Water Words

The system worked. It really did. South Milwaukee deserves kudos for the way city officials and residents handled last Friday's water main break and efforts to spread the word about possible water contamination.

The city got word out to the media -- and the media followed through with timely reports. Still, not everyone listens to the radio, watches TV or monitors local websites during the day. I'm one who doesn't.

So here's where South Milwaukee residents did their part. I got a phone call from someone who'd gotten a phone call from someone who learned about it from their child's school. I think.

The point is that people called people. I called a bunch, leaving voice mail messages when no one answered. My daughter did too. She also drove to the store and bought gallons of bottled water and delivered them to folks around the neighborhood. she thought might not have been able to get out.

The city was busy handing out bottled water too, according to today's Milwaukee JS, to about 1,800 households. Water that was donated by a variety of businesses, organizations and other communities.

The city also posted news releases on its website www.southmilwaukee.com, Alderman Jim Shelenske posted information on his website www.southmilwaukee.org and sent emails to residents who subscribe to his electronic newsletter.

Although the broken main was fixed and the water deemed safe by Saturday morning, restaurants and bars took a hit Friday night, one of their busiest times of the week.

To help compensate for the lost business, Alderman Shelenske (I'm told and have no reason to doubt it) came up with a great win-win proposal. The SM Chamber of Commerce and SM Downtown Market are partnering to sponsor "Fresh Water Days" next Thursday and Friday, Feb. 11 and 12.

The idea is to encourage folks to patronize participating "Fresh Water Days" SM restaurants and bars those two days. In return, the participating establishments  will offer meal or drink specials.  made available only as part of the promotion.

Participating establishments will display a "Fresh Water Days" sign.

In addition to being able to take advantage of the specials, residents dining, relaxing and enjoying themselves at participating bars and restaurants will be elegible for the 10 $20 gift certifications the SM Downtown Market is providing.

More details about the event is at www.southmilwaukee.org.  Here's hoping lots of folks will make it out on either Thursday or Friday or both!

If others beside Jim Shelenske share credit for coming up with the "Fresh Water Days" idea, please excuse me for not including all the names here.