Wisconsin ponders nukes

Transcription

A ‘Savage’
Madison weekend
Dan Savage returns to
his roots for a special
podcast recording and
an amateur porn film
page 27
festival.
March 24, 2016 | Vol. 7 No. 9
Wisconsin ponders nukes
The world remembers
Fukushima disaster
page 10
C o v e r P h o t o : H i r o n o r i A s a k awa / K yo d o N e w s v i a A P
Tsutoshi Yoshida and his wife Seiko pray for their daughter who was killed by the 2011 tsunami, in Namie, Fukushima. Japan on March
18 marked the fifth anniversary of the 2011 tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and left a devastated coastline along the
country’s northeast that has still not been fully rebuild.
9 Unsafe water
The EPA has been asked to step
in and clean up unsafe drinking
water in Kewaunee.
11-14 Endorsements
WiG
endorses
several key
candidates
on the
April 5
ballot.
Don’t
forget to
vote.
30 Henry Cavill’s complex Superman
The British actor talks
about his take on
the iconic superhero
in advance of
Batman v
Superman: Dawn
of Justice.
43 You pick ‘em,
they make ‘em
MobCraft’s
crowdsourced
approach means
this brewery
makes weird,
wonderful beers
that customers
love.
2
WISCONSINGAZETTE.COM | March 24, 2016
3
4
News with a twist
beyond what is required
by the law when it comes
to public records requests
to make sure we are being as
open and transparent as possible
for our citizens.”
One-sided forum
The Latino-Jewish Alliance
scheduled a forum on March
29 at Milwaukee Area Technical College featuring WisconAin’t no sunshine
sin Supreme Court candidates
when he’s here
Was that “tout” or “flout” the JoAnne Kloppenburg and Rebecidea of an open, transparent gov- ca Bradley. But Bradley, who has
ernment? Scott Walker recently been under fire for writing hateissued Executive Order No. 189 ful columns about gays, feminists
to “promote open and transpar- and Democrats during her college
ent government.” The order was days, withdrew from the event
issued as a part of Sunshine without explanation on March 22.
Week, which exists to celebrate Kloppenburg still plans to attend.
and promote open records, public
access to government meetings Thumping Trump
and adequate notice of hearings
The hacktivist collective Anonand forums. The Walker adminis- ymous posted a video declaring
tration has come under repeated “total war” on Donald Trump,
fire for governing outside from saying it aims to bring down many
the shadows and last summer his of his sites and to uncover embaroffice was involved in an attempt rassing information on April Fool’s
to gut the state’s sunshine laws. Day. “We need you to shut down
Yet in a news release the gover- his campaign and sabotage his
nor claimed, “We go above and brand,” said a masked individual
WiGWAG
in the video. The collective also
has posted unverified personal
information about Trump, including his Social Security number.
Grand effort
A 10-day comedy festival in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, included
an attempt to break the record for
tossing the most rubber chickens.
Participants came up short, tossing 738 toy birds into a ring outside city hall. A church in Ontario,
Canada, holds the record — 999
rubber chickens. The comedy
festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, raised
money for families dealing with
cancer and is named for the late
comic Gilda Radner.
Wrong reservation?
A pink-haired waitress in Des
Moines received advice instead
of cash for a tip: “Tips are only for
normal looking people,” the customer wrote on the bill. The restaurant’s name is Zombie Burger,
a self-described “post-apocalyptic chic” joint that encourages
servers to express their individualism.
By Lisa Neff and Louis Weisberg
Top cheese
A cheese made in the United
States won the World Championship Cheese Contest for the first
time since 1988. The top prize
was awarded to a smear-ripened
hard cheese made in Monroe,
Wisconsin, by Fitchburg-based
Emmi Roth USA. The last cheese
from the U.S. to win the competition was when Dale Olson
of Burnett Dairy Cooperative in
northwestern Wisconsin won for
a string cheese.
old truck driver who’d been using
fishing line to flip his license plate
and avoid paying tolls on the
George Washington Bridge into
New York City. With fishing line
and a hinge on his plate, the driver could flip the plate and avoid
camera detection. But apparently
only for so long.
How to dominate media
Donald Trump appears to have
special phone privileges when it
comes to Sunday morning news
shows. He’s the only presidential
candidate allowed to call in live
Getting rid of big
government, Dixie style during broadcasts, and he’s done
When Birmingham, Alabama, it nearly 30 times.
voted to give its lowest-paid
workers a $2.85 raise, Republican Spared rib
Gov. Robert Bentley signed a bill
A 60-year-old woman checked
banning Alabama cities from rais- into Yale-New Haven Medical
ing their minimum wages. But he Center in May 2015 to have porrecently gave four of his cabinet tions of a potentially cancerous
members an 80 percent increase rib removed. But when she awoke,
over their previous $91,000 sala- doctors realized they’d operated
ries, which amounted to $73,405 on the wrong rib. In a recently
raises.
filed lawsuit, the woman claims
physicians lied to her to cover up
the mistake before rushing her
Fishing for a fine
Law enforcement in Fort Lee, back into surgery the same day to
New Jersey, ticketed a 41-year- correct it.
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5
Wisconsin poverty hits highest level in 30 years
By Lisa Neff
Staff writer
Poverty in Wisconsin hit its highest level
in 30 years during the five-year period after
the Great Recession.
The number of Wisconsin residents living in poverty hit 13 percent during the five
years ending in 2014 — the highest rate
since 1984.
For 2010–14, poverty increased significantly in 31 of 72 Wisconsin counties,
including 11 of the 15 most populous counties.
Estimates show about 738,000 Wisconsin residents were living in poverty in 2010–
14, compared with 605,000 in 2005–09.
These determinations come from an
analysis by the Applied Population Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The lab’s data tells Malia Jones, an assistant scientist in social epidemiologist, that
poverty has been getting worse in the state.
“Poverty went up significantly, even during a time when the nation’s economy was
improving,” she says.
Jones compared U.S. Census Bureau data
from 2005–09 to data from 2010–14. The
census bureau says a person is living in poverty when the total income of a household
is below the poverty threshold, which takes
into account the size of the family, the number of children in the family and, in some
cases, the age of the head of household.
The research also shows:
• Over 2010–14, nearly one in five Wisconsin children were living in poverty —
239,000 children.
That’s up from 2005–09, when about
14.6 percent of kids in the state were living
in poverty.
The finding means an additional 50,000
children in Wisconsin are at risk for food
insecurity, housing insecurity, poor educational outcomes, and lifetime disease risk
due to poverty.
• Although black people are more
broadly affected by poverty than any other
race/ethnic group in the state, the largest relative increase in poverty occurred
among Latinos.
• The lab report shows Wisconsin ranks
49th out of 50 states on the gap between
black and white poverty rates. In the state,
39 percent of blacks and 28 percent of
Latinos are living in poverty. For whites,
the rate is 11 percent.
• Poverty went up among both unemployed and employed adults in Wisconsin.
• Poverty increased among high school
graduates with no college education from
8.9 percent to 11 percent; among those
with some college from 6.6 percent to 8.9
percent; and among those with a bachelor’s degree or more from 3 percent to 3.6
percent.
P h oto : W i sco n s i n J o b s N ow !
Fight for 15, coordinated by groups such as Wisconsin Jobs Now!, unites union laborers
and workers at fast-food chains and seeks to raise wages.
National look at poverty
Consistent with the UW-Madison
research, a national report from the Economic Innovation Group shows the gap
between the nation’s richest and poorest
communities widened in the “recovery
years” after the Great Recession. In The
Distressed Communities Index, EIC evaluated economic prosperity and distress by
ZIP code, legislative districts, municipalities
and states.
Some findings:
• Over 50 million Americans live in
distressed ZIP codes. In the bottom 20
percent of ZIP codes that are the most
distressed, more than half of the adults
are not working and the median income is
two-thirds of the state level.
• The country’s most distressed ZIP
codes are stuck in a deep recession. From
2010 to 2013, the average distressed ZIP
code lost 6.7 percent of its jobs and saw
8.3 percent of its businesses close. At the
same time, the average prosperous ZIP
code saw booming job growth of 17.4 percent and business growth of 8.8 percent.
Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski
See you
at
Pride
Authorized and paid for by Citizens for T Anthony Zielinski, Dan Hau Treasurer
6
Milwaukee, Madison mourn death of Tamara Grigsby
By Jay Rath
Contributing writer
The unexpected death of social justice advocate and former state legislator
Tamara Grigsby inspired a public outpouring in Wisconsin.
Grigsby, 41, died of “health complications” the week of March 14, according to
the office of the Dane County Executive, for
whom she most recently worked as director
of the department of equity and inclusion.
She formerly represented Milwaukee in the
Legislature.
Arrangements for a public celebration of
her life were pending at press time.
“I was deeply saddened to learn about
the passing of Tamara Grigsby,” stated U.S.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin. “Tamara was a tireless champion and a voice for those who are
too often forgotten. Although her time with
us was too short, she leaves behind a legacy
for future leaders to follow and emulate.”
“Her commitment to public service is to
be admired and emulated,” stated Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. “Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, is better
because of her advocacy for our public
schools, stronger communities, addressing
racial and ethnic disparities in our criminal
justice system and advancing equality of
rights and experience for gay, lesbian and
bisexual individuals.”
Grigsby was born in Pullman, Washington. She attended high school in Madison
and earned her master’s degree in social
work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She taught at Carroll and Cardinal
p h o t o C o u r t e s y UW- M i lwa u k e e
Tamara Grigsby at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Stritch universities, as well as at UW-Milwaukee.
She served as a representative for the
18th Assembly District 2004–2013.
Grigsby fell ill from an unknown illness
in 2011. Soon after, the Legislature unanimously passed a resolution recognizing her
work as a “fierce advocate for children
and working families as a social worker,
family counselor, (and) program manager
at the Wisconsin Council on Children and
Families.”
In the wake of her death, the Legislature
noted the “outpouring of support from citizens throughout Wisconsin and other parts
of the country, from her colleagues on both
sides of the aisle,” ranging from prison
inmates to members of Congress.
“She was a champion of the poor and
the neglected and, as a legislator, brought
to light the many indignities and challenges faced by disadvantaged and vulnerable people,” said Stan Stojkovic, dean
of UWM’s Helen Bader School of Social
Welfare. Grigsby taught there off and on
from 2002 to 2013, when health problems
returned.
“She was well liked by faculty and students,” recalled Stojkovic. “We are all suffering a loss due to her premature passing.
I know that she made a lasting mark on the
city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin, as well as the social work profession
that she was so committed to serving.”
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin declared in a statement, “She also
was a fierce opponent of policies aimed at
blocking health care access and interfering
in a woman’s ability to make her own decisions about family and parenting.”
In spring 2011, Grigsby was awarded the
organization’s most prestigious recognition,
the Rebecca C. Young Legislative Leadership Award.
“I am devastated to learn of the passing of Rep. Grigsby,” said state Rep. Evan
‘Tamara was a special
human being whose sole
motivation in life was to
make a difference in the
lives of others — a goal
at which she excelled.’
Goyke, the Democrat who holds her former
Assembly seat. “She was a friend and colleague whom I will miss very much. Rep.
Grigsby represented the 18th Assembly
District with passion and vigor. Her advocacy for her neighbors and community was
unwavering. She leaves behind an incredible legacy.”
“Tamara wasn’t a politician. She embodied all that we seek in our public servants,”
said state Sen. Lena C. Taylor, D-Milwaukee.
“Tamara was driven by the knowledge that
at the end of every bill or budget motion
was a real person that would be impacted
by her work. “
“Tamara was a special human being
whose sole motivation in life was to make
a difference in the lives of others — a goal
at which she excelled,” said Dane County
Executive Joe Parisi. “She was a public
servant to be emulated, but more than that
she was our friend, and we will miss her so.”
The nature of Grigsby’s health problems
has not been publicly disclosed. Her family
resides in Madison and requested privacy.
7
State strontium levels in water among highest in U.S. water supplies
By Jane Roberts
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
For the past six years, Michael Schnur
and his family have been drinking bottled
water.
Already concerned that pollutants from
the coal ash landfill near his home in Sheboygan County might be leaching into his
private well, Schnur became even more
fearful last year when he received a letter
from the state Department of Health Services. It warned that elevated levels of an
unregulated element — strontium — were
found in his drinking water.
In follow-up emails, the DHS said the
landfill was not impacting Schnur’s water
and that strontium occurs naturally in the
groundwater. Schnur was advised to install
a water softener, which replaces strontium
and other minerals with sodium.
“I have a new baby (coming) in a couple
months, which is why it’s really nervewracking,” Schnur said last spring. A healthy
baby girl, Sophia, was born in August.
Schnur remains on alert. His family continues to drink bottled water.
The U.S. EPA has made a preliminary
decision to begin regulating strontium.
However, in January, the agency delayed a
final decision to determine whether treatment systems that remove strontium also
would remove beneficial calcium.
EPA data from 2013 to 2015 suggest
some public water systems in eastern Wis-
consin contain among the highest levels of
strontium found anywhere in the country.
Nationwide testing showed 73 of the 100
highest readings came from Wisconsin in
communities, including Waukesha, Brookfield, Germantown, Kaukauna, Wrightstown and Fond du Lac.
The EPA has set 4 milligrams of strontium per liter of water as the lifetime health
advisory limit and 25 mg/L as the shortterm health advisory limit.
Twenty-nine of the results found in the
EPA testing in Wisconsin exceeded the
EPA’s 25 mg/L short-term health advisory
limit.
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay geoscience professor John Luczaj said if the
EPA confirms 4 mg/L as an enforceable
maximum contaminant level, that would be
a “big deal.” According to a study released
in June by Luczaj and Kevin Masarik, a
groundwater education specialist at the
Center for Watershed Science and Education at UW-Stevens Point, strontium is present in the deep aquifer “throughout much of
eastern Wisconsin.”
Hundreds of wells throughout the region
are affected, including many municipal wells
from suburban Milwaukee north to Green
Bay. Particularly high levels were found in
parts of Brown, Outagamie and Calumet
counties, Luczaj and Masarik wrote.
Luczaj said that while water softeners
and reverse osmosis systems can remove
Authorized and paid for by Chris Abele for County Executive, Jeff Peelan, treasurer
strontium, he does not
believe that municipal
water system customers can be forced to buy
expensive treatment
systems in order to safely drink their water.
Health effects
unclear
The EPA said certain populations are
more sensitive to strontium’s harmful
effects, including people with kidney
conditions and Paget’s disease.
As a currently unregulated contaminant,
strontium is a public health mystery. Limited studies suggest, however, that exposure to strontium at elevated levels could
affect infants, children and young adults,
as it mimics calcium and is absorbed by
developing bones.
Possible health effects from exposure to
high levels of strontium range from “strontium rickets” to other tooth and bone deformities, according to a Wisconsin DHS fact
sheet.
The EPA said certain populations are
more sensitive to strontium’s harmful
effects, including people with calcium deficiencies, kidney conditions and Paget’s disease.
Bud and Vicky Harris have taken precautions against contaminants in their well
water in the home where they have lived for
nearly 20 years in the town of Lawrence. He
is a retired UW-Green Bay professor and
she retired from her job as a water quality
specialist based in Green Bay.
It is good they took action. A test in
2012 showed 28 mg/L of strontium in the
water coming into their home — above the
maximum short-term exposure limit recommended by the EPA. A 2013 test showed
22 mg/L, slightly below that limit.
Soon after moving into their home, the
Harrises installed a water softener, iron
removal system and reverse osmosis system because they were aware of local
drinking water problems, especially arsenic. Vicky Harris said the couple spent
thousands of dollars on water treatment
systems to remove contaminants.
Vicky Harris wonders about the untreated water their son drank from a private
well in Allouez near Green Bay before they
moved to their current home when he was
8 years old.
“For us, it’s worthwhile. Water is health.
Water is everything,” she said.
8
Pipeline project fuels concerns in Wisconsin
By Lisa Neff
Staff writer
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources entertained a packed room
March 10 in Superior, drawing proponents
and opponents to testify on Enbridge Energy’s plan for new pipelines crossing into the
state from Minnesota.
Enbridge already owns the largest pipeline network in Wisconsin, and it’s proposed Sandpiper project involves building a
new 30-inch diameter pipeline from North
Dakota’s Bakken Shale region through Minnesota to Superior. This line would carry
about 375,000 barrels of crude oil each
day.
The company also wants to replace the
aging 34-inch Line 3 with 36-inch pipe. This
line would carry 760,000 barrels of oil a
day from western Canada.
Both pipelines would enter into Wisconsin from Minnesota and cross about 14
miles of land in the town, village and city of
Superior to the company’s terminal.
Public response
to the pipelines
P HOTO : E n b r i d g e
The proposed pipeline project under review is in the northwest part of Wisconsin.
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In public comment collected by the DNR
at the March 10 hearing, Douglas County
Administrator Andy Lisak said the county
backs the Enbridge plan because replacement of Line 3 would be safer than allowing
the existing pipeline to remain and expanding the pipeline network could mean fewer
trains and trucks hauling oil.
Lisak also testified that the pipeline
projects would benefit the local and state
economies; he referred to the DNR’s draft
environmental impact statement indicating construction would employ 400–500
people.
“Enbridge’s multibillion dollar investment
in these projects will help ensure the company’s future in Douglas County as one of
the county’s largest and most socially and
environmentally responsible employers,” he
said.
However, opponents emphasized many
jobs created by Enbridge’s expansion would
be temporary.
Additionally, they pointed to Enbridge’s
record on accidents.
The Canadian company is responsible for
800 pipeline spills since 1999 in its Lakehead System and more than 100 wetland
violations during the construction of Wisconsin’s “Line 61” pipeline.
Enbridge also is responsible for the largest inland oil spill in U.S. history — the 2010
tar sands spill in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In Minnesota and Wisconsin, the new
pipelines would run through sensitive habitat and, in Minnesota, they would cross
tribal land.
Beyond Superior
Another concern for environmentalists is
how the expansion ties into other Enbridge
efforts in Wisconsin.
“The oil carried by these pipelines will
not stay in Superior,” said Elizabeth Ward,
conservation programs coordinator for the
Sierra Club-John Muir Chapter in Wisconsin. “The 14 miles the DNR is studying is
one small chunk of a much larger pipeline
network that brings dirty tar sands across
the border and fracked Bakken oil through
Wisconsin and will carry this oil south.”
The state, said Ward, must “study the full
impacts of the full network, including the
resulting pipeline that will travel through
some of Wisconsin’s most important waterways,” including the St. Croix River.
Enbridge’s project faces permitting hurdles in Minnesota, which led Ward to suggest the DNR’s hearings were premature.
“Whether these pipelines will even be
permitted in Minnesota is unknown,” she
said. “Moving forward on 14 miles of a
pipeline when the other 1,450 miles of the
pipeline is still up in the air is inappropriate
and should be delayed.”
The DNR was collecting comment on its
draft impact statement until March 25.
Milwaukee protest challenges fossil fuel leases
Uniting under “keep it in the ground,”
dozens of activists gathered March 17
outside the Milwaukee Theater to protest the auction of more than 580 acres
of public lands for oil and gas extraction.
The action was part of a growing
movement calling on President Barack
Obama to halt new fossil fuel leases offshore and on public lands.
Earlier in March, an auction in Reno,
Nevada, ended without bids for more
than 50,000 acres of publicly owned
land after activists peacefully disrupted the sale. Since November, protested
lease sales have been postponed in Utah,
Colorado, Wyoming and Washington,
D.C., according to organizers of the Milwaukee action.
Earlier this month, the Obama administration announced a move to bar all
drilling off the Atlantic coast. Environmentalists want the same protections
for the Gulf of Mexico, Arctic and public
lands.
A report from Ecoshift Consulting shows ending the policy of auctioning off public lands for oil, gas and coal
extraction would keep 90 percent of
these fossil fuels in the ground — keeping 450 billion tons of carbon dioxide out
of the atmosphere.
Jason Kowalski, U.S. policy director
with 350.org, said in a news release,
“From Reno to Milwaukee to New Orleans
to Washington, D.C., and beyond, activists are sending a clear message: climate
leaders keep fossil fuels in the ground.
President Obama has made powerful
steps in addressing climate change, such
as imposing a coal moratorium and floating new methane regulations, but all of
that is undermined if he continues to sell
vast quantities of oil and gas to the fossil
fuel industry.”
Julie Enslow, of 350 Milwaukee, added,
“As a Milwaukee citizen concerned about
climate change, I strongly oppose the
Bureau of Land Management auction in
our city. It is time to stop all government
leasing of our public lands to the fossil
fuel industry for extraction of oil and gas,
and coal. Time is running out for a livable
planet, and the burning of fossil fuels has
to stop.”
— Lisa Neff
EPA asked to step in over unsafe water in Kewaunee
Six environmental groups
called on the federal Environmental Protection Agency to
step in and clean up unsafe
drinking water in Kewaunee
County.
“It is unacceptable that
more than one-third of the private drinking water wells in
Kewaunee County are unsafe
— contaminated with bacteria,
nitrates and other pollutants,”
stated Elizabeth Wheeler, senior
staff attorney with Clean Wisconsin.
The groups wrote to the EPA
in early March and requested
federal support for clean, safe
drinking water.
The EPA was asked to:
• Immediately provide
Kewaunee County residents
with clean water.
• Expedite test results of well
water contamination.
• Issue emergency rule
changes to ensure the DNR has
authority to protect water.
• Provide more research and
groundwater monitoring on
sources of pollution.
The groups also asked the
EPA to monitor closely the
DNR’s efforts to develop a plan
to implement recommendations.
“Kewaunee County residents
have been waiting for years for
our state and federal governments’ help in solving this critical issue,” said Wheeler.
The environmental groups
said rollbacks of existing protections raise questions about the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ ability to ensure
that drinking water sources are
protected from contamination,
especially from manure spreading at large-scale farms known
as concentrated animal feeding
operations. Kewaunee County
has 16 such operations.
“We are insisting on immediate relief for Kewaunee County
residents who can’t drink their
water,” said Sarah Geers, an
attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates.
Her group was joined by
Clean Wisconsin, Midwest
Environmental Defense Center,
Kewaunee Cares, Clean Water
Action Council of Northeast
Wisconsin and Environmental
Integrity Project.
— Lisa Neff
9
What’s in our drinking water? Examples of contaminants across Wisconsin
Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin residents face the specter of unsafe drinking water. An estimated 1.7 million people drink from unregulated private wells — nearly half of which, studies suggest,
have one or more contaminants at levels above health standards. Tens of thousands of residents drink
water from systems that do not treat it for possible disease-causing viruses.
BActeria
Arsenic
Bacterial contamination can
be found in water across the
state. In one study, 18 percent
of private wells had bacteria.
Arsenic is a widespread concern in
Outagamie and Winnebago counties,
where the state established an arsenic
advisory area in 1993 and introduced
stricter regulation in 2004.
Nitrate
Nitrate levels are too high
in wells used by about 94,000
households. Agricultural areas
and those with porous bedrock
or sandy soil are most susceptible to nitrate contamination.
Kewaunee
Radium
Waukesha has made a bid
to tap into Lake Michigan for
its drinking water because it
continues to find spikes of
radium in its wells. Dozens
of community water systems
have exceeded the federal
health limit for the radioactive element in recent years.
Lead
In the Jefferson County community of Lake
Mills, 10 percent of home tap water tested
for lead exceeded the federal health level of
15 parts per billion over five years; the highest level was 2,000 ppb.
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10
Crisis continues 5 years after Fukushima meltdowns
By Lisa Neff
Staff writer
The massive earthquake struck offshore,
triggering a devastating tsunami.
Thousands died in the disaster and three
reactors at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant
went into meltdown, exposing some 32 million people to radioactive fallout.
“There is no end in sight for communities
in Fukushima,” said Junichi Sato, executive director of Greenpeace Japan. “What
started as a natural disaster turned into one
of the worst industrial accidents in human
history and a reminder that humanity must
urgently turn its efforts toward safe, clean
renewables.”
Five years after the fires and explosions,
some 100,000 people remain displaced,
decontamination is far from complete,
cleanup costs ballooned to $118 billion,
the amount of radioactive waste and water
rises with no solution for disposal and
health studies show an alarming spike in
thyroid cancer among Fukushima’s children.
The nuclear disaster compromised food
supplies and affected flora, fauna and especially fisheries in Fukushima Bay, where
contaminated water continues to flow.
The plant will never return to operation
and decontamination seems nearly impossible — radiation levels are too high to enter
the reactor housing. Radiation is even killing
the robots built for the dirty work.
What has been learned at Fukushima?
“Although the probability of nuclear accidents is thought to be very low, the consequences are extraordinary and devastatingly high,” University of Chicago professor
Kennette Benedict recently wrote in an
essay for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
“The disruption to individual health, to families, to communities, to energy supplies, to
economies and to societies has long-lasting
effects.”
In Japan, 53 percent of citizens oppose
the resumption of the country’s nuclear
energy program.
A slightly larger percentage is registering
opposition to nuclear power in the United
States, even as the U.S. government and
Wisconsin Legislature move to encourage
an expansion of nuclear energy.
In Wisconsin
Six years ago, on the 24th anniversary
of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in
Ukraine, Wisconsin residents celebrated
the defeat of a Republican effort to repeal
what’s called the “nuclear moratorium law.”
The law actually did not create a moratorium on the construction of new nuclear
plants. Instead it required that any proposed nuke plant be economical for ratepayers and have a permanent storage site
for spent nuclear fuel and other waste.
Environmentalists, after turning back a
repeal, claimed a victory six years ago. Not
so this year.
The Legislature has sent Gov. Scott Walker another repeal bill intended to ease the
path to constructing nuclear plants.
And Walker is likely to sign the measure,
which predictably has strong support from
business and labor and strong opposition
from environmental groups.
The legislation, AB 384, would remove
the requirement that new nuclear power
plants have a plan for storing and disposing
of their waste, according to the Wisconsin
League of Conservation Voters, part of the
coalition that rallied against the bill.
Additionally, AB 434 would add nuclear energy to the list of preferred energy
options in the state, even though Wisconsin’s Energy Priorities Law was intended to
promote the cleanest and cheapest forms
of energy.
The legislative effort had some small
support in the environmental community,
but largely was opposed by activists who
encouraged lawmakers to focus instead on
wind, solar and geothermal energy.
These environmentalists also warned
passage of AB 434 could lead to the state
becoming a depository for nuclear waste.
A letter to lawmakers from the CarbonFree, Nuclear-Free Coalition stated, “In the
1980s, the Department of Energy ranked
Wisconsin’s Wolf River Batholith as No.
2 for a second high-level nuclear waste
repository. A 2008 DOE Study on the Need
for a Second Repository listed Wisconsin as
one of the top potential states based on
our granite geology. After the cancellation
of the potential Yucca Mountain repository
[in Nevada], the DOE is desperate to find
an alternative.” Signatories included representatives of Clean Wisconsin, Wisconsin
Public Interest Research Group, Wisconsin
Resources Protection Council and the Sierra
Club-John Muir Chapter.
Anti-nuke sentiment growing
The Sierra Club is unequivocally opposed
to nuclear energy. The organization’s nuclear-free future statement says, “Although
nuclear plants have been in operation for
less than 60 years, we now have seen three
serious disasters,” referring to Three Mile
Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima. “Nuclear
is no solution to climate change and every
dollar spent on nuclear is one less dollar
spent on truly safe, affordable and renewable energy sources.”
The Sierra Club’s nuclear-free campaign
emphasizes:
• What to do with the long-lived waste
remains unresolved.
• Uranium mining has contaminated
large sections of the southwestern United
States and other areas in the world.
• Almost all older plants leak tritium and
other radionuclides into groundwater.
• Nuclear power has a huge carbon
footprint due to energy needs in uranium
mining, milling, processing, conversion and
enrichment, formulation of fuel rods and
construction of plants.
A new Gallup Poll indicates that 54 percent of Americans are on Sierra’s side.
Gallup began asking about nuclear energy in 1994 but not until this poll has a
majority opposed nuclear power.
Gallup found Republicans more likely
to favor nuclear power than Democrats
or independents, but support is down all
around.
Gallup, in its analysis, suggested the drop
in support had more to do with relatively
low gasoline prices than fear of a nuclear
accident.
Yet environmental leaders say people
should be afraid — as the impact of a Fukushima-like nuclear disaster cannot ever be
fully mitigated.
“All of Fukushima’s lessons warn against a
nuclear industry that protects its profit margins over public safety margins,” said Paul
Gunter of the nonprofit Beyond Nuclear.
Forever in Fukushima?
Greenpeace, in mid-March, released
Radiation Reloaded, a report on the ecological impact in Fukushima that documented:
• High radiation concentrations in new
leaves on cedars.
• Mutations of fir trees with rising radiation levels.
• Heritable mutations in pale blue grass
butterfly populations.
• DNA-damaged worms in highly concentrated areas.
• Apparent reduced fertility in barn
swallows.
• Decreased abundance of 57 bird species with higher radiation levels.
• High levels of cesium contamination in
freshwater fish.
• Radiological contamination of coastal
estuaries.
“For the foreseeable future, Fukushimacontaminated ecosystems will continue to
be radiation loaded. And reloaded,” the
Greenpeace report stated, noting how manmade radioactive elements are taken up by
plants and animals, cycled and recycled.
The
findings
were
based
on
25
radiological
investigations
in
Fukushima and independent research in
the area.
The front page of the New York Post on
March 28, 1979, the day after the meltdown of two nuclear reactors at Three Mile
Island, Pennsylvania.
Greenpeace also drew from research into
the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl.
“The government’s massive decontamination program will have almost no impact
on reducing the ecological threat from the
enormous amount of radiation from the
Fukushima nuclear disaster,” said Kendra Ulrich, senior nuclear campaigner for
Greenpeace Japan. “Already, over 9 million
cubic meters of nuclear waste are scattered
over at least 113,000 locations across Fukushima prefecture.”
Benedict, the University of Chicago
professor, summarized the nuclear power
dilemma: “The products of nuclear fission,
including melted fuel as well as other radiation-contaminated materials, will require
continuous care and storage for tens of
thousands of years. The question is whether any society has the capacity to safely
deal with this fire that will not go out.
Disastrous days
• March 11, 2011: An earthquake and
tsunami led to a series of equipment
failures, meltdowns and the release of
radioactive material at the Fukushima
Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan.
The man-made disaster was one of two
level 7 events in the history of nuclear
energy, the other being Chernobyl.
• April 26, 1986: A steam explosion and
fires at the Chernobyl nuclear power
plant in Ukraine resulted in the release
of at least 5 percent of the radioactive
core into the atmosphere. Two plant
workers died the night of the accident
and another 29 people died within
weeks of acute radiation poisoning.
• March 28, 1979: Radioactive gases and
radioactive iodine were released with
the meltdown of two nuclear reactors
at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania.
11
April 5 election guide
Compiled by Lisa Neff
Staff writer
Finally, after months of watching the returns
from other states, Wisconsin voters head to the
polls on April 5 to make their presidential preference known.
On the ballot
• DEMS: In the running are Hillary Clinton and
Bernie Sanders.
• REPS: In the running are Ted Cruz, John Kasich
and Donald Trump.
Collecting delegates
• DEMS: The state will have 96 delegates at the
Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. In that pool are 86 “pledged delegates” to
be allocated to a candidate based on the April
5 vote. The state also has 10 party leaders who
serve as unpledged delegates.
• REPS: The state will send 42 delegates to the
Republican National Convention in Cleveland,
including 24 district-level delegates, 15 at-large
and three party leaders. The congressional
district delegates go to the candidate who wins
the district. The at-large delegates and party
leaders are pledged to the candidate who wins
the state.
In the polls
• DEMS: The latest poll from Marquette University Law School, conducted in mid-February,
showed Hillary Clinton at 43 percent, Bernie
Sanders at 44 percent, undecided at 13 percent
and a margin of error of plus or minus 6.9 percent.
• REPS: The Marquette University Law School,
conducted before Super Tuesday, showed Donald Trump at 30 percent, Marco Rubio at 20
percent, Ted Cruz at 19 percent, Ben Carson at
8 percent, John Kasich at 15 percent and undecided at 15 percent. The margin of error was 7.5.
Also running
WiG’s endorsements
for April
• Democratic
presidential
candidate:
Hillary Clinton
• Wisconsin
Supreme
Court Justice:
JoAnne
Kloppenburg
Wisconsin’s presidential primary isn’t early but
it isn’t late.
States still to cast ballots in the nominating
process include:
Wyoming, New York, Connecticut, Delaware,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Indiana,
Guam, Nebraska, West Virginia (Democratic),
Kentucky, Oregon, Washington, Puerto Rico
(Democratic), U.S. Virgin Islands (Democratic),
California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico,
North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington,
D.C.
On to the convention
• DEMS: The Democratic National Convention
will be the week of July 25 in Philadelphia.
• REPS: The Republican National Convention will
be the week of July 18 in Cleveland. Traditionally, the party out of the White House goes first
with its convention.
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• Milwaukee
mayor:
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• Milwaukee
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• Milwaukee
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judge:
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• Milwaukee
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14th district:
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12
Hillary Clinton for president
Without question, Bernie Sanders is mad
as hell.
And so are we, as we struggle with wages
that remain unchanged while living expenses rise and the American Dream seems to
fade.
We bemoan the billions thrown at campaigns to manipulate our minds and lament
the popularity of billionaire bigots hurling
insults and blame at some of the most vulnerable in our population.
We’re furious about assaults on reproductive freedom, rising gun violence in
our neighborhoods, police brutality on our
streets, deportation of colleagues and family, wrongdoing on Wall Street, and the continued plundering of our natural resources
to fill the pockets of the Koch brothers and
their brethren.
Yes, there’s good reason for Bernie Sanders to be mad as hell. And for us to be mad
as hell.
So we wholeheartedly thank the U.S.
senator from Vermont for lighting a fire
in our party, inspiring younger people to
register and reminding older people of the
good old days raising a ruckus. With his
demands for economic and environmental
justice, Sanders transformed the Occupy
Wall Street movement into a campaign to
occupy the White House.
We know we have readers — many readers — who passionately support Sanders
and “feel the Bern.” We too respect Sanders and we respect your commitment to his
campaign.
We also have readers — many readers —
who passionately support Hillary Clinton.
We respect your commitment to her
campaign.
And we, at WiG, endorse her for president. We believe she’s the best candidate to
lead the Democratic Party to victory in the
general election.
Bernie Sanders repeatedly has told voters
to compare records — that’s records, not
messages. We’ve done that and we keep
coming around to Clinton — former secretary of state, twice-elected U.S. senator and
former first lady of the United States and
the state of Arkansas.
With decades of experience, she knows
the problems we face — foreign and domestic — and she offers real solutions, practical
policies, workable fixes to progress after
this long paralysis in Washington.
At a time when the Republican Party is
doing its most to put forward the candidate
with the least experience governing, the
Democratic Party must put forward its most
experienced and tested candidate.
To anyone in the party who thinks Clinton isn’t addressing their issues and on
a progressive’s side, we direct you to
hillaryclinton.com. Click on “issues” — the
proposals go from treatment and preven-
tion ideas for Alzheimer’s disease to growing workforce opportunities. She’s proposed
effective ideas for addressing gun violence
and her financial reform proposals show
a deep understanding of the crisis. And,
as this primary race unfolded, she’s listened and learned, improving her position
on trade agreements and taking a stand on
Keystone XL.
Clinton, a master of policy and a devotee
of details, knows how to build bipartisanship and move legislation in the Senate. She
won approval of more legislation in eight
years in the Senate than Sanders in nearly
a decade in that chamber and 16 years in
the House.
These are reasons why Clinton tops
Sanders in endorsements, earning the
support of dozens of U.S. senators and
former senators and more than 100 U.S.
representatives. Some might see this as a
negative — the spin this election cycle has
turned “establishment” into a curse word,
like “left” and “liberal” were for so many
years. Yet, a presidential candidate is going
to need these allies, these establishment
folks, to win in November and to govern
come January 2017.
We look also to Clinton’s endorsements
from some of our most trusted and valued progressive groups — leading labor,
women’s, choice, civil rights, LGBT, immigrant rights and environmental groups have
backed her bid.
And we look to Clinton’s bold, broad
community of voters — North and South,
young and old, women and men, white
and black and Hispanic. We see how she
can unite us in what’s certain to be a big
and bruising battle for freedom, justice
and democracy. The Democratic coalition
that grew and blossomed around Barack
Obama’s promise of hope still exists — with
Clinton.
Hillary Clinton is also the only major
party candidate who will shatter that glass
Endorsement
ceiling over the Oval Office.
This is a historic opportunity, when the
best candidate for the White House would
be the first woman elected to the White
House.
Eight years ago, when Clinton conceded the primary fight to Barack Obama in
Washinton’s National Building Museum,
she said, “As we gather here today in this
historic, magnificent building, the 50th
woman to leave this Earth is orbiting overhead. If we can blast 50 women into space,
we will someday launch a woman into the
White House.
“Although we weren’t able to shatter
that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time,
thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million
cracks in it, and the light is shining through
like never before, filling us all with the hope
and the sure knowledge that the path will
be a little easier next time.”
The path may not be easier, but Clinton
has stayed this course and we are with her
all the way.
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Tom Barrett earns another term as Milwaukee’s mayor
Milwaukee is fortunate to have a person
of Tom Barrett’s character and commitment
leading the city.
“I love this job,” Barrett told WiG. “I love
being the chief cheerleader for the city.
Every day I get up thinking, ‘How will I make
this a better city?’”
We believe him. With gratitude for all
that he’s done for Milwaukee and the state,
we heartily endorse Barrett for another
term as mayor.
Perhaps his greatest strength is his ability to maintain a sense of confidence that is
attracting new business and development
activity. Unlike so many other elected officials in these turbulent times, Barrett is a
unifier. His personal warmth and optimism
are a balm for a city that has more than its
share of challenges.
DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS
We believe Barrett’s strategic re-envisioning of Milwaukee — as demonstrated
by the Northwestern Mutual Tower, the
downtown streetcar line and many other
projects — is moving the city in the right
direction. He’s not a showy person and his
efforts and successes often fly beneath the
average resident’s radar.
But Milwaukee is not a showy place and
its residents don’t always embrace change.
He’s a perfect fit, getting things done without stirring up the kind of rhetoric we’re
seeing in other political races this year.
Barrett has spearheaded successful
efforts to expand downtown development
and attract new jobs. He’s been instrumental in driving downtown’s incredible
transformation. He’s the best ambassador
the city could have for bringing in new businesses and helping existing ones to expand.
Barrett’s longevity on the job, his knowledge
of the city and his relationships with key
players have made the difference at raising
investors’ confidence in Milwaukee.
Barrett says one of the proudest achievements of his current term is more Milwaukeeans had jobs at the end of 2015 than
during any other year since 2001.
The mayor’s office paved the way for
the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons, which will bring hundreds of new
jobs to the city. The $450 million spent
to build the project came with a guarantee that unemployed and underemployed
Milwaukeeans will work 40 percent of the
hours at the construction site.
Under the Northwestern Mutual and
Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership,
355 Milwaukee residents from underserved,
low-income neighborhoods are working or
have worked on the construction project,
performing jobs in 21 trades, according to a
news release from the mayor’s office. Thousands more people are in the partnership’s
pipeline. In addition, about $105 million
from the project’s budget will go to small
area businesses.
New downtown residential developments include provisions for providing a
certain percentage of low-income housing.
Barrett has been at the forefront in negoti-
‘I love this job.
I love being the
chief cheerleader
for the city.’
ating such deals.
He also is working to help create a new
industrial zone on the South Side.
Barrett helped to create the Milwaukee
7, which is a regional, bipartisan economic development collaboration among the
seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin
that has created and retained 5,700 jobs
across the region.
While we differed with the mayor over
details of the new Bucks arena project,
he says he looked it as “a $500 million
public works project paid for by $250 million of private money.” Still, we have faith
Barrett has reasons to believe it will be a
great boon to the local economy — and we
hope he proves us wrong. Still, we never
questioned his integrity with regard to the
deal and, while that should be a given for a
U.S. mayor, we have seen far too often that
it isn’t.
Addressing POVERTY AND CRIME
As mayor, Barrett takes a lot of hits for
the city’s poverty, racism and crime —
seemingly intractable problems that are
his most frustrating concerns. “A mother
is only as happy as her unhappiest child,”
he said.
In fact, the entire state is suffering, both
from the nationwide downturn in manufacturing jobs and the destructive economic
policy of the state’s Republican leaders and
their bias against Wisconsin’s largest city.
The state hit its highest poverty level in 30
years from 2010 to 2014.
The mayor acknowledges that much
more needs to be done to address the city’s
record on poverty and racism. To a large
degree, Republican leaders in Madison have
tied his hands on investing in new neighborhood programs. In 2009, Milwaukee got
back 106 percent of the revenue it generated for the state. Under Walker and his
cronies, the state now returns only about
86 percent of the Milwaukee revenue.
Shared revenue once covered both the
city’s police and fire departments. Now it
doesn’t even cover the police budget.
But Barrett hasn’t given up trying to
address the city’s worst problems, and local
leaders throughout the city have a good
relationship with him.
Under Barrett’s leadership, Milwaukee
won the White House’s Healthy Communities Challenge, a contest among 20 cities
to enroll people in health plans sold on the
marketplaces set up through the Affordable
Care Act. President Barack Obama came to
town in person to deliver the award.
Barrett also has a strong, cooperative
working relationship with the Milwaukee
Police Department. Crime in pockets of
the city remains unacceptably high, but
Barrett said he’s given MPD the resources
and leadership it needs to get the job done.
Violent crime in Milwaukee has decreased
by 20 percent over the past two years, and
homicides are at the lowest levels in more
than 20 years.
During the horrible police shootings of
unarmed black men last year, Barrett was a
responsive and unifying presence.
Endorsement
THE COMPANY THEY KEEP…
Tom Barrett was one of the first mayors
to endorse Obama’s presidential campaign
in 2007 and Obama has returned the favor,
endorsing Barrett for re-election this year.
Most major labor unions and prominent
elected officials in Milwaukee also have
endorsed him.
In contrast, Ald. Bob Donovan — Barrett’s
opponent — has been endorsed by whacko
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke.
Donovan, who represents the 8th District
on the city’s south side, is in many ways
Barrett’s polar opposite. The Democratic
Party of Wisconsin accurately summed him
up in a news release as “someone with
Scott Walker’s ideas and Donald Trump’s
erratic behavior.”
On March 14, Donovan walked out of an
endorsement interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel because he objected to
the presence of Daniel Bice, the newspaper’s “gotcha” columnist. Bice had recently
brought up Donovan’s 1992 citation for
disorderly conduct stemming from his
behavior in a UW-Milwaukee men’s room.
Donovan denies having behaved lewdly but
his explanation strains credibility.
Also according to Bice, Donovan paid a
$2,500 fine in 2005 related to his financial
ties to a nonprofit group at which Donovan’s wife worked. Recently, Donovan hired
a man convicted of “theft-related charges”
as his campaign’s social media director.
The south side alderman made an initial
splash in the media last year for leading the charge against the construction of
the downtown streetcar line, which Barrett
strongly supports. Donovan calculated that
opposition to the streetcar — a project that
has come under fire from, among others, a
local Koch-backed group — would give him
an issue on which he could run for mayor.
He was right, but he doesn’t seem to have
much else.
With the wrong kind of leader, Milwaukee could be sliding into the chaos that has
plagued similar cities in recent years. WiG
urges Milwaukeeans to avoid that outcome
and embrace a promising future by reelecting Tom Barrett as mayor.
Editor’s note: WiG Publishing president and
CEO Leonard Sobczak serves on Mayor Tom
Barrett’s finance committee.
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14
Tony Zielinski for re-election in 14th District
Tony Zielinski is a real go-getter for Milwaukee’s 14th District.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the
alderman’s website is the lengthy list of
endorsements from businesses in his district. It’s one measure of the success he’s
had at guiding development in the district,
which includes the thriving neighborhood
of Bay View. He actively recruits businesses
he believes to be a good fit with the area
and uses all the resources at his disposal to
facilitate getting them open and positioned
for success.
If Zielinski seems to live and breathe his
job, it’s probably because he’s been representing the area for so long. He was elected
to the Common Council in 2004 and has
served three terms in that capacity.
Now he’s seeking a fourth and we at WiG
endorse his re-election.
Much of an alderman’s job hinges on the
little things — making sure the leaves and
snow are removed, the garbage is picked up,
the sewage is running properly, and burnedout bulbs on street lamps are replaced. Zielinski scores great marks from constituents
for fulfilling those functions, but he takes
his work many steps farther. He’s a virtual
ambassador for his area, constantly on the
watch for new opportunities to benefit the
14th District. Those include everything from
aiding new development, such as the restoration of the Avalon Theater last year, to
ways of improving his residents’ quality of
life, such as creating a new dog park and
obtaining winter parking rights on both
sides of his district’s two-way streets.
He created the city’s only public-art bus
shelter at the intersection of Kinnickinnic
and Lincoln. He’s integrated solar-powered
lights into the area.
“If someone had told you 10 years ago
that Kinnickinnic would be what it is today,
they would have looked at you like your
crazy,” Zielinski told WiG. “I know what kind
of businesses my constituents want to see.
I try to be proactive in (developing those).”
Zielinski has been criticized in the past
for shutting down outdoor restaurant
patios that bothered local residents. But
he’s proud that he’s kept businesses from
intruding into residential areas while maintaining walkable neighborhoods.
“People want to go home at the end of
Jean Kies for circuit court
We support attorney
Jean Kies’ campaign to
replace Judge Michelle
Ackerman Havas on the
Milwaukee County Circuit
Court. She’s experienced,
respected and not involved
in partisan politics.
Kies says she’s maintained political independence in anticipation
of someday rising to the bench. She’s
beholden to no one, as demonstrated by
her bipartisan endorsements.
Contrast her indendence with Havas’
background.
Gov. Scott Walker appointed Havas to
the judicial position at stake — the same
post he used to jump-start the career of
Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley.
Bradley and Havas are friends who represent the same political and ideological
interests — and have the same benefactors.
But Havas doesn’t appear as savvy as
Bradley. While Bradley claims that the
GOP and its Koch-backed PACs will not
hold any sway over her judicial decisions,
Havas seemed to acknowledge the role
she could play on the court for the state’s
executive branch.
At a Republican fundraiser for Bradley,
Havas spoke after high-ranking Wisconsin party officials finished patting themselves on the back over the successes of
Walker and his Legislature during the last
session.
“I want to thank all the leadership here
who has helped me and is helping me to
get my name out,” Havas said, according
to a transcript of the speech. “You all
do such wonderful work, and
obviously everything that is
happening in the executive
branch is all very important.”
Those words were reminiscent of Judge David
Prosser’s vow in 2012 that
he could be counted on to
support Walker. It was inappropriate then, and it is now.
We strongly support Kies
in this race, not only for her understanding that the judiciary ought to be apolitical, but also for the rare scope of her legal
experience.
She’s practiced law under her “own
shingle,” as she puts it, rather than at a
large law firm. As a result, she’s worked
on a broad range of cases and with clients
from all backgrounds and walks of life,
she says.
Kies estimates that since graduating
from Marquette University Law School
about 25 years ago, she’s taken on more
than 1,000 civil and 1,000 criminal cases.
She says the diversity of her legal background makes her an exceptional judicial
candidate.
Kies’ legal partner is her husband Lewis
Wasserman. He says that she brings
more to her cases than knowledge, skill
and fairness. He contends that she has
the ability to use the law to produce a
healing experience, both for plaintiffs and
defendants.
“No matter how she rules, people will
walk out of her courtroom feeling that
she made the right decision,” he predicts.
Kies deserves the opportunity to prove
what she can do on the bench. We urge
readers to vote for her on April 5.
the day and that’s their castle,” he said.
“Our business strips are thriving, but the
side streets are nice and quiet.”
Zielinski said during his next term he
wants “to just keep building on the template that we’ve been establishing for the
last 10 years.”
One of the directions in which he’s moving is attracting “good-paying” light manufacturing jobs to the area.
He’s working to help his district get a
company that wants to take waste wood
from the city and turn it into usable products, as well as a manufacturer of LED
lighting. He’s also working on a four-season
skateboard park.
Beginning in the spring, Bay View will
take part in the city’s first-ever curbside
compost program, a project that he spearheaded. That’s one of many ideas he’s
helped to promote on a citywide level.
The most important thing to know is that
Zielinski is always working on something to
enhance his district as well as Milwaukee.
He’s a great alderman, a strong progressive with a stellar record on such issues as
equality, worker’s rights and social justice.
Endorsements
Former Milwaukee school board member
Meagan Holman, who did not seek WiG’s
endorsement, is challenging Zielinski, so he
needs your vote on April 5.
He’s certainly earned it.
Chantia Lewis
is the best
choice for
Milwaukee’s
9th Aldermanic
District
We support Chantia Lewis in her bid to
represent Milwaukee’s 9th District on the
Common Council.
The aldermanic district on the city’s far
northwest side is one of Milwaukee’s most
racially diverse. The conservative northern
edge of the district, which stretches to
Menomonee Falls, has helped Ald. Robert
Puente get elected there since 2004.
Puente often is criticized for failing to
take a proactive role for his constituents
and that failure shows. The district has
declined ever since his first election, losing
hundreds of jobs with the closing of Southridge Mall, Sam’s Club and Target.
Johnson Park has deteriorated as well,
as have many of the neighborhoods closer
to the city’s center, Lewis said. The district
even has areas that have become food
desets.
Lewis vows to be an energetic advocate
for the area, and she demonstrates the
passion and leadership skills to be effective. A wife, mother, Air Force veteran and
owner of a small business, she’s lived in the
district for 15 years. It’s her commitment to
the area that inspired her to run as an alternative to what she and other area residents
see as Puente’s lack of interest in his job.
“One of the responsibilities of an alderman is to improve the district, and he’s
basically missing,” she told WiG. “His job
is to advocate and make sure our district is
economically viable.”
Lewis graduated from Alverno College,
where her studies focused on community
leadership and development. She recently
was appointed to the national board of 9
to 5, an organization that trains women
to become grassroots advocates for economic justice. She also completed training
by Emerge, an esteemed organization that
identifies, trains and helps to elect Democratic women with leadership potential.
If she wins her race, Lewis will become
the second woman serving on the Common
Council.
Lewis has received endorsements from
AFSCME, Service Employees International,
the Milwaukee Area Labor Council and the
American Federation of Teachers.
Puente won his last election by a sliver
of the vote. We urge the district’s voters to
make a better choice on April 5 and see to
it that Lewis wins.
15
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16
Please recirculate & recycle this publication.
E ditorial
Election has GOP’s billionaire donors on edge
P r o g r e s s i v e . A lt e r n at i v e .
Our mission:
To help build a strong, informed community;
promote social equality and justice; support
immigration and electoral reform; expose
government secrets and call out political
corruption; celebrate and support the arts; and
foster appreciation and respect for the state’s
extraordinary natural resources.
CEO/Principal
Leonard Sobczak, [email protected]
publisher/Editor in Chief
Louis Weisberg, [email protected]
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ARTS EDITOR
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CONTRIBUTORS
Roger Bybee, Colton Dunham, Jamakaya,
Rachele Krivichi, Bill Lamb, Kat Minerath,
Mike Muckian, Jay Rath, Kirstin Roble,
Anne Siegel, Gregg Shapiro, Virginia Small,
Julie Steinbach, Larry Zamba
The Wisconsin Gazette is published every other
week and distributed throughout the Milwaukee area,
Madison, Racine, Kenosha, and 40 other cities statewide.
To have WiG delivered to your address, contact
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WiG Publishing, LLC. © 2015
3956 N. Murray Ave. Shorewood, WI 53211
Like most of the country, we have been alarmed at the
violence, vitriol and demagoguery that dominate this election cycle. At the same time, we understand the anger on
all sides that drives it. We believe that anger springs from
the long-overdue realization that we have lost control of our
government over the past three decades.
A handful of billionaire families have engineered the
laws, policies and popular thinking that have prevented the
middle class from moving ahead. They’ve spent billions to
foster the divisions that keep them in power, using perhaps
the cleverest and most thorough propaganda strategies the
world has ever known.
They are more than influencers. They are our invisible rulers, hidden behind a veil of secrecy made legal by
the Citizens United ruling, which they regard as their greatest
triumph. They control America through media, think tanks,
endowed chairs at universities, rigged science, publications with respectable veneers and, of course, their elected
officials, from school boards to state lawmakers to the U.S.
Senate — and even the Supreme Court.
When the rest of us turn against the other, the invisible
rulers invariably win. All the anger that should be directed
at them goes elsewhere instead: toward President Barack
Obama, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Hollywood, immigrants, the poor, the rich, African-Americans, gays, Catholics — practically anyone or any group that can be exploited
as a dividing line.
In fact, their success is based largely on this formula:
While hoi polloi are cursing each other, the families who
got rich cheating at business, polluting the world, evading
taxes and ignoring regulations sneak in under the radar and
continue rigging the system to their advantage.
Their names and faces are unknown to the vast majority
of Americans, Charles and David Koch notwithstanding. We
are too focused on blaming the demon du jour to realize
they exist. If you’re interested in who they are and how they
did it, read Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires
WiG’s
WEB
PICKS
Some of
our favorite
recent
pictorials
from
cyberspace
Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer — perhaps
the most thoroughly researched and readable book ever
written about the American oligarchy.
In normal election years, that small handful of billionaire
families is delighted to see the electorate divided and intractable. This election year, however, those families are soiling
their drawers. The anger and divisiveness wasn’t supposed
to go this far. The society they’ve engineered for 30 years
is unraveling. People on both sides of every divide are fed
up with being deprived. As a result, the oligarch’s chosen
puppets are being rejected in the primaries, trounced by
candidates who are willing to say that the system is rigged.
Not even the $25 million they spent in February alone to
save Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign in his home
state of Florida had any effect. They threw it into a fire of
their own making.
Perhaps the greatest irony of this year’s presidential race
is what’s come of the brutal and endless campaign the oligarchs have waged against Hillary Clinton. Ever since she
put forward a national health plan in 1993, Clinton has been
in their crosshairs. But now she leads the pack.
This election has not only pushed Clinton further to the
left, but all the anger roiling the GOP has given her a stronger-than-ever chance of winning. The foe who’s kept them
awake at night for decades may well sit in the Oval Office.
Beyond that, they seem never to have anticipated having
to deal with candidates such as Bernie Sanders, Donald
Trump and Ted Cruz. But the bottom line is: No matter who
wins this year, they lose.
While we deplore the nasty road this year’s elections
have taken, we hope it signals that people on both sides of
the political aisle are fed up with having to work two jobs
and spend an extra $700 on their vehicles each year due to
potholes there’s no money to fix. If the electorate’s anger
leads to the discovery of the nation’s real enemies, perhaps
it will prove to be the turning point we so badly need to get
the nation back on track to authentic Democracy.
17
ON THE RECORD
Opinion My choices for the April 5 ballot
JAMAKAYA
“Go to Auschwitz.”
— A DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER
addressing a protester at one of the
Republican presidential candidate’s rallies. The supporter greeted the protester with a Nazi
salute.
“Expand the power of law enforcement to patrol
and serve Muslim neighorhoods before they become
radicalized.”
— SEN. TED CRUZ packing three unconstitutional
proposals into one sentence.
“The federal judiciary is too important to be made
a political football. I would hope, and the American
people should expect … for the Senate to get to work
and act.”
— RONALD REAGAN urging the U.S. Senate to do
its job and act on the confirmation of Justice Anthony
Kennedy in 1988, an election year. Despite their wish
to wait until the next president was in office, the Senate’s Democratic majority complied with Reagan’s
request, as required by the U.S. Constitution.
“Over my seven years as president, in all my conversations with senators from both parties in which I
asked their views on qualified Supreme Court nominees … the one name that has come up repeatedly
from Republicans and Democrats alike is Merrick
Garland.”
— PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA explaining his
choice of Garland for the Supreme Court.
“The Senate’s constitutionally defined role to provide advice and consent is as important as the
president’s role in proposing a nominee, and I will
assess Judge Merrick Garland based on his record
and qualifications.”
— U.S. SEN. MARK KIRK, R-Ill., saying he’ll meet
with Merrick Garland.
“We don’t have time for all that petty, punk-ass
little thuggery stuff that’s been going on with these
‘protesters,’ who are doing nothing but wasting your
time and trying to take away your First Amendment
rights. And the media being on the thugs’ side —
what the heck are you guys thinking, media?”
— SARAH PALIN campaigning for Donald Trump.
“The campaign goes on.”
— Republican presidential candidate JOHN
KASICH at a victory rally after winning the primary
in his home state of Ohio.
“They created Trump. They earned him. As if their
hateful rhetoric wasn’t enough, just in how they
treated our president, they earned Trump! With
every racist slight, with every homophobic slander,
with every manufactured semi-automatic weapon
and oil spill and fracking disaster and shuttered
women’s clinic and attack on affordable health care,
the Republican leadership built this Frankenstein
monster. Let the monster they created and nurtured
destroy them!”
— HARVEY FIERSTEIN writing
about Donald Trump on his Facebook
page.
The results of the April
5 election could have a big
impact on the presidential
race and will most certainly
affect our lives here in Wisconsin. Get out and vote!
The Wisconsin Supreme
Court race is a no-brainer
for me. Joanne Kloppenburg is the candidate with
the most judicial experience and the balanced
temperament we need on
the court. Before serving
on the Wisconsin Court
of Appeals, she was an
assistant attorney general
under both Democratic and
Republican governors for
more than 20 years.
Corporate
interests
and anti- government
ideologues are putting
millions behind Kloppenburg’s opponent, the inexperienced and intemperate
Rebecca Bradley. Bradley
is a political appointee of
Gov. Scott Walker. Electing
Bradley to a 10-year term
would solidify the court’s
conservative majority (5–2)
for the foreseeable future.
In addition to her inexperience and dodgy paymasters, Bradley slurred
“queers” and people with
AIDS in her college newspaper at Marquette. She
has apologized and put it
off to youthful indiscretion.
I see it differently. College
is usually a time of openminded thoughts among
young people who want to
change the world for the
better. It’s disturbing that
Bradley would express such
contempt toward others,
especially at that age. Why
entrust our laws to someone who harbored such
hatred at any time of her
life?
Vote Kloppenburg for
Supreme Court.
The city and county of
Milwaukee will elect a
mayor and county executive, respectively.
Mayor Tom Barrett will
get my vote over his opponent, the reactionary Alderman Bob Donovan. I wish
that Barrett had a more
viable opponent, however,
because the problems of
the city have grown since
he became mayor in 2004.
Downtown development
is great, but the roads and
schools and neighborhoods
continue to deteriorate. It’s
time for someone with new
ideas to see what they can
achieve.
I feel the same about the
county executive race. So
I support challenger Chris
Larson.
I am concerned about
the power grabs Milwaukee County Executive Chris
Abele has arranged in
cahoots with the governor
and GOP legislators. I don’t
like his contempt for county
board representatives and
his collusion in reducing the
board. I think his plan to
squeeze delinquent taxpayers to subsidize the billionaires’ new Bucks arena is
disgraceful.
Time for new blood: time
for Chris Larson.
This year’s presidential race is the wildest in
modern history. My fondest hope is the Republican
Party continues to sabotage
its prospects with infight-
ing about Donald Trump. It
couldn’t happen to a more
deserving party!
Since I thought I’d never
see the day a socialist
would run on a major party
ticket, my primary vote on
April 5 will go to U.S. Sen.
Bernie Sanders. I admire his
determination and his insistence on putting economic
inequality at the center of
political debate. I love that
he’s given Hillary Clinton a
serious challenge and that
he’s mobilized so many
young voters.
If
Hillary
Clinton
becomes the Democratic
nominee, I hope Sanders
can induce his millions of
followers to support her.
Clinton is unquestionably
the most experienced candidate of either party. She
is the most well-versed on
every issue and a workaholic to boot.
In a match-up with any
of the GOP candidates,
especially Trump, it will be
essential for moderates and
liberals to vote for Clinton. I
certainly will.
Opinion Abele has earned the LGBTQ vote
JOSEPH PABST
Recently a group of
LGBTQ people, led by state
Sen. Chris Larson’s lesbian
sister, signed a letter supporting Larson’s campaign
for Milwaukee County
executive. I want to make
it clear the signers do not
represent all the county’s
LGBTQ voters.
The signers said Larson
supported the fight against
the state’s anti-gay marriage amendment. Larson’s opponent in the race,
incumbent County Executive Chris Abele, not only
supported the fight, he
also generously helped to
finance the fight against the
anti-gay amendment.
Unlike Larson, Abele
shows up at nearly
every LGBTQ event and
fundraiser. And while Larson claims credit for the
county’s domestic partner
registry, so do at least half
a dozen current and former supervisors. Abele not
only pushed for the registry but proudly signed it
into law. He also kept the
courthouse open for gay
couples to marry following
a U.S. court’s reversal of the
state gay marriage ban. He
paid for that out of his own
pocket.
Abele served on the
board of the Victory Fund,
which helps LGBT candidates win political office at
all levels.
Abele is one of the
state’s leading supporters
of arts and culture. Besides
generous donations, he’s
served in numerous volunteer and advisory roles on
the boards of arts organizations, which employ and
entertain a large number of
LGBTQ people and others.
It feels to me as if Larson’s attacks on Abele
amount to class warfare.
He also kept
the courthouse
open for gay
couples to marry
following a U.S.
court’s reversal
of the state gay
marriage ban. He
paid for that out
of his own pocket.
They focus on his wealth, as
if it’s a moral failure. I think
civically-involved people
such as Abele should be
praised for their generosity.
Without it, during times of
government austerity like
these, we’d lose many of
our most valuable cultural
institutions.
Instead of thanking
Abele for being among the
most generous donors in
the state for the progressive movement, the LGBTQ
community and the arts,
Larson is attacking him
simply for being born rich
— and without acknowledging how much he gives
back.
Abele began with a very
positive campaign that
was built on his successful
record. It was Larson who
started down the low road
in this race.
All of the above are reasons I strongly stand by
Abele in this race. And,
despite what Larson’s sister’s ad might have led people to believe, so do many
other LGBTQ people I know.
Joseph Pabst is an LGBT
community activist.
18
Milwaukee SHARE offers
a week of adult sex ed
By Matthew Reddin
Staff writer
Sure, sex ed was covered in junior high.
But then what? You’re supposed to go the
rest of your life only knowing what you
learned before you could rent a car?
The staff and educators at the Tool Shed,
2427 N. Murray Ave., Milwaukee, don’t think
so. Since 2003, the sex toy shop has been a
resource for adults to explore their sexuality.
Dildos, vibrators, sexy underwear and kinky
gear is just part of what the store offers. The
Tool Shed also employs a staff of sexuality educators who provide information and
resources to help customers improve their
sex lives.
For the first time, the store is devoting a
week to that mission, sponsoring the Milwaukee SHARE (Sexual Health and Relationship Education) series, from April 3 to April
10.
As of this writing, Milwaukee SHARE will
encompass almost two dozen sessions, discussions and other events. They range from
the general — a kickoff night when Tool Shed
staff and guests will tell stories about experiences they’ve had with sex and relationships
— to the more specific, such as sessions on
couples in which one partner is trans, sex for
older people, learning to set up play parties
for swingers, and polyamorous relationships.
Tool Shed education coordinator Lucky
Tomaszek says the concept sprang from
working with local universities on biannual
sex-ed weeks, which feature a similar mix
of events.
“The idea of having a campuswide sexuality event … really impressed me,” she says.
“We never had anything like that when I was
a young adult.”
Milwaukee SHARE brings that model to
the whole community.
The largest event Tomaszek will lead
draws on her knowledge as a sexuality educator and as a parent. “Tickling, Teasing and
Touching: Creating a Consent Culture for
SELECT SESSIONS
They Didn’t Teach THAT in School:
True Adventures in Real-World Sex
Sex educator Twanna Hines and Tool
Shed staffers will tell stories about what
they wish they’d learned about sex and
relationships. 8 p.m. on April 3 at Hybrid
Lounge, 707 E. Brady St. $5 cover.
Ask Me, I’ll Tell You: Talking Out Loud
About Sex & Aging
Joan Price, senior sex author, hosts a
candid discussion about having satisfying
sex after 50, 60 and beyond. 8:30 p.m. on
April 5 at the Tool Shed.
Promises You Can Keep:
Through Transition Together
Activist Helen Boyd — who helped her
husband through her transition — will
speak to relationship strategies for
couples with a trans partner. 8:30 p.m. on
April 7 at the Tool Shed. Free.
Kids” (9 a.m. on April 7 at the Tool Shed)
is a session designed to address the tension between teaching children about consent and bodily autonomy while also guiding
them to avoid making autonomous decisions
about sexual activity before reaching maturity. Parents also have to learn to resist forcing their children to give hugs or kisses when
they don’t want to.
Tomaszek also will be involved with the
Tool Shed staff in smaller sessions throughout the week, as well as two “Ask the Sexpert” sessions: one at Colectivo on Prospect
(10 a.m. on April 6) and one at Riverwest
Public House (9 p.m. on April 9). She’s hosted similar events before, asking attendees to
anonymously write down questions for her
to answer out loud for the group. She says
that she’s been consistently surprised by the
sincere — and only-as-explicit-as-necessary
— nature of the queries.
Tomaszek also is excited about “What
Aren’t They Talking About,” a daylong conference on April 4 designed for health care
providers. She says Tool Shed’s staff often
counsels health care professionals on handling issues that come up around sexuality and gender identity. “What Aren’t They
Talking About” helps them to understand
the sexual issues of four groups of patients:
seniors, people with disabilities, transgender
patients, and patients who participate in
fetishistic sexual activities, such as leather
and kink.
Since this is Milwaukee SHARE’s first year,
Tomaszek says the overarching goal is getting out the word and bringing in as many
people as possible. Most of the sessions
are free.
“The goal is to make everything accessible,” she says, “and to let people know we’re
an educational resource, not just a store.”
A schedule for Milwaukee SHARE can be
found at toolshedtoys.com and mkeshare.
com, or by calling 414-906-5304.
Share the Love! An Extravaganza of
Grown-Up Sex Ed
Education can be fun as well as important
— and this sex-ed party proves it! The
evening will include a live “Ask the Sexpert” Q&A, live clothed kink demos, music
by Lauryl Sulfate and Her LOL and Roxy
Beane, and performances by burlesque
troupe the Brew City Bombshells. 9 p.m.
on April 9 at Riverwest Public House, 815
E. Locust St. Free, but tips encouraged.
Porn Like Us:
Celebrating Sexual Diversity in Cinema
Queer porn performer and advocate Jiz
Lee hosts this event exploring examples
of sexually diverse porn that can help
everyone, especially trans and queer
people, see themselves as deserving and
capable of a happy and healthy sexuality.
7 p.m. on April 10 at Riverwest Public
House. $5.
19
Community Bulletin Board
The League of Women Voters Wisconsin
seeks volunteers to help monitor polling
during the spring election April 5. Volunteers
are needed in Dane, Milwaukee, Racine,
La Crosse and Rock counties. For more, go
online to lwvwi.org.
Call to convention
Dodge County Democratic Party chair
James Zahn hosts the 5th Congressional
District Democratic Party of Wisconsin Convention at 9:30 a.m. April 10 at the Juneau
Community Center. For more, email cassif@
wisdems.org.
Cream at the top
Milwaukee’s Cream City Foundation is
among the top funders nationwide for LGBT
communities and causes. The nonprofit
received the recognition from Funders for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and
Queer Issues, a nationwide network of foundations and corporations. For more, go to
creamcityfoundation.org.
‘Dream’ event
Milwaukee-based Diverse & Resilient
hosts the fourth annual Reviving the Dream
Celebration at the Marriott Downtown on
April 7. The evening celebrates leadership
in the LGBT community and honors Bayard
Rustin, a gay icon of the black civil rights
movement. For more, go to diverseandresilient.org.
Reels for Riverkeeper
Save the date of May 21 for the 11th annual
Reel Paddling Film Festival at Clear Water Outdoor, 250 N. Water St., Milwaukee. The festival features more than 20 films and benefits
the Milwaukee Riverkeeper. For more, go to
clearwateroutdoor.com.
Conversation and culture
The University of Wisconsin-Madison
— the first U.S. university to offer Yiddish
language instruction — is celebrating “A
Century of Yiddish at UW-Madison.” Among
the events: a symposium at the Mayrent
Institute of Yiddish Culture set for April
14–15 and a lecture on Yiddish music May 2.
For more, go to mayrentinstitute.wisc.edu.
Performing for the planet
This year marks the 29th year for Earth
Poets and Musicians. The Milwaukee celebrations occur April 8 at Coffee House, 1905
W. Wisconsin Ave., and April 22 at Urban
Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Place. “Our
incredible planet exists, with its ecological
balance and sun-struck beauty,” said Earth
Poet Suzanne Rosenblatt. “Yet infinitesimal
specks on that planet, who call themselves
humans, are able to change everything, to
take away the balance, the beauty, the life.
This conundrum haunts the Earth Poets and
Musicians. We puzzle over Earth with love
and awe, humor and horror, and wisps of
wisdom.” For more, go to milwaukeerenaissance.com.
Growing groceries
Milwaukee Public Library’s Bay View
Branch hosts a workshop on how to “grow
your own groceries” May 14. For more, call
414-431-0931 or go to groundworkmke.org.
Support shorelines
ing Wisconsin’s shorelines. For more, go to
greatlakesadopt.org.
— Lisa Neff
WiG welcomes announcements. Email Lisa Neff
at [email protected].
Leaders with Adopt-a-Beach offer online
training for those interested in support-
RE-ELECT ALDERMAN
BOB BAUMAN
Paid for by Bauman for Alderman Committee
Eyes and ears
Endorsed by
Milwaukee Area
Labor Council
SEIU Wisconsin State
Council
Milwaukee Building &
Construction Trades
Council
Amalgamated Transit
Union 998
Citizen Action of
Wisconsin
STRONG & EFFECTIVE
REPRESENTATION
s Focused on Public Safety
s Working to Create Jobs
AFSCME
Council 32
American Federation of
Teachers Local 212
Ironworkers Local 8
Wisconsin
Jobs Now
Vote Early or Vote April 5!
s Revitalizing Neighborhoods
s Improving Public Transit
AldermanBauman.com
20
Pet
For drug dog, work is play
By Trudy Balcom Rawlins
Daily Times via AP
Some dogs are not content to hold down
a couch all day. They’re busy. They can find
plenty of trouble if they aren’t occupied
with something positive. Think Marley &
Me.
Some dogs just need a job. And Nacho is
that kind of dog.
Nacho, a 7-year old yellow lab, is the K-9
drug dog for the Rawlins Police Department
in Rawlins, Wyoming. Coming from humble
beginnings, he was in an animal shelter in
Kansas before he started his career in law
enforcement.
Nacho got his name after he got into a
bag of Doritos at the animal shelter.
“He’s very high drive, he loves to work
and he loves to play,” explained Nacho’s
handler, Sgt. Chris Craig.
Craig said he thought Nacho’s busy
demeanor and size (70 pounds) probably
contributed to the fact that he landed in an
animal shelter.
But the same drive that can get a dog
into mischief has helped Nacho to become
a successful narcotics detection dog. That
and his nose.
Everyone knows a dog’s nose is better
than ours, but according to research cited
in an article for NOVA scienceNow, a dog’s
sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times
better than humans. Dogs can identify the
scent of substance in the parts per trillions.
Nacho is trained to recognize the scent
of five common types of illegal drugs: marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine
and ecstasy.
“It’s like a pot of chili. When we walk in
the door, we smell chili cooking. He smells
hamburger, tomatoes, chili powder, each of
the ingredients,” Craig said.
Nacho came to the department from
Rocky Mountain Canine Academy in 2012.
Officer John Thompson took the lead in
bringing a K-9 to the department and was
Nacho’s first handler.
Getting a K-9 is an investment for a
police department.
Fully trained in drug detection, Nacho
cost $7,000. Then there are expenses for
equipment, handler training and a vehicle
equipped for the dog. According to the
Rawlins Police Department, it cost about
$12,600 total for Nacho, including all of the
officer training and equipment to get the
K-9 program up and running.
And there are ongoing costs for the dog’s
maintenance and for continued training and
certification for the handler, estimated at
about $2,000 annually.
A K-9 handler is no casual, part-time job.
The handler must take 120 hours of professional training to get started. At the Rawlins
Police Department, the dog stays with the
handler 24 hours a day.
“He comes home with me, plays with my
dogs and my family and he goes camping
and on vacation with us,” Craig explained.
Being a K-9 officer is a dream come true
for Craig.
“This was a goal of mine since fifth
grade,” Craig said.
Growing up in Nebraska, Craig said that
the husband of one of his teachers was a
deputy and that he would sometimes bring
his K-9 into the classroom.
“It’s something I’ve always admired,”
Craig said.
A dog and handler’s training, and their
bond, becomes critical when the two are
called into a traffic stop or a search site.
As a handler, Craig has to be thinking
about how to optimize his dog’s ability by
identifying air currents — how and where
they are moving around objects. Craig can
recognize the subtle signals and body language Nacho uses when he gets on a scent.
A strong bond develops between police dogs and their handlers. The dog in this photo
is not Nacho.
“His breathing changes, how he wags his
tail changes,” Craig explained.
When Nacho does identify a drug scent,
he has a signal to tell his handler that he is
done. Like a good dog, he sits down in front
of the location of the scent.
Then he gets his reward. No dog treats
here, Nacho’s reward is to play — he gets
to destroy a terrycloth towel, ripping it to
shreds in a game of tug-of-war (punctuated
with joyful leaps) where the towel always
loses.
For Nacho, work is serious play.
But how frequently Nacho “works” varies, Craig said. Some weeks are busier than
others. But Craig feels that the dog has had
a positive impact on the police force and in
the community.
As an example, Craig mentioned a case
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Heartworm testing
What every dog owner needs to know
From StatePoint
Your dog is your best friend and you take
good care of him, making sure he gets quality food and exercise, immunizations and
heartworm medication.
Why, then, does your veterinarian also
insist on a yearly heartworm test?
Chances are, your veterinarian is following the advice of the American Heartworm
Society, whose mission it is to lead the
veterinary profession and the public in the
understanding of heartworm disease.
“The AHS recommends annual testing
for all dogs,” says veterinary parasitologist
and AHS board member Dr. Patricia Payne.
“Heartworm is a devastating disease. It is
preventable and can be treated in dogs, but
early detection is essential.”
Unprotected Dogs are at Risk
Along with testing, the AHS recommends
year-round administration of heartworm
preventives. Unfortunately, says Payne, far
too many dogs do not receive this measure
of care.
Almost two-thirds of dogs in the United
States that are seen by veterinarians are
given no preventives at all, according to
studies conducted by heartworm medication manufacturers.
Among those on prevention medication,
far too many are only given medication in
spring, summer and fall, when the mosquitoes that transmit heartworm larvae are
active. Because weather is unpredictable
and hardy mosquitoes can survive indoors
as well as outdoors in protected areas,
so-called “seasonal” usage creates ample
opportunity for animals to unintentionally
become infected.
Mistakes Can Happen
Another factor is human — and animal
— error. “Pet owners who give heartworm
medications year-round and on time are
to be commended,” says Payne. “Even so,
it is still possible for heartworm infection
to occur.
The following are three scenarios that
make heartworm testing a necessity for all
dogs:
• Even the most diligent owner can forget
a dose now and then. “If you have medication left when your veterinarian reminds
you that it’s time to purchase more preventive, it’s a pretty clear sign that you missed
a dose or two,” says Payne.
• Not all pills are swallowed, and not all
topical medications are properly applied. If
your dog vomits or spits out a pill when you
aren’t looking — or if a topical medication
isn’t absorbed completely — a pet may be
P h oto : A n to n i o D i a z / Foto l i a .co m
less protected than you think.
• Heartworm resistance is rare but real.
“Owners can rest assured that heartworm
medications are highly effective, but a few
cases of heartworm strains that are resistant to common preventives have been
documented,” explains Payne, adding that
the issue is being studied by the AHS.
Test Annually
The good news for owners is that heartworm testing is simple and inexpensive.
“Your veterinarian can easily conduct this
simple blood test during a dog’s annual or
semiannual wellness visit,” assures Payne.
“If your dog tests positive, treatment can
begin. With a negative test result, an owner
has the peace of mind of knowing that his
or her pet has been protected for another
year.”
21
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Siekert suddenly understood the cause of
the strange illness and was able to get her
family out and treated for carbon monoxide
exposure. According to the family, Abby has
always been very protective of the family
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Because of Abby’s
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Dogs are commonly known as man’s best
friends, but in some special cases, they’re
our heroes, too.
It was just a typical Thursday morning
in Hartland when Nicole Siekert and her
daughters began to
feel sick.
Siekert assumed
they were just getting over an illness
and didn’t think twice
until Abby, the family’s Australian border
collie, would not leave
her alone.
When she went to lie down, Abby continued to pester Siekert, who assumed Abby
wanted to go outside. Instead, Abby lead
her to their basement — and straight to
the carbon monoxide detector that was
going off.
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ut on the town March 24 – April 7
23
A curated calendar of upcoming events
Mozart Festival
‘Ordinary Days’
7:30 p.m. March 25 to April 3 at Tenth Street Theatre, Milwaukee. $20. allin-mke.com.
A story about New Yorkers isn’t entirely a new concept, but Ordinary Days still rings true for anyone who has struggled to
“appreciate the simple things in a complex place.” With dose of humor and drama, this musical dramedy tells the story of four
young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs. Through a memorable set of
songs, it celebrates the complexity and poignancy of the city that never sleeps. (Colton Dunham)
Silent Milwaukee Launch Party
9 p.m. March 26 at The Point, Milwaukee. $28, $17 Eventbrite
pre-sale.
It’s happened before: You’re at a club or party, but you can’t
find yourself getting into the music the DJ is playing. At the
Silent Milwaukee Launch Party, that’s an easy problem to fix.
Wireless headphones will let partygoers tune into channels
playing music by three different DJs, all spinning tracks
simultaneously. Throughout the night, you can switch to and
from each, the color of your headphones indicating to those
around you which mix you’re listening to. Now you’ll have no
excuse not to let loose. Check Silent Milwaukee’s listing on
Eventbrite.com for more details. (Colton Dunham)
March 31 to April 2; April 8 to 10 at the
Pabst Theater, Milwaukee. $20 to $90.
pabsttheater.org, mso.org.
The
Milwaukee
Symphony
Orchestra takes on twice the Mozart
in this two-weekend event that takes
them from their usual venue (the
Marcus Center) to more historic
digs. The first series, conducted by
Ben Gernon and featuring Narek
Hakhnazaryan, is more diverse, with
two Mozart symphonies bookending
responses to that classical period
by Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. The
second, conducted by Courtney
Lewis, concludes the festival with
Mozart’s final symphony, “Jupiter,”
after a performance of his earlier
Symphony No. 28 and Stravinsky’s
Apollon musagète. (Matthew Reddin)
Saturday Morning Cartoons
11 a.m. March 26 at Riverwest Public House, Milwaukee. Free.
riverwestpublichouse.org.
For some, watching cartoons on Saturday mornings was
a childhood ritual. Riverwest Public House Co-Op has been
re-establishing that tradition by showing cartoons every
Saturday morning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. On March 26th,
UW-Milwaukee’s Animation Club will join the fun, showcasing
their own work and a selected playlist of cartoons. On that
day, there’ll also be a large stack of comics left over from Free
Comic Book Day as well as $5 bloody marys, a line of local
brews, non-alcoholic drinks, and free brunch delivery from the
Riverwest Co-Op. (Colton Dunham)
Walker’s Point
Collaborative Mural Project
1 to 5 p.m. March 28 to April 1 at the Walker’s Point Center
for the Arts, Milwaukee. $40, $20 for Walker’s Point
residents. wpca-milwaukee.org.
The Walker’s Point Center for the Arts will host
a workshop designed to get youth engaged with art.
Students will create a collaborative mural along the north
wall of the WPCA building — with the help of any and
all volunteers. The project is led by WPCA educator and
arts education coordinator Maikue Vang and Milwaukee
artist John Kowalczyk, who has had experience in working
in community-based projects in diverse neighborhoods.
(Colton Dunham)
‘Sirens of Song’
March 27 to May 29 at the Milwaukee Rep. $45 and up.
milwaukeerep.com.
Some songs are truly timeless — especially those performed
by some of the most iconic women in popular music. This
brand-new Rep show constructed just for the Stackner
Cabaret stacks many of those classics together into one night
of music, performed by three powerhouse female vocalists.
On tap: “Respect,” “I’m Every Woman,” “I Will Survive,” and
dozens more. (Matthew Reddin)
‘Kaleidoscope Eyes’March 31 to April 3 at the Marcus Center, Milwaukee. $35 to $102. milwaukeeballet.org.
The Milwaukee Ballet’s only mixed repertory program of the year is framed around A Day in the Life, a pop culture-infused
crowd favorite featuring eight dancers performing to a mix of Beatles tunes. But it’ll also feature two world premiere works.
Choreographer-in-residence Timothy O’Donnell will present his fifth new work for the company, while Garrett Smith, the winner
of last year’s Genesis competition, will stage the work Milwaukee Ballet commissioned after that victory. (Matthew Reddin)
24
ut on the town
‘Ohlsson Plays Brahms’
April 1 to 3 at Overture Center, Madison.
$16 to $85. madisonsymphony.org.
Pianist Garrick Ohlsson has a
repertoire of more than 80 concertos,
but this concert he’s focusing on
just one: the first piano concerto by
German composer Johannes Brahms.
That concerto’s scale and grandeur will
be perfectly balanced by its elegant
compatriots on the program: Richard
Strauss’ tone poem Don Juan and (in
an Madison Symphony Orchestra
debut) Steven Stucky’s Symphony No. 1.
(Matthew Reddin)
‘Dido and Aeneas’
7:30 p.m. April 1 and 2 at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Milwaukee. $20, $15
for seniors, UWM faculty and staff, $10 for students, free for arts majors. uwm.edu/psoa.
Who doesn’t love a little opera? UWM’s Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts will
stage Henry Purcell’s Baroque masterpiece Dido and Aeneas, a tale of two lovers divided by
fate. Director Colleen Brooks will offer pre-show talks before both shows, and non-perishable
food donations to the production’s community partner Interchange Food Pantry can be made.
(Colton Dunham)
‘Censored on Final Approach’
April 1 to 24 at the Broadway Theatre Center, Milwaukee. $42, $40 students/seniors. r-t-w.com.
In World War II, it wasn’t just men in the sky. The pioneers of the Women Airforce
Service Pilots were the first women to fly military aircraft, albeit for noncombat missions,
but their toughest battles would be on the ground, as they faced sexual harassment,
discrimination and sabotage. Based on the real lives of its four leading women, Censored,
by the late local playwright Phylis Ravel, is a play Renaissance Theaterworks has long been
hoping to fully produce (after a staged reading featuring actual female veterans in 2013),
so expect this to be a powerful season finale for them. (Matthew Reddin)
‘Clara’
April 1 to 3 at Overture Center, Madison. $30.
overturecenter.org.
It’s well known to scholars that musical
geniuses Johannes Brahms and Robert and
Clara Schumann were very close — but how
close is the question. In this original Fresco
Opera Theatre production, adapted from
the historical novel Trio, the story of their
entangled relationship is told through their
own music, transformed into arias. At the
heart of everything is Clara — who loves
her husband Robert but is also deeply loved
by Johannes, the young composer they take
under their wing. (Matthew Reddin)
25
A curated calendar of upcoming events March 24 – April 7
‘Once’ April 5 to 10 at the Marcus Center, Milwaukee. $32 to $102. marcuscenter.org.
The Guy is a heartbroken Dublin busker thinking of hanging up his guitar. The Girl
is an enchanting pianist who motivates him to keep trying. One song later, they’re
practically in love — and so were New York audiences when the stage adaptation of
Once first appeared on Broadway in 2012. Now touring nationally, this show brings
its unexpectedly complex romance to Milwaukee in April. It’s a famously minimalist
production in which the cast also serves as the orchestra. (Matthew Reddin)
Nick Offerman
7 p.m. April 7 at the Riverside Theater. $20.
pabsttheater.org.
Nick Offerman returns to Milwaukee for
a celebration of his new book Gumption:
Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s
Gutsiest Troublemakers. Famous for his
portrayal of Ron Swanson on the TV show
Parks and Recreation, Offerman will surely
offer some humorous insights on the book,
a meditation on 21 historic figures and their
influence on his life. Each ticket to this event
comes with a softcover copy of the book.
(Rachele Krivichi)
Mid-Century Modern
Warehouse Sale
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 and 3 at BC Modern
Furnishings, Milwaukee. Free.
BC Modern Furnishings is the only place in
Walker’s Point to find mid-century modern
furnishings and décor for the home. In April,
just about everything goes on sale: glassware/
barware, table lamps, industrial items,
costume jewelry, and even more items from
the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s. (Rachele Krivichi)
“Climate change is real. It is happening right now.
It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species.”
- Leonardo DiCaprio February 28th, 2016
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters presents
The Nelson Awards
in honor of the Anniversary of Gaylord Nelson’s 100th birthday
It’s the Oscars…but for conservation!
SAVE THE DATE!
Thursday, June 2, 2016 • 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Boardman and Clark Law Firm Atrium
4th Floor of U.S. Bank Building • 1 South Pinckney St., Madison
www.conservationvoters.org
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
133 S Butler St., Suite 320 • Madison, WI 53703
For more information:
Contact [email protected]
or call 608.208.1131
26
27
!
T
U
WiGO
Plan on a ‘Savage’ Madison weekend
By Michael Muckian
Contributing writer
When sex advice columnist Dan Savage,
author of Savage Love and founder of the
HUMP! Film Festival, brings his creations
to Madison’s Barrymore Theatre, it will be
a homecoming of sorts for the gay media
celebrity.
Savage’s career has spread beyond column-writing to encompass podcasts, television programs, political commentary and
LGBT activism, but it all began behind the
counter of the former Madison video store
Four Star Video Heaven.
“I had moved to Madison in 1990 from
Berlin with my then-boyfriend so he could
get a master’s degree at the UW,” says Savage, a Chicago native. “The plan was for him
to get his degree and for us to move back to
Berlin, but that didn’t happen.”
Savage was the night manager at the
video store when he befriended Tim Keck,
co-founder of the alternative newspaper
The Onion. Keck was preparing to move to
Seattle and start The Stranger, an alternative
news and entertainment weekly.
Savage made the offhand comment that
Keck should make sure to add an advice
column for the paper because of their popularity. Savage typed up a sample column by
way of example and, to his surprise, Keck
offered him the job.
“We started the column initially as a joke
and I anticipated doing it for maybe six to
12 months,” Savage remembers. “I was a
gay man offering straight people advice on
straight sex in a sort of snarky, funny way
and they loved it.”
The move to Seattle proved the undoing
of Savage’s relationship, but the start of a
25-year career as an advice columnist. His
visit in April will be one more opportunity
for Madison fans of his column (which runs
weekly in Isthmus) to get in on the fun. He’ll
also be recording an episode of his Savage
Lovecast podcast on April 1.
“The deception at the heart of the advice
column racket is that you appear to have all
the answers because you never print questions to which you don’t have the answers,”
Savage says. “The performance, sections of
which will be used in future Savage Lovecast
segments, is my column on its feet and will
give the audience a chance to stump the
expert.”
Indeed, Savage has been stumped before,
including a time five years ago when he was
doing another performance in Madison. An
audience member asked him a question
about female genitalia — about which he
professes to be no authority — and that
led to an onstage call to a professional col-
league at the Kinsey Institute for
Research in Sex. The expert fielded
the question and Savage relayed her
answer to the audience.
Savage does not necessarily expect to be stumped
during the April 1 session at
the Barrymore, which can
run anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours depending on audience preference,
but he has his cellphone at
the ready just in case.
The next day gets even more Savage.
On April 2, he’ll return to the Barrymore
to host the HUMP! Film Festival 2016,
an annual review of amateur porn that
started 11 years ago — also as a joke.
“The barriers to porn were beginning to
fall, so we invited readers of The Stranger
to make and submit amateur porn videos,”
Savage says. “Would people send us porn
knowing that it was going to be shown in
a Seattle theater where their friends and
neighbors might see it? They most certainly
did.”
Savage was inundated with submissions
of homemade pornographic shorts, but the
real question was whether anyone would
pay to see them. The paper rented a theater
and, to the editor’s surprise, the showings
sold out.
“This is a porn festival for people who
wanted to be porn stars for a weekend,”
Savage says. “It’s not commercial porn, it’s
creative people having fun with their friends
and lovers, sharing their kinks, identities and
expression.”
HUMP! also is nondiscriminatory, mixing
gay with straight porn and the kinky with
the comical. By exposing everyone to literally everything imaginable, the five-minute
films offer a diverse experience that in the
end has a positive impact on its audiences,
Savage says.
“We watch the audiences to make sure
there isn’t anything naughty going on and
the reactions are almost always the same,”
Savage says. “For the first 20 minutes the
gay boys are knocked back in their chairs by
giant scenes of cunnilingus and the straight
boys are knocked back in their chairs whenever gay sex comes on, but eventually that
changes. People stop seeing the differences
in the types of porn and start seeing the
similarities.”
Usually, the porn experience is selective,
with the viewer choosing what he or she
wants to see, Savage says. This is where the
cumulative effect of HUMP! differs.
P h o t o s : Da n s ava g e
Columnist Dan Savage pulls double duty
in Madison: first hosting a live recording
of his Savage Lovecast and then hosting
the HUMP! Film Festival, an annual
review of amateur porn.
“If you’re sitting in front of your computer
masturbating to porn, it’s something you
enjoy, but this is not just that,” Savage says.
“Even if the plumbing’s different, the desire,
the lust and the vulnerability is the same,
and all of those things are more important.
And that’s the beauty of HUMP!”
On STAGE
Columnist Dan Savage brings
Savage Love Live to Madison’s
Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood
Ave. on April 1 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets
are $30 in advance plus a $3.50
convenience fee. Savage also will
host HUMP! Film Festival 2016
at the Barrymore on April 2 with
shows at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Tickets are $18. Order online at
barrymorelive.com.
28
Why ‘American Song’? That’s exactly the right question.
By Matthew Reddin
Staff writer
American Song is a well-written play. Star
James DeVita proves once again he’s a master of the one-man show, and the Milwaukee
Rep deserves credit for taking a chance on
this world-premiere work, which forces its
audience to consider two of the greatest
issues facing 21st-century society: rampant
gun violence and school shootings.
For much of the audience — perhaps most
of it — that will be enough. If so, then you
should stop here and pick up tickets before
someone else snatches them.
It was not enough for me.
For 80 minutes, DeVita portrays a
bereaved father, Andy. He’s in the process
of building a stone wall on his property as
he tells the audience about the moments
in his life leading up to the day his beloved
son walked into his high school and committed an unthinkable act of violence. It’s a
play the company promises will be “moving and provocative,” sparking conversation
among audience members and forcing them
to question the beliefs they walked in with.
Walking out, I had several questions, but
they all shared the same sentiment: Why?
Why did talented Australian playwright
Joanna Murray-Smith — writer of Bombshells, which ran at the Rep during artistic
director Mark Clements’ first year with the
company — present us with this particular
story, and this story alone? There’s a subtle
twist to DeVita playing the parent of a gun-
man rather than a victim, but that choice
loses its potency after we’ve spent an hour
listening to Andy flip through memories
from the family scrapbook, putting off the
elephant in the room. Andy’s story is powerful and sad, but is it more so than the stories
of his son’s victims? Should his voice be the
only one we hear?
Why, if this is the voice Murray-Smith and
director Clements have chosen to give us,
have they chosen one with nothing more to
offer than uncertainty and contradiction?
To be clear: I see nothing wrong with
Andy having uncertain, contradictory feelings about his son’s actions. Such a response
makes perfect sense for a grieving father,
and DeVita balances those conflicting emotions with laser-tight efficacy.
But I wonder why the script forces him into
doing so at all. I understand the impulse to
make Andy an everyman with no extreme, a
man with whom any viewer can identify. He’s
not a religious man, but he calls it human
nature to suspect a post-life moral reckoning; he has liberal and conservative friends;
he buys a gun after his wife is mugged but
buries it in the yard after a coworker’s wife
he’s sleeping with tries to shoot him and her
husband at the office. Unfortunately, making
Andy unsure of anything does not challenge
us to reconsider our beliefs — it simply
unsettles us for having any.
Much of the play revolves around Andy’s
story before the shooting. Murray-Smith’s
narrative seems constructed around a singu-
P h o t o : M i c h a e l B r o s i lo w
James DeVita gives a powerful portrayal of grieving father Andy in American Song.
lar need: to show us that the way you think
and feel about your children is unlike how
you think or feel about anyone else. This
is why Andy still loves his son, the school
shooter; this is why Andy is so unconcerned
about his son, whom he should have intuitively known needed help. But parents in the
audience know this already, and those without children cannot understand this feeling
as more than theory.
Why does the story of a life that begins
with so much hope and ends with so much
sorrow compel me to neither smile nor cry?
Why did the opening night “Act II” talkback come off so didactic? Inviting local
community leaders to comment on the play
is a good idea, but not if it’s done as haphazardly as the effort I saw, in which a representative from the Zeidler Center stepped on
stage practically as soon as DeVita stepped
off. The wise words of that night’s guest,
MPS superintendent Darienne Driver, were
undercut by the shallowness of “Act II’s”
execution.
How did a play that is objectively good,
with perhaps the best cast and crew possible, on an issue I’m extremely passionate
about, leave me so cold and unfeeling?
I don’t have the answer after seeing this
play — which may, I suppose, be the Rep’s
point.
School shootings are nothing but whys.
“Why did they do it?” “Why was no one able
to catch this before it was too late?” “Why
can’t our politicians and civic leaders stop
the violence?”
The problem is we already know how to
ask these questions. So a production that
tackles these issues needs to do more than
simply ask them again.
It is an undeniably good thing to spend
80 minutes thinking about being a parent
in a dangerous world, or how we can stop
violence from hurting those we love. And it’s
better to spend 80 minutes at American Song
than not think about those things at all.
But just thinking about it isn’t enough. If
those 80 minutes don’t motivate you to do
anything once they’re over — except keep
asking that same old “why?” — then what’s
the point?
On STAGE
The Milwaukee Rep’s production of
American Song runs through April 10
in the Quadracci Powerhouse, at 108
E. Wells St. Tickets start at $20. Visit
milwaukeerep.com for more details.
Gift certificates available for purchase at:
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www.ayoungeryou21.com
29
Prometheus Trio continues
standard of excellence
with a new violinist
By Kirstin Roble
Contributing writer
Beautiful sounds can
always be heard wafting
through the halls of the
Wisconsin Conservatory of
Music. Many of these dulcet tones belong to the Prometheus Trio, the conservatory’s resident chamber
music ensemble.
Founded in 2000, the
Prometheus Trio was established shortly after the
P h o t o : W i s c o n s i n c o n s e r vat o r y
Wisconsin Conservatory
The current iteration of the Prometheus Trio features
returned to its Prospect Aveviolinist Margot Schwartz along with married couple
nue home, after a period of
Stefanie Jacob (piano) and Scott Tisdale (cello).
remodeling.
“The conservatory had
On Stage
a long history of having a
The Prometheus Trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. April
resident trio, at least dating
11-12 at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, 1584
back to the 1970s, so thenN. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee. Tickets are $25, $35 for
President Joyce Altman and
premium seating, $15 for students and free for WCM
VP of academic affairs Alice
students. Visit wcmusic.org or call 414-276-5760.
Brovan thought it would be
great to have a resident trio
again,” says Stefanie Jacob,
Trio has a unique position as not just perthe trio’s pianist.
Jacob says she and her husband, Pro- formers but also educators. “We work with
metheus cellist Scott Tisdel, were already three conservatory student groups, which
thinking about forming a trio. “Scott and I is really great,” says Jacob. “All three of us
have performed as a duo since we met at enjoy coaching chamber music, so it’s really
Indiana University,” says Jacob. “When we a lot fun.”
For Jacob, this commitment to education
moved to Milwaukee, we played with quite
a few violinists before we decided to form a includes teaching privately in addition to
ensemble coaching. “I always tell students
more permanent ensemble.”
Originally, their partner was violinist that, if chamber music is what you want
Samantha George, then the associate con- to do, start working with others as early
certmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony as you can — it can only help you!” added
Orchestra. Tisdel met George at an audi- Jacobs.
Jacob and Tisdel’s love of music does not
tion, and he and Jacob later asked her to
join them for a concert in January 2000. end with them — it has been passed to their
A few events later, the three became the daughter, Emmy Tisdel. Emmy is primarily a
Prometheus Trio, which performed its first violinist, but she also plays viola, and will be
show in November 2000 shortly after the joining her parents for the final Prometheus
grand reopening of the Wisconsin Conser- Trio concert of the 2015–16 season.
That concert, also marking the end of
vatory.
George, now an associate professor of Schwartz’s first year with the group, will
violin at Lawrence University in Appleton, feature a number of Prometheus Trio favorwould later leave the group. Tisdel and ites: Mozart’s Trio in E Major, Brahms’ Piano
Jacob have worked with three violinists Quartet in C minor and a heart-wrenching
since: Jeanyi Kim, Timothy Klabunde and, trio by contemporary composer Alfred
starting this season, Margot Schwartz. Schnittke.
“The concert features some challenging
Over those 16 years, the performance calendar for the trio has changed, growing and beautiful (music) as well as includes
from a three- to a four-concert series and our own daughter, which we are very excited about!” says Jacob. “It promises to be a
adding several out-of-town commitments.
As the ensemble-in-residence at the truly special event.”
Wisconsin Conservatory, the Prometheus
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30
Henry Cavill finds the complexity in playing Superman
P h o t o : Wa r n e r B r o s
Henry Cavill says his take on Clark Kent is to make Kent less clumsy and more reserved
— a Superman hiding behind the persona of a perfect gentleman.
P h o t o : Wa r n e r B r o s .
The Interview Hub
Henry Cavill is the ideal Clark Kent. Mildmannered, self-effacing and the perfect
gentleman, the British heartthrob embraces
all the best qualities of Superman’s alter ego.
Beginning with Man of Steel (2013), Cavill gave his Kent a less clumsy and more
reserved sensibility, compared to the late,
great Christopher Reeves’ interpretation.
Having created a distinct new Superman, he
now takes things a step farther in Batman v
Superman: Dawn of Justice, in which we find
him at odds with Ben Affleck’s Batman. The
film invites audiences to witness the founding of the Justice League and will lay the
groundwork for a series of new Superman
films in the years to come.
“This film expands on the world that you
were introduced to in Man of Steel,” Cavill
says. “Superman is now more confident and
understands his role as a superhero better.
He has a very strong sense of his mission on
Earth and he disagrees with Batman’s way of
doing things even though they both want to
save lives and fight evil.”
In Batman v Superman, while the two DC
Comics superheroes engage in their own
private war, mankind faces a terrible new
threat that makes it imperative that they put
their differences aside and unite to save the
planet. Directed by Zack Snyder, the film costars Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jesse
Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons as
Alfred. Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Laurence
Fishburne (Perry White) and Diane Lane
(Martha Kent) also reprise their characters
from Man of Steel.
‘Superman is an ideal —
he represents the good
in all of us. ... When
I play the character
I try to reflect that
with as much integrity
and authenticity as
possible.’
For the 32-year-old Cavill, the upcoming
release of the highly-anticipated film will
help him rebuild his career momentum after
last year’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E. disappointed audiences and critics alike.
Born in Jersey to Colin and Marianne
Cavill, Henry is the second youngest of five
brothers. He was poised to carry on a family tradition of joining the military — his
father served in the Navy before becoming
a stockbroker, and two of his brothers are
in the army and Royal Marines, respectively
— until the lure of acting proved too strong.
Cavill’s acting career began in earnest
with a small role in the 2002 remake of The
Count of Monte Christo starring Guy Pearce.
He later achieved greater recognition as
Charles Brandon in the highly acclaimed TV
series The Tudors, opposite Jonathan Rhys
Meyers.
Henry Cavill reprises his role as Superman in the upcoming blockbuster Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the film, the Kryptonian hero finds himself in conflict with
Gotham vigilante Batman over their approaches to fighting crime.
What do you think is behind the appeal of
the Superman character?
He represents a champion for good versus
evil. Superman is an ideal — he represents
the good in all of us and he is determined to
fight for justice as part of his mission in life.
We may not have superpowers like he does,
but he is someone whom we all admire and
aspire to be like. He is a source of inspiration
and hope and when I play the character I try
to reflect that with as much integrity and
authenticity as possible.
Beginning with Man of Steel, would you
say you’ve tried to make your mark on
the character, and set your Clark Kent/
Superman apart from Christopher Reeves’
interpretation?
It made no sense to try to emulate or
compete with Christopher Reeves’ portrayal.
That will always stand on its own and be
cherished by audiences.
I tried to be as faithful to the character as
possible and at the same time bring something of my own sense of both Clark Kent
and Superman. I wanted my Clark Kent to
be more retiring — someone who doesn’t
want to draw any attention to himself. That’s
why I didn’t want to play him as very clumsy
or doing anything that makes people notice
you. For Superman, I wanted to convey his
integrity and sense of justice and capture his
heroic and idealist spirit.
Given Superman’s extraordinary powers,
is it essential to not turn him into this overly
heroic or flawless being?
He’s not infallible and he has his doubts
at times. Those elements are very important in giving you a sense of his emotional
vulnerability. I wanted to bring that to the
character and I think it makes it so much
more interesting for audiences to see that
his man, even though he’s an extraordinary
individual, also struggles at times to make
sense of everything.
Do you share his very altruistic outlook?
I think we all want to do the right thing.
I have always been guided by that kind of
principle. I’ve made mistakes like everyone
else, of course, and Superman is going to
make mistakes even though he’s a very good
man with noble ideals.
He still has this outsider’s sensibility and,
as someone who has been the subject of
bullying, I understand the anger that he has
experienced as a teenager. But in his case,
it’s a big problem if someone with those kind
of powers gets angry!
Do you get a boost out of wearing the
Superman outfit?
SUPERMAN next page
31
SUPERMAN from prior page
Every time I put on the suit in the morning
I would feel fantastic. It’s the ultimate feeling and that S is an iconic symbol. It’s not
the easiest costume to get into and it takes
several people to help get you into the suit
because it’s a very tight fit. You become very
close over the course of several months of
getting you in and out of the suit!
Is this film taking off from where Man of
Steel left us?
This film introduces us to Batman and
the Justice League but it’s not a Superman
sequel. We will see those films down the
road and this one helps develop new storylines and expand the kind of universe that
will set the stage for more Superman stories
in the future I hope.
Were you a big Superman comic book fan
when you were growing up?
No, not really, but I was aware of superheroes like Superman, of course. I went to
boarding school where even if I would have
been allowed to leave the school grounds
there were no comic stores in the area anyway. But when I first auditioned for the role
(for DC’s original reboot Superman Returns;
the role eventually went to Brandon Routh) I
began reading everything I could.
Then for Man of Steel, I did even more
research in order to develop my own appreciation and understanding of the character
beyond what was simply in the script. When
I went back to the original comic books I
discovered a wealth of insights into the character that made him much more interesting
to me and what as an actor I could bring to
the role. I tried to search for the complexity
in the character and I hope to keep exploring
new layers to Superman as we go along.
Superman grows up feeling like something of an outsider. You yourself were sub-
jected to a lot of teasing when you were a
kid because you were overweight. Does that
give you an added sense of his mindset?
I understood what it means to not feel that
you fit in and you need to look within yourself more. I grew up with the kind of complex
that comes from being overweight and constantly teased and getting called things like
“Fatty Cavill.” When you’re fat, kids use that
to pick on you and make fun of you and you
can react very negatively and let that make
you miserable and self-pitying or you can
react against that and use it as a motivating factor to make you more self-reliant and
determined to stand up for yourself.
My parents were very instrumental in
encouraging me to not let those experiences
inhibit me or make me more cautious about
life. I was taught to have a positive outlook
and instead of letting myself feel sad or sorry
for myself I developed a stronger sense of
who I am and what I wanted to accomplish
in my life. All (that abuse) made me much
tougher and more anxious to prove myself.
Is there a kind of ego boost to playing
Superman?
There’s a certain pride you can take in
playing this kind of iconic figure and it creates some excitement with people. I don’t
walk the streets thinking I’m Superman,
though, although it’s not a bad image to
have. And girls don’t seem to mind, either.
How does your family react to your
Superman status?
My brothers tease me to death. They’re
always saying things like, “Let’s see who gets
to defeat Superman today!”
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32
Oscar ‘Spotlight’ falls on former Badger Nicole Rocklin
Contributing writer
While Madison has lately been gripped
by basketball fever, one Badger has won
a competition that rivals any NCAA tournament. Former University of WisconsinMadison student Nicole Rocklin received
an Oscar for producing Spotlight, named
the best picture of 2015 by the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Rocklin graduated with honors from UWMadison in 2001. “I couldn’t have had a
better college experience than I did in Madison,” she says. “I love the university.”
Rocklin wasn’t a graduate of either the
departments of communication arts or theater and drama. Hoping to enter law school,
she double-majored in history and AfroAmerican studies.
“I don’t think film school is necessary if
you want to produce,” she says. “My point
of view is that if you have a more worldly
viewpoint, you actually bring a better sense
of skills and a better perspective to the film
business.”
After graduating, she applied to law
school, worked for some entertainment
attorneys, thought of entering the music
industry, and then worked for high-powered
producer Jerry Bruckheimer in her native
Beth Mulkerron, Kay Allmand & Molly Rhode; Photo: by John Nienhuis
By jay Rath
“It’s not a comic book movie or a thriller,”
Los Angeles. His projects have included The
Amazing Race and CSI television series, and she says. “It’s not an overtly commercial
movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Top movie. So to get a movie like this put
together and do it well and successfully,
Gun and Beverly Hills Cop.
She’d already pulled back her law school and have it be financially successful, is not
application. After a friend urged Rocklin to an easy task.”
There are rewards, of course. Yes, getbecome a producer herself, she did. Not
that it happened just like that, she clarifies. ting an Oscar is nice, but only a Packer fan
It hasn’t been easy and producing a movie would be as thrilled to meet quarterback
draws on skills that most would not con- Aaron Rodgers at the Academy Awards
that same night.
sider glamorous.
Rocklin introduced herself and shared
“I could sell tires,” she explains. “I’m in
the business of selling. A lot of your job that her father, a big fan, had recently died.
in making a movie is selling, in addition to Seeing Rodgers, she told him, made her feel
fostering great relationships and being able that he was present.
to problem-solve and all those
things.”
There are creative aspects,
of course, but, “When you
think about a movie, you’re
selling your project to studios,
you’re selling your project to
actors that you want to be in
it, you’re selling your project
to filmmakers and writers you
want to come on board,” she
says. And once the movie is
done, “You’re selling in terms
of marketing your movie.”
Getting Spotlight to the
screen with her business partner and co-producer, Blye
P h oto : N i co l e Ro c k l i n
Pagon Faust, took seven years. From left to right, Spotlight producers Michael Sugar,
Michael Sugar and Steve Golin Blye Pagon Faust, former UW-Madison student Nicole
joined the two as co-producers. Rocklin and Steve Golin.
“Seven years in my business
isn’t that long,” says Rocklin.
“I’m rooting for you,” said Rodgers.
But film projects don’t make money while
And so life goes on for Rocklin. “We have
they’re being developed, nor do movies earn
income during shooting or post-production. a pretty nice slate of projects, but I’m not
“It’s exciting, a lot of work and there are a sure what’s next,” she says. “I need to come
lot of moments when you don’t know how back to Madison for a football game, at the
you’ll keep things together,” she says. “It’s very least. And I need to go back and now
hit up a Packers game, too.”
not the easiest.”
Oh, and her Oscar?
Despite receiving six Oscar nominations
“There are moments when it’s been
and winning best picture and best original screenplay awards, the fact Spotlight on my desk,” she says. “There are other
even got made was a miracle, according moments when it’s sitting on my dresser.
to Rocklin. The film tells the story of how It’s always sitting far enough away from my
journalists at The Boston Globe uncovered one-and-a-half year old that he can’t have it
sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. It stars fall on him or he can’t damage it.”
Michael Keaton, Kenosha-native Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Liev Schreiber.
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33
In ‘Midnight Special,’ Nichols aims for sincere sci-fi
By Jake Coyle
AP film writer
Jeff Nichols’ Midnight Special — a sci-fi
mystery that plays out in a clandestine,
nocturnal chase from Texas to Florida —
began with an idea in the writer-director’s
mind, and a desire to recapture the cryptic
thrill of sci-fi films like Starman and Close
Encounters of the Third Kind.
But it wasn’t until after Nichols, the
37-year-old writer-director of Mud and Take
Shelter, was driving to his writing office in
Austin, Texas, one day when he knew what
Midnight Special would be about. That was
when he heard the news of the Sandy Hook
school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
“This movie, it’s a silly sci-fi chase movie,
but at its heart is me trying to deal with that:
Pulling over to the side of the road and hearing about children being shot and picturing
my son being afraid in his final moments
and just being devastated,” says Nichols.
“Does the movie reach those heights? Probably not. Is it good that it doesn’t? Maybe.
But this is what I was feeling.”
Midnight Special, now in wide release, is
the first studio film for Nichols. His prior
films — personal tales rooted in classically
American moviemaking — have made the
Arkansas native one of the most exciting
voices in independent film. Midnight Special
finds him developing his command of special effects in a bigger budget production
than he’s done in the past, yet remaining a
steadfastly sincere storyteller.
“The thing that Jeff possesses in spades
is if you carved his heart out, I’m sure it
would be heavier than most people,” says
Joel Edgerton, an actor in the film. “He feels
things very deeply. His films are infused
with an emotion that generally trends
toward family and love and protection and
care. Even if there’s violence, it’s because
it’s spurred on by the lack of those things.”
In Midnight Special, Michael Shannon
(who has appeared in every movie by Nichols, beginning with his debut, Shotgun Stories) stars as the father of 8-year-old Alton
(Jaeden Lieberher), a boy who possesses
a mysterious special power. Alton, who
wears goggles to cover eyes that can cast
searing beams of light, has attracted the
attentions of the government (Adam Driver
‘Just
because you
believe in
something
doesn’t
mean you
understand
it. In fact,
usually you
don’t.’
plays a sensitive
NSA agent) and
a religious sect
from which his
father is trying to
rescue him.
The
film,
patient but explosive, metes out
exposition slowly
and leaves some
questions unanswered. It opens
with a Chevelle
throttling through
the night, headlights off, with
the father and his
accomplice (Edgerton)
driving
with night-vision
goggles.
Their
mission is vague and uncertain, but Shannon’s father is compelled by a faith in his
son and a determination to shepherd Alton
where he needs to go.
“That’s parenthood,” Nichols, who has
a 5-year-old son with his wife, said in an
interview over lunch in Greenwich Village.
“Just because you believe in something
doesn’t mean you understand it. In fact,
usually you don’t.”
Midnight Special is a kind of companion
to Nichols’ Take Shelter (2011), which grew
out of his anxiety in becoming a parent.
Shannon played a paranoid father who sees
literal storm clouds on the horizon.
“Fear has been the basis of all of my movies, almost,” says Nichols. “Shotgun Stories
was about the fear of losing my brother.
Take Shelter was the fear of the entire world
falling apart and the fear of becoming a
parent. Midnight Special was the fear of
losing my child. But fear in and of itself
is not a story. It’s a catalyst that creates
something.”
Mud, a Mark Twain-esque coming-of-age
tale set along the Mississippi and co-starring Matthew McConaughey, was very well
received and selected for the Cannes Film
Festival. But it struggled to find a distributor
and wasn’t promoted well. Nichols grants
that the experience “shook my confidence.”
p h o t o : Wa r n e r B r o s .
Director Jeff Nichols’ first studio film, Midnight Special tells the story of a father
(Michael Shannon, center) trying to protect his mysterious son from religious and
bureaucratic forces.
But Mud sparked the interest of Warner
Bros., which gave Nichols final cut on Midnight Special. Speaking positively about his
studio experience, Nichols feels emboldened to try a $100 million film, should the
right opportunity present itself.
“The reason I’m more interested in it
now is: I know what to ask for,” says Nichols, whose crew is populated by regular
collaborators like cinematographer Adam
Stone, editor Julie Monroe and production
designer Chad Keith. “I know what I need to
make a film my way.”
Nichols’ next film, currently being edited,
is Loving, about the interracial couple Richard (Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth
Negga), whose marriage made them criminals in Virginia in the 1950s. Focus Features
will release it in November, placing it at the
heart of awards nomination season.
“Jeff’s very comfortable around me, but
sometimes being comfortable is not the
best thing for art,” says Shannon, who has
a small part in Loving. “It’s not such a bad
thing for him to work with somebody like
Ruth. It’s a different kind of story for him
and it’s good for him to branch out.”
For the ever-progressing filmmaker, Loving may be yet another evolution. At the
film’s mention, Nichols cups his hands over
this reporter’s voice recorder and whispers:
“It’s the best movie I’ve ever made.”
“It’s very quiet. It’s very silent. It’s very
painful. It’s very beautiful,” he says. “In a
time where the political debates around
marriage equality and around race are so
heated, this film just cuts through it. It’s just
about these two people.”
34
Telling Vincent van Gogh’s story through his ‘Bedrooms’
By Deb Brehmer
Special to WiG
No one in the history of art has created
a series of self-portraits as riveting as Vincent van Gogh’s. Rembrandt came close.
Frida Kahlo added inventive and fantastical
drama. Warhol dipped into the vernacular of
representation.
But van Gogh nailed it. He spun the very
molecules of existence into the closest
equivalent of what it feels like to be alive
than any artist has ever reached.
With van Gogh’s self-portraits, there is
no division between figure and ground. He
asserts that human life comes from the same
energy fields as air, water and land, a mere
rearranging of atoms into ever-shifting and
colliding eruptions of transient, uncontainable matter. And he then molds paint into
the emotive equivalents of natural forces.
His urgent and aggressive mark-making are
literally like footprints in the wet mud of a
farm field — imprints of existence rather
than abstract equivalents of representation.
One could look at the current exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago, Van
Gogh’s Bedrooms, as a series of self-portraits,
even when van Gogh’s face does not in fact
appear. Everything depicted — a pair of
shoes, a landscape, a chair — is so imbued
with the easily identifiable hand of van Gogh
that he looms as the subject of his work, no
matter what the painting depicts. A tree is as
alive and expressive as a face.
The 36-piece show is built around three
sequential paintings of van Gogh’s bedroom
in Arles, united for the first time. It might
seem like a crowd-pleasing headline show
built from narrow means. Instead it becomes
a perfect fulcrum for expanding and exploring multiple themes in van Gogh’s work. Just
when one would think there is no stone left
unturned in this eminent artist’s oeuvre, the
AIC tilts the perspective enough to get a different, more intimate glimpse of his brief life
and career.
The exhibition beautifully ties these works
into van Gogh’s biography in a way that
offers much more than a timeline. Bits of
the quotidian punctuate the show, and offer
small but profound moments to underscore
the delivery of the masterworks. These
minor asides and peripheral objects act as
knots in the trajectory of the work, giving
us pause and also connecting the paintings
to a life and a place and its dusty accoutrements. The exhibition manages to hold on to
and even recreate the sense of van Gogh’s
poverty, his quiet desperation to build an
existence around the act of painting, and his
ultimate failure to do so.
One of the first rooms of the chronologically arranged exhibition holds a re-creation
of a small Chinese, red lacquer wooden
box holding various samples of yarn. The
authentic box, which held 16 balls of wool,
is in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Apparently van Gogh used this collection
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Vincent van Gogh created three versions of The Bedroom, depicting a room in his “Yellow
House” in the town of Arles. Van Gogh’s Bedrooms uses the Art Institute’s version, along
with versions from Amsterdam and Paris, as the focal point of an exhibition exploring
the artist’s life and career in intimate detail.
of threads to experiment with color combinations, laying a string of orange near a
string of red, or twisting colors together.
It is thought that he may have established
palettes for some specific paintings using
this technique.
In this same room is the dynamic painting
Still Life with White Grapes, Apples, Pears and
Lemons (1887). It reveals that, although he
had absorbed impressionism in Paris and
was influenced by Seurat, Van Gogh’s hyperextenuated style was firmly in place from
the very beginnings of his career. The still
life appears almost as if composed with individual pieces of yarn. Finely tuned complementary colors vibrate line by line, mark by
mark, putting the lie to the myth that van
Gogh didn’t know color theory and his talent
came from some automatic unconscious
well of genius and/or madness.
One of the themes Van Gogh’s Bedrooms
focuses on is the notion of “home,” and this
first room emphasizes this by highlighting
two paintings van Gogh did of bird nests.
In 1885, van Gogh was living in the town
of Nuenen, where his parents had moved.
There, he collected bird nests, and created
a series of paintings of them; adjacent to the
two paintings featured at the AIC show are
two actual nests in Plexiglass boxes.
What makes this anchor not as silly as it
sounds is what van Gogh writes about it in
a letter dated to his brother Theo in 1885:
“When winter comes (when I have more
time for it) I shall make more drawings of
this kind of thing. La nichée et les nids [the
nestlings and the nests], I feel deeply for
them — especially people’s nests, those huts
on the heath and their inhabitants.”
A wall-size photo of the Yellow House
brings us to the place, street and nearby
park of the town of Arles in southern France,
where so much happened in 15 months. By
the time van Gogh arrived in Arles, he had
already lived in nearly 20 cities and four
VAN GOGH next page
35
VAN GOGH from prior page
countries. But here, where he rents rooms
to await a visit from Paul Gauguin, van Gogh
dreams of settling and building an artists’
community.
The three bedroom paintings provide
entry into this compacted time and document the artist’s peripatetic longing for
“home.” Just as he arranged and physically
decorated his rooms in the Yellow House to
create an oasis of comfort that might appeal
to Gauguin, he applied paint to canvas with
similar intent.
Both are inventions, arrangements, compositions that await human contact to
set them afire. There was little boundary
between van Gogh’s life and work. That is
why the paintings of the bedroom resonate
so fully. In a conceptual act, he styles a room,
then reproduces it three times, bringing both
the physicality and emotional content of
desire into play. Like us all, he longed for
stability, comfort, friendship.
Van Gogh created the first bedroom painting (owned by the Van Gogh Museum in
Amsterdam) in October 1888, as he awaited
Gaugin’s arrival, but it was later damaged by
water. He painted a second version (owned
by the Art Institute of Chicago) in September 1889 while he was living in an asylum
at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, recovering the
violent episode in which he severed his own
ear. A few weeks later, he painted the third
and smallest version of The Bedroom (owned
by the Musee d’Orsay, Paris) as a gift for his
mother and sister.
Although van Gogh tended to work in
serial notations of subjects (sunflowers,
shoes, self-portraits, etc), he painted three
versions of his room because, as he wrote to
his brother Theo, he considered it one of his
most successful works. Success to van Gogh
meant finding equilibrium between realism
and symbolism.
Three wall-sized video screens align in the
exhibition to compare every inch of the three
paintings, showing us van Gogh’s changes
and adjustments. Explanatory text and video
also outline how colors shifted over time.
The bedroom walls were originally a lilac
purple but are now blue. While this information is an interesting aside, it is really the
relationship of the bedroom paintings to van
Gogh’s other works in the show, such as the
two portraits of chairs (his and Gauguin’s)
and two portraits of shoes, that underscore
his ability to fuse human and inanimate
content.
Crowds swirl around the three bedroom
paintings, but many ignore a small display
on a nearby wall containing van Gogh’s only
surviving palette. Earthy colors (no piquant
greens, oranges and blues) create a muddy
landscape, a map of thought and process
that brings us as close to van Gogh as we
will ever get. One can see where he heavily
loaded the brush, leaving a furrow of paint,
and where he dabbed off the excess. The
palette dates to 1890, the last year of his life.
Rarely does an exhibition calibrate the
pace and mental duration of the viewer as
well as this one. Throughout, it twists and
turns from traditional presentation modes to
video environments then back to small bays
Why we support
Chris Abele
We are supporting Chris Abele for another term as Milwaukee
County Executive. His years of leadership and investment in our
leading arts and cultural institutions—both in and out of government—
have created world-class cultural experiences, grown jobs in our
region’s creative economy, crossed community boundaries, boosted
civic pride, and helped Milwaukee gain national prominence in the arts.
Endorsements:
On display
Van Gogh’s Bedrooms runs through
May 10 at the Art Institute of Chicago,
111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Admission is $5 in addition to regular museum
tickets: $25, $19 for students/seniors
and free for children under 14 and members. Visit artic.edu for more details.
“I have known Chris for over a decade, and he understands the role the arts play in
making Milwaukee a world-class city. Beyond all that he’s accomplished as County
Executive, Chris personally founded several Milwaukee arts organizations, including
Milwaukee Film. His vision for organizations like the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra,
and the Milwaukee Art Museum to become “best in class” is helping to drive
Milwaukee County’s improving national reputation. I have no doubt Chris will continue
to support a thriving arts community in his next term as County Executive.”
- Andy Nunemaker
I have known Chris since he came to Milwaukee. During this period he has
entirely devoted his time, intellect and capital to the betterment of the
Milwaukee community. Under his leadership we are going from fiscal crisis
to fiscal soundness. This job isn’t over. We need Chris.
- Sheldon Lubar
Madeleine Lubar
Cory Nettles
Andy Nunemaker
Don Smiley
Vote Tuesday, April 5th
“Long before public life, Chris Abele was one of the strongest advocates for arts
and culture in Milwaukee. He has enriched our community as a founder, board
leader, subscriber, donor and cheerleader for our most cherished organizations,
most often behind the scenes and out of sight. Chris understands that arts and
culture play a critical role in defining Milwaukee as a world-class destination, and
this perspective and experience make him the most compelling partner for arts
and culture into the future.”
- Alexander Fraser
Paid for by Leonard J. Sobczak
John Daniels
Alex Fraser
Chuck Harvey
Jonathan Jackson
Ted and Mary Kellner
Don and Mary Jo Layden
Shel and Marianne Lubar
of ephemera. It concludes with a full room
designed for a rest, and a selfie in front of
a wall-sized reproduction of The Night Cafe
(1888).
The exhibition’s paintings are haunting
and beautiful, accented by these effective
pyrotechnics. But the ultimate reward comes
from those treasures in the darker corners:
the box of yarn, a nest, the artist’s palette.
Deb Brehmer writes about the visual arts for
multiple local and national publications.
36
Tom Berenz and Shane
McAdams complement and
contrast at Watrous Gallery
By Michael Muckian
Contributing writer
Milwaukee-area artists Tom Berenz
and Shane McAdams paint very different
pictures — literally and figuratively — of
landscapes seen and felt. But the content
and emotions behind the canvases are as
complementary in their sentiments as they
are contrasting in their visualization.
At a “side-by-side” pair of solo exhibits at
the James Watrous Gallery, located on the
third floor of Madison’s Overture Center,
those two artists’ works are paired against
each other to accentuate those complements and contrasts.
Towards the North, Berenz’s half of the
dual show, mixes bits and pieces of ordinary
life into jumbles of color and shape the artist refers to as “mounds,” a description that
become more obvious with each piece. The
Milwaukee artist, who also teaches at UWParkside, finds a tension between realism
and abstraction in everyday objects’ decay,
a vision that contributes to his landscapes
of imagination.
Beat a Path, and Make It Fast, the title
of McAdams’ contributions, takes a more
literal landscape approach, but trades on
darker emotions. The Cedarburg artist, who
teaches at Marian University in Fond du
Lac, blends natural elements with synthetic
imagery created with the help of toxic compounds that further augment the toll that
natural elements like wind and water take
on the subjects of his works.
Berenz and McAdams recently described
their individual visions to WiG, discussing
the content, style and emotions behind
their works.
How would you describe your art, both
in terms of content and style?
Shane McAdams: My work examines
landscape in terms of process, materiality and the history of painting. I try to find
processes that enrich impoverished materials by revealing structures and patterns in
them. My practice has been a cumulative
odyssey of material experimentation, and
I arrived where I am artistically by staying
curious and not forgetting to look up.
Tom Berenz: My paintings are about my
relationship to the world around me both
cerebral and physical, intellectual and visceral. I use the disaster motif as a metaphor
to discuss personal, sociopolitical, environmental and ideological issues, as well as
to explore the existential self and examine
personal narratives, with some being more
literal and others more enigmatic.
On display
The imagery is in constant flux, but
always returns to a pile. A pile is everything
and it is nothing. It is a mound that once
was and now isn’t, a mass of information,
both physical and metaphysical, organized
and chaotic.
Your styles are quite different from each
other. Are there complimentary elements
or is the divergence enough to make things
interesting?
SM: Both, actually. Tom and I are both
painters, so fundamentally we are similar
and, at times, complementary. But then we
all follow our own nerdy blisses and find our
own voices and languages. I am interested
in the semiotics of landscape painting and
breaking down the grammar of how we
look at what is “natural” and “artificial,”
“concrete” and “abstract,” “made” and “discovered.” Tom has his own voice that comes
out very clearly in his work.
TB: There is a lot of crossover between
Shane’s work and mine. We both deal
with landscape and both are interested
in abstraction within the landscape. Both
deal with psychological landscapes and we
are both interested in contemporary issues
in painting. The pairing is great. Shane is
a great artist and person, and he’s also a
great guy to have a beer with.
Describe the thought that went to one
of your paintings currently on display at
the gallery.
TB: “Ghost Rider” is based on the idea of
“ghost bikes,” memorials located at the site
of fatal bike accidents. Someone will take
the actual bike from the accident, paint it
white and put it close to the accident site to
act as a memorial.
I lived in Madison for three years and
biking was my main transportation. From
Madison I moved to Milwaukee and on the
last day, as I was driving out of town on
East Washington Avenue, I saw a cyclist
get killed. Milwaukee isn’t a bike-friendly
community and I haven’t used my bike as a
commuter vehicle since I saw that accident.
“Ghost Rider” is a painting about memorial
sites, the fragility of life and my fear of biking in an urban setting.
SM: Years ago, after doing an experiment
that involved pouring a gallon of Elmer’s
Glue onto wet enamel paint, my understanding of landscapes shifted. I moved
away from mining my creative depths to
render surreal vistas, and learned that
accident, nature and alternative materials
could be every bit as interesting as paint-
Tom Berenz’s Towards the North and Shane McAdams’ Beat a Path and Make It Fast
form the latest side-by-side solo exhibitions at the James Watrous Gallery, located
on the third floor of Madison’s Overture Center, 201 State St. The exhibit, free and
open to the public, runs through May 8. Visit wisconsinacademy.org for more details.
P h o t o : J am e s Wat r o u s Ga l l e r y
Tom Berenz’s “Ghost Rider” is a painting about memorial sites and the fragility of life,
created after the artist saw a bicyclist killed.
ing inspired by a dreamscape. I became
comfortable creating works that used the
processes shaping the actual landscape
— wind, gravity, time, repetition — rather
than hand-rendered brushstrokes.
“Decalcomania,” a piece in the show, is
made with joint compound sandwiched
between two panels which were pulled
away, leaving the branching patterns familiar in mountain ranges, or lightning or
cracks in mud. I hit it from the sides with
a flash of spray paint that functions as
directional light. It looks like a view of the
Pyrenees from a plane at 30,000 feet.
Each piece of artwork exists in and of
itself, but is there meaning behind the
works you produce?
SM: “Meaning” is a tricky word, and
“meaning behind” is even trickier. I think
meaning implies that with enough work a
viewer can crack a painting like the combination of a safe. And that’s not the case, at
least in my work.
There’s nothing behind my work, and
what’s on the surface is about the grammar
of painting, namely landscape painting. I
want the viewers to look at my paintings
and inventory all the marks, relationships,
materials, content and forms, and then
spread them out on a table in their minds to
get a more complicated picture of what an
image is. Hopefully, they will reconsider the
lazy conventions and oversimplified inferences we often make when we process the
world in visual terms.
TB: I try to keep the works open enough
P h o t o : J am e s Wat r o u s Ga l l e r y
Shane McAdams’ landscapes often
feature dark, natural images and are
created using toxic compounds to
emphasize the erosion of wind or water.
so viewers can project into the paintings
and come up with their own meanings,
understandings, narratives and concepts. I
don’t want my paintings to tell the viewers
what to see, but to create a dialog between
the painting and the viewer.
These paintings have deep personal
meaning to me, but I don’t want to reveal
all of that to the viewers. I want to provide
enough information to send viewers in a
certain direction, but allow the viewers to
participate and fill in the gaps with their
own ideas.
37
music theatre
a pre-show gathering for the
LGBT community,
patrons & friends
T h u r s d ay
MAY
26
$40
Includes
Ticket
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With special host Michael Johnston
use code BEOUT40 Tickets: 414.291.7800 or
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38
Metal artist Kim Cridler draws a ‘Descriptive Line’ at Lynden
By Kat Minerath
Contributing writer
and design is not reserved solely for
nature but also for the sculptural
shapes of vessels and vases. In many,
they are drawn out through a metal
skeleton of lines, some topped off
by topiary forms or decorated with
branches or floral motifs. Delving
into the details, other elements of life
might be found, such as butterflies and
insects.
One of the most intriguing pieces in
the show is “Bittersweet Basin,” which
employs a variety of metals as well as
amber, howlite crystal and beeswax. In
this work, a large footed bowl is made
A large tree branch seems to have
fallen onto the polished parquet floor
of the gallery. Or the recreation of a
tree, at least, made of elaborate twists
of metal by artist Kim Cridler.
Despite its large size, it is elegant
and even delicate. The leaves of polished bronze shine as though it is
autumn. Gently incised lines that recreate the veins within each leaf. The
trunk is steel, but not solid. Cridler
weaves together gnarled strands of
metal in a manner echoing the organic
flow of outer bark.
Though fallen, the
substantial materials of this branch will
deny decay.
This undercurrent
of time and transformation is borne out
further, as the fallen branch also has
taken down a large,
three-dimensional
rendering of a decorative urn. The urn is
composed of metal
lines, something like
a schematic drawing. Two inscriptions are spelled out
in metal letters, on
the mouth of the
vessel and beneath
the base. The one at
the top reads “ALL
THINGS CHANGE.”
The one at the bottom:
“NOTHING
PERISHES.”
This sculpture,
“Field Study 15: Bur
Oak,” is the centerpiece of the current
P h o t o : Ly n d e n Sc u l p t u r e Ga r d e n
exhibition on view Kim Cridler’s “Field Study 15: Bur Oak” is a striking cenat the Lynden Sculp- terpiece for her new exhibition, recreating a tree branch
ture Garden, Kim and urn in eye-catching strokes of metal.
Cridler: The Descriptive Line. Part of
Lynden’s ongoing Women, Nature, Sci- through repeated floral patterns in
ence series, The Descriptive Line makes metal. Out of the entwined lines, two
Cridler’s training as a metalsmith and snakes emerge. One holds an egg in
interest in the process of creation its mouth — whether it is to be simply
readily apparent, and is a compact but carried or swallowed whole is hard to
say. On the opposite side of the bowl,
engaging show.
Her sense of detail is immediately a cluster of golden bees mill about in
visible in the five sculptures on view, a pile.
There is something elegiac about
but regular practice in drawing especially informs the character of her Field this arrangement. It has implications
Study series. She says, “Several years of regeneration, but not without the
ago I began a habit of drawing the consumption and change that is part
living things from gardens and fields of the circle of life.
This idea brings us back to the
around my home. Making a drawing a
day kept me engaged in careful look- words spelled out on “Field Study 15:
ing, gave time and space for a con- Bur Oak.” Indeed, everything changes.
templative task and sharpened my But the assertion that nothing perconsideration of patterns in even the ishes, placed on the bottom of the
vessel like a whispered secret, holds a
most ordinary life forms.”
Cridler’s attentiveness to pattern sense of hope.
Over and over, the world is recycled
through varying states, from one form
to another. Even the shape of tipped
vase beneath the tree branch seems
to be reimagined from ancient vases.
Early in Greek history, large vessels
like this were used as grave markers,
some with the bottom left open so
libations could be poured in and sink
into the earth, passing from the living
to the dead.
While Cridler’s art is shown in the
gallery, it is hard not to consider it in
comparison to the monumental sculptures dotting the rolling 40-acre land-
P h o t o : Kat M i n e r at h
“Bittersweet Basin” depicts two snakes emerging from
the entwined lines of its form.
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
‘The Grilled Cheese Grant’
The Lunchbox
731 E. Center St.
3 to 7 p.m. March 26
Call it crowdfunding with a slice of cheese. The collective artists of After School Special, alumni of the
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, are hosting a
fundraiser for their successors undergoing the rigors
of final thesis projects. Five finalists have been selected and the purchase of a grilled cheese sandwich will
support the winner’s final art school project, a culmination of their years of study.
While 80 percent of the proceeds will go to the
recipient of the grant, 10 percent will go back to After
School Special and 10 percent will be donated to local
LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit Diverse & Resilient.
On Display
Kim Cridler: The Descriptive Line
is on view through June 5 at the
Lynden Sculpture Garden, 2145 W.
Brown Deer Road. Admission is $9,
$7 for students/seniors, free for
kids under 6. Visit lyndensculpturegarden.org for more information.
scape outside. Her organic forms are
light, airy, even dreamy. Their shapes
and forms recall classical lines and
decorations, the sort that might be
found in formal English gardens of the
19th century. They are worlds away
from the massive and often minimalist
sculptures outside. Yet, their presence
is a reminder to take note of nature,
the patterns and rhythms that underlie
the world, from the quietly transient to
the most lasting and elemental.
‘Couture Allure: Fashion, Art, Desire’
Jazz Gallery
926 E. Center St.
6 to 10 p.m. April 1
Enjoy edgy aesthetics on the wall and on the body in
this one-night event. Curators Stonie Rivera and Colleen Kassner are bringing together artists, designers
and collectors, including Fashionfarmboy, Vampslome,
and Spooky Boutique, for a fashion show and evening
of art.
‘Frederic Edwin Church and the Lure of the Tropics’
Milwaukee Art Museum
700 N. Art Museum Drive
2 p.m. April 2
As a complement to the Nature and the American Vision
exhibition, Olana Partnership curator Evelyn D. Trebilcock will talk about the 19 century painter, Frederic
Edwin Church. He had a fascination with the grandeur
of the American landscape, but also felt the pull of
travel and recorded his journeys to exotic locales in
Central America through epic paintings.
39
Milwaukee’s favorite musical sisters reboot as Reyna
By Colton Dunham
Contributing writer
After establishing themselves on the Wisconsin music scene with Bridges and Guns
and Love of Mine in 2013, sisters Vic and
Gabby Banuelos, the frontwomen of Vic +
Gab, called it quits — in name only.
The duo played their final Vic + Gab show
at the Pabst Theater last October, a performance that was emotional for them and
their fans. But it was no goodbye — just a
see-you-later.
Now, the sisters have returned with a
new name — Reyna — and are ready to
re-introduce themselves to Milwaukee in a
performance at Cactus Club on March 26.
Their first show as Reyna will feature new
music (including the synthpop debut singles
“Spill Your Colors” and “Ink on my Skin,”) but
the same talent that’s driven the sisters to
prior success.
The new name doesn’t feel quite real yet,
according to Gabby, but she expects that will
change after the official debut. She and Vic
recently spoke to WiG about the new direction, the two new singles and what’s ahead
for Reyna.
The new sound of Reyna couldn’t be any
more different from the more alternative
vibe you had before as Vic + Gab. What
inspired you to start fresh and move forward with a different sound?
Gabby Banuelos: Although it sounds com-
pletely different, I feel like we, as Vic + Gab,
wanted a sound that was close to that (synthpop style). We didn’t really have the tools
and the help. Our music was very organic
because those are the tools that we had. We
had our instruments, we had songwriting
and we had producers working with us. So I
think what inspired that was that we finally
had the tools and the people around us to
make that sound.
Your first single, “Spill Your Colors,” was
streamed 20,000 times within a day of
its premiere and now has been streamed
upwards of 90,000 times through Sound
Cloud and Spotify. What has been the general response to the track and new sound?
GB: Fans were very curious. I think that
sparked a lot of people to go online and listen to it. I think that helped. I think, generally,
the response was really good. I was expecting a lot of people to come out and be like,
“Oh, you guys have changed! This music isn’t
as good!” Stuff like that. But people really
liked the song. They like the direction that
we’re going in. I think it was a success.
I’ve listened to the song dozens of times
in the last week alone. It’s amazing.
GB: Thank you! It’s so weird because
we, for months now, we felt the song was a
secret because we would listen to it all the
REYNA on page 40
P h o t o : Sa i ko M a n a g e m e n t
The sisters of Reyna, formerly known as Vic + Gab, will perform under their new name
and sound for the first time at Milwaukee’s Cactus Club on March 26.
40
REYNA from page 39
time, tweaking the mixing and all, and then
it finally came out and within a day, 20,000
people listened to it. We were like, “Oh, my
God! That’s so crazy. Yesterday no one could
listen to it because it was a secret and now
20,000 people have listened to it.” It was
blowing our minds.
“Spill Your Colors” is such an upbeat track.
Was there a reason why you decided to
release it as the first introduction to Reyna?
Vic Banuelos: I think that the track is
very similar to our old stuff. It’s us playing
our bass and guitar, and I think it would be
a good introduction to smooth people into
the new stuff.
You also recently released a new track
titled “Ink On My Skin.” What was the
inspiration behind that track and “Spill Your
Colors”?
GB: When we wrote that song, we were
in LA for a month so we were missing home;
we were missing our loved ones and our significant others. That’s where that came from.
I think after that, we started writing more
sassy songs. … “Spill Your Colors” was one of
the last songs we wrote. I think there was the
transition where we were sad and lonely at
first and then we came into our own and we
were like, “We’re doing good. We’re writing
good songs.” We became more confident. I
think you can see that if you compare “Spill
Your Colors” to “Ink On My Skin.”
What was the recording process like this
time around?
VB: We always wrote songs on the road,
you know, on tour and trying them out live.
That’s how we developed the songs. This
time around, we went to the studio, met a
producer and it was kind of like: instantly
get naked and all personal and write a song
with a complete stranger. It was a completely
different process for us. It was tough at first
because we had never written with anyone
else but ourselves. So we had to get used
to that process and get comfortable with
people being around and sharing ideas with
a producer and trying to get as much help
and being comfortable with that.
Back in October, you were saying farewell
to the name “Vic + Gab” with your final
show. Are you excited to be back in Milwaukee for a re-introduction?
GB: We’re so excited. We love playing live.
We like that more than being in a studio and
writing. That’s what we love to do. We’re so
excited to finally be able to get back out and
finally share all the music that we’ve been
writing. We’ve only been able to share two
of the songs, but now if you come to the
show, you’ll be able to see everything that
we’ve done.
The Cactus Club show is the first live
show for Reyna. What can we expect from
the show?
GB: It’s going to be a lot more intimate
because it’s a small venue and a small show.
There’ll only be about 150 people. We’ve
been talking about it and we want to introduce the people to the music and talk about
the songs and talk about our process of
recording and writing them. It’ll be a little
bit …
VB: Personal.
GB: Yeah. You’re going to be able to not
just listen to the music, but also hear about
it a little bit.
Since you’ve played numerous shows in
Milwaukee before, what’s been your favorite Milwaukee moment?
VB: I think the last show at the Pabst
Theater was very emotional for us. Hearing
the people sing the songs to us and knowing
that it might be the last time we’ll play them
as Vic + Gab, that was very emotional and
important for us. We’ve obviously had really
cool moments in other shows that stand
out, too.
GB: I feel like a lot of people always come
and talk to us about one of the times that
we played Brady Street Fest. A lot of people
that we meet come up to us and be like, “It
was such a great show!” It’s crazy how many
people saw us at that festival and liked the
show.
After the Cactus Club show, what’s next
for you two? Will the first EP be released
soon?
VB: We do have an EP coming out. We
don’t know the date exactly because we’re
waiting to see what happens with the singles.
We want to push the singles as much as we
can. We’re planning a tour again. We’re holding off on the details because we’re focusing
on promoting our singles and getting ready
for our first live performance. This is why this
show is so important for us because we want
to feel ready. What better way to do it than
with our fans in Milwaukee?
On STAGE
Reyna will perform at 9
March 26 at the Cactus Club,
S. Wentworth Ave., Milwaukee.
ets are $10, $12 day-of-sale.
cactusclubmilwaukee.com for
details.
p.m.
2496
TickVisit
more
The Sets List
WMSE’s 35th Anniversary
March 25 and 26 at multiple locations, Milwaukee. wmse.org.
There isn’t just one way to celebrate 35 years of WMSE programming. Blues lovers can drop into Turner Hall Ballroom March
25 to see The Siegel-Schwall Band, along with Milwaukee’s own
R&B Cadets. That same night, you also can visit Mad Planet,
where the WMSE Dance Retrospective will feature DJs spinning tracks from the past 35 years. The biggest show is at
Turner Hall March 26, when WMSE recruits the who’s who
of Milwaukee’s punk scene for “Never Mind the Reunions, It’s
WMSE,” an all-star lineup of six acts including The Crosses —
led by Die Kreuzen singer Dan Kubinski and playing the first Die
Kreuzen LP from start to finish — and the temporarily reunited
The Benjamins, celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut
The Art of Disappointment. Visit WMSE’s website for more details on
these and other events. (Matthew Reddin)
Hairball
8 p.m. April 1 at Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee. $18. pabsttheater.org.
From rock ’n’ roll’s birth to the present day, one decade has stood out
from the energetic fray: the 1980s, a decade of big hairdos, peculiar fashion
and high-strung arena rock. Relive that time with Milwaukee band Hairball,
an ultimate tribute to the era. Vocalists Bobby, Steve and Joe Dandy will
lead a two-hour homage to acts like
Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crüe, Queen,
Journey and Aerosmith. It’s a reminder
that ‘80s rock will never die, as long as
there’s nostalgia — and memories of all
that hair. (Colton Dunham)
‘Rangers & Valentines’ Album Release Show
8 p.m. April 1 at Anodyne Coffee Walker’s Point Roastery, Milwaukee. $15. anodynecoffee.com.
Trapper Schoepp and his band The Shades will make a stop at
Anodyne Coffee to celebrate the release of his new album Rangers &
Valentines. The album has been described as genre-hopping — defying the limitations of Americana to include brass influences and lots
of backing vocals. It’ll be Schoepp and the gang’s first gig back in
town, having just returned from a 22-date tour opening for New York
rocker Jesse Malin in Europe. Malin will return the favor by opening
for Schoepp. (Colton Dunham)
Ani DiFranco
Kurt Vile and The Violators
8 p.m. April 5 at the Pabst Theater, Milwaukee. $20. pabsttheater.org.
With albums like Smoke Ring for My
Halo and Wakin on a Pretty Daze, Kurt
Vile has established himself as a moody
guitarist and lyricist who appeals to
those looking for a more sedate listening experience. Vile will perform in
Milwaukee with his band The Violators
as part of a North American tour. He’ll
perform old favorites, as well as tracks
off his 2015 album b’lieve I’m goin down…
(Rachele Krivichi)
8 p.m. April 8 at Turner Hall
Ballroom, Milwaukee. $35.
pabsttheater.org.
8 p.m. April 9 at the Barrymore Theatre, Madison. $40.
barrymorelive.com.
A regular at PrideFest and
a favorite among those who
prefer a bit of grit and snarl
in their music, Ani DiFranco
returns to Milwaukee to the
Turner Hall Ballroom for a
night of dancing and song.
If you just can’t get enough,
she also will perform in
Madison at the Barrymore
Theater the following evening. (Rachele Krivichi)
Music reviews
41
Gwen Stefani :: ‘This Is What the Truth Feels Like’
Gwen Stefani’s new solo album is fun and catchy, with cute hooks,
hopping beats and a calm, cool voice. But after listening to it, you’re
already ready to move on.
This Is What the Truth Feels Like, Stefani’s first solo album in 10 years, isn’t
memorable or distinctive — an only-OK
batch of pop tunes that don’t reveal much
about Stefani.
Though the lyrical content of some
of the songs is deep, the album sounds
tailor-made for radio and the songs lack
emotion, originality and personality —
usually a specialty of Stefani’s. For all
the talk that the album delves into her personal life, it’s hard to tell.
The content, even when it’s about heartbreak and ex-husband Gavin
Rossdale, has a bubble-gum feel. It’s as if Stefani’s hiding behind the
songs’ beat and hook, and her vocal tonality is on cruise control.
The project does have some highlights: “Send Me a Picture,”
likely about boyfriend Blake Shelton, sounds more experimental. “Red
Flags” and “Asking 4 It,” are high points too. But songs like “Naughty”
and the singles “Used to Love You” and “Make Me Like You” sound
as if another pop star could sing the tracks and you wouldn’t notice.
(Mesfin Fekadu/AP)
Violent Femmes :: ‘We Can Do Anything’
The Violent Femmes often sound like their old selves on We Can Do
Anything, their ninth studio album and first since 2000.
Singer/guitarist Gordon Gano and acoustic bass guitarist Brian
Ritchie reunited in 2013 for a Coachella
performance of their self-titled debut on
the 30th anniversary of its release, having
put aside the long feud sparked by Gano’s
decision to allow the use of their biggest
hitm “Blister in the Sun,” in a fast-food
commercial.
Habitual alternation between aggression and vulnerability is a hallmark of the
local group’s sound as well as their personalities, and it’s on display frequently
in We Can Do Anything. “What You Really Mean” is a real standout,
a tender tune about commitment written by Gano’s sister, Cynthia
Gayneau. “Holy Ghost” could have fit on the band’s classic debut and
sounds like Lou Reed dropped by to sing lead.
Not everything gels. The accordion-driven “I Could Be Anything”
is goofy and “Issues” may be too overwrought even for those with an
“it’s complicated” relationship status.
Despite three co-writes (rare for Gano) and songs rescued after
the long hiatus from decades-old demo cassettes, We Can Do Anything lasts just 31 minutes. It’s quality time. Hopefully the Femmes will
be back with another, even better encore. (Pablo Gorodni/AP)
Pete Yorn :: ‘ArrangingTime’
Pete Yorn returns after an extended hiatus with ArrangingTime, his
sixth and lushest solo studio album since his 2001 debut. ArrangingTime shares more than just a fear of hitting the space bar with his debut,
musicforthemorningafter. Meticulous producer R. Walt Vincent is back on half of
the 12 tracks, and helps out on a wide
range of instruments.
Lyrically, there’s a lot of angst, hardly
a healthy relationship in sight and the
unease can be overwhelming. The melodies are sweet but it’s a bitter delicacy.
“Halifax” begins like early R.E.M., “Lost
Weekend” has an 80s synth bass, the
melody soars on “In Your Head,” and
“Screaming at the Setting Sun” is practically danceable, as is “Tomorrow.”
ArrangingTime is Yorn’s debut for Capitol Records, though in this
age of hyper-consolidation among labels that may not mean much.
What matters more is that Yorn still writes splendid songs, even
when his characters are miserable. (Pablo Gorondi/AP)
42
Entertainment Briefs
Odd title prize goes to book
about nude nazi offenders
Too Naked for the Nazis, the story of a
music-hall act that outraged authorities in
Hitler’s Germany, has won an award for the
year’s oddest book title. Organizers of the
Diagram Prize said Alan Stafford’s culturalhistory tome gained almost a quarter of
votes cast, narrowly beating Reading From
Behind: A Cultural History Of The Anus.
The prize, founded in 1978, is run by the
British trade magazine The Bookseller and
decided by online voting. Its rules say the
books must be serious and their titles not
merely a gimmick. Other finalists this year
included cult-film study Transvestite Vampire
Biker Nuns From Outer Space and the photo
book Soviet Bus Stops.
Leonardo dicaprio says China
can be ‘climate change hero’
Leonardo DiCaprio praised China’s work
to combat climate change on a recent trip
to Beijing and said he believes the world’s
largest emitter of greenhouse gases could be
“the hero of the environmental movement.”
The actor and environmentalist, who
called for action to combat climate change
during his Oscar acceptance speech last
month, praised China’s shift toward renewable forms of energy to lower carbon emissions.
“As we all know, the United States and
China are the two biggest contributors, and
I think that China has made radical move-
his death, performing his songs and arrangements on tour and in Las Vegas.
“Since my father’s death, a lot of people
have made it clear that they’re not ready to
give up the music,” Sinatra Jr. said in a 2002
AP interview. “For me, it’s a big, fat gift. I get
to sing with a big orchestra and get to sing
orchestrations that will never be old.”
Before his career took off, Sinatra Jr. was
better known for his kidnapping at gunpoint
in 1963, when he was 19. Three men, including a high school friend of his sister Nancy,
absconded with Sinatra Jr. from a Lake Tahoe
hotel, and released him two days later when
his family paid $240,000 for his release.
ments forward as far as alternative energy
and ways to be sustainable,” he said at a
news conference. “I really think that China
can be the hero of the environmental movement. …They have an opportunity to change
the world and I have all the confidence in the
world that that is their intention.”
DiCaprio was in Beijing to promote The
Revenant, which won him his first Oscar
for best actor, at this year’s ceremony. The
movie was released in mainland China in
March and already has earned 100 million
yuan ($15 million) at the Chinese box office,
according to an announcement at the news
conference.
DiCaprio is one of China’s favorite actors,
mainly due to his performance in Titanic, and
is affectionately called “Xiao Li,” or “Little
Lee,” by Chinese.
Frank Sinatra Jr. dies of
cardiac arrest on tour
P HOTO : C o u r t e s y
Frank Sinatra Jr., who carried on his
famous father’s legacy with his own music
career and whose kidnapping as a young
man added a bizarre chapter to his father’s
legendary life, died March 16 at 72.
The younger Sinatra died unexpectedly
of cardiac arrest while on tour in Daytona
Beach, Florida.
The middle child of Sinatra and Nancy
Barbato Sinatra, Sinatra Jr. was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1943, just as his
father’s career was getting started. He, like
siblings Nancy (who had a successful music
MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER
MARCH 25 - MAY 29, 2016
‘hamilton’ actor returns
after battling cancer
Frank Sinatra Jr. followed in his father’s
musical footsteps as a talented crooner.
career of her own) and Tina (a TV producer), would watch his dad become one of
the most famous singers of all time — but
mostly from a distance, as Sinatra often was
away on tours and making movies.
Sinatra Jr. followed his father into music
as a teenager, eventually working for the
senior Sinatra as his musical director and
conductor. The elder Sinatra died of a heart
attack in 1998, at 82, but Sinatra Jr. was able
to provide a link to his father’s music after
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton alternate,
who plays the lead role at least once a week,
announced he has been fighting cancer.
Javier Munoz, who portrays Alexander
Hamilton on Sunday matinees and when
Miranda is unavailable, secretly received
radiation and physical therapy for two
months after being diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer in October, according to the
New York Post. In a tweet March 18, he
thanked the cast and his family for their support over the prior three months.
Munoz also served as Miranda’s alternate
in In the Heights, Miranda’s first Broadway
play in which he also played the lead role.
— AP and WiG reports
#SirensOfSongMKE @milwrep
A CELEBRATION OF THE SONGS AND STORIES
OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
Conceived and DIrected by Kevin Ramsey
Text by Pearl Ramsey & Kevin Ramsey
Three powerhouse female vocalists rock the house on an uplifting journey
of songs such as “Respect,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “My
Boyfriend’s Back,” and “I Will Survive.” With all these timeless hits, this
show is sure to have you “Dancing in the Streets!”
www.MilwaukeeRep.com | 414-224-9490
43
You pick ‘em, they make ‘em
MobCraft takes a crowdsourced approach to brewing
By Michael Muckian
Contributing writer
Some entrepreneurs would see an
appearance on Shark Tank, the popular ABC
program that pits business startups against
a panel of seasoned investors, as a feeding
frenzy of economic opportunity.
In Henry Schwartz’s case, the sharks
didn’t take the bait. By the end of his
13-minute pitch, the president and cofounder of Madison-brewed MobCraft Beer found
himself sleeping with the fishes.
None of the five sharks on the March 11
episode’s panel found MobCraft’s unique
crowdsourced approach to craft brewing
appealing enough to commit $400,000
for a 16 percent share of the 3-year-old
company.
Wisconsinites feel differently. The company is growing in popularity statewide
and Schwartz is on the brink of completing
MobCraft’s first physical brewery in Milwaukee, set to open this summer.
MobCraft’s approach is simple, yet innovative: On its website, MobCraft solicits
ingredient and style ideas. Once an idea
is approved, it goes up on the site and
subscribers can vote for the beer of their
choice by pre-ordering it. The most popular
recipe in a given month gets brewed — and
only those who requested that beer will be
charged for it.
Once the beer is brewed, the recipe
(if submitted in full) and brand become
the property of MobCraft, Schwartz says.
The brewery sells former months’ winners online while supplies are in stock and
Schwartz also plans to offer flagship lines
of sour beers and more powerful imperialstyle ales. “Those are the beers that we like
to make,” he says.
Past winners have included Vanilla Wafer
Porter, a rich beer featuring cocoa nibs;
Aloha Danke Schön, a witbier brewed with
cocoa, coffee and coconut; and the ever
popular Batshit Crazy, a brown ale made
with coffee. Coming up is Dat Dark Sour, a
whiskey barrel-aged sour porter Schwartz
says will be ready for distribution by the end
of March, and Helles Gingerbock, an imperial Helles-style beer brewed with ginger.
“I am most intrigued right now by Mystique,” says Schwartz of the bourbon barrelaged double IPA that won voting in December. “Hoppy beer usually isn’t barrel-aged
because of what the barrel does to mute
the hops’ flavors, but this beer has been
dry-hopped after the aging process.”
Mystique finds bright citrus and piney
hops flavors blending with malt and bourbon’s overall sweetness for a dynamic balance, and a higher alcohol content.
MobCraft’s beers are understandably
diverse, which became a bit of a problem
during the Shark Tank episode Schwartz was
featured on.
Some of the Sharks didn’t even like the
beer. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban
simply referred to the brewery’s Sour Safari
red ale as “Horrible!” More admiring was
inventor/entrepreneur/”Queen of QVC”
Lori Greiner, who said she “loved” the Vanilla Wafer Porter.
During the episode, Schwartz told them
and the other three Sharks that he was
looking for $400,000 in funds to finish
his Milwaukee brewery and begin competing for retail accounts nationwide. But the
Sharks didn’t bite.
Schwartz cited the need for greater quality control as a driving reason for building
his own brewery. Canadian financier Kevin
O’Leary, who admired the original MobCraft model, challenged the entrepreneur’s
growth strategy.
“Are you out of your mind?” O’Leary
exclaimed. “You have such a cool model and
now you want to get dragged into the toilet,
build out a factory to go into the retail market? I want to spank you like a baby seal!”
O’Leary was the final shark to speak,
making the rejection of Schwartz’s proposal
unanimous. The nascent brewer left the
show no richer, but certainly a little wiser
in his approach to the ever-expanding craft
beer market.
“Intense,” is the word Schwartz used to
described his Shark Tank experience. “I had
pitched the idea to other groups as well and
saw this as a great opportunity, although
doing it on national TV was a little unusual.”
Lack of interest by the sharks has not
dampened MobCraft’s progress or the
enthusiasm of Schwartz and business partner and head brewer Andrew Gierczak.
Although Schwartz was unable to discuss
when the March 11 segment was actually
filmed due to confidentiality agreements
with the network, he noted in a separate
interview that brewery construction was
not only well underway, but nearing completion.
The pair began construction on MobCraft’s first brewery, located in a former
warehouse space at 505 S. Fifth St. in
Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood,
in November. Prior to that, MobCraft beers
have been contract brewed at the House of
P h o t o : H e n r y Sc h wa r t z
MobCraft brews small batches of beers suggested and selected online by fans. MobCraft
is set to open its first physical brewery in Milwaukee this summer.
Brews on Madison’s east side.
Through a combination of funds from 49
investors and a $150,000 SBA loan, MobCraft had the capital needed to finish the
$2.6 million brewery in January. Schwartz
and Gierczak expect to be open for business
in late June or early July.
“We’ll be really excited to have our own
taproom and to be able to give tours,”
Schwartz says.
The pair plans to solicit ideas for new
beers and taproom features from visitors
who have been to other breweries. There
also will be a “live barrel” beer, consisting of
beer aging with live yeasts in a wooden barrel in a room adjacent to the taproom that
will be poured for thirsty fans of sour beers.
All put together, it’s a plan that should
kick MobCraft up to the next level.
44
Embrace the baked dinner as
your weeknight meal solution
By Melissa d’Arabian
AP food writer
Since 1946 • Formerly Coerper’s Five O’Clock Club
Thank You Milwaukee!!
People often ask me what my mostused kitchen tool is (a high-speed
blender). But if you were to ask my
mom that same question 30 years
ago, I am sure she would have
answered her Pyrex baking dish.
When I was growing up, probably 75 percent of my meals
were made in that thing. Baked
fish. Baked chicken. Baked pasta.
Baked rice casserole.
Baked dinner figured big in
my childhood. As I got older and
moved into my own apartment,
I wondered why my mom didn’t
explore other techniques a little
more. She could have been searing that fish! And why not saute
that chicken for some delicious
crusty browning that results in so
much flavor?
Now that I’m a mom, I understand
the appeal of the baked dishes my mom
had on her (admittedly limited) menu.
Baked stuff is easy! And as a mom of four
busy girls, I need something easy to make
on a Tuesday night, because between dance
class and lacrosse practice, I only have a
short window during which to make dinner
happen. And since the healthiest dinners
are the ones we make ourselves, baked
chicken is on frequent repeat in my family
meal repertoire.
But I’ve learned a few lessons during the
past 40 years, improving significantly upon
Mom’s version.
First, I use dark meat chicken with the
bone-in. This significantly widens the
window of cooking time forgiveness, so if
someone is running late, dinner is still juicy.
Plus, dark meat chicken has more flavor
Sometimes, all an easy weeknight dinner
needs is a little Pyrex.
and the little extra fat means it’s more filling. Second, I go heavy with the aromatics
— herbs, onion and garlic almost can’t be
overused in baked chicken.
Upgrading from white wine to vermouth
also is a great flavor-booster. Lastly, I start
the chicken with just enough of a saute to
get a tasty, golden crust. But if you really
can’t make that happen, don’t be shy about
just loading up that glass baking dish and
popping it into the oven.
CHICKEN
BEST BAKED WEEKNIGHT s | Servings: 4
ute
Start to finish: 1 hour 15 min
“Best Steak” - Journal Sentinel
– Top Choice Awards 2015
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– Best Of Dining Awards 2015
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8 bone-in chicken thighs, skin
removed
pepper
Kosher salt and ground black
ded
2 tbsp. olive oil, divi
dried
2 tsp. herbes de Provence (or
ed)
mix
o
thyme and oregan
lightly smashed
20 cloves garlic, peeled and
ed
slic
ly
thin
s,
3 shallot
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup dry vermouth
Directions:
Heat the oven to 350 F.
oven over medium-high,
and pepper. In a large, Dutch
the chicken thighs on
Season the chicken with salt
wn
bro
g in batches, briefly
rkin
Wo
oil.
the
of
oon
lesp
tab
work.
heat 1
sferring them to a plate as you
both sides, 6 to 7 minutes, tran herbes de Provence, garlic, shallots and remaining
the
er
In a small bowl, toss togeth
a little salt and pepper.
the heat. Arrange the
1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add
d, return it to the pot off
wne
bro
has
ken
chic
the
all
Once
garlic mixture around the
t layer. Spoon the shallot and
chicken. Cover the pot
chicken in a single, but tigh
vermouth evenly around the
and
e
juic
on
lem
the
r
Pou
.
chicken
to 25 minutes, or until the
over and bake for another 15
and bake for 15 minutes. Unc
chicken reaches 175 F.
45
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46
the 1920s
ACROSS
1. Incited
6. Presidents’ Day mo.
9. Pig trough stuff
13. “The Stars and Stripes
Forever” composer
14. *”Happy Days Are Here
Again,” ____ Reisman
and His Orchestra
15. *Josephine Baker’s turf
16. Blood fluid
17. Will Ferrell’s Christmas
character
18. Conical dwelling
19. *First Winter Olympics
country
21. *Female pioneer
23. Uh-huh
24. Classic sci-fi video game
25. Boxer’s punch
28. Hoodwink
30. Noble gas
34. Exclamation of sorrow
36. Lord’s servant
38. Muslim ruler honorific
40. Central Time ____
41. North Pole workforce
43. Dwarf buffalo
44. Some sorority girls
46. South American monkey
47. Like gum after novocaine
shot
48. Poisonous plant
50. Fill beyond full
52. Epitome of easiness
53. Satellite TV provider
55. Final, abbr.
57. *Black day
61. *Lindbergh’s ____ of St.
Louis
64. “Round up the ____
suspects!”
65. Major network
67. Healer
69. Capital of Switzerland
70. India’s smallest state
71. In an unfriendly manner
72. Greek god of love
73. It often goes with “flow”
74. Magnetic field strength
unit
DOWN
1. Sixth sense
2. Subject of A Good Walk
Spoiled
3. ____ gum, food additive
4. Literary composition
5. *F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The
Beautiful and the ____
6. What refugees do
7. Snakelike fish
8. Very successful
9. Take one of these at a
time
10. Nordic native
11. Curved molding
12. Jurist
15. Pollen producer
20. Malaria to Bill Gates, e.g.
22. Salmon on a bagel
24. Ascetic Muslim monk
25. *____ Age
26. Healing plants
27. Swahili or Zulu
29. Fox’ coat
31. Indian restaurant staple
32. Come clean
33. One of the Judds
35. Clothes line
37. Cheese on Peloponnese
39. *Iconic baseball player
42. Abdominal exercise
45. Equestrian’s seat
49. Foreign intelligence
service
51. Provoke
54. Irish playwright John
Millington ____
56. Cease-fire
57. Toothpaste holder
58. Consumer
59. Eurozone money
60. “Without,” in French
61. Striker’s foe
62. Part of eye
63. Be a snitch
66. *Hairstyle
68. Shag rug
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Wisconsin Republican leaders balk at
backing Donald Trump
GOP prepared to fight Supreme
Court nominee, regardless of choice
Super PACs spend $300 million, but
fail to sway voters
James Patrick Fenlon: WHAT? The
insane won’t back the most insane? Now that’s
really insane. Where are they going to put the
rest of the crap they plan for us? Ah, maybe
Cruz or the great governor of Ohio who hates
women and workers? Yes they made their bed
and now must sleep in it.
JoAnne Krabbe: The GOP establishment
has made it clear that they don’t like Trump,
that he is a danger to National security. I’m
confused as to why they want to bank on a
Republican, most likely Trump, to win the genRon
Johnson
habitually
his
eral election
to pick
a supremeshirks
court justice.
constitutional
Makes zero sense.duties, this time by
Greg Ferguson: Too bad they don’t just pay
that in taxes - that’d “sway the voters,” and fix
our potholes and cuts to education and deficiencies at the Veterans Administration and...
Lorrie Dan K Meyer: Walker has been a
nightmare and the conservatives need to be
smart NOT emotional about who they pick.
Gino Anthony Hoffmann: The monster
they created! They should own it.
Kristie Hayes: I am actually shocked
vowing not to vote on any Supreme
Vern Lightwine: ...fact: one cannot claim to
Court
nomination
be a constitutionalist if one opposes or ignores
any Article or Section or Amendment (Article
2, Section 2).
David Snyder: I hope the GOP sticks to
their plan and pays the price.
Tom Schmidt Sr.: Traitors
Jimmie Wendland: In reality, Trump is the
price Republicans pay for an honest nominating
process. Instead of being in total disarray, they
should really be proud that Super PACs and
Bush with his millions and millions pumped into
this thing, could not buy off GOP voters.
Kevin C. Smith: Ads have never made much
of a difference on people who have already
decided. There is nothing wrong with that — it
just means that there is a shrinking pool of
Survey:
water systems
undecidedPrivatized
voters.
charge 58 percent more
47
48

Wisconsin ponders nukes

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