Monday, November 8, 2021

Village of Whitefish Bay Official Weekly Newsletter
Message from the Village President, Kevin Buckley

Please join me in congratulating Patrick Whitaker as our newly appointed Police Chief!

Chief Whitaker has been serving has been a member of WFB's Police Department for twenty-three years.  

A Public Swearing-In ceremony for Chief Whitaker will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 23. More information can be found below. -kb

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Why Is The Village Hall Phone Ringing?
When will property tax information be available? Tax bills will be sent out to homes in mid-December.

Is Village Hall open on Veterans Day? Yes, Village Hall and Police Administration will be open Thursday, November 11, 2021, during regular business hours.

When is the next brush chipper collection? Brush/Chipper material will be collected by Village crews next week (beginning Monday, November 15). Chipping ends the first week in December.

Have a question? Send us an email or give us a call at (414) 962-6690.
Village Meeting Agendas:
Last Week's Meetings:

  • Monday, November 1, 6:00 p.m., Village Board Room

  • Tuesday, November 2, 6:00 p.m., Village Board Room

  • Thursday, November 4, 5:30 p.m., Village Board Room
This Week's Meetings:

  • Tuesday, November 9, 6:15 p.m., Village Board Room

For other meeting agendas and minutes, please visit the Agenda Center page.
Important Update From The Police Department:
Whitefish Bay Police Commission Appoints Patrick Whitaker as Chief of Police:

Last Tuesday, following a recruitment process that commenced over six months ago, the Whitefish Bay Police Commission voted unanimously to appoint Patrick Whitaker to the Chief of Police position effective immediately. Chief Whitaker had been serving as Interim Chief since April of this year.

A native of Glendale, Chief Whitaker brings over 23 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Whitefish Bay Police Department as a Community Service Officer in 1998 and became a Patrol Officer later that same year. He earned promotions to Sergeant in 2013 and Lieutenant in 2017. Whitaker graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice before graduating from the MATC Police Academy in 1998. He later earned a Masters of Science from Cardinal Stritch University in Management, where he completed a capstone project to evaluate the feasibility of body-worn cameras for Whitefish Bay Officers. The Department established a body-worn camera program shortly thereafter. In 2019, Whitaker obtained a Public Manager certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison through a program offered in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Justice. That same year, he was instrumental in establishing a North Shore in-service training program aimed at increasing collaboration among officers from all seven North Shore police departments. During his six month tenure as Interim Police Chief, the Whitefish Bay Police Department expanded its community engagement efforts by establishing a social media presence and initiating a “Coffee with a Cop” program.

Whitaker is excited to begin his tenure as Chief of Police. “Having served as Interim Chief for the past six months, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue working to ensure that our department serves Whitefish Bay in a professional, ethical and transparent manner. It’s an honor to work with the community to keep Whitefish Bay a great place to live, work and visit.”

He resides on the North Shore with his wife and three boys and enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and reading in his free time.

Please join us in extending well wishes to Police Chief Patrick Whitaker in his new role. A Public Swearing-In Ceremony for Chief Whitaker will be at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 23. Sendik’s will be donating cake and coffee for the event. Please join us if you are able! Police Chief Whitaker welcomes community feedback and can be reached at p.whitaker@wfbvillage.org or (414) 755-6554.
Updates From Village Hall:
Veterans Day is Thursday, November 11, 2021:

Did you know that the Veterans Monument and Memorial at Armory Park in Whitefish Bay honors the rich history of men and women who served and fought valiantly for our nation? Located on the original site of Whitefish Bay National Guard Armory, it is at the southwest corner of Henry Clay Street and Ardmore Avenue in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.

In 1908, the 57th Field Artillery Brigade relocated from downtown Milwaukee and began drilling where a family farm once stood. When Pabst Whitefish Bay Resort closed in 1914, two of its buildings were moved here. The resort’s train depot became a drill hall. Its dance hall housed soldiers’ storage lockers. The red brick armory was built in 1929 for Battery A of the 121st Field Artillery of Wisconsin’s National Guard. Up to 500 guard members drilled at the armory on training weekends. For many years, the original Rabe farmhouse was its headquarters, as well as a home for officers and their families.

During World War I, Battery A fought in six major campaigns as part of the United States Army’s 32nd Infantry Division. During World War II, the 57th Field Artillery Brigade sent troops to both the Pacific and European theaters, and later fought in Korea.
The armory was an integral part of the Whitefish Bay community. During the 1940s, the armory became a recreational center called “Bay’s Back Door”. For decades, it hosted weddings, proms, church services, basketball tournaments, police balls, and activities of more than thirty community groups. The Rabe farmhouse was razed in 2000 and the armory was demolished in 2004.

Design of the monument is based upon the insignia of the 32nd Infantry Division, the famous “Red Arrow”. An informational plaque is located at the arrow’s feathers and is the gathering area. The arrow’s shaft passes through the donor walls and memorial area, just as the 32nd pierced every enemy line it faced. The arrow’s head, where our nation’s flag now stands, is a memorial garden. Donor benches encircle flag pole and garden, providing a place to pause and reflect on sacrifices made by service members and their families.

The idea of a memorial originated in 2004 with David Kurtz, Milwaukee district commander of Wisconsin’s American Legion and a Whitefish Bay resident. A task force was needed to handle design and fundraising, so “Friends of Armory Park” was formed. Members included former Village trustee John Kearns, architect Jim French, and Ellen Abrams Blankenship, whose older brother served as a naval aviator and died in Vietnam. A formal proposal was made in 2005 and unanimously approved by the Village Board. Nearly 400 individuals contributed to the fund, and construction began in 2009. Dedication was held on Memorial Day 2010.

Since 2010, 52 plaques have been placed in honor of men and women who served in our United States military. Some of them made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives for our freedom. We welcome additional plaques to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans from all eras. For information, please email: johnkearns424@iCloud.com. Click here for more information about site history.
2022 Village Budget:

Budget Document: The Village will hold a public hearing for the 2022 Whitefish Bay Village Budget on Monday, November 15, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. in the Village Board Room. Click here to view the 2022 Draft Budget. As an organization, the Village of Whitefish Bay is committed to looking forward and planning for the future!
2021 Holiday Stroll Information:
Join the Merchants of Whitefish Bay on Silver Spring Drive on Friday, November 26 Parade at 6:00 p.m.

Enjoy holiday promotions, shopping specials and festive treats from our local merchants throughout Black Friday (11/26)—and stay into the evening for a parade, tree lighting ceremony, music and entertainment! The parade will travel along Silver Spring Drive, from Kent Avenue to Lake Drive. Kick off the holiday season with the whole family—kids can enjoy pony rides, a live DJ or a visit with Santa and his reindeer.

“This year’s Holiday Stroll will build on our incredible tradition,” notes Charlie Stallé, President of the Business Improvement District (BID) Board of Directors. “The Merchants of Whitefish Bay produces this great event as a ‘thank you’ to the community and so many people come out every year to enjoy the evening. Our shops put out their best and our streets are filled with spirit. It’s a wonderful way to start the season. With a wide array of distinctive shopping in a relaxed atmosphere, everyone can conveniently cross things off their holiday list.”   
Updates From The School District:
School District Monthly Newsletter:

Click here to view the District's November newsletter. Topics include, the tax levy, SEL, school updates and more. E-newsletters are published monthly as part of the District's plan to enhance and expand communications with the community. If you are interested in receiving future e-newsletters, sign up here.
Whitefish Bay High School Theater Presents: The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 - November 12 to 13 at 7:00 p.m., November 14 at 2:00 p.m.

About the play - The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop (in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious “Stage Door Slasher”) assembles for their new show at the estate of a wealthy “angel.” The house is replete with sliding panels, secret passageways, and more when the infamous “Slasher” makes their reappearance and strikes again—and again.

As the composer, lyricist, actors, and director prepare for their performance, a blizzard cuts off any possible retreat, bodies start to drop in plain sight, knives spring out of nowhere, and accusing fingers point in all directions.

However, and with no thanks to the bumbling police inspector who snowshoes in to investigate, the mystery is solved in the nick of time and the “Slasher” is unmasked—but not before the audience has been treated to a side-splitting good time and a generous serving of the author’s biting, satiric, and refreshingly irreverent wit. Interested yet? Click here for ticket Information.
Updates from the Whitefish Bay Library:
Library Hours for Fall:
  • Monday to Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

November 8 to December 13:
  • Friluftsliv Storytime at School House Park, Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Friluftsliv is the Nordic concept of getting outdoors, translated to 'free air life', and we'll be embracing this concept as part of our outdoor storytime in School House Park this winter! We'll be bundled up to brave the weather, and we encourage you to do the same. Registration Required.
  • Please note that the event is weather permitting. Storytime will be cancelled if there is rain, snow, or if the temperatures drop significantly below freezing. Follow us on Facebook for up to date information.

Wednesday, November 10, 10:00 a.m.
  • Take and Make: Scratch Art - Pick up your own scratch art kit as part of this Take and Make. We have a variety of shapes so it will be a surprise. Create your own message or design using the included scratching tool.
  • Pick up your kit from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. outside the front doors of the library. We ask that you take one craft kit per child and practice good social distancing and mask wearing when picking up your kit.

Thursday, November 11, 6:30 p.m.
  • Virtual Mystery Book Club: Our Mystery Book Club meets once a month and is led by librarian Sharon Nagel. This month we're reading Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. This meeting will take place virtually on Zoom. Click here to join. Meeting ID: 977 1128 0790. Passcode: 408681
Community Spotlight:
Event from the Garden Club – Lunch and Learn with Alamelu Vairavan:

Mark your calendars for 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, for our lunch & learn with Whitefish Bay resident and PBS television chef Alamelu Vairavan!

Alamelu will be demonstrating a recipe from her new plant based cookbook at the Whitefish Bay Woman's Club, 600 E. Henry Clay. See http://www.curryonwheels.com for more info on Alamelu. We will get ideas on how to create dishes from the bounty of our home vegetable gardens. Alamelu will be happy to sign pre-purchased copies of her new cookbook Vegetarian Flavors with Alamelu. Books can be purchased at Niche Bookbar and Boswell Books, and a limited number will be available on November 9. 

If in-person is not an option for you, don't worry! We'll have two ways to access the event virtually:
  1. Via Zoom
  2. Streaming on our Whitefish Bay Garden Club Facebook page. We hope to be able to record the demonstration to have it available afterwards as well.
Bay Bridge Event: Najee Brown, a New Hampshire actor, playwright and activist formerly of Brooklyn, NY, focuses on presenting the narratives of Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Join us as Najee Brown brings the voices and experiences of people of diverse backgrounds to the forefront. A link to the recording of The Bus Stop will be provided to participants two weeks prior to December 8. Register here
Whitefish Bay Middle School Holiday Boutique: 

The holidays are right around the corner! Get a head start on your shopping at the Whitefish Bay Middle School Holiday Boutique, brought to you by the WFBMS PTO. The Holiday Boutique will be held on Thursday, November 18, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Middle School.
Kiwanis Breakfast with Santa:

Celebrate the Holiday at the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on December 11 at Dominican High School
(120 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay).

Enjoy visiting and taking pictures with Santa, raffles, face painting, story-telling, and breakfast, including pancakes, sausages, juice, milk & coffee. Tickets are available at the door, at Winkies Variety Store, or from Kiwanis members - $8.00 per adult (10 and up) and $5.00 per child (over 2 years of age). Proceeds benefit Kiwanis charities. Email for more information.
NSHD Healthy Highlight 11/2/21-  American Diabetes Month

This year’s focus for American Diabetes Month is prediabetes and how to prevent diabetes. Prediabetes develops when blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be considered type 2. Prediabetes can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. About one-third of adults have prediabetes, but most don't know it. You can have it for years without symptoms, so it often goes undetected until it progresses to type 2 diabetes. Signs and symptoms that suggest prediabetes has become type 2 diabetes include, but are not limited to: increased thirst, frequent urination, excess hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision.

If you discover that you do have prediabetes, it does not mean you will develop type 2 diabetes. You can prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes with a treatment plan and lifestyle changes, like making healthy food choices and participating in physical activity. Even small changes can have a huge impact on delaying or preventing diabetes all together.

Take the Prediabetes Risk Test. Find everything you need for healthy living right here. Find additional resources for diabetes prevention on the WI Department of Health Services website.

Health Department Immunizations (Appointments Required): We provide vaccinations for individuals who are underinsured or uninsured. Please call us at 414-371-2980 to find out what vaccines we have available and to make an appointment.

Upcoming Health Department Blood Pressure Screening (Walk-ins Welcome): 
  • NSHD Shorewood Office: 2010 E Shorewood Blvd. On the 4th Wednesday of the month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Lydell Community Center: 5205 N Lydell Ave, Whitefish Bay. On November 9 and December 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
  • Lois & Tom Dolan Community Center: 4355 W. Bradley Rd, Brown Deer. On the first Wednesday of the month from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Other Community Links:
Village of Whitefish Bay | Phone: (414) 962-6690 | Fax: (414) 962-5651