Top 5 WFB Stories of 2009

Top Five Whitefish Bay Stories of 2009:

#5 - ICE RINKS:

After a long break with tradition, two Ice Rinks were flooded at Klode and Cahill.  The tradition will continue in 2010. 

#4 - ARMORY PARK:

With sufficient funds raised, the Armory Park memorial began construction and had its first official flag raising on Veterans' Day.  The project will be finished with landscaping in 2010.

#3 - ELECTIONS:

• In the Spring, Whitefish Bay had three Trustees elected (Foster, Miller, and myself) and three School Board members elected (Rogers, Steele, Martinelli)
• In the Fall, we had a two-question ballot, with two WFB School District capital referendums.  Both passed.

#2 - DRUGS & POLICE:

In March, Whitefish Bay lost a teenager to a drug-overdose.  This spawned multiple stories concerning police efforts to shut down a drug-house that neighbors had reported countless times .. a creation of a new group, Bay United, and later in the year, two drug-dog searches of the Middle and High Schools (that turned up no contraband.)

#1 - SILVER SPRING RENEWAL

• After 6 months of construction, Silver Spring was rejuvenated with a new street-scape in time for the 4th of July Parade.
• Whitefish Bay's new Business Improvement District (BID) began working and a new Marketing Director was hired (and later quit).
• The BID created a new website and Facebook group.
• A new Retail Recruitment Program was created.
• Fox-Bay Condos were proposed behind Starbucks .. (and are seemingly in a holding pattern.)
• After one year, Berkeley's was renamed El Guapo's, a Mexican spot.
• City Market announced plans to open in the old Mike Crivello Camera location.   Whitefish Bay kicked in TID Funds and a Recruitment Grant to help City Market open in 2010.
• Six new merchants moved in -- What's Poppin, Mobility, Nevaeh Spa, Oro di Oliva, Simon Oliver, & Aurora Health Care.
• Only one (?) store closed, Milwaukee's Finest Guitars.   Also, one of the Persian rug shops is doing a looooong going out of business sale, but that'll count in 2010 if they ever actually close the doors.   If you believe their ads, Betty Johnson's Interiors is closing and is in WFB.  They wish they were in WFB.  They are in Glendale.  False advertising!