As agricultural program coordinator at MPS’ Parkside School of the Arts in Bay View, Erin Dentice has worked hard to green the school’s grounds and much more. Anyone who knows her, won’t be surprised to hear she’s got a full slate of activities with kids from a number of MPS schools this spring.
She’s organized a monthly Community Market that takes places monthly this summer, beginning Saturday, May 18 at Garden District Comunity Gardens, 3900 S. 6th St. (at Norwich Avenue), from 9 a.m. until noon.
"I will be there with our solar powered cargo bike farm stand selling greens and jam and pickles made by students," Dentice says.
"We will have activities for kids. And other MPS programs will be involved. The Blue MAMmoth cafe (operated by Maryland Avenue Montessori students) will be selling coffee and tea and bakery, for example. Several dates will also include the Bay View Community Center and Compost Crusaders."
Dentice aims to have about two dozen vendors, as well as cooking demos and more.
Parkside fourth graders also created a four-panel mural for the market that honors the school's diverse student population, Dentice says, and includes recipes from more than 25 countries represented by the school's enrollment.
"My hope is to align and showcase a collection of the MPS programs that fit into the market," Dentice says.
A Facebook page for the event has more information.
Dentice has also worked with Parkside students to create a mural for LotFotL Community Farm delivery truck.
"This farm (in Elkhorn) offers a Choice CSA that people purchase all of their weekly food from, (including) meat, eggs, cheese, bread and vegetables – all locally sourced," says Dentice.
"Our third graders designed panels for the truck, and Bay View High School graphic design students laid them out for us. This speaks volumes about the high school and our partnership with them, and also the community. I am so grateful to have Bay View High School as a partner and I would love for the community to be more aware of the magic they bring to the table."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
