Year in Review: February

As 2011 comes to a close, Brookfield Patch is looking back at the year's biggest local stories and conversation starters, month by month.

Here’s a recap from February — at least after Feb. 11, 2011, the day Brookfield Patch launched.

At the same time that some of Elmbrook's teachers joined massive protests at the state Capitol, Superintendent Matt Gibson publicly supported the governor's "unprecedented" changes, saying the labor cost reductions were needed to fix Elmbrook's deficits without cutting programs.

But Elmbrook's teachers union said the governor's reforms went too far by not only requiring public employees to pay more to close budget deficits but by stripping away their voice in bargaining over everything including work assignments, the school calendar and class sizes.

With emotions running high, a Brookfield-based teachers union organization .

Brookfield Soccer Association coach Mark Hagen was inducted into the Wisconsin Soccer Association Hall of Fame for his long career playing with the Bavarian Soccer Club, Milwaukee Sport Club and Croation Eagles and coaching for the Elmbrook and Hamilton school districts. "I was fortunate enough to learn from some of the best and that’s part of the reason I enjoy giving it back now," he said.

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Brookfield resident, Patch columnist and calendar editor Erika Rutley made us laugh with her musings about life with two young children. From her experience with "mommy brain" to the terror of losing a child's beloved stuffed animal to the lack of family-friendly restaurants, Rutley's column entertained.

What's better than the cross-town rivalry? The night that Brookfield Patch launched, there was a big varsity boys basketball game and Patch was there with video of the game highlights and coach interviews.

In an issue that will be resurrected in early 2012, the Elmbrook School Board decided to until the district had a better handle on what would shake out in the state's budget repair bill and biennial budget.

When a road widening project caused two homeowners to lose their Calhoun Road driveway access to a large retaining wall, they sued — and won. The city had to pay for the homes and relocation costs. Months later city officials said they would .