Be MKE: This Bucks player is engaged, a taproom closing, the end of a sports-talk staple

Who we are. Where we go. What we need to know.

Apparently love is in the air.

No, we didn't accidentally send out a newsletter from February.

But if you glanced at my recent stories, you would think we were nearing Valentine's Day instead of the end of summer.

I mean, Christmas in July is a thing. So maybe Valentine's Day in August could catch on too?

From a Bucks player's proposal to a Milwaukee couple incorporating Kwik Trip into their big day, here's what I'm talkin' about:

If you follow Kwik Trip on social media, you've probably seen Mark and Katie Endres' iconic wedding photos.

While the two were dating, Mark lived in Milwaukee and Katie lived in La Crosse. With all of that driving to opposite ends of the state to see each other, Kwik Trip became a tradition.

So when the couple got married this summer, that's where they took their pics. 

Congratulations are in order: Brook Lopez and Hailee Nicole Strickland got engaged.

Thirteen years ago, the Bucks center and Disney fanatic met Strickland at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, according to a news release from Disney.

On Aug. 15 — exactly 13 years later — that's where "Splash Mountain" proposed to her.

Sounds like a love story written by Disney itself.

I always love me a good Wisconsin-y love story. Got one? Send it my way.

Let’s talk business

Milwaukee is on track to build, rehab and demo dozens of homes thanks to millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan, which were deployed nearly a year ago. In 2021, Milwaukee's Common Council passed a measure appropriating roughly $44 million to multiple city departments for housing-related projects. In addition, money is also being spent on several neighborhood improvement efforts. Here's a breakdown of how the city is planning to spend the funds.

Milwaukee lost a sports-talk staple last week. After 17-plus years, 1250-AM "The Fan" abruptly stopped broadcasting local content. The station's on-air personalities were laid off by parent company Audacy, part of a string of layoffs across the company. The station's programming had included "The Bart Winkler Show"; "The Big Show" featuring Steve "Sparky" Fifer, former Packers running back Gary Ellerson and Hall of Fame Packers safety LeRoy Butler; and Tim Allen's Brewers postgame show. Here's what the station's former employees had to say about the loss.

Here's a major first for Milwaukee Area Technical College: This fall — for the first time — the school will award full-ride scholarships to some students. Longtime Milwaukee residents Ellen and Joe Checota are giving up to $5 million to the college on the condition that MATC raises $2.5 million on its own. Altogether, the $7.5 million would establish the largest scholarship fund in the school's 110-year history. The Checota Scholarship — which will cover tuition and other college-related expenses — will be available to students seeking a short-term technical diploma in one of 90 programs. Students must live in a low-income household and maintain a "C" average each semester to qualify for the scholarship.

This week, Milwaukee Brewing Co. announced on social media that it's closing its taproom near Fiserv Forum, and confirmed that a "new brewery" is buying the taproom at 1128 N. Ninth Street. The last day for Milwaukee Brewing's taproom is Aug. 30, according to social media posts. Last week, Milwaukee Brewing announced it would close its other restaurant and brewery space, the Milwaukee Ale House, in the Third Ward.

Kohl's Corp. finished the second quarter with net sales down 8.5% and a sharp decline in profit, according to results released Thursday. In response, Kohl's plans to buy $500 million worth of company stock to shore up the share price. Kohl's CEO Michelle Gass attributed the decline to "a weakening macro environment, high inflation and dampened consumer spending, which especially pressured our middle-income customers." The company is expecting sales to be down 5% to 6% for the year compared with 2021 but does expect some "modest improvements" the rest of the year, Gass said.

Out and about

Fall is the best season. Don't @ me. If you're about to spend a whole lotta time outside — like I'm planning to  — here are some of the area's natural gems. This compilation includes Lake Michigan parks, spots in the 'burbs, Havenwoods State Forest and more.

And now onto my other favorite season.

The NBA released its full 2022-23 schedule last week. The Bucks' season will kick off Oct. 20 against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Arena. Milwaukee's home opener at Fiserv Forum will come two days later against the Houston Rockets. Thirty-two of the Bucks' games will be on national broadcasts this season. Here's a look at some of the highlights and quirks of this season’s schedule.

Don’t go hangry

Jackson Grill — popular with Milwaukee politicians, CEOs, athletes and Brewers legends — announced its closure in March after 20 years in business. Milwaukee restaurateur Andrew Radjenovich said he is in the process of purchasing the building and getting the licenses to reopen it. Radjenovich plans to keep most things the same about the steakhouse, 3736 W. Mitchell Street, and is aiming to open it later this year or in early 2023.

The Milwaukee-based Bartolotta Restaurants, in partnership with David Herro and Jay Franke of the HF Hospitality Group, is opening The Commodore in Delafield. The new restaurant — opening in Sept. 2023 — will be located at the former Seven Seas, 1807 Nagawicka Road, on Lake Nagawicka."We've been so engaged in the Milwaukee community, and now, we want to be engaged with the Lake Country community," The Bartolotta Restaurants owner and co-founder Paul Bartolotta told the Journal Sentinel. "When Seven Seas closed, so many people were sad to see it go. Now that we have found this beautiful location and this attraction on a lake like this, we plan to make this a wonderful addition to our collection of restaurants and the community."

Here are the talkers

Last week, Richard Dujardin, 77, of Rhode Island died in a horrific fall from the Kilbourn Avenue Bridge as it was opening, cutting short the retired journalist’s vibrant life. His wife, Rose-Marie Dujardin, and six adult children remembered him as an avid traveler, devout Catholic and passionate storyteller. Dujardin and his wife were headed toward Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption when the tragedy occurred. Some details have emerged about how Richard died, but questions remain as to how the bridge operator — controlling it remotely from another bridge tower — could have missed him in surveillance footage. Richard used a hearing aid, walked slowly and was consulting the map on his iPad as he crossed the bridge, according to a report from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Milwaukee has a serious reckless driving problem. A record 107 people were killed on city streets in 2020, followed by 87 deaths in 2021 and at least 40 so far this year. These are four of the street design strategies engineers and transportation planners are deploying in an effort to increase street safety and influence driver behavior.

Five conservation projects — previously rejected for funding by the Wisconsin Legislature — received a combined $4.5 million in funding under a move by Gov. Tony Evers to use COVID-relief money. "Today's investments will support continued sustainable forest management, wildlife management, habitat protection, and of course, increase outdoor public recreation," Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole said Thursday. "Today, everybody across Wisconsin is a winner." Here's a look at the projects.

Los Angeles Dodgers TV sideline reporter David Vassegh went up against Bernie Brewer's famous slide at American Family Field. The slide won. The video of the encounter went viral during the Spectrum SportsNet broadcast of Aug. 17's Dodgers-Brewers game. Vassegh shouted "Holy crap!" multiple times as he flew down the slide. He shot out of the end and awkwardly into a padded wall, then writhed in pain. Despite Vassegh suffering multiple fractures in his hand/wrist area and ribs, he kept his sense of humor about it. "Hey, I do my own stunts, Tom Cruise style," he said during the broadcast. "I try to play it up 'Shaqtin' the Fool' style, and you're looking at the fool." On Tuesday, Vassegh tweeted that surgery on his right wrist was successful.

Be MKE,

Hannah

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To see what I'm up to around the city, follow me on Instagram @hannahhopekirby. Always keeping it pretty profesh over on Twitter @hannahhopekirby. Be MKE love or comments can be sent to hannah.kirby@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Be MKE: Bucks player engaged, taproom closing, sports-talk staple ends