By Stephanie Van Alyea Quirk
The Northpoint Lighthouse Museum
Halloween on Milwaukee’s East Side
Last year it snowed?! So this year’s unseasonably warm temperatures were very welcome! Especially for Trick or Treaters! The kids didn’t have to bundle up or put coats over their costumes! Halloween seems to get bigger and bigger every year on Milwaukee’s East Side, with more and more houses getting creative and going all out!
The Lighthouse for Halloween
Trick or Treating on the East Side
The preservation group Historic Water Tower Neighborhood (HWTN.org) hosted their annual Halloween party at the North Point LightHouse Museum. The Lighthouse is a lakeside treasure which was saved by the neighbors. The exterior of the lighthouse museum is always spotlighted in a different color depending on the holiday or season. For Halloween, it was aglow in orange. Once inside, you can walk up the light tower for a fabulous bird’s eye view of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan. The party arranged by HWTN Special Events Chair Jeff Steinhorst was festive with friends in costume gathered in the Lighthouse.
North Point Lighthouse Museum 2650 N Wahl Ave. (northpointlighthouse.org)
Tiffany and Brad Tinsey at HWTN Party
Halloween Decorations on the East Side
Abandoned Boat
Everyone in Milwaukee is talking about the boat that hit the rocks on the Shore of Lake Michigan and then was abandoned. The boat remains stuck in the sand between Bradford and McKinley Beaches after its owners ran out of gas and left it. The boat, a 33-foot Chris-Craft Roamer, ran aground in the sand just behind the rock wall on October 13. No one was injured in the incident. Officials said they have not moved the vessel since no human lives were in danger. It is now a tourist attraction! https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2024/10/16/abandoned-boat-remains-stranded-near-milwaukees-bradford-beach/75701587007/
Abandoned boat close to the City
Grazing Goats
Goats
The newest craze in Milwaukee is Grazing Goats Wisconsin owned by Linda and Bo Klietz, a family-owned land stewardship company currently serving southern Wisconsin. Grazing Goats employs a targeted mob grazing approach to aid in the eradication of noxious weeds, plants, and brush. Foraging Goats are able to achieve vegetation management because they are compact, quick, and nimble. They often go into places humans cannot easily go, like rocky cliffs or steep ravines. This fall, over 40 goats were dropped off for a week at an East Side yard on Lincoln Memorial Drive. The goats did a wonderful job and also served as entertainment for walkers, runners, commuters and the residents! For more information, please visit https://www.grazinggoatswisconsin.com
Close Up of Grazing Goats
Outside with one of 3 Domes visible
Saving The Domes
A citywide concern is saving the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, or what Milwaukeans lovingly call “The Domes.” Due to deferred maintenance, this beloved landmark is in danger of being demolished. Thankfully, the community, and particularly the Friends of the Domes led by Executive Director Christa Beall Diefenbach, are taking action to save the iconic treasure. When the Domes were constructed in 1965, First Lady Mrs. Lyndon B. (Lady Bird) Johnson dedicated the facility to the citizens of Wisconsin. As the Domes prepare to celebrate 60 years, the Friends of the Domes are taking serious, huge steps to ensure they do not face demolition. From November 23, 2024 to January 5, 2025 the annual holiday Dome iS on view. To learn more, plan your visit or join the Friends of the Domes, please visit https://www.mitchellparkdomes.com/plan-your-visit
Lady Bird Johnson Dedication of The Domes
In River Hills:
Yard Sign for USM Holiday Shops
The Holiday Shops at University School of Milwaukee
Since 1976, the Holiday Shops transform the University School of Milwaukee into a winter wonderland of holiday shopping! This four-day extravaganza features vendors from around the world. It is also USM’s biggest annual fundraiser. Organized by the Parent’s association, the proceeds benefit USM students in all divisions to support teaching and learning. Holiday Shops are about creating and supporting community. This year was better than ever. The shops were held from October 31 through November 2, and running it all were event coordinators Mary Frances Lilly, Melanie Stueber and Patricia Kauffman. https://www.usm.org/events/holiday-shops.
University School of Milwaukee
Melanie Stueber, Patricia Kauffman and Mary Frances Lilly
The USS Beloit Warship
USS Beloit Combat Ship commissioned At Milwaukee’s Veterans Park
The USS Beloit was commissioned in Milwaukee on November 23, 2024. It is the fifteenth Freedom-class littoral combat ship to be built. The littoral combat ship is roughly 380 feet long and will house 88 crew members. Ships of this kind are made in Marinette, Wisconsin. They cost roughly $500 million to build. This is the first naval ship to be named after the Wisconsin city of Beloit. Ultimately, the USS Beloit will call Jacksonville, Florida its home port.
The USS Beloit Warship was Commissioned in Veterans Park, Milwaukee
