204-unit build begins in Oconomowoc

Wangard starts The Preserve at Prairie Creek

By Paige Brunclik

Posted: April 27, 2011

City of Oconomowoc — Construction has begun on the first phase of a 204-unit apartment development at Highways P and Z. The development, which is the biggest construction project currently going on in the city, has been renamed The Preserve at Prairie Creek by developer Wangard Partners.
Tony DeRosa, vice president for Wangard Partners, said the rebranding was to better represent the luxury apartment offering.
DeRosa said the change in name was an opportunity to better represent what the development will represent. He said using preserve in the name better incorporates the many green aspects of the project, including environmentally sensitive construction and the development's proximity to Rosenow Creek.
Because the land was purchased with Midwest Disaster Area Bonds, Wangard received for the project, the apartments must be affordable for someone in the $30,000- to $38,000-a-year income bracket.
The Preserve will offer an array of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans with a private entry and attached garages among other amenities, according to a press release. It also boasts a clubhouse, fitness center and outdoor pool pavilion.
City staff indicated multifamily units are what's gaining the most attention from developers in the area. In its 2011 outlook on development in the city, Planning Department staff identified the Wangard project and said it anticipates more multifamily housing requests this year.
Director of Economic Development Bob Duffy, said a development like Preserve at Prairie Creek will help attract people to the area.
"The Preserve is another great opportunity to attract residents to our community," said Duffy. "The Preserve will allow people the ability to live within the community in which they work."
The housing development is within close proximity to Wangard development, Prairie Creek Shopping Center, which, DeRosa said, is where the leasing center will be located. The center is expected to open next month.




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Lake Country Real Estate: Oconomowoc Wisconsin Real Estate activity for the last 30 days

Lake Country Real Estate: Oconomowoc Wisconsin Real Estate activity for the last 30 days

The following information is for the period of 3/26/2011 to 4/26/2011 and is for the entire MLS content for this period.

In the Oconomowoc Wisconsin Real Estate market 21 homes sold; 8 were list and sold by the same company, and 13 were sold by co-brokes.
In the Oconomowoc,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 92 new listings.
In the Oconomowoc Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 18 pending listings.
In the Oconomowoc,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 2 withdrawn listings.
In the Oconomowoc,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 0 canceled listings.
In the Oconomowoc,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 105 expired listings.
In the Oconomowoc,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 36 back on market listings.
In the Oconomowoc,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 45 extended listings.
In the Oconomowoc,Wisconsin Real Estate market there are 591 currently active listings.
Have a productive day and I will see you at closing!

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Discover Oconomowoc - Oconomowoc High School presents interactive play 'The Awesome '80s Prom'

Interactive play will be, like, totally awesome

By DONNA FRAKE

Posted: April 25, 2011

DATE NIGHT - Costume designer, Cheryl Fillmore holds up a sample prom dress for the OHS production of “My Awesome ’80s Prom.”

Submitted Photo

DATE NIGHT - Costume designer, Cheryl Fillmore holds up a sample prom dress for the OHS production of “My Awesome ’80s Prom.”

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Bad hairstyles and even worse fashion choices may have marked the 1980s, but the decade did produce some memorable tunes. So break out your jellies, girls, and tell your guy to grab his Vans and moonwalk yourselves into a trip back in time, courtesy of the Oconomowoc High School Players.
The OHS drama department is presenting the "The Awesome '80s Prom" an interactive play that invites the audience to the party, beginning April 28.
OHS director Tom Klubertanz, a self-described child of the '80s, said he graduated from a small high school in Verona, in 1987, and his fond memories of the decade have defined his formative years.
"Everything, from my taste in music - U2 and REM are still personal faves - to my unyielding love of all things flannel, can in some way be traced back to those totally radical 1980s," he said.
After spending hours playing Pitfall on his Atari 2600 and singing "Conjunction Junction, what's your function?" every Saturday morning while watching Schoolhouse Rock cartoons, he said it should come as no surprise that he "jumped at the chance" to acquire the rights to Ken Davenport's love letter to the 1980s: "The Awesome '80s Prom."
The play was the winner of the 2006 Improv Theatre Award for Best Interactive Show, and is in the interactive style of "Tony 'n Tina's Wedding."
According to the director, the play is set at Wanaget High School's senior prom in 1989.
"The audience enters the OAC and instantly recognizes that this will not be an ordinary theater-going experience. Walking through a balloon-arch tunnel until you reach the stage and finding more high school gymnasium dance floor than typical high school auditorium, guests are immediately thrust into the world of 1989," he promised.
"With retro costumes, cake, fruit punch, a station for you and your friends to take cheesy prom pictures - which you will be able to purchase at the end of the night for only $5.00, and lots and lots of dancing - the audience actually has a part to play in this interactive production. I couldn't resist a show that actually dares the audience to talk back to the actors," he said.
Characters in the play will recreate all the typical high school notables.
"From the captain of the football team to the Asian exchange student, from the nerd and the school rebel to the head cheerleader and spazoid, and they're all competing for prom king and queen. Think 'Breakfast Club meets Sixteen Candles.' If you loved the 1980, you need to see this show! We are even inviting audience members to dress up when they come to the show," Klubertanz said.
OHS sophomore Logan Milway is playing the high school principal, modeled after all the protagonist school administrators from the old John Hughes movies.
"The most enjoyable part for me is the freedom to say whatever comes to your mind right way and be comical in that fashion," he explained.
Milway sees some similarities between current tastes and the favorites of the 1980s.
"A lot of then has been carried over to now. Some of the phrases, dance moves and a lot of the musicians are still very popular," he noted.
He is excited for the community to see the production.
"It's a great cast, a wonderful director, and we're working pretty hard. It's going to be fantastic," Milway added.
Alex Dewyea, a junior at OHS, is playing a breakdancer in the play.
While dancing comes naturally to him, this genre required some practice.
"There are some intricate moves, but our choreographer is so good and really giving great direction," he said.
"I'll be wearing a track suit, which was very popular in the day," Dewyea added.
The OHS junior said he was pretty familiar with the decade before the play.
"My parents spoon-fed me the '80s as I was growing up, so I'm almost a child of the '80s," he said.
With a special twist to keep things lively, the audience gets to decide who wins, which changes the outcome of this play each night.
The 1980s music will be played by a band composed of OHS student musicians and a DJ.
Klubertanz said all the classics of the era will be represented.
"Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Tommy Tutone, Hall and Oates will be played - and there is even a surprise visit from M.C. Hammer and an acoustic performance by Pat Benatar as the evening progresses," he promised.
Certainly the interactive nature of the show poses some challenges for the director and actors, alike.
"This has been a really difficult show to rehearse because, while there are scripted sections of the show, the bulk of the play is improvised based on each night's particular audience. Not knowing how each audience will respond makes things tricky for our actors," he explained.
"They have to be prepared for anything the audience throws at them, which makes their jobs, and mine, exponentially more difficult, but also more rewarding and fun too,' he said.
Students have been preparing by studying improv basics and playing a lot of improv games.
"We had the incredible opportunity to work with the founder of Milwaukee's highly respected Comedy Sportz - Dick Chudnow - who came out to work with the kids on helping to create better characters through improv. He also gave them a lot of tips for how to 'expect the unexpected,' " Klubertanz said.
"He told them to "always say yes" through their work, to listen to their scene partners very carefully while on stage and to commit to the work they do 100 percent. It was a real thrill working with Mr. Chudnow, and we are hoping it pays off when we have an audience in a few weeks!"

If you go

What: OHS spring production of "The Awesome '80s Prom"
When: Opens at 7:30 p.m. April 28, and also runs at 7:30 p.m. April 29, 30, May 5, 6 and 7
Where: All performances are in the OAC, but the interactive show will take place on the OAC stage, so seating is limited to 200 people per night.
Cost: Tickets are $7.50 for high school students, $9.50 for college students and seniors, $12.50 for adults. Service fees apply on all ticket sales
Info: Call the OAC Box Office (262) 560-3172 or visit www.theoac.net

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Land O' Lakes Western Division amateur baseball league

Land O'Lakes West season begins Sunday

By CHUCK DELSMAN

Posted: April 27, 2011 1:26 p.m.

With a little cooperation from Mother Nature, the Land O' Lakes Western Division amateur baseball league will open play for the 2011 season this Sunday. But based on the weather she's supplied us with the last three weeks, fans shouldn't hold their breath.
A full slate of six games are on tap for Sunday with each game beginning at 1 p.m. in the popular wooden-bat league, entering its 90th year.
Games on Sunday will find Pewaukee playing at North Lake, Merton at the Brookfield Blue Sox, Brookfield Bulldogs at Menomonee Falls, Lannon at West Bend, Sussex at Hartland and Oconomowoc at Monches.
Last year West Bend not only won the Western Division title but went on to win the LOL Grand Championship. It marked the third time in the last four years that a team from the LOL West won the Grand Championship. Lannon won the overall title in 2009, and Oconomowoc accomplished the same feat in 2007.
The league had one of its most competitive seasons last summer. West Bend won the regular season crown with a 14-4 record. Right behind were Oconomowoc and the two Brookfield teams with 13-5 marks. The final two playoff spots went to Sussex and Pewaukee, who tied with 11-7 records. The first round of the playoffs this year will begin on Saturday, Aug. 13.
"I've been playing in the league for a lot of years and the Western Division gets more competitive each season," said Oconomowoc player-manager Jeff Rhoads. "No team can take anything for granted. The good teams seem to stay that way and several of the other teams like Monches are improving all the time. The goal for every team is to just make the playoffs. Once you get there, then anything can happen."
Paul Vanden Heuvel is in his 10th year as the commissioner of the league. All of the managers from one year ago also will be back.
Rhoads, after finishing second in the individual batting race the previous three years, finally won the hit crown last year by batting .486. Others in the top five were Kris Franzen of the Brookfield Bulldogs at .469, Jimy Landwehr of Monches at .464, Luke Nelson of Oconomowoc at .455 and Dean Haase of Lannon at .433. Tim Mertins, playing for Hartland in 2009, won the batting crown that year. Mertins now plays in Pewaukee.

Team by team

An encapsulated look at the Land O'Lakes Western Division.

Pewaukee

Manager: Mike Wichser
Last year: 11-7
Returnees: John Sarcia, Kurt Sarcia, Nick Wichser, Mike Grabarczyk, Rob Brockel, Greg Harder, Eric Schmitz and Tom Zimmerman
Of note: Two players from Hartland, Drew Volkmann and Ben Walljasper, will join the Muskies this season, and both are expected to pitch. Pitching depth looks good this season with Brockel and Schmitz also back.

Merton

Manager: Joe Johnson
Last year: 4-14
Returnees: Johnson, Sam Mulkey, Phil Guiffre, Scott Mathias, Chris Price, Kaiton Yawney and Jake Meyer
Of note: Once again, the key to success will be pitching consistency. Despite winning just four games last year, the Amvets were a vastly improved team, losing a handful of close games to the top teams in the league. Several new races should help the pitching staff.

Monches

Manager: Pat Smith
Last year: 7-11
Returnees: Andy Smith, Cory Millikin, Jimy Landwehr, Brian Crook, Blake Hunt, Bryan Kieffer, Steve Schultz, Nick Brengosz and Jordan Opalewski.
Of note: The Irish are knocking on the playoff door and this could be the season they make it. The team is young and hungry for success. Pitching is solid. Monches needs to be a better hitting team from the start of the season to the finish.

Hartland

Manager: Chad Dibb
Last year: 3-15
Returnees: Chad Dibb, Troy Dibb, Dan Larsen, Marcus Greiber, Jake Dibb and Craig Henschel.
Of note: Hartland lost its two best pitchers, Drew Volkmann and Ben Walljasper, to Pewaukee. Finding pitching to keep them competitive will be critical to its success.

North Lake

Manager: Chris Cornell
Last year: 2-16
Returnees: Derek Prust, Ben Hanson, Brad Lenling, Steve Lopez, Matt Lopez, Mike Barczak, Chris Dent, Drew Taylor
Of note: Pitching is always the No. 1 concern for the Lakers and that will be the case again. Matt Stankowski, one of the most consistent players for North Lake the last five seasons, will only play a few games early in the season.

Oconomowoc

Manager: Jeff Rhoads

Last year: 13-5

Returnees: Jeff Rhoads, Steve Rhoads, Luke Nelson, Derek Nelson, Mike Bolson, Bob Bolson, Justin Mortensen, Andrew Bauer, Mike Mitchell, Josh Fenzl and Chris Fischer.

Of note: The roster seems to never change, but the Five O’s are always major contenders. Pitching should be solid this year with Mortensen, Bauer and Fischer all solid starters. Cooney is the winningest team in the league the last 10 years.

Brookfield Blue Sox

Manager: Jeff Lemmermann

Last year: 13-5

Returnees: John Arnold, Pat Tobiasz, Paul Archambault, Lemmermann, Jim Pease and Jay Wojcinski.

Of note: The Blue Sox had their best season ever last year since joining the Western Division. The team is loaded with veterans and has good pitching with Arnold and Lemmermann.

West Bend

Manager: Erik Kraemer

Last year: 14-4

Returnees: Eric Kraemer, Adam Rohlinger, Billy Bynum, Mike Mueller, Dan Mueller and Bryant Bullock

Of note: The biggest news for West Bend is the loss of standout pitcher Andy Hetebruerg, who will not play this summer. Hetebrueg pitched a no-hitter for West Bend last year and was one of the top pitchers in the league. He also was a strong hitter. Pitching will be crucial if West Bend hopes to repeat.

Menomonee Falls

Manager: Curt Weiskirch

Last year: 8-10

Returnees: Curt Weiskirch, Dan Green, Jason Mayer, Jeff Lueck, Chris Weissman, Don August and Rick Krajewski.

Of note: Former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Don August is back, and that means a lot to the Falls. Hitting is always solid for the Falls, but the team needs improved defense.

Sussex

Manager: Cory Gasper

Last year: 11-7

Returnees: Nick Ghelfi, Vic Erato, Cory Gasper, Seth Kroenke, Bryan Laabs, Nick Heppe, Jim Kais, Tim Saskowski, Darin Leveraus, Buck Konkol, Todd Johnson and Scott Carberry.

Of note: Sussex will add one more pitcher in Travis Thompson and that could give them three solid starting pitchers. The every week lineup rates with the best in the league and offense shouldn’t be a problem.

Lannon

Manager: Bruce Mayer

Last year: 9-9

Brookfield Bulldogs

Manager: Jason Booth

Last year: 13-5




 
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