Alderman won't be penalized for unlabeled campaign literature
District 1 Alderman Daniel Sutton will not face any penalties from the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office for failing to properly label his campaign literature.
Sutton was informed Wednesday of his fate after his opponent, former judge Richard Steinberg, filed a complaint stating Sutton failed to disclose who paid for campaign fliers and pamphlets.
Penalties up to a $500 fine were possible, but according to Sutton, he was told simply to be mindful of the rules. Sutton says he has already stamped the rest of his literature and will be in full compliance moving forward.
Semifinalists emerge in Battle of the Burbs bracket contest
Four communities have advanced to the penultimate round of MyCommunityNOW's Battle of the Burbs bracket contest.
Top-seeded Wauwatosa handily defeated Franklin, 64-36, to earn a semifinal match up with No. 4 seed Waukesha. Waukesha earned its spot with a 52-48 victory over No. 2 Mequon-Thiensville.
Brookfield, a No. 1 seed, posted a 56-44 victory over Muskego and will face New Berlin in the semifinals. Second-seeded New Berlin advanced with a 63-37 rout of Shorewood.
Semifinal voting in the NCAA-style tournament continues for a week and pits suburbs against each other in a single-elimination showdown to determine the best community in the area.
Three lucky voters will win Visa gift cards and the winning community will receive a special proclamation from MyCommunityNOW and NOW Newspapers.
» Read Full ArticleVon Maur-anchored development to include upscale apartments
The Corners retail development planned for the Town of Brookfield is to now include 110 to 120 upscale apartments, the project's leasing agent said Thursday.
The apartments would be on the upper three levels of a four-story building, with stores on the street level, said Bruce Westling, president of NAI MLG Commercial. That building is planned for the western portion of the 19- acre site, which is between W. Blue Mound Road and I-94, east of N. Barker Road.
That site is now occupied by a small strip retail center and former theater owned by project developer Marcus Corp., and a former Menards store.
Westling said those buildings are to be demolished by the end of the year, with the development's anchor, a Von Maur department store, to open in November 2014. Construction of the Von Maur and other buildings is to begin in the spring of 2013, he said.
Westling made his comments during a presentation at the International Council of Shopping Centers' Wisconsin Idea Exchange, at downtown Milwaukee's Frontier Airlines Center. It marked the first time plans for apartments at The Corners were detailed.
» Read Full ArticleLancers kickers add game with Tosa West on Saturday
Brookfield Central has added a girls soccer game to its schedule on Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Lancers, who had a scheduled non-conference game with Sheboygan North cancelled, will now host Wauwatosa West instead.
Brookfield OKs outdoor seating for Yo Mama Yogurt
Frozen yogurt and a summer breeze are coming to the Ruby Isle shopping center.
Yo Mama Yogurt has taken the place of That Coffee Place, and on Monday, the city of Brookfield Plan Commission approved making the drive-through into an outdoor seating area.
The Common Council has already approved the code changes to accommodate the business change and the remodel began back in January for Yo Mama.
Rebecca and Scott Berger opened a Yo Mama Yogurt in Wauwatosa last summer with rousing success thanks to a hot summer. The Brookfield family is now opening a location in Brookfield, a plan that has been met with unanimous approval from Brookfield city officials, particularly Alderman Scott Berg.
Berg made a special trip to the commission meeting to support the plans, saying he'd been to the Wauwatosa store several times and the product "passed with flying colors." He also supported the idea of having outdoor seating, providing a place he said families and residents could come consistently and enjoy themselves.
» Read Full ArticleTown of Waukesha loses voice in fight against Brookfield incorporation
A Waukesha Circuit Court has ruled the town of Waukesha cannot continue to act as an intervening party in the Brookfield incorporation case, despite having residents potentially affected by the changes.
The court ruled that the town didn't have adequate documentation to show attorneys had legally approved the town's status as objectors to the incorporation.
According to attorneys for the town, a closed session meeting had been called to discuss the measure and by law all that was needed was to verbally approve the town's position. However, no minutes were approved showing the completion of that vote by the January court date, where such approval was necessary.
Town officials later ratified minutes affirming they had voted in time to show the court. The problem was that vote took place after the court's deadline and it was determined that was insufficient. That leaves the town, with perhaps the most directly affected community base, without a voice on the panel of communities objecting to this incorporation process.
Waukesha County Circuit Judge Donald J. Hassin Jr. has already ruled that the town of Brookfield's petition meets the legal standard, which is why the petitions and paperwork have been sent to the state for review.
» Read Full ArticleTown of Brookfield files petition to become a village
Town of Brookfield - The town has officially launched its effort to become a village, delivering an incorporation petition and supporting documents to the state Incorporation Review Board along with the $25,000 fee required by the state to review the request.
The Incorporation Review Board has 180 days to review the petition and make a ruling.
Town resident Jay Walt initiated the incorporation petition last year, hoping to preserve the town's identity and protect its territory from the threat of future annexations.
As a village, the town would have control over its destiny and be able to continue to work to keep its property tax rate low, the incorporation petition says.
In January, over objections from the cities of Waukesha and Brookfield and the Town of Waukesha, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Donald J. Hassin Jr. ruled that the Town of Brookfield's petition to incorporate about 4.2 square miles as a village met state procedural requirements and could be sent to the state for review.
» Read Full ArticleCharro closing after service March 24; details on Brookfield restaurant
The SURG restaurant group announced today it's closing Charro, its pan-Latin restaurant at 729 N. Milwaukee St., after service Saturday, March 24.
The concept "never worked for us," SURG partner Omar Shaikh said. He's been pleased with the quality of the food and the service of late, but said the food hadn't been consistent over the years. He said the group has a potential new concept for the space but isn't in a rush to implement it.
Charro in the meantime will serve as the commissary for the group's Bradford Beach concession stand in summer. Its employees will have opportunities to work at the group's other restaurants, such as Ryan Braun's Graffito, which is adding servers for patio season, and to the restaurant expected to open around late April at 17900 W. Blue Mound Road in Brookfield, previously also a Charro restaurant.
Charro downtown opened in December 2008 with more of a Mexican and Tex-Mex focus to the menu; it shifted to pan-Latin about a year ago.
Charro's chef, Aaron Patin, will lead the group's new restaurant in Brookfield on Blue Mound Road. The name of the restaurant hasn't been released yet, but the the focus would be American cuisine, with a casual decor, farm-to-table elements and wood-fired grill. The menu would include steaks, seafood and casual plates.
» Read Full ArticleBrookfield gives preliminary approval to Trader Joe’s plans
The third Trader Joe’s grocery store in the state is headed to Brookfield, having been approved last year as part of the Target development on Bluemound Road.
On Monday, the Brookfield Plan Commission approved the visuals of this sight plan for the project along with the aesthetics of the grocery store’s façade.
Alderman Gary Makhorn said that in his time as an elected official, getting a Trader Joe’s to Brookfield is one of the top 10 most asked about topics, up there with property taxes on the list.
The 12,500 square-foot grocery store will use most of the same materials as the Target in the Underwood Crossing development, including the same stone and a similar brick. Located in the northeast corner of the plot next to a retailer to be named later, the national upscale grocer will have a single entrance on the Bluemound Road side.
There will be 140 spots in the parking lot on the parcel, which will be separated, to some degree, by landscaping from the store to the west. City officials did admit that they were relaxing the long-standing policy of buildings being aesthetically accounted for on all four sides since a grove of trees will essentially hide the south side of the building.
» Read Full ArticleKing holds off Brookfield Central's upset bid
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We came to win, not get a moral victory. We were right there,” Wandrey said. “But they’re tough. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them play another couple of weeks.”
Fire reported at Brookfield house of bankrupt real estate investor
Brookfield - A two-alarm fire caused about $150,000 damage Friday morning to a home in Brookfield, fire officials said.
The blaze was reported shortly before 9:30 a.m. in a garage attached to a home at 16820 Ridge View Drive, according to the City of Brookfield Fire Department.
According to a fire department news release, a pet dog alerted the occupants of the home to the fire, and they were able to escape without injury.
They also did not open the door leading to the garage, which helped keep the fire from spreading further into the home,
The home is part of Todd Brunner's now-collapsed real estate empire, according documents filed in Brunner's ongoing bankruptcy case. According to the filing by Brunner and his wife, Sharon Brunner, the house has a value of $256,200 and carries a loan of $144,390. Records also show that more than $24,000 in back taxes are owed on the property.
» Read Full ArticleRegister through March 30 for Elmbrook summer school
March is a critical time for students to enroll in the district's summer school that begins June 18.
Registration is by mail only and materials must be postmarked between March 10 and March 30.
This year's program for kindergarten through eighth grade runs through July 13 at Pilgrim Park Middle School, 1500 Pilgrim Parkway, Elm Grove. The high school program runs through July 20 at Brookfield East High School, 3305 N. Lilly Rd., Brookfield
Registration materials including brochures and forms specific to K-8 and high school are available to download at www.elmbrookschools.org.
Dominican too much for Academy
Senior Jamall Taylor and the Whitefish Bay Dominican basketball team are one step closer to erasing three years of state tournament disappointments. After defeating Brookfield Academy, 87-66, Tuesday night at Milwaukee South Division, Taylor will finally get his chance at a sectional final Saturday afternoon against Howards Grove.
“I just left it all on the floor tonight,” Taylor said. “This is my senior year and we lost in the same spot three years in a row, so we made sure to give everything we had today.”
The victory adds to a remarkable run for the Knights of 22 consecutive wins and 17 wins by 20 or more points this season. They move to 24-1 on the year, including three wins over Brookfield Academy. The Blue Knights end the year at 16-10 but didn’t go away without a solid joust.
“It was a good test because it forced us to make good decisions, take care of the ball and play for four full quarters,” Dominican head coach Paul Wollersheim said. “I think that’s the best thing coming out of tonight is us having to play hard for four quarters.”
Dominican used a 14-0 run that spanned from the late stages of the first half to the middle of the third quarter to take command of the game. Taylor lead the Knights with 28 points, junior Duane Wilson scored 23 and freshman Diamond Stone added 19. Senior Domonique Criss led all scorers with 29 points keeping his Blue Knights team in the game most of the way.
» Read Full ArticleNo insanity defense planned in killing of Brookfield businessman
Waukesha - A New Berlin woman charged with homicide in the June killing of Brookfield businessman John Aegerter will not pursue a criminal insanity plea, her attorney told a judge Thursday.
Lynn M. Hajny, 49, who has pleaded not guilty, was considering changing her plea to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Hajny's attorney, Michael F. Hart, told Waukesha County Circuit Judge Patrick C. Haughney that a psychologist had examined Hajny and he would not be proceeding with the insanity plea. The psychologist's findings were not discussed during Thursday's brief hearing.
In January, Hart had told Haughney that Hajny has a long history of mental health treatment.
Hajny and Tommy V. Douyette, 42, of Milwaukee, each were charged with first-degree intentional homicide as party to a crime in Aegerter's death.
» Read Full ArticleBlue Knights only Brookfield boys basketball team still alive
Third-seeded Brookfield Academy beat sixth-seeded Kenosha Christian Life, 76-71, Friday and moved on to face second-seed Shoreland Lutheran at 7 p.m. in the WIAA D4 Regional finals game.
The Blue Knights (15-8) were led by Domonique Criss with 36 points while Melvin Pitt of KCL (11-13) had 29.
The winner of tonight's game at Shoreland Lutheran (18-4), which won, 64-54, at BA on Jan. 10, moves on to the sectional against Whitefish Bay Dominican/or Destiny at Milwaukee South on Thursday.
Both Brookfield Central and Brookfield East lost to Riverside (57-51) and West Allis Central (57-43) to end their D1 seasons Friday.
West Allis Central waits out Spartans
Being fully aware of what West Allis Central is capable of when it gets on a run, Brookfield East boys basketball coach Andy Farley tried to limit the Bulldogs’ opportunities in a WIAA Division 1 regional game on Friday night.
Farley took a page from the coaching book of University of North Carolina legend Dean Smith and used the four-corners frequently to hold the ball and look for only the best of shots.
“They’re obviously a quality basketball team,” Farley said. “We were just attempting to keep them on defense more than on offense; nothing complicated.”
The tactic worked – for a while.
Eventually, though, Central was able to increase the pace more to its liking and pulled steadily away to a 57-43 victory.
» Read Full ArticleGlacier fall in four overtimes at state
The Kettle Moraine Glacier girls hockey team, a co-op that features skaters from Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha schools and others, dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker in quadruple overtime at the WIAA girls state hockey tournament in Madison on Friday.
The third-year program, appearing in its first state tournament, rallied from a three-goal deficit in the third period to force the extra session. Morgan Hollowell scored a pair of unassisted goals to knot the score, with the last coming with 5:45 left to play.
Jeralyse Tylke of KM also scored in the final period, and Jessica Foley scored in the second to give the Glacier a 1-0 lead, but Onalaska answered 25 seconds later to tie the score. KM never led again.
Jenna Bales made 50 saves, including 13 in a blitz of a second overtime, and finished one shy of the state tournament record. Theresa Knutson, the state's leading scorer, put in the game-winner in the fourth OT with 2:17 left on the clock.
Stars beat Eau Claire Memorial, 3-2, in OT at state
The Brookfield Stars overcame a 2-0 deficit and beat Eau Claire Memorial, 3-2, in overtime on senior PJ Corbett's 18th goal of the season in the first game of the WIAA Boys Hockey State Tournament.
The Stars (20-8-0) now advance to play the winner of the Wausau West/Marquette game Friday night at 6 p.m. It is the first state win for the Stars as they were one and done in their only other state appearance in 1997.
With the score tied at 2-2, Matt Fosdick started the Stars to the winning goal with a pass to Patrick O'Brien. O'Brien raced down the left side of the center lane with Corbett ot his right and flipped Corbett the puck at the last minute and Corbett hit in the shot for the winning score, his 18th goal of the year.
At that point the Stars went nuts and celebrated all over the ice.
The fact that the game went into overtime was amazing in itself, as the Old Abes (22-5-2) jumped off to a 2-0 lead and totally dominated the first period with a 12-2 shots on goal advantage.
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