Message from the Mayor:
This week we invited our local World War II veterans to ride in the annual 4th of July parade to salute their service to our country and honor our nation’s independence. I had the privilege of sharing a ride with Robert “Bob” Johnson, a long-time Oak Creek resident, and a veteran who served at Guadalcanal during the Second World War Also riding in the parade were Ziggy Racinowski, Richard Krzyzanowski, Edward Mamayek, Robert Feare, and Hank Masnak. Thanks to Ann Salerno, Activity Director at Meadowmere Senior Living Community, for providing transportation and medical support for the veterans on a very hot day. The parade wrapped up at the Legion grounds, with Aldermen Dan Bukiewicz, Jim Ruetz, and Tom Michalski handing out ice cream to our residents.
Mayor Steve Scaffidi and second World War veteran
Robert "Bob" Johnson at the Fourth of July parade.
I’ve received lots of resident questions about the construction going on at Oak Creek High School this summer. The Oak Creek/Franklin School District is installing synthetic field turf in Knights Community Stadium, with a scheduled completion date of mid-August. Once completed, the field will be ready for the upcoming fall sports season, and will make the stadium one of the finest in the area.
With the announcement on Friday that WPC Technologies will be cleaning up a blighted property on W. Marquette Avenue, another new business will be locating in Oak Creek with the help of a $432,000 state grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. WPC employs 29 people, and produces chemicals that prevent rust formation on metals. They expect to be in their new headquarters building by the end of 2013.
City staff continues to work on site plans for the Drexel Town Square development at the former Delphi Site on Drexel and Howell Avenues. Work should begin early next year to remove the concrete pads from the site, and to get it ready for construction. The new City Hall/Library is expected to be completed by August of 2013, opening up the current civic center site for expansion of Oak Creek High School.
If you’re a local health professional and would like to volunteer to help with a city-wide health/weight loss initiative this fall, please contact me at 414.335.6330 or sscaffidi@oakcreekwi.org. I would like to put a committee together in August to design a September-December program to promote wellness and physical fitness for residents of all ages. We’re looking for local sponsors to host events, or provide promotional items for participants. Let’s work together to improve the health of our city!
Fingers crossed for some rain…we need it!
Steve