Latest news with #heirloom
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
West Allis business won't return heirloom pianos, customers say
The Brief Cassandra Kaminski sent her piano to Neuhaus Piano Workshop for repairs in 2023. She says the business has stopped responding to calls and emails about her piano's return. Court records show the owner of the business, Tom Neuhaus, owes five customers more than $170,000 in judgments for missing pianos. Other unhappy customers have filed reports about pianos not being returned to them with West Allis Police, who are investigating Kaminski's case. WEST ALLIS, Wis. - Customers trusted a West Allis business with heirloom pianos. Years later, they wonder what's happened to their treasured instruments. What we know When Cassandra Kaminski plays a piano, she remembers her grandparents. Kaminski was about 12 years old when her grandma took her to a piano warehouse to pick out a 1930s Charles Frederick Stein piano. "My grandma helped raise me and she wanted to give me lessons," said Kaminski. "It's such an important memory to me. We tried all of the pianos. We played every single one." Kaminski used to play that piano every day. In 2012, her grandma died, and years later, her grandpa got dementia. She says her grandpa neglected the piano in his final years and the keys stuck. "He was not keeping up with the maintenance of his property," said Kaminski. "He asked me once, 'Why don't you play the piano anymore?'" Kaminski and her family made the decision to repair and refinish the instrument. In 2023, she hired Tom Neuhaus of Neuhaus Piano Workshop to get the piano playing properly. In May 2025, Kaminski met with Contact 6 at a Muskego warehouse, where her piano is being kept in pieces. Some of the piano parts are missing. "It's frustrating. It's heartbreaking," said Kaminski. "This is not how you run a business. This is not how you treat people." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Kaminski says Neuhaus removed her piano's "interior hardware" for repairs and hasn't given it back. The rest of her instrument was sent to CT Refinishing to refresh the instrument's exterior. That work finished months ago. "[CT Refinishing} did a beautiful job," said Kaminski. Kaminski's piano can't be reassembled until Neuhaus sends back the musical components he's supposed to repair, like its harp, key bed and dampers. She says Neuhaus missed his January 2025 deadline. Kaminski says she's already paid him $5,500. "He's like, "oh, I'm sorry. I've been sick. I'm heavily sedated in a hospital bed," said Kaminski. "All of a sudden, I'm seeing tons of horrible reviews about people that can't get their pianos back." Kaminski says Neuhaus stopped responding to her calls and emails. "On my gosh, did I just get scammed out of my piano?" Kaminski asked herself. "I spent probably a full week bawling my eyes out." Dig deeper The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives Neuhaus Piano Workshop an 'F' rating. Neuhaus Piano Workshop is near 81st and Greenfield, where Contact 6 found its front doors locked. Items visible through the front windows appeared dusty. West Allis Police confirm they're investigating Cassandra's case. They're also investigating whether Neuhaus is violating the West Allis sex offender ordinance by listing the shop as his residence. Twenty years ago, Neuhaus was convicted of sexually assaulting three students at Cedarburg High School between 1996 and 2003. A criminal complaint says Neuhaus was a stage director at the school supervising drama activities. What they're saying In 2017, Neuhaus spoke with Contact 6 about another unhappy customer, Karen Fields. Three years prior, Fields sent her Schulz player baby grand piano to Neuhaus Piano Workshop in for repairs. She still hasn't gotten her piano back. "I don't like this," Neuhaus said in 2017. "My father and I both prided ourselves on getting things done." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Neuhaus' interview with Contact 6 took place one year after the death of his dad, Arnold Neuhaus, who founded the piano workshop in 1957. "I inherited all his work," said Neuhaus in 2017. "I don't have anybody working for me full-time who can do this work." Timeline West Allis Police reports reveal that Neuhaus continued taking on more work. A woman told police in 2024 that she gave Neuhaus a 1938 Baldwin baby grand piano in 2019. She said she'd last made contact with Neuhaus in 2020, and "since then he has not returned any calls or messages sent to him." In 2022, two unhappy customers told West Allis Police they gave Neuhaus a 1927 Steinway model piano in 2020 "to be refurbished and sold at the store." They told police they hadn't been able to reach him since 2021. The report states, "They have tried calling, sending letters, and going to the store in person, however, he is never there or available." Attorney William Rinehart, managing partner of Rinehart, Scaffidi & Rinehart, has represented some of Neuhaus' unhappy customers in court. "In my viewpoint, this goes well beyond being bad at your job or even negligence," said Rinehart. "It would go beyond gross negligence." Rinehart was hired to help a Minnesota family collect their piano from Neuhaus, plus a nearly $80,000 civil court judgment. Circuit Court records show Neuhaus owes five customers more than $170,000 in unpaid judgments. "To my knowledge, he has not paid any judgments, and he has not returned any piano," said Rinehart. In 2024, Rinehart found Neuhaus also owed more than $80,000 in unpaid taxes. "The property has tax obligations, tax warrants, attached to it," said Rinehart. "Therefore, it cannot be liquidated in order to satisfy, or at least partially satisfy, some of these consumer judgments." Contact 6 spoke with customer Don Lamb, who hired Neuhaus to tune and refinish a Herbert player piano in 2021. Lamb's parents bought the piano from Neuhaus' father in 1959. "I learned to play piano on it," said Lamb. "It's the one we had in the basement. There was a box full of piano rolls and we would play our favorite songs." Lamb hasn't seen the piano since 2021 despite paying Neuhaus about $5,000. He lives in Germany and plans to ship the piano overseas. "I made a visit to Milwaukee in February 2024 to see the piano and see the progress. I sent (Neuhaus) four emails, to which he responded to none. Nor did he show up at the date and time that I specified I would be there," said Lamb. After Kaminski sent her piano to Neuhaus for repairs, her grandpa passed away. She says the piano is her sole inheritance from her grandparents. Seeing the piano today, silent and hollow, feels like a tangible metaphor for her loss. "It was like losing my childhood," said Kaminski. "[Pianos] hold a lot of sentimental value for people. Why would you refurbish a piano if you didn't care about it?" Neuhaus didn't respond directly to Contact 6's email, text or phone call. Bill Valentine, who identified himself as Neuhaus' friend, responded on his behalf. Valentine said that Neuhaus' business suffered during the pandemic when piano sales dropped. He stated that Neuhaus has another day job and works on pianos in the evenings. According to Valentine, Neuhaus doesn't speak with customers anymore. Instead, Valentine takes their messages and calls people back. Lamb says after Contact 6 reached out to Neuhaus Piano Workshop on his behalf, he was able to schedule a meeting at the business in June. A family member will assess the piano and it may be returned to Lamb. It's unclear what repairs have been made and whether all parts are accounted for. Valentine said he would look into whether Kaminski's piano can be returned. Contact 6 received Valentine's message on May 22nd. Kaminski says she hasn't gotten any updates from the workshop. Contact 6 will post more updates to this story as they become available. The Source Information for this report comes from interviews with Cassandra Kaminski, Don Lamb and William Rinehart. Contact 6 reviewed records from Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Waukesha County Circuit Court, the West Allis Police Department and the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry. Records for another case were provided by Rinehart. Kaminski and Lamb provided receipts, contracts, emails and text messages.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Arlington's Old Schwamb Mill one of the oldest continuously operating mill sites in the country
Old Schwamb Mill in Arlington continues to make heirloom oval frames for more than 160 years Old Schwamb Mill in Arlington continues to make heirloom oval frames for more than 160 years Old Schwamb Mill in Arlington continues to make heirloom oval frames for more than 160 years One of the oldest continuously operating mill sites in the country, Arlington's Old Schwamb Mill has been handcrafting custom oval frames for over 160 years. Breana Pitts learns about the mill's unique history and the process of creating their one-of-a-kind heirloom-quality frames.
New York Times
7 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Our Favorite Summer Pajamas for Kids
Petite Plume We love Petite Plume's Kid's Twill Pajama Set and Kid's Flannel Nightgown for their soft feel and timeless look. Petite Plume makes a shortie version of the twill pajama set and several charming sleeveless twill nightgowns. The Kid's Twill Short Set is made with tightly woven cotton-modacrylic fabric that has a crisp, airy feel, reminiscent of clean cotton sheets drying on a line. It's offered in several patterns and striped colors, and it's finished with contrast piping and a sweet little pocket on the short-sleeved button top, just like the long-sleeved version. The shorts fit like boxers, and the top is pleasantly roomy. The shorts shrank a little in the wash, but we didn't miss the lost length. We found them to be true to size. Our testers are ready for bed in the Petite Plume Kid's Twill Short Set and Girl's Twill Amelie Nightgown. Laura Motley for NYT Wirecutter We also like the Twill Amelie Nightgown, which is just as nostalgic as its winter cousin, the flannel nightgown. It features the same smooth twill fabric as the shorts set, has sweet details like ruffle trim on the shoulders, and comes in several summery prints, such as sailboats, bumblebees, and stripes. Three buttons on the back placket require some assistance from a parent or caregiver — if your child prizes independence, they may be better off with the Girl's Twill Clara Nightgown. The least expensive children's nightgown in Petite Plume's top-dollar heirloom collection, this ruffly, white nightgown has cleverly hidden elastic in its top seam that allows kids to dress themselves with ease. These pajamas are pricey, but all signs point to them earning hand-me-down status. Petite Plume's pajama sizing starts at 6/12 months, whereas most of our recommendations start at 2 years. This article was edited by Amy Miller Kravetz and Kalee Thompson.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
We spent years tracking down WW2 hero to return heirloom my grandad kept for safe keeping – what we discovered amazed us
AFTER years of safeguarding a watch given to her grandfather in the Second World War, two sisters have finally tracked down its owners. Amateur sleuths Debbie Blaxhall and Tracey Stevenson's quest to find the heirloom's owners took them on a journey from the 1940s to a lavish lunch celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day earlier this month. 5 5 5 Speaking to The Sun, she revealed how enabled her to do the 'right thing' for her grandparents. The story began back in World War Two, when Debbie's grandfather, Richard Houseman, first met another soldier named Arnold Sharrocks. Stationed near Middlesborough, the pair quickly became friends but were sadly separated when Arnold was posted elsewhere. As a parting gift to Richard and his wife Naomi, Arnold left his pocketwatch for safekeeping along with a note which read: 'Best wishes, Arnold.' Neither one ever saw the other again. For years, that was all Debbie, now 59, knew about the mysterious watch, which had become legendary in her family. However, Debbie and her sister Tracey, 62, knew that, one day, they would have to help the watch find its way home. Debbie said: 'We were only looking after it for someone else. We could never dispose of it because we wanted to carry on that legacy.' The former nurse has always had an interest in her family history, but finally decided to send the watch home when Tracey found it in her late husband's belongings. They decided to reach out to Ancestry's military genealogist Simon Pierce for help. At first they hit a dead end, but then, a medal card - found by Simon - allowed Debbie to uncover that Arnold had married a lady called Joyce Finch. From there, she managed to find Janet Hunt, 64, Arnold's daughter, who also had an account on Debbie said she nervously deliberated for days about phoning Janet, but eventually 'bit the bullet'. When the line connected, though, she realised that Janet had no idea about the watch. She said: 'The poor woman; I honestly don't know what she thought, because I knew the story. 'She didn't have a clue, so I was trying to explain who I was and that I had her father's watch." Debbie added: 'I think it took a few days for it to sink in with her, but we were finally able to send her father's watch in February.' Welling up as Tracey finally let go of the watch which had meant so much to them, Debbie had one overriding feeling. Through tears, she said: 'It's going home.' decided to organise a meeting between Debbie and Janet at a fabulous VE Day party in London, in May 2025, but there was one final twist in the story. Debbie said: 'Janet and I thought we were actually going to meet at lunch, but we actually met at breakfast in the hotel where we were both staying.' She added: 'Her daughter said: 'I think this is them.' 'And I was saying the same to my husband, and eventually I just said: 'Yeah, it's us.' 'So we hugged and I just cried. But it's the fact that her daughter is called Naomi, the same name as my grandmother.' In another surprise, Debbie and Janet realised that they only lived 22 miles away from each other in Sussex. Arnold, and 79 other 'hidden heroes', were honoured with a commemorative plate at the lunch later that day. Debbie said: 'Each plate had a little plaque about the story that was represented. And they were all incredible. 'You just think these were all just normal people going about their lives, daily lives or doing their bit for the war. They were the hidden heroes. And it didn't just cover people in the armed forces. There were scouts, there were children who had done great things. 'There were a lot of women represented too, which was really lovely.' Janet revealed that Arnold had served with the 103rd Light Anti-Aircraft regiment - earning the France and German star for his heroic efforts. Stationed at first in the UK and, then, later in Europe, he also served in the Corps of Military Police. For Debbie, the journey has brought her grandparents 'back to life for a little while' as well as Arnold - who survived the war but sadly died when Debbie was nine. She doesn't know why he never came back for the watch, with the entire endeavour having 'raised more questions" for her "than it answered'. Now in regular contact with Janet, Debbie is considering a career in "genealogy" to find out more about her family tree. Still, she is thrilled to say that handing the watch back to its owners has changed her life. Debbie said: "We adored our grandparents and just being able to complete something that they'd set out to do, it means the absolute world to us." Do you have a similar story? Email 5 5
India.com
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Cannes Queen Aishwarya Rai Slays In Ivory Saree, Flaunts Sindoor, Shuts Divorce Rumours – Iconic Waves Go Viral!
Cannes Queen is here! Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stunned in an ivory saree for her first look at the prestigious Cannes red carpet. The actor flaunted sindoor and blew flying kisses in her stunning appearance. Take At Look At Her FIRST Pic: Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan makes an appearance at #Cannes2025, embracing a classic white handloom in a handwoven kadwa ivory handloom Banarasi saree with a handwoven tissue drape and imperial heirloom of rubies from Manish Malhotra High Jewellery. (Pics: Manish_ — ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2025 (This is a developing story)
