We're renovating our attic. Making it into livable, usable space. The team at Hometown Building, Inc. is doing a great job, and the project is going really smoothly.
But as with every project, you find little things along the way. Last night, while not truly project related, one of the smoke detectors in our attic was beeping – every 30 seconds and very loudly. I detached it, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to open the battery compartment.
So, of course, I searched "open battery case for First Alert Model No. SA710" and instantly found that I needed to use a flat screw drive to prop open a portion of the device, wait for a snap and slide out the battery. It was easy once I knew.
But it made me think: How would I have done this without the web? Without instant access to information? Would I have called an 800 number? My dad? Or just said screw it, smashed it and thrown it away? Not sure.
I am sure that it's the little things like a dead 9-volt battery that make us truly appreciate the amazing convenience that technology and powerful search engines bring us each and every day.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
