Pie in the sky — Hannah Dillon, dough tosser

America’s love affair with pizza began in 1905, thanks to Gennaro Lombardi, who opened what is believed to be the first American pizzeria in New York City’s Little Italy. Demand for pizza really took off after World War II when American GI’s who were stationed in Italy came home with a yen for the fabulous flatbread.

Now the savory pizza pie is an American staple and can be found virtually anywhere in the United States. We make our own, have it delivered to our door, find it in pizzerias, bars, restaurants, and in the supermarket’s frozen food department.

Pizzerias have tweaked and altered the classic Neapolitan (thin crust, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese) with offerings that suit all taste preferences and dietary needs—from vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, to the over-the-top meat lovers’ pizza that may include sausage, ham, bacon, and pepperoni. And don’t forget the anchovies, olives, pesto, pineapple, and pine nuts.

But the heart and soul of a great pizza is its foundation—its crust. Whether you prefer a rich deep-dish crust or a chewy ciabatta crust or a thin crispy crust, pizza lovers will tell you their favorite pizzas are those with a really fine crust.

More and more pizzerias are showing up with a dedication to creating a delectable crust. They have turned crust-making into an art form. Sometimes patrons are awed and entertained by someone tossing and twirling pizza dough in the air, in pursuit of the desired crust qualities that distinguish their pies.

Throwing it

Bay View resident Hannah Dillon is a thrower at Classic Slice, 2797 S. Kinnickinnic Ave, where she’s worked for six years.

The Classic Slice gig was her first kitchen job and her first foray into the world of pizza making. She began at the front of the house as a cashier when she was 16 and gradually moved to the kitchen, where she worked the ovens. Eventually she was taught the art of tossing and perfecting the dough by her mentor Jason Zbichorski, the kitchen manager and with Marisa Lange, co-owner.

“It doesn’t take long to learn, but to get good, it takes about six months or so,” Dillon said. “A lot of people can just make pizza, but not a lot of people can throw it in the air. To throw it and catch it is an entirely different thing. I feel like it took me a lot longer than six months to actually get good at it.”

There is more to throwing and twirling the dough up in the air than looking cool; it serves a practical purpose.

Dillon explained that one has to make sure the dough is shaped into a round form before it is thrown, and the thrower needs to identify any thin spots. The dough can be kneaded and worked more to repair imperfections and to ready it for a successful throw. Dillon said dough doesn’t always need to be thrown but said there are benefits. “People throw so that the dough is placed evenly and the weight gets distributed evenly. The air whips it into shape,” she said.

Beginners start by throwing dough for cheese stix or mini-pies because the sheets of dough are smaller and less likely to tear. No one is allowed to move on to big pizzas and slices until they prove to be worthy. Classic Slice cross-trains all their employees and currently seven of their staff can throw dough, Dillon said.

The dough at Classic Slice is mixed in-house and used for whole pie and slice pizzas, calzones, mini-pies, and breadsticks (stix). They also offer a gluten-free crust. Dillon said the gluten-free option is more time consuming because the dough is rolled out instead of thrown.

Not unlike comedic TV and movie scenes that involve pizza dough that sticks to the ceiling or that lands on someone’s head, Dillon said throwing mishaps occasionally occur with both novice and well-skilled throwers. “I’ve smacked myself upside the head a couple of times,” she said. She admitted that she’s thrown things off shelves or knocked things over in the kitchen in the midst of a throw. “It happens all the time…well, okay, not too often,” she smirked.

Dillon has a couple of personal pizza favorites. “My own hand-tossed are really good,” she chuckled. She likes Neapolitan style or New York style with its thin, hand-tossed crust, but did confess that she occasionally eats frozen pizza.

Dillon likes to bake and in the past has made some of the cookies and brownies served at Classic Slice.

“Want to hear a pizza joke?” she asked. After a little pause she said, “Never mind; it’s too cheesy.”

 

Milwaukee Fair Trade Crawl May 11

About two dozen locally-owned fair trade shops and cafés in Metro Milwaukee will offer special sales, tastings, music, and other activities during the Sixth Annual Fair Trade Crawl Saturday, May 11. In Bay View, Alterra, Anodyne Coffee, Outpost Natural Foods, and Sven’s European Café participating. The event is free and sponsored by the Milwaukee Fair Trade Coalition.

“Fair trade networks focus mainly on fighting poverty in developing countries,” said Gail Bennett-Christian, owner of the Fair Trade for All retail stores. “The crawl aims to educate consumers about the importance of treating all workers with fairness, including those in the United States.”

Many of the items are made by people in poor countries, often by cooperatives.

Crawl participants may start at any of the participating businesses, where they will receive a “Crawl Passport.” At each stop, shoppers can look for that venue’s “featured product.”

The Fair Trade Crawl was created by Milwaukee Fair Trade Coalition volunteers in 2007 to promote Milwaukee’s Fair Trade City status and the many stores selling at least one fair trade item. Last year some 900 shoppers participated.

For details on each shop’s special activities, prizes and the Crawl Passport, consult milwaukeefairtradecoalition.org.

Bay View Goodwill opening big success

The March 1 grand opening of the Goodwill store, 153 W. Oklahoma Ave., was a record-breaking opening for Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin. They served 4,809 customers over opening weekend (Friday-Sunday and 229 people donated items to the new store

Denise Costello won the $100 gift card and another individual won a free pair of tickets to a Brewers game.

“We feel great about this location. The Bay View neighborhood has been very supportive. The feedback we have received has been beyond our expectations!” said Cheryl Lightholder.

Within the store there is a Workforce Connection Center that provides free services to Goodwill’s clients and to members of the public who are seeking a job. “Anyone can come in and receive any [of our] services,” Lightholder said.

The center provides assistance to people who are under- or unemployed by helping them throughout their job search, including developing job search skills. The center offers access to computers, the internet, printers, fax machines, telephones, and email, plus assistance with resume and cover letter development and preparation. These services are provided for free, to individuals who are just entering the workforce, and everyone else, including professionals.

• Sunday and Monday Tag Sale Day. On Sundays and Mondays certain items will be discounted 50%.
• Wednesday is Senior Discount Day—Must be a Club Goodwill member and be at least 60 years old to receive a 15% discount.
• Saturday is Student Discount Day—Must be a Club Goodwill member and current student with valid student ID to receive a 10% discount.
• Club Goodwill members also receive 25% off for their birthday and there are various discounts throughout the year.
• Store Hours
  Sun 10-7pm; Mon-Fri 9am-9pm; Sat 9-8pm
  Donations are accepted each day beginning one hour before the store opens at the donation bay on the north end of the building.

  Info: Amazinggoodwill.com

Historical society yard sale May 18

The Bay View Historical Society’s annual yard sale will be held on May 18, 9am to 3pm at the Beulah Brinton House, 2590 S. Superior St. Refreshments will be available for sale.  Proceeds from the sale will support the upkeep of the house.

Donations to the sale can be dropped off at the garage behind the house during the week of May 13 from 1-5pm. Donations of clothing or holiday items will not be accepted. Pre-pricing your items is appreciated. Able-bodied volunteers are needed to help erect the tent and set up tables Friday, May 17.

For pick-up of large or heavy items, to volunteer to help with the tent, or to help on the day of the sale, call (414) 324-5690.

KK River Bike Trail bridge construction

The recently constructed concrete pedestal on South Chase Avenue near West Rosedale Avenue will support a new bike and pedestrian bridge over, part of the KK River Bike Trail project.

The project, funded by federal Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) dollars and city of Milwaukee funds, includes the construction of the new bridge over Chase Avenue, paving the trail between 6th Street and Lincoln Avenue and between Maple and Washington streets.

The city of Milwaukee is leveraging approximately $2 in federal funds for every $1 in local funds committed to the project.

The total CMAQ project is $3,063,000 ($2,080,000 federal CMAQ dollars, $983,000 city funds).

A previous project was funded by federal American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars. That project included the removal of the dilapidated Union Pacific railroad bridge near 1900 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in 2010 and the rehabilitation of the former railroad bridge over East Greenfield Avenue. The Greenfield bridge will be part of the segment of the KK River Bike Trail between Maple and Washington. Approximately $425,000 federal ARRA dollars were spent.

Frolics committee invites you to advertise

Dear Neighbor,

We would like to cordially invite you to participate in the 64th Annual Bay View Lions South Shore Frolics Parade. Please fill out and return the enclosed questionnaire or email the information to kracophotography@gmail.com, no later than June 15, 2013, so that we may reserve your spot. Our parade line-up is filled on a first come-first served basis.

The parade will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 11am. We will begin line up at 10am in the areas assigned to interested parties. Parade transportation is not provided. The parade will proceed South on Kinnickinnic Ave to Ellen Street, East to Nock Street, and then East to South Shore Park.

Are you interested in advertising in the South Shore Frolics’ Program Book? Please consider advertising with us, whether you’re in the parade or not.

Please indicate which size ad you would like:

 Ad Size………. Measurements……………….Price

1/8 page……….. 2 1/4”w x1 7/8”h………………. $  50

1/4 page……….. 4 5/8”w x 2”h………………….. $   85

1/2 page……….. 4 5/8”w x 3 7/8”h……………… $140

Full Page 4 5/8”w x 7 3/4”h………………………..$220

Your ad with accompanying payment supports the South Shore Frolics and gives great exposure to your organization. Optionally, digital ad copy can be emailed directly to us at frolic2011@earthlink.net. We must receive payment by May 15, 2013.

We look forward to your participation in our event. Let us know if you have any further questions or concerns. If you know of other groups, businesses or individuals with an interest in participating in the South Shore Frolics Parade and/or Festival, please feel free to refer them to us!

Sincerely,
Carol R. Kraco
South Shore Frolics Parade Chair
2534 S Lenox St.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
kracophotography@gmail.com
(414) 231-3915

THE FINE PRINT — What is title insurance?

Title is a term that refers to your ownership rights in a piece of property. When you buy real estate, you want all of those rights. That is, you want the property to be free and clear of any mortgages, property taxes, judgments, tax liens, easements, and construction liens.

Title insurance covers undisclosed problems with title. A construction lien is a perfect example of such a problem, because a contractor has six months after completing any work to file a lien. This means you could purchase a home that appears free of liens, but then a contractor could file a lien against it that relates to work done for the previous owner. In this example, title insurance would pay the cost of removing the lien.

Like any insurance policy, title insurance is a contract that covers specific problems. Prior to closing, the title insurance company will issue a “commitment” that lists what the company will not cover. Usually, these are items that would be disclosed by a search of public records. The most common examples are the current owner’s mortgage and unpaid property taxes.

Because title insurance only covers problems that are not disclosed to you on the commitment, this document becomes an essential tool in evaluating whether the property is free and clear of any encumbrances (liabilities) prior to purchase. Once you’re satisfied that it is, the title policy covers you against problems that were not discovered in the title search. Such a problem could even be the right of someone to travel across your property, which is called an easement.

In addition to an owner’s title policy, your mortgage lender will also require a separate lender’s policy. A lender’s policy merely protects the lender against any financial loss it would suffer, for the same problems that an owner’s policy insures the owner for. Unless otherwise agreed to, the seller pays for the owner’s title insurance policy. The buyer pays for the lender’s title insurance policy. In both cases, the premium is paid once, and is good for as long as you own the property.

Because of the crucial role that a title company plays in the process of transferring real estate, it is a perfect choice to act as an intermediary and closing agent. As part of the closing process, it can take care of paying off the seller’s liens and mortgages by deducting them from the purchase price, and making sure that satisfactions for those items are properly recorded before the deed that transfers the property to the new owner. Finally, title companies can prepare many of the other documents that one normally associates with a closing. These critical services become particularly important if the buyer is not working with a real estate agent in the property sale.

Thanks to Craig Haskins, Executive Vice President of Knight Barry Title Group, for his assistance with this article.

Send your question to jan@janpiercelaw.com. To protect your privacy, your name will not be published. Jan Pierce, S.C. is a law firm In Milwaukee. The firm’s emphasis is on assisting small businesses and social entrepreneurs in all aspects of launching and managing their ventures.

Disclaimer: Advice in this column is general legal information and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.

Dead heads — Artist Steve Wirtz loves dogs

When John Toutenhoofd, Sr., a partner of Quigley Tax Service, 2993 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., wanted to feature local art in the office for the upcoming tax season, papier mâché artist Steve Wirtz came up with an ingenious idea.

On the warm, earth-toned walls of the tax preparation office, hang the mounted heads of a bear, water buffalo, boar, antelope, and buck. But these wildlife trophies are not furry with glass eyes. Instead they are made of papier mâché, painted in bold hues. Artfully torn sections of IRS tax forms are visible on the surface of laminated layers that complete Wirtz’s pun and the exhibit title “Taxidermy.”

A plaque reassures viewers that no animals were harmed.

Large fish ‘skeletons’ constructed of intricate wire armature, detailed with fins and teeth, hang near the reception desk and reveal the foundation of the papier mâché process. By contrast, there is also a completed papier mâché fish painted in swirls of blue and green.

“I like to support art and artist,” Toutenhoofd said, noting that this is the third year he has displayed art in his Kinnickinnic Avenue office. The firm has three more locations in the Milwaukee area.

Toutenhoofd’s son, John Toutenhoofd, Jr., who works at the firm, volunteers at Lakefront Festival of the Arts. Festival prints also adorn Bay View office walls, as does work from local artist Anne Chojnacki, renowned for her equine prints featuring Lipizzans.

Milwaukee artists Chris Krajniak and Edmond Matthews each exhibited paintings and illustrations at Quigley in previous tax seasons.

Toutenhoofd, Sr., during a visit to the Marian Center for Nonprofts, noticed some papier mâché sculptures in the hallway outside of Wirtz’s studio, including a large papier mâché sun.

“Business is looking up” was written on its surface, Toutenhoofd, Sr. said. The piece intrigued him and prompted him to learn more about the artist. He asked Wirtz if he would consider exhibiting some pieces at Quigley for the 2013 tax season.

When Wirtz came up with his concept (pun)—papier mâché pieces formed to resemble mounted animal heads that incorporated tax forms—Toutenhoofd said he was amazed and responded, “You’re pulling my leg, right?’”

Wirtz installed the pieces in January and they will be on exhibit through April 15. The work is for sale but Toutenhoofd, Sr. said he is not involved in the selling process; he refers interested buyers directly to the artist. He takes no commission nor extracts any other fees from the artists. He described it as a win-win situation because he gets artwork for his office.

The pieces have been well received by Quigley’s clients. “They’re quite a talking point,” he said.

Art in progress

Back at Wirtz’s studio at the Marian Center for Nonprofits, there are sculptures in different stages of completion. The scale of the work ranges from an object that can be held in one’s hand to larger-than-human figures. They greet visitors with molded expressions of joy, surprise, contentment—a gamut of emotions. Many of the sculptures are representations of man’s best friend.

“I like dogs,” Wirtz said. And it shows. Canines are definitely a dominant theme in his work.

Many of his pooches sit or stand, as if for a portrait, while others demonstrate the usual doggie diversions like leaping, ear-scratching, dashing through a field, snatching a favorite toy from its trajectory, or making off with a stolen sock. They’re whimsical and charming, including a pup with text scrawled on its side that reads, “Free Face Wash.”

His fondness for his subject is evident, as a close look at the dog sculptures reveals Wirtz has clearly captured the sparkle in a dog’s brown eyes, or ears perked as if the pooch is listening to the letter carrier’s truck pull up.

A native of Fond du Lac, Wis., Wirtz developed an interest in art and drawing when he was a child. He specializes in laminated paper sculpture, a form of papier mâché that involves layering paper over wire armature that he forms from different gauges of wire-like chicken wire. He said the laminated papier mâché sculpture process produces sculptures that are lightweight, compared to the more typical papier mâché where multiple damp layers are used to mold and form the work.

He uses plain or coated fencing wire for larger pieces. He said some of the more complex sculptures are based on a sketch but others are freeform, taken directly from his imagination.

Wirtz uses nontoxic Elmer’s Art Paste to fuse the layers of paper that he harvests from newspaper and recycled junk mail. He coats the pieces with colored or black paper and paints most of the sculptures. The number of layers varies depending on the project.

Wirtz sells his sculptures at art shows, festivals, and galleries around the country with prices that range from “$20 to thousands” but with many in the $75 – $250 range. In addition to the exhibit at Quigley Tax Service, his work is currently on exhibit at Studio Lounge (formerly BYO Studio and Lounge) in Bay View and Grava Gallery in the Third Ward.

Quigley Tax Service
2993 S. Kinnickinnic  Ave.
(414) 486-1800

Steve Wirtz/Cartuna
Studio Hours By Appointment
(414) 344-8282; cartuna.net

THE FINE PRINT — What is a land contract?

A land contract is an alternate method for financing the purchase of real estate. It is an agreement that transfers most, but not all, of the rights of ownership upon executing the contract. It’s sort of like buying a property on layaway. The buyer enjoys most of the rights and responsibilities of ownership, including the requirement to pay for homeowner’s insurance and property tax. The seller retains the deed until all the payments are made. After the final payment is made, full legal title is transferred to the buyer when the seller signs over the deed.

Land contracts become more popular when interest rates are high or when qualifying for credit is difficult. The latter is true for many in the wake of the recession due to more stringent lending standards. Additionally, there is a large inventory of hard-to-move real estate on the market, so the conditions are favorable for land-contract transactions.

A land contract option is attractive to a seller who is unable to get the full purchase price up front, or who is willing to take payments over time. In a land contract, the seller is acting like a bank, by financing the purchase to a buyer who may not be able to get a loan from a bank. However, if the seller were truly acting like a bank, the contract would be structured like a traditional real estate transaction: Full legal title would be transferred at the closing, with the seller lending the money for the full amount of the purchase price and securing the loan with a mortgage.

Liabilities

Because full legal title does not transfer until the property is paid in full, which could take years, the buyer may be exposed to risk during the life of the land contract. For example, the buyer could lose the investment if the seller defaulted on the mortgage that encumbered the property and it is taken by foreclosure. An astute buyer will make sure the property is unencumbered before signing a land contract.

The other major risk for the buyer is the possibility that the deed owner might sell the property to someone else, or encumber the property with another mortgage. While it would be wrong for a seller to do this this, the buyer should record the land contract with the Register of Deeds, just like any other real estate transaction, to protect their investment. Recording the land contract puts third parties on notice that someone else already owns the property, which is exactly what happens when a deed gets recorded.

The benefit of a land contract to the seller is that it can help move a piece of property in a difficult market. The benefit to the buyer is that they can buy a piece of property that they may otherwise not qualify for with traditional financing.

Often land contracts have a five or 10-year term, with a balloon payment due at the end of the term. By that time, the buyer has acquired significant equity in the property, making it much easier to get financing. In addition, the buyer’s personal creditworthiness may have improved.

Send your question to jan@janpiercelaw.com.

To protect your privacy, your name will not be published. Jan Pierce, S.C. is a law firm In Milwaukee. The firm’s emphasis is on assisting small businesses and social entrepreneurs in all aspects of launching and managing their ventures.

Disclaimer: Advice in this column is general legal information and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.

Advanced Chemical Systems moves to Franklin

After nearly 20 years in Bay View, Tom Dougherty has moved his Advanced Chemical Systems business to an industrial park in Franklin. Dougherty purchased the business in 1995 and moved it from Grand Rapids, Mich. to 2612 S. Greeley St. in the building now known as the Hide House. He started out in a 5000-square-foot section of the first floor and eventually expanded to 18,000 square feet on the first floor and basement. The company provides wastewater pretreatment systems for a broad base of industries.

 

Moss Floral says goodbye to Bay View

Miki Herman, owner of Moss Floral Design who opened her shop, 3391 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., in 2009 has relocated to the Marshall Building in the Third Ward. She was disappointed by a lack of support from the Bay View Business Improvement District and Bay View Neighborhood Association and speculated that the shop’s location at the far southern end of the Kinnickinnic business district was a factor that may have contributed to her shop’s lackluster performance. The neighborhood association contacted her for contributions, and she made a donation to Chill On The Hill but that she didn’t feel a sense of reciprocity for it. “Bay View is fabulous but not for the type of business I have,” Herman said, noting that her business has significantly improved at her new location.

Mantiques for sale

Kinnickinnic Avenue has a new curiosity shop. Rusty Sprocket Antiques, 3391 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., opened March 15 in the space formerly occupied by Moss Floral. If you’re hankering for handsome tchotchkes, knickknacks, or what owner David Popovic calls ‘mantiques,’ Rusty Sprocket has them in spades.

Popovic said mantiques are the things a lot of men like to collect for their man-cave or rat rod project, but that he also “caters to the female set.”

Store inventory is found, purchased, or bartered by Popovic. Anything that catches his eye is fair game. In one instance, he acquired a vintage beer sign from the roof of a man’s doghouse, in exchange for lumber for a new roof. His exact methods of procurement, however, are closely guarded. “That’s a secret,” laughed Popovic. Some of the featured items in his inventory include a vintage Schwinn tandem bicycle, Schlitz beer paraphernalia, a zinc bait pail, and old-school cameras. The cameras are flying off the shelves.

A value-added feature is repair work. “I work on anything mechanical or electrical if it fits in the shop, but I don’t go out to somebody’s home to fix a washer or dryer,” Popovic said. He repairs lamps, clocks, small appliances, bicycles, motorcycles, fans, and gadgets.

“I enjoy having customer interaction—the telling of the history of some pieces and learning new things about items I may pick up,” he said. “Customers,” he said, “are welcomed like a friends.”

Popovic is employed by Veolia so his sister Juliet Popovic helps out at the store.

A former Bay View resident, Popovic lived in the neighborhood for over 20 years until moving to Hales Corners a year ago. He said he was looking at other venues when the Moss Floral space, which he’d had his eye on in the past, became available.

Popovic is a retired road bike, BMX, and motocross racer, and mechanic. Naming his shop Rusty Sprocket is a nod to his past life and the salty streets of Milwaukee.

Rusty Sprocket Antiques
3391 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
(414) 469-4410 + Facebook
rustysprocketantiques@gmail.com

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