By Renee Fensin

On June 30, 2013, East Tosa will play host to the final race of the the Tour of America’s Dairyland East Tosa Gran Prix. This exciting event will bring national and international exposure to our community.

The Tour of America’s Dairyland is the largest competitive professional cycling event in the United States. The events take place in 11 cities in Southeastern Wisconsin over 11 days. The Tour attracts professional riders from around the world. In addition to the professional racers, amateur cyclists of different ages and skill levels will participate in races throughout the day.

The East Tosa race will be a criterium course through the neighborhood. For those not familiar with cycling, a criterium is a short course loop, usually less than a mile. It will be a multi-lap race with racers traversing the course up to 80 times. Imagine the professional cyclists zooming through the neighborhood at up to 35 miles an hour. It is sure to be exciting!

Our course will be .6 miles starting at the 72nd street parking lot on North Avenue – which is where the event stage and announcers will call the race. The course turns north on Lefeber then east on Meinecke, down to 69th street and back out to North Avenue west to the finish line. The course map can be found here: Course Map

This event will not just be one race. It will be an all-day cycling party starting with the junior boys and girls race (ages 10 to 15) at 10:25 am and culminating in the men’s professional race at 6:30 pm. A  kids’ race for local children, ages 12 and under, will take place at 5:50 pm. There’s no need to register kids, just show up with your bike and helmet!

The full schedule can be found here: East Tosa Race Schedule

Why Bring the Race to East Tosa?

For the past several years the final race has been held in Madison. However, Tour organizers were looking for a new venue to create a fun, party-like atmosphere and East Tosa stepped up to the plate. The race is expected to draw up to 10,000 spectators with hopes that that number will grow to 30,000 within the next five years. If this race takes hold, it will put East Tosa on the international cycling map.

One of the principal organizers of the race, Ed Haydin, says “Bringing the race to East Tosa will draw people into our neighborhoods and allow us to promote our urban livability, our commercial district and showcase the City on a first hand basis.” People will learn what TETNA residents have known all along, East Tosa is a friendly neighborhood with great houses, excellent schools and diverse businesses. Many of these local businesses are sponsors of the Gran Prix. They are looking forward to showcasing the neighborhood they call home.

This event is not just about cycling. The Tour of America’s Dairyland website describes it as “a massive neighborhood event complete with entertainment, family fun, and kids’ activities. And it’s FREE to come and watch.” Spectators, local, national and international, are asked to “experience communities you’ve never before been or get to know your own Downtown a little better. Enjoy a hot cup of this, a cool sip of that, a taste of local culinary creation, and spend some time seeing what the local merchants have to offer!”

The residents of East Tosa will play an important role on race day. Organizers are hoping that residents will come out in full force to support this wonderful neighborhood event. Ed Haydin says, “Our hope is that residents on the race course will invite friends and family in and have a yard party to join in the festive atmosphere – much like how Halloween is in October (except warmer!).”

So show up with friends and family, cheer loudly and have loads of fun. Let’s show the world why East Tosa is the best neighborhood around.

What Residents Need to Know About Race Day

The East Tosa Gran Prix will bring approximately 10,000 fans plus riders and race staff to our neigh borhood. The spectators will be parking on our neighborhood streets and walking to the event.

The streets around the criterium course will be blocked off all day for the safety of riders and spectators.

Residents who live within the course boundaries will NOT have an opportunity to move their cars during the day. If you need to use your car during race day, it is recommended that you find street parking outside of the course.

There will be clearly designated and manned “Safe Crossing” zones for residents and spectators who need to get across the course.

North Avenue businesses along the course will be open on race day. Many businesses may offer specials on race day.

Spectators can watch the races at any point along the course. Residents along the course will have a front seat to the spectacle. Consider inviting friends and family and host a yard party.

The Start/Finish line will be on 72nd and North Ave. This is where the awards podium and announcing stand will be.

Like the Gran Prix’s Facebook page, for news and information on the race.

photo by Michael Wright via Flickr

Saturday, June 1
9:00AM to 3:00PM
Tosa East Towne Neighborhood

(76th to 60th Street, Between North Avenue and Center Street)

Our neighborhood-wide rummage sale is Saturday, June 1. We hope to see many of you buying and selling at this great event!

If you want to participate (sell items), please click here to download a PDF of the form. Mail the form to Kellie Metzenheim, 2323 N. 73rd Street, Wauwatosa, WI, 53213. No call-in registration, please.

Deadline for rummage registration is May 22 and the rummage is free for TETNA members; for non-members the fee is $5.

Here are some great tips on How to Throw A Killer Yard Sale.

If you’re interested in helping with the rummage sale in any capacity, or if you have questions, please email Sarah Hunt-Frank at slhuntfrank@att.net.

The deadline for Rummage registration is Saturday, May 22 — this will give us enough time to create and distribute a database map for our shoppers!

May 2013 newsletter

East Towne newsletters come out four times a year (February, May, July, and October). If you or someone you know is not getting newsletters, please contact your area representative. If your area does not have an area rep or your block does not have a distributor, please consider volunteering. It is our goal to reach all homes in the Tosa East Towne Neighborhood Association. Contact Nancy Hall at nancyhallatr@gmail.com if you wish to volunteer or need more information.

The Tosa East Towne Neighborhood Association invites all neighbors to its Annual Meeting, Wednesday April 17, at 6:30 pm.  The meeting will be held at Cranky Al’s, 6901 W. North Ave.

Fifth District Aldermen, Bobby Pantuso and Joel Tilleson, have been invited to speak about the city’s plans for our area.  We also look forward to hearing from our community officer, Don Semega, of the Wauwatosa Police.

Another purpose of this meeting is to elect officers and a board of directors.  These are volunteer positions for a one-year term from May 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014.  All members are encouraged to participate.

The following positions are to be filled at the meeting:

• Officers (also serve on the Board of Directors): President, Vice-President, Secretary & Treasurer
• Board of Directors: Five positions

Those interested in filling any of these positions should contact Jason Odrzywolski at (414)708-4891 or jasonodsky@gmail.com by April 10.  All candidates must be association members and be present at the Annual Meeting.  For those that did not sign up during the annual membership drive in October, the 2012/2013 Household membership form can be found on the website.

Members wishing to add an item to the agenda should contact Jason prior to April 10.  Please come to the annual meeting and consider playing an active role in your neighborhood.

The most recent newsletter has been published and distributed. If you have not received the February 2013 newsletter you can view a PDF or contact your area representative to see where you can get a copy:

February 2013 newsletter

East Towne newsletters come out four times a year (February, May, July, and October). If you or someone you know is not getting newsletters, please contact your area representative. If your area does not have an area rep or your block does not have a distributor, please consider volunteering. It is our goal to reach all homes in the Tosa East Towne Neighborhood Association. Contact Nancy Hall at nancyhallatr@gmail.com if you wish to volunteer or need more information.

Saturday, March 23, 2013
10 a.m.
Center Park, 65th & Clarke Street

Bring your kids to TETNA’s annual Spring Egg Hunt at Center Park. This event is great for the kids and a wonderful way to connect with your neighbors. All families with current memberships participate for FREE! If you are not a member, you may pay your $10 annual member dues at the event with a completed TETNA Membership Form.

We are always in need of volunteers at our events.  If you can stuff eggs, promote the event, or help with set up or clean up, please contact Sarah Hunt-Frank at 774-1813 or slhuntfrank@gmail.com.

Once again the Tosa East Towne Neighborhood Association is supporting a scholarship for a neighborhood senior.  The scholarship fund is made possible through the generous donations of our members. Throughout the course of the year donations of $1,189.30 were made through the concession stand at the Neighborhood Block Party and direct donations of our members.  Thank you to all who donated.

This year we will be offering a $500 scholarship to be awarded to a neighborhood high school senior planning on furthering his/her education.  This scholarship is based on community involvement as evidenced through school extracurricular activities, church activity, scout groups and volunteerism in the community at large.  If you know of a deserving student who will be graduating from high school this spring, remind them to apply for this scholarship by March 1.

Application Information:
1. Scholarship Application
2. Activities Form

If you have any questions, please contact Barb Blaney at 414-453-3551 or jbblaney@sbcglobal.net.

Featured Speaker: Wauwatosa School District Superintendent Dr. Phil Ertl

The Wauwatosa Neighborhood Association Council meets quarterly to keep Tosa neighborhoods connected and informed about local events and quality-of-life issues, and to support neighborhood associations. We hope you will come!

Click here for more details.

Thursday, November 1 • 6:00 to 9:00PM
Kneeland-Walker House, 7406 Hillcrest Drive

October 25th is the deadline to RSVP for our “adult-members-only social” with food, drink, desserts and fun. For more information, click here.

You can drop off your payment along with an RSVP form to Barb Blaney’s home at 2356 Lefeber Avenue or during Trick-or-Treat registration on Tuesday and Thursday.

Download a PDF of the Kneeland-Walker TGIT RSVP form here.