The Week Behind, The Week Ahead for Oak Creek

Oak Creek was a community in the spotlight last week—both regionally and nationally.

On the local level, developers publicly unveiled plans for a Meijer store to be included in the Drexel Town Square development project at the corner of Drexel and Howell avenues. The store would take up the eastern third of the development, with a new downtown in the center and a residential component on the western end.

The possibility of Meijer prompted a big response from Patch users, many of whom were critical about a big box store's inclusion in the development. Residents will have a chance to speak with developers and city officials directly at a public meeting Feb. 11 at the Oak Creek Community Center.

Oak Creek also made waves on the national level as the debate about new gun regulations continued. The city stayed in the middle of the discussion as government leaders try to prevent the horrific acts of violence seen in places like Oak Creek and Newtown, Ct.

Mayor Steve Scaffidi was in Washington, D.C. and met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who laid out a comprehensive plan to address gun violence. He expressed hope that politicians of both parties can work constructively to find solutions.

So what's in store this week? It might be a little quieter.

Oak Creek schools are closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Day. The Oak Creek Common Council won't meet again until February.

But one place it won't be quiet is the community center on Saturday night: the bands Liverpool '64 and Close Enuf will rock the ballroom to raise money for St. James Church.

If you have events going on this week you want the community to know about, add it to our calendar.