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Community Corner

Greendale's Major News Stories of 2010

A look at Greendale stories and events that impacted the community this past year.

A benefit concert, a community service project, technology advancement, shopping mall renovation, and all contributed to progress, charitable acts, and devastating events in 2010. The new year is almost here but before we look toward the future, let us look back to Greendale's major stories and events in 2010.

GHS Hope for Haiti Student Concert

Feb. 12, 2010, Greendale High School hosted a benefit concert for the Haiti earthquake victims.  Elementary, middle, and high school students performed at the concert for a large audience in the GHS auditorium. Linda Raymond Siegel, a professional percussionist in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, was the featured guest performance of the night.

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Proceeds from tickets, a bake sale, and donations went to helping the victims of Haiti's catastrophic earthquake that occurred in January.

GHS Holds Ninth Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser

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Mar. 20, 2010, Greendale High School held it's ninth annual fundraiser for the hungry. Guests were given a meal of soup and bread for a $10 donation. Students participated in the project, including making the ceramic bowls in which the soup was served. Proceeds went to the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee.

Statue to Memorialize Ava Zimmerman Unveiled

Jul. 11, 2010, people gathered in the Village at the intersection where 5-year-old Ava Zimmerman was tragically struck and killed by a car while crossing the street on Apr. 14.

Locals, family, and friends mourned the death of the young girl and honored her life by placing a statue at the site. The bronze statue depicts a young girl playing in the Village garden. At the foot of the statue is a plaque with Ava's name.

GHS Promotes Ready-Access to Technology

This past year the high school made a giant leap forward by exploring an initiative that would provide every student at GHS with a MacBook computer.

GHS Principal Steve Lodes said in an article in the Village Views, "Ready-access technology is meant to more deeply engage students in their learning and stretch students in their skill development." Currently, there is a pilot program in place to help determine how to proceed with the laptop initiative.

Opinions on the program vary. According to GHS sophomore Joe Ksobiech, having a laptop "helps to take notes but can be distracting." A GHS parent said: "In today's digital world the students should be migrated into the use of laptops as a tool for learning but not as a substitute for learning."

GHS Marching Band Wins Sixth Consecutive State Championship

Oct. 16, 2010, the GHS marching band won the state championship at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. This was the marching band's sixth consecutive win at state and seventh overall. The band also participated in the Bands of America Grand Nationals for the second consecutive year.

Southridge Mall Renovation and Redevelopment

This fall, the Village of Greendale partnered with the Simon Property Group Inc. to approve a multi-million dollar redevelopment plan of Southridge Mall.  Renovations will be made to the mall's interior and surroundings, including the addition of a new anchor store, possibly Macy's department store.

Historic Hose Tower to Become Community Center

The Greendale Historical Society has began renovating this fall the old hose tower near the middle school. The Historical Society is working to transform the long-vacant tower into a community center for local clubs and groups to gather. They hope to be finished by Greendale's 75th anniversary in 2013.

A Horse Gets Away

Dec. 3, 2010, On A Dickens of a Christmas night a horse goes rogue and runs its hoofs through a person's windchield. 

Local Ice Skating Rink Opened

Dec. 18, 2010, A free ice rink next to Greendale Middle School opened to the public. The rink was built by a group of local volunteers.

Open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

State Rep. Jeff Stone Plans to Run for Milwaukee County Executive

Dec. 15, 2010, Republican Rep. Jeff Stone, a Greendale resident, announced his decision to run for Milwaukee County Executive. Stone has served in the Assembly for the past 12 years. He supports private sector solutions to the economy, job creation programs, and the push for the zoo interchange.

Police Chief Robert Dams Retires

Dec. 31, 2010, Police Chief Robert Dams officially retires after 37 years of service in Greendale. Chief Dams began his career with the Greendale Police Department as a part-time dispatcher in the 1970s and after several promotions he became police chief in 1999. The Greendale Village Board has proclaimed Dec. 31 Robert J. Dams Recognition Day.

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