October 2, 2010

And what a party it was...

Pirate Sean Radford added to the festivities

Racine's 8th Party on the Pavement may have been overshadowed by the stuck Ferris Wheel that stranded 17 people for over two hours -- all were brought down safely -- but that was not all that was happening Downtown.

The street fair celebrating the reconstruction of Main and Sixth Streets was its usual exuberant affair. Party-goers brushed off the cold (some wrapped in blankets, like the fellow at left) and occasional drizzle to enjoy lots of music, dance, arts and food. Here's some of what we photographed, mostly before the Ferris Wheel rescue took place. From what we saw, there was plenty of party for all.

At top is Sean Radford, of London, who was helping kids (and adults) dig for buried treasure compliments of Plumb Gold. More than 150 pouches of pirate booty -- jewelry, toys and candy -- were buried in a sand-filled pool. Anyone with $5 ransom was permitted to dig, with all proceeds earmarked for the Racine County Food Bank.

Folkswagon entertained from the main stage on Monument Square


Metal sculptor Ed Janecek adds a finishing touch

Titus, Rench and Wheary harmonize

Macyn Taylor sings and plays guitar while Raiders mascot greets a fan

Chainsaw carving was just one of the demonstrations Sixth Street offered

Final Approach's Barb Halsima rocked Main Street

Horlick Cheerleader braved the dunk tank

Chris Duerkop wore his own artwork to the Art Walk

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Everyone rescued from stuck Ferris Wheel

Battalion Chief Jim Madisen's smile tells the story at 3:15 p.m.: Everybody's safe

 When it comes to memorable parties, this year's Downtown Racine Party on the Pavement wins the prize. Not for the food, the art, the music, the excitement as summer ends, but rather as the day the Ferris Wheel stopped -- and leaned a bit -- with close to two dozen kids and parents aboard.

Racine's Police and Fire Departments sprung into action, blocking off Main and Sixth Streets, and calling upon two massive Case front-end loaders to stabilize the wheel, and a big crane from Floyd's Towing and Recovery to provide an additional safety margin against tipping.

It took more than two hours -- the big wheel stopped turning about 12:30 p.m, shortly after the Party on the Pavement began, and the last kids weren't taken off until 3:15. Preliminary reports said the main axle cracked; others said the motor broke. Never happened before... Police Chief Kurt Wahlen said his department will investigate to determine the actual cause.

The rescues were accomplished by the Racine Fire Department, which sent a large platform truck, with a bucket, on one side of Main Street, and the Quint, with a long ladder, from the other. After making sure the Ferris Wheel was stable, firefighters took off the bulk of the stranded riders, one seat  at a time. A platform truck from Caledonia removed the last two kids, because Racine's platform truck, at the south side of Sixth Street, was blocked by a streetlight post.


Shortly after the Ferris Wheel stopped...

Stabilized with front-end loaders and a crane...

Firefighters ready the Racine Fire Department's Quint


Attaching a cable from Floyd's crane to prevent the wheel from tipping

The minutes ticked by, but everyone on the Ferris Wheel remained calm
Firefighters made the rescue seem almost routine; everyone was brought off safely

 Tanya Wagenaar is helped into rescue platform, after her twins, Nicole and Natalie

Rachel Comande, 9, gets a hug from her mother after her rescue with dad, Nick

Glad to be in mother's arms after her long ordeal aloft

Pleased with success: Police Chief Kurt Wahlen and Mayor John Dickert

 Onlookers applauded as the last kids came off the Ferris Wheel

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October 1, 2010

What's in a name? Diversey may name Y after itself


Today, it's the Racine Family YMCA. Or maybe just the Racine Family Y, since the organization recently opted for naming brevity, dropping those three final letters that stood in for Men's Christian Association since 1844 -- although the local organization's website still says Welcome to the Racine Family YMCA. The Y, of course, stands for Young.

But what will the Y be called in the future? The question popped up at the news conference Thursday at which the Y announced a $6 million donation from Diversey Inc. to build a new $12 million recreation and childcare Y facility west of downtown, alongside the Mount Pleasant Village Hall complex and just a stone's throw from Diversey's corporate headquarters on Highway 20.

A large sign, visible to all who attended the news conference, stood in the field where the new Y will be constructed. It proclaimed: Future Home of the Diversey Family YMCA.

Jeff Collen, right, chief executive of the Y, confirmed today that Diversey, thanks to its $6 million pledge (and another $500,000 from the Johnson family and the private equity company that co-owns Diversey) retains "naming rights" to the new Y. "Nothing's been decided yet," Collen said. "We haven't decided on a name; we just threw something up for the banner."

What would you name the new Y?
Put your suggestions in the comments

As it turns out, the name may be the most visible aspect of SC Johnson involvement in the new Y, but certainly not the most significant. SCJ is helping the Y's fundraising campaign to raise the additional $5.5 million needed. And the company, well known for its many "green" initiatives, is providing its expertise -- and money -- to make sure the new Y is constructed "in accordance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards."

Collen said that Scott Weas, a former senior property director for SCJ (he was project director for the Prairie School, among many other projects), is the Y's project director, but SCJ is paying his salary. "He's helping to lead us through this project, to keep us on track," said Collen. SCJ expertise, he said, will be instrumental "as we work with the architects and to make sure we get great pricing on materials, flooring, and so on."

SCJ involvement is most welcome to Y officials, whose strategic plan has long involved opening one or more facilities west into Racine County -- where the population is growing, unlike the city of Racine itself. Collen described "that first phone call" he received from SCJ in mid-March. "We started by talking about the possibility of this kind of thing happening. For us, it was really great how it fit into our strategic plan. And the timing!"

Y officials were also pleased with this intangible: "Here's a very major company with this amount of trust in us, knowing that the Y can do this, provide what they want and what the community wants."

Although Y officials had long wanted to expand, "there was absolutely no way we thought we could go out there and start something like this in this economy. We were 'on hold.' How could we raise $12 million without this kind of interest and commitment in the community?"

Why, exactly, does the Y need to expand to the west? Because that's where the people are. And because, even when we think about exercising and fitness, we're lazy. We demand convenience. Collen cites Walgreens as an example. "You would think they're every two miles; it's a huge convenience factor."

That's one of the things that has affected the Y over the last five years or so, as franchise fitness centers have spread: now there's someplace someone can go to exercise that's four or five minutes from home. "I guess what we're doing is making sure that the good opportunities that we can provide are starting to come to where people are, rather than trying to get them to drive downtown," Collen said.The Y's studies show that the vast majority of its current membership lives east of Highway 31 -- even as the county's population base has shifted west... the most growth is west of I-94 even.

Besides its up-front donation, fundraising help and construction expertise, SCJ and Diversey are also offering the Y long-term financial support, by providing paid memberships to Diversey's 700 employees. If all take advantage of the perk, the ongoing sum is substantial. A family membership in the Y costs about $57.50 a month; the cost of 700 of them would top $450,000 a year.

Construction on the new Y is due to begin in Spring 2011; its opening date must be by Sept. 1, 2012, to accommodate Diversey's final separation from SC Johnson, and the end of its employees being able to use the JMBA recreation and childcare facility.


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September 30, 2010

After its first full year, the Teaching Garden gets an 'A'


"This isn't a production garden, it's a teaching garden," said Dan Taivalkoski, executive director of the Racine County Food Bank, looking around at the extensive urban farm behind his distribution warehouse on DeKoven Avenue.

Of course, he then immediately let slip that more than 1,200 pounds of produce had come out of the Teaching Garden so far this year -- and another 7,500 pounds from the Garden of Giving behind Lakeside Curative Services. Or is it 7,800 pounds? Ah, who's counting.

Those totals do not include potatoes yet to be dug up, of course. Nor squash. Nor whatever else is harvested in the next couple of months.

Two-dozen Master Gardeners celebrated the Teaching Garden's success

The success of Racine's two new teaching gardens was celebrated with an afternoon party Thursday afternoon. Extension advisors Patti Nagai and Bev Baker offered thanks to the Master Gardeners and Master Composters (No, I didn't make up that last title!) who helped educate the many Racine Unified schoolchildren, HALO kids and community members in the mysteries of vegetable growing. And composting. And rain gardening.

Even Mayor John Dickert, on hand to join the celebration, got a quick lesson, when he mentioned "dirt" and was instantly given the correct term: "SOIL!"

Taivalkoski was also quick to thank the many partners who made the new garden a reality: SC Johnson, for example, which provided 100 truckloads of dir... um, soil; Roundy's Foundation and the United Way for cash; free labor by members of the Bricklayers, Carpenters and Roofers unions to build the garden's pavilion, and some two-dozen raised garden beds.

The Master Gardeners offered classes all summer (there'll be another one in January) and impromptu lessons to anyone who found the garden. ("We need more signs," one said.)  It's all part of their effort "to teach the community they can grow their own vegetables nine months of the year," according to Nagai.

She looked around at the verdant beds, the tomatoes and peppers, cauliflower plants, peas, cilantro, even some corn and flowers. "Things like this just don't happen," she said.

"The Garden of Giving and The Teaching Garden have had a fabulous year, thanks to many wonderful and dedicated volunteers," said Taivalkoski, already looking ahead to a bigger harvest next year.
The gardening season is far from over...

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We're getting a new $12 million Y!

Announcing our new Y: From left, Carolyn Milkie, Mount Pleasant 
Village Board president; S. Curtis Johnson, Diversey chairman;
Dan Risch, YMCA board president; and Ed Lonergan, Diversey president.


Racine is getting a new $12 million Y.

The recreational and childcare facility will be built in Mount Pleasant, on 16.6 acres purchased from the village this week for $880,000, just north of the new Village Hall/Police Department/Public Works campus, across the street from the village's planned 30-acre ballfields and recreation complex and within walking distance of the 75-acre Smolenski Park.

The project was announced today at a press conference attended by Y and village officials, alongside top management of Diversey, Inc., which is pledging a $6 million donation. Diversey's headquarters is just across Route 20 as the crow flies."This new YMCA complex will be a real jewel for our community," said Diversey chairman S. Curtis Johnson, right, who said his  "great-great-grandfather" was the YMCA's president.

A Y west of Highway 31 has long been a dream of YMCA management. It is coming to fruition because of the sale and separation of Diversey from SC Johnson which began in 2002 when Unilever bought one-third of the company. The now-publicly-owned company -- the Johnson family owns 50 percent and a private equity firm, Clayton, Dubilier and Rice paid $477 million for 46% last year -- is nearing the end of the 10-year separation from SCJ. Diversey -- once named JohnsonDiversey -- needed to find recreation and childcare facilities for the company's 700 employees -- who no longer would be able to use SCJ's JMBA center.

Thus, they approached the Y, where needs and dreams apparently meshed.

In addition to Diversey's $6 million gift, Johnson said Clayton, Dubilier and Rice has pledged $250,000 and the Johnson family has pledged another $250,000.  Dan Risch, president of the Y board of directors, appeared sanguine about raising the additional $5.5 million. "We wouldn't be standing here if we weren't very confident."

Construction is scheduled to start in the summer of 2011; the Y is due to be completed in two years.

The new Y will be approximately 70,000 sq. ft., and have two swimming pools, a wellness center, gymnasium, exercise room and running track. Diversey President and CEO Ed Lonergan said studies are being conducted to determine how much space will be needed for childcare.  Diversey, which has been shedding employees here and worldwide, has 700 in Racine.

Risch said the Y will be a "state of the art recreation facility." Lonergan said the company "is pleased to offer this facility as a benefit to our employees." He said the building would be built to LEED energy conservation standards to "respect the environment."

Risch and Jeff Collen, chief executive of the Y, restated the organization's commitment to maintaining a facility downtown. "We're strongly committed to where we are," said Risch. Collen said the new facility "won't cannibalize downtown."  Of the Y's 2,000 memberships -- covering 5,500 individuals -- only about 350 live west of Highway 31, he said. At some point in the future -- after the new Y is opened -- the Y expects to look into remodeling its downtown facility on Lake Avenue. There may be a "down-sizing," Collen said, "but we will maintain a strong downtown presence." The Y only owns the basement and first two stories of its present building; the "tower" was sold in December 2003 (for $30,000 and a promise to fix the roof).

Site Plan
Building Components

Meanwhile, the new Police Station and Village Hall are going up

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Diversey pledges $6 million for new Y in Mount Pleasant

Diversey Inc. -- the former JohnsonDiversey -- has pledged $6 million to help build a new Y.  The recreation and childcare center will be located, on 16.6 acres of land being purchased from the Village of Mount Pleasant alongside the new village hall east of 90th Street and north of West Lawn Cemetery.

The Y will begin a fundraising campaign to raise the additional $6 million needed -- but construction is scheduled to start in May. The new Y needs to be open by September 2012, because of Diversey's split from SC Johnson. Once the split takes place, Diversey employees won't have access to the JMBA or childcare.

In October 2009 Unilever sold its share of JohnsonDiversey for $477 million. The Johnson family still owns 50 percent of the company.

A press conference is scheduled today at 12:30 to spell out the details of the pledge and the Y's construction plans.

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16th Street gas station may lose its liquor license

The gas station at 1917 16th St. may lose its liquor license. 

The Public Safety and Licensing Committee will hold a due process hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 6 to consider suspending or revoking AD Petroleum's "Class A" liquor license. A "Class A" license allows the owners to sell prepackaged alcohol to drink offsite. 


Kamaljit K. Dhaliwal and Deepinder S. Dhaliwal are the agents for AD Petroleum.

Here's background on what led to the upcoming due process hearing.



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September 29, 2010

Jessica Cark named Miss Latina Racine

Jessica Cark, a student at the University of Illinois-Chicago, was named Miss Latina Racine and awarded a $2,000 scholarship.

Jessica, a freshman in the Biology Pre-Medical program at UIC, was selected to participate in the Miss Latina Scholarship program because of her academic success, leadership in student activities and volunteering.

Maritza Garcia, a freshman at UW-Parkside in the Biology Pre-Medical program, was named runner-up and awarded $1,000.

Awarded $500 scholarships were Marina Carranza, a freshman at UW-Platteville; Julie Esquivel, a freshman at UW-Parkside; Maria Maack, a senior at Horlick High School; and Ruth Peña, a freshman at UW-Parkside

The Miss Latina Racine Scholarship Corporation also awarded partnership scholarships: Awarded the Leonor Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship of $1,000 was Rhea González, a junior at UW-Parkside majoring in English literature and history; Awarded the Ernesto and Margaret Malacara Scholarship of $1,000 was Rachelle Clemins, a graduate student atUW-Madison who is completing her second year towards a master's of science in educational leadership.

Miss Latina Racine Scholarship Corporation is a non-profit organization that has been offering scholarships to Latina students from Racine County for the 14 years.  The corporation offers  scholarships to Latinos in Racine County.  To apply, or for more information, write to Miss Latina Racine Scholarship Corp. P.O. Box 085836, Racine, WI 53408.

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MoveOn says Russ Feingold 'could lose'

Controversial political group MoveOn.org is putting out the rallying cry for Sen. Russ Feingold. The organization sent the following letter to its members:
Dear MoveOn member,

Red alert: The latest polls show that Senator Russ Feingold could lose in November. They all have him down by at least 6 points against a tea party Republican who actually thinks climate change is caused by sunspots.
There's no better, more principled Democrat in Washington than Sen. Feingold: The only senator to vote against the Patriot Act. A steadfast opponent of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And a passionate crusader against corporate influence in politics.
But since those very corporate interests have already spent $650,000 trying to defeat him, he's now facing the fight of his political life. Because keeping Sen. Feingold's voice in the Senate is so important, this race has become our top national priority.
Sen. Feingold's campaign is up against a critical fundraising deadline that expires tomorrow.Right now he urgently needs the resources to expand his grassroots campaign, reach out to more voters and get his message out in Wisconsin. We're aiming to raise $300,000 for Sen. Feingold's campaign before the deadline. Can you chip in $5?


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Racine County Food Bank adds three new board members

The Racine County Food Bank added three new board members to its Board of Directors. Board members include: 

Kelly Martyn, Operations Manager, Commercial Revolving Accounts, CNH Capital, joined our Board of Directors at the May 2010 meeting. Kelly has served on United Way of Racine County’s Board and is a 2002 graduate of the Leadership Racine Program.

Cyndi Knapp-Finley, Assistant General Manager for Regency Mall, also joined our Board of Directors at the May 2010 meeting. In addition, Cyndi currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Racine Friendship Clubhouse and is a 2006 graduate of the Leadership Racine Program.

Kelli Stein, Desktop Analyst Specialist, Information Systems, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare officially joined the organization at the September 2010 meeting. Kelli recently served as an alderwomen for the City of Racine and is a 2008 graduate of the Leadership Racine Program.

In addition to the new members listed above, the 2010 Board of Directors includes the following members:

Christopher Geary, an attorney from Hostak, Henzl & Bichler S.C. currently holds the position of Chairperson. Chris has served on the Board of Directors since February of 2002, and previously served as the Vice-Chairperson.

Georgianna Gotthardt is a volunteer for the Racine Police Department’s Crime Prevention office located at Regency Mall and serves as Secretary. Georgianna has served the RCFB in various capacities since 1995.

Mary Lofty of Lofty Learning has served the RCFB since April of 2002 holding many different positions, most recently serving as interim Treasurer.

Tom Marry, Vice President – Asia & Commercial Products Group with Modine and has served on the Board of Directors on and off in various capacities since 2006.

Robert Perry is a retired worker for the City of Racine first joined the RCFB in November of 2005. Robert also volunteers at the Wayman A.M.E. Church food pantry.

James Raab is the owner and operator of Dovetail Woodworking and member of the Board since October of 2003.  He has also served on the “Thoughts for Food” Planning Committee for many years.

Stephanie Sklba is Vice President of Community and Government Relations at Gateway Technical College and has been donating her time and talents to the RCFB since January of 2005 and is a 2001 graduate of the Leadership Racine Program. Stephanie currently serves as the Vice-Chairperson.

James Yorgan owns and operates Plumb Gold Ltd. in downtown Racine and joined the organization in May of 2007. Jim is a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 1986 and serves as the Treasurer for the Food Bank.



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Sabrina, Smithfield Cattledog mix, looking for a home

Hello, my name is Sabrina. I am a Shiba Inu/Smithfield Cattledog mix. I am 1 1/2 years old and I'm good with children 5 and up.

I'm an old fashioned girl who loves her walks and being outside. Since I'm a herding dog, I will need my exercise and to be monitered at all times so I don't run away. I have been told I am a perfectionist proper girl who is very loving. I have been at Countryside Humane Society since Aug. 8.

My adoption fees include my spaying, vaccinations, microchip and more. I want you.... to be my family!

Come meet me at Countryside Humane Society, 2706 Chicory Rd., or call me at 262-554-6699.


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City Salaries: Public Works, utility managers Racine's highest paid employees

Public Works Director Rick Jones was the city's highest paid employee in 2009, according to city data.

Jones made $127,974.92 last year, about $14,000 more than the second highest employee, Keith Haas, who manages the city's water and wastewater plants. City Attorney Rob Weber was third at $113,326.48 and Police Chief Kurt Wahlen ($113,059.15) and Fire Chief Steven Hansen ($111,573.56) round out the Top 5.

A total of 605 city employees made more than $50,000 in 2009, according to data acquired through an open records request. Below is a spreadsheet of every city employee who made more than $50,000 last year.






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September 28, 2010

Gateway gets $1.8 million for healthcare training

Gateway Technical College in Kenosha was awarded $1,828,442 to provide healthcare training for low-income individuals.

The Health Profession Opportunity Grants, funded through the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, will provide training for  home care aides, certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, emergency medical technicians, licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, dental assistants, and health information technicians.  The grant will also fund supportive services such as transportation, dependent care, and temporary housing.

The grant was announced Tuesday by Sen. Herb Kohl, D-WI; the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, Inc. will get $3,401,260, and the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena  $2,067,926.

Kohl, chairman of the Special Committee on Aging,  said the grants result from provisions he crafted that were signed into law.   “These new programs are a clear signal of Congress’ intent and commitment to build a high-quality health care workforce for our growing population of older Americans,” Kohl said.

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September 27, 2010

Committee to review Uptown, West Racine business improvement districts

Officials will vote tonight on approving the budgets for two of the city's "business improvement districts."

BIDs are areas where businesses are charged a fee that's used for marketing and changes in the districts that support, well, business. The money is spent by a BID board composed of business owners from the district. Generally, the largest businesses in a BID pay the most money, but also get the most votes on the board.

Tonight the Finance and Personnel Committee will consider 2011 Operating Plans for the Uptown BID and the West Racine BID.

The Uptown plan calls for a 2011 budget of $39,398. Here's a breakdown of how it would be spent:

$10,000 - Marketing
$18,600 - Streetscaping
$1,500 - Administration
$7,300 - Staffing
$1,997 - BID reserve

Twin Disc, 1328 Racine St., is the largest contributor to the Uptown BID. It's expected to pay $3,752.81 for 2011, more than double the next largest business, Albert Van Maren, 1236 Thirteenth St., at $1,515. Newman Enterprises Inc., 1601 Washington Ave., pay the third highest amount at $1,097.83.

Read the Uptown plan here.

The West Racine plan calls for a 2011 budget of $20,888. Here's a breakdown of how it would spent:

$15,000 - Program Operations (public relations, marketing and communications, promotions and event activities, streetscape)
$4,000 - Redevelopment
$500 - Administrative/Accounting
$800 - Staff
$587.40 - BID reserve

CVS Pharmacy, 1122 West Blvd., is the largest contributor to the West Racine BID. It's expected to pay $2,800 for 2011, more than double the next largest business, 1020 West LLC, at $1,048. Vicken and Zozete Baklayan, 1101 Grove Ave., pay the third highest amount at $968.

Read the West Racine plan here.

The Finance and Personnel Committee is expected to vote on the BID plans tonight.



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Mozol proposes changes to fireworks ordinance

Alderman Bob Mozol is seeking changes to how the city gives out permits for professional fireworks displays.

Referring to Ord. #66-518, Mozol is asking the Public Safety and Licensing Committee to change the city law to include a time frame, require the operator to be certified to shoot off professional-sized fireworks, and to raise the permit fee from $50 to at least $200.

Mozol's request comes in response to a fireworks show on Sept. 4 for a wedding on the city's north side. Some residents complained the show took place too late and was too loud.

The Public Safety and Licensing Committee is scheduled to take up the ordinance tonight.


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Licensing committee continues work on Sixth Street

City officials and another Sixth Street bar in something of a standoff over licensing of the bar.

The Place on Sixth Street, owned by former Alderman Keith Fair, is in the process of amending the premises description on its liquor license for 509 Sixth St. It's a common step many local bars are taking before the City Council's Public Safety and Licensing Committee in response to the smoking ban. While people aren't allowed to carry drinks with them outside of a bar, even if they're going out to smoke, changing the premises description gives bar owners some protection if patron slips outside with a drink. (It's a different matter if the same patron starts walking down the street with the drink. Then the bar owner could be subject to fines.)

The Place on Sixth, which has a rocky relationship with the Public Safety and Licensing Committee, brought its proposed changes before the committee on Sept. 13. In addition to the smoking concerns, Fair also wanted to accommodate upstairs tenants. The committee voted to defer action two weeks until Fair brought in a diagram of his proposed changes. One problem that's being studied at the The Place on Sixth is customers leaving the bar through the back door onto Seventh Street. Changes to the premises description may be able to solve that problem, and help the bar avoid further review by the committee.

The Public Safety and Licensing Committee's interest in Sixth Street is ongoing. It recently agreed to suspend the liquor license of a popular night club at Sixth Street and Park Avenue over a series of police calls and general problems in the club's vicinity. But with the club, Park 6, closed for 45 days, large crowds still gathered over the weekend on Park Avenue at bar closing time. Most of the people on the streets came from The Place on Sixth, according to people who were there.

The committee is scheduled to vote on The Place on Sixth's new premises description tonight. Whether Fair can reach an agreement with the city is yet to be seen.

Also at tonight's meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. in Room 205 of City Hall:


  • The Fire Chief needs a hold harmless agreement for a training exercise at Batten International Airport in the near future. 
  • The Park Inn, 2312 Douglas Ave., is seeking a Class "B" and "Class C" license. 
  • Joe Madisen of Pepi's Pub and Grill, 618 6th St., is looking to amend his premises description to include the sidewalk area within his property lines. Like other bars this is in response to the smoking ban.
  • Daniel Daams, of Double D's, 1307 Douglas Ave., is being called in for an incident on Sept. 4. 
  • Rhino Bar, 1659 N. Main St., is being called in for an incident on Aug. 27. 



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Advancing Wisconsin hiring Racine canvassers

Advancing Wisconsin is hiring canvassers to go door-to-door in Racine prior to the Nov. 2 election.

Canvassers can make $10+ per hour talking to potential voters about political issues.

Here's the ad that's circulating by email. We saw a copy sent out by Community for Change to notify its members:
A message to all members of Community for Change
For those you who are expert canvassers, here is an opportunity to also get paid while you work.
Advancing Wisconsin has started canvassing operations in support of a progressive public policy agenda across the state. Field Organizers will be knocking  on the doors of voters to talk about the issues that matter most to  Wisconsinites. Please contact us for more information about our canvass  operations! 
Hiring Field Organizers in Racine!
(September & October)
We need outgoing, bright, and articulate individuals to go door-to-door and talk about issues like health care, jobs, economic development and education in our state.
FIELD ORGANIZERS are the HEART of our work!
Advancing Wisconsin is a statewide progressive, grassroots organization. Our core mission is to talk with people in the community about critical issues.
Earn $10 + / hour
No Fundraising Work
Mondays -Thursdays 2:30 – 9:00pm 
Some weekends
Apply NOW at: www.advancingwisconsin.org
Submit a resume to cwroten@advancingwisconsin.org
Call Ted with inquiries: 262-312-4921


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