As the Milwaukee Brewers take on the Tampa Bay Rays in their first World Series in more than 40 years, tour Milwaukee to see how artists have celebrated the home team with public art.
“Wild Bill”
“Wild Bill,” a mural by artists Brent Schoonover and Hannah Tews, in Black Cat Alley on Milwaukee’s lower East Side. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
A Milwaukee Brewers logo detail inside the mural “Wild Bill” by artists Brent Schoonover and Hannah Tews.
“Wild Bill,” a mural by artists Brent Schoonover and Hannah Tews.
“Bob Uecker”
A mural of Bob Uecker, 731 N. Jackson St., painted by muralist Mauricio Ramirez.
Baseball sculptures
A baseball sculpture covered in signatures and messages from Milwaukee Brewers fans sits in front of the Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
A baseball sculpture covered in signatures and messages from Milwaukee Brewers fans sits in front of the Pfister Hotel.
A baseball sculpture covered in drawings and messages from Milwaukee Brewers fans sits in front of the Pfister Hotel.
“Hank Aaron”
A mural of Hank Aaron by Milwaukee artist Rosy Petri hangs on the outside of Clinton Rose Senior Center, 3045 N. Martin Luther King Drive.
“El Paletero”
“El Paletero,” a mural painted by Michael Cerda, in 2024.
“El Paletero,” a mural painted by Michael Cerda, on the side wall of Heavy Hitters Athletic Facility.
“El Paletero,” a mural painted by Michael Cerda, can be found at 415 S. 3rd St.
“Sam’s Rocks WI”
Michelle Gygax holds up a hand-painted rock, a part of her ongoing project titled Sam’s Rocks WI, on Oct. 21. Gygax leaves her hand-painted rocks at different locations in memory of her late father, Sam, who enjoyed sharing kind messages and words of encouragement. ( Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Michelle Gygax holds up a hand-painted rock. Check out @samsrockswi on social media to find the latest rock drop locations.
Michelle Gygax holds up a hand-painted rock. Gygax says her father was a lifelong Milwaukee Brewers fan, and she’ll be spreading special rocks in his honor the week leading up to the start of the World Series.
Michelle Gygax holds up a hand-painted rock. Check out @samsrockswi on social media to find the latest rock drop locations.
Michelle Gygax lays down a hand-painted rock, part of her ongoing project titled Sam’s Rocks WI, on Oct. 21.
“South Side en La Hora Mágica”
“South Side en La Hora Mágica,” a mural painted by Aisha Valentín and Whitney Salgado, at 1727 W. Lincoln Ave., in partnership with Luna Creative Collaborations.
“South Side en La Hora Mágica,” a mural painted by Aisha Valentín and Whitney Salgado.
A dedication to the late Milwaukee artist Reynaldo Mexicano Jr., originally selected to paint the mural, “South Side en La Hora Mágica.”
The Valley Passage Mural
The Valley Passage Mural, painted by Chad Brady, illustrates the walls leading to the Hank Aaron State Trail.
A person bikes past the Valley Passage Mural, which leads to the Hank Aaron State Trail.
The Valley Passage Mural, painted by Chad Brady, features icon and baseball legend Hank Aaron.
“The Launch”
“The Launch,” a mural painted by Michael Cerda, at 6325 W. National Ave. in West Allis on Oct. 21.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership betweenCatchLight LocalandReport for America.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is one step closer to securing a conservation easement on almost 1,800 acres in Langlade County that would benefit timber production and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Project Title: Chicago Zoological Society Recycling and Waste Reduction Opportunity Assessment Sectors: Zoos, Aquaria, and Museums; Parks and Recreation Location: Chicago, IL Services: Waste Characterization Study, Fostering Sustainable Behavior Background: The Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) has been committed to inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature since the gates opened at Brookfield […]
Project Title: Forest Preserve District of Cook County Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Plan Sector: Parks and Recreation Location: Forest Preserves of Cook County, Illinois Services: Resilient Solutions (Climate Resiliency), Sustainability Planning, Fostering Sustainable Behavior, Implementation Assistance Background: In 2014 the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (Forest Preserves), a public agency responsible for protecting and […]
Project Title: Forest Preserve District of Cook County Clean Energy Framework Sector: Parks and Recreation Location:Forest Preserves of Cook County, Illinois Services: Resilient Solutions (Climate Resiliency), Sustainability Planning, Fostering Sustainable Behavior, Implementation Assistance Background: ISTC’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (Forest Preserves) have a history of working together […]
Project title: Forest Preserve District of Cook County Recycling and Waste Reduction Opportunity Assessment Sector: Parks and Recreation Location: Forest Preserves of Cook County, Illinois Services: Fostering Sustainable Behavior, Waste Characterization Background: In 2014, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County engaged the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) Technical Assistance Program (TAP) to help understand […]
When completed, the 10-mile River Trail would connect the end of the Heart of Vilas County trail in St. Germain to the end of the Three-Eagle Trail in Eagle River.
And DNR officials say that 15 of those who died were over the age of 60 — meaning they were among those who are not required to take safety courses under state law.
DNR data shows most of the people killed in off-highway vehicle incidents were not wearing seat belts or helmets, and frequently alcohol was a factor in the crashes. Those are all aspects the state’s safety courses try to explain to riders.
Jacob Holsclaw, the DNR’s off-highway vehicle administrator, said that’s a notable trend and one the state is starting to look at.
“Many of the crashes could be prevented simply by adopting a safety code of conduct,” Holsclaw said. The DNR offers tips and class information on its ATV/UTV page.
The DNR recommends all operators to take a safety class, no matter their age.
The data for 2026 shows most people killed in ATV/UTV incidents were born before Jan. 1, 1988.
“What we’re seeing is a majority of the folks involved in these fatal or serious injury crashes were born before that date,” Holsclaw said. “So the class would have been optional.”
Under the law, riders over 38 are not required to take courses.
Only five people killed in OHV incidents were younger than 38, according to state data.
Three UTV/ATV operators were confirmed by state officials to be safety-certified at the time of the crash, according to DNR’s data for 2026.
There are still five cases with unclear safety certification, but the DNR said their status is pending at this time.
Randy Harden, the president of the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association, said his group has been working with the DNR to improve safety in the state’s riding population.
He says it’s often difficult to get older Wisconsinites to take protective gear seriously.
“That’s our challenge,” he said. “How do we keep communicating effectively to get the message over?”
Only three women died in UTV/ATV incidents this year. Two were over 65; the youngest was 40. All three women died on public roadways in Wisconsin.
Most of the fatalities were men, with a total of 25. The oldest was 83. One child died at 10 years old.
And while 29 deaths this year were directly tied to crashes that happened this year, DNR officials said an additional OHV-connected fatality occured when a person died this year from injuries in a crash that occurred years ago, Holsclaw said. The medical examiner listed that death as a result of an ATV crash.
The top three kinds of fatal crashes were: rollovers, with 15 crashes; motor vehicle collisions with six; and people being ejected from the vehicle in four crashes, according to DNR data.
Harden says many riders mislead themselves into thinking they’re safe enough to ride in a machine without a helmet.
In reality, Harden says the vehicle doesn’t have air bags and riders have a real risk of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash.
“Even if you have your seat belt on, then your noggin is taking a beating in that roll cage,” he said.
It’s not clear how many fatalities reflected in 2026 crash report data had alcohol in their system — but Holsclaw said it’s common in many OHV crashes.
As of Aug. 14, the DNR webpage for crash reports shows, out of 29 fatalities, 21 incidents where the BAC level is listed as “Pending.”
“It can take months for us to get alcohol or drug results back, and so that’s why we leave those open until we get that confirmation,” he said.
But, Holsclaw said in a typical year, the department finds alcohol is a factor in between 40% and 50% of fatal crashes.
“That’s a pretty big percentage,” he said.
Five fatal crashes were confirmed to have involved alcohol, according to the DNR data.
Two years ago, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, first introduced a bill to redesignate the Apostle Islands as a national park. While some elected and economic development officials backed the proposal, it was met with immediate pushback from local communities and Lake Superior tribes.
Most of the 29 people killed in ATV/UTV crashes so far had never completed an off-highway vehicle safety course, according to the latest data from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
On Thursday, the policymaking board for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved the agency’s request to purchase a nearly $1 million conservation easement from the Michael A. Uihlein Exemption Trust.
A traffic safety expert attributes the rise in crashes to the emergence of illegal “e-motos” on the market, which can reach speeds up to 70 miles per hour.
In only about a month, more than 23,400 Wisconsin state park passes have sold through a new program allowing residents to purchase the stickers while renewing their annual vehicle registration.
On Milwaukee’s North Side, women 40 and up are coming together to jump double Dutch. Members say that beyond the ropes they are building a sisterhood, strengthening their health and becoming confident in aging.
40+ Double Dutch Club is a nonprofit founded in Chicago by Pamela Robinson in 2016 that uses double Dutch and other fitness activities to encourage wellness, sisterhood, mental health and more for women over 40.
“It amazes me how God can use something as simple as a plastic clothesline to connect women all over the world,” said Robinson, who is also the group’s CEO and board president.
Robinson, 55, launched the organization after discussing the idea with her friend Catrina Dyer-Taylor. At the time she was battling depression.
“My husband and I were about to get divorced, my oldest kids were grown and I just had my youngest one in the house,” Robinson said. “I needed to find a happy place.”
She promoted the meetup on social media, and many of her friends and community members came out to support her.
“I remember telling (Dyer-Taylor) that if no one came then we’d tie the ropes to a fence and jump together,” Robinson said. “However, we never had to do that because our friends came out.”
Since being founded, the organization has expanded into hundreds of subclubs nationwide, including Milwaukee’s.
“I knew that God wanted me to do something and it’s given me purpose and he has put me on a path where 40+ Double Dutch is a part of that,” said Angela Scott, captain and founder of Milwaukee’s double Dutch subclub.
Angela Scott, Milwaukee chapter captain, jumps rope during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Launching the Milwaukee subclub
Scott, 54, established the 40+ Double Dutch subclub in Milwaukee in 2024 after discovering the organization on Facebook. She took weekend trips to Chicago and sometimes Texas to participate with women of the club.
“The feeling I got from the ladies when I entered the gym was like I’ve known them all my life,” Scott said.
As a breast cancer survivor, Scott said she was glad to have found something that brought her comfort that wasn’t a traditional gym space.
“Double Dutching is a full body workout, and I don’t like the gym, but I knew I needed something to keep my body moving and to keep cancer out of my body,” Scott said.
Once officially joining 40+ Double Dutch, Scott talked to Robinson about bringing a subclub to Milwaukee.
“She said that they had been wanting one in Milwaukee, they just had no one that was interested and committed,” Scott said.
Members stretch during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Milwaukee’s subclub now consists of 37 members. Among them is Scott’s mother, Shirley Tomlinson, 76, who is the first and oldest member.
“I feel like my family has grown here and that’s a very positive thing for a person my age,” Tomlinson said. “It helps keep me feeling young, and there’s a lot of support in it.”
Though Tomlinson doesn’t jump double Dutch, she does other things for the subclub like record keeping, videography, planning birthday celebrations and more.
“I do everything I can because I’m my daughter’s ride or die,” she said.
Shirley Tomlinson poses for a portrait with her daughter, Angela Scott, Milwaukee chapter captain, during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Reliving childhood memories
Scott said double Dutch gives her a joyous nostalgia from growing up, especially as she learned how to double Dutch from her aunt who was like a big sister.
“If you were a girl that jump-roped, then you know it takes you back to that space,” Scott said.
When the Milwaukee subclub appears at local events like the Juneteenth parade, residents typically will jump in the ropes with smiles and recall memories as they walk down the streets.
“As you watch us grow, you can see God’s hand in it,” Tomlinson said.
Members hula hoop during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Angela Scott, Milwaukee chapter captain, wears a pair of 40+ Double Dutch Club earrings.
An attendee jumps rope during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club.
The women of Milwaukee’s subclub meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity, 7830 W. Good Hope Road.
The meet typically begins with a stretch, then leads to open play that includes dances and songs to let them double Dutch, hula hoop or play a rhythmic game.
One fitness activity recreated by 40+ Double Dutch is African Hopscotch, which includes members jumping to a song called “Double Dutch Bus” by Frankie Smith and sometimes holding pompoms.
To end the session, members close with a double Dutch hymn followed by a circle of prayer.
“We hold hands and then we sing the song,” Scott said. “Regardless of what meet you go to each one will have the same format.”
Members of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club dance during a meetup at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Building a strong sisterhood
Scott said the relationships being built at the club remind her of the organization’s mission.
“Part of the mission is friendship, fitness, fun and fellowship,” she said. “All of those things resonate with me and in my spirit because it’s a sisterhood that’s based on God’s direction.”
Dee Johnson high-fives Renee Coleman during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
When away from the ropes, members try to support each other in different ways.
“There are several of the ladies in our club that have businesses, and we’ll do anything to support them,” Scott said.
For Tomlinson, who experienced a few health crises this year, it brought relief knowing that there was a sisterhood standing behind her.
“They reached out to me and let me know they were praying for me,” she said. “It’s like having a big family of daughters.”
Members of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club line up from youngest to oldest for a photograph during a meetup at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Achieving long-term goals
Within the next few years, Scott hopes to see the subclub grow in membership and the women begin to intentionally take more time for themselves.
“I truly believe that a healthy and strong woman makes a healthy and strong world because we are the mothers of this world,” she said. “If the woman is not healthy mentally, physically or spiritually, then the world is not healthy.”
Shirley Tomlinson poses for a portrait with her daughter, Angela Scott, Milwaukee chapter captain, during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Another goal of hers is to visit with incarcerated women.
“For whatever reason that they’re there, I just want to take them out of that space for just 30 to 40 minutes,” she said.
Tomlinson said it amazes her to see her daughter lead, receive support from the community and promote health to other women.
“It’s been wonderful watching her grow and watching how dedicated she is because that’s a big responsibility,” she said.
An attendee jumps rope.
Rolonda Christen hula hoops during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club.
How to join 40+ Double Dutch Club
If you are a woman over 40 and interested in joining, click here to find a subclub near you and find details about weekly meetups.
Membership is $120 and includes a digital ID card, access to all nationwide subclubs, subclub support and more.
Scott said the summer has been the busiest time for the organization and wants to remind women that you don’t have to jump to be a part of it.
“People are starting to realize we’re in the city and we like it that way because the more women that know then the more that can be impacted by what we have to offer,” she said.
Angela Scott, Milwaukee chapter captain, jumps rope during a meetup of the Milwaukee chapter of the 40+ Double Dutch Club at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity on July 1, 2026, in Milwaukee. (Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local)
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
The Phantom Lake Summer camp opened its doors to boys in 1896, and 130 years later it’s still going strong and giving all kids opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
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