Becky’s celebrates 20 years in Bay View

In December 1989, after eight years teaching junior high at St. Veronica, Becky Peelen was ready for a change. Not that she didn’t love teaching, but she realized life was short and, “I just decided I’d rather do something I love.”

That was sewing, which she’d already been doing for people out of her home.

She opened Becky’s Custom Sewing & Design Shoppe at 2908 S. Delaware Ave. and hasn’t looked back since. “In fact, I’ve sewn weddings for a lot of these kids,” who were former students, Peelen said.

While it has the feel of a neighborhood shop, Peelen said over the last 20 years she’s served customers from every state in the union and some foreign countries. Locally, customers come from Bay View, Cudahy, Milwaukee, St. Francis-with a lot from the East Side. Her son works at Quarles & Brady and she said she sews for a lot of Quarles & Brady employees.

Over the years, she’s done clown costumes, leather Elvis suits, and made a Pokemon costume for her grandson-she even helped someone design an ice-fishing tent. Customers come to her with a picture, pattern, or idea and she’ll make a garment they desire from scratch.

“Their needs are not met by the retail market because the clothes maybe are too tall, too short, too fat, too thin.”

Peelen’s customer base has become intergenerational. For example, she sewed garments for a customer’s eighth grade graduation, prom, and wedding. Now that customer has an 8-year-old daughter who needs a First Communion dress.

“For me, every time someone goes down the aisle…it’s just very rewarding,” she said. “I’m just part of the very best time in people’s lives.”

Recently, she sewed the entire wardrobe for the African American Children’s Theatre’s Flashback to Motown production.

What do the next 20 years hold for her? In 2006, Peelen and her husband climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. They befriended some porters there and plan to return to help them with English skills.

Sitron Gallery opens, hosts new exhibition

Sitron is Norwegian for lemon. Brianna Ziebell, whose plans to open floral design studio Gro with partner Ryan Clancy fell through, chose that name for her new art gallery and studio in the same space at 2671 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. because she wanted to make lemonade out of life’s lemons.

Sitron opened Feb. 26. Through April 3, the gallery hosts Fields of Color, an exhibition featuring visual artists Amy Jo Arndt, Beki Borman, James C. Klingbiel, and KTRE.  »Read more

Transition Milwaukee

For some, the future is bleak. Imagine, if you will, a nightmarish apocalypse of oil shocks and climate change that leave everyday Americans groping around alone, cold in the dark, cranking induction flashlights to illuminate cars that won’t run, big-box retailers devoid of merchandise, and decaying cities peopled by zombie-like citizens who can tap out text messages with precision but go hungry without microwavable meals.

For others, the forecast of a world without cheap and abundant oil is motivation to start building a brighter future today. A growing vanguard of people around the planet are rejecting a vision of self-imposed apocalypse and embracing this second future, with an emphasis on humanity and sustainability customized at many local levels.

They’re part of the Transition Movement, an idea exported five years ago from Ireland and the United Kingdom and now taking root in hundreds of locations across the globe.

In early 2009, 40 people interested in sustainability issues gathered at the Urban Ecology Center to explore how Milwaukee can prepare for a future that may look very different from today. Nicole Bickham, of Jefferson, Wis., and Bay View resident Tom Brandstetter organized this first “Transition Milwaukee” event, distributing 20 copies of Rob Hopkins’ The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience to generate discussion and present a possible framework around which to get organized.

“That first meeting was exciting-to be connecting with so many leaders in the sustainability arena,” said Christie Mole, an East Side resident and Transition Milwaukee steering committee member.  »Read more

Too small to fail?

Cudahy tavern owner Dusty Graf was a trendsetter in the 1980s and didn’t even realize it.

Graf said she became frustrated when a commercial bank bought out the local savings and loan where she had her mortgage for many years. Shortly after the corporate bank takeover, Graf said someone made a mistake with her account, and representatives were less than willing to help correct the error.

“Then someone told me about Peoples Credit Union,” Graf said, and she was drawn to it because it was smaller, more personable, and local. She started a Christmas club account at Peoples, and hasn’t looked back since.

“At the big banks, you’re just a number,” said Graf, who has had both her personal and business accounts at Peoples Credit Union, 4801 S. Packard Ave., for over 20 years.

Move Your Money Movement

Fast forward to today, when a grassroots movement has started to encourage people to follow in the footsteps of Graf and others who have moved their money from large banks into smaller, local institutions. Following a credit crisis, recession, and enormous taxpayer bailouts of even more enormous banks, the public mood toward the financial industry has soured.

In late 2009, Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post and her friends brainstormed a way to channel public outrage into meaningful structural change. They started a website (moveyourmoney.info), made a video featuring fictional community banker George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life, and the Move Your Money phenomenon went viral. Their goal was to empower consumers to change the system by pulling money out of America’s six largest banks-JP Morgan/Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs-so as not to support corrupt, economically destabilizing practices at the top of the wealth pyramid and instead support struggling local banks at the economy’s roots. In a New Year’s Resolution proposition at the Huffington Post, Huffington especially criticized those big, bailed-out banks for cutting lending and lobbying against financial reform.

“And as we contrasted that with the efforts of local banks to show that you can both be profitable and have a positive impact on the community, an idea took hold: why don’t we take our money out of these big banks and put [it] into community banks?” Huffington wrote. “And what, we asked ourselves, would happen if lots of people around America decided to do the same thing? Our money has been used to make the system worse-what if we used it to make the system better?”

Fueled by disdain of corporate commercial banks that engage in risky lending, charge astronomical interest rates on credit cards, but still find ways to reward their top executives with outlandish bonuses, thousands of Americans have already “moved their money,” in effect investing it their communities instead of on Wall Street.

Local Credit Unions

“The corruption of big banking is getting worse,” said St. Francis resident Marlon Cherry, “the greed, making all their money off people who cannot afford it, giving out loans to people who cannot afford it.”

In contrast, Cherry said he is pleased with the personalized service he receives at Southshore Credit Union, 4580 S. Nicholson Ave. in Cudahy, where he opened an account about six months ago. “Plus you get a lot of the same advantages at credit unions that you get at the big banks.”

Many credit unions came into being in the first half of the 1900s to provide financial services for trade groups and factory employees of Milwaukee’s then-powerful manufacturing sector. With the decline of industrial and union-based employment in the 1970s and 1980s, many credit unions opened their services to the public to expand their membership bases.

Today, the membership requirement for many Milwaukee-area credit unions is to simply live or work in Milwaukee County. Membership can be obtained at most credit unions by opening a “share” (savings) account with as little as $5 to $25.

With one branch inside Outpost Natural Foods, 2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Brewery Credit Union currently has 7,800 owners/members, said Jim Schrimpf, Brewery’s president. “It shows that the community is coming together,” he said.

Brewery Credit Union is also CDFI (Community Development Financial Institutions) designated, Schrimpf said. CDFI encourages fair access to financial services for people in underserved communities across America. “60 percent of our loans are to people in distressed areas,” Schrimpf said.

Keeping its money where its mouth is, Brewery also helped found Our Milwaukee (ourmilwaukee.net), an alliance of roughly 180 locally-owned businesses that advocate the Buy Local movement, surely something George Bailey could be proud of.

Wisconsin Credit Unions

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives, owned by their members.

In contrast, corporate banks have paid boards of directors whose allegiance is to their shareholders.

“Because the members are the owners and they’re the only people who can use the credit union, there’s not the push to make income for off-site shareholders,” said Suzanne Cowan, director of the Office of Credit Unions at the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

Being community-based instead of profit driven, credit unions can also offer higher rates on deposits, lower interest rates on loans, and more free or low-cost services.

Most credit unions, and all of Wisconsin’s, are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). For those concerned about not having the more familiar FDIC-insured deposits, “Credit unions’ deposits are insured to the same level that bank deposits are,” Cowan said.

Credit unions have been in Wisconsin since 1923 and all but two are state-chartered. Of the 236 state-chartered credit unions, six have over $1 billion in assets, Cowan said, but many small fry are still in business: the median size of Wisconsin credit unions is $12 million.

While Cowan said it’s too soon to track if the Move Your Money movement has influenced Wisconsin consumers, the popularity of credit unions in the state is on the rise.

The number of credit unions in Wisconsin has been declining from a high around 781 in the 1960s-due in large part to consolidations-but the number of credit union members and their total assets has been increasing. In 2009, there were over 2.1 million credit union members reported in the state. Credit union assets totaled $19.7 billion, up from $18.1 billion in 2008.

That’s small compared to the money currently in banks (M&I Bank alone has $57 billion in assets), but it’s still a chunk of change.

To illustrate the growth in the industry, consider the following data snapshot:

In 1999, 42.4 percent of Wisconsin credit union assets were personal loans and 36.8 percent real estate loans-a total of almost $7 billion across 350 credit unions. Almost a decade later, in 2008, 52.4 percent were real estate loans and 28.7 percent were personal loans-a total of over $14 billion in loans across 250 credit unions.

Especially over the past two years, Cowan has noted an influx of assets into both Wisconsin banks and credit unions. She speculates people are either taking money from the stock market or not putting as much in.

Landscape of Consolidations

Just because you put money in a credit union doesn’t mean it will stay small and local forever, however. In Wisconsin, as across the nation, credit unions are tending to consolidate to offer more services. Cowan cites Landmark Credit Union, which has merged multiple times.

Local banks are also tending toward consolidation.

For example, longtime Bay View area residents still remember St. Francis Bank. While the physical bank remains at 3545 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., its identity and ownership have been absorbed three times in the past decade. First by MidAmerica Bank, then by National City Bank, and now by PNC Bank, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa.

While members of small banks that get swallowed by bigger banks are ultimately subject to boards selected by bank shareholders-who may not even be in-state residents-credit union member/owners theoretically retain their voice even when credit unions merge. “They’re still owned by members who have the option of attending the annual meetings,” Cowan said.

With Maritime Savings Bank’s retreat last summer from its Kinnickinnic Avenue roots (the bank started in 1912 as the Kinnickinnic Mutual Loan & Building Association, later became KK Federal, and currently claims over $400 million in assets), Bay View residents have fewer local banking options in their neighborhood.

But not every financial institution that started small has ballooned away or been absorbed. Bay View Federal Savings & Loan, 3974 S. Howell Ave., now lists over $100 million in assets. It started doing business in 1915.

Credit Unions Open to the Public on the South Shore (with 2008 Year-End Reported Assets**)

• A-B Credit Union, 225 W. Greenfield Ave., (414) 645-5160 ($42,634,999)
• American Credit Union, 3280 S. Clement Ave., (414) 747-2226 ($25,510,640)
• Brewery Credit Union*, 2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 755-0048 ($28,401,047)
• First Credit Union, 2121 E. Rawson Ave., Oak Creek, (414) 762-4460 ($10,531,767)
• Guardian Credit Union*, 1025 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee, (800) 556-5154 ($281,978,012)
• Kyle Central Credit Union, 1201 Marquette Ave., South Milwaukee, (414) 764-4830 ($10,208,075)
• Ladish Community Credit Union, 5570 S. Packard Ave., Cudahy, (414) 481-6220 ($12,944,175)
• Peoples Credit Union, 4801 S. Packard Ave., Cudahy, (414) 481-1570 ($12,676,855)
• Prime Financial Credit Union*, 5656 S. Packard Ave., Cudahy, (414) 486-4510 ($190,145,091)
• Southshore Credit Union, 4580 S. Nicholson Ave., Cudahy, (414) 769-2345 ($14,953,384)

*These locations are branches.

**Total assets listed are 2008 year-end assets reported to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. 2009 year-end data are expected in several weeks.

Port of Milwaukee business increased in 2009

During a year when Great Lakes international shipping was down 25 percent and most ports saw declines between 15 and 30 percent, the Port of Milwaukee’s international tonnage was up 22 percent. Overall tonnage was down less than 1 percent.

Two of the Port’s “bulk” commodities saw a considerable increase: Salt distributed from the port throughout southeast Wisconsin was up over 23 percent due to the salt mines production increase. Grain exports were up over 74 percent due to good shipping rates out of the Lakes.

The port handled several full shipload project cargoes. The heaviest piece ever to move across port railroad tracks came in during the summer on a special heavy-lift ship through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Union Pacific Railroad then moved the 800-ton (1,763,200 pounds) transformer with the oversight of Specialized Rail Carriers.

Federal Marine Terminals-Milwaukee, the port’s stevedore that loads and unloads ships and barges and provides terminal handling services to/from truck and rail, also brought in two 83,776-pound capacity reach stackers with special attachments to handle future shipments of wind blades. FMT is focusing on its Milwaukee terminal to handle these 150-foot-long wind blades. These machines are intended to make the Milwaukee terminal more efficient in handling oversized machinery.

Early predictions for 2010 anticipate a steady year for most commodities. However, the port anticipates an increase in machinery exports, which is the port’s most labor intensive cargo.

Curves moves from Chase to KK Ave.

Curves moved from its Chase Avenue location to 2869 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Feb. 22.

“We couldn’t keep up with the financial situation on Chase,” said manager Amy James.

The fitness club is specially designed for women to do 30-minute workouts that James said equate to one and a half hours at other facilities. Curves Bay View has about 300 members.

“I like that we’re now in the heart of Bay View,” James said. “I expect even more walk-ins.”

Curves is gearing up for its annual food drive. In March, with a full bag of groceries, the one-time $200 joining fee is waived for new members, who pay $34 a month, James said. Curves donates food to the Bay View Community Center and Project Concern in Cudahy/St. Francis.

Curves offers free weight-loss classes the last Tuesday and last Saturday of every month. It also participates in the Medicare SilverSneakers program, where certain women over 65 can work out for free.

Last year, Curves members spent almost $1,000 on school supplies for children in the community.

(414) 482-2260.

Tobacco and acessories store set to open in Bay View

Bay View resident Sandy Sadowski will open Pipe Dreams, a tobacco and accessories store, April 1 at 2644 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

“A lot of people are doing roll-your-own because of all the cigarette taxes,” Sadowski said.

She plans to sell tobacco, pipes, T-shirts, retro clothes, bumper stickers, incense, and hookahs.

Sadowski has lived in Bay View for 13 years. The new venture is “her baby” and she plans to eventually employ three to four people. (414) 489-7473.

New Hue on KK

Hue Restaurant applied for a new Class “B” fermented malt beverage and Class “C” wine license at 2691 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., formerly Magic Dann’s restaurant, which closed last year.

According to 14th District Alderman Tony Zielinski, Hue will be an Asian fusion restaurant. “We need an Asian fusion restaurant here,” he said. “It will be a good fit because we don’t have an Asian fusion restaurant in this area.”

New BVNA board members

At its annual meeting Feb. 18, the Bay View Neighborhood Association (BVNA) met at Bill and Janice Doyle’s Eschweiler House to elect new board members. About 60 people attended, according to BVNA.

The newly elected or re-elected board members will vote on the new executive officers, including a new president, in mid-March. Patty Pritchard Thompson, having served her two years, is the past president.

BVNA also opted to create a new associate-level membership, open to those living outside of Bay View. Associates pay into the system and receive BVNA benefits, but lack voting rights.  »Read more

Bronzeville update & mixer, tomorrow at Milwaukee Urban League

You’re Invited to a Bronzeville Mixer

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Milwaukee Urban League - 435 W. North Ave.
Refreshments will be served.

Learn the status of current projects
in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville
Cultural  Entertainment District
such as: 642 W. North Ave. - Vangard Group
and 7th  North Ave. - Diversified Development Group (DDG).

The mixer will provide an opportunity to network with developers and business owners in the district.

Law office in King Building

Katherine Depies recently moved into Suite 101 of the King Building, 2534 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Depies has almost 20 years of experience and specializes in Social Security disability law. (414) 238-2323.

“Eco-friendly” lunchboxes at local retailer

Half Price Kid Stuff, 2675 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., announced Jan. 16 it will sell Obentec’s line of sustainable and BPA Free lunchboxes. More info: Traci Sherman at info@halfpricekidstuff.com.

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