Racine celebrates its Welsh heritage

Hanging the Welsh flag in front of D.P. Wigley Sunday afternoon

On St. Patrick's day, everyone is Irish.

But does the corollary hold true: Is everyone Welsh on St. David's Day?

Apparently not, but that didn't deter anyone from having a good time Sunday at D.P. Wigley's, where a Welsh House Party was marked by a special visitor from Wales, Dafydd Wigley, a descendant of Racine's D.P. Wigley and a former Welsh parliamentarian.

The party was attended by a number of Racine politicians -- State Sen. John Lehman, Mayor John Dickert, State Rep. Cory Mason -- none of whom claimed any Welsh heritage. Monte Osterman, who is running for the County Board, said he might have "a tad" of Welsh blood, on his mother's side.

No matter, the city's Welsh heritage was well served Sunday, first by services at Covenant Presbyterian Church where the St. David's Society of Racine and Vicinity noted the day, and then at the more informal D.P. Wigley event.

Mark and Chris Flynn with Dafydd Wigley

Mark and Chris Flynn, co-owners of D.P. Wigley for 12 years, hosted the party, noting the city's Welsh heritage. In the 1840s -- David and John Jenkins were the first Welshmen to arrive -- one group of immigrants included 81 people from Wales, more than from any other country (far more than even the Danes, who brought kringle with them). D.P. Wigley is one of the oldest businesses in the city -- it began as the Racine City Mill in 1849 on the site of one of Gilbert Knapp's trading posts. Mark claims Welsh blood, and a picture found at D.P. Wigley, of John L. Thomas, somehow also turned up in his own family genealogy. So, says the former P.I. who specialized in missing persons, there's some kinda family relationship there.

Other Welsh-based businesses here, according to Mark and local historian Jerry Karwowski, include Pugh's (oil and marina) which began in 1850, nine years after the first Pughs arrived; Gold Medal Furniture and Mohr-Jones Hardware. By the turn of the century, according to Karwowski, the Welsh were "old money" in Racine, as other immigrants arrived.

Schoolteacher Mary Pugh, and John Roberts, wrote a booklet in 1948 documenting our Welsh heritage. It was called, "1840-1948: More than a Century With the Welsh in Racine." The Welsh were here just six years after the village's founding in 1834. We've had three Welsh mayors, William Vaughan in 1859, who was born in Wales, Gleason Morris, 1939-43, and Owen Davies, 1987-95.

The St. David's Benevolent Society was formed in 1889, "to assist Welshmen in need; to aim to keep the Welsh language alive and in its purity..." Mona Everett of Madison, who came here with her husband, Len, to join the St. David's Day Celebration -- her grandfather emigrated from South Wales to Baltimore in the 18oos -- told me a tale about St. David when I impertinently asked what St. David did to become a saint; after all, St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland, and St. George slew the dragon...

Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, lived from about 500 to 589 AD; he was a preacher who promoted a simple life, one without personal possessions. Mona says: "The best-known miracle associated with Saint David is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi. When those at the back complained that they could not see or hear him, the ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill so that everyone had a good view. A white dove was seen settling on his shoulder—a sign of God's grace and blessing."

Dafydd Wigley shows his family tree to Mayor John Dickert

The honored guest at Sunday's celebration was Dafydd Wigley, who gladly showed his family tree, and his relationship to Racine's D.P. Wigley.

Dafydd's family tree (click to enlarge) also revealed another interesting relative -- a distant cousin was "Murray the Hump" (Humphrey) -- Al Capone's accountant. Dafydd's wife was a harpist for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and he has visited Racine before, touring D.P. Wigley's historic building in 1995, and another time leaving his card after stopping in after the Flynns had left for the day. This year, when Chris heard he was going to be around for the St. David's Day Celebration, she made sure he'd come here again. He also attended a celebration in Minneapolis this weekend.

Karwowski gave Wigley a book of Racine postcards. And Cory Mason, also representing Rep. Bob Turner, presented him and the St. David Society of Racine and Vicinity with a plaque; the citation commemorated Welsh Heritage Week (March 1-7, as declared by Mayor Dickert) congratulated the Society, and welcomed Dafydd to Racine. The citation noted the long Welsh tradition in Racine, former Welsh mayors and how Dafydd is related to the Racine Wigleys.

For more information on Welsh-American activities, and the 79th annual North American Festival of Wales, to be celebrated in Portland, OR, in September, visit this website.

From a Welsh 1912 book; these four pictures are from Jerry Karwowski

The Welsh Kymric Club's 10th annual banquet, April 12, 1906

This Kymric Club float won first prize on July 4, 1906.

It represented music, art and literature.

Bringing up the rear in the 1909 Homecoming Parade:

The 6P's Band. Pinkham's Punk Pink Pill Peruna Players.
All the Pinkham Band boys were Welsh.

Journal Times, public relations tool ...

We take some heat for pointing out shortcomings in our daily newspaper, with critics often saying we're just beating on the competition. But there's more to our concerns about the JT than poking a stick at our chief rivals.

In many ways, The Journal Times plays as important role in local issues as any politician or company. They're the primary source of information in Racine. Their stories determine what people think about issues, and often influence how policy plays out. They're a big-time local player, and they should be held accountable as such.

That said, two baffling stories jump out of Saturday's paper. The first is the JT's lead story on the front page, under a six-column headline: "Wheaton: Patients can aid billing." The story attempts to shift the blame for Wheaton's billing problems from the health care system and on to patients. Essentially, if you go to the hospital and they screw up your bill, it's your fault because you didn't provide appropriate information or you tried to call customer service on a Monday, or over the noon hour. Seriously.

Information in the story may help some patients. Writing your account information on your payment or providing current insurance information are good tips when dealing with Wheaton. But when did the JT become a public relations arm of a corporate health care provider?

Journal Times reporters, it's not your job to help corporate flacks pass off fundamental flaws in their billing system as the public's mistake. Wheaton may be paying the newspaper for advertising, but they're not paying anywhere near enough to get a front-page, lead story deflecting responsibility for years of billing incompetence onto the public.

Please see this point. At its best, a newspaper's job is to investigate and reveal short-comings of the powerful in our community, and hold them accountable for their actions. "Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable," as Finley Peter Dunne put it a century ago. It doesn't matter if they spend money on advertising or they promptly return your phone calls. You have to dig deep, investigate, ask questions and uncover what's really going. You represent the interests of your readers, because without readers, you have no advertising, and worse, you have no purpose.

For the past few years, some in the JT newsroom have been content to sit back and wait for others to dig up scoops and then pass them off as their own. This won't continue to work. If a little website with two people working out of their homes can routinely scoop a multi-million dollar operation with over 150 years of history in the community, it's time for the institution to take stock of their actions or risk collapse.

Today's Wheaton story is embarrassing. It's PR journalism at its worst, reading like a three-fold pamphlet you can pick up in All Saints' lobby. The reporter shouldn't have written it, the editors should never have approved it and the page designer should never have placed it at the top of the front page. It's a systemic failure of a newsroom that values quantity over quality and surface over depth. Just because you slap a "Watching Wheaton" logo on your stories doesn't mean your eyes are open. Perhaps a better title would be "Obeying Wheaton."

The second story in the paper that shouldn't escape comment is the lead on the Local page, "Bookseller may skip industrial park." This story originated Friday on WRJN-AM 1400's Sound Off program when Mayor John Dickert announced that Treasures Media may not build an 80,000 square-foot distribution center in Racine's Southside Industrial Park. We heard WRJN reporter Tom Karkow report the story and did a quick re-write, crediting WRJN and linking to their report.

The JT story in today's paper makes no mention of WRJN, which broke the story, and makes it look like the reporter discovered this information and broke the news himself. This may seem like quibbling, but it's another example of the JT's arrogant refusal to acknowledge any other local media. We're used to the JT taking our stories without credit, but it's surprising to see them do the same to WRJN. It's dishonest and dishonorable work. JT management should put a stop to it.

Update: Unbelievable. The JT has apparently worked a deal with Mayor John Dickert to publish a monthly puff piece from his office.

Thoughts for Food ... a photo album

Sister act: Sue Shaff and Nancy Burke show off matching wristbands

First an apology: I'm getting too old to spend six hours bar-hopping, so had to miss more than half the 40-odd great bands who donated their talent Saturday night to the 18th annual Thoughts for Food. But those I did see and hear -- albeit briefly -- were terrific, ranging from folk and blues to hard rock (or whatever it's called these days).

The smiles of the sisters above, and the two guys below were genuine; people were having a great time while also doing good. By early in the evening, the Racine County Food Bank already had a truck filled with non-perishable food donated by the concert-goers.

Dan Taivalkoski had a hint this would be a successful event. It came Friday night, at the "all-ages" TFF preliminary concert for teens at the YMCA, where eight bands played for the non-alcoholic set. The gate there was $350 over last year's $725 -- a total of $1,075.

Update: On Sunday morning, Dan reported these preliminary results for Saturday's 18th annual Thoughts for Food:

Paid attendance was 1,189, compared to 1,122 last year. Total attendance, including volunteers and musicians, was 1,549, compared to 1,493 a year ago. Pounds of food collected: 2,696 compared to 2,588 last year.

More contributions are yet to be tallied from some Tavern League members, and a corporate sponsor or two. This year's numbers will grow. The smiles will get bigger -- and most importantly, more hungry people will be fed.

Food Bank's Dan Taivalkoski and George's David Popoff were all smiles

Saturday Night Preachers at the Eagles

Flat Pocket's Al Kosterman reminded everyone that Thoughts for Food
'is all about taking care of people who can't take care of themselves.'

Mean Jake at Chartroom Charlies

Danny Armstrong of Hwy 13 dedicated 'a song for the president.'
Um, it was the Beatles' Back in the USSR

Titus, Rench and Wheary at George's

Joel Thierfelder of Lyden Moon has magic picking fingers

Final Approach was smokin' at Coasters -- no, really!

nikdamit rocked the Rhino Bar

The Crispy Brothers played at the Red Line Tavern

JT's Mark Hertzberg got down and dirty to photograph Mean Jake

Thoughts for Food is tonight!

Labeled rocks the house at the Y Friday night

The teenagers came out in force Friday night, as the preliminary event of Thoughts for Food opened at the YMCA. Eight youth bands played their hearts out before an enthusiastic crowd of teens and proud parents.

As with the main event tonight at ten different stages in the neighborhood just north of the Root River each guest bought a ticket with cash and food for the Racine County Food Bank.

Tonight's concerts, featuring nearly 40 different bands -- all donating their services for free -- will take place at George's, the Eagles, Coasters, the Racine Yacht Club, Michigan's Pub, the Red Line Tavern, Chartroom Charlie's, the Rhino Bar and John's Dock. The bars, which donate to TFF as well, are all walking distance from each other on a good night. If you're not sure where any of these watering holes are located, here's a MAP.

Here's the complete schedule, telling who's playing where, and when. The music starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. Most of the bands will play for an hour to seventy-five minutes; the Red Line Tavern is hosting a blues jam, with an opening set and jamming after.

This is the 18th annual Thoughts for Food, so you should know the drill by now: bring $10 and two non-perishable food items to donate; put on your yellow wristband that provides entrance into all of the venues; and be prepared to have a great time. TFF began small 18 years ago -- "“A beer party with music for food” at George’s Tavern. Since then, it has raised over $300,000 and 70,000 pounds of food.

Keep an eye out for Dan Taivalkoski, executive director of the Racine County Food Bank. I used to think of Dan as the guy who distributed over 800,000 pounds of food each year to some 16 food pantries within the county -- no mean feat in itself. Those pantries provide some 60,000 meals a month.

He does all that. But as I keep running into him at these various events -- from the Harvest Benefit in November, the Polar Plunge on January 1, Empty Bowls last week, Thoughts for Food this week -- I have come to realize that he does much, much more than serve as a distributor. Someone has to encourage the donations as well -- especially in these hard times when some 20 percent more people are coming for free food each week. That's what Dan does so well -- and always with a smile.

So when you see Dan at this venue or that tonight, selling tickets, collecting food, rounding up the cash donations, be sure to say hello -- and thanks.

As he says: "These are hard times. Many people are in need. People that for years held a good job, owned a home, sent kids to college and donated to the community are now without work and in need of help. People that never, ever thought they would need assistance are struggling to remain financially solvent. A box of food helps them get along. It takes one more thing off of their troubled mind. It gives them a balanced and healthy diet for their family. Your attendance helps make this happen."

It's a tough job, and Dan does it so very, very well. Let him know you appreciate his efforts -- by showing up, and saying thanks.

Punk Rockers The Ruckus performed Friday night

Real Racine honors the year's first 40-degree day ...

All Saints surgeon: Anesthesiology services are safe, but corporate management created unnecessary strife

Dr. Dennis Anderson is a surgeon at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints. He wrote the following commentary in response to recent developments and comments regarding anesthesia services at Racine's hospital.

For background's purpose, Wheaton Franciscan All Saints ended its relationship with its long-standing anesthesiology provider in January and replaced the physicians with a hybrid of doctors and nurse anesthetists.

Here's Dr. Anderson's commentary on the change:

A lot has been said recently about the state of affairs surrounding anesthesia services at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Some of the statements have been well thought out, some not so. Questions remain regarding patient safety, how the conflict came about, and who is to blame. I have been asked to weigh in from the perspective of an active Wheaton surgeon, so I offer the following as my own thoughts on the matter.

First of all, I must say that the anesthesiologists of SEAC (Southeast Wisconsin Anesthesiology Consultants) were among the best anesthesiologists I have ever worked with. Not a day goes by in which I do not regret the loss of their professional service and their personal companionship. I certainly look forward to the day when we can work together again.

Having said that, the current group of anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists (CRNA’s) are licensed professionals, as well. They provide quality, safe service, and deserve respect. They had nothing to do with the current state of affairs. They are the innocent victims of all this. They really did not know what they were entering into when they signed up for this job. In speaking with them, none was informed of the local climate. Had I been involved in the interview process, I would have told them outright what was going on. They could have decided not to come, as it is not their fight. They could have chosen to come anyway, as it was a job, but at least they would have known what to expect. It may not have eliminated the emotional pain when harsh words are spoken, but knowing what to expect can lessen the shock.

In the past, whenever SEAC would consider hiring a new associate, they were always brought in to meet with the surgeons. Our input in the selection process was actively sought and respected. This is in stark contrast to the manner in which our new present CRNA’s were brought in. They were selected sight unseen by the administrators, with no surgeon input. The surgeons, for our part, were suddenly met with unfamiliar faces in our operating rooms, where our trusted colleagues once sat. The CRNA’s acknowledged that they did not have a chance to meet with any of the surgeons before arriving one day to start working in our OR. Thus, they were at great disadvantage, and a remarkably easy target for surgeon frustrations.

Unfortunately, as so often happens, the focus turned thereafter to personalities rather than remain properly focused on a failed process. I refer to the failed negotiations between Wheaton and the former SEAC group. Although many of the details of those negotiations are beyond even my scope, my analysis is as follows:

As this unfolded over the course of several months, there was little noise heard. When negotiations appeared to be making little ground, word started to get out. Those not directly involved in the talks, but who would be most affected by the outcome (i.e. the surgeons) began to ask questions. We got little to no information from the Wheaton negotiators. At the same time, we received constant updates from the SEAC members. Naturally, opinions began to form, but with only the information available. With no rebuttal, over time those opinions become cemented until they become virtual fact in our minds. By the time it became clear that negotiations were at an impasse, it was too late to call us in. We had already taken sides on the issue.
Had the surgeons been called in to mediate earlier in the negotiations, instead of excluded as we were, I believe that there could have been an entirely different result, and our SEAC colleagues could very well still be with us. While it was likely assumed by administration that we would naturally side with our physician friends, we may have in fact helped the hospital get some of the issues that it wanted, such as a nurse anesthetist model. In fact, as those negotiations were taking place, I was asked in a rather off-the-cuff way, if I have ever worked with nurse anesthetists. I said that I had, and that it had never been a problem. I assumed, however, that this referred to a new model to be hired by the SEAC group. Little did I know that they were destined to replace the SEAC group. It was exactly this type of slight-of-hand that so angered the surgeons. I, for one, could have easily embraced this new model had it not come about in such an unseemly way.

Now that our former anesthesiology group is gone, and permanently replaced, I can only consider them as casualties in a war that did not have to happen. Moving forward, I feel it is only fair to treat our new providers with the respect they deserve. Surgery, and anesthesia at St. Mary’s Hospital are safe and of high quality. Patients should feel comfortable coming to our institution for care. In speaking with most of the CRNA’s, now that they understand the circumstances, they are able to move beyond the hurtful words that had been tossed in their direction. We can all get back to the business of taking care of our patients, without having to worry about who should apologize to whom.

That is not to say that all issues are resolved. If it was the negotiation process that failed, then it is the process that needs serious re-examination. And Wheaton officials know that they were in charge of the negotiation process. Wheaton officials have to understand where they went wrong in this whole affair, and remain accountable so that it does not happen again. Up front, fair-minded negotiations will lead to more favorable results than the hard-lined, ultimatum-driven, corporate style they are used to. I think they know that now, but they may need reminding now and then.

Dennis Andersen, MD

Artists with disabilities decorate agency's office

David Insurance Agency of Racine has bought nearly 40 paintings created by participants in the Career Industries Art & Soul program. The sale -- the program's largest ever -- raised $900, of which one third will go to the artists and two-thirds for the program to buy art supplies.

The Art & Soul program is part of the in-house activities and community-based opportunities offered through Career Industries' Integrated Day Services program, providing employment and other activities for people with disabilities. Art & Soul works have been for sale and on display at numerous art fairs.

Career Industries "has a great stock of talent and some of their participants have developed nice artistic abilities," said Chris Antonneau, president of David Insurance Agency, Inc. “Originally, they asked if we would like to display the art at our place of work... We obtained about 40 paintings and found them to be very enjoyable. They’re bright and colorful, and it’s evident the artists enjoy what they’re doing. Instead of looking to be a vendor of these items, we chose to permanently keep them.

“The office had a fun time decorating with them,” said Antonneau. “The artists have true artistic ability. The color scheme exudes the joy that people are putting into these pieces of art as they work on them. The paintings brighten up our office and people. Having been produced by adults with disabilities and knowing the great work that Careers Industries does, our people are intrigued by the artwork. Understanding that the person that produced (a painting) has his or her own challenges, they were really impressed with the work and the fact that we can support Careers in this way.”

Other businesses that own or display work from the Art & Soul program include Psychiatric Services of Racine, DeRose Dental Office and Bestway Flooring Center. For more information contact Dawn Parrish at (262) 752-4100 or the website. Art work can also be purchased directly at Careers Industries at at 3502 Douglas Avenue.

Andis' Freedom Clipper named 'best new product'

Andis' Company's Freedom Clipper was recently honored as one of the Best New Products of 2010 by Tack 'n Togs, an international publication for equine retailers. The award was announced in the magazine¹s January issue.

The Freedom Clipper is a rechargeable cord/cordless clipper for touching up horses' fetlocks, ears and face. Matt K. Andis, vice president of sales for the Sturtevant company, says the clipper "operates so quietly that horses stay calm when the clipper is close to their ears and face for clipping. It is perfect for quick touch ups on the bridle path or at horse shows.”

Dickert: Treasures Media needs a bigger site to expand

Treasures Media is abandoning plans to build a new distribution center in the city's Southside Industrial Park because the company needs more space, Mayor John Dickert said on WRJN-AM 1400's Sound Off program Friday. (You can hear the report here.)

Dickert said Treasures Media bought another company over the holiday season that expanded its needs.

"They're growing so fast that they may not have time to build there," Dickert told WRJN. "They may actually have to get another site that's even bigger. We're working with them on doing that in Racine."

Treasures had planned to build an 80,000 square-foot distribution center where the former Jacobson/Textron industrial plant was located.

WRJN reported Treasures' new site may create up to 45 new jobs. Dickert declined to say what sites Treasures was looking at, but said it would be bigger than the South Side Industrial park location.

Dickert also said on Sound Off that the city was working with two other companies about moving to the city, and the city is finalizing a contract with American Tire and Recycling to open a new plant on South Memorial Drive.

The American Tire deal is moving forward after a court decision in January kept things in track. American Tire had planned to open sometime in the first quarter of 2010. They plan to create up to 88 jobs at the site.

Democratic leaders, trying to protect Lehman, are killing commuter rail, insider says

Democrats are putting on a good show with efforts to pass a regional transit system in southeastern Wisconsin that would combine bus systems and allow KRM commuter rail to move forward.

But it's an open secret in the Legislature that Democratic leadership, particularly in the Senate, will not allow a transit proposal reach the floor for a vote, according to a Democrat insider with knowledge of the negotiations.

The RTA and KRM are DOA.

Democratic leaders have no interest in pushing any of the proposals circulating around the Capitol that would combine Racine, Kenosha and Milwaukee counties into a regional transit authority paid for with some sort of combination of taxes, transportation aids and local government spending.

Majority Leader Russ Decker and other top Democrats are afraid pushing the proposal will force Democratic legislators to either vote for a tax increase or vote against KRM commuter rail. Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, is of particular concern because he's up for re-election this November against Republican Van Wanggaard.

"Lehman is terrified of voting for any sort of tax increase," according to the Democratic insider. "Call it the Petak effect."

Former state Sen. George Petak, R-Racine, switched his vote in the middle of the night in favor of a tax increase on Racine County to pay for the new Miller Park. Local residents threw him out of office and replaced him with Democrat Kim Plache.

Lehman is afraid voters will do the same to him. He's so skittish on the possibility he's even afraid to vote for fellow Racine Democrat Cory Mason's plan that would allow Racine County to join an RTA without passing a tax increase. The plan does call for a sales tax increase in Milwaukee, and Lehman is fearful he'll be linked to the tax increase.

Decker, who's trying to hold on to control of the State Senate through the November election, will not allow any transit legislation come up for a vote this spring, according to the Democratic insider.

"All of this is being done so Lehman doesn't have to vote on KRM," the insider said. "They want it to look like he supports it, but never has to vote on it."

The insider provided detailed specifics on how Democrat leaders in the Senate intend to kill the legislation. The plan was to have Sen. Jim Holperin, chairman of the Senate's Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources, basically pass the bill (SB205) to Sen. Jeff Plale, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail, who would sit on it and refuse to allow it to come up for a vote.

"Once it gets to Plale it's in a blackhole," the insider said.

Holperin apparently complicated things by refusing to release the bill, the insider said. Regardless, Decker will never allow the full Senate to vote on an RTA for southeastern Wisconsin.

The Democratic insider added it may not matter. Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha need a "consistent dedicated source" of income to receive $250 million in federal money to build the KRM commuter rail system. That basically means they need to agree to a regional sales tax, which isn't going to happen.

Mason and Milwaukee Rep. Tamara Grigsby released a plan that would avoid a sales, wheel or room tax for Racine County, but that plan won't pass muster with the federal government, the insider said. Gov. Jim Doyle's plan is the best option, they said, but Democrats' efforts to protect Lehman will kill the proposal.

"The whole process is frustrating since the votes for a three-county RTA with a consistant funding source would pass is Lehman would stop playing politics and do the right thing," the insider said. "It's an easy vote for him, but he's trying to have it both ways."

In summary: the RTA is dead, and KRM commuter rail is dead along with it.

Racine Arts Council unveils encaustic wax art show Saturday

Racine's newest art show is based on one of the world's oldest art forms.

The Racine Arts Council is unveiling an encaustic wax art show on Saturday featuring four local artists who use melted wax to create paintings and sculptures. Artists Maggie Venn, Nirmal Raja, Jay Mollerskov and Kathleen Laybourn have pieces in the show, which has an opening reception Saturday from 6-9 p.m. at the Arts Council, 316 Sixth St.

Encaustic comes form the Greek word "enkaustikos," which means "to burn in." Encaustic painting consists of pigment mixed with beeswax and then applied with heat, which explains the title of the Arts Council's show, "Burn, Baby, Burn!" (Right: Urban Landscape by Maggie Venn.)

Mollerskov, curator of the show, said the four contributing artists show off encaustic painting's wide variety of uses. While he uses wax to create paintings that he literally sets on fire, Venn and Raja use wax to embellish collage and sculptures. Laybourn pours melted wax over life-sized dresses to create elaborate sculptures that will hang in the Arts Council gallery.

"Everyone approaches it differently," Mollerskov said. "Rather than have thematic content for the show, the medium itself is the theme."

"The pieces complement each other," he added, "but there's a nice variety."

Mollerskov said one of the surprises he discovered in putting the show together was the large number of artists between Kenosha and Milwaukee who work with encaustics. That fits with a national trend, which has seen encaustics gain in popularity after a lull dating back to the 1960s when Jasper Johns was creating his famous target paintings.

That's not to say encaustics are trendy. Some of the oldest paintings in the world were created with wax on the tombs of Egyptian mummies nearly 2,000 years ago.

"Burn, Baby, Burn!" will be at the Arts Council through the end of April. The gallery is open most days from noon to 4 p.m., or by appointment if you call the gallery at (262) 635-0261.

(Left: Encaustic painting by Jay Mollerskov)

While he sought longer, District Attorney says he can 'live with' Becker's prison sentence

District Attorney Michael Nieskes said Thursday he wasn't surprised to learn Gary Becker was shopping for women's underwear 15 days before his sentencing hearing.

"I'm not surprised a sex offender who has a history of taking risks and making bad decisions on a regular basis on how to conduct themselves continued that behavior," Nieskes said.

DA Michael Nieskes making a point during hearing

Nieskes' office secured a three-year prison sentence for Becker on Wednesday on crimes related to the former mayor's arrest in an Internet sex sting in January 2009. The District Attorney had recommended Becker serve five years in prison for the crimes.

Judge Stephen Simanek sentenced Becker to three years in prison after learning Becker shopped at Boston Store last month for nine items of women's lingerie. Simanek said before learning about the shopping trip he was prepared to give Becker probation for his crimes.

Nieskes said Thursday the revelation of Becker's shopping trip didn't change his recommendation of five years in prison.

"My recommendation didn't change, but it strengthened my argument," Nieskes said.

As for Simanek's decision, Nieskes said he stood by his recommendation for the five years in prison. But he added he had no comment for or against Judge Stephen Simanek's sentencing.

"The judge made his determination. I don't feel it's appropriate to comment one way or the other," Nieskes said. "The judge had a different interpretation. It's a ruling I'll live with."

Becker's attorney, Patrick Cafferty, said Wednesday he would talk with Becker about appealing the judge's ruling. Nieskes said there's not much to appeal. Becker plead guilty to the two felonies he was sentenced on, and the state gives circuit court judges a great deal of power over sentencing.

"I don't know what the basis of the appeal would be," Nieskes said. "I feel this case is a very solid case. The record is clear. It doesn't mean someone won't file an appeal."

As for the revelation during the hearing that Becker admitted to having an affair with two city employees while mayor, Nieskes said the information came from a written statement by Becker and medical reports taken while Becker was receiving treatment.

All of the documents that report Becker's affairs were sealed by the court and unavailable to the public, Nieskes said. This is typical in criminal trials, he said.

Biz News: Andis promotes Ivan Zoot to expand role

Andis Company is pleased to announce that Ivan Zoot has been promoted to Director of Education and Customer Engagement.

In his new position, Zoot is responsible for strengthening the Andis brand through improved communication and education about Andis products with both sales groups and customers.

“Ivan has been both creative and prolific in his efforts to expand awareness of Andis products throughout the various markets that we are involved with,” says Gary Stanczyk, vice president of sales at Andis. “He frequently posts videos on YouTube demonstrating and explaining how to use our products. He is also well known at trade shows for his lively repartee during educational showcases.”

A licensed cosmetologist and barber, Zoot’s background includes experience as a hairstylist, salon manager and owner, hair care product manufacturer, salon chain technical trainer, regional sales manager and consultant in the professional beautyindustry. He holds three Guinness World Haircutting records.

In his previous position with Andis, he identified, recruited, trained and managed Andis’ team of professional beauty industry educators. He is often a featured presenter at industry shows and eventswhere he shares information, education and his enthusiasms for clipper cutting and for the professional beauty industry.

About Andis Company

Andis Company, a family held business founded in 1922, is a leading manufacturer of handheld tools to trim, cut, curl, straighten and dry hair. The company’sproducts are purchased worldwide by barber and beauty shops, consumers, hotels,motels, resorts, small animal groomers and large animal groomers and shearers. To find a local distributor, call the company at 800-558-9441 or visit their website at www.andis.com

Diversey's Catherine Conaghan named Young Professional of the Year

A world-traveling auditor from Diversey Inc. was named the Young Professional of Racine's 2010 Young Professional of the Year.

Catherine Conaghan was given YPR's annual award for her professional success and local volunteering efforts. Conaghan works on an international auditing team for Diversey, formerly JohnsonDiversey, and serves on boards for Girls Inc. and YPR. She also volunteered at San Juan Diego, co-led a women in science and engineering group at JohnsonDiversey and graduated from Leadership Racine.

Conaghan is YPR's seventh Young Professional of the Year. Previous winners include: 2009 - Chris Antonneau (David Insurance); 2008 - Jeff McKeown ( Express Personnel Services); 2007 - Doug Nicholson (Ivanhoe Pub & Eatery); 2006 - Anne Stillman (CNH); 2005 - Jay Christie (Racine Zoological Society); 2004 - John Busey (Robert W. Baird).

Conaghan was one of four finalists for the 2010 award. Other finalists include: Gordan Bittner (Realtor), Janine Anderson (The Journal Times), and Russell Warren (SAFE Haven).

Other nominees for the 2010 Young Professional of the Year award include: Sara Luther Hagerman, interim director of QTI of Southeastern Wisconsin; Jim Moes, teacher at Jefferson Lighthouse Elementary; JJ McAuliffe, owner of McAuliffe's Pub; Bret Glembocki, staff scientist at JohnsonDiversey; Michael Fischer, staff scientist at JohnsonDiversey; Tracy Nielsen, vice president-marketing and resource development; Jane Kurylo, business services team lead, Workforce Development Center.

Mason proposal backs KRM without need for local tax increase

The state Legislature is continuing its mystifying debate over the so-called "regional transit authorities" that would be used to pay for buses and commuter rail in southeastern Wisconsin.

Maybe this falls on the J-S reporter, but seriously, I dare anyone to read this article and explain what's going on with the RTAs. Racine State Rep. Cory Mason is somehow involved in this, but good luck trying to decipher what he's proposing along with Rep. Tamara Grisby.

Honestly, as an outsider, it seems Democrats are doing their best to muddy the waters and avoid any sort of meaningful action on an issue that's unpopular with the public. After all, most people who vote own cars and wouldn't think of using public transportation.

I'm working on a story about the stunning mismanagement of this entire process, including inept public relations on explaining how and why public transportation is important to Racine and other communities throughout southeastern Wisconsin. More on this in the next few days ...

Update: Here's a much better story by Sean Ryan of The Daily Reporter that explains Mason's proposal. Essentially, Mason is trying to avoid tax increases by dedicating local transportation aids to transit systems in Racine and Kenosha. In exchange, Racine and Kenosha need to maintain their spending on transit systems at 2010 plus an annual inflation increase.

I just talked with Mason about his proposal, which is much simpler than the J-S story suggests. Mason and Grisby came up with the plan to try and break gridlock around a regional transit authority for southeastern Wisconsin. The RTA is important because the federal government won't release roughly $250 million for the KRM commuter rail system unless there's regional cooperation on transit.

Mason's plan allows Racine and Kenosha to join the RTA, formally called the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, or SERTA, without passing a tax increase. That's important because proposals for wheel, sales and hotel taxes are politically difficult.

Under Mason's proposal, Racine would transfer its Belle Urban System to SERTA, which would run the buses. Kenosha would do the same with its transit system. Both cities would continue to pay for the systems, plus a cost-of-living increase, and the state would allocate $2.5 million for Racine and $2.5 million for Kenosha out of the local transportation aids typically used to rebuild local roads.

Why spend money on buses instead of roads? Because it would convince the federal government to approve the $250 million for commuter rail, Mason said.

The plan, like everything with KRM, local transit and RTAs, has obstacles. One big one is Gov. Jim Doyle opposes Mason's plan. The governor favors his own proposal, which would require Racine and Kenosha to approve some sort of tax increase.

Mason said he was "disappointed" with the governor's response because Doyle's plan doesn't have enough votes to pass the Assembly. Mason said his plan has more votes than Doyle's plan, but he stopped short of saying he had enough votes to pass the proposal.

What does all this mean for KRM? It still seems like a long shot, but at least there's a proposal out there that would allow Sen. John Lehman to support commuter rail without having to support a tax increase. That's important because Lehman, D-Racine, is up for re-election this year, and he may have a tough race against Republican challenger Van Wanggaard.

Update 2: Mayor John Dickert is backing Mason's proposal.

“It takes the taxpayers of Racine out of the equation,” Dickert said in a statement from his office.

Dickert's statement added the bill requires the Department of Transportation to move from singling out roads to a more Regional Transit focus, which he feels is important because expanding highways does not necessarily help cities.

More on the Becker hearing ...

Following Wednesday's sentencing hearing for former Mayor Gary Becker, Judge Stephen Simanek said to a nearly empty court room he was surprised by his own ruling.

"If you would have told me on Monday this would happen, I wouldn't have believed you," he said shortly after sending Becker to prison for three years for crimes related to an Internet sex sting in January 2008.

Interestingly, the action that sent Becker to prison wasn't illegal. Simanek said Becker's decision to go shopping at Boston Store for women's underwear convinced him the former mayor needed to go to prison for further treatment.

Much was made about the size of the underwear and whether it was for young girls or a 46-year-old woman who Becker was apparently dating. Simanek said he didn't care who it was for, it was stupid for Becker to be shopping for women's underwear 15 days before his sentencing hearing.

DA Mike Nieskes with display
of lingerie like that Becker bought;
Asst. DA Robert Repischak in foreground

No doubt that's true. But Becker really didn't break a law in shopping for women's underwear. His parole bond didn't have a condition to avoid lingerie departments or refrain from giving bras and panties as gifts. Even sex offenders can buy underwear.

Becker's crime was not playing the game. Simanek said Becker's attorney, Pat Cafferty, worked the system perfectly. Monday, Becker was set to receive probation and no prison time for his actions. He could go on rebuilding houses and living a somewhat normal life in the city he once oversaw as mayor. Wednesday, he was in prison.

Just as a fateful trip to a mall started his legal troubles, it was a fateful trip to a mall that ended Becker's legal troubles behind bars.

It was interesting to watch Judge Simanek's vitriol at Becker during the hearing. I noted on the live-blog of yesterday's hearing it was almost like Simanek was saying, "Gary, you idiot. You were off the hook, but now I have to send you away."

But Becker's action backed the judge into a corner. When the District Attorney pulled out a display board with a hot pink bra with a butterfly on it for the TV cameras, Simanek's own reputation was on the line. It was already going to be unpopular to let the former mayor walk. After the Boston Store purchases, Simanek decided it was impossible.

As an observer untrained in sex crimes and legal proceedings, it seems hard to say if Becker is a danger to society. He obviously had some dark, disturbing thoughts about sex and young girls. But for all those chats, he never (or at least was never able) to follow through on those impulses. According to court records, one expert said Becker wasn't a threat, and another said he was. Probably best to err on the side of yes, while acknowledging how close the court was to saying no.

What's easy to say is Becker failed to play the game. The system was wired for him to walk away from all this, and he screwed it up. Simanek called it arrogance and a sense of invincibility. Others may call it an addiction or a sickness. No matter the label, Becker has a few years at Dodge Correctional Facility to, hopefully for his own sake, sort out a confused life and return a better man.

* Credit Assistant District Attorney Robert Repischak with the line of the day from Wednesday's dramatic, at times bizarre, hearing. Repischak said of Becker: "He was following a deviant rainbow hoping at the end he'll find a pot of gold that's a 14-year-old girl."

* Following the hearing, I asked Cafferty if he'd be willing to talk about the case. He declined, saying he had to talk with Becker about an appeal.

Atty. Pat Cafferty and Gary Becker during the sentencing hearing

Police create 'emergency sanctuary'

The Racine Police Department today announced creation of an "emergency sanctuary option" at their headquarters at 730 Center Street. Even when the building's lobby is closed after normal hours, those who need help will be able to get in for protection and immediate assistance.

The news release from the Police Department says:

The Racine Police Department would like to announce that there is now the means for someone in a dire emergency to access the Police Department lobby area after normal business hours. It is as simple as pressing the red button on the silver phone box and quickly explain the emergency. The silver phone box is located on a post just outside the doors at the front of the police department.

The person who needs immediate access should tell the dispatcher / call taker what the emergency is (being pursued, currently being assaulted outside the department, suffering from injuries requiring immediate medical assistance, etc.) and they will activate the door lock system. This will permit you to open the door, and close it, relocking the door behind you.

Immediately, the dispatcher will send out the Shift Commander and other officers from inside the department and / or dispatch multiple squads to the department in an effort to neutralize the immediate threat and provide assistance as needed.

There have been incidents around the country (and some here in Wisconsin) whereby victims of assault have driven to the Police Department in hopes of receiving sanctuary from a threat, only to find the doors locked and no assistance available. It is our hope that this type of incident will not occur here and that citizens can feel comfortable knowing that we are taking additional steps to ensure their safety.

Judge sentences 'brain-dead' Becker to three years in prison after former Racine mayor caught buying women's underwear

Handcuffed Gary Becker being led off to jail

Gary Becker's mind-numbing stupidity got him arrested, and then it got him sentenced to prison.

Judge Stephen Simanek sentenced Racine's former mayor to three years in prison Wednesday for charges related to the Internet sex sting that nabbed Becker in January of 2009. Becker was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom and is on his way to Dodge Correctional Facility to serve his sentence.

Becker was so close to walking away with probation. Simanek said as much during the three-hour hearing that produced a number of bombshell developments a Hollywood screenwriter would struggle to invent.

The biggest, at least for Becker, was the revelation that 15 days ago he went shopping at Boston Store in Racine for young girl's underwear. District Attorney Michael Nieskes disclosed Becker bought nine panties and bras - some with butterflies and puppies on them - in small or petite sizes on his credit card. The Boston Store clerk recognized Becker and reported the purchases to police, noting Becker spent an unusually long amount of time for a man browsing in the lingerie section.

Nieskes even presented a display in court, left, showing the girlish-looking underwear.

Patrick Cafferty, Becker's attorney, tried to beat back the report by providing an affadavit from a 46-year-old woman who claimed the underwear was for her. The woman was 5-foot-3 and 103 pounds, small enough to fit the underwear.

But Simanek was having none of it. He said up to Monday he was prepared to give Becker probation for his crimes, but the disclosure about Becker's Boston Store shopping changed his mind. In his decision, Simanek pounded Becker for "a sense of arrogance and invincibility that is astounding to the core."

"Mr. Cafferty does everything humanly possible to avoid prison, and two weeks ago, Mr. Becker goes and purchases all of these items, knowing it's exactly, exactly what got him in trouble," Simanek, right, said. "It's almost like a death wish. It's almost like you have to be brain dead to not understand the significance of that."

In a near empty court room after the hearing, Simanek told Cafferty he would have given Becker probation. "If you would have told me on Monday this would happen, I wouldn't have believed you," he said.

Even with the three-year sentence, Becker got less time than the District Attorney and the state were recommending. The DA's office requested a five-year sentence and the state, which ran the sex sting that caught Becker, recommended a four-year sentence.

Becker's Boston Store shopping was only one of several major developments in the dramatic hearing.

Nieskes revealed Becker ran out of gas on the way to his fateful meeting at Brookfield Square Mall with an undercover state agent posing as a 14-year-old girl. He said Becker was so determined to reach the mall to meet with the girl that he first called his secretary to ask if she could call the State Patrol and ask them to bring him gas. He then got a friend to bring him gas so he could finish his trip to the mall - and his eventual arrest.

Nieskes also said Becker admitted to having an affair with his secretary and another city employee. Becker's secretary was Sandra Tingle, who sued the city for sexual harassment after she was fired from her job.

Becker scowled during most of Wednesday's sentencing hearing

RacinePost live-blogging today's Becker sentencing hearing

Commentary: Here’s an old-fashioned idea: Pay for the war

By Randolph Brandt

Despite all the noise to the contrary, our great entitlement programs, Social Security and Medicare, actually pay for themselves, as would the pending health care reform bill.

Indeed, with the exception of the exceptional emergency efforts to bail out the economy in the closing months of the Bush administration and the first days of Obama’s, pretty much all the rest of our typical domestic needs remain pay as you go.

What doesn’t pay for itself is our war against terrorism and our military incursions into the Middle East and Afghanistan.

No, we’ve been borrowing every dollar to fight those wars for more than eight years, and all those hundreds of billions of dollars have been off budget, off the books, and a straightaway mainline injection of colossal debt shot so far into the body politic that there’s no conceivable cure in sight.

It wasn’t always like that. Our last “Good War,” World War II, was good in many ways, not the least of which is that we actually paid for it. We did that in large measure with increased taxation, with marginal tax rates of up to 94 percent, though the average percentage was closer to 20.

And, yes, we borrowed some, but mostly we borrowed it from ourselves, via liberty bonds sold in great campaigns to the American public. In that way, everyone was seriously vested in the war, and the payback from those bonds went into the pockets of Americans, who used it after the war to fuel the greatest economic expansion in the history of mankind.

We paid for World War II in blood and treasure, but it was the treasure part that paid back many times over for American business, industry, workers and their families.

Then, somehow, after those heady postwar years, we got the idea that we could just fight our wars on the cuff.

President Johnson encountered that public reality during one of our longest, most expensive wars, Viet Nam. Though he first tried to make the war a pay-as-you-go venture, so much opposition built up that he finally gave up on his tax surcharges and austerity measures, especially after people wouldn’t even let him close the Post Office on Saturdays to save money.

So, we printed more money instead, triggering the greatest decade of inflation since the Revolutionary War.

We won the Cold War mostly on borrowed money, too. President Reagan cut taxes but ballooned defense spending at the same time, hoping to drive the Soviet Union out of business. After a fashion, it worked.

We may not have been all that much stronger than the Russians in the beginning, but we did have better credit, so we just outspent them until their Soviet Union collapsed in bankruptcy, trying to keep up with us.

But it left us with the beginnings of the crushing national debt that’s plagued our country for three decades.

We’ve been fighting in the Middle East for nearly a decade, spending tens of billions of dollars — soon to be trillions — in borrowed money, while just putting the tab on a federal credit card, whose bills will come due for the next generation, and the generation after that.

But it’s even worse this time. It’s not only that we’re borrowing all that money, but also who we’re borrowing the money from.

We’re not borrowing it from American citizens this time, but from our erstwhile enemies, the communist Red Chinese.

So, for the foreseeable future and beyond, all the principal and interest that finances the wars we’re unwilling to pay for now will be going to our greatest international competitor, The People’s Republic of China, fueling its next greatest economic expansion in the history of mankind, instead of ours.

It’s also a pretty sure bet that the Chinese aren’t terribly disappointed that we’re exhausting the fighting effectiveness of our military at the same time we’re sacrificing our economic future, all the while contributing mightily to the stupendous growth of their military and economic might.

Perhaps the Chinese will never boast, as the Russians did, that they’ll bury us, but we’re certainly putting them in the position to be able to bankrupt us, much as we did the Soviets.

There is a solution.

For a millennium, the West has been invading the Middle East, whether to liberate the Holy Land in the Middle Ages, fill the power vacuum of the failed Ottoman Empire after World War I, secure the Suez Canal after World War II, or to make sure oil supplies reached the rest of the world in the 1990s and 2000s.

We’re no different, so let’s reach back into history for a possible answer.

During the Crusades, the West financed its wars in the Middle East with what was called the “Saladin Tithe.” That was a 10 percent tax on income named after Saladin, the fundamentalist Muslim holy warrior who vexed the West by trying to drive the Christian Crusaders out of Iraq, Syria and the rest of the Holy Land.

Everybody paid the Saladin Tithe, except those who “took up the cross” to fight in the Middle East, and their families.

Maybe we should consider the same thing, but this time, we’ll call it the bin Laden tax. Think about it; it even rhymes: — Saladin, bin Laden.

Let’s say, everybody pays an additional 10 percent on income and/or transactions for the bin Laden tax, except soldiers who take up the cross, or Jesus rifles, as the case may be. They pay enough just by being willing to go.

The rest of us, though, should be willing to pay for the wars.

So, instead of organizing anti-war protests or Tea Parties, we all ought to gather in front of Rep. Paul Ryan’s office in Racine for a “pay for the war” rally, insisting that our local representative come up with a plan to actually pay for the war, so that we no longer finance our former and future enemies in order to battle our current ones, and so to strengthen the United States of America, for ourselves and our posterity.

(Randolph Brandt is a retired newspaper editor in Racine, Wis.)