Listen Up: Becker, Snow to meet with residents at community centers

Mayor Gary Becker will hold listening sessions at all five community centers between Oct. 29 and Nov. 19.

Becker and Parks and Recreation Director Donnie Snow will meet with residents a few weeks after the mayor was roundly criticized at the John Bryant Community Center for failing to clearly communicate his plans for the city's community centers.

Rumors got out that Becker wanted to close the centers. Becker, instead, said he wanted to partner with outside nonprofits to provide more programming in the centers.

"The existing community centers are a critically important part of the quality of life that we enjoy in Racine," Becker said last week in a press release put out by City Administrator Ben Hughes. "I care deeply about the programs and facilities that we offer to our citizens. As such I have proposed an additional $40,000 in programming funds for the community centers in my 2008 budget. Director Snow and I believe that it is important that we visit all five community centers to listen to the thoughts of those citizens who use the centers."

Here is the schedule for the listening sessions. They all start at 6 pm.

• Monday, October 29th – Bryant Community Center, 601 21st St.
• Tuesday, October 30th – Tyler-Domer Community Center, 2301 Twelfth Street
• Monday, November 12th – Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center, 1134 Dr. MLK Dr.
• Tuesday, November 13th – Humble Park Community Center, 2200 Blaine Ave.
• Monday, November 19th – Cesar Chavez Community Center, 2221 Douglas Ave.

Unified's Vanden Wyngaard in running for superintendents' job

WRJN reported Friday that Racine Unified Chief Operating Officer Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard is applying to become the district's next superintendent.

Unified School Board President Tony Baumgardt told WRJN's Paul Kern Friday morning that Vanden Wyngaard, known in the district as "Dr. V," will be considered for the job.

She was hired by former Superintendent Tom Hicks to oversee the district's academic testing programs. Hicks resigned from the district effective Aug. 31. The School Board is seeking his replacement, and hopes to have someone in place by July 1.

Dr. V has at least one backer...

Karas wants citywide focus on recycling

Racine Alderman Pete Karas is pushing for a renewed citywide focus on recycling.

Karas met with representatives from the City of Racine, the Civic Center, The Oasis, Racine County Visitors and Convention Bureau, Downtown Racine Corp., and others to discuss improving recycling rates, which are at a 10-year low.

“We concurred that this program needs more study and public awareness to ensure success, instead of instituting new government regulations and mandates at this time," Karas said. "Education of the public is going to be the first step towards success.”

The city parks and public works departments are testing a program that would make recycling containers more available throughout the city. They will be monitored to see if they're used.

More important, however, is voluntary involvement. Cuts in city spending mean more businesses and residents will have to take the lead on recycling.

“For this program to succeed we need the people, groups, and businesses of Racine to buy in with their voluntary participation,” Karas said. “With the City’s recycling coordinator position eliminated in 2004, the City does not have the staff or money to aggressively provide additional recycling education, making the public’s voluntary involvement essential."

Karas will start the public information campaign with a website, www.RacineRecycles.org. The site is expected to be running by mid-November. Anyone interested in helping with the site, or suggesting possible content, should write to: Recycle@RacineRecycles.org

We took the (Rustic) road less traveled...on Vespas

“Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I, I took the one less traveled by.
And that has made all the difference.”
-- Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"

Robert Frost's diverging road -- we assume it was scenic, with faded red barns, trees shedding their leaves, horses languidly hauling ... whatever -- was in New England. Let's face it, when it comes to fall foliage, Vermont gets all the PR, and Wisconsin the crumbs.

It's not fair. We have roads less traveled, too. And there's an easy way to follow them in Wisconsin: just seek out those brown and yellow signs proclaiming "Rustic Road."

The Legislature established the Rustic Roads program in 1973 to help preserve Wisconsin's scenic, lightly traveled country roads. The state now has 103 marked Rustic Roads covering over 572 miles in 54 counties. Racine County alone has seven of them, Walworth County has five and Kenosha County has one. There's even a 10-member Rustic Roads Board; Ray DeHahn of Racine is our representative on it.

Last weekend, with temperatures nearing 70, a clear and cloudless sky, and luminous red and yellow leaves swirling in the breeze was perfect for exploring Rustic Roads. Which is just what a group of Chicago Vespa enthusiasts did. They put-putted here on the little Italian motorscooters and traveled down 10 of Wisconsin's Rustic Roads, barely noticing that there might not be many more such Sundays before winter forces two-wheelers into hibernation.

More pictures HERE.
The state has a nifty program to encourage motorcyclists to travel the state's "system of lightly traveled asphalt or gravel roads highlighting the state's natural beauty." Wisconsin gives motorcyclists an embroidered patch if they travel 10 of the Rustic Roads; a certificate if they traverse 25 of them. All a cyclist has to do is submit pictures of himself and/or the motorcycle next to the requisite number of Rustic Road signs.



So every few miles, they stopped and pulled over and took pictures of each other, of themselves, of their Vespas. Except for the fact that cameras have gone digital, one could have imagined the program being a sly way to sell film. Or gasoline -- but the Vespas barely sip that. Soon after driving up from Chicago, they filled up at Wind Lake, each having used little more than a gallon for the 80-mile first leg.

The round trip of 10 Rustic Roads involved about 120 miles through Racine, Walworth and Kenosha Counties. I joined the riders as they crossed Route 20, heading north on Raymond Road toward Rustic Road 37 at 3-Mile. My round trip to and from Racine was exactly 150 miles: on twisty roads, up and down hills, on asphalt stained with manure, past drying corn stalks, harvested fields, orchards and wineries, faded barns and charming farmhouses decorated with piles of pumpkins and fake spider webs on their mailboxes.

There are woods, rolling meadows, wildlife areas, an occasional one-room schoolhouse and log cabin. No traffic, no trucks, no fast food joints, almost no gas stations (oops, I could've used one right near the end in Twin Lakes).

My companions from Chicago were a diverse lot: a photographer, a semi-retired computer geek, a former restaurateur, an almost-orthodontist, a refrigeration engineer and his wife. Their scooters ranged from 150cc to 250cc; all together barely more horsepower than a single Harley-Davidson. We met a lot of Harleys, whose drivers invariably honored us with the cyclists' left-handed salute, fingers pointed down, and universal smiles all around.

Want to take your own ride? HERE's the route we took. And HERE's a link to the state's interactive map of all Rustic Roads, with clear descriptions and maps of each one, listing all the highlights, county by county.

Happy riding!

Racine treasures may make it on the Roadshow

The BBC has a lovely story this week about a painting stolen in 1987, then found four years ago dumped in a pile of rubbish on the street in New York.

It's a charming, sentimental tale for a number of reasons, but especially because the woman who found the painting tracked down its rightful owner with the help of Antiques Roadshow -- and returned it. And, oh, yes, the painting is now worth about $1 million. It'll be auctioned Nov. 20. Go ahead: read about that painting HERE; I'll wait until you get back.

OK, then, back to our story, about two Racine women who made their own visit to Antiques Roadshow last year, when the Roadshow visited Milwaukee. Now you know where they find some of those interesting heirlooms that have made us all rummage through our own attics and basements for 11 seasons.

Joedy Simonsen and her daughter, Laurie Stevenson, made the trek north, treasures in tow, with a number of local folks and finally we'll all find out whether any of those "treasures" really are. The Roadshow folks will say only that the show will be broadcast here Monday on PBS's Milwaukee station, WMVS, (Channel 10 on TimeWarner) at 7 p.m., and on Chicago's PBS station, WTTW, (Channel 11) at 8 p.m.

Joedy and Laurie may appear in one of the show's sidebars. They were interviewed by one of the appraisers about pieces of miniature luggage made by Joedy's grandfather, Joseph Kiefer. He was the Master Craftsman for Hartmann Luggage in the 1940s, and his photograph appeared on all the hangtags attached to the luggage.

Several pieces of the miniature luggage he made are at the Heritage Museum, donated by Joedy's uncle; the museum also has some of his tools. Joedy has some luggage too, perfect for traveling light: the pieces range in size from 3" to 9".

Joedy doesn't know whether she and Laurie will be part of the show, but she did say this: "We both got to meet Leigh Keno and Mark Walberg and have become their adoring fans!" Treasures come in all sizes.

KRM backers forge on

Backers of the proposed commuter rail line from Kenosha to Milwaukee with stops in Racine and Caledonia are forging on after a major setback in the state budget process.

Legislators dropped the funding source for KRM, setting back the line two years - if not longer. Transit NOW, the lobby group fighting for commuter rail, issued a statement Thursday saying they were not deterred.

"The feedback from business and elected leaders in the past few days has been overwhelming. There is more commitment than ever to keep KRM moving," Rosemary Potter, executive director of Transit NOW. "There is broad consensus that KRM is simply too valuable to lose."

Transit NOW said the southeast Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority will meet in November to develop an alternative dedicated local funding source for KRM and local transit. The organization also noted the support from several business and legislative leaders.

"While we are not happy with the outcome of a very frustrating budget
process, it is still one more step in the legislative process to keep the
train moving. Major projects are never easy, simple or advance without
opposition.

- Julia Taylor, President, Greater Milwaukee Committee

"A modern, fully-integrated transportation system that serves our City and our region is critical to Milwaukee's economic health and vitality ... we should continue to search for a comprehensive funding solution for this effort."

-Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

"While I am extremely disappointed by the partisan opposition to KRM, I am pleased to see that efforts to find a solution continue. KRM would create thousands of jobs and revitalize entire communities, which is why it has such strong support from the business community and local leaders. This could be the single biggest economic development tool for all of SE Wisconsin. We can't afford to give up now."

-State Representative James Kreuser

"We are very disappointed that KRM was not included in the state budget. Our economic success as a business and as a region lies in better connecting communities and individuals in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor. We consider KRM a great value, and a key to growth in the region and we're committed to keep working to get it done."

-Chip Brewer, SC Johnson, Director of Worldwide Government Relations

"We are not deterred by this setback. KRM is too important to the economy of this region to let it slip away. KRM is a huge priority for businesses in SE Wisconsin and we fully intend to see it become a reality."

-Jerold Franke, President, WISPARK, LLC

Trick or Treat times

Trick-or-Treat Times and Days - Trick or Treat in the City of Racine will be Sunday, October 28th, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Mt. Pleasant's will be October 28th from 4 - 7:00 pm, Sturtevant's will be on the 31st from 5 - 7:00 pm, and Caledonia's will be October 28th, from 4 - 7:00 pm.

Open mic night in Racine: It's not Greenwich Village

Waiting for the doors to open at 716 Fine Art's open mic night.

Gathered together in the warm hue cast by votive candles and dim track lighting, a crowd of people – mostly under 30 -- peppered themselves throughout 716 Fine Art gallery, waiting for open mic night to begin.

David Geisler, the gallery director, was rearranging paintings in the storefront window as a few late-comers straggled in and were welcomed by the thump of a friendly palm on the djembe. You could see the glass rattling in the frames of a few of the photographs on a nearby exposed brick wall.

With about half the seating filled, Geisler started the show at 9:30. The crowd was meager compared to turnouts the gallery had when it was in Kenosha, but it's only been here, at 401 Main St., for two months and Geisler hopes attendance will grow.

"We've retained about half of our Kenosha audience," he said. "Both our performers and our supporters. Honestly, I was surprised that so many people came with us when we moved.”

One thing the gallery's open mic night has is the enthusiasm of its participants, their acceptance of one another's creative efforts. While it's certainly not for kids, the weekly event is open to all ages and is billed to start promptly at 9 p.m.


Wine, donated by Uncorkt, is available. And the gallery isn't asking the $3 cover it requested from non-performers in Kenosha. So it might just be the best bargain for a Wednesday night.

"Everyone who's coming here is coming as they are, putting themselves out there. It's an openness you don't get in most environments," said Sasha Brown, attending for the first time.

Brown, a student at UW-Parkside from Madison, came with friends, including fellow UW-P student Jammie Davis. “The lighting and setting are awesome,” said Davis. “It's very homey. You'd feel at home hearing a political poem, or a romantic poem – or something just plain freaky."

Nothing too freaky, though. If the MPAA were doling out ratings, the event would probably garner a PG-13.

The evening's offerings included political rants on university policy, acoustic renditions of folk tunes and spirituals, quasi-erotic romantic odes, some free verse, a few rhymed quatrains and the occasional humorous sonnets. Dani Weber of Kenosha performed a few crowd-pleasing numbers, using her tap shoes to keep rhythm for a guitarist and singer as well as performing solo.

716 weekly regular Dayvin Hallmon sees the open mic presenting him with an opportunity for growth. "I would certainly say it's a place where there are friends of mine who are fellow artists, who will challenge me to learn and grow with them," he said.

"Obviously this is a new city, so you get some different folks," Hallmon
said.

"I really like the new vibe," Geisler said. "It feel's less like a performance because we're not sticking the readers and musicians in the corner. It seems much calmer, much warmer."

It's generally a casually paced evening with a ten-minute intermission. When the list of performers is exceptionally long, or when the show gets started late, it can go to midnight.

But if it's just a quick dose of creativity and personal expression you crave, you wouldn't be wrong in leaving at halftime. There's always next week, after all.

-- by Nicholas Michael Ravnikar

PROPERTY TRANSFERS: Norway home sells for a bargain at $832,000

The big deal of the week was an $832,000 home at 4395 Southdown Drive in Norway. The five-bedroom, 4.5 bath home was listed at $895,000 by Century 21. It had been on the market for more than 30 days.

The listing for it described the 3,000 square-foot home as being in a secluded, park-like setting. The home has oversized windows overlooking a pond surrounded by professionally landscaped grounds. It also includes a deck overlooking three ponds on 10 acres.


View Larger Map

In Racine, the big seller on a slow week, with just 30 transfers countywide, was a $285,000 home at 205 Lombard Ave. The three-bedroom, three-bath located near Lake Michigan at Lombard and Michigan Blvd. had been on the market for more than 30 days. It had a list price of $299,000.


View Larger Map

On the opposite end, the low seller of the week was an $18,000 home at 1709 Linden Ave. in Racine. The home was owned by Thomas Nelson and assessed at $72,000 last year.


View Larger Map

Feingold: "I will not stand idly by as this war continues..."

On Oct. 11, 2002, at 12:50 a.m., Sen. Russ Feingold, D-WI, voted against H.J.Res. 114, one of 23 senators opposed to the congressional resolution that authorized President Bush to use military force in Iraq.

Two weeks later, exactly five years ago yesterday, Bush signed it into law.

Yesterday, marking the five-year anniversary of that signing, Feingold issued a statement that concluded:

"I will not stand idly by while this mistaken war continues. I will continue working to end this war and bring our troops home, and I will continue looking in the days and weeks ahead for opportunities to debate and vote on ending the war – this year, and, if necessary, next as well.

"My colleagues may complain, they may be inconvenienced, they may prefer to focus on other matters. But this Congress has no greater priority than making right the mistake it made five years ago when it authorized this misguided war.

"I do not want to have to come to the floor again in a year to mark another anniversary of the war’s authorization, and to again implore my colleagues to act. I do not want the American people to lose faith in their elected leaders for pursuing a war that they rightly oppose. And I do not want more American troops to be killed for a war that does not serve our national security interests."

Some other points made by Feingold yesterday:

-- "America is mired in a conflict that continues to have no end in sight."

-- "The region is more unstable and our credibility throughout the international community has been significantly damaged."

-- "We have spent over a half trillion dollars and stretched our military to the breaking point."

-- "Al Qaeda has been strengthened - not weakened - since we authorized military action against -- and then went to war in -- Iraq."

-- "Finding the votes to end this war is not an easy task, but for the sake of the country, we must keep trying. I, for one, am not prepared to say in mid-October, with weeks to go before we adjourn for the year, that Iraq can wait until we come back in 2008."

-- "As we were reminded last November, however, ending the disastrous Iraq war is one of the American people’s top priorities. It may well be their top priority, and we owe it to them to make it ours, as well."

Make a Difference Day is Saturday

Make a Difference Day began small 17 years ago, but has blossomed into the largest volunteer effort in the country.

It is upon us again, this Saturday.

Marilyn Pelkey, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Racine County -- major domo of all the activities this year -- expects anywhere from 5,000 to 8,000 people to come out and spend a few hours helping others, or sprucing up their communities or neighborhoods.

UPDATE: Pictures HERE!

Young and old will find plenty to do.

Coat and clothing drives, beautification efforts, various restoration projects head the list of organized opportunities, but this is also a time for people to "get out and, one person at a time, make a difference: with a project, or on your own helping a neighbor, maybe chatting with a shut-in who would just love a visitor, or helping an elderly person down the street," Ms. Pelkey said.

"This is also great family time; we've had babies in backpacks. Children as young as two or three can go down to Kids' Cove and pick up trash. Teach them and at the same time make Racine beautiful and better."

One new project this year is the collection of outdated prescription drugs, to prevent potentially hazardous materials from being discarded into landfills and water supplies. There will be two collection points, each supervised by pharmacists: at 6200 21st St. in Racine, and at 123 N. River St. in Waterford.

The Young Professionals of Racine recently adopted the riverbanks in Washington Park as part of the city's Adopt-a River program. They'll make their initial clean sweep of the park Saturday morning, followed by a cookout.

As many as 10,000 people have been involved in Racine's effort in past years; the number depends upon the weather, and on how many schools get fully involved. Two Racine schools this year that did major projects are Jefferson Lighthouse, which cleaned up its neighborhood, and Walden, whose students completed a number of projects from cleaning up the Cop Houses to harvesting geraniums students had previously planted so they can survive the winter and be replanted on Earth Day in neighborhood parks.

Go here for the Volunteer Center's list of major projects.

Kohl gets $100,000 for Racine dental clinic

Sen. Herb Kohl has secured a $100,000 grant for the Racine Health Care Network's dental clinic.

The clinic opened last year, staffed by 12 dentists, seven hygienists, and seven dental assistants who volunteer their time. The program provided 667 appointments in eight months.

But the demand for dental services was far greater than expected; and more than half the 256 adults who had appointments for cleanings reported this their first such visit. The money will help the clinic expand hours, to serve more patients.

Racine's funding is a portion of $975,000 for dental health programs across the state added to the Department of Health and Human Services budget for 2008, which was passed by the Senate last night.

Feingold gets $200,000 for school defibrillators

The death of a Wisconsin teen in 1999 still resonates in the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Russ Feingold's amendment to provide money for schools to buy portable defibrillators has been approved, adding $200,000 to the Labor-HHS appropriations bill.

Adam Lemel, a 17-year-old Whitefish Bay High School student died of sudden cardiac arrest while was playing basketball. His mother, and others, have pushed forward the ADAM Act (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory) to fund a national clearinghouse to help schools buy the life-saving devices and train staff to use them.

"The more we can do to educate our schools and communities on how to obtain and operate AEDs (automated external defibrillators), the more lives we can save,” Feingold said.

The Senate also added $3 milltion to the Rural AED program, which, since 2002, has helped provide $45 million in defibrillator grants to rural communities.

Racine's Top 25 Movies of the Week

Here are Netflix's top 25 movies viewed by the Racine area this week. "The Professional" released in 1994 tops the list. It's the story of a hitman who befriends a little girl. "Wild Hogs" holds near the top of the list, while "The Queen" breaks into the top five along with Will Ferrell and Napoleon Dynamite's "Blades of Glory."

Here's the list:

1. The Professional

2. Wild Hogs

3. The Queen

4. Zodiac

5. Blades of Glory

6. Heroes: Season 1 (7-Disc Series)

7. Surf's Up

8. Derailed

9. Premonition

10. Apocalypto

11. Fracture

12. Peaceful Warrior

13. Perfect Stranger

14. Hot Fuzz

15. Pan's Labyrinth

16. Ghost Rider

17. Disturbia

18. 300

19. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

20. Smallville: Season 6 (6-Disc Series)

21. Next

22. Shooter

23. Reign Over Me

24. The Pursuit of Happyness

25. The Holiday

City's health costs going down

The city's health costs are expected to drop 3 percent next year. You read that right.

Changes in the city's health insurance and prescription administrators led to a project saving of nearly $800,000 in 2008.

Mayor Becker said this week he expects the account to come out flat, but is hoping for the decrease. He's not, however, expecting long-term gains from falling health insurance rates.

"This buys us a year, maybe two," he said. "We still need a permanent fix."

The city, which is self insured, expects its health care costs to drop from an estimated $17,525,106 in 2007 to $16,794,063 in 2008.

The numbers are soft - 2007 isn't over and 2008 is just a projection - but it's a good sign for a local government that had seen double-digit percent increases in health costs in recent years.

Parking fines going up

Parking tickets will increase from $11 to $13 under Mayor Gary Becker's 2008 proposed budget. The $2 increase for expired meters will not result in a windfall for the city. The parking system projected a roughly $6,000 increase in revenues for 2008 to $1.21 million, and a $39,000 shortfall for the year.

Click here to read a PDF of the mayor's 2008 proposed budget.

City budget includes $50 sewer fee for all homeowners

Mayor Gary Becker's 2008 proposed budget includes a new $50 fee for every property owner to improve the city's sewer system.

The fee would create a $1.1 million special revenue account in the Public Works Department. The money would be used to hire a plumbing inspector to oversee the repair and replacement of failed sanity sewer laterals.

Property owners would be required to pay $50 per lateral connection to fund the position, which will be paid $90,000 in salary and fringe benefits. In all, $800,000 of the fees would go to repairs on the city's sewer system.

Click here to read a PDF of the mayor's 2008 proposed budget.

Local Theater: 'Dead Guy', 'King O' the Moon' take the stage

Racine has two new plays on the stage through November.

The Racine Theatre Guild is performing, 'King O' the Moon' on weekends through Nov. 11. Here's the summary:

Remember the Pazinski family from Over the Tavern, where the young boy, Rudy, questioned his Catholic faith and one nun in particular? Even if you missed it, and regardless of your ethnic and religious roots, you’re sure to enjoy this visit 10 years later. Believe it or not, Rudy’s in seminary. As Apollo 11 lands on the moon in 1969, the Pazinskis gather in fond memory of their cantankerous dad. Despite secrets, problems and differences, they stick together and share lots of laughs.

This is a laugh-out-loud comedy that manages to tug at the heartstrings and dig into the issues of the tumultuous ’60s. It was directed by Norm McPhee, former managing and artistic director of the Racine Theatre Guild for 32 years. The cast includes Scot Johnson, Matt Specht, Jamie Johnson, Denise Denault, Chris Heilgeist, Joe Mooney, and Douglas Kramer. Cindy David is production stage manager. Steve Krempasky designed the set.

Contact the Theatre Guild at (262) 633-4218 for tickets.

And, opening this weekend...



Over Our Head Players is performing "The Dead Guy," a reality TV satire by Erik Coble. The play runs four weekends October 26 to November 17 at the Sixth Street Theatre, 318 Sixth Street, Downtown Racine. Reservations are available through the box office, (262)632-6802. Tickets are $11 - $14.

With her career on the line, Reality TV Producer Gina convinces the Ultimate Loser, Eldon, he has nothing left to lose. She offers him one million dollars to spend over seven days. For one week he can live in the lap of luxury: have whatever he wants, do whatever he wants, go wherever he wants. A camera crew will follow his every move and broadcast his adventures on national television each night. At the end of the week, however, he will die on live TV, and the viewing audience gets to vote on how he dies!

The The Dead Guy ensemble features Ken Brown, Jamie Cain, Christopher Elst, Jackie Green, Nicholas Hoyt, Jaclyn Jankowski, Ryan H. Nelson, and Connie Rogers.

OOHPS Technical Director Joseph Piirto directs The Dead Guy, and Emily Breiwick is Production Manager. Gary Alvarado of AVA Media Services provided video assistance. The staff includes Shelly Becker, Vernon “Chip” Wienke III, Michael Becker, Sea Daniel, Paula Stack, Donna Nielsen, Terry Christensen, Christopher Larson, Ron Schulz, Jerry Horton, Tom Spraker, Collin Garner, Chad Heinzelman, JoAnn Rogers, and Kathy Honigmann.

Show times are Fridays are at 8:00; Saturdays are at 5:30 and 8:00; Sundays are at 2:30.

Just what we need, more billboards!

Everybody who likes billboards, raise your hands... Now those who oppose them...

OK, all of you on both sides of this fence better show up at the Racine Plan Commission meeting this afternoon (5 p.m., City Hall, Room 205) to make your feelings known.

Adams Outdoor Advertising is proposing to erect new and/or improved billboards at the following locations:

Improved: 1101 Washington Avenue; 1301 West Sixth Street; 2200 Douglas Avenue; 2218 Douglas Avenue. (Note: "Improved" is a synonym for "bigger" in billboard-land.)

New: 1601 Twenty-First Street (2100 Block of S. Memorial Drive); 1623 De Koven Avenue; 1673-75 State Street; 1728 North Memorial Drive; 3026 Mt. Pleasant Street; 3640 Northwestern Avenue.

Most of these are standard 12' by 25' billboards, replacing existing smaller signs. The one at 2218 Douglas, however, would be much larger, 14' by 48', and the ones proposed for 1673-75 State Street and 3026 Mt. Pleasant are double-sided and electronic.

(Just helping relieve the boredom of driving, by providing you something to read...)

For maps showing the specific locations, go HERE.

UPDATE: Dozens say "no." Plan commission defers action. (Thanks, "FYI!")

Mayor mum on Pointe Blue

We got a chance to ask Mayor Becker about the $200 million Pointe Blue project. Here's how the conversation went:

Racine Post: What have you heard on Pointe Blue?
Mayor Becker: Stay tuned.
Racine Post: Word on the street is nothing will be announced until spring.
Mayor Becker: You can't always believe the word on the street.

Not sure what to make of that ... maybe an announcement is coming sooner than spring. Or, maybe, the mayor was dodging the question. In either case, no word yet on the proposed behemoth along the Root River and Lake Michigan.