FREDONIA to build DPW facillity at new site. 6B 7B …...Last year, the Northern Ozaukee cam-paign...
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By BILL SCHANEN IV Ozaukee Press staff A Port Washington-Saukville School District committee is considering the cre- ation of a 4-year-old kindergarten program that could offer public school education at private facilities throughout the community. Although not unprecedented, the rela- tively novel approach would pair the school system with private day-care providers in an effort to provide optional instruction for all 4-year-olds in the school system. “The idea of involving the entire com- munity in a K-4 program at several sites throughout the community is very appeal- ing if we can make it work,” Supt. Michael Weber said. The concept, which is in its infancy and couldn’t become a reality before 2007, is the main priority of a district think tank cre- ated by Weber earlier this year to foster ideas that will save money and improve education, he said. The district’s interest in 4-year-old kindergarten has peaked at a time when state leaders, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster and Gov. Jim Doyle, are championing the cause of universal 4- year-old kindergarten in Wisconsin. About half the school districts in the state have offer such programs, providing education for 18% of 4-year-olds in Wisconsin. The movement to expand the traditional education system is being fueled by an increasingly large body of research support- ing the need to begin school at age 4. “There is a great deal of research show- ing the advantages in providing early learn- ing opportunities like 4-year-old kinder- garten,” said Joe Donovan, a Department of Public Instruction spokesman. “It is a very worthwhile investment.” Although Weber said members of the committee and administrators are con- vinced of the merits of early education, it’s the investment in the program that threatens its creation in the Port Washington- Saukville School District. “This is such an exciting idea, but the committee is struggling right now with try- ing to project the cost,” Weber said. “The money it will require is a huge factor. We have to find a way to start the program and Communit y Ne ws www.ozaukeepress.com Thursday, December 15, 2005 Section B P RESS INSIDE: Port firefighters and their families send Christmas wishes and gifts to Mississippi hurricane victims. See page 3B SAUKVILLE Town resident runs into snag trying to rebuild old barn. 6B GRAFTON Committee backs plan to build DPW facillity at new site. 7B FREDONIA School district to ask for $600,000 in April referendum. 9B BELGIUM CG-B math teams take well-calculated road to success. 11B District mulls creative 4-K approach ■ PW-S committee explores concept of public-private partnership to offer new kindergarten program LIGHTS FROM the recently remodeled rooms illuminated the Port Hotel, which will soon feature a luxury inn. The down- town Port Washington landmark, which is home to a well-known restaurant, will have 10 suites offering upscale accom- modations. Photo by Sam Arendt Room at the inn once again By KRISTYN HALBIG ZIEHM Ozaukee Press staff For more than a year, Joe and Sue Zankl and their staff have worked tire- lessly renovating the upper two floors of the Port Hotel into luxurious suites. They spent thousands of hours taking down walls, removing tons of rubble and restoring and rebuilding the centu- ry-old woodwork, in the process con- verting tiny rooms into spacious retreats. Their efforts are about to be reward- ed. The 10 luxury suites they built on ■ After more than a year of renovation, Port Hotel will have overnight guests for first time in decades By BILL SCHANEN IV Ozaukee Press staff On Monday, Port Washington resident Chuck Rowland received a long distance call he’s been waiting six months for — Cesar Lira, the man who killed his girlfriend in a high-speed chase and escaped from Milwaukee authorities not once but twice, had been arrested in Texas. Rowland, a deputy with the U.S. Marshals Service office in Milwaukee, led the manhunt that tracked Lira and a friend across the country. “You eat, breathe and sleep cases like this. They’re on your brain 24 hours a day, so when you get your man, it’s a great feel- ing,” Rowland said Tuesday. Lira and Manuel Ayala, who was also wanted by authorities in connection with the escape, were arrested in separate hotels in San Antonio. “This was just down and dirty police work,” said Rowland, who coordinated the search from Milwaukee. “It was hours and hours of surveillance and many, many inter- views. It was certainly the most complex case I’ve worked.” Lira became one of the most wanted fugi- tives in the country after escaping twice, first in a daring break from a Milwaukee hospital, then a second time after being mistakenly freed by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department. His flight from the law began last year when he was in custody for a parole viola- tion. Lira escaped from Wisconsin Department of Correction officers by jump- ing from a wheelchair in the parking lot of Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa and into the window of a get- Marshal who lives in Port cracks case of escaped felon ■ Federal deputy heads manhunt leading to arrest of fugitive who fled twice Chuck Rowland See Program on page 4B See Marshal on page 5B PORT HOTEL owner Joe Zankl showed off the fireplace in the presidential suite. Photo by Sam Arendt the second and third floors of the popular Port Washington eatery are set to open later this month. “I’m really happy we did it,” Joe Zankl said. “It’s going to be good for the restau- rant, and it’s good for the city. “People have always asked us, ‘What’s upstairs?’ and we told them, ‘It’s all broken up.’It’s not anymore. It’s something we can be proud of.” The rooms at the Port Hotel Restaurant and Inn have an Old World feeling to them, with beautiful dark woodwork, original oil paintings and oversized furniture that cre- ates a warm, cozy feeling. Each room has a sitting area, seven of which have gas fireplaces and two with wet bars. The bathrooms feature Kohler fixtures, including whirlpools, large spa showers and towel warmers. Luxurious touches, such as granite vanity See Hotel on page 2B
Transcript of FREDONIA to build DPW facillity at new site. 6B 7B …...Last year, the Northern Ozaukee cam-paign...
By BILL SCHANEN IVOzaukee Press staff
A Port Washington-Saukville SchoolDistrict committee is considering the cre-ation of a 4-year-old kindergarten programthat could offer public school education atprivate facilities throughout the community.
Although not unprecedented, the rela-tively novel approach would pair the schoolsystem with private day-care providers in aneffort to provide optional instruction for all4-year-olds in the school system.
“The idea of involving the entire com-munity in a K-4 program at several sitesthroughout the community is very appeal-ing if we can make it work,” Supt. Michael
Weber said.The concept, which is in its infancy and
couldn’t become a reality before 2007, isthe main priority of a district think tank cre-ated by Weber earlier this year to fosterideas that will save money and improveeducation, he said.
The district’s interest in 4-year-oldkindergarten has peaked at a time whenstate leaders, including StateSuperintendent of Public InstructionElizabeth Burmaster and Gov. Jim Doyle,
are championing the cause of universal 4-year-old kindergarten in Wisconsin.
About half the school districts in thestate have offer such programs, providingeducation for 18% of 4-year-olds inWisconsin.
The movement to expand the traditionaleducation system is being fueled by anincreasingly large body of research support-ing the need to begin school at age 4.
“There is a great deal of research show-ing the advantages in providing early learn-
ing opportunities like 4-year-old kinder-garten,” said Joe Donovan, a Department ofPublic Instruction spokesman. “It is a veryworthwhile investment.”
Although Weber said members of thecommittee and administrators are con-vinced of the merits of early education, it’sthe investment in the program that threatensits creation in the Port Washington-Saukville School District.
“This is such an exciting idea, but thecommittee is struggling right now with try-ing to project the cost,” Weber said. “Themoney it will require is a huge factor. Wehave to find a way to start the program and
Community News
www.ozaukeepress.com Thursday, December 15, 2005 Section B
PRESSOzaukee INSIDE:
Port firefightersand their familiessend Christmaswishes and giftsto Mississippihurricane victims.
See page 3B
SAUKVILLE Town resident runsinto snag trying to rebuild old barn. 6BGRAFTON Committee backs planto build DPW facillity at new site. 7BFREDONIA School district to askfor $600,000 in April referendum. 9BBELGIUM CG-B math teams takewell-calculated road to success. 11B
District mulls creative 4-K approachn PW-S committee explores concept of public-private
partnership to offer new kindergarten program
LIGHTS FROM the recently remodeled rooms illuminated the Port Hotel, which will soon feature a luxury inn. The down-town Port Washington landmark, which is home to a well-known restaurant, will have 10 suites offering upscale accom-modations. Photo by Sam Arendt
Room at the inn once again
By KRISTYN HALBIG ZIEHMOzaukee Press staff
For more than a year, Joe and SueZankl and their staff have worked tire-lessly renovating the upper two floors ofthe Port Hotel into luxurious suites.
They spent thousands of hours takingdown walls, removing tons of rubbleand restoring and rebuilding the centu-ry-old woodwork, in the process con-verting tiny rooms into spaciousretreats.
Their efforts are about to be reward-ed. The 10 luxury suites they built on
n After more than a yearof renovation, Port Hotelwill have overnight guestsfor first time in decades
By BILL SCHANEN IVOzaukee Press staff
On Monday, Port Washington residentChuck Rowland received a long distance callhe’s been waiting six months for — CesarLira, the man who killed his girlfriend in ahigh-speed chase and escaped fromMilwaukee authorities not once but twice,had been arrested in Texas.
Rowland, a deputy with the U.S.Marshals Serviceoffice in Milwaukee,led the manhunt thattracked Lira and afriend across thecountry.
“You eat, breatheand sleep cases likethis. They’re on yourbrain 24 hours a day,so when you get yourman, it’s a great feel-ing,” Rowland saidTuesday.
Lira and ManuelAyala, who was alsowanted by authoritiesin connection with theescape, were arrestedin separate hotels in San Antonio.
“This was just down and dirty policework,” said Rowland, who coordinated thesearch from Milwaukee. “It was hours andhours of surveillance and many, many inter-views. It was certainly the most complexcase I’ve worked.”
Lira became one of the most wanted fugi-tives in the country after escaping twice, firstin a daring break from a Milwaukee hospital,then a second time after being mistakenlyfreed by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’sDepartment.
His flight from the law began last yearwhen he was in custody for a parole viola-tion. Lira escaped from WisconsinDepartment of Correction officers by jump-ing from a wheelchair in the parking lot ofFroedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital inWauwatosa and into the window of a get-
Marshal wholives in Portcracks case ofescaped felonn Federal deputy headsmanhunt leading to arrest offugitive who fled twice
Chuck Rowland
See Program on page 4B
See Marshal on page 5B
PORT HOTEL owner Joe Zankl showedoff the fireplace in the presidential suite.
Photo by Sam Arendt
the second and third floors of the popularPort Washington eatery are set to openlater this month.
“I’m really happy we did it,” Joe Zanklsaid. “It’s going to be good for the restau-rant, and it’s good for the city. “People have always asked us, ‘What’supstairs?’ and we told them, ‘It’s all brokenup.’ It’s not anymore. It’s something wecan be proud of.”
The rooms at the Port Hotel Restaurantand Inn have an Old World feeling to them,with beautiful dark woodwork, original oilpaintings and oversized furniture that cre-ates a warm, cozy feeling.
Each room has a sitting area, seven ofwhich have gas fireplaces and two withwet bars. The bathrooms feature Kohlerfixtures, including whirlpools, large spashowers and towel warmers.
Luxurious touches, such as granite vanitySee Hotel on page 2B
OZAUKEE PRESS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2005 2B
Toys, cards on their way to hurricane victimsPort Washington firefighter Nick Simpson helped his cousin DawsonDeheck make a Christmas card for a child of a firefighter in HancockCounty, Miss., an area that was severely hit by Hurricane Katrina, duringthe Port Fire Department’s annual Christmas party Sunday. Children oflocal firefighters bought toys and made cards and a large banner to bright-en the holiday for 15 children in Mississippi. Photo by Sam Arendt
By STEVE OSTERMANNOzaukee Press staff
Although still short of its 2005 fund-rais-ing target, the United Way of NorthernOzaukee appears poised to top the $175,000goal.
As of Nov. 30, the organization receivedpledges and donations totaling about$149,000, or 85%, of this year’s campaignobjective, local United Way President ToddLuft said.
“We are cautiously optimistic that we willreach the goal,” Luft said. “We have a waysto go.”
United Way’s Northern Ozaukee regionincludes Port Washington, Saukville,Fredonia and Belgium. Money raised by theannual campaign is used to help fund 16health and human-service programs andagencies in Ozaukee County such asAdvocates of Ozaukee, Big Brothers BigSisters of Ozaukee County, Ozaukee FamilyServices, Portal Industries, the VolunteerCenter of Ozaukee County and Boy and GirlScouts.
Last year, the Northern Ozaukee cam-paign soared past its $155,000 goal by rais-ing $196,000. The final total wasn’t deter-mined until March, when United Way closesits annual books.
That time is needed to collect pledgemoney, including employee contributionsthrough corporate fund-raising efforts, Luftsaid.
Two years ago, United Way campaigns inmany areas, including Ozaukee County,struggled to meet their goals because of asluggish economy that limited charitablecontributions from businesses and individu-als. Although the Northern Ozaukee cam-paign rebounded in 2005, local officialsweren’t sure what impact a groundswell ofsupport for victims of hurricanes Katrina andRita in the southern United States and earth-quakes abroad would have on this year’s funddrive, Luft said.
“We were continuously aware that if wedon’t make our numbers, the fact that peoplegave generously to those causes could be areason,” Luft said.
“However, people always seem to rise tothe occasion when it comes to helping.”
Although this year’s fund-raising effortsare nearing the campaign goal, and pledgesand donations will continue to come inthrough early 2006, Luft isn’t about to dis-courage charity during the holiday season.
“This is a perfect time to contribute,” hesaid.
To make a donation, call the local UnitedWay office at 284-8098. Contributions canalso be mailed to United Way of NorthernOzaukee, P.O. Box 39, Port Washington53074.
The United Way’s Southern Ozaukee cam-paign — which includes Grafton, Cedarburg,Mequon, Thiensville and Bayside — raisedmore than $339,000 last year. Officials saidthey expect this year’s campaign to at leastmatch that total.
The Southern Ozaukee campaign providesfunds to about a dozen health and human-service agencies and programs in the county.
United Way campaignclimbs to 85% of goal
Hotel: Renovated Port landmark has 10 suitestops, lighted closets, custom mirrors, andhigh-tech amenities such as satellite televi-sion, DVD players and high-speed Internetaccess are featured.
The views from each room are spectacu-lar, offering vistas of the downtown, harboror the historic courthouse.
There are three rooms on the secondfloor, including the honeymoon suite, andseven on the third floor, including a presi-dential suite on the southeastern corner ofthe building.
“This is the room everyone wants,”Zankl said of the presidential suite, whichfeatures a fireplace, whirlpool, lit wet bar,bath with dressing area and views of virtual-ly all of downtown and the lakefront.
The honeymoon suite—the same roomdesignated for newlyweds in days long past— isn’t quite as grand but has plenty ofromantic features.
“Each room has its own personality,”Zankl said. “Every room is unique to itself.”
The inspiration, he said, was simple.“It came from us walking in and saying
‘What should we do in here?’” he said. Even the sturdy front staircase that has
led hundreds if not thousands of guests totheir rooms since the building opened hasbeen refurbished, its balusters and banistercleaned and raised to meet today’s codes.The front door is new, as is the vestibuleflooring.
The hotel has been a labor of love for theZankls and their families.
Joe’s father and a friend did much of themillwork, recreating the woodwork thatoriginally graced the building. Retired PortWashington High School teacher Tim Fuchstaught crews from the restaurant how to domuch of the finish work.
Sue’s father made two stand-alone vani-ties in the rooms.
“We made it from scratch,” Joe said,pointing to 5-1/2-inch crown molding. “Itwas all made at my house.”
Most people would have hired contrac-tors to do the work, he said.
“I knew what I wanted, and I wanted to
n Northern Ozaukee leaders‘cautiously optimistic’ thatcampaign will top $175,000
STUNNING VIEWS AND amenities such as gas fireplaces provide visitors with a respite from their travels. Photo by Sam Arendt
control it so I got what I wanted,” he said.“I wanted it done right. I was not going tocompromise.”
The Zankls are positioning the hoteland restaurant to capture the upper end ofthe market, with amenities that includerobes, luxurious linens, turn-down service,warm cookies and hot chocolate or otherbeverages at night and custom breakfastsand newspapers delivered to the rooms inthe morning. Rates range from $145 to$285 a night.
“We want it to be extremely comfort-able — pampering, if you will,” he said.
Although the couple anticipated thebulk of their market would come frompeople on getaway weekends, Zankl saidthat changed.
“We expected business travel to be oursmallest market, but I think it’s going to beour biggest,” he said.
One of the biggest draws has proven tobe a second-floor conference room andadjoining office that are available to thosestaying at the hotel, Zankl said.
The conference room accommodates 10
and has a wall-mounted, flat-screen plasmatelevision integrated for Internet andPowerPoint presentations. Secretarial serv-ices are available.
The rooms, Zankl said, were designedto accommodate female business travelerswith an eye for quality.
The rooms mark a return to the roots ofthe Port Hotel, which hasn’t rented roomssince the early 1980s.
The Zankls, who have owned the busi-ness since 1997, bought the building in2002 and toyed with various concepts forthe upper floors before settling on the ideaof a luxury hotel.
They began renovations in July 2004, amonumental task that involved removingmore than 200,000 pounds of debris andtaking the walls down to the studs.
Like any demolition project, this onetook longer than anticipated.
“We knew there was a lot of damage inthe building. We just didn’t know howmuch,” Zankl said.
They ended up rebuilding virtuallyeverything, including the joists and support
beams, while running the restaurant below.“I wasn’t smart enough not to do it. I
didn’t realize just what was involved,”Zankl said. “We have a lot of sweat equityin the building now.”
The Zankls and Traci Mead, the hotel’sfront office manager, have been showingpeople around as work progressed.
“Some of the regulars have been uphere every week watching it take shape,”Zankl said.
Lately, they’ve been taking an averageof 40 people a night through the hotel.
“Everyone’s been supportive,” Zanklsaid. “When we put in the patio, it was 50-50, but with this everyone has supportedour vision.”
Now, it’s time to see if that support willtranslate into occupied rooms.
“People ask me, ‘Are you proud of it?’”Zankl said. “I truly am just excited PortHotel is going to be operating again soon.
“It’s an honor to be the caretaker ofPort Hotel.”
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