ME² Launch

On March 1, the Mayor and Alderman Murphy in conjunction with the Office of Environmental Sustainability officially launched Me², the Milwaukee Energy Efficiency program for homeowners. We are pleased to partner with Summit Credit Union who has provided up to $30 million in capital to finance energy efficiency upgrades in Milwaukee on affordable terms.   Me² is a voluntary program to help homeowners afford the up-front costs for energy efficiency improvements, such as added insulation and new heating equipment. The program pairs a new low-interest loan option with instant rebates and existing Focus on Energy incentives. Homeowners can then repay their Me² loan as they reap the energy savings. The program reduces the hassle factor for homeowners by using Energy Advocates to guide them through the entire energy efficiency upgrade process and subsidizes the cost of professional home energy assessments.  Me² works with a pool of approved energy consultants and contractors to ensure the work is done correctly.  
Please visit our website at www.smartenergypays.com We need your help to successfully market the program in your district and help us meet our goal of upgrading 4,500 homes.  If you have community meetings, we can assign an Energy Advocate to come and provide a presentation on the program and sign-up residents.  If you would like to schedule and Energy Advocate presentation, please contact Jackie Thibert-Blank jackietb@weccusa.org , the Energy Advocate supervisor for Me². If you would like more information on the program, I would be happy to meet with you.  Me2 for commercial properties will be available soon. Thank you for your consideration.  Erick Shambarger City of Milwaukee Office of Environmental Sustainability 414-286-8556 http://www.milwaukee.gov/sustainability 

_____________________________

Summer Youth Opportunity

Dear Alderman Witkowski:
   I'm writing to share an application for the Wisconsin Humane Society's People and Animals Learning (PAL) program.  PAL is an empathy-building program for underserved Milwaukee youth between the ages of 10 and 13. Teachers and community leaders are invited to nominate at-risk students who could benefit from the increased self-esteem and empathy that comes from training and caring for animals.  Through the PAL program, students work with shelter dogs, cats and orphaned baby birds. The two week program is offered FREE and transportation to and from the shelter is provided.   If you would like to nominate a young person to participate, please complete the attached application to tell us about the young person you are nominating and how this program can benefit him or her.  Deadline for PAL nomination applications is Monday, April 18th, 2011. Parents, children and community leaders will be notified of acceptance into the program in May.   Feel free to pass this application on to teachers and other community leaders who may be interested in nominating a young person.  If you would like more information about the PAL program or other Wisconsin Humane Society services, feel free to contact me.   Thank you for the work you do for our community!   Jill Kline Advocacy Coordinator Wisconsin Humane Society (414) 431-6142 www.wihumane.org   Check out our Facebook page!

News from the Garden District Neighborhood Association

Did you hear about the family down the street? Their house was broken into and the thieves got everything!" Have you heard this comment in the past year? Do you know "that" family? Could it be YOU next time?
Most of us would rather not think about it. But, what if you could get the inside scoop of what goes through a criminal's mind. Well, here's your opportunity to find out.
The Holt Park Neighborhood Association is proud to bring a CRIMINAL EXPERT to their next meeting and we would like to invite your neighborhood group as our guest.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 19th at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - St Francis, 8th Floor Auditorium, 3237 South 16th Street, Milwaukee(enter through the main doors by circle driveway)Street parking. The meeting starts at 6:00 pm SHARP.
Our expert will discuss how criminals in Milwaukee operate. Topics include how a criminal picks his target block, which house he will select, how he cases the property and watches the neighborhood. He will go on to also tell you what deters a burglar from coming to your house and which homes are not even considered. Once your home is selected, what is the most efficient way to enter a home, which rooms are targeted and what items are typically sought after. You'll also hear of the rooms that are never gone through and what criminals will not take. Upon their exit, where does your stuff go and how quickly is it sold? You'll learn that, too.Familiar topics, but you haven't heard it like this before . . . . . Alderman Witkowski will be in attendance along with the local Police, staff from the hospital and our Burglary Expert. Be there, because this is one meeting you can't afford to miss.
Diane Kosarzycki
Holt Park Neighborhood Association
645-1967
--------------
The Garden District Neighborhood Association is proud to work hand in hand with the Holt Park Neighborhood Association regarding the upcoming meeting at the Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-St Francis, 8th floor auditorium (more information below). This meeting will put a whole new spin on how a criminal's mind really does work in such a way that you really need to attend this meeting to get the on hands experience of what really goes down when your house is burglarized.  This meeting will help you to understand "why my house" and what can I do to beat the odds of  assuring that if my house is burglarized how I can protect myself so that the burglar will not be able to "clean my house out."   This meeting promises to open you eyes to everyday activities that make your house a prime choice on a burglar's list as a home to burglarize.   I can also tell you that this meeting will be a very action packed meeting along with a very special guest that will make every moment feel like you are right there with the burglar as if there is a break in happening right in front of you at the meeting.   Please make sure to share with all of your friends and neighbors and I hope to see you there. Any questions or comments please let me know. Warm Regards, Connie Wilson Email: thegdna@gmail.com Phone number: 414-379-2450
------------------------

The following information is from the Garden Committee, this is an ongoing project and any help would be greatly appreciated.

  Our first work day for the Garden District Community Garden, which is located on the southeast corner of 6th and Howard, is this Saturday, April 2.
  We will be preparing more raised bed boxes at Custom Grown Greenhouse, 4507 South 6th Street.
  We have scheduled work days the first Saturday of every month so in May just meet us at the Garden.  We have two work shifts 9-12 or 1-4 or just come when you can.
  Plot rental information will be available in the next week or so for the Community Garden.  If you are interested, please contact Marie for the paperwork (414-769-2170) or riegerm@msoe.edu.
  Hope to see you there! Thank you for your time,
   Connie Wilson
   Chairman of The Garden District Neighborhood Association