Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove • Page 3A FEBRUARY 2015 11600 w. park place, milwaukee, wi 53224 414.577.5000 | milwaukeehiltongardeninn.com call for more information 414.577.5000 guestroom rates starting at $89 oh, yes! one more thing ... get a room! valentine's day saturday, february 14, 2015 • 5-9pm all-you-can-eat prime rib buffet $23.95 per person all-you-can-eat, mouthwatering, tender, hand-carved, roast prime rib, snow crab legs, soup du jour, salads, pastas, potato, fresh vegetables, a glass of house wine & dessert. 2 4 0 9 5 5 0 0 1 • Awarded the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Award 2013 • LCMS Exemplary School 2010-2011 • Fully Accredited through National Lutheran School Accreditation • A Center of Influence for the U.S. Naval Academy • Ranked 20th Best Middle School in America by thebestschools.org Call for your personal tour anytime! 10025 W. North Avenue • Wauwatosa, WI 53226 414.258.4558 • www.orlctosa.org Every day is OPEN HOUSE at ORLS! Strong Academics • Quality Classroom Environment • Special Learning Programs • Early Childhood Programming Outstanding Curriculum • Teachers Committed to Instructional Excellence • Managed Class Sizes • Full-Time Spanish Teacher • Advanced Technology • P.E. Specialist Family Environment • High Level of Parental Involvement • Safe & Secure Campus • On-Site Child Care Activities for Every Interest • Band & Choir • Team Sports • Student Council • Art • Science • Reading Clubs • After School Programs Available Now Enrolling for 2015-16 School Year 2015 Waukesha County Resource Directory Get your FREE resource directory to the county! A handy guide to connect you with local government, businesses and organizations. Inside the March edition of the Brookfield & Elm T H I S M O N T H By Christopher Bennett Special to The Freeman Time is running short if you want to plan a spring break or summer vacation for you and your family. For the best rates and accommodations, it might be best to start planning for 2016. But if you start soon, 2015 is still a real possibili- ty. Anne Foley is the owner of Ambassador World Travel, 17100 W. Bluemound Road in Brookfield. She's been in the travel business for 27 years, and owned Ambassador for 21 years. Travel agencies are closing left and right with the onset of Internet-based travel plan- ning. The best are staying in business, though, and Foley is among that select group. Time of the essence Foley said time is of the essence in travel planning. The earlier one begins, the easier it is to ensure an affordable experience at the destination of one's choice. If you are determined to plan a 2015 spring break vacation, Foley will start by forcing you to narrow your thinking. "We would ask what type of travel they are looking for," Foley said. "Are they looking for a beach, historical, something that involves more family fun, like an amusement park, or something educational?" Foley said most Wisconsinites looking to book a spring break vacation are trying to get out of the cold and away from the weather, and want to follow the sun. One of the hottest destinations for beach fun is the Mexican resort city of Cancun. Foley said nonstop charter flights less than four hours long are available out of Milwaukee. "They have absolutely fantastic resorts and beautiful beaches," Foley said. "It is absolutely perfect for travelers." Foley said the Gulf Coast of Florida is also a very popular destination. One must keep a realistic number in mind for either destination as a spring break option. Foley said to expect to pay $600 to $700 for air- fare, and be prepared to learn your top option for accommodations might be booked. A summer vacation offers more time to plan. Summer hot spots for Wisconsin travelers include Disney World in Orlando, Washington, D.C., the western states and national parks and Alaskan cruises. "Families seem to like to do more educa- tional types of things in the summer," Foley said. "What we're also seeing is sum- mer is a great time for the multigenera- tional families to travel." Foley said Alaskan cruises are extreme- ly popular because of amenities and scenery. Foley said spring break and sum- mer vacation are popular times for Disney World because everyone is off, and sug- gested finding a way to go off-peak. The "up north" option also holds a great deal of appeal for Wisconsinites. Door County, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and more are popular spots for numerous types of recreation. Foley's office is not focused on booking travel for destinations up north. Ask a friend, search online or call the Chamber of Commerce at your desired destination for more information. Budget for it When planning a vacation, regardless of destination, develop a reasonable budget. "You have to have some idea of a budget in your head," Foley said. "You need to come in with a budget. A budget will determine options." There are additional concerns after deter- mining budget and destination. One needs a passport to leave the United States on a plane, which comes with its own host of issues. Learn more about passports at www.travel.state.gov, which is the State Department's website for passports and international travel. Foley also said she is a strong proponent of travel insurance, and recommends securing a policy before a major trip. The cost will depend on the age of the traveler and the des- tination. Consider a travel agent when planning a major vacation. The time and money are well-spent if it helps make a lifetime of mem- ories for you and your loved ones. "Many people feel they need to hop online and Google 'family vacation,'" Foley said. "I have no idea how many millions of results will pop up on their computer. We know how to streamline the process, have great rela- tionships with travel suppliers and know who you don't want to work with." Spring From Page 1A Check the gutters especially close if you know you suffered from ice damming in the winter. Make sure the gutters are attached securely to the house. Improperly attached gutters might leak. "Make sure the grade around the house is pitching away from the house," Ruedt said, "That means water flow is getting away from the base of the home. I always look for, when the snow starts to melt off, standing water in my yard." Ruedt said standing water in one's yard and landscaping is a problem that must be addressed. Standing water can kill grass and damage landscap- ing. Additionally, ensure your sump pump, if applicable, is routed to discharge away from the house. "Make sure the water will flow away, and not pool or push onto landscaping," Ruedt said. "Sometimes, they'll discharge it onto a bush or tree, and that will really damage the landscaping." Your grass is one of the larger parts of your landscaping. Cleanup is crucial if you want short and brown to later become lush and green. Ruedt cannot stress enough the need to remove dog drop- pings from one's lawn as soon possible. Those droppings will kill the grass, and no one wants to hit a dried clump the first time they mow the lawn. "If they've got any leaves left over from the fall, they want to get that that raked out as soon as the snow clears off," Ruedt said. Remove debris as soon as pos- sible. Mold and fungus might form if the debris stays on the grass through a phase of spring warming. Those piles of debris are killing the grass every sec- ond they lay on the ground. Move on to flower beds after tending to the grass. Remove the old plant material as soon as possible. It is easier for new growth to sprout when it does not need to fight through remains of landscaping past. "That new growth, if it has to start coming out through heavy cover, it can stunt the growth or kill part of the plant," Ruedt said. Look for animal damage when tending trees and shrubs. Bite marks must be addressed by either removing or repairing the damaged portion. Ruedt recommends tree wraps if a tree is damaged. Laying mulch and applying fertilizer are also important tasks. "As soon as the snow is melt- ed, you can start to lay mulch," Ruedt said. "Obviously, prior to laying mulch, I recommend you clean up any old leaf debris." Apply a pre-emergent before mulching. A pre-emergent is a form of fertilizer that helps deter weeds and provides nutri- tion. Lay the mulch two to three inches thick. When fertilizing, Ruedt rec- ommends waiting until all snow is melted. "You almost want to have all of the frost off the ground," Ruedt said. "When you start to see annual bulbs, such as daf- fodils and tulips, start with a pre-emergent for the lawn." Outdoor cleanup might not be the most fun you'll ever have on your lawn, but cleanup makes the lawn look good when it matters most — in mid-sum- mer, when the sun is high and all can see your lawn looks bet- ter than your neighbors'. "You don't know if you sur- vived winter until something comes out of the ground, but by cleaning up, you give it the best chance," Ruedt said. Ruedt is on the Internet at http://www.groundsmainte- nancewi.com, and can be reached by phone at 262-784- 8219. It's not too late to plan spring travel Foley said most Wisconsinites looking to book a spring break vacation are trying to get out of the cold and away from the weather, and want to follow the sun. One of the hottest destinations for beach fun is the Mexican resort city of Cancun.

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