- Pablo Picasso
For information on upcoming Board, Committee and Commission meetings as well as other government-related meetings and events, please follow the link above to the Village Government Calendar.

December 7 Village Board Agenda

The Village Board will meet on Monday, December 7, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Hall Court Room. These are the agenda items that the Board will discuss or take action on during the meeting:
  1. Consider Presentation of Accounts December 7, 2015
  2. Proclamation for Bicycle Friendly Community Award
  3. Proclamation for Recently Retired Library Director Beth Carey
  4. Consider Approval of Ordinance 2056:  2016 Wage and Fringe Benefits for Village Personnel of General Classification and Management Commencing January 1, 2016
  5. Consider Approval of Ordinance 2057:  2016 Wage and Fringe Benefits for Lieutenants and Sergeants Commencing January 1, 2016
  6. Consider Special Exception to a Post Retirement Benefit
  7. Consider Credit Card Policy
  8. Consider Design Alternatives for Capitol Drive Crosswalks
  9. Consider Professional Engineering Contract for Combined Sanitary Sewer Area Study
  10. Consider Professional Service Contract for Cross Connection Control Enforcement
  11. Discuss and Possibly Consider Wilson Drive Community Task Force Framework
  12. Update from Village Manager on Plensa Process

Shorewood Tree Lighting Celebration and Shop Shorewood Holiday Raffle

The Shorewood Tree Lighting Celebration will take place on Saturday, December 5 from 6-7 p.m. at Harry's Bar & Grill.  Join the event to meet Santa and enjoy the entertainment, snacks and giveaways.  The Shorewood High School Jazz Ensemble and the Shorewood High School Chamber Choir will be present for the event.  A special thanks to the following Holiday Treat sponsors: Allstate, Harry's Bar & Grill, Edward Jones Investments, Miss Cupcake North Shore Bank, and SHOP.

Additionally, the Shop Shorewood Holiday Raffle is occurring now through Monday, December 21. Visit any of the following retailers to enter to win fabulous gift baskets:

Chiropractic Company
Groom for MenState Farm - Diana Kostal
Draft & VesselHarbor Chase Senior LivingSwanky Seconds
Get Dolled UpHarry's Bar & GrillThree Lions Pub
Goody GourmetsIdeal Christmas Tree LotOlson House

Grande Flowers

For more information, please visit shorewoodwi.com.

Update on Village of Shorewood Tax Bills
Village of Shorewood staff are preparing the Village tax bills and will be sending those out very soon. 

Once the tax bills are ready to be mailed out to residents, the Village will send out a special notice through social media and the Manager's Memo to inform residents on the specifics related to the tax bills.

If you have any questions about tax bills, please feel free to contact the Village of Shorewood at 414.847.2700.  You may also visit the Village of Shorewood website to learn more about tax bills and payments.
Shorewood Schools "Meet the Match" Raise 
$1 Million for New Programs
The Shorewood School District has successfully completed the "Meet the Match" campaign, raising a total of $1 million to support new project-based learning programs for K-12 students. The announcement was made on Tuesday, November 24, at the Shorewood School Board meeting.

"We are thrilled to have reached our campaign goal," said Superintendent Dr. Bryan Davis. "The funding will support transformational learning experiences for students in our district. This is all thanks to the incredible generosity of our matching grant provider and our donors, and it really shows how special our community is here in Shorewood."

In April 2015, Shorewood Schools were awarded a matching grant worth $500,000 from a foundation requesting anonymity to support Expeditionary Learning and innovative, project-based learning experiences for students in grades K-12. The matching grant stipulated that the District would have to raise an equal amount of $500,000 before the end of December 2015 in order to be eligible to receive the $500,000 matching grant, combining for a total of $1 million to support the implementation of these new programs.

In all, over 340 donations were made in support of the campaign, ranging from .20 cents to $50,000, coming from community members, parents, alumni, regional foundations, education advocates, and other organizations and supporters.

The campaign funding will support the implementation of new programs in the District over the next three years, including Expeditionary Learning for elementary school students, Project Lead the Way for intermediate and high school students, new Maker Space areas for hands-on, project-based learning activities, as well as new extracurricular activities, including FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League and Tech Challenge, the Team Awesome program for special needs students, DEEP (Down to Earth Experimental Physics), and other programs.

A second grant worth $1.2 million was awarded to Shorewood Schools last April by the same anonymous source, supporting the completion of new athletics facilities at Shorewood High School, including new concessions, team rooms, and public restrooms at the site of the athletics field and stadium.
Leaf Vacuum Collection Ends this Friday
The final day for leaf vacuum collection is Friday, December 4 (THIS FRIDAY). If residents have leaves that they still need to removed, they must be bagged in paper yard waste bags and placed at the curb for collection. 

Also, the monthly curbside brush chipping has ended as of the end of November. If residents have brush to dispose of, the brush can be brought to the DPW yard on the first Saturday of the month.
 
For additional information please visit www.villageofshorewood.org/leaf.
Parking Restrictions for the Winter Season
As we approach the winter months, the Shorewood Police Department would like to remind everyone of the Winter Parking Regulations and the regulations regarding snow emergencies in the Village. Parking is restricted to one side of the street from December 1 through March 1 on most neighborhood streets to facilitate snow removal. Streets with this regulation are clearly posted "No Parking Dec 1 - March 1".

A snow emergency can be declared in events of heavy snowfall or other inclement weather. During a snow emergency, no vehicle of any type may be parked on a street or alley during the duration of a snow emergency.  Snow emergencies are declared by the Village Manager and are announced on local radio and television stations. Residents may also call the Shorewood Police Department at 414.847.2610 to see if a snow emergency has been declared.

In addition to these regulations, listed below are some general parking regulations that citizens should be aware that are still in effect as well.

The Village of Shorewood Municipal Code and Wisconsin State Statutes state that:
"No person shall stop, park, or leave any vehicle standing in any of the following places except an emergency vehicle, or in the case of any other vehicle, temporarily, for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or receiving or discharging passenger and while the vehicle is attended by a licensed operator so that it may be promptly moved in case of an emergency or to avoid obstruction of traffic:
      • In a loading zone
      • In an alley in a business or residential district
      • Within 10 feet of any fire hydrant
      • Closer than 15 feet from any crosswalk
      • Within four feet of the entrance to an alley or driveway
      • Between the sidewalk and curb of any street
      • In a bus loading zone or taxi cab zone
      • Whenever prohibited by a sign"

Shorewood Foundation Offers Donation Opportunities to the Shorewood Community

The Shorewood Foundation continues to partner with the Shorewood Parks Commission and the Shorewood School District to invite you and your family to enhance the beauty and quality of our community by donating useful and attractive amenities to our parks and public areas.  By creating a planned giving donation or honoring a loved one's life with your gift, you can help preserve the quality of life in Shorewood for years to come.
 
Amenities that are most needed in the community include bike racks at the schools and parks, benches at Atwater Park and additional picnic tables for all the parks.  To acknowledge your gift, memorial plaques can be attached to the item whenever possible, and donors will be recognized in the Manager's memo and in the Shorewood Today magazine.
 
Your gift to the Shorewood Foundation can be directed toward a specific item or request, or to the general fund.  All gifts, no matter how big or small, are welcome and appreciated, and go directly back to support our community.  Please contact the Village Manager's Office at 414.847.2700 for additional ideas about legacy giving.  For more information, feel free to also visit the Shorewood Foundation website.  What a wonderful way to make a difference and a lasting impression in the Shorewood community we all love.

Preventing Package Delivery Theft Tips from the Police Department

Online shopping is a very popular and convenient way to purchase your holiday gifts.  One recent estimate from comScore, an online retail analytics company, predicts that Americans will make $70.1 billion worth of purchases online during the holiday shopping season of November and December in 2015; an increase of 14% over the same time period in 2014.  Most of these purchases will require the items to be shipped from the retailer to the customer who purchased them.  

Thieves are well aware of this growing retail trend and will be looking to take advantage of the potential treasures left outside your door by the various delivery services handling the product shipments.  Listed below are some tips to help reduce the opportunities thieves will have to steal packages delivered to your home:
  • Track your packages: Follow shipments from the seller to your front door with online, text message or phone call tracking offered through the delivery company. Sign up for alerts to be notified of delays or exceptions and when the package has been delivered.
  • Be available for delivery: Track packages and arrange to be available during estimated delivery times, have a trusted friend or neighbor pick up the packages in a timely manner after delivery or ship to your work address (pending company approval). Package delivery thieves have been known to follow delivery trucks around the area, stealing packages immediately after delivery. If you can't arrange for pickup shortly after delivery, keep reading for alternative safe delivery tips!
  • Request a signature: This package delivery feature will likely come with a fee, but without a recipient's signature, the delivery service won't be able to leave a package exposed on a doorstep.
  • Personalize delivery: Schedule a certain day and/or time for your package delivery, including evenings and weekends or provide specific instructions on where a package should be placed to keep the delivery hidden from public view. Consumers can also request a package be held at a delivery center or shipped to a retailer's nearest store location for in-person pickup. Fees for personalization do vary by delivery service.
  • Use your credit card: When making purchases online, use your credit card rather than a debit card or another form of payment. Credit card companies are more likely to offer refunds in the event of theft.
  • Insure valuable items: Purchase delivery insurance to protect merchandise against loss or damage.

One Condominium Building Consolidates Garbage to 96-Gallon Cart

History of a garbage cart
The Village Manor Condominium Association is a two-story building on the corner of Wilson Drive and Kenmore Place just one block north of Capitol Drive.  It consists of seven units - all but one has two bedrooms.  Typically there are anywhere from nine to fourteen people living in the building at any one time.  Originally built in the early 1950's, the building was converted to condominiums in the early 1980's.  The residents in the building have always managed to get by with using just one 96 gallon garbage (trash) cart which gets picked up once a week.  The two recyclable carts get picked up every two weeks. 
 
The question has been asked - how in the world can a building with seven units need only one garbage cart??  Let's take a look.
 
Knowing what goes where
More and more items today are made from recyclable materials.  Likewise, recycling centers are able to accept a vast array of products that in the past would have ended up in landfills.   Besides the usual paper and cans it's helpful to note that plastic containers coded #1 - #7 can all be recycled; paper and cardboard including catalogs, junk mail, newspapers, magazines, food boxes all go into the recycle carts.  Taking a moment to think about what is being thrown into your garbage will lead to more items being recycled, and eventually re-used, as these things are used to make other consumables.  Plus, the Village gets a rebate based on the pounds of recyclables collected.
 
How we throw garbage away
One would think that simply tossing trash into your garbage can in your kitchen is just fine.  But, giving this a little thought, and making small changes in behavior, can make a huge difference in the amount going into the garbage cart.  The residents in the building contributed things they do to cut down on garbage.  Consider doing these things:
  • Practice "clean eating" - buy at Farmer's Markets, buy in bulk from places like Outpost, and purchase food from the produce section of your grocery store.  In other words, cut down on purchasing processed, packaged foods.
  • Dispose of recyclable items in the recycle carts.  Visit the Village of Shorewood website to see the comprehensive list of acceptable items - there are many.
  • Save those plastic bags from retailers and recycle them at local stores like Pick 'n Save and Outpost.
  • Use your garbage disposer to discard of food items
  • Better yet, take advantage of a program initiated in the Conservation Committee whereby resident Josh Liberatore will accept your buckets of compostable items to turn into rich soil.  Not only does this keep items out of your garbage, but also saves wear and tear on your garbage disposer and you'll use less water.  One unit in the building is doing this, with more coming on board soon.
  • When an item is appropriate for your garbage can, make sure it's broken down or flattened as much as possible.
  • Finally, when tossing a plastic bag with your trash into your garbage cart, squeeze as much air out of it as possible, before using a twist tie to secure it. 
All of these easy-to-do techniques help to keep our garbage to a minimum.  We think others could do so, as well.  It may even result in fewer garbage carts being needed in the Village and faster pick-ups by our Department of Public Works.

The Caregivers Among Us

It's estimated that more than 120,000 Wisconsin residents have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Of that number, most are still living in the community, not in a facility, and many of them live alone.

The role of the caregiver most often falls on families who may start by just doing a few simple things but are soon facing the ever-increasing needs of a person with a progressive disease. It's important that every caregiver know where to turn for help.           

A helpline is available 24/7 at the Alzheimer's Association (1.800.272.3900) along with its online Caregiver Center. Several local professional agencies will manage the person's case and arrange for services they need. There are also a few local support groups for caregivers. Elizabeth Price, Coordinator of the Shorewood Senior Resource Center (414.847.2727) has more information.

Holiday Book Suggestions with Boswell Book Company

Shorewood Library and the Friends of Shorewood Library invite you to join us for this annual presentation of 2015's must-buy books for the holidays. 

On Saturday, December 5 at 11 a.m. Boswell Book Company owner and noted book expert Daniel Goldin will present a selection of books for all the readers on your list. Books will be available for purchase at the event in limited quantities, as well.  

It's one-stop shopping to kick off the holiday season. Complete event details can also be found on our website: http://shorewoodlibrary.org/connect/events_calendar.php?eid=824.

Sustainable Shorewood Tip of the Week        

Unplug Electronic Devices
Perform a routine check to make sure chargers, adapters, and small appliances are all unplugged before heading out the door or as soon as charging is complete. Phantom energy is the electricity that electronics pull from the outlet while plugged in. Even when the device is off, it can waste as much as 10% of your home's energy. Unplug lamps that don't get used very often and only plug them in as needed. Use a power strip to facilitate easy power down for entertainment consoles and computer/printer setups.
See more at the following website

- Harvard University

Health Department Highlights        

Did You Know?
Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, but for people ages 10-24 years, suicide is the second leading cause of death behind motor vehicle crashes. The causes of suicide are complex and influenced by multiple factors. Some risk factors for suicide include a previous attempt, history of depression or other mental illness, alcohol or drug abuse, family history of suicide, physical illness, and access to lethal means like firearms or medications. The goal for suicide prevention is to reduce these risk factors and increase protective factors like strong connections to family and community support, skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes, and effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders. The North Shore Health Department encourages people to learn the warning signs of suicide to help identify those who may be at-risk. Warning signs include:
  • Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
  • Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
  • Talking about being a burden to others.
  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
  • Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
  • Sleeping too little or too much.
  • Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
  • Displaying extreme mood swings.
If you or someone you know exhibits any of these signs, seek help by calling the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

HOPELINE is a text-in free service for help and hope. HOPELINE offers emotional support and resources before a situation rises to a crisis level. Text "HOPELINE" to 741741 and connect with a live trained specialist who can respond to any type of struggle or challenge.
 
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We continue to offer flu immunizations during our regular All Immunization Clinic times. Please call the North Shore Health Department for an appointment at 414.371.2980.
 
The next Immunization Clinics are scheduled for the following days:
  • Tuesday, December 8 from 10 - 11 a.m. - Brown Deer (appointment required)
  • Thursday, December 10 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. - Shorewood (appointment required)
  • Tuesday, December 15 from 7:30 - 9 a.m. - Shorewood (appointment required)
  • Wednesday, December 16 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Brown Deer (appointment required)
** We continue to provide flu shots to home bound individuals, please call us at 414.371.2980 for appointments or questions.
 
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Upcoming Adult Health Clinics
  • Wednesday, December 16 from 8 - 10 a.m. - Brown Deer (appointment required) 
To make an appointment, contact the North Shore Health Department at 414.371.2980 or visit the website.
Upcoming Community Events

Kick-off Tree Lighting Event
Saturday, December 5, 2015 starting at 6 p.m.
Harry's Bar and Grill

Shorewood Athletic Booster Club's 36th Annual Arts and Crafts Fair
Sunday, December 6, 2015 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Shorewood High School

Shorewood Men's Club Holiday Party
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 6 p.m.
Hubbard Park Lodge

Shop Shorewood Holiday Raffle
Currently happening through Monday, December 21, 2015
Village of Shorewood Business District
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