Schools

The Best of Patch: April

A month-by-month look back at the top stories of 2011.

As the year comes to a close, we all tend to look back at what exactly we've accomplished over the past 365 days.

With local elections ramping up and the Sen. Alberta Darling recall effort in full swing, we were pretty busy at Shorewood Patch in the month of April.

Here’s a look back at some of top headlines from the month. 

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the April 5 election, it was an easy night for incumbent Trustee Michael Maher, Village Board newcomer Don Ford and incumbent School Board members Michael Mishlove and Ruth Treisman. Additionally, 63 percent of voters said "yes" to the school district's referendum, asking residents whether school officials should be allowed to borrow up to $13.645 million to refinance Wisconsin Retirement System debt at a lower interest rate and fund a trust to pay for retiree benefits other than pensions.

North Shore Firefighter James Gefke ran the Boston Marathon April 18 in his friend — in full firefighting gear. He finished in 4 hours, 18 minutes and 29 seconds.

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On April 21, Kristopher Rowe, the organizer of a group working to recall Republican state Sen. Alberta Darling, announced to a large crowd of supporters his group would file nearly 30,000 signatures with the state election board — well over the little more than 20,000 the group needed to spark a recall election.

Village officials revealed April 28 they would offer about $8.7 million in support through a grant and loan package for Milwaukee developer Mandel Group and its six-story, $32 million apartment and retail structure to be erected in the Sendik's parking lot.

The package included a little more than $3.92 million in grants, approximately $1.24 million in administrative and other costs and $3.56 million in loans.

Patch discovered on April 13, the roughly seven-month East Capitol Drive reconstruction project may have wrapped up a few bricks short.

Bricks installed in a couple crosswalks as part of the massive state project in Shorewood had fallen apart and been patched up with asphalt.

Shorewood officials said they didn't feel the village should pay for repairing the crosswalks, as it was a state project and really warranted a discussion between the contractor and state officials. Meanwhile, the state contractor said it had sub-contracted out the crosswalk work, further blurring who would be responsible for repairing the botched bricks.


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