With the Powerball jackpot at $550 million and rising, 3rd District State Senator Tim Carpenter hopes he holds the winning ticket. And he knows just what he plans on spending his winnings on. Carpenter said Friday he'll donating the winning $550 million jackpot (see his attached ticket)to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for new road projects, cutting Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to borrow $994 million over the next two years to beef up that department's fund. The state senator, of course, also suggested, should he not be holding the winning ticket, that Walker could scale back his …

Sometimes it’s nice to stand apart from a crowd and be lauded for your individuality. But not all the time. The City of Greenfield continues to miss out on a terrific branding opportunity and chance to strengthen community identity by failing to address its “naked” water tower. It’s been two years this month since the Common Council was last asked by Mayor Michael Neitzke to approve funding to put the city’s name on the water tower near 92nd and Howard Avenue. Back in 2011, Neitzke suggested to the alderpersons the city use $7,000 from the city’s hotel/motel tax tourism account to paint “…

I won’t ever forget my first visit to the Greenfield Police Department. No, it wasn’t for something like this guy did, or for the mess this woman made, and though I had to wait a few minutes to speak with someone, I certainly didn’t pull a stunt like this impatient individual. When I did get to meet with someone face-to-face, it was then-Captain (now Assistant Chief) Paul Schlecht. I told him who I was and that I was the editor of Greenfield Patch. In typical police officer form, Captain Schlecht sized me up with his well-trained eyes. And then, right there in the front lobby, the …

Approximately 20 special education students at Whitnall High School treated family, friends and classmates to presentations of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on Thursday. The students performed twice in the high school auditorium to a packed house, drawing plenty of laughter, applause and a standing ovation. Students practiced for the near 20-minute play, which included the songs Jingle Bells, Here Comes Santa Claus and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, for nearly 2 months, special education teacher Jeff Wallack said. “They really worked hard on it,” he said. Editor's note: Taking photos with …

When I see that now-famous photo of the children of Sandy Hook Elementary School gripping each other’s shoulders, I see my 5-year-old daughter. I see her terrified. I see her brave. I see her not entirely sure what’s going on but keen enough to know something is wrong. I see her in all the faces in that photo. I see her in the other photos I’ve seen. I see her being carried away by a parent, with arms wrapped around her so tight as if they’ll never let go. I see her standing with her classmates surrounded by police cars and ambulances. When I hear stories about children being told to shield …

_________________________________ When Greenfield police officers pull up to Best Buy or Target, it's more often than not because of people trying to pull stunts like these guys or this mom. (Think retail theft attempts gone bad). But on Friday, officers were out at three major chain stores for much different reasons. They spent time at various Greenfield businesses serving coffee and hot cocoa, candy canes and cookies to Black Friday shoppers waiting in line. According to Chief Brad Wentlandt, officers would normally be assigned to these locations to monitor the lines and crowds, but the …

The devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought to the the East Coast is unfathomable and will take months, maybe longer, to recover from. But you can help. In an email sent from the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to municipal leaders across the country, including Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke, FEMA offers this list of suggestions of ways to help: Cash is the most efficient method of donating. Cash offers voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover. Remember, unsolicited …

It’s always nice to get recognized for a job well done. I’d imagine it means a little more when that job you did saved a life. On Oct. 28, Michael Sailer came to Greenfield Fire Department Station 1 to personally thank several members of the department who responded to his home one week earlier. The last time those firefighters/paramedics saw Sailer, he was on an emergency room gurney being rapidly prepped for heart surgery. On Oct. 21, Greenfield paramedics Garret Cieczka and Chad Tremeling, Lieutenant Doug Tew, heavy equipment operator Dan Windler and firefighters/EMTs Trevor Paull, and …

City Hall got a special visit Monday from Les and Barbara Stull of Bluffton, S.C. According to the city’s historical society, Barbara’s ancestors, the Lavies family, owned 80 acres surrounding the present City Hall, operated the nearby Root Creek post office, served as town chairman and treasurer, donated land for a nearby church and operated two thriving saloons, back when whiskey was 50 cents per gallon. Another of Barbara’s ancestors owned the historical society’s log cabin, which has been moved to its present location on 56th and Layton Avenue. The Stulls are in town for Wednesday’s 10th …

Maybe I caught them off-guard, or maybe the were nervous, but the geese taking up residence near Fire Station 1 certainly didn't do themselves any favors when it comes to explaining their public droppings.

Over the last several weeks, we've written several stories about the Greenfield and Whitnall school district’s ACT scores. Last month, Patch reported that Whitnall’s ACT scores were the highest they’ve been in 17 years, while Greenfield’s dipped slightly as more students than ever took the test. At the Greenfield annual meeting, Superintendent Conrad Farner said Greenfield, however, is moving in the right direction and gave his reasons for the dip. But later, he clarified statements he made about a key statistic used while defending the decrease. But Greenfield Patch has yet to ask you, our …

It’s always nice to hear about someone lending a helping hand, looking for someone else and going the extra mile. Earlier this summer, four Division of Public Works employees – Renae Roehl, Steve Prokop, Robert Streim and Michael Dermody – did all those things. The DPW crew came across a car on fire in the 6300 block of West Layton Avenue. They called the city’s police/fire dispatch center, as expected, but didn’t just hop in their trucks and take off once they did. No, the DPW workers checked to see if someone was in the car and then redirected traffic both before and after fire personnel …

When it comes down to it, behind just about every small business is an entrepreneur hoping to turn their passion into a paycheck. But, as many wise business advisers have noted: Hope is not a strategy. Business owners need support to turn dreams into reality. That's why Patch is pleased to announce a new partnership with SCORE, a nonprofit organization with 12,000 business experts nationwide who provide free mentoring to small business owners. The partnership makes sense because we believe that when local commerce grows, the whole community gets stronger. Patch already provides free listings …

It seems as if the voting season is endless. Heck, even Tuesday there’s a primary election right here in Greenfield, leading up to the big election in November. And while sometimes you might not feel like your vote counts when it’s among thousands casted, Greendale Patch and Greenfield Patch have a voting event that you assuredly will make a difference in:Readers' Choice! For the last several weeks, we’ve asked you to vote for your favorites in the Greenfield-Greendale area. Where do you go to get the best hamburger? What restaurant has the best outdoor dining? Best place for soup, sandwiches…

Since Greenfield Patch launched in December 2010, perhaps no project has been more inspiring than the Greenfield Community Center. No other building has been a more clear-cut example of what good can happen when good people put their heads – and resources – together. When Ted Balistreri, owner of Sendik’s Food Market, presented a check for $20,000 to Parks and Recreation Department director Scott Jaquish and the city in January 2011, it marked the last major donation needed for the city to renovate its old library. Construction began in February, the center opened July 9, 2011, and since then…

The Greenfield School District wants you to mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 22, for the Fourth Annual Greenfield Education Foundation Golf Outing Classic and Dinner at Muskego Lakes Country Club. The golf outing is designed to meet the needs of all participants and directly benefits the students of the School District of Greenfield. Don’t have the time for 18 holes? Then play nine beginning with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. If you love to golf, and want to do so at one of the best country clubs in southeastern Wisconsin, then play an entire 18 holes of play. The first nine holes are set …

Often times, a government meeting, such as those for the Common Council or School Board, can be a bit drab. That's why, in most cases, so few people bother to show up. But, if you've been paying attention to Greenfield Patch you know the June 11 Greenfield School Board meeting was anything but drab. There was a teacher who used the public venue to voice her displeasure with the administration. And new board member Russ Spahn questioned the number of resignations in the district. The district announced raises and introduced a new principal, and just when the meeting was winding to a close, a …

Looking for a new spot to read a book or grab lunch while enjoying the nice weather? I've got just the spot for you. Work on the beautiful new Community Center terrace is complete. The project just south of the building began in late April, and the site now includes two concrete benches, several round picnic-style tables, a brick patio and gorgeous landscaping. The terrace was made possible by a generous donation from longtime Greenfield resident Bill Radler. Radler, the former director at Boerner Botanical Gardens donated several trees, shrubs and flowers for the terrace, and paid all the …

Mostly, I try to avoid mentioning the other "G" word, as in Greendale, on this site. I know a good rivalry when I see one, and you all know where my allegiance rests. But Greendale Patch editor Viviana Buzo is offering a great opportunity for business owners later this month, through the Greendale Rec Department, and I promised I'd give her a plug. Social media, especially Facebook, has become an excellent tool for businesses to use for promotion. It's another way to reach current and potential new customers. Through a Patch/rec department workshop, Viviana will instruct businesses how to …

Xperience Fitness, owned by the Appleton-based Vertical Fitness Group, has replaced Cardinal Fitness. Not really breaking news, right? The huge orange banner is kind of a dead giveaway. I admit, I'm definitely late to this party. The announcement that Vertical Fitness Group has reached agreements with four Milwaukee-area Cardinal Fitness gyms, including Greenfield's at 8401 W. Layton Ave., and is converting 11 Gold's Gyms in Wisconsin and Minnesota, making all 15 Xperience Fitness locations, was made more than a month ago. But hey, I just noticed the Xperience banner that covers the center's …