The Milwaukee Post

6 • Milwaukee County Post • June 27, 2014 Sting: Organizations launch "Unlucky 13" campaign at press conference crimes against children not only impacts metropolitan areas such as Milwaukee but affects communities across the whole state," said Shields. "Although we partici- pated in Operation Cross Country Eight, we will remain vigilant with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners in bringing those individuals to justice who prey on our most vulnerable citizens." Angela Mancuso, executive director of The Women's Center Inc. in Waukesha, said human trafficking has been an issue in Waukesha County, as well as all counties in Wisconsin, for years. She said every county has had reports regarding human traffick- ing cases. While law enforcement continues to crack down on this underground problem, nonprofit organizations are working together to prevent it by raising public awareness. Serve Marketing, a nonprofit ad agency, and Clear Channel, an outdoor advertising company, partnered with the city of Milwaukee and various Milwaukee organi- zations, including the Human Trafficking Force of Greater Milwaukee, to launch the "Unlucky 13" campaign at a press confer- ence Tuesday morning. Debbie Zwicky sits on the Human Trafficking Force committee and is the human trafficking coordinator for Lad Lake, a Dousman organization that helps youths with troubled backgrounds. She said the campaign's title derives from research was released by the FBI, citing that 13 is the average age a person starts being trafficked for sex. April Bentley, a human trafficking sur- vivor, said she was lost in the world of traf- ficking for 19 years. She said she left home at a young age to look for love and came across a woman whom she felt comfortable with. The woman eventually betrayed Bentley's trust by introducing her to drugs and persuading her to use her body to help pay the bills. "Thirteen — unlucky — that is the num- ber of the average age," Bentley said. "It's the age we rebel and don't want our parents telling us what to do. It's so easy for some- one to open up their house and say 'Here, you can do whatever you want to do' — and then you're gone." Bentley said she barely spoke in those 19 years. She said she did what she was told and was afraid to leave. After looking at the person she had become, she finally found courage to break away and get the help she needed. "I used to sing, I had a lot of life," she said. "I wanted that back." Zwicky said the campaign is being launched the first week of summer because it's the season where children are always outside playing and often under super- vised. She said the purpose is not to scare parents, but inform them that human traf- ficking exists and should be on their radar. The number "13" was spray-painted around Milwaukee by Serve volunteers, and ads superimposed with "13" and chil- dren's faces were placed on 60 bus stops throughout the city. Digital billboards will be also be running in the Waukesha County area. "This is the only graffiti that I have ever gotten excited about," said Bevan K. Baker, Milwaukee's commissioner of health, who spoke at the press conference. "Seventy-two counties in Wisconsin, not one was not impacted at some time by human traffick- ing." Serve Marketing founder Gary Mueller said the "Unlucky 13" campaign was creat- ed because the organization found a major- ity of people don't realize that human traf- ficking is a problem on a local level. "We are here because we are sick and tired of hearing people say there is not a human trafficking problem," Mueller said. "The major question to ask now is how to prevent it, and we all know prevention starts with awareness and that's the key to what 'Unlucky 13' is all about." Mueller said he encourages parents to be nosy when it comes to their children. He said parents should know where their kids are, what they are doing and monitor their phones and social media pages. The campaign also launched a website, www.unluckythirteen.org, that displays facts and warning signs related to human trafficking. Mueller encourages people to explore the site and get on social media out- lets to help spread the word on the issue. Contact Alison Fox afox@conleynet.com continued from Page 1 Submitted photo Serve Marketing founder Gary Mueller tells the public about being aware of human trafficking and the many ways the problem can be prevented. Post Staff MILWAUKEE — A home's garage has tra- ditionally been viewed simply as a place to park vehicles, but the general attitude towards the garage is different today, accord- ing to experts from the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, Inc., the area's leading home improvement and remodeling industry for 52 years. The garage is an inte- gral part of many houses, and there are many things homeowners can do to create a func- tional, customized space. Milwaukee/NARI members highlighted a few modern options for homeowners to con- sider for remodeling the garage. Storage Many homeowners use the garage in their home for various storage purposes, but the storage capabilities of most garages fail to meet the needs of homeowners. "Standard garages generally don't provide easy and convenient access to items stored in them," said Jim Riedel, of Monkey Bars Storage Solutions in Elm Grove. "Most people don't know what to do from a storage stand- point to make their garages easier to use and live in, but there's a solution for every need out there." In terms of where in the garage to install storage, Riedel explained that the best solu- tion is to focus on wall space. "Using wall space first is more comfortable for regular use, and more similar to storage in other parts of the home. You can install any combination of cabinets, shelves and hooks on your walls," Riedel said. "After the walls, ceiling space is a great option for installing overflow or seasonal storage." Riedel added that cabinetry and other stor- age solutions can be customized to meet the individual needs of any homeowner. "Every garage is unique, but any space can be maximized to get the most out of the stor- age capabilities. With modern capabilities, garages can be more usable and livable than ever before," said Riedel. Climate Control Garages are often not connected to the home's heating and cooling system, but there is a simple solution for climate control in the garage, said Milwaukee/NARI member Scott Droegkamp of Dave Droegkamp Heating & Air Conditioning in Hartland. "A ductless mini-split unit is the best option for heating and cooling a garage," said Droegkamp. "They're especially nice because you don't have to tap into an existing heating and cooling system to install them." According to Droegkamp, ductless mini- split units offer several benefits. "Since there are no ducts involved, installation is relatively quick," he said. "There is an indoor unit that installs on a wall, and then receives power and coolant from an outdoor unit via a hole in the wall only a couple of inches around." Droegkamp added that ductless mini-split units are also more energy-efficient than cen- tral heating and cooling systems. Indoor-Outdoor flexibility While installing a climate control unit for the garage is a good option for turning the garage into another indoor space, some home- owners want to use their garage as an outdoor space. "Many people want to use the garage and enjoy fresh air from outside without having to worry about the some of the downsides of the outdoors," said Wayne Walker of Joe Wilde Company in New Berlin. "That's where garage screens come in. They span the entire garage door opening, and they keep bugs and leaves out. And the screens don't interfere with the operation of the garage door. They lift up on a track, similar to the garage door." Walker explained that garage screens offer customizable options that help homeowners get the most out of their garage space. "There are standard sizes, but you can cus- tom order them to fit your garage's dimen- sions. And you can get them either power-acti- vated or manually operated," Walker said. "They can also include a retractable screen door in the middle, which is a really nice fea- ture for keeping the garage space functional. It allows you to come in and out without either lifting the entire screen or going through the house." Flooring Finally, installing flooring on top of a garage's concrete slab floor provides multiple benefits. "Salt and ice-melt products ... cause signif- icant damage to concrete surfaces," said Riedel. "Changing the garage floor also makes the garage look really nice. It's another thing that makes the garage an usable room." Walker lauded the customization available for garage flooring today. "There are several options for flooring, including multiple mate- rials and construction, and different colors and textures. Plastic garage tiles lock together on the floor and create a great look. You can choose from multiple colors and install the tiles in whatever pattern you want," Walker said. "With the options out there today, you can truly customize your garage space to meet your wants and needs." Riedel explained the benefits of installing an epoxy floor coating over garage floors. "These coatings will repair a concrete surface that's starting to show damage, and protect the surface from any future damage. They make the floor easy to clean, and they look great. If you want a showroom-quality garage, an epoxy floor coating is a great option." As with any room in the house, homeown- ers should watch for new ideas for improving the design and functionality of the garage. The garage is a room that should not be over- looked from a remodeling standpoint, and it can be greatly improved with just a few simple changes. For more information or to receive a free copy of an annual membership roster listing all members alphabetically and by category, and the booklet, "Milwaukee/NARI's Remodeling Guide," call 414-771-4071 or visit the Council's website at www.milwau- keenari.org. What to do with your garage Garage is area's leader in home improvementent

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