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Weather-related school closings force parents to scramble | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

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Weather-related school closings force parents to scramble | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


A major snowstorm seen from the corner of Locust Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in Harambee in April of 2018. (NNS file photo by Adam Carr)

Milwaukee Public Schools has had two days off this year due to inclement weather, which puts parents like Jasmine Madison in a difficult place.

On a typical day, Madison gets up and gets her three children ready for school before having to be at work by 8:30 a.m.

But on days when school is canceled due to inclement weather, she is up earlier than usual watching the news to determine if her children have school.

Once she finds out they don’t, her morning is spent calling her father, sisters or cousins to find a sitter for the day.

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Madison is one of many Milwaukee parents who must scramble when MPS closes due to inclement weather.

For Madison, having a toddler makes things even more difficult.

“When schools close, so does day care,” she said. “People might be willing to watch my older children, but it’s a lot to ask someone to watch a toddler.”

As someone who works in health care, she doesn’t always have the option of calling in and has to rely on her support system.

“I have a support system that I appreciate, but even then, it’s hard to find a sitter at the drop of a dime,” she said.

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Jasmine Madison and her two oldest children, Zi’Yhanna and Dale.  (Photo provided by Jasmine Madison)

What parents can do

Madison said advanced notice about school closings would give her enough time to line up child care and get her children where they need to be.

MPS usually announces its closing around 5:30 a.m. on the morning of a closing. Some suggest understanding MPS’s closing policy so you can decide on your own and give yourself more time to plan.

According to MPS’s administrative policy, “The decision to close schools because of weather conditions is made by the Superintendent based on information received from a variety of sources.”

Ann Wilson, the manager of Hillside Terrace Family Resource Center, located at 1452 N. 7th St, said it’s an awful situation for parents.

“They’re (working parents) really left to sink or swim,” she said. “You can’t leave small children home alone so options are to get written up or potentially lose your job depending on where you work.”

Wilson said this has been an issue for years, adding district leaders need to find ways to help parents.

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Both parents of MPS students and teachers in MPS schools told NNS they’d prefer it if school went virtual on snow days.

MPS did not get back to us on why they haven’t offered a virtual option. You can submit thoughts or complaints about how the district functions here. 

How to keep students active at home

Some non-MPS schools, like Messmer Catholic Schools, go virtual when the physical building closes due to inclement weather.

If your child’s school doesn’t provide a virtual option, then teachers suggest having your child go over what they learned the day before with you.

You can find activities to help your child with reading here.

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You can find worksheets on various subjects at education.com.





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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Jewish community to honor those killed in Australia terror attack at Hanukkah event

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Milwaukee Jewish community to honor those killed in Australia terror attack at Hanukkah event


MILWAUKEE — To honor those who were killed on Sunday in Sydney, Australia during a Hanukkah event, Chabad of Milwaukee will be honoring the memory of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed, and all those affected at the Hanukkah Festival and Gelt Drop event at Bayshore Mall in Glendale on Sunday evening, according to Rabbi Levi Stein.

“Acts of hate and violence are meant to spread darkness and fear,” Stein said in a statement. “Tonight we are choosing to respond with more light.”

Rabbi Schlanger was among the 16 victims killed during the terrorist attack that occurred at the “Hanukkah by the Sea” event held at Bondi Beach in Australia.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

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A Star of David is visible among the ornamentation at the Brodyer Synagogue at the ordination of new Rabbis Shlomo Afanasev and Moshe Baumel on August 30, 2010 in Leipzig, Germany.

To honor the memory of Rabbi Schlanger and those affected, Chabad of Milwaukee will be handing out electric tea lights to those in attendance, giving out coins for Tzedakah (Charity), as well as encouraging everyone to do additional good deeds throughout the evening.

CEO of Chabad Lubavitch of Wisconsin, Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin, urged the Milwaukee community, Jewish and not, in a statement, “to come together tonight, not only as an act of solidarity with the Jewish people, but as a declaration that all good people stand on the front lines of this moral struggle.”

“This is a moment for Jews and non-Jews alike to recognize that we are on the same side of history,” he said. “History has also shown that when good people stand together, evil loses.”

Chabad will also be increasing security, Stein said, and will also be working closely with local law enforcement to ensure that everyone remains safe and warm during the event.

Rabbi Schlanger’s wife, who was also shot but survived, was the roommate and classmate of Stein’s wife, Leah. “This tragedy hits painfully close to home,” Stein said.

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“Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate Chanukah – but to reaffirm that light, goodness, and humanity will always outshine the darkness,” Stein added.

Southeast Wisconsin communities speak out

In a statement sent to TMJ4, Forward Latino, a local non-profit, non-partisan, service and advocacy organization in Franklin, called out to everyone to “join us in a moment of remembrance and prayer for those whose lives were lost, and then to recommit ourselves to standing against hate and bigotry in all their forms.”

“We are confronted with the painful reality that hate and antisemitism continue to be actively and passively promoted, while too few speak out with the urgency such moments demand,” the statement continued. “During this holiday season, a time of faith, reflection, and renewal, we must each look inward and ask ourselves, ‘What can I do to help eliminate hate?’”

The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Whitefish Bay posted a statement on social media thanking the Wisconsin Jewish Security Network, local law enforcement and everyone who works to keep the Jewish communities safe.

“Hanukkah is a holiday rooted in resilience – a reminder that even in moments of darkness, light endures,” the JCC wrote. “At the JCC, we believe the antidote to antisemitism is Jewish Joy, Connection, and Community, and we will not allow hate to silence our traditions or our plans to celebrate Hanukkah with our community today and for all eight nights.”

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“Tonight, as we light our candles, we do so with broken hearts and in defiance of hate everywhere,” Co-Chair of the WisDems Jewish Caucus said in a statement sent to TMJ4. “We are resilient, and our community has never, and will never, hide away in response to this sort of violence.”


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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Admirals fall to Wolves, losing streak now 5 games

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Milwaukee Admirals fall to Wolves, losing streak now 5 games


(Courtesy: Milwaukee Admirals)

Ryan Ufko and David Edstrom scored goals for the Admirals, but they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night at historic Panther Arena.

Big picture view:

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The loss extended the Ads losing streak to five games.

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By the numbers:

The Wolves grabbed an early lead when Bradley Nadeau potted his ninth goal of the season 8:21 into the game.

David Edstrom and the Admirals league-leading power-play knotted the score at one with just under seven minutes to play in the frame. With the penalty winding down, Cole Hara’s shot from between the wheels was deflected in by Edstrom for his fifth tally of the year.

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However, the Wolves would score two more to close out the frame, including one by Domonic Fensore with just 0.7 seconds left in the first.

Milwaukee would get one back during the second period courtesy of a Ryan Ufko power-play marker. Stationed in the high slot, Ufko took a feed from Daniel Carr and ripped a one-timer over the shoulder of Chicago netminder Amir Miftakhov.  

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The Ads pressed for the tying goal and had a 6-on-4 advantage late in the third period, but Chicago’s Justin Robidas scored an empty-netter to seal the deal for the Wolves.  

What’s next:

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The Admirals will hit the road for their final three games before the Christmas break, beginning Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. against the Wolves. The Ads’ next home contest will be on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Source: The Milwaukee Admirals provided this report.

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Milwaukee, WI

Downtown Milwaukee temporary steam outage, We Energies restoring service

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Downtown Milwaukee temporary steam outage, We Energies restoring service


An issue at the Valley Power Plant caused a temporary steam outage for downtown Milwaukee buildings on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Steam service interrupted

What we know:

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According to We Energies, the gas supply to the Valley Power Plant was interrupted on Saturday morning, causing it to go offline. The plant produces steam for downtown buildings for heating.

We Energies says it has restored service to the steam system and is bringing steam back to customers, but the restoration process requires steam pressure to build back up in the steam system. Once pressure reaches safe levels, steam service can be delivered to customers.

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Customers should begin to see service return over the next few hours, and some are already restored.

We Energies says it does not anticipate any more steam outages, and that this issue is not affecting electric or natural gas service.

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Show canceled

What we know:

The Marcus Performing Arts Center says its building has been impacted by the steam outage and, as a result, had to cancel its 1 p.m. matinée performance of The Pigeon Gets A Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!

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Ticket holders will be contacted directly to get further information about next steps.

All other shows at the Marcus Performing Arts Center will go on as scheduled.

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The Source: We Energies and The Marcus Performing Arts Center sent FOX6 the information.

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