News and Notes: Feb. 20

Community asked to help find new superintendent

Muskego - An open forum facilitated by the consulting firm that's helping the Muskego-Norway School Board find a successor to Superintendent Joe Schroeder will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at Muskego High School, S8750 Racine Ave., in Room 243.

Public input as to the characteristics people want in a new superintendent is a key step in the search process, according to the consulting firm.

The district also has an online survey people can complete by Feb. 29. Go to the website, muskegonorway.org.

Schroeder will leave at the end of the school year.

Scouting leader soars ever higher

New Berlin - The highest award the Boy Scouts of America bestows on adults, the Silver Beaver, will go to Ronald Hahn of Troop 93 of Holy Apostles in New Berlin in ceremonies tonight.

The award is given for distinguished service to youth through Scouting programs. Only 287 Silver Beaver Awards have been presented to adult leaders since 1931 when the Potawatomi Council was founded.

Hahn contributed to shaping the troop into the quality program that it is today, according to the council. He has been a committee member for more than 10 years and a committee chairman for more than five years. He has also been a den leader, Webelos leader and cubmaster.

The council also noted that Hahn brings a "can-do and let's do it" positive attitude that is contagious. From United Way to 4H, the parish festival to parish religious education, Hahn is committed to helping make his workplace and community better, the judges noted.

Seniors can apply for Legion scholarship

Muskego - The Muskego American Legion and Women's Auxiliary Post 356 are accepting college scholarship applications from Muskego High School seniors.

Applications are available on the Muskego High School website and are to be turned in by April 2. They are to be mailed to Muskego American Legion Post 356, P.O. Box 92, Muskego, WI 53150.

New Berlin doctor named Educator of Year

New Berlin - New Berlin doctor John Brill has been named 2011 Family Medicine Educator of the Year by the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians, Thiensville.

Brill is professor of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Milwaukee clinical campus.

The state family physicians group presents the annual Family Medicine Educator of the Year award to recognize physicians who provide outstanding and comprehensive family medicine education to medical students, residents and new physicians, and who demonstrate a balance between career and personal life.

Brill has written numerous articles and publications, been recognized with awards for excellence in teaching and research grants.

He is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed his family practice residency and a fellowship in clinical faculty development at St. Luke's Medical Center/ University of Wisconsin Medical School in Milwaukee.

Among his many other roles, Brill is serving as medical director of medical student education for Aurora Health Care and as clerkship director for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health's Primary Care Clerkship Program.

Ike cheerleaders earn cheers for themselves

New Berlin - The New Berlin Eisenhower varsity cheerleaders are on their way to the state competition after presenting a perfect routine to win the southern regionals of the Wisconsin Association of Cheer/Pom Coaches on Saturday at South Milwaukee High School.

The state championship will be at the Alliant Center Memorial Coliseum in Madison this Saturday.

The competition team consists captains Danielle Green, Cindy Love and Rachel Laseke, and members Taylor Belongia, Riley Brisk, Taylor Browne, Courtney Brucker, Courtney Crubaugh, Gina Gatto, Sarah Hall, Kaci Imig, Mia Jennaro, Kaitlin Slonac, Lindsay Stubenrauch, Maggie Teipner and Paige Wisniewski.

District makes push for healthier foods at events

New Berlin - Healthier foods and snacks may soon start popping up at New Berlin football games or other school events.

The New Berlin School Board last week approved a new food policy that encourages nutritious food choices.

Booster clubs will be contacted about considering the addition of healthy choices at school events. The board noted that some other schools are already starting to offer fruit and vegetable dip along with cookies, candy and other treats.

The new policy puts the New Berlin schools in line with federal law.

The district itself will abide by its healthy-choices policy, to "promote foods and beverages available on school campuses and at school events that contribute to making nutritious food choices which are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans."

District redrawing elementary school boundaries

New Berlin - Students of Glen Park Elementary School, which will close in June, will know at least by April 23 what schools they will attend this fall.

New boundaries are being drawn for New Berlin's remaining four elementary schools due to the closing. A few children not attending Glen Park might also be affected by its closing. They could be shifted to other schools, also.

Superintendent Joe Garza said he planned to present a preliminary school boundary plan to the School Board on March 26, with board approval likely by April 23.

Those dates could be moved up if Garza gets the information he needs from the city of New Berlin regarding the impending development of a large tract of farmland known as Section 35 east of Moorland Road. The farmland will receive sewer service so it will be ready for development in the near future.

Children coming to live in Section 35 could impact enrollments in the Elmwood Elementary and Ronald Reagan elementary schools, Garza said. These two schools, along with Orchard Lane Elementary School, are being considered for absorbing the students that are being displaced after Glen Park is closed, he said.

Muskego school brings eyeglass need into focus

Muskego - Even a 5-year-old will be able to help someone in another country see the world clearly again by donating to Muskego Elementary School's eyeglasses collection.

Donated glasses will be taken to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center in Rosholt, home of the Wisconsin Lions Camp. There, the eyeglasses will be sorted, cleaned and categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution by Lions and other groups to Third World countries. The donation deadline is March 23.

'Free Little Library' looks for Muskego home

Muskego - It will up to the Muskego Library Board to see if a "Free Little Library" can open a new chapter in the city.

A "Free Little Library" is a place where people can drop off books they don't want anymore and maybe pick up someone else's donated books for free. The books would be inside a little structure that looks like an oversized birdhouse and mounted on a pole, a little like a mailbox. One was proposed for Bluhm Park.

But the city's Parks and Recreation Board didn't feel comfortable being the one to oversee the proposed "Little Library" in terms of lending rules, locations, content, rules of use, upkeep and vandalism.

The library would be better to oversee such a facility because it already deals with lending books, the board decided.

7th grader state's top middle school volunteer

New Berlin - Zach Harmon, 12, a student at New Berlin West Middle/High School, was selected as Wisconsin's top Middle Level youth volunteer in the 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding volunteerism.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 17th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Zach, a seventh-grader, celebrates his birthday every year by conducting a food drive for the New Berlin food pantry, and last year alone delivered more than 4,500 pounds of food to feed hungry families. Zach got the idea for his annual "Z-Drive" when he saw the TV show "American Idol Gives Back."

As a reward, Zach will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where he will join the top two honorees from states around the country and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2012 at that time.

High-schoolers to read to younger students

Muskego - To celebrate Read Across America, Muskego High School advanced psychology students will read Dr. Seuss books to Muskego Elementary youngsters on March 2.

They also will discuss the stories with the elementary students. Not only will the event celebrate Read Across America, but it also will celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday.

Volunteer needed for Board of Review

New Berlin - The city of New Berlin is seeking a resident volunteer to fill a vacancy on the Board of Review that hears citizen challenges to their property values.

Evidence is presented by both the citizen and the assessor. The board has the power to revise the property's value.

Members cannot occupy any public office or be publicly employed.

In a press release, Mayor Jack Chiovatero described the board as a "quasi-judicial body," one that acts like a court and follows accepted procedures when evaluating the relevant facts in each case.

New Berlin will do a revaluation of all city residences and commercial property this year. The city does a revaluation every three years with the last one being 2009.

Letters of intent and a brief resume or application should be sent to Melody Styba by email, mstyba@newberlin.org; fax (262) 780-4601), or mail to 3805 S. Casper Drive, New Berlin, WI 53151.

More information is available at (262) 797-2441.

New software streamlines city's hiring process

New Berlin - Those seeking jobs with the New Berlin city government will now be able to track applications and create account to simplify future submissions.

The Insight Enterprise System, known as NeoGov, replaces paper applications with an employment website where job seekers can track their applications. They also can be notified of job vacancies through online job interest cards, which human resources department officials predict will result in a more qualified pool of applicants, especially for hard-to-fill positions.

NeoGov automates the hiring and employment process that streamlines the recruiting and hiring process.

The online application process can be accessed at newberlin.org/jobs.

Callen Construction wins five remodeler awards

Muskego - Callen Construction Inc., W13131 Janesville Road, won five awards in the Milwaukee/NARI-sponsored 2011 Wisconsin Remodeler of the Year Awards (WRA).

The company won four silver and one bronze awards, all for residential remodeling. The silver awards were for kitchen remodeling projects costing $40,001 to $80,000; for the interior and exterior specialty categories, and for exterior remodeling projects for less than $100,000. The bronze award was for bath remodeling projects more than $60,000.

This is the 12th consecutive year Callen Construction has won an award in the WRA competition, which is conducted annually by the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council.

Callen Construction has been in the home improvement and remodeling business since 1986.

Company embarks on major expansion

New Berlin - Hastings Air Energy Control Inc., 5555 S. Westridge Drive, recently began an expansion project that will nearly double its size.

The 10,000 additional square feet is needed to accommodate additional showroom equipment and provide more warehouse space.

Currently, the facility has a 2,000-square-foot laboratory/working showroom, 6,000 square feet of office space, and 7,000 square feet of warehouse and dock area. The expansion will increase overall facility size to approximately 25,000 square feet. At the same time the parking area will be expanded.

The family-owned business was established in 1969. It sells, services and supports dust collectors, process ventilation systems and vehicle exhaust systems designed to save energy and minimize cost of ownership. The company serves the upper Midwest Great Lakes region.

Muskego gallery takes second in gift shop listing

Muskego - A year after opening her handmade pottery and gift gallery in Muskego last February, Jessie Schroeder Voss won second place in the Milwaukee WISN A List for the Gift Shop category.

Her gallery, My Table, is located at S9912 North Cape Road.