to begin! The walking starts on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 and will continue every Wednesday. The group will meet outside of Pat Mueller’s home at 4124 W. Martin Drive at 6:30 p.m. and will walk for about one hour.

We have lots of fun events planned during and after our walks, such as a “Stroll Down Memory Lane,” a Historical walk through Washington Park, and “Earning Your Dinner” as we make our way to Pizzeria Tazza for supper. Please come and join in the fun whenever you can! If you have any question, you can email Katie Halopka at khalopka@hotmail.com

Metal Scavengers
While I am a supporter of recycling, recent thefts of personal property (i.e. copper planter and custom iron window well guards) has prompted me to be concerned about the metal scavengers with stolen shopping carts seen every day in our neighborhood. Washington Heights residents have experienced theft of metal lawn furniture and garden arbors. These scavengers should not be going onto private property. If you see them taking things from the recycling containers, please report them as there is an ordinance regarding this.

79-5.5. Unauthorized Removal of Contents of Waste Containers.
1. No person shall remove any material from a waste container that has been furnished by the city for the collection of solid waste. This prohibition applies to portable and non-portable containers.
The Third District has assigned Officer Crist who is building a database of these scavengers. Here is what Officer Crist suggests:

“The best thing to do is call the non-emergency number (933-4444) as soon as you see one of those individuals in your neighborhood. Make sure to provide an accurate description of the subject, the location and direction last seen. Provide your name and phone number as a contact and request that the squad issue a citation. If the squad has any questions regarding the charges, please refer them to me. Also, pass the word in the neighborhood that anyone that sees this activity should call the police. I am trying to build a database of the scrappers so if you have had contacts with any of these individuals and have information, i.e. names or vehicle information I would gladly take that information. “ Officer CRIST, Dist.#3, Days 7am-3pm
935-7232

88.Nine Radio Summer Concert Series
6/28 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
7/5 Paul Spencer Band
7/12 Fever Marlene
7/19 Northern Room
7/26 TBA

Vliet Street Community Green Market Starts June 1.
We would like to invite you to the new farmers market, every Sunday, beginning June 1 and running thru September 28 from 11am to 3pm in front of the Washington Park Senior Center at 4420 W. Vliet Street.

Farmers offering locally grown, not flown, produce will be amid other vendors offering an array of things like perennial plants, jewelry, arts, crafts, honey, and handmade soaps to name a few. Some vendors will be there the whole season and other vendors will change weekly. Therefore, it will always be different.

We hope to make this a cultural event and will start the market with a drum circle. Weekly entertainment and demonstrations include spoken word, African Dancers, Peter Mulvey, cooking demonstrations by Outpost Natural Foods and Eden Market. So please come and spread the word. Buy local. Buy handmade and support your community.

The market is brought to Vliet Street by collaboration between Neighborhoods Untied for Washington Park, Washington Park Senior Center, Hmong American Friendship Center, Making Connections, 88.Nine Radio Milwaukee, Outpost Natural Foods, Heritage West Properties, DeMattia Medical Group, Mike Howden and Meritage. Interested in performing or being a vendor, contact Pat Mueller at 933-5589.

We must be the change we wish to see. – Ghandi
No one ever became poor by giving. Anne Frank
Martin Drive on an Upward Curve.