Weekly digest: July 4 fireworks twists and turns; spring leaf collection is a go

Tosa Forward News began the week with an exclusive report for paid members, on a batch of 76 emails obtained through an open records request, that describes how city officials spent months scrambling for a viable location to launch fireworks on July 4.

You can read that story here,

City emails show officials scrambling on fireworks plan as options dwindled

After two years without a July 4 fireworks display in Wauwatosa, city leaders were facing pressure to bring the show back in 2026. Then on Jan. 30, their latest plans hit a new roadblock.

Tosa Forward NewsDavid Paulsen

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Then on Thursday, the Wauwatosa Civic Celebration Commission, after months of deliberation over the July 4 fireworks location, voted on its latest potential resolution: The Wisconsin Lutheran College sports complex. The biggest selling point is that the college likes that idea too, as Tosa Forward News confirmed with the college's athletic director.

Tosa’s July 4 fireworks now planned at Wisconsin Lutheran College sports complex

The Wauwatosa Civic Celebration Commission voted March 26 to pursue a partnership with Wisconsin Lutheran College to host the Independence Day celebration at the college’s sports complex atop a hill just off Swan Boulevard.

Tosa Forward NewsDavid Paulsen

The rest of the week was filled with updates and various news tidbits. The Common Council voted to give a developer more time to turn the former Saint Pius X Parish parking lot into apartments at Wright and 74th street, but only after a lively debate and a divided vote by council members.

The council also voted in favor of changes to garbage collection and recycling ordinances, a $2.85 million city incentive for apartments on Mayfair Road and a new Milwaukee County Research Park master plan.

Tuesday marked the start of early voting in the spring local elections. Full info on that here, and additional election coverage is available at the Tosa Election Tracker.

Good news for Tosa residents who have leftover fall leaves. Behold: The Spring Collection. You have until April 12 to rake, rake, rake.

Tosa’s fall leaf collection gets a spring edition, catching up from early winter snowstorm

Residents who still have leaves left from last year should make sure they are to the curb by April 12. “Soft plant material” is also accepted, but branches and other “woody yard material” is not.

Tosa Forward NewsTosa Forward News Staff

And how about these 16 grants from the Education Foundation of Wauwatosa? We look forward to seeing the ways the more than $180,000 awarded by EFW this year benefits the city's students.

"Reaching this milestone is especially meaningful as it reflects both the strength of our schools and the generosity of the community that stands behind them," the organization said in announcing the grants.