Beth Fetterley, director of education at the Urban Ecology Center (UEC), received the 2004 Conservation Educator of the Year Award from the Wisconsin DNR. During Fetterley’s four years with UEC, she has created the Ecology and Adventure after-school clubs and expanded the Urban Adventures program. She also created the High School Outdoor Leadership program, which allows minority students to explore the outdoors, as well as the Neighborhood Environment Project, which brings conservation education and outdoor activities to underprivileged and urban school children. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On May 29, the Riverwest Tavern held a Memorial Day Celebration honoring men and women who are serving or have served in the United States military. The gracious owners and patrons of this establishment made the celebration a touching experience, with an abundance of great food, prizes, theme music and a lot of good cheer. Regardless of your view on the war or military, one attendee reported, it was beautiful to see people from different backgrounds come together and celebrate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In response to the tragic drowning deaths of 12-year-old Temisha Warren and her 6-year-old sister Tia Woodley, the YMCA is offering a free water safety and swimming class to the first 1,000 children who sign up. The class will be held five days a week. Call 414/265-9622 (265-YMCA) for more information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Got a vacuum cleaner that works but that you don’t use anymore? Donate it to FreeCycling, a group that finds homes for all sorts of household items that are in good shape but are not being used. FreeCycling accepts items like clothing, refrigerators, bikes, plants, paints, lumber, vacuums, sports equipment, magazines and more. The items are available for free to takers. Formed in May 2004 by Krista Rose, FreeCycling is nonprofit and has over 400 members. Membership is open to all in Milwaukee and surrounding areas. For more info, visit www.freecycle.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Want to get involved in local politics? The 3rd District aldermanic office, which covers much of Riverwest, is looking for summer and fall constituent relations interns. Job responsibilities include responding to calls and e-mails about city services, working with city departments, and researching ordinances and laws to help solve citizens’ concerns. Strong writing and communication skills are essential. The unpaid internship requires 9-12 hours per week; college credit is possible. To apply, send resume and writing samples to Crystal Graf: cgraf@milwaukee.gov or 200 E. Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The MPS Homeless Education Program Office is holding an outreach effort to identify and help homeless families with school-age children. Homeless families qualify for special services and assistance, including meals and transportation. MPS defines a child as “homeless” if he or she lacks fixed and adequate nighttime housing. MPS estimates that at least 7,000 students don’t have permanent housing and lack stable households. According to Barbara White, member of Task Force, only 1,800 students have been identified and received special assistance. If you know of a family that could qualify for assistance, call the MPS Homeless Education Program Office at 414/475-8911. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Riverwest Currents website now features video. Check in regularly for new offerings; the current Sunday afternoon bike ride, produced by Peter DiAntoni, includes footage of a ride through the neighborhood and music from Dreamland Faces. In other web news, the Washington Park Beat, a bi-monthly neighborhood newspaper produced by Currents staff, now has its own website, www.parkbeat.com. The Park Beat covers neighborhoods around Washington Park and is funded by a grant from LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation). With publication every other month, the paper aims to express opinion, report local news and events, and advocate for residents, small businesses, and others in the neighborhoods of Washington Park, Walnut Hill, and Metcalfe Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the COA Youth & Family Center’s 3D Rhythm Project on Saturdays. Stop by Kilbourn Park on North Avenue and join the community drum circle with Ko-Thi’s Steve Negasi Willis. Practice your moves in an open dance studio with professional performance artists, or try your hand at acting with theater director Muhammadi Davis. The 3D Rhythm Project encourages and welcomes all skill levels, ages and backgrounds. Arts, crafts, snacks, and a potluck lunch will be provided. Activities are outdoors and all programs are free. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Urban Ecology Center is offering canoe trips down the Milwaukee River from Riverside Park. Participants can enjoy the River Rhythms in Pere Marquette Park while canoeing to the Milwaukee Rowing Club. Registration is limited to 14 people per trip; $20 fee. Trips are held every Wednesday in July from 5:15 to 9:30 p.m. For adults and accompanied children ages 10 and up. Call 414/964-8505 to register. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The second annual Summer of Peace Youth rally will be held July 22 at Kilbourn Park. Ald. Mike McGee, Peace Action’s George Martin, and inspirational speaker Anthony Ward will speak. COA Youth & Family Centers is sponsoring this year’s event, with activities starting at 2 p.m. and food at 4:30. Events include a drum circle, local gospel and hip hop shows, dance demonstrations, kids’ activities, arts and crafts, games, and more. To vend or set up an information booth, or to register your agency’s attendance, call project manager Tanya Cromartie-Twaddle at 263-8389 x 147. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sixth graders from Thor Stolen’s class at Milwaukee Education Center (MEC) Middle School (on King Drive in the old Schlitz Brewery) cleaned trash from the Milwaukee River and learned how to fish on a recent field trip. The outing was the culmination of a four-week water unit on pollution, water quality, animals of Milwaukee’s rivers, and river recreational activities. A speaker from MMSD taught the kids about Jones Island and the wastewater treatment system. Gene Schmidt, chairman of the Milwaukee River Basin chapter of Walleyes for Tomorrow, brought one of the group’s boats for the trip and passed on some of his knowledge of boating and fishing. The Milwaukee Ale House provided a free lunch for the students working on the river cleanup, Center Street’s A&C Bait Shop donated tackle and bait, and the DNR provided loaner fishing rods. The catch of the day was a 15-pound carp, which will be mounted and displayed at the school. MEC principal Debra Bell said she was happy to see students helping the community.
Compiled by Currents staff.