Workers at the Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company in Milwaukee voted Wednesday to form a union, the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Union, or MASH, announced.

MASH now represents 50 workers at the company with locations across the Milwaukee metro area.

Anodyne workers previously told WPR they wanted a union in response to pay cuts for new hires and diminishing influence over company decisions since its acquisition by private equity firm Great Range Capital in 2023.

The firm manages Anodyne through its subsidiary FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective.

All 50 workers had already signed union cards in April, according to MASH. That meant they could bypass the National Labor Relations Board elections process, per 2023 NLRB standards.

But that process hinges on employers’ recognition of the card count. Anodyne’s owners claimed MASH didn’t represent a majority of Anodyne workers, setting the stage for a May 21 NLRB election that had to be postponed midday due to “administrative reasons beyond the control of any party to the election,” per an NLRB filing.

“Instead of allowing the NLRB to resume balloting to complete the election, the employer’s union-busting attorney forced the NLRB to expend additional resources to re-run the whole election, delaying matters another two weeks,” a MASH statement claimed.

The union said not a single worker voted against union representation, with 37 people voting in favor, zero against and seven under challenge.

FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective did not respond to a WPR request for comment by the time of publication.

MILWAUKEE — On July 3rd waves of drones will replace the longtime fireworks show at Milwaukee’s lakefront.

Milwaukee County leaders announced the change Wednesday. The move to drones follows the cancellation of the 2024 show due to a lack of sponsorship.

Organizers say to expect three waves of drones lasting around 14 minutes each for a 45-minute show set to music. The show will be located at McKinley Beach and the surrounding area. Also different from past years, overnight parking and camping will not be permitted.

Nine-year-old Ezra Davis likes fireworks but said he is excited for the show.

“Because I want to see a big thing in the sky,” Davis said. “It’s like an alien invasion.”

This is not the first community to use drones. Last summer, New Berlin’s Independence Day celebration featured 200 drones.

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Dalia Delaney’s birthday is July 3, so she likes a traditional show, but she and her family are open to something new.

“It sounds nice. I think we’ll come down this year,” Delaney stated.

“Don’t turn it down. Try it one year. If you don’t like it, you could try something else next year,” Delaney’s husband Antwon Irby said.

In 2023, the lakefront fireworks alone cost about $350,000 according to the Milwaukee County Parks Department. The price tag did not include the other expenses such as staffing, cleanup and other logistics.

This year The Milwaukee Parks Foundation raised more than $200,000 for the July 3rd show. It covers everything from drones to event support and more. The drones and sound alone cost around $141,000.

The parks department said this is the first year it will cover the full cost of a major lakefront celebration without relying on extra public funds.

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“I think that’s fine. It’s entertainment. It’s modern,” Milwaukee resident Paul Masterson told TMJ4. “I think it’s an appropriate move because it’s entertainment without the cost or the explosions.”

Milwaukee County’s drone show is scheduled to start around 9:15 p.m. on July 3.

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Thousands of local youths are off from school for the summer and looking for things to do. Unfortunately, the streets are not the safest place for them to find it. 

The NNS Summer Safety Guide offers a number of resources you can utilize to help find ways for kids to remain engaged, safe and have fun this summer. 

Milwaukee Recreation (MKE REC)

A department of Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Recreation hosts events and activities for kids, and families, of all ages. 

Summer programs for Milwaukee Recreation begin on June 23 and sites are open Monday-Friday for kids from 3K to 12th grade. You don’t need to be a student or have a student at MPS to participate.

Milwaukee Recreation hosts Child Care Camps, Community Learning Centers and Safe Places at a number of locations. There is a fee for some programs. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee is hosting activities for members at a number of locations this summer, including schools and Clubs. 

Activities include art, outdoor recreation, academic enrichment and more. There is a registration fee to participate. To learn more about or register for summer programs at the Boys & Girls Club click here. 

YMCA of Metro Milwaukee

Summer Day Camps at YMCA of Milwaukee provide youth, ages 4-17, a safe place to learn skills, build self-reliance and establish healthy, trusting relationships. Importantly, they also offer a place for them to have fun. Learn how to register your child to participate in a Summer Day Camp here.

 Artists Working in Education

Artists Working in Education is once again hosting a Summer Truck Studio. The studio provides a free opportunity for youths to participate in arts enrichment activities. The events take place at parks, libraries and other public spaces from noon-3 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Click here to see the Summer Truck Studio locations from June 23 to Aug. 15. 

All Hands Boatworks

Youths, ages 10-15, can help build a boat this summer. All Hands Boatworks hosts free weeklong day camps during the summer where campers can sail, row and build a boat. Camps are held at various locations through the summer. To learn more or register click here. 

Casa Romero

Casa Romero, a Jesuit Renewal Center located on the South Side, will host a number of different weeklong camps this summer. Subjects range from art, leadership and activism to sports. There is a fee for the camps. You can learn more about the different camps here. 

Milwaukee Baseball Club

Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from June 16 to the end of July, players 5 years old to high school age can learn about or hone their baseball skills at the MBC Summer Baseball Camp. 

The Milwaukee Baseball Club also is hosting two MATC Girls Softball Camps for girls, ages 13-18, from June 10 to Aug. 14, where players can receive training on pitching or fundamentals.  

There are fees to participate. 

Journey House

Located in the Clarke Square neighborhood on the South Side, Journey House is offering a number of opportunities for youths this summer. In addition to being a host site for MKE Recreation’s Summer Camps for children 4-13 years of age, the organization also is hosting a health care career pathway program for people ages 18 and up. 

That program provides residents with the opportunity to gain skills in entry level health care positions such as housekeeping and patient transport. Hispanics with professional experience can receive Certified Nurse Assistant training.  Contact Journey House at 414-647-0548 to learn more. 

Milwaukee Public Library

From now to Aug. 30, people across the city can join the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge. You can pick up your Summer Activity Tracker at any Milwaukee Public Library. Kids 5-18 must finish 15 hours of reading to complete the challenge. 

Once you finish, you’ll get a certification of completion signed by the library director and Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Visit here for more information. 

Swimming pools at Milwaukee County Parks

There’s no better way to beat the heat this summer than by taking a dip at a Milwaukee County Parks pool.  Indoor swimming is available at Noyes Pool, 8235 W. Good Hope Road on the Northwest Side and Pulaski Pool, 2701 S. 16th St., on the South Side. 

There also are several outdoor pools, splash pads and wading pools to visit. There is a fee to use the pools, although the splash pads are free. Visit the Milwaukee County Parks’ website for locations, pricing and hours. 

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