So, pretty impressive, isn’t it? My name, right above Oprah’s face. Yeah, let’s just say I’ve got friends in high places…or not.

 

In case you can’t see it, it says: “Karen Waldkirch, if Oprah gave you a bunch of money, but you had to give it all away, what would you do?” Oh and there are probably at least several hundred other Tosa residents that got the exact same message in their issue of People Magazine. Oh snap.

 

The idea is to promote Oprah's new show called "The Big Give" which premieres Sunday, March 2nd on ABC. The premise is obvious and the idea intriguing. No doubt it'll be another tear-jerking blockbuster, a la "Extreme Home Makeover."

 

But it made me think…locally, rather than globally. If that Ms. W. gave this Mrs. W. a bunch of money, what would I do? After the obligatory mani and pedi, of course. (Hey, a girl’s gotta look good on the local news, right?)

 

But seriously, if I could only spend the money right here in Tosa, what would I do? Listen in while I daydream….

 

First, I’d bring back Drew’s…only better. How could I make Drew’s better except to have it come back in all its quirky glory? Well, I’d add a big old-fashioned Soda Fountain! Wouldn’t that just be the best?! I can see it now. Walking in on a hot summer day (remember what hot used to feel like?!), sliding up to a padded spinning stool and ordering a basket of fries and a chocolate malt. Pure bliss.

 

Secondly, I’d extend the bike path on the parkways from one end of Tosa to the other. No more jumping up on the curb to save your life once you hit Swan Boulevard.

 

Thirdly, how about a big, fat paving budget to eliminate the craters and sinkholes on our roadways? While we’re at it, more salt than the dead sea and more plows than Fairbanks, Alaska?! And along with the plows, there’d be a virtual SWAT team of “snow technicians” to jump out and dig out the sidewalks, driveways and front walks that get buried by the plows.

 

I’m sure I could go on, but why not let you, the readers, in on the fun? That’s why we have the snazzy comment feature. If my BFF (best friend forever, for the alphabetically-challenged), Oprah, gave you a bunch of money, how would YOU spend it in Tosa? And while we’re at it, maybe that’s a good question for our mayoral candidates!

 

Speak to me people!

Once in a while, I encounter a few things that remind me why I love Tosa. Sometimes it’s something small, sometimes funny, sometimes a little sad. Here are a few:

 

Can there be a more fun bakery experience than Cranky Al’s? If I have overnight guests or need to entertain with breakfast or brunch food, Cranky’s is a sure bet. I stopped in over the weekend and there was Al, greeting every guest. “Whaddya want?!” he playfully teased. I walked out with a giant box of donuts and a big smile – a bargain, if you ask me.

 

My average morning starts out with coffee. Lots of coffee. It also starts out with a trip outside so that Millie the wonder dog can “do her business.” Today, as I stood outside in the warm air under a dark sky littered with stars, I heard an unusual noise. It’s very quiet in the pre-dawn hours so I quickly looked around to find the source. There, galloping across my yard, were two deer. It was really cool. Oh and Millie never noticed.

 

Are there enough ways to express the community sadness over the future loss of Drew’s Variety Store? I loved the store, but I also love how the community is embracing this icon of days gone by and lamenting its loss. I guess it’s too late to save the store, but perhaps it’s not too late to save the feeling and know that we need more of it here in Tosa.

 

Sure, it’s a little more expensive than it used to be and yes, some of the sandwiches are decidedly swanky, but John Sandwich Shop is to Tosa restaurants what Drew’s is/was to Tosa retail. A gem - an adorable and quirky little place where you can watch the world go by and greet neighbors and friends. We’d be wise to keep it busy.

 

My kids have friends from many other communities throughout Milwaukee – Bay View, Brookfield, Waukesha, Menomonee Falls, just to name a few. Without a doubt, the village of Tosa is hands-down the favorite hang-out for teens. (And don’t let that scare you folks – I promise these are nice kids.) Sure, they could go to Mayfair, but when given a choice, these kids would much rather walk down to the village and grab a bite at Noodles or Pizzeria Piccola or walk through Hart Park discussing life. I feel really fortunate for this.

 

Treasures abound in Tosa. Little places or small experiences. What makes you love Tosa?

 

Dear Drew’s:

Say it ain’t so! I heard the news today – oh boy. I can’t tell you how sad I am to hear that you’ll be closing your doors in January. And it’s not just me. When I drove carpool this morning, my daughter and her friend mourned the future loss of one of their favorite local retailers. Yes, that’s right – even teens adore you. We parents can’t get that kind of love.

 

Was it because I haven’t been in recently? I meant to, but we haven’t needed poster board or yarn or buttons or strange kitchen gadgets in the last couple of months. But if I did, I would have been there in a flash, happily wandering your aisles.

 

The thing is, what I loved about you is that you were always there – when I needed you and sometimes when I didn’t. Your kitchiness and eclectic mix of homespun and hard-to-find were exactly what we needed in a town where big box retailers are slowly taking over.

 

It must not have been fun for you these past few months with village streets and various construction projects taking their toll on your bottom line. We appreciate your steadfastness through it all.

 

I’m guessing that you didn’t come to this decision easily, but if there’s still room to reconsider, please do. As someone said so aptly in the Tosa Town Square, you are part of the fabric of Wauwatosa. With you gone, there’s a big hole in our village and in our hearts.

 

If it’s a done deal, then I guess all there is left to say is thank you. Thanks for being there for parents, kids and all Tosans. We will never forget you.

 

Your customer,

 

Karen

 

 

Millie (see above) and I took a walk on this splendid, picture-perfect, day. She had a lot on her mind. Here are some things that she was wondering:

 

Millie wonders why some dogs walk their owners versus the other way around. How can that be fun with all the pulling and choking going on?

 

Millie wonders why the bike path/walking path for Menomonee River Parkway begins at the Harmonee Bridge and ends prior to Swan Boulevard. Did they think that people would be too tired to continue?

 

Millie wonders why some people bike, run or walk on the left side of the path.

 

Millie wonders why parking is allowed on both sides of the parkway when soccer games are being played. It seems so dangerous with so many kids running in between cars and across the road and people getting in their cars with little regard for traffic.

 

Millie wonders why I wouldn’t let her consume the old breadstick that she found on the sidewalk.

 

Millie wonders why drivers in Tosa interpret stop signs as “slow down” signs and roll through intersections.

 

Millie wonders if the street repairs at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Wauwatosa Avenue will ever be finished.

 

Millie wonders why the Root Commons Park (area in front of Drews) is called the Root Commons Park.

 

Millie wonders if any Tosa mayoral candidates have a chance against joeythelovesponge.

 

Millie wonders if we realize how lucky we are to have Ray’s here in Tosa with its amazing wine selection and knowledgeable staff.

 

Millie wonders if that store near 92^nd and North is really called Wallpaper Wallpaper.

 

Millie wonders if the Times Cinema will ever invest in slightly more comfortable seating to match the great films and great ownership.

 

Millie wonders if The Firefly will ever expand its menu and if it will ever be open for lunch.

 

Millie wonders if and when the new recycling program will start in Tosa and if many of us will get stuck with extra blue bags when it does.

 

Millie wonders why we all can’t just have trick or treat on Halloween (a.k.a. October 31st) from now on.

 

Millie wonders whether your pet is wondering anything about Wauwatosa.....? 

 

I’m not looking for trouble or trying to stir up emotions. In fact, I’m unsure how I feel about it. This is the sign on the west side of Swan Pharmacy at 92nd and North. It seems obvious that it’s in response to the opening of the stores across the street at the new Locker’s Pointe. And although I have applauded the developers of that new project, I can understand how it might bother existing stores to have their parking spaces used by customers visiting another establishment.

 

On the other hand, couldn’t new and bursting businesses be good for everyone within walking distance? Could it be that people that need a cup of coffee, a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolate might also need a bottle of Tylenol or some decongestant? If we could create more walkable space in Tosa, couldn’t everyone benefit?

 

What do you think? Is this “sour grapes” or just a sensible business practice intended to look out for customers? Should one of these businesses (i.e. Swan, Alterra, Locker’s or Stam) be more flexible and compromise in some way?

 

Please use the comment tool below! I'd love to hear your opinions!

 

 

Millie and I (see above) just returned from a walk on Menomonee River Parkway. I do my best blog-thinking on these walks and today was an outstanding day for such a venture. Here are just a few of the gems that popped into my head as we walked:

 

Let’s hear it for the weather – clap, clap, clap, clap. Fall is, hands-down, my absolutely favorite season. Today is a spectacular example of why I love this time of year. The weather is cool and crisp, the bugs are gone, the sun is shining brightly and there’s a crunch with every footstep. Bravo Mother Nature.

 

Every time I walk Millie on the parkway, I’m pretty sure I’m violating some county ordinance. I know this because there are a few well-hidden signs that say NO DOGS ALLOWED. I’m guessing this is because of a few crummy dog-walkers who have not picked up after their dogs. You know who you are. Or maybe you don’t because you are one of those elite runners that allows your dog to run behind you unleashed. You’re moving so fast that you don’t know when your dog stops and leaves a souvenir on the pathway. In any case, I think the parkway should be open to well-managed, leashed dogs and their owners. I think we can coexist with the runners, the walkers and the stroller-pushers.

 

Today while walking, I heard a voice behind me say: “Coming up on your left. I have plenty of room. Thank you.” This was a courteous cyclist. It was also shocking to hear. I’m used to bikes whizzing past me with no warning. They can see me, but neither I nor my dog can see or hear them. The dog gets startled when they suddenly appear and then the cyclist gets mad when the dog inadvertently lunges in their path. If you’re riding behind a dog walker or anyone, give notice. Buy a bell. Give a shout out.

 

Maybe it was just a tease, but it sure looked like there were road repairs going on just west of Church Street on the parkway. Could it be that the infamous potholes are actually being fixed? We can dream, can’t we?

 

I wrote about this last year (one of the few things I received e-mail about), but it was only days before the event. This time, I’m bringing it up early. I’m talking about trick-or-treating. I think it’s time for us to Take Back Halloween.

Every year, you hear neighbors chatting on sidewalks and street corners: “When is our trick-or-treating?” “When is Wauwatosa’s trick-or-treating?” It takes a savvy citizen to keep track of the dates and times.

When I was a kid, things were simpler. After we walked five miles to and from school in the pouring rain, we trick-or-treated…on Halloween. Not the Sunday before or the Saturday after. On the actual date - at night. Oooh…scary!

Then years later, Halloween got downright nasty, and I’m not talking about haunted houses. There were tainted candy bars and razors in apples. Creepy people messed with trick-or-treating and so we messed with Halloween. We cleaned it up and made it safe…and boring.

Nothing takes the fun out of Halloween faster than telling kids that they get to go door-to-door during the day. There’s nothing remotely scary about that, and that’s the problem.

I’ve heard through the Tosa Town Square that several neighborhood associations are not as organized as others and don’t have specific plans for where and when to trick-or-treat. This is exactly why we should go back to Halloween Night.

Any responsible parent accompanies their young children when they go trick-or-treating. And yes, I’m aware that there are, unfortunately, some irresponsible parents. But this method of offering multiple trick-or-treat opportunities is not going to fix that.

I say, be safe, watch your kids, know your neighbors and let’s go back to trick-or-treating on Halloween.

As I took out the garbage this morning, it occurred to me that it’s rummage sale season. The thought popped into my head as I walked past the well-worn and hardly-used bikes that are taking up too much space in my garage. I looked at the other assorted recreational items cluttering up an already cluttered area and seriously thought: “I really should have a garage sale.”

Here’s the problem: I have to be honest, I am not a garage sale person. I have had them in the past and they did help me get rid of stuff and raise a little cash in the process. I firmly believe in the idea that one man’s (or woman’s) trash is another’s treasure. The thing is, it takes a village to have a garage sale, or at least an entire household.

First, you have to get organized. You have to select a date. Then you have to place an ad and/or make signs. What’s the point of having a garage sale if nobody comes? Then you have to go through your house and gather your belongings that you no longer want but that somebody else might like to buy. This is where it gets tricky. Drawing the line between things I want and things I use. Suddenly things I haven’t looked at since freshman year of college seem invaluable.

After you gather all of your belongings, you have to price them. This is where my husband and I completely disagree. I (not having any sales background and just wanting to get rid of stuff) start pricing very low. My hubby (having a sales background and figuring that people will always bargain down) starts high. After a mildly irritating disagreement, we meet in the middle. But this is the point where I make him promise that everything that doesn’t sell goes into the car and will be taken to Goodwill. It will not come back into the house.

After you price things, you have to figure out how to display them. You need tables and you need a backup plan. Why? Because if you don’t have a backup plan, it’s going to rain. Then you have piles of you-know-what sitting in your driveway getting wet. Then you can neither sell it nor donate it. So you need to have your garage cleared out or a tent ready so that if it does rain, you can operate under cover.

Next, you need a partner. You cannot do a garage sale solo. First, because at some point it will be crowded and you can’t handle everyone at once. Secondly, because at some point it’s going to be deserted and you’ll need somebody to talk to. Thirdly, you’ll need bathroom and sanity breaks. Seriously.

Finally, and most importantly, you have to steel yourself for the customers. Again, let me be honest. In my past experience, some of the people that have come to my garage sales have been a little, well, creepy. I’m all for bargaining, but I will never forget the woman that took a 50 cent doll and tried to negotiate down to 25 cents. I refused just on principle, knowing full well that it meant that I’d have to be hauling that doll away at the end of the day. I know that to a lot of people, it’s the art of the deal. They simply can’t buy for full price. That’s fine, but don’t insult me.

And therein lies my biggest obstacle to having a garage sale – dealing with the public. If everyone was like the nice people that oohed and ahhed over our grungy old high chair, then I’d probably do it more often. But the Antique Road Show hunters who slam on the brakes, run up your driveway and stomp away if they don’t see or smell anything pre-1930, well I can do without them.

I’m sure I’ll work up the energy and enthusiasm to have at least one more garage sale in the coming years. Now that my kids are teens, we have a fair amount of “stuff” that could make some other family happy. I just have to get in that rummage frame of mind. Now, if I could only get rid of the clutter “up there” too!

There’s nothing like a couple of early spring days in the 70s to drive Tosans outside and walking. Like many of my neighbors, I took advantage of the balmy temperatures these past two days to give my dog a little extra exercise. Virtually every sidewalk and parkway path were heavily traveled by walkers, runners, cyclists and, of course, dog owners. The only minor irritation was the dog walker who decided that his two Golden Retrievers could run leash-free along Menomonee River Parkway. They didn’t really bother anyone, but his bold disregard for the law was unwelcome by most people that saw him.

Nevertheless, there was something incredibly liberating about this unexpected weather bonus. As I wound my way up and down streets, I couldn’t help but notice what a great community Wauwatosa is for pedestrians. Abundant sidewalks, interesting homes and friendly faces make every walk a welcome cure for cabin fever.

I know that we don't really have a lake here in Wauwatosa, but I can't help it. Every time I drive down Swan Boulevard and look East, our newest giant retention pond looks very much like a small man-made lake! And what better name to give it than....well, Swan Lake! It looks sort of peaceful and picturesque when you drive slowly by...until the sound of dump trucks and earth-movers awakens you from your daydream.

You can disagree with me on this, but I'll argue till the end. I'm pretty sure that I have the best neighbors and friends...in Tosa...anywhere, actually. In fact, I'd take mine over anybody else's any day. Bar none.

This past week, while my family and I were dealing with the grief of losing a son and a brother, our neighbors and friends swooped down on us, fed us, offered a shoulder to cry on, shoveled our snow, walked our dog, picked up our mail, house sat, helped us find photos and memories and were there for us at all hours. Rarely have I felt so loved and cared for in my life.

There is such an amazing community spirit here that it has truly eclipsed our sadness. To say thank you would seem trite. What we can say is we are so truly blessed.

It’s a banner day here in my household. Due to a family emergency, my husband was out of town during this weekend’s blizzard. Usually I resort to wielding a shovel or my handy Snow Scoop and resign myself to burning lots of calories. However, Mother Nature was extremely cruel to us and not only dumped a lot of white stuff, but she threw down the HEAVY stuff. Seriously, this snow has heart attack written all over it. And so I finally needed to learn to use our snowblower – a fate I’ve successfully avoided until today.

So, my friendly neighbor Bill came over and patiently guided me through Snowblowing 101. Not only that, but he pre-dug out some of the mountains of snow boulders that the snowplow had left behind and that my snowblower could not get through. I’m sure I looked ridiculous – me and my snowblower – but thanks to Bill, I got the job done and am giving myself a virtual pat on the back for learning a new skill.

Oh and shhhhh….keep it quiet. I don’t want my husband to think I’ll do this on a regular basis – wink, wink.

One question: Why is it never a “massive storm” until it hits the East Coast? I mean, sure they mentioned Milwaukee (only after Chicago, of course) but it seems obvious to me that if it doesn’t happen in New York City, it doesn’t really matter.
 
Oh and I’m still cry uncle…and aunt and every word in the book that can’t be spoken in mixed company. I’ve had enough of winter. Calgon, take me away.

Maybe it’s the uber-cold weather making me cranky or the fact that my teenager and I have been together for 4 straight days, but I have to rant a bit about one of my traffic pet peeves. On the corner of Watertown Plank and Swan Boulevard, which isn’t really a corner so much as an on-off ramp to the freeway, there is a yield sign. This yield sign applies to all cars going from westbound Watertown Plank onto Swan Boulevard or Hwy 45 North.

I looked up the definition and in traffic-speak, yield means: “a driver gives the right-of-way to another driver or pedestrian.” Here’s my beef: Everyone ignores this sign, including the woman driving today at around 12:30 pm who blew through it as I was exiting Hwy 45 North onto Swan Boulevard. If you are reading this, you might remember me. I honked…loudly. I think in driver’s education they would call it an “angry blast.”

My point here is that the yield sign needs to be enhanced and drivers need to obey it. Today was especially important because the falling snow and frigid temperatures made road conditions slippery. Perhaps people have their minds on other things and don’t notice the sign. I’m just waiting for the day when something happens and I’m there to see it. I hope I’m wrong, but I doubt it.

What about you? Are there areas in Tosa where drivers are careless or negligent? E-mail me at westsidestoriestosa@yahoo.com.

 

The other day, one of my monthly book clubs met to discuss our most recent selection: “Population 485. Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time” by Michael Perry. The book is a non-fiction account of a real-life prodigal son, the author, who returns to his hometown -- New Auburn, Wisconsin, population: 485 -- and joins the volunteer fire and rescue department. Our discussion initially covered the great writing, stories and characters found in Perry’s book. We eventually moved on to our thoughts about Wauwatosa and how it compared to New Auburn.

The most intriguing question asked was whether each of us considered Wauwatosa a suburb of a big city or a small town. As someone who grew up on the north side of Chicago, Wauwatosa feels wonderfully small-townish to me. I love the fact that I meet my neighbors in grocery store aisles and at church festivals. I love that we have a weekly local paper (The former News Times, soon to be the WauwatosaNOW.) I love that the police officers are familiar to me and not because I’ve had run-ins with the law, but because they’re constant guardians in our community. I love that we have a charming 4th of July Parade every year where we holler greetings to people marching by as they pelt us with candy. I love that I can walk to the Village and visit Drew’s Variety Store where they truly have a little something of almost everything.

Sure, Tosa is very “big town” in many ways with our cool new restaurants and shops, our cosmopolitan shopping mall and our proximity to a major metropolitan city. Our firefighters are not volunteers but you can watch our local government on local access TV.

To me, Wauwatosa is the right combination of mostly “little” with just the right amount of “big” mixed in. How about you? Do you consider Tosa a small town or a big suburb? E-mail your thoughts to westsidestoriestosa@yahoo.com .

For the first time in several years, it's a SNOW DAY!! Hunker down? Not me! Give me a blizzard and I can't wait to get out and about. Perhaps it's my all-wheel drive vehicle or maybe it's the thrill of being one of the few silly enough to brave the elements. Nevertheless, my daughter and I headed over to John's Sandwich Shop this morning to revel in the unexpected holiday and enjoy a hearty breakfast along with many other Tosans. The place was jammed and there was a wait for a table. The counter was good enough for the two of us and it was fun to watch the giant smiles on the kids who could hardly wait to break out those dusty sleds and snow tubes. No doubt the sledding hills will be packed today!

As we drove north on Ludington Avenue, it was strange to see a deserted town, except for the occasional snow blowing citizen trying to stay ahead of the accumulation. On this snowy morning, just the fact that we were daring (i.e. stupid) enough to slowly cruise the Tosa streets merited a friendly wave and a smile from a bundled up fellow pushing a Toro.

Upon returning home, I found the real reason for loving snow storms. There is nothing cuter in the falling snow, than an energetic Golden Retriever bounding through the snow with a tennis ball. Don't you agree?

What about you? Do you love or hate the snow? What's your favorite thing to do on a snow day? E-mail me at westsidestoriestosa@yahoo.com and share your winter adventures!

At least 20 years ago, on the spot in the Village where Starbucks now sits, there used to be a convenience store. I'm pretty sure it was an Open Pantry. Since I was a young working mother back then, I frequented this store...a lot. Many a night you'd see me driving my tiny Toyota station wagon in there, dashing inside on a bleary-eyed search for milk or coffee or diapers. It wasn't the greatest or cleanest store, but it was c-o-n-v-e-n-i-e-n-t. I was sad to see it close because it meant I'd have to amend my emergency shopping trips or, worse, get organized. Still, when Starbucks moved in, being the card-carrying caffeine addict that I am, I was pretty excited.

Today, my life is so different. I'm a stay-at-home mom, so you'd think that quick trips to the store would be a thing of the past, or so I vowed when I handed in my resignation. However, some things in life never change, including my penchant for barely thinking a day ahead when it comes to grocery shopping. Maybe it's our nearly empty nest or perhaps my admission that I never have been a great cook, nor do I actually enjoy cooking. I generally wake up in the morning and force myself to think about what I'll feed the family. It's a luxury that I enjoy, even though I'm a bit embarrassed about it.

And because I haven't really changed my ways, I've searched long and hard to find a new "convenience" store and I just realized what it is - Sendik's on North Avenue at Pasadena. I fully realize that I'm likely paying more for virtually everything. After all, this is a gourmet grocery store. However, this store has saved my butt more times than I can count. More often than not, it's provides the answer to the question when I'm driving around at 4pm and my daughter asks: "What are we having for dinner?"

When I'm baking cookies (yes, it's sad - I bake but I don't cook) and I've run out of brown sugar, I'm SO glad that it's only minutes away. When a food item is needed for a school function, it's so easy to pick up something on the way. And when I actually have to break down and cook a meal, I can choose between something prepared or meat so good that even I can't ruin it.

I know that Sendik's isn't perfect. The parking situation is still in flux and that doesn't make the neighbors happy. It's not open as late as a true convenience store, but now that middle-age has crept in, I'm more likely to forego than go out late at night. And if you hit the store near the dinner hour, seems like every other Tosa procrastinator has gotten the same idea and those aisles seem even narrower than they are. But for me, it's pretty close to perfect, at least as far as convenience goes.

Despite what you might think, it's not the big things in Tosa (Mayfair, Lowe's, Best Buy) that make me love our town. It's the small things shared with great people. Here are just a few:

- The twin German brothers at Hyde Park Tailors that work miracles on clothing. (And properly teach me to pronounce my last name.)
- Getting yelled at by Al at Cranky Al's on a Saturday morning. I'm looking forward to my beatdowns starting up again.
- Shopping for Moccasins at Old Towne Cobbler on 68th Street
- Using the Automated Package Center at the Post Office on Mayfair Road. In and out in a snap!
- Saying hi to Mary at One Hour Martinizing on 68th and Milwaukee and talking about the weather.
- Shopping for school project supplies at Drew's Variety after school.
- Sitting at a tall table in Vino 100, sipping wine, while the weather outside is frightful.
- Finding just the right gift at Underwood Gallery and also catching up with Pam on what's new in Tosa business.
- Seating yourself at Hector's and digging into chips and salsa while awaiting your Margarita.
- Grabbing a loveseat at the Rosebud and balancing your food order number on the back of it.
- Snagging a coveted window table at John's Sandwich Shop on a Saturday morning and waiting for a Veggie Scrambler and hot coffee.
- Walking the path on Menomonee River Parkway on an unexpectedly balmy day and enjoying the variety of dogs and walkers that are out.
- Chatting with Rose at ***'s while waiting for my Chinese take-out order. She always comments on how our kids have grown and whips up a great cheeseburger for them.
- Having a yummy lunch in a basket at Colonel Hart's after Sunday church while watching sports on the many TVs.
- Tosa Fest in the village, early on Friday evening.
- Watching a football game at Hart Park while the girls parade by the boys who rarely seem to be watching the game.
- Waiting for a table outside Balistreri's and wandering into Ultimate Confections to make the time pass more quickly.

What are some of your favorite Tosa things? E-mail me at westsidestoriestosa@yahoo.com and I'll post them in a future column.

Happy Halloween everyone! Oh, what’s that you say? It’s only Saturday and Halloween is Tuesday? But, you’re wrong, because the Wauwatosa Village Trick or Treat was today from 1:30 to 3:00 pm and tomorrow, Sunday, the so-called Wauwatosa “city-wide” trick or treat is from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. (Inconveniently during a Packer game, I might add.) Then on Tuesday, my neighborhood, and many other Tosa neighborhoods are having traditional trick-or-treating at night. Are you confused? Yeah, me too. It’s getting so that I feel sort of pressured to have a bowl of candy next to my front door for the entire month of October.

I do understand that the Village Trick or Treat is for kids to visit businesses in the village, so I really didn’t have to worry about costumed visitors today. But I think the days of the daytime city-sponsored trick-or-treat have sort of passed us by. In our neighborhood, and in our last Tosa neighborhood, we have trick-or-treat on Halloween night. Just like in the good old days. This has gone on for years. In fact, I haven’t participated in daytime trick-or-treating since my college sophomore son was a toddler. Back then, it was all about fear and I don’t mean ghost stories. Hospitals opened their radiology labs for kids to get their trick-or-treat candy x-rayed. Gosh, isn’t that a sweet childhood tradition? I don’t know if trick-or-treating has gotten safer or if we’ve just all worked together to make it a little less creepy.

I guess what’s changed is that here in Wauwatosa, neighborhood associations have turned Halloween night into a community-building event. Parents don’t usually just send their kids out alone. They walk along with them and get selective about whose doorbells they’re ringing. Neighbors take the opportunity to set the mood and sometimes set up fire-pits and gatherings with friends. It’s a great time for the kids and the parents. And now that my kids are older, I love answering the door and asking the kids about their costumes.

So I ask you, fellow Tosans. Do you think Wauwatosa should do away with the city-wide trick-or-treating on the Sunday before Halloween? Are you’re like me, and you get one, maybe two trick-or-treaters on that afternoon and you almost wish you could put a sign on your door saying that you’re participating in the neighborhood trick-or-treat instead of the city-wide version? Maybe I’ve got this all wrong. Maybe there are Tosa neighborhoods or Tosa families that still need the city-wide trick-or-treating. If so, share your thoughts. E-mail me at westsidestoriestosa@yahoo.com.

There is really nothing to prepare you as a homeowner to glance out your window and see your neighbor’s roof ablaze. Nothing that the Welcome Wagon brings and certainly nothing in the neighborhood directory. Still, I will always remember this jarring sight that got my husband and me leaping off the couch, dialing 911 and pounding on our neighbor’s door. And although the damage was severe, thankfully, nobody was hurt. The thought of what could have happened if the fire had started in the middle of the night is scary beyond belief.

Lessons in life are often learned as a result of someone else’s adversity. Here are the things that we learned last night: 1) If you have a fireplace, have it checked regularly. Now that the weather has turned cool, you want that crackling fire to be beautiful, warm and safe. 2) The job of a firefighter looks and is dangerous, even in our small community. 3) Those that live closest to the fire department do not always get the fastest service. 4) There is no surer way to get to know your neighbors than to stand outside on the sidewalk gazing together at some catastrophic event. 5) Put smoke detectors in your house or check their batteries if you have them.

Maggie Bersch was the youngest daughter of Dennis and Clare when she succumbed to childhood cancer at the tender age of eight. Her smile is remembered by the many lives she touched, especially those at Christ King School, where she was a student. Her classmates and those of her older sisters rallied around Maggie and the family during her long illness. And although she was loved and supported by so many people in the Christ King community, it wasn’t enough to keep her here with us. Maggie lost her fight with cancer in November of 2004.

However, Maggie’s smile lives on in so many ways. It lives on in the memories of her family and friends and on September 7th, it will live on through the participants of MAGGIE’smile, a 1 Mile Fun Run (and Walk) to benefit the Maggie Bersch Memorial Fund at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. The fund was actually started over thirty years ago by Maggie’s grandparents, Dennis and Mary Bersch, and enhances the stays of children who need to be in the hospital. It was renamed in her honor after her death.

MAGGIE’smile, which starts at the Christ King School parking lot at Swan Boulevard and Center at 6:00 pm (check-in begins at 5:00pm), includes a pizza party, raffle drawing, live music and an opportunity to walk or run a mile for a very good cause.

To register, please contact Audra at 414-774-8668 by September 3rd. Registration is only $5 per person and every participant receives a MAGGIE’smile Wrist Band and kids will receive a MAGGIE’smile Water Bottle. Donations directly to the Maggie Bersch Memorial Fund are also greatly appreciated. Please consider participating in this very special event. It would make Maggie smile to know that so many people are gathered in her name to help put smiles on the faces of the kids at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.