Marie Boyum, certified yoga instructor and meditation teacher, and Judy Warner, board-certified massage therapist, are the newest independent health practitioners to join Lake House Health & Learning Center, 932 Lake Ave.
Both came to their professional specialties after experiencing serious health problems and finding solutions with alternative health methods.
Boyum brings more than 30 years of teaching experience to her 10 years of personal yoga practice and six years as a yoga instructor in the Racine area. She also has special certifications in children’s yoga, prenatal/postnatal, partner, corporate and senior yoga.
She began her self-sustaining lifestyle 30 years ago and after living with many illnesses and doctors suspecting cancer, she changed her life adding even healthier lifestyle options. She offers yoga classes – including midday yoga at $5 f or 15 minutes – and other meditation and wellness classes. For more information, or an appointment, call (262) 939-4964.
Warner says Reiki, a hands-on energy healing method, and prayer “saved and transformed my life” after suffering a car accident and two serious spinal fractures. She received daily Reiki treatments for several months, and friends and family stayed by her bedside and prayed. “Three months later after the accident there was no evidence of any type of fracture, nor any residual effects of the stroke I suffered,” she says.
She is a graduate of the professional massage therapy school at Wisconsin School of Natural Wellness, Racine. Her massage practice specializes with individuals in chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. She is certified in Myofascial Release, and Swedish and Hot Stone massage and is a Reiki Master. For more information, contact Judy Warner, call (262) 308-9515.
Lake House houses several independent practitioners offering psychotherapy, coaching, professional training, massage, yoga, Reiki and wellness classes and programs and feng shui.
August 24, 2009
Inflatable store going up at Regency Mall
A new store is coming to Regency Mall, located where the late, unlamented ChiChi's restaurant was. Don't get too excited, because it will only be here a couple of months.
The "building" is a giant inflatable pumpkin balloon. Inside you'll find Halloweeen costumes and other items for that singular holiday. Owner John Majdoch was unloading the "structure" this morning -- there is a steel superstructure around the perimeter. Once inflated, the balloon will be 100 ft. around and have about 8,000 sq. ft. of selling space.
"There are only two of these in the world," Majdoch told us; he designed the structure himself and had it made in Florida; think of those "indoor" golf domes. This one was at the State Fair for three years, and at I-94 and Route 50 in Bristol, but this is its first attempt to scare up business at a mall.
Halloween Express -- the Racine store used to be located in the old Kohl's supermarket on Durand and Lathrop -- is Majdoch's sole support. He has nine retail outlets -- only two of them are balloons -- and works all year to deal with 100 vendors and obtain the 10,000 products he'll sell, starting Sept. 1.
"I work at this all year," he says, "but I have only two months of income."
As you'd expect, the balloon will be deflated and hauled away at the end of the selling season.
Notes on RacinePost ...
As we continue to develop our new home (see progress here), Pete and I have been thinking a lot about advertising, news, comments and generally our hopes for RacinePost's future. In a simple sense, our hope is RacinePost continues to add readers, expand coverage and become a successful little business. Soon we'll be rolling out a new advertising rate card, new sections for stories and several additional features we hope will connect with readers while making our operation more efficient and robust.
But there's another aspect to RacinePost I'd like to do a better job of sharing. We really do exist to support and help the Racine area community. Our top priority is to celebrate local success by publishing accomplishments, promoting local businesses, covering interesting stories and showcasing the people, places and events that make Racinians proud. But we're not big enough (at least not yet) to do it on our own. We need your help.
But before I get into asking a favor, a diversion on local media. It seems a community news source (be it a paper, radio station, website, magazine, TV station) is only as useful as its ability to inform and connect its readers. If RacinePost isn't reporting timely, helpful material for people in the Racine area there's no reason for the site to exist. Anything else is simply stealing for personal gain, which is not a sustainable model for a business that relies heavily on public participation for support.
For example, publishers around the country are making money publishing the mugshots of people arrested in their community. Like pornography, it's popular, lucrative and entirely legal (even without the people arrested having gone to trial, or even having been charged). But also like pornography it's bankrupt of common decency and adds little to the community (other than reinforcing negative stereotypes and scaring people away).
This is a different view than almost all media companies, which exist to make money first, second and third. Supporting community may fall within their Top 50 priorities, but that's not entirely clear.
Here's an example. While I worked for the JT, a circulation director would sit in on story planning meetings and direct us to make murders, fires, robberies and any other big crime story the top story on the front page. Why? Because they'd sell a few hundred more copies of papers in stores and out of paper boxes. While I'm not longer on the inside, little from the outside appears to have changed at the JT in the past two years. (To be fair, many people at the JT see the same problems I'm describing and would like to see changes. But the newspaper culture, which dates back decades, is simply too strong for anyone to re-wire.)
RacinePost is trying a different approach. We're all for making money, but it's not our reason for existence. We're much, much more interested in doing everything we can to help local businesses, organizations, events and people succeed. Our goal is to tell as many people as possible about the great, interesting, important and exciting things happening in the Racine area. If you're a business, we want to know about every event, product, story and success you have. If you're a nonprofit, we want to know what you need to continue doing your work. It's the same for every church, school, group, club, sports league, etc., etc.
Here's where we need your help. If you share interesting, wonderful stories with us, we can share them with thousands of people, who hopefully will pass the word on to thousands of more people. Hopefully, if we stick at this long enough, these are the stories that will become the "news of the day" - and the foundation for new ideas, growth and success to emerge.
Let me end with specifics. If you know any place where people are having fun, we'd love to hear about it. If you know a business that is doing impressive work, please, let us know. If you know of an upcoming event that people should attend, send it over. If you know a local story that will inspire others, let's share it together.
I'll come back to this theme from time to time, but if you'd like to start today, our email address is: racinepost@gmail.com. We'll do everything we can to include your stories on the site.
But there's another aspect to RacinePost I'd like to do a better job of sharing. We really do exist to support and help the Racine area community. Our top priority is to celebrate local success by publishing accomplishments, promoting local businesses, covering interesting stories and showcasing the people, places and events that make Racinians proud. But we're not big enough (at least not yet) to do it on our own. We need your help.
But before I get into asking a favor, a diversion on local media. It seems a community news source (be it a paper, radio station, website, magazine, TV station) is only as useful as its ability to inform and connect its readers. If RacinePost isn't reporting timely, helpful material for people in the Racine area there's no reason for the site to exist. Anything else is simply stealing for personal gain, which is not a sustainable model for a business that relies heavily on public participation for support.
For example, publishers around the country are making money publishing the mugshots of people arrested in their community. Like pornography, it's popular, lucrative and entirely legal (even without the people arrested having gone to trial, or even having been charged). But also like pornography it's bankrupt of common decency and adds little to the community (other than reinforcing negative stereotypes and scaring people away).
This is a different view than almost all media companies, which exist to make money first, second and third. Supporting community may fall within their Top 50 priorities, but that's not entirely clear.
Here's an example. While I worked for the JT, a circulation director would sit in on story planning meetings and direct us to make murders, fires, robberies and any other big crime story the top story on the front page. Why? Because they'd sell a few hundred more copies of papers in stores and out of paper boxes. While I'm not longer on the inside, little from the outside appears to have changed at the JT in the past two years. (To be fair, many people at the JT see the same problems I'm describing and would like to see changes. But the newspaper culture, which dates back decades, is simply too strong for anyone to re-wire.)
RacinePost is trying a different approach. We're all for making money, but it's not our reason for existence. We're much, much more interested in doing everything we can to help local businesses, organizations, events and people succeed. Our goal is to tell as many people as possible about the great, interesting, important and exciting things happening in the Racine area. If you're a business, we want to know about every event, product, story and success you have. If you're a nonprofit, we want to know what you need to continue doing your work. It's the same for every church, school, group, club, sports league, etc., etc.
Here's where we need your help. If you share interesting, wonderful stories with us, we can share them with thousands of people, who hopefully will pass the word on to thousands of more people. Hopefully, if we stick at this long enough, these are the stories that will become the "news of the day" - and the foundation for new ideas, growth and success to emerge.
Let me end with specifics. If you know any place where people are having fun, we'd love to hear about it. If you know a business that is doing impressive work, please, let us know. If you know of an upcoming event that people should attend, send it over. If you know a local story that will inspire others, let's share it together.
I'll come back to this theme from time to time, but if you'd like to start today, our email address is: racinepost@gmail.com. We'll do everything we can to include your stories on the site.
Sixth Street's Timothy York's Bistro is closing
Joanie Stepanski outside of Timothy York's Bistro on Sixth St.Joanie Stepanksi, the owner of Timothy York's Bistro on Sixth Street, wrote the following message on her Facebook page:
To my customers, friends, and neighbors..... with a breaking heart, I have to announce to all that Timothy York's Bistro is closing for good on Friday, August 28th. We will be open next week Tues thru Friday at 4:00 pm (bar only, open until whenever) -- would love to have you stop in to say hi and farewell. Thanks to everyone for your love, support, and patronage. I'll miss you...It's a sad outcome for a quality business that overcame a lot to stay open in recent years.
Obama aide rallies Racine for health care debate
Is Racine Ground Zero for Obama's health plan?
Maybe that's over-stating things a bit -- but at the same time, one of the President's top organizers was here last week to meet with ten local volunteers at the Cup of Hope coffee shop on Sixth Street. He left them pumped up and optimistic, just in time for this week's "listening sessions" with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, 1st District, one of the Obama proposal's chief opponents in the House.
The man who was here last week was Jeremy Bird, deputy director of Organizing for America, a national network of Obama supporters. The local volunteers he met with are members of Community for Change, the volunteers here who worked hardest for Obama's election last fall.
Accompanying Bird was a reporter from the Washington Post, Eli Saslow, who wrote about the Racine visit in Sunday's newspaper.
Kelly Gallaher of Community for Change tells us how last week's meeting took place:
"In early August, I received an invitation to meet with Jeremy Bird... Jeremy wanted to sit down with us and talk about what we had been doing since the November elections, gather our thoughts and ideas about the future.
"Community for Change is one of hundreds of Obama Presidential Campaign organizations across the country that formed their own groups outside of traditional partisan or political organizations. After the inauguration, Organizing for America (OFA) began to take shape in Washington and worked to keep the connection between individual groups through an OFA website and eventually hiring a state director in Wisconsin. At the national level, OFA is a special project of the Democratic National Committee and OFA accepts no PAC or lobbyist money."
Gallaher says Obama is the first president who has attempted to adapt their campaign operation into an ongoing organization after the election. "I believe Barack Obama’s experience as a community organizer has highly influenced his choice to do so. It is also important to note that these groups all over the country direct their ideas and thoughts up the food chain rather than from the top down," she said.
At the same time, she says Community for Change "remains its own organization with events and agenda determined and funded by local organizers. Though largely comprised of a progressive membership we aim to be post-partisan and C4C will not endorse candidates for office. We feel our work is to translate national issues into a local conversation and our efforts are best used to bring people into that process."
Still, their work is cut out for them in the health care debate. Two weeks ago we had a story here about threats made against congressional listening sessions like the 17 Rep. Ryan has scheduled in the district, including three in the county this Thursday. Racine's is at 1:30 p.m. in the Great Lakes Room at Gateway Technical College (Complete district schedule here.) We took some heat for the story -- its main source at the time was the Huffington Post -- but it proved accurate regarding angry listening sessions all across the country.
As Sunday's Washington Post story points out, "OFA has responded by asking its volunteers to visit congressional offices and flood town hall meetings in a massive show of support." As Bird told Ryan Gleason of C4C at the Cup of Hope meeting, according to Saslow, "If you stick with this, I'll promise you: We will get health care passed this year."
Maybe that's over-stating things a bit -- but at the same time, one of the President's top organizers was here last week to meet with ten local volunteers at the Cup of Hope coffee shop on Sixth Street. He left them pumped up and optimistic, just in time for this week's "listening sessions" with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, 1st District, one of the Obama proposal's chief opponents in the House.
The man who was here last week was Jeremy Bird, deputy director of Organizing for America, a national network of Obama supporters. The local volunteers he met with are members of Community for Change, the volunteers here who worked hardest for Obama's election last fall.
Accompanying Bird was a reporter from the Washington Post, Eli Saslow, who wrote about the Racine visit in Sunday's newspaper.
Kelly Gallaher of Community for Change tells us how last week's meeting took place:
"In early August, I received an invitation to meet with Jeremy Bird... Jeremy wanted to sit down with us and talk about what we had been doing since the November elections, gather our thoughts and ideas about the future.
"Community for Change is one of hundreds of Obama Presidential Campaign organizations across the country that formed their own groups outside of traditional partisan or political organizations. After the inauguration, Organizing for America (OFA) began to take shape in Washington and worked to keep the connection between individual groups through an OFA website and eventually hiring a state director in Wisconsin. At the national level, OFA is a special project of the Democratic National Committee and OFA accepts no PAC or lobbyist money."
Gallaher says Obama is the first president who has attempted to adapt their campaign operation into an ongoing organization after the election. "I believe Barack Obama’s experience as a community organizer has highly influenced his choice to do so. It is also important to note that these groups all over the country direct their ideas and thoughts up the food chain rather than from the top down," she said.
At the same time, she says Community for Change "remains its own organization with events and agenda determined and funded by local organizers. Though largely comprised of a progressive membership we aim to be post-partisan and C4C will not endorse candidates for office. We feel our work is to translate national issues into a local conversation and our efforts are best used to bring people into that process."
Still, their work is cut out for them in the health care debate. Two weeks ago we had a story here about threats made against congressional listening sessions like the 17 Rep. Ryan has scheduled in the district, including three in the county this Thursday. Racine's is at 1:30 p.m. in the Great Lakes Room at Gateway Technical College (Complete district schedule here.) We took some heat for the story -- its main source at the time was the Huffington Post -- but it proved accurate regarding angry listening sessions all across the country.
As Sunday's Washington Post story points out, "OFA has responded by asking its volunteers to visit congressional offices and flood town hall meetings in a massive show of support." As Bird told Ryan Gleason of C4C at the Cup of Hope meeting, according to Saslow, "If you stick with this, I'll promise you: We will get health care passed this year."
August 23, 2009
Beautiful cars: Something for every taste
'57 Cadillac, '66 Ford GT replica, and a Ford F100 truckWe've seen some of these cars before -- at the Power Tour, at the area's weekly car shows -- but, frankly, they don't get old.
Sunday, the Racine Zoo hosted its 14th annual car and bike show, and once again -- for a day, anyway -- the animals took second billing to hundreds of cars and motorcycles shined to a fare-thee-well. No doubt, there was method to their placement, but I couldn't see it. No matter: the serendipity of finding a truck next to a convertible next to a Model A ... well, that was the real fun.
Jordon DeGroot shined Dad's '07 California Special Mustang GT/CS
Yes, this Cougar was posing as a hood ornament... on a '69 Cougar
There were just a few cars with For Sale signs, most of them pristine,with prices that matched: a turquoise '48 Chevy coupe for $32,000;
a red (and flame) '29 Ford A roadster for $25,000 (or trade).
And then this 'project' '40 3/4 ton Chevy truck for just $4,100!
If you like skulls, then you'd love Adam Gullikson's '95 Bronco -- it hadscores of them: on the wheels, the pedals, engraved into the mirrors,
the engine, the antenna ... everywhere! The car, with a 15" lift, was a kid
favorite (Go figger!) and was inspired by its owner's love of shows like
BJ and the Bear, Dukes of Hazzard and Monster Jam.
Can the driver see over the top of his '67 Chevelle's engine?Blessing of the Pets at St. Lucy's
St. Francis of Assisi's love for all creatures was recalled today at St. Lucy's Catholic Church, with a Mass at least partially devoted to pets.
Parishioners brought their cats and dogs to morning Mass, where they sat, mostly obediently, through the sermon and the singing, and then received a personal blessing -- and the sprinkling of holy water on each of them -- from the Rev. Mark Jones.As is usual for the Blessing of the Pets, the Mass was held out of doors, today in glorious sunshine.
Francis was the patron saint of animals. Research tells us, "he loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey. Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God's living things: "All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatrues."
Dozens of pets attended St. Lucy's 9 a.m. Mass Sunday. There were dogs of all breeds and sizes on leashes and in their owners' arms, and some shy cats mostly in carryng cases. Some children brought their favorite stuffed animals, which Rev. Jones also blessed as he passed throughout the congregation, which was sitting on chairs under the trees.
Another lopsided Raiders victory, 49-12
The Racine Raiders are now 7-1, after running away from the Dubuque Bruisers (5-4) early Saturday afternoon at McAleece City Field in Dubuque, Iowa. The Raiders rebounded following a road loss to the Roscoe Rush last week by beating the Bruisers 49-12.
Quarterback Ron Ricciardi (Florida State University) found wide receiver Dorian Palmer on the Raiders' first possession for a 33-yard touchdown. Kicker Ben Aguilar (North Central College) added the extra point and the Raiders led 7-0.
The Raiders' defense forced the Bruisers to punt on the next possession and Charles Owens (Eastern Illinois University) returned the punt 85 yards for a touchdown, giving the Raiders an early 14-0 lead. Owens is leading the North American Football League in punt return average at 39 yards.
The Bruisers struck on their next drive when quarterback Jamar Jackson threw to wide receiver Torrey Smith for 48-yard touchdown. Jackson's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, cutting the Raiders lead to 14-6.
The Raiders responded with a five-yard touchdown run by Bryan Jennings, Jr., (Vermillion Community College) to give Racine a 21-6 lead in the second quarter.
Jackson, after chasing down a ball that was snapped over his head, was able to buy time with his feet, and eventually found Smith for a second time, a 68-yard touchdown. Jackson's two-point conversion run failed and the Bruisers trailed 21-12.
It would be all Raiders after that as they scored 28 unanswered points to close out the game.
The Raiders return home next week to battle the undefeated Traverse City (Mich) Wolves (6-0) at Horlick Field. It is Alumni Night: Several former players from the 1950s through last year will be on-hand and will be recognized at halftime. The Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps will perform before the game and the traveling Racine Professional/Semi-Pro/Minor League Football Hall of Fame display will be onsite.
Quarterback Ron Ricciardi (Florida State University) found wide receiver Dorian Palmer on the Raiders' first possession for a 33-yard touchdown. Kicker Ben Aguilar (North Central College) added the extra point and the Raiders led 7-0.
The Raiders' defense forced the Bruisers to punt on the next possession and Charles Owens (Eastern Illinois University) returned the punt 85 yards for a touchdown, giving the Raiders an early 14-0 lead. Owens is leading the North American Football League in punt return average at 39 yards.
The Bruisers struck on their next drive when quarterback Jamar Jackson threw to wide receiver Torrey Smith for 48-yard touchdown. Jackson's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, cutting the Raiders lead to 14-6.
The Raiders responded with a five-yard touchdown run by Bryan Jennings, Jr., (Vermillion Community College) to give Racine a 21-6 lead in the second quarter.
Jackson, after chasing down a ball that was snapped over his head, was able to buy time with his feet, and eventually found Smith for a second time, a 68-yard touchdown. Jackson's two-point conversion run failed and the Bruisers trailed 21-12.
It would be all Raiders after that as they scored 28 unanswered points to close out the game.
The Raiders return home next week to battle the undefeated Traverse City (Mich) Wolves (6-0) at Horlick Field. It is Alumni Night: Several former players from the 1950s through last year will be on-hand and will be recognized at halftime. The Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps will perform before the game and the traveling Racine Professional/Semi-Pro/Minor League Football Hall of Fame display will be onsite.
August 22, 2009
New season kicks off for URUSH flag football
Racine's URUSH Flag Football League is back for another season. A full slate of games kicked off Saturday for the 12-team league, which is the premiere league for flag football players in the city. Games are played in Roosevelt Park just south of the Bryant Community Center.
Below are photos from two of Saturday's games. We're hoping to check in on the league throughout the season. If anyone can pass our email address to the league president (racinepost@gmail.com), we'd appreciate it.
Here's a slideshow of additional photos from Saturday's action (Click here if you want printable versions of any of the photos):
Below are photos from two of Saturday's games. We're hoping to check in on the league throughout the season. If anyone can pass our email address to the league president (racinepost@gmail.com), we'd appreciate it.
Here's a slideshow of additional photos from Saturday's action (Click here if you want printable versions of any of the photos):
Deadline to renew or sign up for 'No Call' list is Aug. 31, Vos reminds
Have you been getting that annoying telemarketing phone call asking if you want car insurance? You can try to fight back by renewing or signing up for the state's 'No Call' phone number list. The next deadline to join is Aug. 31, according to a reminder state Rep. Robin Vos, R-Caledonia, sent out this week.
To register for the list, call 1-866-9NO-CALL (1-866-966-2255) and sign up your cell phone and/or landline number. You can also sign up online at https://nocall.wisconsin.gov/web/home.asp.
Are you wondering why you need to re-register for the list every two years? Vos explains it in his e-newsletter:
If you find that you are receiving telemarketing calls even though you are on the list, you can file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection at www.datcp.state.wi.us; via email at DATCPHotline@WI.gov; or by phone at 1-800-422-7128.
If you're on the list, you should not receive any telemarketing calls. If you do, filing a complaint can help the state shutdown businesses that are violating the law.
To register for the list, call 1-866-9NO-CALL (1-866-966-2255) and sign up your cell phone and/or landline number. You can also sign up online at https://nocall.wisconsin.gov/web/home.asp.
Are you wondering why you need to re-register for the list every two years? Vos explains it in his e-newsletter:
If you are current subscriber to the No Call list, please also remember that you must re-register every two years or you will be removed from the list. I have received inquiries from constituents wondering why they have sign up every two years when their subscription to the federal No Call list lasts forever. The reason is largely fiscal.
Because there is almost 25% turnover in phone numbers every two years, the federal government undertakes a very expensive process known as "scrubbing" their list to most accurately reflect who is at what number. If, after two years, the person who signed up for the list is no longer attributed to that number, they are removed.
At the state level, we don't allocate money to allow the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection to "scrub" the list, so they must require that everyone re-register. It's much cheaper for the taxpayers and allows the list to stay up and running. If the updating weren't done, the state would be in danger of a court challenge for unduly and improperly interfering with the business of telemarketing.
If you find that you are receiving telemarketing calls even though you are on the list, you can file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection at www.datcp.state.wi.us; via email at DATCPHotline@WI.gov; or by phone at 1-800-422-7128.
If you're on the list, you should not receive any telemarketing calls. If you do, filing a complaint can help the state shutdown businesses that are violating the law.
August 21, 2009
Property Transfers: Map of sales Aug. 10-14
Click here or the map above for a list of property transfers in Racine County from Aug. 10-14.
August 20, 2009
Stuart Road? You can't get there from here any more
Click map to enlarge.In a manner of speaking, it's the end of the road for Stuart Road.
This has not been a good year for Stuart. Last fall, residents were all up in arms over the road's widening, the removal of trees, the addition of bicycle and parking lanes. What some said was a quiet country road became ... well, traffic moved more rapidly.
But that $3.6 million project was last year. What's got people upset today? Look closely at the map above, and note the red lines I've added at the intersection of Stuart Road and Spring Street/Highway C. Yup ... there is no longer an intersection there. Stuart now dead-ends at a newly constructed cul-de-sac. You cannot get onto Stuart from Spring, or vice versa, any more.
That seemed to surprise a number of drivers this afternoon, like the woman driving this Honda (whose license plate I've kindly blurred 'cuz I'm feeling mellow). They drove blithely north on Stuart, past the DEAD END sign at the intersection of Stuart and Daniel Court, and then 20 seconds later came back down after circling slowly. To be honest, the driver might have missed seeing the DEAD END sign since she was also talking on her cellphone...
A group of water department employees testing hydrants in the area can testify to the number of cars still heading north to Spring Street, despite the sign, and the fact that the road has been closed now for about two weeks. One of them suggested that the back of the DEAD END sign should have "DUMBASS!" printed on it...
Truth-be-told, nobody should be surprised by the change to Stuart Road; it's been a long time coming, demanded by the feds in return for federal funding for the signalization of Airline Road and the railroad crossing between Stuart and Airline. The feds determined that channeling traffic through Airline was better than having it come through multiple intersections. Don't look now, but Summerset Drive, to the east, no longer connects to Spring Street, either.
The project cost about $2.8 million, with $600,000 coming from the village.
As for the water department workers' suggestion...neither DEAD END nor DUMBASS is politically correct in this day and age. Instead, expect to see NO OUTLET signs in the future. Probably with nothing on the reverse side.
This has not been a good year for Stuart. Last fall, residents were all up in arms over the road's widening, the removal of trees, the addition of bicycle and parking lanes. What some said was a quiet country road became ... well, traffic moved more rapidly.
But that $3.6 million project was last year. What's got people upset today? Look closely at the map above, and note the red lines I've added at the intersection of Stuart Road and Spring Street/Highway C. Yup ... there is no longer an intersection there. Stuart now dead-ends at a newly constructed cul-de-sac. You cannot get onto Stuart from Spring, or vice versa, any more.
That seemed to surprise a number of drivers this afternoon, like the woman driving this Honda (whose license plate I've kindly blurred 'cuz I'm feeling mellow). They drove blithely north on Stuart, past the DEAD END sign at the intersection of Stuart and Daniel Court, and then 20 seconds later came back down after circling slowly. To be honest, the driver might have missed seeing the DEAD END sign since she was also talking on her cellphone...A group of water department employees testing hydrants in the area can testify to the number of cars still heading north to Spring Street, despite the sign, and the fact that the road has been closed now for about two weeks. One of them suggested that the back of the DEAD END sign should have "DUMBASS!" printed on it...
Truth-be-told, nobody should be surprised by the change to Stuart Road; it's been a long time coming, demanded by the feds in return for federal funding for the signalization of Airline Road and the railroad crossing between Stuart and Airline. The feds determined that channeling traffic through Airline was better than having it come through multiple intersections. Don't look now, but Summerset Drive, to the east, no longer connects to Spring Street, either.
The project cost about $2.8 million, with $600,000 coming from the village.
As for the water department workers' suggestion...neither DEAD END nor DUMBASS is politically correct in this day and age. Instead, expect to see NO OUTLET signs in the future. Probably with nothing on the reverse side.
A closer look at liquor licenses in Racine
With all of the recent talk about liquor licenses in Racine, we took some time to research who has what kind of licenses in the city. Here are some early findings from our review:
Click here for a larger map showing the location of all 210 of Racine's liquor licenses.
The city has only nine liquor licenses left for bars and restaurants, and each of those licenses will cost business owners $10,000. The state sets a limit on how many "Class B" liquor licenses cities can give out, and Racine is one over its limit of 121 licenses. The city can issue 10 more "reserve" licenses, but each of those costs $10,000. The new owner of John's Dock, the former Sandpipers on Dodge St., had to buy one of the reserve licenses to open, according to City Clerk Janine Johnson Martin. (The city could reduce the number of "Class B" licenses in the city, but it can't increase the number.)
Not every new business will have to pay $10,000 for a new license. Every year businesses turn in their licenses, which then become available. For example, this year the bar "Cash Money's" closed and the owner turned in his liquor license, which was recycled to another owner. A non-reserve license costs between $700 and $800.
Incidentally, there is a "Class B" liquor license (i.e., a bar, restaurant, club, etc.) in Racine for every 658 residents.
The city now exceeds its own ordinance for the number of Class A licenses (used for liquor stores and grocery and convenience stores). There are 65 Class A licenses in the city, but the quota is 60. The council intentionally passed a lower quota in April to reduce the number of stores that sell alcohol in Racine.
Whoever came up with the names for alcohol licenses in Wisconsin did well to maximize confusion. The four main types of licenses include: Class "A," "Class A," Class "B," and "Class B." That's right, the quotes make a difference. Here's a breakdown of the licenses:
"Class A" liquor licenses allow retail sale of intoxicating liquor (including wine) for consumption off the premises. Examples: liquor stores or grocery stores with full liquor sales sections.Video gambling
Class "A" fermented malt beverage licenses allow retail sale of fermented malt beverages (beer) for consumption off the premises. Examples: grocery or convenience stores.
"Class B" liquor licenses allow retail sale of intoxicating liquor (including wine) for consumption on the premises, and wine in original containers for consumption off the premises. If the community elects to, it may also permit sale of not more than four liters of intoxicating liquor (there are no limits on wine), in the original container, for consumption off the premises. Check local ordinances for the allowance. State law also allows carryout of a single, opened (resealed) bottle of wine if sold with a meal. Examples: taverns and restaurants with full alcohol service.
Class "B" fermented malt beverage licenses allow retail sale of fermented malt beverages (beer) for consumption on or off the premises. Examples: restaurants, "beer bars."
Another interesting aspect of liquor licenses is how they apply to video gambling machines. The state Legislature decriminalized owning up to five video gambling machines in establishments with "Class B" licenses by knocking down fines for possessing them (up to $2,500) and gutting enforcement of the state law (only 10 agents to patrol 13,000 businesses around the state). The move was, in part, a reaction to Native American gaming compacts that allowed tribes to run lucrative casinos in the state.
That said, it's still not legal for "Class B" license holders to have gambling machines. It's just highly unlikely they'll get caught. As for all other license holders, they face steeper fines and penalties for running video poker machines. However, those don't appear to be enforced either, because several Racine businesses without Class B licenses are now operating video poker machines.
State law does allow local governments to pass ordinances that would ban gambling and give authorities the power to seize machines. Racine has not passed such an ordinance.
Below is a list of all of the liquor license holders in Racine (click here to download an Excel spreadsheet with all of the establishments):
"Class A" Licenses (sell all alcohol to drink off premises) - 31
ALDI, 3110 DOUGLAS AVE
CHAMPION LIQUOR AND FOOD, 1629 DOUGLAS AVENUE
NAGRA PUMP & PANTRY, 1826 DOUGLAS AVENUE
X-PRESS FOOD MART, 2418 DOUGLAS AVENUE
PANTRY FOODS, 3711 DOUGLAS AVENUE
DURAND AVENUE MART, 3900 DURAND AVENUE
PIGGLY WIGGLY SUPERMARKET, 4011 DURAND AVENUE
PIGGLY WIGGLY, 3900 ERIE STREET
AKASH BP CORNER, 3945 ERIE STREET
PICK 'N SAVE, 2406 S GREEN BAY ROAD
ARBEE'S LIQUOR STORE, 2062 LATHROP AVENUE
DANDEE LIQUOR MART, 3700 MEACHEM ROAD
GEORGETOWN MARKET, 3710 MEACHEM ROAD
FAMILY SUPERMARKET, 1201 S MEMORIAL DRIVE
TIMER'S BEVERAGE CENTER, 3800 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
RAPIDS PLAZA PICK 'N SAVE MEGA FOODS, 2210 RAPIDS DRIVE
V P XPRESS, 3015 RAPIDS DRIVE
SAM'S CLUB, 6200 REGENCY WEST DRIVE
DAN'S LIQUOR & VIDEO, 1856 TAYLOR AVENUE
COLONIAL LIQUOR, 2813 TAYLOR AVENUE
LIQUOR DEPOT, 1401 WASHINGTON AVENUE
PORT OF CALL LIQUORS, 918 WEST BOULEVARD
SAM'S LIQUOR, 965 MLK DRIVE
ONE STOP FOOD & LIQUOR, 1711 N MAIN STREET
OPEN PANTRY DBA ODDFELLOWS, 817 S MAIN STREET
MARKET, THE, 1949 RACINE STREET
TWINS' FOOD MART, 1812 SIXTEENTH STREET
AD UNITED PETROLEUM, 1917 SIXTEENTH STREET
WESTOWN FOODS, 3322 SIXTEENTH STREET
SUPER CARNICERIA LA MEXICANA, 1336 STATE STREET
SANTA FE LIQUOR & GROCERY STORE, 516 HIGH STREET
Class "A" Liquor Licenses (sell beer to drink off premises) - 34
MJ GAS & FOOD, 1720 DOUGLAS AVENUE
DOUGLAS PETRO, LLC, 3357 DOUGLAS AVENUE
FINE FARE FOODS, 1819 DURAND AVENUE
RAYTOWN PANTRY, 2731 DURAND AVENUE
PRIYA CORP. DBA CARRIAGE MOBIL, 3818 DURAND AVENUE
MIDTOWN MARKET, 1229 ELEVENTH STREET
SPEEDWAY, 2110 S GREEN BAY ROAD
HIGH STREET FOOD MART, 704 HIGH STREET
CHRISTIANO'S SUPERMARKET, 2054 KEARNEY AVENUE
LIEUNGH'S ON LATHROP, 1933 LATHROP AVENUE
MANGAT INC., 2100 N MAIN STREET
CITGO GAS & FOOD MART, 2240 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
RAPIDS DRIVE CONVENIENCE LLC, 3502 RAPIDS DRIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD PANTRY, 1511 W SIXTH STREET
SPRING STREET STATION, 3441 SPRING STREET
SPRING STREET MOBILE, 3700 SPRING STREET
BP FOOD MART, 1975 STATE STREET
TAYLOR MART, 1813 TAYLOR AVENUE
PANTRY PLUS, 2056 TAYLOR AVENUE
MATRANGA'S SHOPRITE, 1200 VILLA STREET
MAGIC DOLLAR SUPER MARKET LLC, 1007 WASHINGTON AVE
JASON & PARDEEP, INC., 5302 WASHINGTON AVE
TOTAL 24, 930 WASHINGTON AVENUE
LEE'S DELI, 2615 WASHINGTON AVENUE
SPEEDWAY, 4620 WASHINGTON AVENUE
QUEENSWAY FOOD MART & LAUNDROMAT/JD PETROLEUM, 1530 DOUGLAS AVENUE
QUICK STOP FOODS, 1600 MLK DRIVE
SF FOOD MART, 1347 LATHROP AVENUE
LA TAPATIA, 1951 MEAD STREET
SUPER MERCADO GRAN MORELOS, 1105 N MEMORIAL DRIVE
M. J. PETROLEUM, 1100 SIXTH STREET
LINCOLN SUPERMARKET, 1775 STATE STREET
SUNSHINE SUPERMARKET, 1559 TAYLOR AVENUE
U.S. PANTRY, 1627 WASHINGTON AVENUE
"Class B" Liquor Licenses (full bar service) - 121*
DEMARK'S TAVERN, 1600 ALBERT STREET
DEROSE BAR & RESTAURANT, LLC, 1444 BLAKE AVENUE
CASTLE LANES, 5615 CASTLE COURT
SPINNAKER'S, 2 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CAUSEWAY
SHOGUN JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 518 COLLEGE AVENUE
TOMMY'S, 1921 DEKOVEN AVENUE
CHARTROOM "CHARLIE'S", 209 DODGE STREET
PAPA GUS, 2100 DOUGLAS AvE.
DOUBLE D'S II, 1307 DOUGLAS AVE.
STIL COUNTRY, 1100 DOUGLAS AVENUE
AMERICAN LEGION POST, 1234 DOUGLAS AVENUE
MI JACALITO RESTAURANT, 1318 DOUGLAS AVENUE
CHIEF'S, 1641 DOUGLAS AVENUE
OUTBREAK BILLIARDS, 1717 DOUGLAS AVENUE
BRUCE'S, 2328 DOUGLAS AVENUE
PEG & LOU'S, 3113 DOUGLAS AVENUE
BALDO'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 3408 DOUGLAS AVENUE
DERANGO'S PIZZA PALACE, 3840 DOUGLAS AVENUE
THE DRINK, 961 MLK DRIVE
TROPICAL PARADISE, 2815 DURAND AVENUE
JAVIER'S RESTAURANT INC., 3701 DURAND AVENUE
BUONA VITA PIZZERIA RESTAURANT, 3701 DURAND AVENUE
PLAZA BOWLING CENTER, 3701 DURAND AVENUE
VINTAGE ROCK CAFÉ, 3701 DURAND AVENUE
LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE & SALOON, 5880 DURAND AVENUE
OLIVE GARDEN, 6000 DURAND AVENUE
YARDARM, 920 ERIE STREET
NEIGHBORHOOD BAR OF RACINE, LLC, 2002 ERIE STREET
CHANCERY, 207 GASLIGHT CIRCLE
HANSEN'S TAP, 501 GOOLD STREET
APPLEBEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL AND BAR, 2521 S GREEN BAY ROAD
EAGLES CLUB, 319 HAMILTON STREET
TEEZERS, 1936 LATHROP AVENUE
BUCKET'S PUB, 2031 LATHROP AVENUE
JOEY'S ON LATHROP, 2054 LATHROP AVENUE
DANNY PALMS, 2322 LATHROP AVENUE
DYNASTY RESTAURANT, 2427 LATHROP AVENUE
RACINE LABOR CENTER, 2100 LAYARD AVENUE
CASABLANCA de MEXICO, 230 MAIN STREET
THE IVANHOE PUB & EATERY, 231 MAIN STREET
RICKY'S PLACE, 236 MAIN STREET
UNCORKT, 240 MAIN STREET
SALUTE ITALIAN RESTAURANT, 314 MAIN STREET
ENVI, 316 MAIN STREET
RACINE ART MUSEUM, 441 MAIN STREET
THE RED ONION CAFÉ, 555 MAIN STREET
VET'S CLUB, 820 MAIN STREET
HIRAM'S PLACE, 1012 MAIN STREET
COASTERS, 1301 N MAIN STREET
STICKY RICE, LLC, 337 S MAIN STREET
MICHIGAN'S PUB, 1300 MICHIGAN BLVD
RACINE THEATRE GUILD, 2519 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
DAYS INN RIVERSIDE, 3700 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
STONE CORRAL, 3012 RAPIDS DRIVE
INFUSINO'S ITALIAN VILLAGE, 3201 RAPIDS DRIVE
INFUSINO'S RESTAURANT, 3225 RAPIDS DRIVE
INFUSINO'S ALL SPORTS, LLC, 3458 RAPIDS DRIVE
HI-O HEADQUARTERS, 1816 SEVENTEENTH STREET
EL COTORREO, 1224 SIXTEENTH STREET
OLDE MADRID LLC, 418 SIXTH ST.
EVENTS ON THE SQUARE, 211 SIXTH STREET
MCAULIFFE'S ON THE SQUARE, 213 SIXTH STREET
THE BLUE ROCK LOUNGE & EATERY, 306 SIXTH STREET
ASIANA RESTAURANT, 423 SIXTH STREET
PARK 6, 500 SIXTH STREET
HENRY & WANDA'S, 501 SIXTH STREET
TIMOTHY YORK'S BISTRO, 600 SIXTH STREET
JOEY'S ON 6TH, 910 SIXTH STREET
OUT OF THE PAN, 550 STATE STREET
HARBOR LITE YACHT CLUB, 559 STATE STREET
TBG'S, 1814 TAYLOR AVE.
BLIND ALLIGATOR, THE, 1653 TAYLOR AVENUE
JOEY'S ON TAYLOR, 1863 TAYLOR AVENUE
HAMMES TAVERN, 2005 TAYLOR AVENUE
HILLSIDE LANES, 1400 THIRTEENTH STREET
SALT & PEPPER LOUNGE, 1111 WASHINGTON AVENUE
THE WARNING TRACK, LLC, 1301 WASHINGTON AVENUE
MR. KOOL'S SPORTS BAR, 1330 WASHINGTON AVENUE
CORNER HOUSE, 1521 WASHINGTON AVENUE
BOILER ROOM, THE, 5200 WASHINGTON AVENUE
PUB ON WISCONSIN, 525 WISCONSIN AVENUE
REDLINE TAVERN, 1200 N WISCONSIN STREET
ROGER'S, 1843 N WISCONSIN STREET
ROJO'S PUB, 1317 YOUT STREET
RUSS'S TAP, 2203 DEKOVEN AVENUE
RUDY'S, 2515 DOUGLAS AVENUE
MAX, THE, 3101 DOUGLAS AVENUE
BUCKS LOUNGE, 963 MLK DRIVE
WAVES GRILL & PUB, 107 FOURTH STREET
RADISSON INN HARBOURWALK, 223 GASLIGHT CIRCLE
CORNERSTONE, THE, 600 HIGH STREET
THE TROPICAL, 1510 JUNCTION AVE.
THE BRASS MONKEY, 1436 JUNCTION AVENUE
ENGLISH ROOM, 2416 LATHROP AVENUE
EVELYN'S CLUB MAIN, 331 MAIN STREET
GEORGE'S TAVERN, 1201 N MAIN STREET
THE RHINO BAR, 1659 N MAIN STREET
MCAULIFFE'S PUB, 3700 MEACHEM ROAD
BLUES & R/B, 1102 MOUND AVENUE
RIVER RUN RESTAURANT, 3616 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
CACKLE JACKS', 3620 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
THE OLD SCHOOL WAY, 1300 SIXTEENTH STREET
DINO'S, 1816 SIXTEENTH STREET
2ND TIME AROUND, 1922 SIXTEENTH STREET
DEE DEE'S DANIA, 1019 STATE STREET
CLIFF'S LOUNGE, 1348 STATE STREET
WINNER'S CIRCLE, 1403 SUPERIOR STREET
PIAS PIZZERIA, 1756 TAYLOR AVENUE
CITY HAUL LOUNGE, 835 WASHINGTON AVENUE
THE CLUB, 1244 WASHINGTON AVENUE
ANDY'S NOW YER TALKIN', 1415 WASHINGTON AVENUE
TRADEWINDS, 1518 WASHINGTON AVENUE
SHILLINGS PUB, 611 WISCONSIN AVENUE
KENNY'S ON MAIN, 1300 N MAIN STREET
TAQUERIA ARANDAS RESTAURANT, 1501 PROSPECT STREET
TANGO BAR, 509 SIXTH STREET
RACINE YACHT CLUB, 1 BARKER STREET
FIFTH STREET YACHT CLUB, 761 MARQUETTE STREET
RACINE COUNTRY CLUB, 2801 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
SOMERSET CLUB, 201 SIXTH STREET
GERMAN MEN'S CLUB, 701 VILLA STREET
* The owners of John's Dock recently had a "reserve" license approved, but the license is not reflected in the list provided by the City Clerk's office.
Class "B" Liquor Licenses (only sell beer) - 18
CHUCK E. CHEESE'S, 5612 DURAND AVENUE
ST. JOHN NEPOMUK CHURCH, 1923 GREEN STREET
TACOS EL REY, 2207 LATHROP AVENUE
HORLICK CONCESSIONS, 1648 N MEMORIAL DRIVE
SAUSAGE KITCHEN, 1706 RAPIDS DRIVE
WASHINGTON PARK GOLF COURSE, 2801 TWELFTH STREET
PIZZA HUT, 5000 WASHINGTON AVENUE
MI LINDO JALISCO, 1221 DOUGLAS AVENUE
J & D ENTERPRISES, 3 FIFTH STREET
CLIFF'S BOATHOUSE CAFE, 301 HAMILTON STREET
NORTH BEACH OASIS, 100 KEWAUNEE STREET
DE PIZZA CHEF, 235 MAIN STREET
NUEVO VALLARTA, 3700 DURAND AVENUE
JALISCO & MICHOACAN, 1950 RACINE STREET
FESTIVAL HALL, 5 FIFTH STREET
RACINE ZOO, 2131 N MAIN STREET
JOHNSON PARK CLUBHOUSE, 6200 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
MEMORIAL HALL, 72 SEVENTH STREET
August 19, 2009
Unified's ACT scores fall everywhere but Walden
Click to enlarge spreadsheet.Racine Unified continues to struggle with the ACT, the standardized test of high school achievement used for college admissions. ACT components include tests of academic achievement in English, math, reading and science.
Unified reported late Tuesday night that the district's overall scores, and those of students in every district high school except Walden, declined this year from 2008. Except for Walden, the district's scores, and that of students in each high school, are at their low point since 2003
The scores, in the spreadsheet from RUSD above, show that the district fell slightly below the national average, of 21.1, and substantially below the state average of 22.3. Unified's average ACT score was 20.5.
- The biggest decline came at Park High School, whose students' ACT average score dropped 1.3 points, from 20.9 to 19.6.
- Case HS students dropped 1.1 points, from 22.1 to 21.
- The REAL School dropped .9, from 20.8 to 19.9.
- Horlick HS dropped .3, from 20.9 to 20.6.
Unified's memo, by Dr. Stephen Miller, director of Standards, Assessment, and Accountability, and Jeff Weiss, director of Curriculum and Instruction, noted that state and national composite scores remained the same as last year. They said the number of RUSD students taking the ACT decreased from 755 in 2008 to 733 in 2009. Participation at the state level decreased less percentagewise, from 46,990 to 46,658.
The memo continues:
Strategies: Performance on the ACT will have increased importance as we move forward with our North Star vision, as this metric is a priority indicator of students’ preparation for college and/or career. Beginning with a review of disaggregated 2009 ACT data by administration, the conversation will be continued with school staff planning for the involvement of students in challenging core coursework. Enrollment in rigorous coursework is a key strategy for improving ACT performance.In June, three of Unified's high schools were on the state's Schools Identified for Improvement SIFI list, which is not a good thing. Case and Horlick missed meeting standards in reading, math and graduation rate, while Park missed in math, graduation rate and test participation
Longitudinal ACT data were provided for all high schools as part of the Data Retreat conducted last week in Racine Unified. These ACT data were considered when each school created their School Improvement Plan.
August 18, 2009
Council to consider alternate-side parking
on weekends during winter
Alderman Jim Kaplan knows firsthand how difficult it is to drive a city snowplow through a street lined on both sides by cars.
As a city employee for 28 years he spent time behind the wheel of a snow plow trying to navigate narrow openings in an effort to keep the roads clear.
"We have so many winter storms where it's impossible to get the streets cleared," Kaplan said.
His solution, along with four other aldermen, is to expand alternate-side parking to seven days a week from Dec. 1 to April 1. Under the current ordinance, alternate-side parking is in effect on weekdays.
Kaplan said enforcing alternate-side parking all winter long will give snow plows more room to clear streets on the weekends, which in turn will lead to wider streets for traffic after snowstorms.
"Alternate-side parking seven days a week during winter will make Racine safer and make the streets wider than they've been," Kaplan said.
The change could also save money because snow plow drivers won't have to make as many passes through city streets on the weekends, Kaplan said. The savings will be an important factor in discussions, he said.
"We just realize for economy's sake we're going to start needing to do things we need to do," Kaplan said. "We can't always do what we want to do."
Aldermen Ron Hart, Aron Wisneski, Q.A. Shakoor II and Ray DeHahn joined with Kaplan in asking the council to consider adding weekends to the city's alternate-side parking ordinance. The proposal was referred to the Public Works Committee Tuesday night for consideration.
Kaplan acknowledged people who rely on street parking would be adversely affected by the change. In particular, he said, people who live in homes or apartments without garages or driveways would see their parking options limited in the winter.
"This makes total sense except for somebody without a driveway," he said.
As a city employee for 28 years he spent time behind the wheel of a snow plow trying to navigate narrow openings in an effort to keep the roads clear.
"We have so many winter storms where it's impossible to get the streets cleared," Kaplan said.
His solution, along with four other aldermen, is to expand alternate-side parking to seven days a week from Dec. 1 to April 1. Under the current ordinance, alternate-side parking is in effect on weekdays.
Kaplan said enforcing alternate-side parking all winter long will give snow plows more room to clear streets on the weekends, which in turn will lead to wider streets for traffic after snowstorms.
"Alternate-side parking seven days a week during winter will make Racine safer and make the streets wider than they've been," Kaplan said.
The change could also save money because snow plow drivers won't have to make as many passes through city streets on the weekends, Kaplan said. The savings will be an important factor in discussions, he said.
"We just realize for economy's sake we're going to start needing to do things we need to do," Kaplan said. "We can't always do what we want to do."
Aldermen Ron Hart, Aron Wisneski, Q.A. Shakoor II and Ray DeHahn joined with Kaplan in asking the council to consider adding weekends to the city's alternate-side parking ordinance. The proposal was referred to the Public Works Committee Tuesday night for consideration.
Kaplan acknowledged people who rely on street parking would be adversely affected by the change. In particular, he said, people who live in homes or apartments without garages or driveways would see their parking options limited in the winter.
"This makes total sense except for somebody without a driveway," he said.
New Parkside chancellor meets civic leaders
Dr. James Shaw of RUSD, UW-P Chancellor Deborah Ford and Mayor John DickertThe third woman to hold the top post in UW-P's 41-year history -- the others were Sheila Kaplan and Eleanor Smith, from 1986-1997 -- Ford said she was attracted to Parkside because of its mission serving first-generation college students. She is one herself, and her two younger sisters, now teachers, followed in her footsteps. Historically, 60 to 70 percent of new freshmen at UW-Parkside are first generation college students.
She also noted that UW-P "is the most diverse campus of the University of Wisconsin system," where students of color comprise over 21 percent of enrollment. "Academic excellence is what we do here," she said, pointing to UW-P's health science program. "Ninety percent of its students go on to the graduate program of their choice," she said.
The reception on the terrace at Wingspread, hosted by the Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce and the Johnson Foundation, brought Ford together with business and civic leaders -- many of whom introduced themselves to her as Parkside alums. "I want you to tell people you are alums," she told the group, as she called upon them to create "more internship opportunities so students have more real world experience."
Ford, who was vice president of student affairs at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, whose student body of 10,000 is twice the size of Parkside's, brings, an almost youthful energy to the position. She is at least 20 years younger than her predecessor, Jack Keating, who retired a year ago after 10 years as chancellor. (I don't know Ford's age -- she received her Bachelor's degree in 1987, putting her in her early 40s -- but she is not the youngest chancellor in UW-P history; that distinction belongs to Alan Guskin, 1975-1985, who was the youngest chancellor in the entire UW system when he took the Parkside job at 38.)
Ford is actually the third person named to the office since Keating retired. First was the ill-fated Robert Felner, who was indicted for fraud a week before his formal investiture as chancellor; second was Dr. Lane Earns, who served as interim chancellor for a year while a second search settled on Ford.
In her brief remarks, Ford noted, "we're in uncharted waters due to economic conditions." No doubt that point was brought home to her when the $199,500 salary she and the University of Wisconsin regents agreed to in May was cut to $193,515 by the 3 percent furlough imposed by the budget on state employees.
Ford was welcomed to Wisconsin Tuesday by Carole Johnson, of the Johnson Foundation and former president of Gateway Technical College, who said she is confident the new chancellor "will be a part of creating solutions and collaboration," and by Roger Caron, president of RAMAC, who had been a member of the search committee that selected Keating and is one of those alums Ford mentioned, having earned a UW-P MBA. Ford, who met Dr. James Shaw, RUSD's superintendent at the mixer, said she is scheduled to meet with the presidents of Gateway Technical College and Carthage College, as well as other area educators, to explore "how we can work together."
There wasn't much speechifying -- it was an evening designed for mingling and meeting, after all -- but the briefest remarks of the night were delivered by Mayor John Dickert, who was invited by Johnson "to say a word or two, or maybe three." Dickert came to the microphone and took the invitation literally: "Collaboration and cooperation," he said, and then sat down.
Half-price homes: Local government employees may get great deal on city-owned houses
If you work for a local government, this home at 912 Birch St., could be yours for $43,000 under a program being considered by the City Council.
The city will consider selling five houses at half price to local government employees under a proposal introduced to the City Council Tuesday night.
City, county and Racine Unified employees would be eligible for the "Choose Racine Home Purchase Program," which would require them to live in the homes for at least five years. The homes, all owned by the city, for sale include:
- A duplex at 900 Center St.
- 1732 Mead St.
- 1805 Mead St. (needs repair before sale)
- 906 Walnut St.
- 912 Birch St.
The home construction proposal is somewhat limited because there are only about three lots in the city that would be eligible. The home purchase program would expand the city's efforts to attract new home owners.
The home on Birch Street was involved in a serious fire in 2007. Firefighters rescued a 4-year-old boy from the blaze, which severely damaged the home located near the Root River.
Housing Technician Bill Bielefeldt worked to save the home, which had to be completely gutted. New plumbing, electricity, drywall, furnace and water heater were installed. The home also has new siding, kitchen cabinets, flooring, carpet and a new roof.
The 931-square-foot home, with two bedrooms and one bathroom, was featured on the 2008 tour of homes. It's now listed at $85,900, which is marked down $25,000 since June. Buyers may also be eligible for special loan programs.
The "Choose Racine Home Purchase Program"was referred Tuesday night to the Housing Loan Board for further consideration.
City Notes: Web design to calm violence; Construction down in city; New contractor gets City Hall job; Stein sworn in
The Racine Interfaith Coalition hopes a program to teach young adults web design, photography and graphic design will reduce violence in the city.
RIC applied to the city to alter the use of $12,600 in Community Development Block Grant money it was awarded last December. The money is for RIC's "Violence No More" program, which is an effort to create a community-wide effort to curb violent crime.
The group writes in its proposal to the city:
The item was referred to the Community Development Committee.
Construction down in city
New construction was down 36 percent in July compared to a year earlier, according to the Building Department's Monthly Report.
The department reported $1,292,213 in new construction in the city last month, which amounted to $33,594 in building fees. Last year the city reported $2,031,415 in new construction and $46,258.60 in permit fees.
Comparing this year to last, you can see sizable declines in routine home maintenance. For example, $180,751 was spent on new roofs in July compared to $350,873 in July 2008. Spending on siding, air conditioning, heating and fences all dropped at least 20 percent over the past year.
That, in turn, led to a $12,664 decline in permit fees for July alone, which another drag on the city's budget.
New contractor awarded work on City Hall
The low-bidder on a contract for work on the exterior of City Hall has pulled out of the job.
Arnie Christiansen Mason Contractor, of Franksville, bid $116,053 for tuckpointing work on City Hall and was awarded the contract on July 7. But the company has since pulled out the job, leaving RAM Construction Services of MI as the lowest bidder at $171,526. RAM was awarded the job on Tuesday night.
It's the second contract for exterior work RAM has received this year. The company is completing a $69,325 city contract for tuckpointing work on Memorial Hall. That contract was awarded July 7.
Stein sworn in
Kelli Stein was sworn in Tuesday night as the newest member of the City Council. Stein will represent the 10th District, which was without an aldermen when Tom Friedel resigned to become city administrator. Stein was selected from eight candidates who applied to fill the seat until an election is held next April.
RIC applied to the city to alter the use of $12,600 in Community Development Block Grant money it was awarded last December. The money is for RIC's "Violence No More" program, which is an effort to create a community-wide effort to curb violent crime.
The group writes in its proposal to the city:
"We cannot just demand the Police Chief to solve the problem-nor can we make the demand for the Mayor, Racine Unified School Board, Church leader, or the business community. Every one needs to share in the responsibility in the elimination of violence."RIC's media-training classes for youths will be held at the Bray Center and the MLK Center. Here's the budget for RIC's proposed program, which was introduced at City Council Tuesday night.
The item was referred to the Community Development Committee.
Construction down in city
New construction was down 36 percent in July compared to a year earlier, according to the Building Department's Monthly Report.
The department reported $1,292,213 in new construction in the city last month, which amounted to $33,594 in building fees. Last year the city reported $2,031,415 in new construction and $46,258.60 in permit fees.
Comparing this year to last, you can see sizable declines in routine home maintenance. For example, $180,751 was spent on new roofs in July compared to $350,873 in July 2008. Spending on siding, air conditioning, heating and fences all dropped at least 20 percent over the past year.
That, in turn, led to a $12,664 decline in permit fees for July alone, which another drag on the city's budget.
New contractor awarded work on City Hall
The low-bidder on a contract for work on the exterior of City Hall has pulled out of the job.
Arnie Christiansen Mason Contractor, of Franksville, bid $116,053 for tuckpointing work on City Hall and was awarded the contract on July 7. But the company has since pulled out the job, leaving RAM Construction Services of MI as the lowest bidder at $171,526. RAM was awarded the job on Tuesday night.
It's the second contract for exterior work RAM has received this year. The company is completing a $69,325 city contract for tuckpointing work on Memorial Hall. That contract was awarded July 7.
Stein sworn in
Kelli Stein was sworn in Tuesday night as the newest member of the City Council. Stein will represent the 10th District, which was without an aldermen when Tom Friedel resigned to become city administrator. Stein was selected from eight candidates who applied to fill the seat until an election is held next April.
August 17, 2009
Library offers 1,000 'books' for your iPod
Your iPod playlist just got (potentially) longer.
The Racine Public Library now has 1,000 audiobooks available for download onto Apple devices, through OverDrive.
The Racine Public Library is a member of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC), and has received news that OverDrive, the library’s downloadable service, has updated the WPLC Digital Download Center, to enable 1,000 of the audiobook titles for download to Apple devices, including the iPod. Information about this new feature has been added to the home page and help section of the site.
The 1,000 titles are among 3,776 offered in the WPLC collection. Not all 3,776 titles are compatible with Apple devices; individual publishers decide which of their titles may be offered with this feature. The service also offers 189 MP3 titles, a different format.
From the WPLC Digital Download Center, patrons may find the 1,000 iPod compatible titles in the “Take a Look” search field on the left navigation pane. The new link is entitled, “iPod-compatible Audiobooks.” Detailed information and FAQ’s are available in the site’s help section under "OverDrive WMA Audiobook/The Basics.”
For information on how to download audiobooks, visit the Racine Public Library’s website and access the link, “eBooks & eAudio.” Assistance is also available by contacting the Reference Desk at 262-636-9217.
The Racine Public Library now has 1,000 audiobooks available for download onto Apple devices, through OverDrive.
The Racine Public Library is a member of the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC), and has received news that OverDrive, the library’s downloadable service, has updated the WPLC Digital Download Center, to enable 1,000 of the audiobook titles for download to Apple devices, including the iPod. Information about this new feature has been added to the home page and help section of the site.
The 1,000 titles are among 3,776 offered in the WPLC collection. Not all 3,776 titles are compatible with Apple devices; individual publishers decide which of their titles may be offered with this feature. The service also offers 189 MP3 titles, a different format.
From the WPLC Digital Download Center, patrons may find the 1,000 iPod compatible titles in the “Take a Look” search field on the left navigation pane. The new link is entitled, “iPod-compatible Audiobooks.” Detailed information and FAQ’s are available in the site’s help section under "OverDrive WMA Audiobook/The Basics.”
For information on how to download audiobooks, visit the Racine Public Library’s website and access the link, “eBooks & eAudio.” Assistance is also available by contacting the Reference Desk at 262-636-9217.
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