Federal Home Loan Bank names Ries vice chair of housing committee
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago named Leo Ries of Milwaukee its vice chair of the Affordable Housing Committee.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago is a $73 billion wholesale bank serving the needs of member housing finance institutions located in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Reis has been the executive director of the Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC) Milwaukee since 1999. He has served on the Federal Home Loan Bank’s board of directors for three years.
During 2011, the bank’s affordable housing grant programs consisted of both the $21 million Competitive AHP grant program and a $13 million homeownership grant set-aside program called Downpayment Plus.
Since 1990, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago has awarded more than $264 million in Competitive AHP grants and more than $77 million in DPP funds that have helped provide housing for families whose incomes are 80% or less of the area median income.
Ehley to run for mayor of Wauwatosa
Kathy Ehley, executive director of the Village of Wauwatosa Business Improvement District, is throwing her hat in the ring to be the next mayor of the city.
Ehley said she had filed her candidacy last Thursday, according to WauwatosaPatch.com.
"Yes, I did put in my papers," she said. "I’m excited about the opportunity, and I think it’s the right time. After 40 years in Wauwatosa and with an accumulation of knowledge and relationships, I’m ready."
This year, Ehley shepherded a proposal for an improvement plan for the Village to be incorporated into the city’s official long-range development plan. But outside the Village, she also supported a similar plan for the East Tosa district along North Avenue.
Other candidates for mayor include John Pokrandt, Jim Moldenhauer and Alderman Peter Donegan. With more than two candidates in the race, and unless any two would drop out, a primary will be held Feb. 7 to reduce the field to two. The top two vote-getters will square off in the April 3 general election.
Sitting Mayor Jill Didier will step down Jan. 3 to take a new job with Milwaukee County as economic development coordinator, and Common Council President Eric Meaux will take over as acting mayor until a new mayor is sworn in after the April election.
Brewers hire new play-by-play announcer
The Milwaukee Brewers and NewsRadio 620 WTMJ recently announced that Joe Block has been named as play-by-play announcer on the Brewers Radio Network.
Block will join Hall of Fame lead announcer Bob Uecker in the booth, replacing Cory Provus, who joined the Minnesota Twins broadcast team last month.
Block, 33, comes to the Brewers with more than 10 years of broadcasting experience. He has called the action for more than 900 professional baseball games, including the Jacksonville Suns (2003-2006), Great Falls White Sox (2007) and Billings Mustangs (2010), among others. He also handled play-by-play for select games during the Expos final two seasons in Montreal (2003-04).
Recently, Block served as Postgame Show host on radio for the Los Angeles Dodgers on KABC-AM (2011) and was Radio Studio host for the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets (2007-2011). He also has handled play-by-play for major college basketball and football on Comcast Sports Southeast for the past 10 years.
“We had a tremendous number of qualified candidates interested in this position, and the process for finding the right person for this role was very comprehensive,” said Brewers chief operating officer Rick Schlesinger. “Joe is someone who brought a unique skill set and background to the table. His play-by-play work is terrific, he has a quick wit and as a Midwestern native he has a genuine love for the area. We think the fans will enjoy his work alongside Bob very much.”
“Joe and I spent some time together and I think he’ll be a great addition,” said Uecker. “Joe sounds good on the air, he’s a Midwest guy and he wants to be in Milwaukee as a part of the Brewers. Bottom line, all of those are important qualities that will make him successful here.”
A native of Roseville, Mich. and a 1999 graduate of Michigan State University, Block and his wife, Bethany, currently reside in Los Angeles but will be relocating to the Milwaukee area prior to spring training.
“I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to work with one of the all-time greats in Bob Uecker and help bring everyone in Wisconsin their Brewers on the radio for years to come,” Block said. "Bob and I have talked about how much fun we’ll have in the booth all summer and I can’t wait to get started. I’m newly married, and Bethany and I are eager to become active and proud Milwaukeeans.”
Block will make his official Brewers debut at the annual “Brewers On Deck” Fanfest, scheduled for the Frontier Airlines Center on Sunday, Jan. 29.
