Community Update

Katie Schmitt, the face of the new 29ten Salon and newest business owner to the Brookfield Village is immediately proving to fit right in perfectly with our neighborhood and community. Katie has 13 years of salon and management experience and has even practiced abroad. We are so excited that she chose this location. The previous salon, Sunnyside Hairdressers, had provided salon services in that same building for decades. Katie was sure to preserve the existing charm while adding her own touches throughout the renovations and with the help of a dedicated staff, was able to remain open and continue to serve clients. Plans for the building's new "do"  have proven successful, revealing its true character since they began chiseling 29ten into its very own, uncovering a lot of the building's original history as they continue to restore most of the building's original features.

In the midst of preserving, restoring, and renovating the 1904 building, I asked if Katie would possibly be interested in cutting my neighbors' hair for donation, after renovations were finished of course, and she agreed to the opportunity. As a month or so passed, my neighbor asked if I would see if Katie was able to cut their hair on May 10; it would make  for an even more special moment with his aunt's birthday, the aunt for whom he was donating his hair in memory of, falling on   May 11, Mother's Day. Regardless of the somewhat nearing end of the building's construction and the short notice, she accepted.

On May 10, the Saturday before Mother's Day, Katie and her staff closed shop at 4pm with each volunteering to stay and offer help, after business hours, on this special day. My neighbor Phil Haldemann, a fellow Village resident owner, and his girlfriend Erika were finally getting the opportunity to donate their hair; each having two very different reasons and to two very different causes.

Phil decided to grow out his hair during 'Movember'  of 2012 (a cause created to raise awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health). He stated it was, "Just a spur of the moment type thing that turned into a year and half of growing it out." Erika had once donated her hair back in high school to "Locks of Love." She exclaimed that she "was astounded to find out that they charged the patient for their wigs based on the recipient’s family income!" They specifically researched various  organizations that would not charge patients for their hair replacement systems and were impressed to find PANTENE® BEAUTIFUL LENGTHS and a private, non-profit organization "Wigs for Kids."Erika's donation is being sent to “Wigs for Kids” a private, non-profit organization that relies solely on donations. Phil's donation is being sent to PANTENE® BEAUTIFUL LENGTHS program to support women with cancer and in memory of his aunt that had passed away. His aunt, Laurie Simon, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. In fact, back then it was so rare that there was little to no treatment previously available. Laurie was only the second diagnosed case found in the U.S.  with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the central nervous system and had the worst prognosis, according to the ASCO. His mother said that her sister, "fought with radiation and chemotherapy and underwent a bone-marrow transplant," when it finally claimed her life at the early age of 30 on Thanksgiving Day back in 1990.

For over 30 years, “Wigs for Kids” has been providing Hair Replacement Systems and support for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, burns, and other medical issues at no cost to children or their families."Pantene Pro-V in partnership with the American Cancer Society has a wonderful program, “Beautiful Lengths.” So far, Pantene has donated 24,000 free real-hair wigs to the American Cancer Society’s wig banks, which distribute wigs to Cancer patients across the country.

To count the many reasons as to why I love my neighborhood and the Village it is in, would not provide any real justice. This story, however, is only one of the many great benefits and is definitely at the top of my list. The best part of this story...my daughter Kierra, 9, and I had the opportunity to join in on this much-anticipated occasion. I feel that it is important for the younger generation to see that, not only are there positive people in this cruel and confusing world, but that it is important to surround yourself with positive people in efforts to do positive things to make positive changes. In times of despair when it seems hope is lost, acts such as this, can do nothing more than bring joy to those it reaches.

I would like to thank Katie and her 29ten staff, Sue Rainer and Lynn Gipril for cutting their hair, her assistant Lisa and her sister Kelly for great conversation and help with pictures,  and Phil and Erika for your selfless contributions and allowing me the opportunity to spread the word. I would like to express and extend this gratitude, not just from myself, but from my family, and our community. It is because of people like you that makes a positive impact on this community and makes this Village area so special.  I love being a Villager, even more so, I am proud to be raising my family in an area that morals and values have not diminished..  "I encourage everyone to make a difference. A small act of kindness on your part can make a huge difference in the life of someone who needs it."~Erika Dux