Post Prom: Racine's rite of passage

Racine's unique high school rite of passage -- Rotary's 58th Post Prom for seniors from eight city high schools -- took place Saturday night under a quarter-moon and the bright glow of the region's most beautiful gowns and brightest smiles.

Almost 1,400 attended -- fewer than expected, perhaps because of some schools' stricter enforcement this year of truancy rules.

The kids arrived at Festival Hall in block-long limos, fire engines, trucks, buses, a towed boat or two, sports cars, a Rolls Royce and antique cars ("Thanks, Grandpa, for the use of your Excaliber!"); three Case High girls -- begowned and coiffed -- arrived on the back of motorcycles.

Once inside, all enjoyed hours of dancing to a DJ, karaoke, Guitar Hero and other games, and plenty of food to keep up their energy levels.

It's a night most will never forget.The event was broadcast on TimeWarner cable channel 25, and will be scheduled again. And Creative Captures Photography was taking pictures all over Prom, and will be posting them -- for sale -- on the web.

In the meantime, here are our pictures of Racine's 2010 Post Prom.

Andrew Jansen holds Lexi Majack for their Prom portrait

'Belle of the Ball' offers free Prom dresses March 5-6

For the past four years, the Belle of the Ball Project has been providing free dresses and accessories to Racine high school girls for prom.

On March 5 and 6, the project will hold its free Boutique at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints, Spring Street Campus in the Racine Room (lower level of St. Mary’s hospital near the cafeteria.)

“New this year is the expanded VIP, or reservation, times which will run the full length of the Boutique hours,” said Krystyna Sarrazin, project founder. “This means we are asking all girls to make a reservation for a VIP spot. This will enable us to ensure the best experience for each girl and not rush through the process."

The Belle of the Ball experience includes a personal shopper, makeup and hair consultations, and even seamstresses to make minor alternations for a perfect fit. Girls are asked to bring their school ids.

Donations of current and clean prom-style dresses and accessories (purses, jewelry, shoes, etc) will also be accepted during Boutique times.

Boutique dates and times:

Friday, March 5 from 7 p.m. – 9p.m.
Saturday, March 6 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Email racineprom@hotmail.com to make an appointment at the Boutique or with any questions.

Police chief no fan of Racine's Post Prom

Don't count Police Chief Kurt Wahlen among the supporters of Post Prom. From his perspective, the annual event is a security nightmare.

"It worries me," Wahlen said Tuesday during the Police and Fire Commission meeting. "We can't cover all of our bases."

During this year's Post Prom, an 18-year-old man was arrested after shooting a handgun in the air below the YMCA. Another teenager got a citation for carrying a BB gun into the bleachers outside of Post Prom.

Wahlen invited members of the commission to watch next year's Post Prom from the police and fire departments' command vehicles outside of Festival Hall.

"It's a life-changing experience," Wahlen said. "It's depressing. I think it's depressing."

He said girls, in particular, act inappropriately. Two young women were taken from the scene in ambulances. At least one of the incidents involved drinking; paramedics found a teenager lying under a picnic table, abandoned by her friends.

"There's no ladies there, that's for sure," said Marie Black, a member of the Police and Fire Commission.

Prom-goers robbed early Sunday morning

Here's a press release from Mount Pleasant police:

On May 18, 2008 at 2:25 am, Mount Pleasant Police were called to the 6000 block of Larchmont Drive for a report of an armed robbery that just occurred. Upon arrival officers spoke with the victims who advised they were robbed at gunpoint after attending the prom celebration at Festival Hall.

The victims claimed that offenders pointed handguns at the victims and robbed them of their possessions. None of the victims were hurt in the armed robbery. The victims were able to get a good description of the vehicle and suspects in the robbery. This information was relayed to other officers. The vehicle was observed traveling west bound on Durand Avenue where officers followed the vehicle and conducted a felony stop on the vehicle in the area of Washington Avenue and Oakes Road. Three juvenile males and a 30 year old female driver were taken into custody.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle evidence from the robbery was recovered including a handgun, clothing and money taken. Mount Pleasant Investigators are investigating this robbery. Charges are pending against four parties.

Sturtevant Police assisted Mount Pleasant officers during the felony stop of the vehicle.

Anyone with information on this incident should call the Mt. Pleasant Police Investigative Bureau at 262-884-0454.

Scenes from Post Prom 2008

Racine Post went to its first Post Prom this year and learned a few things ... (see over 100 photos from Post Prom here and here)

A LOT of work goes into this event ... great job by Rotary to pull this event off year after year. Students and adult volunteers worked on decorating Festival Hall.


Rotary's Chris Leberfing was chairman of the Post Prom committee. He started working on this year's event last October.


The theme of this year's Post Prom was "Around the World." Time-Warner cable was there interviewing members of the different schools' prom court and showing students as they walked down the red carpet.


It rained off and on throughout the night. A tent outside helped keep students dry as they were arriving. A few umbrellas helped, but most dates didn't seem to mind getting a little wet.




The crowd outside didn't mind. They cheered as the different schools entered, creating the Hollywood red carpet treatment that makes Racine's Post Prom famous.



Students, parents and even children took in the event.


People arrived in limos, cool cars and even a few boats.


Inside, couples were not shy in front of the TV cameras. White tuxes were popular this year. Time-Warner will be rebroadcasting Post Prom on Wisconsin On Demand Channel 1111 through June.

Mayor Becker made an understated appearance.

A few more pretty images from Post Prom ... great job Rotary! Good luck on next year's event!

2008 Post Prom!!!

Post Prom-goers sing karaoke on Saturday night.

We were at the world's best prom tonight - the 2008 Post Prom sponsored by Rotary. We posted dozens of photos from the event. See them here and here. More are coming tomorrow, plus a write-up of the evening. Racine, be very proud of this event ... it's an amazing tradition.

High-schoolers pose for the cameras while entering the 2008 Post Prom. Time-Warner televised the event, which will be rebroadcast May 22 at 7 p.m. on Channel 96 and on its Wisconsin On Demand (Channel 1111) beginning May 23 and running through June.