Starting anew with the development of our village.
Today the village bookstore has turned off its “open” sign. It is now in the same state as is the Sunrise project on Capitol Drive where the restaurant once stood, now defunct.
Are we slowly losing our democracy?
It is obvious that most Shorewood trustees are interested in remaining in office. Otherwise incumbents wouldn't want to retain their seats. I'm sure that they must derive some pleasure from whatever role that they play as trustees.
Body Count
Writing about schools in spring is not easy. Every piece is moving and dependent on the movement of another piece. Who will teach in one room may depend on how many people had kids five years ago. The number of children in kindergarten from one year to the next wags the dog that is the greater elementary school. To get smaller class sizes, we need so many kids that class sizes are big enough so parents rise up in furor but not so small that they cannot be defended financially.
My former bookstore.
While running some errands the other day, I decided to drive by the former Schwartz's Bookstore in Shorewood.
What does well-represented mean?
One anonymous reader once commented that incumbents didn't get opposition to their candidacy because the citizens were probably pleased with the way they were being represented.
What are the monetary values of cultural entities?
Practical people were inclined to tell me as a child that things without monetary value have no value. This would mean that if a monetary value could not be put on an object or process, it has no value.
What are the monetary values of cultural entities?
Practical elders and teachers were inclined to let me know as a child that things without monetary value were of no value. This would mean that if a monetary value could not be put on an object or process, it has no value.
Who is going to report it?
Democracy seems to function best when its processes are transparent and public. Newspapers seemed essential, perhaps the main element in maintaining that transparency.
Do dreams really come true?
Waking up from a dream, which I seldom have or at least do not recall that I had, I remembered that I was at a regular meeting of the Shorewood's Village Board.
You don't have to speed it up.
If one writes a book on anything, from how to quit smoking to how to lose fat, or if one is a retired colonel, he or she can give military opinions on TV. Some can give their opinions on any subject that seems hot that day on cable TV.
To change or not to change.
Changing facts and changing situations may require new interpretations of new events and often require modifications or completely new policies.
Go Big or Go Home
Buckle up! Shorewood Schools are about to change. There are going to be cuts. Cuts in staff, cuts in time, cuts in services, cuts in cuts. We are going to cheeseless thin crust pizza and skim milk. The survivors will probably be programs having to do with advanced learners, performance arts and golf. I’m not sure how golf always lands on its spiky feet, but it does. When I was hired fifteen years ago, I was warned that in about ten years we would begin to see the budget crises that had already hit MPS. Well, Andrekopoulos is probably sitting there nodding and thinking to himself, now they‘ll understand.
Aye, there's the rub.
Most people interested in our economy are hoping that we've “reached bottom” so that we can slowly begin our ascent.
Let's plan for beauty.
It seems that Shorewood Village Hall has accepted the notion that some types of business must be reduced in scale and that some should be bailed out and some should not, and some should be relocated.
A Boston tea party.
If we can throw tea overboard, maybe we should throw overboard some of those imports that are coming here from China. Can we apply the “no taxation without representation” slogans to the Chinese and the Japanese too?
Today is tax day, that is “T” day, now become tea bag day. The British put a tax on tea, that caused the revolution, George Washington, the constitution, the “bill of rights,” thus the right to carry a gun, no shootin'.
Where has our plan taken us in the past five years?
Shorewood Village Board members have publicly announced their support of existing policies aimed at shifting more of our taxes to commercial development.
Will Harleys' President Resign after Receiving Government Bailout Money ? NEW READERS COMMENTS & DISCUSSION
The current economic crisis has forced Government to step in and "bailout" a number of companies, that only a few years ago were thriving.
As government largesse increases, taxpayers are asking what they are getting in return for their tax dollars being used to benefit the select few. And as a result, Government has now found itself owning stakes in a plethora of companies, and becoming involved in business decisions that were previously made by the board of directors of the companies.
Is the CIA Stupid or Insane ? CIA Actions make Barney Fife look good !
If you have been sleeping soundly the past few years because you were under the mistaken impression that the CIA was looking out for us against terrorists and assorted other bad people -- after recent disclosures about CIA actions, you may need sleeping pills from now on.
According to Albert Einstein the definition of INSANITY is: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. ..
Will Mexican Standoff Resolve Wisconsin Gun Issue
The gun issue in Wisconsin got quite a bit more interesting last week with the interpretation by WI Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen that "open carry" is a constitutional right, and police do not have legal authority for using Disorderly Conduct laws for prosecuting those who choose to exercise this right.
