Weekly digest: Solar-powered schools, a new fire chief and the Community Edition

We have plenty of news and developments to share this week, starting with the message sent earlier today about the new Tosa Forward News: Community Edition.

More than anything, the motivation for this new limited-run print publication is to give our community a chance to brag a bit, so please consider submitting news from your family, organization, team, school, nonprofit or neighborhood.

You can submit news here and order copies here.

Introducing a new way of getting Tosa news, including from your neighbors

Our printed Community Edition is focused on good news in Tosa, and its Neighbor Pages features community-submitted news about you and your neighbors, as shared by all of us.

Tosa Forward NewsDavid Paulsen

As for the latest news, today's story is about a proposal to put solar panels on six elementary schools in Wauwatosa, which would save the school district an estimated $6.4 million over the next 25 years.

A decision on moving forward with this plan is due for a vote by the School Board on Sept. 28.

Some softball players are not happy that the City of Wauwatosa has yet to restore the flood-damaged softball field at Hart Park. They are worried that city officials are considering possible alternative options for using that space.

Tosa Forward News connected with some of the key stakeholders in that debate for this story on the future of Hart Park softball.

Across town, Wisconsin Avenue Park is in the process of transforming into Moss Universal Park, the area's first universally inclusive park. This has been in the works for several years, but Milwaukee County Parks said it finally was moving forward with the first phase of construction. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday.

Merged Tosa-West Allis fire department picks leader from Colorado as its first chief

Tim Sendelbach was praised for his leadership of the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, but news reports suggest he also butt heads with some board members before leaving in March under a joint separation agreement.

Tosa Forward NewsDavid Paulsen

Wauwatosa has a new fire chief, and that means West Allis also has a new fire chief.

The two cities are in the middle of launching their new joint department, Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue, which announced this week it had chosen Tim Sendelbach from Loveland, Colorado, as the first chief of the merged departments.

COnovate, a firm based at the Milwaukee County Research Park in Wauwatosa, announced it had received a $1.25 million federal contract to expand development of its eCOphite product. That's an organic material that can serve as an alternative to the traditionally mined and refined materials used in lithium ion batteries.

Tosa West basketball star Jalen Brown is still a high school basketball star but won't be at Tosa West for his senior year. He's attending a school in Arizona instead, before heading to Madison to play for the Badgers.

State Rep. Margaret Arney, who represents part of Wauwatosa in District 18, was one of five Black women in the state Legislature profiled in this Cap Times story about infant mortality in the state.

WUWM-FM interviewed this Wauwatosa resident about bouncing back from the August 2025 floods.

Wisconisn's annual State of Education event is noon Sept. 24, to be livestreamed on Wisconsin Eye. Among the scheduled speakers is Wauwatosa East High School teacher Jon Etter. He was one of five teachers named teachers of the year, as we reported back in May.

What's going on? Check the event listings

Finally, we've received some inquiries about submitting event listings for promotion to Tosa Forward News readers. And the simple answer is: Why not?

So starting today, the weekly digest will conclude with a handful of notable events coming up in the next week. Feel free to submit your event listing by emailing editor@tosanews.com.

This week, freelance reporter Dakota Barnes-Rush wrote a profile of Tosa East Towne's annual Porch Concerts, which celebrates five years this weekend.

Tosa East Towne’s Porch Concerts turn neighborhood yards into live music venues

The concert series, hosted by neighbors, is scheduled to return for its fifth year with nearly a dozen performers from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, including a finale at Center Street Park.

Tosa Forward NewsDakota Barnes-Rush

The concerts are scheduled for Saturday afternoon, and the weather forecast for the next 24 hours isn't looking great. The Tosa East Towne Neighborhood Association says it will make a decision in the morning about whether to reschedule the event, so check the association's website or Facebook page.

Other upcoming events

• Brews & Blooms — The Wauwatosa Historical Society's Kneeland-Walker House, 7406 Hillcrest Drive, will host a special Oktoberfest celebration from 3–10 p.m. tonight and Saturday, Sept. 19. Enjoy live music, German food, local and German beer, Hammerschlagen, and beer garden games in the Victorian Gardens
• 16^th annual Tosa Green Summit — The popular sustainability fair provides the opportunity to build awareness of all things sustainable and green, and to take action by providing numerous recycling opportunities, all at the same time and place. Stop by City Hall,  7725 W. North Ave. (76^th and North) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19.
• First Responders Fest — This annual event supporting Tosa fire and police returns Sunday, Sept. 20, with a Packers watch party at noon. The anticipated rain has forced organizers to move the event indoors, at Leff’s Lucky Town, 7208 W. State St. Come for food, beverages, face painter, more.
• Popesfest — Pius XI Catholic High School will host its fifth annual Popesfest from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at 135 N. 76th St. It's a free, family-friendly community event with live music, vendors and more.