Dear North Shore residents:

We reach out as the chief executive officers of our seven communities. In the last few days, we are operating under states of emergency at the national, state and county level. Each of our municipalities are also in the process of issuing city and village states of emergency.

We want to offer assurances and best practice recommendations to our residents.

COVID-19 is a global pandemic. It is spreading quickly, and the intensity of this virus is more severe than the flu or pneumonia. Our aging populations are at increased risk with this virus.

As you know, travel has been restricted around the globe. Local schools are closed for a four-week period. Libraries are closed, sporting and entertainment events and venues are closed, and many workplaces are trying to conduct their business from remote locations.

In addition to the many recommendations you are seeing about washing hands, disinfecting surfaces and bathrooms, and maintain social distance, we want to offer some additional recommendations to allow our local municipal governments to remain open and offer services.

You can obtain accurate and timely information about local resources at these sites:

We are encouraging ALL of our residents to request an absentee ballot for the April 7 election. Voting through the mail reduces public contact with our poll workers, many of whom are elderly retirees. You can request a ballot here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ Please do so as soon as possible. It takes time for a ballot to be mailed to you and for you to mail it back. While you have until April 2 to request a ballot, the possibility of receiving it and having it be received back in the municipality by Election Day is not guaranteed the closer we get to April 2.

Please limit visits to City Hall and Village Halls. All of our communities operate with very small city and village staff. We need to ensure that they remain healthy in order to continue to provide vital municipal services. You can pay utility bills online or through the mail. Tax payments can be mailed and receipts will be sent to you. Please utilize our various municipal websites to obtain information, or call city and village halls, before coming in for information and services.

Lastly, please make sure that you are checking on your neighbors—particularly your aging neighbors—to make sure that they have adequate food and supplies. Offer to do their grocery shopping for them or run errands for them so that they can limit contact in large public spaces. Collaborate as neighbors on childcare and other day-to-day errands and chores.

Our goal as local leaders is to work with county, state and national leaders to ensure that this virus is contained as quickly as possible, that exposures in our communities are limited, and that we can return to “normal” life as soon as the situation allows.

In community,

North Shore Health Department reports positive case of COVID-19: The North Shore Health Department received notification from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services that a person in Milwaukee County has tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The affected individual returned from international travel and received notification from individuals in which they had interaction with overseas that they had tested positive. Upon returning to the United States, the individual was experiencing symptoms consistent with potential COVID-19 exposure and immediately went to a Milwaukee area hospital for evaluation.  

Following testing, the individual returned directly home and has remained under self-quarantine. It is extremely important to note that this individual did exactly as asked by local, state and federal recommendations. 

To prevent the spread of illness, the North Shore Health Department is conducting a contact investigation to identify and follow-up with any people who had close contact with this individual. Close contacts will be monitored by local public health department staff, do daily symptom and temperature checks, and isolate themselves.

 

To minimize the spread of illness, North Shore Health Department recommends people postpone or cancel nonessential travel to areas with coronavirus. This includes both international travel and domestic travel to states with widespread illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updates this information daily. If travel is essential to these areas, travelers should undergo a 14-day self-quarantine upon your return and monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has more information about how to self-quarantine on their website at dhs.wisconsin.gov.  

The North Shore Health Department’s responsibilities include:

While a person’s chances of getting sick from COVID-19 in Wisconsin are low right now, we would like people to follow public health recommendations to prevent widespread illness in the future. There are numerous resources on the CDC website to help individuals and families, faith and spiritual communities, schools, and workplaces prepare for coronavirus.

There are steps everyone can take to stay healthy. These include washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, staying home when sick, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue.

For additional information related to this release, please contact Ann Christensen, Health Director/Health Officer for the North Shore Health Department at 414-371-2980.

The Whitefish Bay Public Library is closed for all service through Sunday, March 22, 2020. The closure will enable staff to monitor the development of COVID-19 in our area and determine whether to re-open with reduced services on Monday, March 23, 2020.

All Whitefish Bay Public Library items currently checked out will be updated with a due date of April 3. If you have items from other libraries, they will still have their regular due dates, and we cannot waive the fines. 

Please check the Library's website and Facebook for updates as the landscape is changing rapidly. Thank you for your understanding as we work to protect the health of Whitefish Bay Public Library patrons and staff.

The 2020 Spring & Presidential Preference Election is April 7, 2020.

How to Request an Absentee Ballot by Mail or Email:

You may download an absentee ballot application under election information via our quick links section on our homepage: www.wfbvillage.org. You also may request a ballot be mailed to you by emailing elections@wfbvillage.org. Your request must include a copy of your photo ID and be received no later than 5:00 pm on April 2, 2020.

In-Person at the Clerk's Office (Village Hall): March 23, 2020 to April 3, 2020 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (5:00 pm on April 3).

Deadline for returning your absentee ballot: Your completed absentee ballot must be received by 8:00 pm on Election Day.

Offices to be elected include: Presidential Preference Vote, Justice of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Court Judges, Village President, and Village Trustees & School Board Members.

If you would like further information about elections or registering to vote, please contact Deputy Clerk Caren Brustmann at (414) 962-6690 ext. 122.

*** Pancake Breakfast with the Bunny is CANCELLED ***

 

The Kiwanis Club of North Shore Milwaukee has cancelled the annual Pancake Breakfast with the Bunny.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. All proceeds will benefit Kiwanis youth charities. Fore more info visit: kiwanisnorthshoremke.com

Update from the School District:

The Board of Education Committee Meetings are Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 PM at the Whitefish Bay High School, Room 47. Includes:

Click here for meeting dates, agendas and more.

The Whitefish Bay Garden Club Presents Artisans In The Garden on Sunday, July 26, 2020:

When: 11 am to 4 pm, Rain Or Shine

Cost: $10 in Advance, $12 at the Event

Artisans in the Garden will feature ten Whitefish Bay private gardens open for viewing on Sunday, July 26, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., rain or shine. Village gardens will feature a Lake Drive estate, a Zen Retreat, an Imagination Station for children of all ages, as well as native and pollinator-friendly gardens. The beauty and bounty of each private garden will be enhanced by visual and performing artisans sharing their unique talents.  

In collaboration with the Whitefish Bay Community Garden, the Garden Club will offer a Vendors Market. Private vendors will sell garden-related items, art, and specialty foods. Here is a sneak peak of one of the gardens on the walk.

To purchase reduced-rate advance tickets and for more information, visit the Whitefish Bay Garden Club website, Facebook page, or Instagram.

Did you know? COVID-19 update:

Please be aware that public health guidelines are rapidly changing as the situation develops. The NSHD website has links to the CDC and WI Department of Health Services providing the most current information on the coronavirus (COVID-19). Please visit NSHD COVID-19 Webpage for answers to many frequently asked questions. 

The risk of getting COVID-19 in the U.S. and Wisconsin is still currently low. There are more cases of COVID-19 being diagnosed in Wisconsin on a daily basis as testing increases, but there is still no need to panic. 

Please notify the health department if you have returned from a country designated by CDC as a level 2 or 3 or have been in contact with a person known to be ill with COVID-19: For up to date travel designations go to the CDC Travelers COVID-19 Webpage. People who have traveled to places where there is community spread of COVID-19 or who have been in contact with known cases of people ill with the virus may be monitored by health officials to protect their health and the health of other people in the community. The current recommendation is that people returning from countries with a Level 3 travel advisory self-quarantine for 14 days, notify the health department and monitor for signs and symptoms.

Health Departments do not have testing capabilities. 

To be tested for the virus that causes COVID-19, you must see a health care professional. Please call ahead before you go to the doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel, exposure to someone ill with COVID-19 and your symptoms.

There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy:

Other things you can do:     

Upcoming Immunization Clinics (Appointment Required)

Tuesday, March 17, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm,

Brown Deer Office

Wednesday, March 25, 7:30 am to 9:00 am,

Shorewood Office

Tuesday, March 31, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm,

North Shore Library

(6800 N Port Washington Rd)

Upcoming Adult Health Clinics (Appointment Required)

Wednesday, March 18,

8:00 am to 10:00 am

Brown Deer Office

Tuesday, March 24,

8:00 am to 10:00 am

Shorewood Office

Upcoming Blood Pressure Screening 

(No Appointment Required)

Wednesday, March 25, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, Shorewood office

Tuesday, March 31, 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm,

WFB Sr. Center (5205 Lydell Avenue) 

Contact the North Shore Health Department for appointments:

414-371-2980