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In the Race
Now, here, you see, it takes all the blogging I can do to keep in the same place. If I want to get somewhere else, I must blog twice as fast as that! You see, I'm in the Red Queen's Race...
June 2008 - Posts
By Janet Evans
Monday, Jun 30 2008, 07:35 PM
My nephew served during Operation Desert Storm and brought home left over MREs for some reason….along with other souvenirs. He left a boxful of stuff from that time with me…some of it pretty interesting.
At that time, I remember bringing a few MREs to my kid’s classes for them to see what they were like, and to taste them. I recall that each one of them always had a mini bottle of Tabasco sauce in them. They were pretty bland meals.
It looks like since Desert Storm, they are trying to improve those meals. They’ve even dropped them for people in need during disasters.
The US Army has a taste tester who makes sure the meals are just right.
“Like any chef, Jeanette Kennedy's pallet has become so refined over the years that, given any dish, she can single out virtually every ingredient – the pinch of black pepper, the hint of oregano, or the vegetable oil subbing for olive oil.
On a recent morning she was testing a slab of pound cake, her face blank as she silenced her other senses and focused on taste and texture. After a good long chew, Ms. Kennedy spit the cake into a paper cup – an indelicacy that was not a comment on the cake (which she deemed pretty good), but the result of a high calorie occupational hazard. This pound cake is no tea party trifle; it's combat cuisine – part of an MRE, Meal Ready to Eat – designed to fuel soldiers lugging 100-pound packs all day.
A food technologist at the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC) west of Boston, Kennedy faces creative challenges unlike those before any other chef. Meals can't just taste good; they've got to last ... for three years stored at 80 degrees F., be capable of withstanding chemical or biological attacks, and survive a 10-story free fall.”
Read the entire article from Christian Science Monitor
Hmm…3-year shelf life. Operation Desert Storm …1991….I guess I better go see if those MREs in the souvenir box have burst open!
There might be some funky noodle casserole in there. With those sheets of toilet paper (yes, they have some of that in with the MREs).
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By Janet Evans
Monday, Jun 30 2008, 01:26 PM
Arctic sea ice is seen off the coast of Uummannaq, North Greenland.
It’s true…the ice at the North Pole could melt by the end of summer…
This would be the first time this has ever occurred.
What does that mean? A hotter planet.
The disappearance of Arctic sea ice may mean an even hotter planet, since the region's ice pack helps cool the earth by bouncing the sun's rays back into outer space. This reflective property, known as albedo, also prevents the rays from reaching the ocean, where heat is absorbed. Less sea ice means more dark open water to absorb the heat, which melts the sea ice even further. "Losing the ice sheet means losing an important way of cooling down," Mahoney said. "As a result, global warming would accelerate as the ice retreats."
Read the article from ABC News
Me? I’ll have to wait and see what happens.
I still blame any major “global warming” on the loss of rain forests.
When our world leaders can get a handle on that, which has been out of control for 30 years, then we can start micromanaging daily living.
Scientists believe North Pole ice may melt completely, but briefly, for the first time this summer. Tony Blair talks to Maggie Rodriguez about his efforts to make climate change a real global issue.
Also re-visit:
The Camouflaged Cause of So-called Global Warming
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By Janet Evans
Monday, Jun 30 2008, 06:40 AM
My son and his wife are home visiting from Colorado, and yesterday we watched the Euro 2008 Soccer Championship match between Germany and Spain. It was a pretty cool match…Spain won, 1-0. It had been 44 years since their last significant title.
EuroTrecker: Spain claims its greatest-ever glory ×
Vincenzo Pinto/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Spain celebrates their victory over Germany to win the Euro 2008 final. Spain’s Fernando Torres scored the winning goal in the 33rd minute
Spain scored their goal about 30 minutes into the match. Germany got increasingly frustrated as time went on, and the match got more physical. There were bruised and bleeding eye sockets and blatant head butts going on, among many other injuries and fouls. The eye injury, as with other injuries, just got stitched right on field. Then the player headed back out to play.
I’m always amazed at the physical shape of soccer players. Their speed and stamina is unbelievable. And the crowd of fans was amazing. They never stopped cheering the entire time. All of this combined is what makes soccer the most popular sport in the world.
The kids pointed out to me that in the semi-final match between Germany and Turkey, a Turkish player, Ayhan Akman, had a collision with another player and was bleeding profusely from his scalp. Forget the stitches…this time, out comes the surgical stapler. No anesthetic…just pop in a staple or two and the player is sent back on the field.
No pain, no gain.
And most of you reading this probably say soccer is boring...
Turkey's Ayhan Akman, let trainers staple up gushing head wounds so that he can get back
into the gamesemi-final game against Germany. See a Video of Akman’s injury:
Soccer injuries Can Be Awesome ×
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Jun 29 2008, 07:05 PM
This was edited with captions as a birthday gift greeting for someone named April. So, it's a joke.
I always liked Joe Cocker; he's an original, alright.
I thought he was much harder to understand when he was younger, but it didn't matter so much to me when I used to listen to him a lot back in the early 70s.
But after seeing this video I just have to laugh.
I didn't realize it was that bad!
All I can say is, WoW!
Joe Cocker, "With a Little Help From My Friends." Woodstock
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By Janet Evans
Sunday, Jun 29 2008, 08:35 AM
So, I went to pay my AT&T Bill online and this popped up….
AT&T online Billing Site
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My first reaction?
Kind of odd that AT&T is mocking the class-action lawsuit brought against them by the EFF on behalf of customers. They are accused of violating customers' rights by illegally assisting the National Security Agency in widespread domestic surveillance.
Yeah, the average American has nothing to hide. So what?
This isn't about the lawsuit. This is about the ad. I think the ad fails if it was meant to try and make people feel better about AT&T.
Boy, AT&T....
What a stupid ad.
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Jun 28 2008, 08:35 PM
As I’ve said before, my daughter travels often, and has been to Thailand and China many times. She flies business class and is treated very well on the flights. I know once she did fly in coach on a last minute trip to China and it wasn’t the best experience. The flight, which had very few Americans on it, was very noisy, for one thing.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been trapped on an airplane for a short period of time. I’ve heard those horror stories of people being kept against their will on an aircraft six, seven, ten, twelve hours at our own U.S. airports, under horrible conditions.
When I’ve been stuck it’s been for, at most, forty minutes. That was enough to be panic time for me. There is no air movement because the air doesn’t come on unless the engines are going. It just gets so hot.
I know that’s the time of year I have travelled though because my daughter reported a flight one morning where it was so frigid, with below zero temperatures, and she was on the first flight of the morning. The heat happened to be broken and the flight really should have been cancelled. The passenger’s teeth literally chattered the entire trip.
Anyway, I don’t know what I would do if I was trapped on a flight. No way could I last all those hours without fainting without air.
But on last Friday, on a flight that had about 200 people flying from Beijing to the city of Yantai, China….52 passengers actually refused to leave the plane when they were told to because their flight was cancelled.
First, they spent three hours sitting in the plane because of bad weather. Then when the other passengers left, those 52 decided they were going to stay on that plane.
I know Beijing isn’t that bad of a city that staying on a plane 12 hours was better. Even the airport looks pretty nice.
What’s up with that?
Read the article from Reuters
Passengers Sleep on Plane After Flight Was Cancelled à here
Beijing Capital International Airport
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Jun 28 2008, 09:36 AM
Hot Mom's Club - Alex Woodard
It’s one thing to want to have children and look your best, eat healthy, be as fit as you can, and be happy. What woman wouldn’t want that? That can only make you a better parent.
Lately, there seems to be too much attention given to the fad of “hot moms,” “hot mamas,” “sexy mamas,” you name it.
O.K. you want to go out with dad, and dress up and look sexy…nothing wrong with that.
But do you need to look like a “hot mom” when you are going to the PTO meeting, too?
When you are sitting with your 12-year old son at a teacher’s conference, is that how you want to portray yourself?
Or would you want your child wearing a t-shirt at the meeting that said my mom is hot? Do mom's really buy this stuff for their kids to wear?
I’m just wondering.
I don’t get it.
Perhaps it stems from Hollywood celebrities who are having children.
It’s one thing to feel good about yourself, or to want to make your husband proud to be with you, and especially to be proud of yourself, but it’s another to make your children embarrassed to walk with you.
I find a music video where a child is telling their mom that she’s a “hot mom now” a little odd.
I've got news for you Alex...most mom's aren't "hot." And their kids love them.
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Jun 28 2008, 12:20 AM
 A grand slam in the sixth inning was just part of Carlos Delgado’s big game; he also hit a two-run double and a
three-run homer. Josh Haner/The New York Times
Okay baseball fans….
No matter what teams you love, or what teams you hate, or what teams you love to hate, you can't deny that Carlos Delgado, knocking in a club-record nine runs in the Mets’ 15-6 victory against the NY Yankees wasn't amazing.
The guy is 36-years old and he's nearing the end of his career! He normaly gets booed by his own fans. This should have been a wonderful moment of glory for Delgado. His reaction, according to reports, was one of him just reflecting on it and saying he is "happy."
Well, then deep inside he must be tired, or he's happy he still has his career.
He's only had 9 RBI'sin his last 20 games put together!
He deserves to be more than just happy.
Maybe that's a signal to the Met's that it's time for him to go.
Read about it from News Day
Delgado's big day a mere aberration ç here
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Jun 27 2008, 07:32 PM
I’m feeling pretty confident that this may be my last Boomgaard post.
Before you know it that 120 days will be up and the Franklin-Oak Creek Joint Steering Committee and Zizzo group will have some grand plan where citizens will be involved to help name the 27th Street Corridor.
I can't wait! Can you?
It will be an exciting time.
Today I received a very nice phone call from Steering Committee Chairperson, Ted Grintjes. He wanted to thank me for testing out the new comments section on the 27th Street Website. He said they will be working out the kinks on the site and trying to make it better. I was glad to help!
In the meantime, I drive up and down the 27th Street Corridor, parts of it anyway, four times a day.
I wonder how often Mayor Taylor takes a look at the 27th Street Corridor?
I have a little game for you on this Friday night.
It's called Getting to know your 27th Street Corridor...
I'm sure it will be easy for some of you.
Guess where this picture was taken in the Boomgaard District/27th Street Corridor?
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 I would have taken the signs down, but only the owner or city officials are allowed to do that.
Election is over.......
So what’s your guess?
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Jun 27 2008, 06:36 PM
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Update 2
It looks like pressure from the Bloggers, the Civic Celebration committee, the community and students have done the job. School Board member David Works just told me that he spoke to Dr. Patz and he is working on releasing the instruments to the Drum Major so any students who would like to participate in the parade will be allowed to do so. Let's hope everything works out and that there are enough students around to have a good enough showing.
Also, Greg Kowalski informed me that Mr. Cady called Jeanine Olson from the Civic Celebrations Committee and told her the Band Director Scott Julius agreed to help coordinate the parade. I also received an email from Mr. Cady verifying this, I asked if Mr. Julius is being compensated for his leadership of the Band, and was told he was. Mr. Cady also had this to say:
I do want to say that our school does really value our community and we do understand
and respect that our community has an expectation that the school gives
back. The band has performed for community events on numerous occasions
such as performing at fund raisers for the cultural center, providing
entertainment for hundreds of our seniors each spring when we host a
dinner and first viewing of our musical and our students complete
hundreds of hours of community service every year. It is important that
we do these things, we know that and will continue to strive to improve
our efforts in this area.
An interesting turn of events.
We'll remember this quote from Dave Szychlinski for next year:
“I spoke with Dr. Patz this morning and he
promised me that no matter happens this year, we will handle this
differently in the future so this never happens again.”
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Update 1
This has nothing to do with a referendum.
I talked to the United Music Parent's President (UMPS), Rhonda Gross, this morning.
Last year the parade was run by the student Drum Major. She said there may not even be enough students available right now. This happened a month ago. The volunteers were in charge in the past.
Contracts are still in negotiations for some of the teachers right now. You can bet it will be discussed for a band teacher to participate in the parade. The School District does care about the Community. They've gotten off easy all these years because they have had a strong parent group like UMPS. Also, being that it's late...kids make plans when it gets late. They don't wait around. There aren't 300 kids sitting home waiting to march knowing that they don't have a leader. You would think the new Band Director could have stepped up, but no, he didn't have a contract. Obviously he wanted to get paid. He could be out of town too. Who knows. The UMPS President says he's good with the students.
Not everything revolves around a referendum.
It has been said to our faces at the meetings it will be a while before there is a referendum.
Do we have a date yet?
No.
They need to get land first.
The band isn't playing because many people screwed up.
Period.
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Don’t see anything but an empty space?
That’s because as of this posting there will be no Franklin High School Marching Band in the parade.
And don’t hold your breath for one either.
Franklin blogger, Greg Kowalski brought up this issue last night on his Metro Milwaukee Today blog.
I looked into it a little further today to clarify the issue.
Tanya Ruder, District Communications Specialist reports that:
“We have had some very generous parents and students who have dedicated
their time in the past to organize the band for the parade. This has
never been a school or district organized event. This year there was no
outside person or group that worked on organizing the band. The Civic
Celebration Planning Committee was notified that the band would not be
participating approximately a month ago.
While the district is well aware that the community supports the band
and would like to have them participating, the time frame for this year
is now too short to prepare them for the event. We are going to work on
having the appropriate staff for the parade next year that can work with
available students to perform in the parade. This not only ensures that
the band will be present, but they will also be well rehearsed.
We appreciate all of the support that our community shows for the
Franklin High School Band and we look forward to participating in the
parade next year.”
Dave Szychlinski, School Board President says:
“I spoke with Dr. Patz this morning and he
promised me that no matter happens this year, we will handle this
differently in the future so this never happens again.”
I find the Civic Celebration Planning Committee at fault also. If they knew about this a month ago, as stated, they could have tried to find a band from another area to participate. Hales Corners has their parade late in the afternoon. Perhaps Whitnall's band might have played in our parade. It’s just a thought…you never know. It’s just that, a parade needs at least one band.
My main gripe is that, if this was made public perhaps a community volunteer with music experience, and I know there are some of you out there, might have stepped forward and volunteered a few hours with these students to practice a couple songs for the parade and marched with them on July 4th….for free! Does money always have to be an issue here? Does a contract for a teacher have to come into play? Can a teacher volunteer their services for a few hours in the summer?
Go ahead....criticize me for bringing that up. But I sit at School Board meetings for hours and I don’t have children in school. I can battle anyone about volunteering if you want….I have many, many years of it behind me.So, Franklin citizens…enjoy the parade…
Perhaps we will have to resort to this...
"Ingenuity at its best is seen with the creation of Willimantic’s Boom Box Parade. In 1986, no marching band could be found for Memorial Day. Five weeks later, the “Boom Box Parade” concept was born, where the local radio station, WILI, plays the marching band music on the air, and thousands of parade goers loudly play their radios (boom boxes). Anyone can march in this one-of-a-kind people’s parade. The only requirements are to wear some red, white and blue and bring a radio tuned to WILI (1400AM). American flags are optional but encouraged. There is no “official” theme for the parade. Past parade marchers have included the “Traveling Fish Head Club of Northeastern Connecticut”, which in 2003 had a “herring town” entry and in 2001 had a tribute to the Frog Bridge. Grand Marshal Wayne Norman, a WILI personality, always leads the parade."
The Boom Box Parade - July 4th Celebration
But we can call it the Boomgaard Box Parade...
That's the way things in Franklin are going lately....
Happy 4th of July
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Jun 27 2008, 05:40 AM
TUCSON, Arizona — U.S. officials were shocked that a Mexican judge had freed a man imprisoned in connection with the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.Jesus Navarro Montes was arrested Jan. 22 in northern Mexico in the killing of Agent Luis Aguilar and had also been held over for trial there on migrant smuggling charges. The circumstances of his recent release from a Mexicali prison couldn’t be determined Wednesday.“We are working with a determined Mexican government, and our Department of Justice, to seek swift justice for the Aguilar murder,” Chertoff said in a statement Wednesday. “We have also assured Agent Aguilar’s family that every resource is being called upon in the relentless pursuit of justice.”The attorney general’s office in Baja California, Mexico, confirmed that Navarro had been released but couldn’t provide any details of his case. Officials answering phones at the 12th District Court in Mexicali said no one authorized to speak to the media was available.
Aguilar was run over and killed Jan. 19 as he tried to put down spike strips to stop a drug-filled vehicle and a pickup that were fleeing back to Mexico.
Read the entire article on : FoxNews ç here
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AP Photo
What has just recently happened in Northern Mexico is a prime example of how the Mexican Government fails to abide by the law on their side of the border.
Judges there free murderers of U.S. Border Patrol Agents.
There is no one protecting the United States Border Patrol Agents.
They are virtually on their own down there.
Where is the justice?
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Jun 26 2008, 09:52 PM
I like love very good chocolate.
I know I’ve said that before.
But sometimes the little kid in me creeps back in.
The one who loved that old fashioned candy bar made with overly sweet, sort-of grainy, (I’ll say it) cheap chocolate.
I didn’t have a whole lot of candy when I was a kid. I lived out in the country in Connecticut in a small home, with five brothers and sisters, on a lot of land. We had a huge garden with a fruit orchard…organic fruits and vegetables; lots of flower gardens and organic berry patches.
Milk?
We went to a farm and it was put in bottles with thick cream floating on top.
Eggs?
We went to the chicken farm and got fresh eggs…I think they were still warm.
Soda?
We made our own…only root beer. I still make it…in glass bottles that I saved in two wooden crates from American Soda Co. I have two bottle cappers, too. Nothing better than a yeasty glass of cold homemade root beer. Ask Mrs. Meinhart’s third grade class from back in 1984-85 at old Ben Franklin School. I taught the whole class how to make it. Each student bottled their own, it brewed for a week on the rooftop, and then we all enjoyed it together. Great memories.
Anyway, my favorite old-time candy bar?
Sky Bar.
Chocolate candy bar with four molded centers--fudge, vanilla, peanut and caramel
It’s made by Necco (New England Confectionery Company). Check out their link...you'll be surprised at which of your favorite candies they make.
You may not have ever had a Sky Bar...but it gives you a variety of candy bars all in one. It's all you could want in an old fashioned candy bar.
I bet you've had this ….
Necco Assorted Wafers
Sugar treat with eight pastel colors and flavors--Chocolate, lemon, lime, orange, clove, wintergreen, cinnamon, licorice
(I only like the rolls of all chocolate :)
In the past few years, Nostalgic candy shops have come back. Kids can now have some of the candy from long ago.
Oak Creek has Debbie’s Sweets and Treats
8880 S. Howell Ave.
Suite 300
Oak Creek, WI 53154 Retail Store Hours
Monday through Friday - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday - 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What’s your favorite old fashioned candy?
P.S.
I was so disappointed when Bonomo Turkish Taffy stopped being made in 1989.
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Jun 26 2008, 04:15 PM
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2008
Termination of the Exercise of Authorities Under the Trading with the Enemy Act with Enemy Act with Respect to North Korea
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 101(b) of Public Law 95-223 (91 Stat. 1625; 50 U.S.C. App. 5(b) note), hereby find that the continuation of the exercise of authorities under the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq.) (TWEA) with respect to North Korea, as authorized in Proclamation 2914 of December 16, 1950, most recently continued under Presidential Determination 2007-32 of September 13, 2007 (72 FR 53407), and implemented by the regulations set forth below, is no longer in the national interest of the United States.
Section 1. The exercise of TWEA authorities with respect to North Korea, which were implemented by the Foreign Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 500, and the Transaction Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 505, and that were continued by Presidential Determination 2007-32 of September 13, 2007, is terminated, and Presidential Determination 2007-32 is rescinded with respect to North Korea.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to take all appropriate measures within the Secretary's authority to give effect to this proclamation.
Sec. 3. This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
Sec. 4. This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 27, 2008.
WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Jun 26 2008, 07:14 AM
Residents of Franklin, I don’t know where to begin…
Last night I attended the June 25th regular School Board meeting. I only have three things to cover. Two of them will be quick.
First, important…but it was breezed over. The Budget Draft, in its current form, was approved. Jeff Traylor, Finance Committee Chairperson, was not present, and there was no report.
Next, I’m jumping ahead to the July 4th parade….
The Board will be participating in the parade and handing out ice cream afterwords. They will also be having an “Are you smarter than a 5th grader? contest on July 4th from 2-4 p.m. in a tent at the celebration.
I applaud the Board for their effort in participating in the Civic Celebration.
Now this….
I have to say I was stunned…just stunned at what transpired at the Board meeting.
First I’ll fill you in and then you can read my transcript (which will be missing a few words do to crosstalk).
Dr. Patz offered the Board information that he received a phone call from a “Developer.” The name of the Developer is never stated. Although, I believe it was mentioned once late in the conversation by one Board member, but it was during crosstalk, so it can’t be verified.
The Developer is assumed (by me as I attend Common Council meetings) to either be Greg Devorkin or David Hintzman. Both have had their hands in the Sendik’s on Rawson.
More from me after you read the transcript:
Dr. Patz:
I received a phone call about a week ago from a Developer in the area. He’s got some affiliation, I believe at the current time with part of the development of the Sendik’s on Rawson, and his request was to have the School District write a letter to the City in terms of promoting and endorsing Economic Development. He had apparently had some involvement with the City in his project and it went one direction, and another direction, and so on. But I would seek the Boards direction to ask if you wanted to be involved. It wouldn’t be on behalf of the Developer, per se. It would be a general letter supporting Economic Development.
David Works:
I think it’s a good idea. I think we should do it.
Mary Karolewicz:
Well it would be located obviously in our District. As you know the city’s 70/30 goal of Economic Development and in relation to Residential Development hasn’t been completed yet or reached. It is a while before that will occur because obviously the city is still growing. But it is within our School District’s boundaries; it would help to alleviate some of the tax burden on our residents by sharing it a little bit so I guess I would go along with what Dave said.
Dr. Ward:
It wasn’t clear, was this Business Development?
Dr. Patz: Yes, yes.
Dave Szychlinski:
So are you asking the Board to give the authority to write a letter, not in support of a specific project but in support of Economic Development?
Dr. Patz:
Right that was the request, from this Developer, not particularly on his behalf, but on behalf of Economic Development.
Dave Szychlinski:
I think it’s harmless to send such a letter, and I think the City Council and the Mayor certainly know that we support anything that can be done to even out the tax base but I would be resistant of trying to support any specific project because we don’t have any knowledge or the details of that project but if you feel it is important to send a letter accordingly, then I think you have the consensus of this group to go forward with that.
Dr. Ward:
I guess my only comment would be to make sure the Developer talks about the development in our district because there’s a lot of development in Franklin that’s not in our district. So we would certainly not want to support something that would […] our tax.
Dave Szychlinski:
But having said that. All development in Franklin is good. Yes, we would prefer for it to be in Franklin’s School District […].
Dr. Patz:
I believe it was his opinion that because he was denied some of the things he was putting forward that I believe he felt that he was getting the signal that weren’t concerned with Economic Development for School Projects […] His perception is that Franklin doesn’t want a certain amount of developments to occur in Franklin […]
Dave Szychlinski:
Very interesting question…I’m not sure how his project didn’t get approved. [...]
Mary Karolewicz:
I think a lot of development has gone on along the fringes of Franklin and there have been some consummated general I think overall the city is working at their master plan and the plan commission is looking very hard to generate the right type of development , but it stalls sometimes.
Dave Szychlinski:
Well, having served for a year on the Plan Commission with Mr. Ritter, here’s my observation and the City welcomes development and the City doesn’t channel people into the School District or not into the District, people want to develop where they want to develop. And if parcels of land are…they don’t pay much attention to where the School District boundaries are drawn.
Mary Karolewicz:
And I’m not saying that.
Linda Witkowski:
Do we have meetings with the City?
Dave Szychlinski:
Well, we have that, we have that. I’ve talked to the Mayor about it. I’ve met with him. That’s why it’s an interesting request because the City’s aware of the fact that the School District would like to see more development. […] So I’m not sure this letter is really going to help anything, but if you feel the need to want to do it.
Dr. Patz:
Not a need…I’m just bringing forth this gentleman’s request and certainly we can communicate it personally to the city in the same manner. It’s just not going to be personal to any developer
Dr. Ward:
I’m just not sure...I just don’t think we should talk about a specific project. He would have the opportunity to say to City Official’s , “See the School District approved this Development why don’t you approve it.”
Dr. Patz:
You might want to have a conversation with the Mayor and see if he thinks legal council might be helpful.
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Why the anonymity? At a public meeting...speaking to the Board ...about a request from a Developer. Why is it the name of the Developer could not be said aloud? Why must a records request be done in order to get the Developer's name...even though I know it is either Hintzman or Devorkin?
What is going on with the Board? First, they don't really have a clue as to what is going on in the City in regards to Hintzman and Devorkin; or with Dairy Queen, or with the Fountains of Franklin or with Mayor Taylor and the Plan Commission ....that was evident. Only Mary Karolewicz comes to some of the Common Council meetings...and she got off topic regarding the request for the letter.
Dave Szychlinski told me at a past meeting he had no intention of having meetings jointly with the city unless there was something specific to discuss. All of a sudden he's been having meetings? What's up with that? Is that the Mayor's doing? Development meetings with the Board President all of a sudden. Are they official meetings or just coffee meetings at 5-Star? Because, if all of a sudden we are going to be having meetings...I am wondering why we can't have a public meeting...how about just one? One public meeting between the Common Council and the School Board.
A request from the "Developer?" Not from the common Council or the Mayor? If Developer [insert name here] is making this request rather than the Mayor or the Common Council, isn't that a red flag right there? Doesn't that say that Developer [insert name here] has an agenda? Doesn' t our School Board have more pressing issues at hand (a budget shortfall) than dealing with the City politics of Developer [insert name here]?
Dr. Jim Ward and Linda Witkowski at least had a panicked, quizzical look on their faces and at least attempted to question what the heck was going on.
I tell you, if the School Board wants to show the City or the Community that the are pro-Economic Development....(which we already know they are anyway...the question does not even need to be asked) there is a simple solution....
Don't make Franklin a living Tax Hell!
Because of this incident...
and a couple coconuts ....
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Jun 25 2008, 05:37 PM
I happened to come across this blog regarding 12 Beers You Should Only Drink In College and noticed that there are three or four Milwaukee beers on the list.
“Everyone loves college. You live in a building full of your friends and the opposite sex sans parents for months, with a veritable smorgasbord of food, parties and alcohol to distract you from worthless schoolwork. But the sacrifice is that you’re broke. Still, you have to get drunk. What do you buy? Here’s a list of beers that encourage you to do your homework so you can afford the good stuff after graduation. But for now, you drink these purely out of circumstance.”
Ð
That’s what the “Campus Squeeze” says……
It’s a scary place, parents….be afraid…be very afraid….
It was just easier before their were blogs and websites...it was easier when you asked your college student how things were going and the just said, "Fine, can I have some money?"
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Jun 25 2008, 11:50 AM
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