Monday, June 29, 2020

Village of Whitefish Bay Official Weekly Newsletter
Message from the
Village President, Julie Siegel

Have a Happy 4th of July this upcoming Saturday. Be sure to read below how the Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation is promoting new ways to celebrate 4th of July this year. Friendly reminder that as a result of the holiday, refuse and recycling typically collected on Friday, July 3, 2020 will be collected on Thursday, July 2, 2020. Be sure to plan ahead! To subscribe to our newsletter,  click here.
Why Is The Village Hall Phone Ringing?
Are there firework regulations in Whitefish Bay? Yes! Rule for personal fireworks: If it flies, if it explodes, if it causes fire on ignition or sustains fire, it’s illegal. Please be considerate of your neighbors.

Is Village Hall closed on July 3, 2020? Yes, as a result of the July 4th holiday, Village Hall is closed to the public on Friday, July 3, 2020.

When is the next brush chipper collection? Brush will next be collected by Village crews this week (6/29/20). Brush should be placed in the parkway between the curb and the sidewalk.
Have a question? Send us an email or give us a call at 414-962-6690.
Village Meeting Agendas:
This Week's Meetings:

No meetings this week. For past meeting agendas and minutes, visit the Agenda Center page.
Last Week's Meetings:

  • Monday, June 22, 6:00 pm, Village Hall Board Room.

  • Wednesday, June 24, 4:00 pm, Virtual GoToMeeting.

  • Thursday, June 25, 5:30 pm, Virtual GoToMeeting.
Santa Monica Repaving to Begin Today (6/29/20):
Schedule: Please see the chart below for the current schedule for 2020 Pavement Improvement Program. This schedule is tentative and can be impacted by weather and other factors. Payne and Dolan will begin with the Northbound lanes of Santa Monica starting at Henry Clay, once complete will move to the Southbound lanes, followed by the other various streets (marked in red throughout the Village on the map). Click here for a full list of streets to be completed.

Scope: Work will include spot curb and gutter repairs, pavement milling, pavement resurfacing and pavement striping. Final project completion is expected by mid to late-July 2020, again weather dependent. There will be no cost assessment to any property owners for this work.

Refuse / Recycling Collection: Please bring your refuse and recycling carts up to the street curb in front of your house on your usual collection day by 7:00am throughout the duration of this project. While placing your carts next to the street curb, please space them a minimum of 3’ apart and a minimum of 3’ from other obstructions.

Use of Roadway and Parking: The roadways will be open to traffic throughout most of the project, but limited to local traffic at times during certain project construction operations. Most residents will have access to their driveway throughout the length of the project. When the roadway is being milled or paved directly in front of your home there will be some short term access restrictions. If curb replacement work is taking place across your driveway that will restrict your access, the contractor will be contacting you directly in advance. If desired, on-street Village parking permits that allow you to park any private vehicles overnight on any Village street for the duration of the project are available from the Village or the contractor.

Contractor Typical Hours of Operation: Work is expected to proceed between 7:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays and possibly Saturdays. There may be some evenings that work will continue until 7:00 pm, depending on the specific contractor operation at that time.

The Public Works Department staff understands the inconvenience that this project creates for you and greatly appreciates your patience and understanding. Please be careful, slow down and pay extra attention when driving around this and all construction zones! If you should have any questions regarding this project, feel free to contact:
Spencer Charczuk, EIT, Staff Engineer 414-962-6690 extension 123 or [email protected]
From the Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation -
Creative ways to celebrate July 4th!
July 4th: While we were sad to cancel our usual 4th of July events due to COVID-19, we've been working on ways to promote the sense of celebration and community we've come to enjoy every year.

Block Parties: With the support of the Village, we are encouraging you and your neighbors to celebrate in smaller groups by holding block parties on July 4th. At this time, the North Shore Health Department is recommending that gatherings be limited to 50 or less people. In addition, precautions like social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting shared surfaces, washing and sanitizing hands and not sharing personal items are still good practices. So chat with your neighbors and start planning now!

If you plan to block off your street, please contact the Village per normal block party procedures. Requests can be mailed/dropped off at Village Hall (5300 N. Marlborough Dr.) or submitted electronically to Erin Granstrom at [email protected]. Barricades will be dropped off Friday before the party and picked up the following Monday.

In the event that all Village barricades are in use, you will have to supply your own barricades, please do not use cars. If the party continues after dark, all barricades must have lights in some fashion as to pass on-site inspection by the Police Department.

The Village encourages and supports block parties as a way of promoting friendly neighborhoods. For that reason it is important that everyone on your block be invited. Please note that some of the busy streets are not permitted to be blocked off. These include Lake Drive, Oakland just south of Hampton Road, Silver Spring Drive, and Marlborough Drive.

  1. Most Patriotic House/Yard, $100 to Winkie's
  2. Best Dressed for the 4th, $100 to Breadsmith
  3. Best WFB 4th TikTok, $100 to Bruegger's
  4. Best "block party" 4th parade, $100 to The Bay
  5. Best yard game, $100 to Yellow Wood
  6. Most appetizing grill-out meal, $100 to Moxie/Trouble & Sons
Whitefish Bay Farmers Market Begins July 11:
The Whitefish Bay Farmers kicks off on July 11, 2020 and continues each Saturday through October 19, 2020 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. The Farmers Market has relocated this year.
  • From July 11, 2020 to August 8, 2020 it will be in the St. Monica’s parking lot off of Lake View Ave.  
  • From August 15, 22 to October 19, 2020 it will be in the Dominican High School parking lot off of Bay Ridge Ave. 
The Whitefish Bay Farmers Market is working to provide as much space as possible for vendors and customers to shop safely. Social Distancing should be practiced, face masks are encouraged, and hand sanitizer will be available! Please click here to view a full list of Whitefish Bay Farmers Market guidelines for customers. We Look forward to seeing you from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Updates from Village Hall:
Whitefish Bay Selects New Finance Director:

The Village of Whitefish Bay welcomes Jaimie Krueger as our new Finance Director. Prior to joining the Whitefish Bay team, Jaimie worked as an Auditing Manager for Baker Tilly in Milwaukee. Her auditing focus has been in the public (local government) sector. Jaimie is a graduate of UW-Madison (undergraduate and graduate) and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Request an Absentee Ballot:

In response to COVID-19 (coronavirus), the Village of Whitefish Bay is urging ALL voters to request an absentee ballot for the August 11, 2020 Partisan Primary Election by mail. Voting through the mail reduces public contact with our poll workers, many of whom are senior citizens

How to Request an Absentee Ballot by Mail: You may request a ballot online at myvote.wi.gov or download an absentee ballot application under election information via our quick links section on our homepage; www.wfbvillage.org. You also may request a mailed ballot by emailing [email protected]. Your request must include a copy of WI photo ID and be received no later than 5:00 pm on August 6, 2020.

Deadline for Returning your Absentee Ballot: Your completed absentee ballot must be received by 8:00 pm on Election Day. If you would like further information about elections or registering to vote please contact Deputy Clerk Caren Brustmann at (414) 962-6690 ext.122.
North Shore Health Department Survey: 
COVID-19 Community Survey:

The North Shore Health Department (NSHD) with the collaboration of UW Milwaukee Zilber School of Public Health is conducting a community survey to learn how the residents of the North Shore feel about the response of the NSHD to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We want to understand how you and other people living in the North Shore feel about how the North Shore Health Department has handled the COVID-19 pandemic so far. We hope to learn how you feel about the measures taken in Wisconsin and in the North Shore to stop the spread of COVID-19 and understand why you felt that way. We also hope to understand if we have effectively communicated with the public throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Our goal is to learn how we can improve our response in future emergency situations.

The survey is online and can be accessed with this link: Click Here.
From the Whitefish Bay School District:
School District Registration Open for New WFB Resident Families: Have you recently moved into the Village of Whitefish Bay? The School District is currently taking enrollment for K4-12th grades for new Whitefish Bay residents. Reminder for age guidelines:
  • Junior Kindergarten - 4 years old on or before September 1, 2020
  • Senior Kindergarten: 5 years old on or before September 1, 2020.

Moving out of the Village of Whitefish Bay? Please contact your school to let them know of any moving plans. Contact the schools for more information.
North Shore Health Department Update:
COVID-19 and Older Adults:

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it became evident that older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions are at a higher risk of severe illness if they become sick with COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 8 out of 10 COVID-19 related deaths reported in the U.S. have been in adults 65 years old and older. This has caused long-term care facilities to prohibit visitors, community organizations and places of worship to cancel events for older adults, grocery stores to set special shopping times for older adults, and many family members to be fearful for the well-being of their elders.

We must all continue to be diligent in supporting and protecting our older community members while not further isolating them. To safely support elderly loved ones, continue to communicate virtually or send letters via mail and offer assistance with getting necessary supplies. In-person visits should be avoided, but if you choose to visit do so in outdoor spaces with at least 6 feet of distance and with everyone wearing a mask. Older adults are encouraged to stay home as much as possible to limit their number of potential exposures, wash their hands frequently, wear a face mask and practice physical distancing in all settings.

COVID-19 Guidance for Older Adults from the CDC: Click Here
CDC Video - What Older Adults Need to Know: Click Here

Additionally, older adults living with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia require further attention, as worsening symptoms or increased anxiety may result due to stress or from actual illness. The Village of Shorewood was recently admitted into the Dementia Friendly America Network of Communities because of its efforts to raise awareness of dementia and educate community members and caregivers. Shorewood Connects formed a Dementia Awareness Work Group in 2014 that is responsible for this important focus on the health and well-being of older adults in Shorewood. Information on their fall virtual educational series will be released soon, with sessions on "Caregiving in the age of COVID-19" and "Proven ways to a healthier brain".

For more information about the Coffee & Conversations for Caregivers support group, the Memory Cafe, or the Dementia Awareness Work Group, contact Shorewood Senior Resource Center Coordinator Elizabeth Price (414) 847-2727 or [email protected] or Shorewood Connects Coordinator Vashti Lozier [email protected].

Additional information on COVID-19 and Dementia: Click Here. For the most recent updates on COVID-19 in the North Shore, visit our website. We also encourage you to frequently monitor the  DHS website and CDC website.
Community Spotlight:
A Note from the Garden Club:

How to create a healthy lawn without pesticides:
  • Water very early in the morning and deeply but infrequently; it promotes the development of deep, strong root systems, and makes the grass hardier.
  • Set your mower wheels high at 3” above the ground to promote deep roots and keep grass from drying out too quickly.
  • Use a mulching lawn mower and let the clippings remain on the lawn. Over the course of the summer the clippings are equal to one fertilizer treatment.
  • Fertilize with an organic product like Milorganite, NOT a pesticide. The average American homeowner uses up to 10 times more chemical pesticides per acre on their lawns than farmers use on crops. Pesticides kill all insects, kill earthworms, harm birds, and can cause adverse health effects in children and pets. Apply Milorganite on or around Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. 
  • Aerate your lawn to get air and nutrients to the soil, which in turn will create a healthy environment for your grass.
Now sit back and enjoy your yard! Article and Photo by Jill Griffee Ross. Co-President of Whitefish Bay Garden Club.
Update from Bay Bridge:
Join the Whitefish Bay Women's Club in July to donate blood and help save lives!

The Whitefish Bay Women’s Club (600 E Henry Clay) hosted the Versiti blood center at a blood drive on Wednesday, May 20. Approximately 38 people donated much needed blood. The next scheduled blood drive will be on Wednesday, July 22. For an appointment call 414-332-1570.

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, there is an immediate need for blood donors to ensure a safe supply.
Other Community Links:
Village of Whitefish Bay | Phone: 414-962-6690 | Fax: 414-962-5651