Ald. Dudzik Killed in Motorcycle Crash

Walker, longtime Journal Sentinel reporter and editor, dies

Milwaukee North’s Darrell Riley to play for Mississippi Valley State

The work paid off for Darrell Riley. One basketball practice or game per day was often not enough for the Milwaukee North senior, who could be found frequently at the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center late at night working on his game. His efforts led to the City Conference player of the year award, consensus all-state recognition and finally a Division I scholarship. The 5-foot-8 guard signed with Mississippi Valley State, North coach Billy Harris said. The Delta Devils, who went 6-25 this past season, play in the Southwest Athletic Conference. “How their system is run is a little like North’s,” Riley said. “It’s a connection I like and how the coaches bond with me is great. They run the same offense. It’s a big school, but not that big.” Riley, who is considering studying physical therapy or teaching, led the state in scoring with 37.6 points per game, and his 939 points were the sixth-best single-season total in state history, according to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. His strength was attacking the basket. He went to the free-throw line 361 times in 25 games, an impressive average of 14 per contest. He also received interest from Texas Southern and Maine. Riley, who played with Wisconsin Playground Elite on the club circuit, joins Dominican’s Diamond Stone (Maryland) and Garrison Goode (California-Davis), Pius XI’s Levi Bradley (Northern Illinois) and Homestead’s Jaylen Key (Northern Illinois) as Division I recruits from the area in the Class of 2015. And Riley is still in the gym, working on the pull-up jumpers and floaters he’ll need to rely on more at the Division I level. “This is something I’ve been working for,” he said. “I work out every day, every night. … I’m so happy for it. I’m just ready to go down there and ball.”

Local radio legend Bob Reitman

Ya-ya, Milwaukee! It’s time for our sophomore episode of Milwaukee Soundbites. In episode one we chatted with Milwaukee Art Museum chief curator Brady Roberts. Episode two brings us to to local radio legend Bob Reitman, and as you’d expect from a man with close to half a century of professional work around the world of music, he’s got some fine stories to tell about his best and worst concert experiences, his first album (and its sad fate), how a Shorewood High School kid ruined The Fireballs’ “Bottle of Wine” and plenty more:

Milwaukee seeks $15 million federal grant for streetcar spur to lakefront

City grant may help Johnson Controls study downtown office tower

Floral-form sculpture planned for Zillman Park

Carl and Catherine Billingsley, husband and wife, artists, and former Bay View residents, have donated one of Carl’s steel sculptures for permanent display at Zillman Park, 2168 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. The park is named after Catherine’s grandfather, Erwin Zillman, who was a civic leader, Milwaukee alderman, and publisher of the Bay View Observer newspaper. Billingsley’s metal and stone sculptures are displayed in public art projects and exhibitions throughout the world. The sculpture, entitled Bud, will be placed in Zillman Park. It is a 12-foot tall welded-steel floral form in primary red and yellow, perched on a bronze-hued cylindrical base. The sculpture is currently on display in a public art project in Blissfield, Mich. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Last year Brian Breider launched Bay View Art in the Park, a summer art festival in Zillman Park. Catherine Billingsley learned about it from a friend. “Carl and I talked about donating one of his sculptures to the park and bringing it to Milwaukee this summer,” she said. “I contacted Brian Breider to coordinate the project.” Breider said he offered to assist the Billingsleys when they approached him with the idea. “Once we heard from Alderman Zielinski that the city would support it, a GoFundMe crowdfunding page was created to raise money for the miscellaneous costs involved to bring the sculpture to Milwaukee, which were under $1,000,” Breider said. Catherine praised Breider’s assistance and said Zielinski put Carl in touch with city employees who would install the sculpture. The Billingsleys are planning a dedication ceremony for the sculpture Saturday, July 25, that will be open to the public. “People in our neighborhood understand the value of public art,” Zielinski said. “Consequently, I ensured the city would accept this very gracious gift and do what was necessary to make this project a reality. It is with sincere gratitude we accept this gift from the Billingsleys. There will be a formal unveiling of the project when it is completed.” Mr. Bay View Erwin Zillman (1888 – 1970) was referred to as “Mr. Bay View”’ by his constituents, Catherine said. He published and edited the Bay View Observer newspaper from 1934 to 1958. He served as alderman from 1948 to 1956 representing Ward 27 (Bay View) and Ward 17 from 1958 to 1964. (Much of the area of the former Ward 17 is currently known as Aldermanic District 14.) He wrote a history of Bay View published in 1966 entitled So You Will Know. Zillman lived in a house on New York Avenue until his death. “My grandfather really loved Bay View, and he would be absolutely delighted to see how it is thriving today,” Catherine said. The triangular park on Kinnickinnic Avenue was dedicated in his honor in 1978. Zillman Park was named in honor of Erwin Zillman, who was known as “Mr. Bay View.” PHOTO KATHERINE KELLER Maybe Not Zillman Park? According to Lee Barczak, president the Kinnickinnic Business Improvement District #44 (BID), the BID is considering a large number of projects and proposals for […]

Buckley’s taps new chef, makes plans to triple space

The old firehouse you just might miss

UW-Parkside’s Deborah Ford, building owner Patti Keating Kahn among third group of Women of Influence winners

Marquette buys another downtown property

Developer plans riverside housing in Walker’s Point

A local developer group is proposing new housing, likely apartments, on the Milwaukee River in the Walker’s Point area. The project site at 236 S. Water St. is on the west bank of the Milwaukee River. The request for a rezoning for the Walker’s Point project was submitted to the Common Council on Tuesday, but provides no details on the project. Milwaukee in 2009 had approved final plans on that property for the Rivianna, an $80 million apartment project with three, 15-story towers. The Rivianna included 166 apartments and a 128-room hotel. That project never came to fruition, and the property remained a parking lot as the development market in Walker’s Point gained momentum. The long-term plan for the neighborhood calls for multi-story buildings, likely apartments, along that riverfront. The investment group behind the project is registered to Milwaukee developer David Winograd, who has done other projects in the immediate area. He was in the group that acquired and revitalized the South Water Works property, located on the opposite side of Water Street from the apartment site. Plunkett Raysich Architects is rehabbing a building there for its new headquarters. Across the Milwaukee River to the east, Mandel Group Inc. has gained full approvals for its six-story DoMUS project with 132 apartments. Jeff Fleming, spokesman for the Milwaukee Department of City Development, said “the preliminary discussions indicate substantial development,” but could not provide details on the proposal.