Monday, June 22, 2020

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

The Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation is promoting new ways to celebrate July 4th this year. Check out the story below for upcoming village-wide contests, giveaways, and other suggestions from the Civic Foundation. Be sure to plan ahead! To subscribe to our newsletter,  click here.
Why Is The Village Hall Phone Ringing?
When is the next brush chipper collection? Brush will next be collected by Village crews during the week of June 29, 2020. Brush should be placed in the parkway between the curb and the sidewalk.

Is refuse and recycling collection rescheduled on July 3, 2020? Yes, as a result of the July 4th holiday, refuse and recycling typically collected on Friday, July 3, 2020 will be collected on Thursday, July 2, 2020.
Have a question? Send us an email or give us a call at 414-962-6690.
Village Meeting Agendas:
Last Week's Meetings:

No meetings last week. For past meeting agendas and minutes, visit the Agenda Center page.
This 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.
A note from the Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation:
Creative ways to celebrate July 4th this year!

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. Please note that street barricades are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Party Kits: The Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation has party kits to help your small group's celebration. The first 75 people to show up at Schoolhouse Park (across from the library) between 1:00 and 4:00pm on Sunday, June 28 will receive a free bag of 4th of July swag.

WFB 4th of July Contests: Show your community spirit and honor for the U.S.A. by participating in a fun contest. Check back for details on entering one of these fun contests!
  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 Hydrant Flushing Project:
The annual fire hydrant flushing project has started. Streets in the southeast quadrant of the Village will be flushed (Outlined in red - south of Silver Spring Drive and east of Santa Monica).

Completion of the flushing project will occur by the end of August or in early September. Portable signs will be posted in the general area where the flushing is occurring.

Residents may notice cloudy water at times and may experience low water pressure. If cloudy water occurs, please run your cold water in the lowest portion of your house for a period of time until the water clears. This is only a temporary condition.
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.

Offices to be elected for the August 11, 2020 Partisan Primary Election election include: Representative in Congress, State Senator, Representative to Assembly, District Attorney, and Milwaukee County Clerk, Treasurer and Register of Deeds.

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 ballot be mailed to you by emailing elections@wfbvillage.org. 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.
Whitefish Bay Recreation Department:
From the Whitefish Bay School District:
  • Racism Has No Home in WFB
  • Us News & World Report Ranks WFBHS #1
  • 2020 Senior Highlights 
  • Veteran Team Member Highlights
  • Share Our Story -- Memorable Facebook Posts
If you are interested in receiving these electronic newsletters monthly, opt in here.

Board of Education Committee Meetings: All are invited and welcome to attend. The next meeting is Wednesday, June 24, at 7:00 pm. Meeting is virtual. Click here for meeting dates, virtual login info, agendas, and more.

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. Click here for contact information.
Home Hazmat at Nicolet High School is June 27:
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) will be holding a mobile Home HazMat on Saturday, June 27, 2020 8:00 am to 2:00pm at Nicolet High School front parking lot located at 6701 N. Jean Nicolet Rd., Glendale. Please view list of items accepted, new safety procedures, and resources for recycling/disposing of items not collected on MMSD’s website.

Please note the new rules for dropping off yuck:
  • You must stay in your vehicle at all times.
  • Put all items in your trunk or as close to the hatchback as possible. For social distancing purposes, we will NOT accept or unload any items in back seats that are directly behind the driver’s seat.
  • We will NOT return cardboard boxes used to transport items to the collection.
  • We WILL return gas cans used for transporting old gas or gas/oil mixtures. However, the cans will be sprayed with a disinfectant before we hand them back to you.
Community Spotlight:
A Note from the Garden Club:

Summer is here and so are dandelions.  Many want to rid their lawn of dandelions, but don’t want to use chemicals. Pesticides kill all insects, and birds, and can affect the health of children and pets. A natural approach to eliminating dandelions includes these steps:
  • When the ground is moist, dig up dandelions with a weed knife or tool such as Fiskars Stand-up Weeder. Get as much of the taproot as possible. 
  • Carefully target any part of the remaining taproot using a homemade mixture of equal parts vinegar, salt, and dish soap in a spray bottle. Judiciously spray into the hole. Be careful as this concoction will kill whatever plant it touches, including your grass.
  • Fill the hole with dirt and let the turfgrass eventually fill the spot.
  • Be content with biodiversity. Dandelions, clover, and violets all provide food for pollinators that are essential to growing food and flowers.

Coming next week: How to create a healthy lawn that will be less susceptible to weed invasion. For more natural lawncare tips go to: www.whitefishbaygardenclub.com,
Update from Bay Bridge:

Do you have questions about recent marches/protest activity? Are you interested in learning more about racial justice and how Whitefish Bay as a community can take action? If you are interested in any of these questions and want to find out more, email us at BayBridgeWisconsin@gmail.com and ask to subscribe to our free newsletter. And follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/baybridgewisconsin/.
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.
North Shore Health Department Highlights 6/16/20: Mass Gathering Guidance

Under Phase C of reopening in the North Shore, it is recommended that mass gatherings are limited to 50 or less people, which is an increase from a limit of 10 in Phase B. We remind everyone that with the expanded mass gathering limit, taking precautionary measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission is even more critical.

The CDC suggests taking these factors into consideration when choosing to host or attend a gathering:
  • The more people you interact with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading. When people are in close contact (within 6 feet) for a prolonged period of time (10 minutes or longer), the risk of transmission is the highest. 
  • The higher the level of community transmission in the area that the gathering is being held, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spreading during a gathering.
  • To participate in gatherings as safely as possible, remember to:
  • Maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet between yourself and non-household members whenever possible
  • Wear a face mask
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or utilize hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
  • Consider only hosting and/or attending outdoor gatherings
  • Avoid sharing items with others
  • Clean and disinfect frequently used or shared surfaces

More guidance on mass gatherings from NSHD: Click Here. CDC events and mass gatherings guidance: Click Here.
Other Community Links:
Village of Whitefish Bay | Phone: 414-962-6690 | Fax: 414-962-5651