Message from the Village President, Kevin Buckley
For over a decade, Whitefish Bay has spent considerable resources fighting the effects of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). By treating healthy ash trees and removing older/infected trees and diversifying the new tree stock, we’ve been able to create a stable urban forest. Read the story below about our EAB program and options you have for ash trees on your property.
I hope everyone had a safe and joyous Spring Break! -kb
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Why Is The Village Hall Phone Ringing? |
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Is it too late to request an absentee ballot my mail? Not yet, but hurry! The deadline to request a ballot by mail is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2022. More info below.
When does yard waste collection begin? Yard waste collection starts April 4, 2022, weather permitting. Yard waste must be placed between the curb and sidewalk in sturdy paper bags or in containers that can be emptied. Yard waste bags or containers must weigh less than 50 pounds. Please remember that grass clippings are prohibited.
When is 2nd installment of Property Taxes due? Final Reminder! For those residents who elected to pay their property taxes under the installment plan, the second installment of property taxes is due Thursday, March 31, 2022. The Village's Property Tax page has more information and answers to FAQs.
Have a question? Send us an email or give us a call at (414) 962-6690.
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This Week's Meetings:
- Monday, March 28, 5:30 p.m. Village Hall Board Room
- Tuesday, March 29, 6:30 p.m. Zoom (rescheduled from 3/22)
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Last Week's Meetings:
- Monday, March 21, 6:00 p.m. Village Hall Board Room
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Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Update: |
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Village Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Program:
You will soon begin to see pink and green dots on trees around the Village. Both are related to the Village’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Initiative, a multiyear program meant to help prevent a widespread EAB infestation. The Emerald Ash Borer is a small, metallic-green beetle that can be especially harmful to ash trees—the insects feed underneath the bark, and make it difficult for the tree to transport water and nutrients.
In late June of 2017, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection confirmed EAB in Whitefish Bay. But by that time, the Village’s EAB Initiative was well underway. From 2011 to the present, the Village has been working to reduce the ash tree population to a more manageable level (around 20% of the street tree population), while maintaining as much existing street tree canopy as possible. Moving forward, it is a priority for the Village to maintain a diverse stock of parkway trees. Ash trees have been replaced with several hearty varieties, including State Street Maple, Swamp White Oak, Golden Glory Dogwood, and New Horizon Elm trees. In 2011, the ash tree population was at 47%. In 2022, the currently population is 24.8%. With the current timeline, the Village will reach its target of 20% by the end of calendar year 2027.
So, what do the brightly colored dots mean for each Village tree?
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Pink dots, usually paired with a numbered tag, mean that the ash tree is slated to be removed and replaced with a new tree, as part of the EAB Initiative. Trees chosen for removal are usually showing symptoms of EAB.
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Green dots mean the ash tree has been treated for EAB through a closed injection process, usually completed every other year. Treatment is transported within the vascular system of the tree via sap from the base to the branches and leaves. With a 95-98% success rate, this process is currently the most effective treatment in protecting ash trees from succumbing to EAB.
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Black dots are not related to the EAB program and mean the tree has just been trimmed.
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White dots are not related to the EAB program and mean the tree is marked for removal for another reason.
What can you do with ash trees on private property? Check out the story below.
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Caring for Ash Trees on Private Property:
Ash trees are very common throughout Wisconsin—and Whitefish Bay is no exception. You have likely enjoyed their shade on hot summer days and admired their gorgeous yellow or reddish-purple leaves in the fall. But these trees are vulnerable to an invasive beetle called the Emerald Ash Borer, which feeds underneath the bark and makes it difficult for the tree to transport water and nutrients. If not protected or treated early, infected trees could die.
You read above about the Village’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) initiative, a multi-year program to help prevent the spread of the EAB disease in Village ash trees. But what can you, as a property owner, do to help protect ash trees on private property? Below, you will find common questions and answers on how to prevent, identify, and treat EAB.
How can I tell if I have an ash tree on my property? Ash trees can be identified by their branch arrangement (most will have branches that are directly opposite one another), their leaves (they are compound, and typically have 5-11 leaflets), the pattern of their bark (older trees have diamond-shaped ridges), and their oar-shaped seeds. For more details and photos for comparison, see this pamphlet shared by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
How can I tell if my ash tree has already been infected? Certain visual signs and symptoms may indicate that your tree is infected with EAB. Be sure to look for more than one, as some could be caused by other factors.
Signs:
- D-shaped holes in the bark, caused by adult beetles that have crawled out from under the surface
- Serpentine galleries (thick, zig-zagging lines) in the wood, caused by the larvae
- Small, cream-colored larvae (about 1.5 inches in length)
- Small, metallic green adult beetles (about the size of a grain of rice)
Symptoms:
- Crown dieback, or bare spots/thinning on the top of the tree, caused by a lack of water and nutrients
- Epicormic sprouting, or growth on the trunk of a tree, usually right below where the EAB are feeding
- Vertical bark splits, exposing the zig-zagging galleries
- Woodpecker flecking, often starting high in the tree
If my tree doesn’t appear to be infected…How can I protect it from a potential EAB infestation? The Department of Natural Resources cites multiple treatment options for protecting ash trees from EAB, and you should always reach out to a certified arborist to discuss recommendations specific to the tree(s) on your property.
If my tree appears to be infected…How can I treat it? If your tree has low to moderate levels of infestation, certain treatment options can be effective. Contact a certified arborist to evaluate the tree and help determine the best option is treatment or removal. If an infected ash tree cannot be saved, it should be removed before it becomes hazardous.
If removing my ash tree is the best option, what are some good replacement trees? Consider a native species or a tree that will do well in an urban environment. You may also want to plant a tree that is more disease or bug resistant than others. The DNR has a few resources related to replanting, showing a variety of trees and plants that could thrive in our community, and if you work with an arborist, they may have additional suggestions. For more information and resources related to ash tree care, see the EAB Toolbox from the DNR.
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Updates from Village Hall: |
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Village of Whitefish Bay
Recycle Day in the Bay 2022:
The annual drop-off event returns has a two year hiatus on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, in the Dominican High School parking lot (entrance on Bay Ridge), in conjunction with Bay Day. Items such as scrap metal, appliances, electronics, and gently used household items will be accepted. Look to upcoming Village E-Newsletters for a complete list of items you can bring to be recycled, reused and disposed of.
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Village Website Update:
The Village recently switched to wfbvillage.gov for website and email domains. We encourage you to visit wfbvillage.gov directly or use @wfbvillage.gov when contacting Village staff. Please note - wfbvillage.org and @wfbvillage.org emails will continue to work for an indefinite period of time. The switch to .gov is more than a cosmetic overhaul, .gov email addresses are more difficult to spoof as domain usage is approved and regulated at the federal level. |
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Summer Seasonal Job Openings:
The Village is looking to fill four (4) seasonal laborer positions within the Department of Public Works. The positions may be responsible for waste/brush/refuse/recycling collection, flower bed planting/weeding/watering, shrub bed hedging/weeding & mulching, and other general tasks.
The positions begin in May and end in late August. Forty hours per week is expected but not guaranteed. Pay is $14.00 per hour depending on experience. Working hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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Spring Election Information: |
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April 5, 2022 Election Information:
When is in-person absentee voting?
- In-person absentee voting continues weekdays until Friday, April 1, 2022, during regular business hours (until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022).
- The Village will be utilizing Express Vote machines during in-person absentee voting.
- No appointment necessary; please bring a photo ID.
- There is no absentee voting on the Monday prior to the election.
Offices up for primary election on April 5: Whitefish Bay Village Trustee (2 seats), Whitefish Bay School Board (2 seats), Milwaukee County Supervisor District 1, Circuit Court Judge (branches 5, 14, 25, 31, 34, 44, 45). Click here to view a sample ballot. It is the same for all wards.
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Updates From The Police Department: |
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Overnight Winter Parking Regulations Ending Soon:
Alternate side overnight winter parking regulations end on Thursday, March 31, 2022. From April 1st through November 30, monthly permit holders and those granted free nightly permissions do not need to park on alternate sides of the street. Vehicles should be parked abutting the property of the permit location. Vehicles with monthly overnight parking permits must be moved once every 24 hours.
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National Rx Drug Take Back Day:
The next National Rx Take Back Day will be April 30, 2022. This event is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs at locations in communities throughout the country. The event will be at Whitefish Bay Village Hall from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on April 30, 2022.
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Update From The North Shore Health Department: |
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Becky Roland Hired As Health Officer:
The North Shore Health Department is excited to announce their new Health Officer - Becky Rowland, MPH, MBA. Public health work is Becky's life's work. She adopts a relational approach in her practice, building strong relationships with clients, constituents, and teams. She is deeply committed to supporting individuals to live their best lives, while mindfully stewarding resources to make the most impact. Her career, although always rooted in her desire to serve, has moved from the nighttime streets (harm reduction, and youth outreach) to clinical settings (HIV, clinical research, and LGBT+ Health) to local government health departments (City of Evanston, City of Milwaukee). Born and raised in Chicago, Becky currently lives in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. She earned her Master's of Public Health in 2016 and her Master's of Business Administration in 2020.
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North Shore Health Department Spring Newsletter:
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Update From the Department Of Revenue: |
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Wisconsin Help for Homeowners Now Available:
The pandemic has financially impacted thousands of Wisconsin families. Wisconsin Help for Homeowners (WHH) is a new statewide program that can help with overdue bills like mortgage payments, property taxes, and utilities. The program is available to Wisconsin homeowners with overdue housing-related bills, both with and without a mortgage, who meet income and other eligibility requirements, and have experienced a qualified economic hardship since January 21, 2020.
This $92 million federally funded program provides a maximum of $40,000 in assistance for eligible households.
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Updates From The Whitefish Bay Library: |
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Facebook Storytime - Fridays, 10:00 a.m. - April 8, April 22, April 29: Join one of our youth services librarians for an All Ages Storytime on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. on our Facebook page for books, songs, and more! We'll be sure to save the storytime so you can watch it later. Click here to visit our Facebook page.
Take and Make: Handprint Cactus: Wednesday, April 6, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Use your handprint to make a personalized and adorable cactus. Pick up your kit outside the front doors of the library.
Getting to Know Medicare: Tuesday, April 12, 6:00 p.m. A workshop designed to simplify Medicare and to help you make a more informed decision on your coverage without all the headaches and confusion. This program will be held in person. If this changes we will notify registrants. Presented by Grutz Financial. Please register.
Cozy Evening Zoom Storytime with Miss Taylor Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 p.m.: Join us for a cozy evening storytime on Zoom from the comfort of your own home. Wear your comfiest pajamas, build your coziest blanket fort, and enjoy stories and songs with Miss Taylor. Please register.
Virtual Mystery Book Club: Thursday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. Our Mystery Book Club meets once a month and is led by librarian and author Sharon Nagel. This month we're reading Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 890 9070 0104. Passcode: J8yJp03W.
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Vigil For Peace - In Ukraine and the World:
United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay, Bay Bridge, Bay Shore Lutheran Church, Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Milwaukee, and From The Same Dust are offering a vigil for peace for the community on Saturday, April 2, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay, 819 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay. Music will be provided by Ukrainian and Russian musicians and others.
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Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast with the Bunny:
Come celebrate Spring at the North Shore Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast with the Bunny on Saturday, April 2, 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. The event will take place at Dominican High School, 120 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay.
Enjoy taking photos with the Bunny, raffles, and a delicious breakfast featuring pancakes, sausage, juice, milk & coffee. Tickets are available at the door, from Kiwanis members, or at Winkie’s Variety Store - just $8 per adult (10 & up) and $5 per child (over 2 years of age). 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.
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Whitefish Bay Garden Club Annual Meeting :
**DATE CHANGE** The PUBLIC is invited to our open meeting on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m. This is a change from the previously published date. Join the Whitefish Bay Garden Club for a poetry reading by Whitefish Bay resident Susan Fire. Attend via zoom at this link: https://tinyurl.com/yckhmyf3.
For 35 years, Susan taught creative writing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has been a National Endowment for the Arts fellow and a Milwaukee Poet Laureate. She is the author of six books of poetry, including Milwaukee Does Strange Things To People. Her most recent book, The Transit of Venus, was named an “Outstanding Work of Poetry” by the Wisconsin Library Association in 2017. Her poems have appeared in many journals and anthologies, including The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Ms. (Magazine), and The New Yorker.
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Bay Bridge Event:
Save the Date! Mapping Racism and Resistance in Milwaukee County is April 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Christ Church Episcopal (5655 N Lake Drive).This event will have both IN PERSON & VIRTUAL options. Registration instructions for each will be forthcoming. Click here for more event information.
Anne Bonds, UWM Department of Geography, Reggie Jackson, Nurturing Diversity Partners, Derek Handley, UWM Department of English & Lawrence Hoffman, Groundwork Milwaukee will present their finding using archival research, rhetorical analysis, and GIS mapping.
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NSHD Healthy Highlight - Spring Ready Home: Spring is here and it’s a great time to tackle those spring projects on your to-do list. Get your home spring ready by cleaning and making needed repairs around your home. As you get your home spring ready, check your tools and supplies to ensure they are in tip-top shape and wear sturdy shoes. Be mindful of seasonal hazards that can result from the transition between late winter and early spring, such as variability in temperatures, melting snow refreezing as ice, and freezing rain.
Outside
- Make sure your home address numbers are visible.
- Trim back bushes and shrubbery not only for curb appeal but also home safety and maintenance.
- Clear drains and gutters of leaves and debris to prevent flooding.
- Inspect all outside structures and boundaries and repair if damaged.
- Check outside lighting and replace bulbs if they are not working.
Inside
- Clean and dust smoke and carbon dioxide alarms, test to make sure they are working and if needed, replace the batteries.
- If you have an alarm system, update your security code, and remove passcodes given out to those who no longer need to access your home.
- Once a year, have your heating and cooling systems, water heater and other appliances serviced by a qualified technician.
- Clear your fireplaces of ash and schedule a chimney cleaning.
- Check windows and door locks and don’t forget to clean your windows.
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