2011 in Review: July

As 2011 comes to a close, Wauwatosa Patch looks back at the top stories of the year, month by month. Here’s a recap of the news that made headlines in July.

City loses big in tax lawsuit

The City of Wauwatosa over taxes wrongly collected from Wheaton Franciscan Health Care since 2003, totaling $8.5 million. Wheaton (then Covenant) contended that part of its Mayfair Road outpatient clinic operated like a hospital and should therefore be tax-exempt. The city insisted on collecting taxes on the whole property, but the Wisconsin Supreme Court disagreed and ordered the revenue be repaid with interest.

The Wauwatosa School District learned in the wake of the decision that it could be that was its share of the tax revenue.

Pay raise for next mayor denied (for a while)

On July 5, the Wauwatosa Common Council for the next mayor to take office. An increase to $30,000 had been proposed, up from the $22,500 a year paid to every mayor since 1984.

Sitting Mayor Jill Didier did not take an official position on the matter of pay but offered up to show that she clearly felt it was a full-time position. (In December, the council would revisit the question, voting overwhelmingly in favor of the $7,500 raise.)

She taught us how to be strong

Wauwatosa mourned the passing of whose courage in the face of incurable leukemia to become "Sarah Strong."

@Einley off to the White House

A Wauwatosa mom, Genevieve Vermeulen, known to many in social media by her Twitter handle, @Einley, was among just 140 people nationwide .

East-West gridiron meeting set

Wawatosa East and West high schools announced their football teams would meet Aug. 20 in their first matchup in a decade and a half for a season-opener billed by eager school booster clubs.

Iconic artifact finds home in firehouse

After a two-year wait, the Wauwatosa Fire Department received an artifact of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America – from the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, where 343 firefighters died trying to save lives.

Police officers hold their fire

Two Wauwatosa police officers showed both remarkable bravery and restraint when they who, caught in the act, refused to surrender. Even though one of the officers literally ran into the man with gun drawn, he held his fire and in the end no one was hurt.

Also of note...

• Wauwatosa enjoyed and all-day Independence Day party, with a parade in the morning, and fireworks in the evening.
• The venerable Robertson's Hardware with a in the Village.
• Thousands came out for , an all-day street party promoting the East Tosa District along North Avenue.
• Flight for Life, founded at Tosa's Froedtert Hospital 28 years earlier, marked .
• The was revived after a 10-year absence.