Shepherd Express - February 2024

FEBRUARY 2024

8 1 E PAG IN THIS ISSUE: BEST OF MILWAUKEE | BLACK HISTORY MONTH | CANNABIS

FEBRUARY 2024 | 3

NEWS 06 Act Two for Act 10: Union Lawsuit Seeks Repeal

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09 This Modern World 10 The Presidential Election Battle Between Truth and Lies — Taking Liberties 12 Trump and Trumpsters Promise to Repeal the Affordable Care Act — Issue of the Month 14 All Ways Black: Celebrating Black Literature with Cree Myles — Hero of the Month 16 Tamara Johnson — MKE SPEAKS: Conversations with Milwaukeeans

FOOD & DRINK 18 Romantic Dining in Milwaukee 21 Fine Friday Fish Frys 22 Homemade Ketchup — Flash in the Pan

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24 What Does It Mean to Be a Sommelier? — Beverages

SPECIAL SECTION 26 Mattiebelle Woods, Milwaukee's 'Grand Dame' of the Black Press — Black History Month 28 Best of Milwaukee 28 Arts & Entertainment 28 Body, Mind & Spirit 30 Bought & Sold 32 City Confidential 32 Home Improvement 34 LGBTQ 34 Locally-Owned Food – Retail 36 Locally-Owned Restaurant 38 Medical 40 Milwaukee Music 42 Out & About 42 Real Estate 44 Services Rendered 45 Sports & Recreation SPONSORED 46 Winter Pet BY Safety—and Indoor Fun — Pets

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50 Eric Blowtorch's Shameless Bopaganda!

54 This Month in Milwaukee

LIFESTYLE 58 When Listening is the Biggest Gift — Ask Ally 60 Narcissism: I Think I'm Wonderful, and so Should You — Out of my Mind

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62 Celebrate Valentine's Day — Dear Ruthie 64 Bayard Rustin: A Black Gay Civil Rights Hero Receives His Place in History — My LGBTQ POV

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ART FOR ART'S SAKE 66 From the City that Always Sweeps 4 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

COVER: Illustration by Tim Czerniakowski.

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46 PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Louis Fortis (ext. 3802) GENERAL MANAGER: Kevin Gardner (ext. 3825) MANAGING EDITOR: David Luhrssen (ext. 3804) BUSINESS MANAGER: Peggy (ext. 3832) ASSISTANT TO THE BUSINESS MANAGER: Tanya Bielinski (ext. 3808) EVENT COORDINATOR: Jourdain LaFrombois (ext. 3810) ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Bridgette Ard (ext. 3811) Julee Mitchell (ext. 3831) Tyler R. Klein (ext. 3815)

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SALES MANAGER: Jackie Butzler (ext. 3814) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Chuck Hill (ext. 3822) IN MEMORY OF DUSTI FERGUSON (OCTOBER 18, 1971 – NOVEMBER 20, 2007) WEBMASTER: Barry Houlehen (ext. 3807) DIGITAL STRATEGIST: Sophia Hamdan (ext. 3803) STAFF WRITER & CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Blaine Schultz (ext. 3813) INTERN: Sabrina Rosler Layout and design by WaterStreet Creative.

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FEBRUARY 2024 | 5

NEWS

Act Two for Act 10: Union Lawsuit Seeks Repeal

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BY LEN NELSON

hirteen years after Wisconsin’s Act 10 legislation took effect, a law which greatly reduced the influence of unions in the public labor sector and significantly reduced average salary and benefits for most government employees, the future of that law is in question.

A coalition of labor groups and individuals, buoyed by the election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court last year which created a liberal majority on the court, filed a lawsuit late November in Dane County which seeks to have Act 10 overturned on constitutional grounds. It’s expected that any decision by a lower court in the case will eventually be appealed to the high court by the losing side.

During her campaign, Protasiewicz said she disagreed with the Supreme Court’s decision a decade earlier which upheld the law. “I agree with the dissent in that case, where the authors said Act 10 is unconstitutional,” she said. Protasiewicz added she would consider recusing herself if the issue arose again because she joined a protest march against the law and signed a petition to recall then-Governor Scott Walker which was spurred by opposition to Act 10. Conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn, who made public statements in support of Act 10 during his campaign, has not said if he would consider recusing himself.

In their complaint, the plaintiffs argue that the law unfairly violates the equal protection clause of the Wisconsin Constitution by applying conditions which restricted collective bargaining, union certification and automatic payroll deductions of union dues only to certain employees.

Participants in the lawsuit contend that, when then-Republican Governor Scott Walker and GOP legislative

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leaders divided public workers into separate categories of “public safety” employees and “general” employees under Act 10, it codified what Beaver Dam school district teacher Matthew Ziebarth calls a “fundamentally unfair” public employment landscape.

Ziebarth is listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit along with the Abbotsford Education Association; Beaver Dam Education Association; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 47; AFSCME Local 1215 and its President, Ben Gruber; Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and its Wisconsin vice president, Wayne Rasmussen; Wisconsin Teaching Assistants’ Association Local 3220; and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 695.

Defendants are listed as the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission and its Chair, James Daley; the Department of Administration and its secretary, Kathy Blumenfeld; the Division of Personnel Management and its administrator, Jen Flogel.

POLITICAL RETRIBUTION The lawsuit highlights the fact that five public employee unions which supported Walker’s successful 2010 election bid, including those representing some police officers and firefighters, were exempted from the law while those which didn’t endorse Walker, including those representing teachers, were not. In addition, it notes that unions representing Capitol Police, University of Wisconsin Police, conservation wardens and state parole and probation officers, whose unions also did not endorse Walker, were not included in the “public safety” category even though those employees, too, serve in a public safety capacity. The suit alleges that Act 10 illegally amounted to “political retribution.”

The lawsuit contends that the law forced undue hardship on the affected labor unions by establishing a new standard for union certification, one which applies only to those targeted by Act 10. It requires an annual certification vote, and it changed the threshold for certification by requiring a 51 percent majority vote of all members, not

just a majority of the votes which are cast on the question. Under the unique requirement, members who do not cast ballots are counted as “no” votes.

The lawsuit further alleges that the state created an unlawful barrier to those unions’ ability to collect union dues by making it illegal for unions to require payroll deductions for it, even when an employee specifically requests such a deduction. The lawsuit notes that such payroll deductions are not barred for the newly created class of “public safety” employees, the ones which are represented by unions that supported Walker.

HOW ACT 10 BECAME LAW Here, we’ll look at the arguments underpinning the lawsuit but also at the effects the law has had on Wisconsin.

First, however, a look back at how Act 10 became law in the midst of rancorous debate, the largest public protests in state history and even a defection of Democratic lawmakers from the state in an attempt to stop the law from passage by the Republican legislative majority.

In 2010, when Walker took office, the state was facing a projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall. Walker frequently used rhetoric which attacked public sector unions, scapegoating them as being the main contributor to the state’s financial woes by demanding and getting what he called “exorbitant” salary and benefit packages through collective bargaining of contracts. Early in 2011, he proposed Act 10, also known as the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill, to the legislature. It came as a surprise to public employees and their unions.

Walker and his Republican allies targeted collective bargaining, compensation, retirement, health insurance and sick leave for public employees.

The bill stripped the rights of most of the affected unions to bargain for anything except base wages and limited increases to the rate of inflation.

In addition to restrictions on teachers and other public employee unions, it entirely removed collective bargaining rights for home health care workers under the Medicaid program, child-

FEBRUARY 2024 | 7

NEWS

care workers, University of Wisconsin faculty and academic staff and also University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (UWHC) Board and Authority employees. It exempted LTEs (limited term employees) from inclusion in the state’s health insurance program and the Wisconsin Retirement System.

Act 10 also required affected employees to begin contributing 50 percent of the amount which had formerly been entirely paid by the state toward retirement benefits and doubled the amount of employee contributions for health care insurance premiums. Studies show those moves essentially resulted in an 8.5 percent reduction in employee take-home pay.

When Walker, in his own words, “dropped the bomb” on public sector union workers, it touched off a firestorm of opposition. Unions organized massive protests in and around the Capitol Building in Madison which drew tens of thousands of people who demonstrated for weeks. Republicans referred to the protesters as “angry mobs” and lobbed mostly evidence-free accusations of violence and intimidation on the part of demonstrators. Right wing media outlets echoed and amplified those claims. In one instance, Fox News even showed footage of what it said was violence in the crowds which was quickly denounced as false. The video it used was actually taken from a separate and unrelated protest in Sacramento. Astute viewers outed the network after noticing that the footage it used included palm trees in the background which, obviously, are not part of the landscape of Madison, Wisconsin.

DENY THE QUORUM In February of 2011, the state assembly heard more than 60 hours of debate and testimony on the bill, most of it in opposition, before passing it 51-17 with 28 representatives not voting. Its fate in the Senate, where even some Republicans had questioned the practical and political wisdom of supporting such wide ranging, controversial and punitive legislation, became even more entangled. What ensued was perhaps the wildest moment among all of the acrimonious activity surrounding Act 10.

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That was when 14 Democratic state senators fled the state, most of them encamping at a hotel in Rockford, Illinois, in an attempt to deny Republicans the quorum they needed in order to vote on the bill. The “Fab 14,” as they were called, stayed out of the state for the better part of a month in defiance of threats by Walker to have state troopers arrest them and escort them back to the Capitol. Eventually, GOP Senate leaders found a quorum work around by removing parts of the bill which required the expenditure of tax dollars so they could pass Act 10 without any of the recalcitrant Democrats present. It sailed through on an 18-1 vote without Democratic participation.

Then the legal challenges began. Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and District Attorney Ismael Ozanne each filed lawsuits against the law, alleging that it was passed in violation of the state’s 24-hour public notice requirement. In late March, a judge agreed, putting a stay on enactment of Act 10.

Republican Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen then announced an appeal of the ruling. Meanwhile, the Legislative Reference Bureau bypassed the Secretary of State’s office and published the new law. Republicans declared it to be law and said they would enforce its provisions regardless of the judicial stay. That June, the conservative majority in the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled the lower court’s stay.

Voters who were incensed by the actions of Walker and Republican legislators forced a recall election in 2012 which targeted the governor and several legislators. Walker survived the recall by defeating the Democratic Mayor of Milwaukee, Tom Barrett. His margin of victory was greater than that by which he had gained the office by besting Barrett in the gubernatorial election two years earlier.

There were further legal challenges over the following two years that resulted in rulings which struck down certain elements in the law. But they were all overturned on appeal and finally, more than three years after it had been introduced, the state’s Supreme Court upheld all aspects of Act 10 on July 31, 2014.

EDUCATION EXODUS The weakening of union bargaining power caused an almost immediate exodus of teachers from their jobs. In the two years following enactment of Act 10, the annual rate of teachers who left the profession entirely jumped from five percent to nine percent. Many veteran teachers with significant seniority opted for early retirement before their union contracts expired and before they would then be required to contribute vastly more to their retirement fund and health insurance premiums.

However, during the course of the 13 years during which the law has been in effect, the rate of teacher exodus eventually leveled off and has returned to pre-Act 10 levels.

Act 10 took what had been a mostly uniform salary structure across school districts and instead allowed for a patchwork of compensation systems.

Some districts retained a mostly rigid system based on seniority while others moved to systems which rewarded teachers based on measures of effectiveness and other factors. It caused a huge increase in the number of teachers who left their districts in search of better pay. One major study found that the rate of cross-district movement more than doubled. But, while Act 10 allowed teachers more freedom and flexibility, it made it more difficult for poorer districts to retain them. Poorer districts and those which chose to devalue seniority in their salary structures saw substantial drops in the average experience level of their teachers.

Disparate salary structures created by Act 10 and the higher rates of teacher changeover it effected seems to have negatively affected student achievement scores in some school districts.

In the five years following Act 10, wealthier districts which were able to afford to pay teachers more and which enacted new salary systems reported an average of five percent better test scores than poorer districts which had not changed their salary structures to allow for higher teacher compensation.

Matthew Ziebarth, in an interview with Shepherd Express, said Act 10 created a “disincentive” for teachers to remain in a given district because they lost the

certainty that a uniform salary structure provided. “Sure, you can move to a higher paying district but, with so many different salary structures out there and the ability of a district to arbitrarily change them, you lose longevity and the assurance that the salary and benefits you expected cannot be arbitrarily stripped away,” he said. “The law has a built-in demoralization factor that harms both teachers and students.”

According to Ziebarth, another harmful effect of the law is that it removes transparency from the budgeting process because teachers, by virtue of their inability to negotiate all aspects of their contracts, can no longer help to ensure that district resources are being used effectively. “School boards and administrators can make budget decisions without anyone really knowing what’s going on,” he said. “By cutting teachers out of the process, it cut everybody out of it, including taxpayers. Teachers used to serve as a kind of check on things.”

Ziebarth also said Act 10 violates the constitutional protection of due process. “It stripped away any ability for us to appeal what we believe to be unfair competition or work rules to a higher authority such as a court,” he said. “Before Act 10 there was an appeal process in which we could request mediation and, if the request was denied, it went to arbitration. Now, even if a school board agrees to mediation, it doesn’t have to abide by it. They are the sole deciders, and their decision is absolutely final. That was unheard of, and it goes against what is a basic American principle that a government body cannot be the final arbiter in its own interest. Not being allowed to seek redress from it is fundamentally unfair and violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.”

The Republican Speaker of the Assembly, Robin Vos, has said repeal of Act 10 would “bankrupt” school districts and the state but Ziebarth says it’s a disingenuous argument. “He uses

scary words like that, but it seemingly wasn’t a problem we faced before Act 10 came along,” Ziebarth said. “What repeal would do is that it would require legislators to actually fund education adequately. Since Act 10, they haven’t done that. Instead, they put the solution to their budget failures on the backs of unions.”

Before Act 10, per pupil spending in Wisconsin was $1100 higher than the national average. By 2018, the state was spending $327 less than the national average.

Ziebarth said repeal of the law by the courts would “unbind the hands of everyone, whether it’s administrators, school boards, teachers or community members, and give us, especially taxpayers, the ability to make better educational opportunities for kids.”

Len Nelson is a freelance writer for the Shepherd Express with a four decade career in radio broadcasting.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 9

NEWS TAKING LIBERTIES

The Presidential Election Battle Between Truth and Lies

BY JOEL MCNALLY

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he most absurd part of the presidential rematch between President Biden and former President Trump is Trump’s outrageous attempt to convince voters Biden is the real threat to democracy and the January 6 insurrection never happened.

It was just three years ago America watched Trump’s violent insurrectionists rampaging through the U.S. Capitol beating police officers unconscious and threatening the lives of elected officials in both parties to overthrow Biden’s presidency.

Trump’s lies ever since that it was a peaceful protest have Republicans ready to nominate him for president again.

Only 19% of Republicans in a recent poll said they believed Jan. 6 was a serious threat to American democracy while nearly 90% of Democrats and more than 60% of independents still remember how deadly and destructive it was.

A majority of 86% of Democrats and 53% of independents also agree that violent assault on democracy should never be forgotten while 72% of Republicans are eager to forget about it as quickly as possible.

GOP: EMBRACE THE LIE It gets worse. In that same poll, a growing number of Republicans embrace Trump’s most preposterous lie that it wasn’t the Proud Boys and other lawless militias Trump called to Washington who provoked the January 6 violence. It was undercover FBI agents conspiring with Antifa and left-wing Democrats.

IT WILL TAKE YEARS TO APPOINT A SUPREME COURT AMERICANS CAN DEPEND ON TO ENFORCE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS INSTEAD OF ROLLING THEM BACK. UNTIL THEN, BIDEN HAS LAID OUT WHAT ALL THE REST OF US HAVE TO DO TO PREVENT SUPPORTERS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE FROM DESTROYING OUR DEMOCRACY. A quarter of all Americans said it was “definitely” or “probably” true that the FBI instigated the attack on the Capitol.

That total was boosted by 34% of Republicans and 44% of Trump voters. Where would Americans get such a crazy idea? No surprise, 39% said Fox News was their primary news source. Only 16% who named CNN or MSNBC and 13% who named ABC, CBS or NBC believed such an absurdity.

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FBI Director Christopher Wray, a conservative Republican appointed by Trump, described the attack on the FBI as “ludicrous” and “insane” before a hostile House Republican investigating committee shouting over him.

One poll respondent from Odessa, Texas, summed up everything he learned from Trump and Republicans about the insurrection: “The people that went there to express their views, to support Trump were peaceful. The government implants were the violent ones—the FBI, the police people that were put in there, the Antifa and BLM (Black Lives Matter) hired by George Soros. Everybody knows that.”

TRUMP REWRITES FACTS That’s why Biden’s first major election-year campaign speech on the eve of January 6 near Valley Forge where George Washington fought to create our democracy focused on what Biden defines as the central issue in 2024— Trump’s violent effort to remain as president after Americans cast the most votes in history to defeat him and his promise to destroy democracy for good by suspending the Constitution and jailing his political opponents if he’s ever elected again.

“In trying to rewrite the facts of January 6, Trump is trying to steal history the same way he tried to steal the election,” Biden said. “Trump’s mob wasn’t a peaceful protest. It was a violent assault. They were insurrectionists, not patriots. They weren’t there to uphold the Constitution. They were there to destroy the Constitution.”

There will be multiple issues driving a record voter turnout this year just as there have been in every national election since 2018. After Trump’s surprise victory in 2016, every major election has been to protect our democracy from Trump’s disastrous presidency.

Protecting democracy sounds like a grandiose concept, but for voters it’s as simple as having every American vote counted, restoring Constitutional rights for women to make their own decisions about abortion, sustaining human life on our catastrophically heating planet and banning civilians from purchasing military assault weapons firing hundreds of rounds that has made mass murder commonplace in America.

CONGRESSIONAL EXTREMISTS Despite what Trumped-up MAGA Republicans say, those aren’t liberal or conservative issues. They’re the views of most American voters. It is only a minority of extreme rightwing Republicans in the House and Senate who are preventing Biden and Democrats from passing every single one.

The other barrier to protecting democracy is the extreme, rightwing supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court, half of them appointed by Trump. Those justices are clearly wrong.

The South didn’t win the Civil War. Constitutional rights in our democracy are supposed to be enforced nationwide.

Each state doesn’t get to decide whether to support equal rights for all Americans.

Scale icon by grafikazpazurem/Getty Images.

BIDEN: “IN TRYING TO REWRITE THE FACTS OF JANUARY 6, TRUMP IS TRYING TO STEAL HISTORY THE SAME WAY HE TRIED TO STEAL THE ELECTION. TRUMP’S MOB WASN’T A PEACEFUL PROTEST. IT WAS A VIOLENT ASSAULT. THEY WERE INSURRECTIONISTS, NOT PATRIOTS.” It will take years to appoint a Supreme Court Americans can depend on to enforce Constitutional rights instead of rolling them back. Until then, Biden has laid out what all the rest of us have to do to prevent supporters of political violence from destroying our democracy.

“This is the first national election since the January 6 insurrection placed a dagger at the throat of American democracy,” Biden said. “We all know who Donald Trump is. The question we have to answer is: Who are we? That’s what’s at stake. Who are we?”

Joel McNally was a critic and columnist for the Milwaukee Journal for 27 years. He has written the weekly Taking Liberties column for the Shepherd Express since 1996.

For more McNally, visit shepherdexpress.com.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 11

NEWS ISSUE OF THE MONTH

Trump and Trumpsters Promise to Repeal the Affordable Care Act

BY WILLIAM HOLAHAN

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onald Trump is beginning to put out vague policy statements—building the wall to shut off the southern border; immigration; drill, drill, drill.

Included in the hit list is the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Despite over 70 attempts to repeal the ACA failed during his presidency, Trump apparently thinks it’s good strategy to try again, at the least to attract votes and donations from his base.

Closer to home here in Wisconsin, businessman Eric Hovde, recently announced opponent to Sen. Tammy Baldwin's re-election bid, also promises to repeal the ACA, confident that the free market will provide superior health insurance.

WHY DID 70 PREVIOUS REPEAL EFFORTS FAIL? The main problem for Republicans attempting to repeal the ACA was not just the program’s increasing popularity; economic principles demonstrate that an unregulated “free” market cannot provide a replacement that will provide universal healthcare coverage. The natural forces of the market will lead the economy away from universal coverage.

Insurance firms do not sell a commodity, but rather a service. They collect premiums from customers and in turn protect those customers from the financial disaster of an insured-against event. They sell flood insurance, fire insurance, car insurance, accident insurance and a host of other types.

The price, or “premium” they charge customers is based on the risk that the customer imposes on the firm. They place the insured customers of roughly equal risk into groupings, called “pools.”

Low risk people are placed in a lower

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risk pool and charged a lower premium. Higher risk people are relegated to a higher risk pool and charged a higher premium. This process of price determination is called “experience rating.” In car insurance, for example, experience rating results in higher premiums for accident-prone drivers, and lower premiums for drivers with a clean driving record.

Applied to health insurance, the experience rating will be perverse, resulting in higher health insurance rates for sick people most in need of the benefits of the medical arts. We cannot expect experience rating to result in universal healthcare insurance coverage because the highest premiums will be imposed on those most in need of the system—those with pre-existing conditions, those currently ill, and of course, older Americans. As in the era before the ACA, the premiums will be driven up so high that many of them will forgo coverage. To make matters worse, they would then seek costly emergency rooms when medical care is urgent.

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND COMMUNITY RATING The Affordable Care Act reduces reliance on experience rating; instead, the federal government can insure in a way the private market cannot by spreading risk over the long-life cycle of the average person. Policyholders are charged “community-rated” premiums in which the young and healthy pay a higher premium than a free market would charge so that older and sicker policyholders can pay less. With the passage of time, the average citizen will be both a net payor early in life and a net recipient later in life.

Additionally, the regulations in the Affordable Care Act require insurers to

accept patients without regard to their prior medical history, and all policies must offer an “essential benefits package.” This requirement is designed to prevent insurance companies from tailoring policies that deny coverage for health problems a customer is most likely to encounter. The package also includes coverage of children on parents' insurance up to age 26. All such regulations work against the natural market forces that encourage insurance companies to shed risk.

If the ACA were to be repealed, as Trump and Hovde propose, the regulations that guide the market under the ACA would be removed, and so community rating would revert to experience rating. The market for health insurance would revert to what it was before 2014 when the ACA was first implemented. Premiums for the sick and elderly and those with "pre-existing conditions" would rise dramatically, inducing many to go without insurance rather than pay the high premiums.

It is not obstinate ideology that leads to this prediction but rather standard economic analysis. This was first spelled out about 30 years ago by the Heritage Foundation (once a pro-market think tank) when it designed the regulations that eventually were the foundation of the Affordable Care Act. If Trump and Hovde and other opponents of the ACA want to repeal it, let’s see their replacement first.

William Holahan is emeritus professor and former chair of economics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. An earlier version of this article was posted on Econ4Voters at grassrootsnorthshore.com.

Photo by Sensay/Getty Images.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 13

NEWS HERO OF THE MONTH

All Ways Black: Celebrating Black Literature with Cree Myles BY

BY BEN BEN SLOWEY SLOWEY

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ree Myles is an artist in many senses of the word.

Writer, singer and actress are just a few terms that apply to her. Since 2020 she has run the Instagram account All Ways Black, where she reviews and curates Black literature of all kinds, plus she conducts interviews with Black authors. Myles utilizes her platform to challenge the literary status quo while building a sense of community between readers and influencers alike.

The All Ways Black website reads, “There are Infinite Ways to be Black. To be Black and joyful and awestruck. To be Black and to amplify, or to agitate, or to celebrate. They are all important. They are all glorious. And nothing quite captures this truth like literature.”

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Cree Myles grew up an avid reader. She spent a lot of time at Milwaukee Public Library’s Capitol Branch, recalling, “I distinctly remember walking into the library and just succumbing to the peace from being there. There’s this duality of it being so quiet yet so loud with all the stories around you.”

She cites Ann M. Martin’s The Baby Sitters Club, R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps, Carol Plum-Ucci’s What Happened to Lani Garver, Mary Downing Hahn’s Look for Me By Moonlight and The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah as formative books to her childhood and young adulthood.

START READING! Myles graduated from Alverno College with a bachelor’s degree in community leadership and development. As she got older, Myles dabbled in acting and music. Eventually she began blogging, which became where she would first review books. “My priority was to try to get people who didn’t read to start reading,” Myles notes. “I only did it for a little bit and then pivoted, but it did help me ramp up my writing skills a lot.”

In 2021, Myles teamed up with book publisher Penguin Random House to curate “Black Like We Never Left,” a reada-thon celebrating Black literature. Their debut program focused on Toni Morrison, challenging readers to finish one of her novels (Beloved, Song of Solomon or Sula) in a week.

Upon the read-a-thon’s conclusion, Myles did her first author interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates.

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Photo by Allie Holloway.

Following the success of “Black Like We Never Left,” Penguin Random House offered Cree Myles the role of curating an Instagram platform focusing entirely on Black literature, officially launching her career as a “Bookstagrammer.” Myles’ husband coined the platform’s name.

All Ways Black organizes book recommendations by categories. Genres span romance, queerness, science fiction, humanities, spirituality, children’s books, cookbooks and more - all written from a Black experience. The platform’s Instagram highlights new releases, poses reading challenges such as D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) sessions, holds awards galas, and shares Myles’ commentary on different books and topics.

TRUE IMPACT Myles is cognizant of whiteness that permeates through the publishing world while she strives to promote books that truly impact her, adding, “It’s important that Black writers have a chance for their books to be celebrated. I also think that Black writers deserve real literary criticism; it’s diminutive to pretend that they don't because that would rob us of our humanity as well.”

Her latest author interviews are with Percival Everett and Phillip B. Williams. A writer herself, Myles’ 2022 essay “Modern Horror Is the Perfect Genre for Capturing the Black Experience” for the Electric Literature website.

“You won’t always remember the details,” Myles concludes, “With the way that our attention spans are constantly in competition with different things, I love that books help slow “but you’ll never forget what a book did to you.” you down,” Myles contends. “I’m attracted to that. I think Visit All Ways Black on Instagram @allwaysblack it would help society as a whole if we moved slower, more and Cree Myles @creemyles. deliberately and more critically. We can’t let our imaginations shrivel up, and that’s what books help solve. Reading a good story is rebellious.”

Cree Myles is soon launching a podcast with fellow Bookstagrammer Chinelo (@interestedinblackbooks), plus she is working on piloting a variety show. For James Baldwin’s 100th birthday this year, Myles plans to collaborate with Penguin Random House on an interview series focusing on the late author’s cultural impact. She also coaches local track team Milwaukee Speed.

Ben Slowey is a Milwaukee writer and regular contributor to shepherdexpress.com.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 15

NEWS MKE SPEAKS: CONVERSATIONS WITH MILWAUKEEANS

Tamara Johnson A LEADING MILWAUKEE ADVOCATE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING

BY TOM JENZ

E

arly childhood learning is often misunderstood to be more like baby sitting or child daycare. But in recent years, early childhood learning is gaining importance in a child’s emotional and educational development.

One of Milwaukee’s leading advocates of early childhood learning is Tamara Johnson, for 12 years the executive director of the Malaika Early Learning Center on Auer Street in the central city. Malaika is a 5 star-rated provider of early childhood education and care for infants through third graders.

The expansive Malaika building is like an oasis in a troubled neighborhood of mostly low-income Black residents in rental dwellings. When I walked inside the facility, I thought I was inside the calm of a monk’s retreat. Peace permeated the halls, polite children dressed in polo shirts, teachers attentive to their needs.

Someone had created this atmosphere of respect and civility. That someone was Tamara Johnson, Malaika’s executive director. She invited me into her office, and we talked. Throughout our conversation, I could feel her devotion to childhood learning.

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Photo by Tom Jenz.

Tell me about your early background, where you grew up, your parents, family, neighborhoods, and schools you attended.

I grew up on Milwaukee’s north side, the inner city, 19th and Atkinson. Just my mom, myself and my sister. At that time, our neighborhood was safe. Kids could play outside. I was a Chapter 220 student, and I was bused out to the Wauwatosa School District. It was a phenomenal education for me. I did not experience outright prejudice until high school. Less than 10 percent of students were of color.

I believe you became a single mom at a young age. How did that affect your life at the time?

At 19, I had my son. He’s now 27. At 19, I took early childhood education classes in order to learn parenting skills. I got a job in Early Childhood Education at COA: Youth & Family Centers. I loved the experience, and here I am today still doing this work. In 2003, I earned my associate degree in early childhood development from MATC. After my degree, I was hired in a director role in home visitation at COA. In 2006, I earned my bachelor’s degree in human services from Springfield College. I worked in the Milwaukee Public Schools as a Parent

Coordinator until 2012, and then I took this job at the Malaika Early Learning Center. In 2016, I earned my masters degree from National Louis University in Illinois, which specializes in early childhood programs.

Malaika Early Learning Center is a highly rated provider of early childhood education and care for children from infancy through the third grade. Why is early learning important for children?

Early learning sets the bedrock foundation for a child’s entire life. If very young children experience social and emotional skills including self-regulation, they will be better off in any future setting. The early learning foundation also includes academics, language and learning, mathematics, and science. As children mature, they sometimes don’t make appropriate decisions, and these mistakes can stem from anger or anxiety. At Malaika, we don’t just teach them to be ready for school but also to be ready for life. They need to learn how to live in society. Take the child that is frequently crying or angry and does not know how to calm down. That child learns strategies on how to mitigate anger management. Self-control is learned in early education.

Kids are mental sponges. They can learn so much as preschoolers.

What children learn from the ages of zero to five, they will use for the rest of their lives. If you become a police officer, doctor, lawyer, teacher, electrician or business owner, you had to learn some of those skills before kindergarten—and that can happen in early childhood education. Most behaviors are engrained by the time children are 10 to 12. Here at Malaika Early Learning, we have staff conversations to make sure we cover both learning sides—academic and emotional. For instance, a child might be a genius but can’t function in society for lack of emotional and social skills.

Expanding on this, I read that one of your biggest challenges is getting parents, leaders and politicians to understand the value of early childhood education.

How do you go about that?

Until the isolation of Covid when schools were mostly closed, I don’t think people understood what early childhood educators did. A lot of them thought our work was similar to babysitting. What I try to do is educate folks on what happens each day here in the Malaika Early Learning Center.

There is no TV watching. No smart phones. There’s no babysitting. We function like a healthy school environment. We have curriculum for all ages including infants, and we do learning assessments for all ages. I think that too many people see early childhood care to be for children who need it versus the public good it does. I believe that educating our children is everyone’s responsibility.

How do you get your information regarding early childhood learning out to the public?

I give talks to parent groups, philanthropic and business organizations.

I also talk to legislators because we do receive funding from government through Childcare Counts, which was created during Covid. Not long ago, Gov. Evers authorized an additional $170 million for Childcare Counts.

NOTE: The Child Care Counts Stabilization Payment Program was created with federal COVID-relief funding.

These are time-limited funds with specific deadlines. Since May 2020, the Department of Children & Family has awarded over $330 million to Wisconsin childcare providers with federal COVID-relief funding.

the children and their parents. We have the health & wellness program, which works with families on issues of social and emotional learning. Our teachers, counselors, and administrators all do home visits.

We are sitting here in your facility, a sizable building on Auer Street in the inner city, but I believe you will be opening a second site in 2024. Malaika Early Learning Center has initiated a $1.3 million campaign to establish the Professional Development Center to be located in the ThriveOnKing building. which is the remodeled Gimbels Department store on ML King Drive. I understand the Fotsch Family Foundation has awarded Malaika a $250,000 challenge grant toward your goal. Can you explain your future plans and how this grant money will be used?

How does a parent go about enrolling their children in your early learning program?

And who pays the tuition?

At our new site in the ThriveOnKing building, we plan to provide childhood education for children five years old and younger, but not grade schoolers.

As for the Professional Development Center in that space, we will provide training and support for the other providers located in the ThriveOnKing neighborhoods. about 36 childcare centers in all. The $250,000 challenge grant will go towards hiring, training, and curriculum.

You once said, and I quote, “Enrollment in the Malaika Early Learning Center is a lifetransforming experience for our children, giving them a head start toward productive lives.” But what about the child’s family situation?

In fact, many inner city Black children come from one parent families. Isn’t the family dynamic really important?

It absolutely is. Parents are their child’s first teachers. At Malaika, we strongly support family engagement. In fact, we hired a Family Engagement Specialist in October.

I would think you would need to get the parents on board as to how you are training their children.

Otherwise, in some cases, the child goes home and faces dysfunction.

Wisconsin Shares helps pay tuition for the majority of our families. For our early elementary program, K4 through Third Grade, all of our students receive private school vouchers.

As for enrolling your child, you come into our facility, and we give a tour.

You fill out an application. We do not do testing or entrance requirements for approval. If you qualify, we give approval and set up your payments.

Then, a start date is scheduled.

How many students are currently enrolled in Malaika?

About 130 kids, 87 in K4 through 3rd grade, and the remainder are in the early childhood program.

How many employees do you have?

Thirty-two employees. We are able to have two teachers in a classroom.

I read about a boy named Kevin in your program. Kevin entered Malaika halfway through the K4 program. When he arrived, Kevin did not know the alphabet or how to spell his name. In his first year, your staff spent one-on-one time with the boy. He ended up staying on for the K5 program.

When Kevin left Malaika, he was reading, adding, and subtracting.

He was so proficient that he tested into the 2nd grade at his elementary school.

That story is not atypical for us. It is amazing how good teachers and good programming can elevate a child in learning, and in controlling and channeling emotions like anger and develop into a productive person.

Tom Jenz writes the Central City Stories column for shepherdexpress.com.

We know that. We try to work with both

FEBRUARY 2024 | 17

FOOD & DRINK

WHERE TO TAKE YOUR SWEETHEART FOR A SPECIAL NIGHT ON THE TOWN?

W

BY SUSAN HARPT GRIMES

hether you are planning a romantic date night, making the big proposal, or are celebrating your couplehood, a fine restaurant with excellent service and delectable food can set the stage for more romance to come. Shepherd Express readers cast their votes for Best Romantic Restaurant in our Best of Milwaukee issue last month. Why not take your significant other to one of these great places as chosen by our readers?

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Illustration by Tim Czerniakowski.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 19

FOOD & DRINK

A perennial favorite, Lake Park Bistro (3133 E. Newberry Blvd.) has some serious staying power. For nearly 30 years, this gem of a restaurant has been located in a historic building featuring a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan and has served as a backdrop for more romantic dinners than just about any other place in Milwaukee. Featuring an all French wine list, top-notch service, and a menu loaded with sexy French dishes, this place practically simmers with romance.

If you’re looking for an intimate restaurant with a bit of eclectic flair, and two years in a row of James Beard nominations, Amilinda (315 E. Wisconsin Ave.) is the place to go. Outstanding Spanish and Portuguese inspired cuisine is the

20 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

star here, coupled with exceptional quality and beautiful food presentation. You can practically feel the sensual warm breeze of a coastal Spanish playa as you immerse yourself in the Amalinda experience. Add a glass of sangria or a bottle of wine, and let the romance begin.

If French or Spanish food is too rich or too spicy, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with Italian. Warm and cozy, Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant (3468 N. Oakland Ave.), will surely inspire love as you dine on delectable wood-fired pizzas, perfectly prepared pastas or a seductively tender rack of lamb. Add in a few glasses of wine and excellent service and you have the perfect recipe for romance.

special someone feel like royalty. Their extensive wine list, sensuous steaks, fresh seafood and rich side dishes are a wonderful way to inspire romance on a special night out.

Susan Harpt Grimes is a Milwaukee writer and regular contributor to shepherdexpress.com.

For some, their love language can only be spoken with high-end meats, and the Milwaukee ChopHouse (633 N. Fifth St.) has that well covered. The modern, posh dining room is all about comfortable elegance, plus phenomenal service which will make you and your

Illustrations by Tim Czerniakowski.

FINE FRIDAY FISH FRYS BY

BY SANDY SANDY REITMAN REITMAN

M

ilwaukee is known for many things, including beer, sausage, cheese and Friday night fish frys. A tradition that came with German immigrants of yesteryear lives on today at almost any restaurant in town. The debate on who has the best Friday fish fry will never end, but these are the places voted by our readers in the most recent Shepherd Express Best of Milwaukee contest.

KEGEL'S INN 5901 W. National Ave. If you’re looking for a truly traditional Friday fish fry dinner plate with rye bread, coleslaw, choices for both potatoes and fish, Kegel’s Inn is the spot for you. Located in West Allis, Kegel’s celebrates 100 years of business this year, keeping the German traditions alive in this Bavarian-style beer hall.

Summertime brings the tradition outside where you can enjoy the full menu on a beautiful Wisconsin summer day.

LAKEFRONT BREWERY 1872 N. Commerce St. Upon entering the Riverwest cream city brick building on the Milwaukee River, it’s as if you’ve entered the Midwestern version of German biergartens with communal dining tables, live polka music and an endless amount of beer to wash down the salty, deep-fried deliciousness that is traditional of a Wisconsin fish fry.

THE PACKING HOUSE 900 E. Layton Ave. The Packing House is a local staple, known for being a supper club conveniently located right across from the airport. The bar is dark, and the dining room dim, more typical for fancier feasts, but the Friday fish fry is one of the weekly specials for which patrons continuously return.

PETE’S PUB 1234 E. Brady St. Meet Brady Street’s resident English pub. It’s more than just another East Side watering hole and has some of the city’s best bar food. While its Friday fish fry may look like traditional English fish and chips served on what looks like newspaper, it lives up to Milwaukee standards. Whether you’re catching a soccer game, bar hopping or simply looking to go somewhere new, Pete’s Pub is worth the stop.

Sandy Reitman writes the Let’s Eat column for shepherdexpress.com.

Photo by CharlieAJA/Getty Images.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 21

FOOD & DRINK FLASH IN THE PAN

HOMEMADE

KETCHUP

BY ARI LEVAUX

I

t’s easy to take ketchup for granted. To just assume it will always be there. But once our all-American burger and fries arrive, if we don’t have ketchup, we have a problem.

Of course, there are other uses for ketchup, many of which are in the form of hacks and secret family recipes, where a little ketchup here or there goes a long way, and nobody notices, in the beef stew, borscht, Bloody Mary or beyond.

Ultimately, ketchup is a low-fuss steak sauce for the common people who take their meat in burger and dog form.

That same thick, tangy sweetness makes it a great dipping sauce for the people’s preferred deep-fried potatoes. President Reagan once called ketchup a vegetable, during a food fight over school budgets, and thankfully that did not fly, although he did have a point. My homemade ketchup is absolutely a vegetable.

Homemade ketchup is as much better than Heinz as Heinz is better than all the other commercial brands. When tomatoes are abundant, a batch of ketchup is a good allocation of this resource. A modest batch can last a year. The homemade version explodes with flavor, and when I compare mine to Heinz in a side-by-side, I make a bitter face and call it “cardboard” in an angry French accent.

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I first made ketchup by following a recipe in the classic “Stocking Up” food preservation manual. Until then I never thought about the delicate layers of flavor it delivers. Sweet and sour are the dominant flavors, but the condiment has many more. A touch of spice. A touch of umami from the tomatoes, a hint of bitterness from the garlic and paprika, and aromatic spices like clove and cinnamon. Since then, I have made the recipe my own. The concept is flexible. Taste and tweak as you go. If you follow my recipe, you’ll end up with a sauce so thick and meaty you won’t even need a burger.

Every fall when I do my big tomato processing push, I make sure to do a batch of ketchup alongside my pizza and pasta sauces. If I have the time, I’ll start by halving the tomatoes and broiling them cut side down on cookie sheets until the skins blacken. I let them cool and then pluck off the stiff skins before whizzing the broiled tomatoes in the blender.

You don’t need to go that far, but you do have to get the seeds out, which means filtering the blended tomatoes. I use a mesh strainer and a rubber spatula to smear it through.

My kids, impressed with the smoothness of my ketchup, now demand that all of my red sauces be equally smooth. But none are as quietly complex as my humble pot of ketchup.

Ketchup/plate photo by Ari LeVaux. Tomatoes photo by Serhii Khrystenko/Getty Images.

HOMEMADE KETCHUP The most tangy and flavorful ketchup you will ever try.

Makes two cups of ketchup Ingredients: • 1 quart blended tomatoes • 1 cup of cider vinegar • ¼ cup sugar • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 teaspoon paprika • 1 teaspoon salt Instructions: 1. Place the tomatoes in a food processor and liquefy them together until smooth. (Or, if you already have some tomatoes cooking for some other project, dip into those. I like to broil my tomatoes to get the peels off first, but that’s optional.)

2. Push the blended tomatoes through a food sieve or food mill to remove the seeds and any other solids. I use a fine mesh strainer and a rubber spatula to push the pulp through. Return the strained mixture to the pot.

Bring to a simmer.

3. In a separate pot, combine the vinegar, sugar and seasonings. Bring to a simmer, then add it to the tomatoes.

4. Simmer the ketchup, stirring often, until it thickens to a ketchup-like consistency. When you drop a spoonful on a clean plate it should not have a ring of reddish water around the ketchup. Lower the heat as it thickens. Once that water is gone, stop cooking. It will thicken further as it cools.

Your ketchup will last for months in the freezer, and almost as long in the fridge after you open it, thanks to the sugar and acid, both of which are preservatives. If you are canning your ketchup for the pantry, follow these steps: 1. Prepare clean, sterile canning pint-jars and lids.

2. Ladle the homemade ketchup into the prepared jars, leaving some headspace. Seal the jars with clean, sterile lids.

3. Process the sealed jars in a water bath for 10 minutes to ensure proper preservation.

4. Allow the jars to cool and check for proper sealing.

Store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator and use them within a few weeks. Properly sealed jars can be stored in a cool, dark place for an extended period.

Ari LeVaux has written about food for The Atlantic Online, Outside Online and Alternet.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 23

FOOD & DRINK BEVERAGES

What Does It Mean to Be a Sommelier?

BY GAETANO MARANGELLI

T

he wine god, Dionysus, incarnates themself in sommeliers. But what exactly is a sommelier? And who better to ask than a woman who completely incarnates Dionysus?

Jill Mott has been a sommelier at cool wine bars and the fancy restaurants from Chicago and Minneapolis to New York City and Palma de Mallorca. She has made wine at both great and humble estates from California to Spain to New Zealand. She has been a wine broker and a wine shop merchant. And she is always, everywhere teaching wine. She is presently the wine director of the Carlyle Hotel in New York.

AN INTERVIEW WITH A DIONYSUS ABOUT BEING A SOMMELIER How would you describe being a sommelier?

JILL MOTT

I grew up in wine learning that the word sommelier was tied to an Italian phrase, something like, and don’t quote me, “Somigliere di bocca e di pepe.”

That the sommelier was in charge of the joy of someone's ingestion and, obviously, said sommelier had the knowhow to do so. It wasn't just someone off the street that knew how to eat and drink well.

Do you require certification to call yourself a sommelier?

If you’re the type in need of certifications, then yes. However, if you taste, order, pair, organize and teach wine around the notion that the end result of what you’ve just ordered, paired, organized and taught will be someone sipping the resulting elixir and hopefully finding joy in it, then no. But with a caveat. Part of being a sommelier is the working nature of it. Are you active in and at your craft? If you're not active but you merely received an online cerPhotos courtesy of Jill Mott.

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tificate, what does that mean? There has been a capitalization of the “certificate,” thus allowing one to use its name. You can tell in a very short discussion what being a sommelier means to an individual. Is it a title or a craft?

What are the characteristics of a good sommelier?

I think many would speak here about knowledge of wine, traveling for wine, keeping with the times and vintages, etc., which I obviously think are necessary traits of a good sommelier. A few days ago, while I was running around the three dining rooms I serve, I got asked this very question by a table of guests. They inquired, graciously stating that they could discern I knew a lot about wine and the many facets within.

If I taste a thousand wines a year, I meet 10,000 people. How do I gauge guests’ needs, their insecurities and demands, usually bound to a financial boundary? I put others at ease talking over something we've talked over for millennia—wine. And gauging people comes naturally to me. I’m never influenced by how much someone will spend, their personal preference

for flavor. I read a table and become one with them, without sitting down.

Their joy is my priority, without it being an effort.

When I explained this to the guests, one of them said, “So you’re highly naturally inclined toward empathy.” I smiled and said thank you as I made sure their chalices were full of Knoll Grüner Veltliner.

Of all the wine jobs there are what makes you want to be a sommelier?

What made me want to get into wine was what led me toward certification.

“Sommelier” was a key word when I was getting my feet wet, and you couldn’t leave a great job at a Fortune 500 company to go taste wine and jaunt around the world hoping to make a living. Certification was a good way at the time. In hindsight, I'm so glad I did it, because fundamentals are key, and because I almost exclusively drink natural wine. If one doesn't understand the basics and the intricacies of conventional wine like, say, much of Burgundy, how is someone going to get their head around why natural Burgundy is so profound and so

difficult to execute? The easy answer would be it got me closer to rocks and maps and geography and poetry and the like. But at the time, I didn't have hindsight. Everything happens for a reason. Anything that makes you study will hopefully improve your craft.

However, you can acquire a certificate and not practice this vocation. And the reverse is true.

How would you advise somebody who wants to be a sommelier?

Learn. Listen. Travel. Absorb. Order wine. Serve wine. Taste wine. Drink wine. Learn the rules of food and wine pairing. Break them. All with or without a certificate.

Gaetano Marangelli is a sommelier and playwright. He was the managing director of a wine import and distribution company in New York and beverage director for restaurants and retailers in New York and Chicago before moving to Wauwatosa.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 25

SPECIAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Mattiebelle Woods, Milwaukee’s ‘Grande Dame’ of the Black Press

BY RICHARD G. CARTER

B

ack in 1957, when I was a starry-eyed youngster not yet “This is it,” she said, talking a mile-a-minute. “This is the new home of the Milwaukee Recorder. I got some money from old enough to vote, I returned home from school one some important people for it. Did you know I worked with day to find a phone message from Mattiebelle Woods, an old friend of our family. Although puzzled, I assumed it had your father on the Milwaukee Globe? Well, I want you to be my editor. What do you think, Dickie?”—my name to all my something do with the fact that I was majoring in journalism friends in the giddy days of my youth. at Marquette University.

“She wants you to come to work for her,” said my mother, the late Juanita Carter. “She’s starting a weekly newspaper and wants you with her. She thinks you can help.”

“What did you say?” I asked, surprised and happy over the prospect of being a reporter. “I told her she’ll have to talk to you,” Mama said. “I can’t speak for him. That boy has a mind of his own. Then we just gossiped.”

I remember it like yesterday. Mattiebelle, then 55, already was the “grande dame” of the Black press in Milwaukee.

Everyone read “Party Line by Mattiebelle.” I was taught to respect my elders so wasted no time in calling her and we agreed to meet at a vacant storefront near North 12th and West North Avenue.

26 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

BUNDLE OF ENERGY Ironically, the first thing I recall saying to the tiny, brighteyed, bundle of energy was that the newspaper office was just a block away from Zembo Temple No. 70, where my father, Sanford Carter, served as Illustrious Potentate of Milwaukee’s Prince Hall Shriners. The second thing was “Yes, I’ll take the job. Thanks for asking.”

It turns out the call from Mattiebelle—and our initial meeting—were among the best things that ever happened to me. She lit a creative fire under me that has yet to burn out—a consuming desire to report, write and analyze the news which continues to this day. It was in her short-lived Milwaukee Recorder that my first byline appeared. I was always grateful and frequently told her so. And when my first freelance piece—on pioneering Black female alderman Vel Phillips—was published in the October 1958 issue of Sepia magazine, Mattiebelle called to offer congratulations.

Photos of Mattiebelle Woods and Richard G. Carter courtesy of Richard G. Carter.

THOUGHTFUL IN TURBULENT TIMES

LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS

In the turbulent 1960s, Mattiebelle’s thoughtful influence encouraged me. And with George Sanders, Jay Anderson, Reuben Harpole—and her grandson, Kenny Bedford—we made the Milwaukee Star one of America’s best Black newspapers. We knew we could always call her for a name, time or place in our coverage of the Black community. And we did.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation by the late John Givens to lead singer James “Pookie” Hudson, of a County Executive plaque proclaiming June 20 as “Spaniels Day” in Milwaukee.

Mattiebelle knew everyone in town and loved to print their names. She’d attend a gathering and list everyone there in her legendary “Party Line” column for weeklies such as the Milwaukee Courier, Star and Defender, among others. She rarely missed a party. She also contributed to Ebony and Jet, keeping them up to date on Black Milwaukee.

When Sanders e-mailed me in New York about Mattiebelle’s death on Feb. 17, 2005, at age 102, I was truly saddened.

And as the memories flooded back, I recalled her accepting my invitation to guest on WNOV radio’s “The Carter-McGee Report” in 1994. We lived near each other at Northridge Lakes, and she asked if I’d drive her to the station. Of course, she bent my ear with the latest gossip all the way there and back.

Over the years, whenever Mattiebelle and I talked, she’d call me “my guy.” And she loved to do so in public, including from the stage of the Varsity Theatre on June 20, 1992. The occasion was a nostalgic “Father’s Day Eve” concert by the legendary Spaniels, of “Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight” fame, which I returned from New York to arrange.

One of the last times Mattiebelle personally affected my life was her sparkling coverage in the Courier of a surprise 87th birthday party for my father on Feb. 1, 1998, at the Servite Woods Clubhouse. Yet, when I saw the 100th birthday tribute she received in Jet magazine in 2002, it was like our old days together. She was that kind of great lady.

This is how Mattiebelle previewed the affair in “Party Line” in the Courier: “The show will be emceed by Richard G. Carter, Richard G. Carter was a Milwaukee Sentinel reporter, of Milwaukee, who is working on an authorized biography Milwaukee Journal columnist and local radio commentator, of the Spaniels. Among the special guests will be Mana New York Daily News columnist, and has appeared on nie Mauldin Jr., and yours truly, who gave Carter his start “Larry King Live” and “Donahue.” in the news business.”

FEBRUARY 2024 | 27

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

B O DY, M I N D & S PI R IT ACUPUNCTURIST

MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL CLINIC PRESENTED BY SHEPHERD E XPRESS

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FEBRUARY 2024 | 29

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

B O U G HT & S O LD ANTIQUE STORE

CLOTHING - CHILDREN'S

HEAD SHOP

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CHARLIE BERENS

TWISTED PLANTS

PLACE TO PICK UP THE SHEPHERD EXPRESS

LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR

MOST BELOVED POLITICIAN

RYAN LAESSIG

TAMMY BALDWIN

LOCAL PODCAST

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RADIO FREE GALAXY

RON JOHNSON

MILWAUKEE ALDERPERSON

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PLACE TO WORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

MARINA DIMITRIJEVIC

TONY EVERS

ACLU-WISCONSIN

MILWAUKEE COUNTY SUPERVISOR

NON-PROFIT/HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION

STATE LEGISLATOR

RYAN CLANCY MILWAUKEE INFLUENCER

DJ SHAWNA

COURAGE MKE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING VETERANS

MILWAUKEE HOMELESS VETERANS INITIATIVE

COLECTIVO COFFEE PLACE TO WORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER

CHRIS LARSON WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS

FLOUR GIRL & FLAME

H O M E I M PROV E M ENT ARCHITECT

HOME BUILDER

DAN BEYER ARCHITECTS BIELINSKI HOMES BASEMENT/REC ROOM REMODELER

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS BATHROOM REMODELER

HOME REMODELING

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS HVAC

DESIGN TECH REMODELING

ROMAN ELECTRIC, PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING INC.

CLOSET DESIGN

INTERIOR DESIGN

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS

ELECTRICIAN

KITCHEN REMODELER

ROMAN ELECTRIC, PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING INC.

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS

32 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

LANDSCAPER/LAWN MAINTENANCE

CREAM CITY LANDSCAPING PAINTER

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS PLUMBER

ROMAN ELECTRIC PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING, INC. ROOFER

SEMPER FI ROOFING & EXTERIORS WINDOW & SIDING

ALLRITE HOME & REMODELING

FEBRUARY 2024 | 33

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

LG BTQ DRAG EVENT

LGBTQ ADVOCATE

LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE BUSINESS

HAMBURGER MARY'S MILWAUKEE

COURAGE MKE

CACTUS CLUB

LGBTQ EVENT

LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESS

DRAG PERSONALITY

PRIDEFEST

FLOUR GIRL & FLAME

DITA VON

LO C ALLY- OW N E D FOO D – R ETAI L ARTISANAL CHEESE / CHEESE SELECTION / SAUSAGE SHOP

WEST ALLIS CHEESE & SAUSAGE SHOPPE BACON

NUESKE'S APPLEWOOD SMOKED MEAT BAKERY

ROCKET BABY BAKERY BEER SELECTION / LIQUOR STORE

DISCOUNT LIQUOR INC. BRATWURST / SAUSAGE

CHEESE CURDS

FROZEN PIZZA

CLOCK SHADOW CREAMERY

SCREAMIN' SICILIAN PIZZA

CHOCOLATIER

GOURMET POPCORN

FREESE'S CANDY SHOPPE

LUSH POPCORN

CRAFT BEER

WOODMAN'S FOOD MARKET

LAKEFRONT BREWERY CUPCAKES

AGGIE'S BAKERY & CAKE SHOP DISTILLED SPIRITS

GROCERY - ALL PURPOSE

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GLORIOSO'S ITALIAN MARKET GROCERY - ORGANIC

USINGER'S FAMOUS SAUSAGE

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BUTCHER SHOP / MEAT SELECTION / HOME COOKING MEAL KITS

FARMERS MARKET

HARD CIDER

WEST ALLIS FARMERS MARKET

LOST VALLEY CIDER CO.

BUNZEL'S MEAT MARKET

OUTPOST NATURAL FOODS - BAY VIEW

HOT HAM & ROLLS

GREBE'S BAKERY SODA

SPRECHER BREWING CO. TEA

RISHI TEA & BOTANICALS WINE SELECTION

RAY'S WINE & SPIRITS 34 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

FEBRUARY 2024 | 35

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

LO C ALLY- OW N E D R ES TAU R ANT AFRICAN RESTAURANT

CHICKEN WINGS

BLUE STAR CAFE

POINTS EAST PUB

BAGEL

CHINESE RESTAURANT / KOREAN RESTAURANT

ALLIE BOY’S BAGELRY & LUNCHEONETTE BAR FOOD

CAMINO BARBECUE / RIBS

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BLUE'S EGG BUFFET / INDIAN/PAKISTANI RESTAURANT

CAFE INDIA BAY VIEW

MOMO MEE ASIAN CUISINE COFFEE SHOP

ANODYNE COFFEE ROASTING CO. DONUTS

CRANKY AL'S FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

SAFEHOUSE FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT / GOURMET RESTAURANT

ODD DUCK

HOTEL RESTAURANT / RESTAURANT OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY

MASON STREET GRILL IRISH RESTAURANT

COUNTY CLARE IRISH INN & PUB ITALIAN RESTAURANT

TENUTA'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT JAPANESE RESTAURANT / RAMEN

HUNGRY SUMO JEWISH/KOSHER-STYLE RESTAURANT

BENJI'S DELI LOUISIANA/SOUTHERN RESTAURANT / SOUL FOOD

BURGERS / ICE CREAM/FROZEN CUSTARD

FISH FRY / FRIED CHEESE CURDS / RESTAURANT SERVICE

KOPP'S FROZEN CUSTARD

LAKEFRONT BREWERY

BURRITO / TACO

CAFÉ CORAZÓN

LE REVE PÂTISSERIE & CAFÉ

CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT

FROZEN YOGURT SHOP

CASABLANCA

CUBANITAS

YO MAMA!

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

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GELATO SHOP

BOTANAS RESTAURANT

GLORIOSO'S ITALIAN MARKET

NEW RESTAURANT (OPENED IN 2023)

CHEF PAZ RESTAURANT CHEAP EATS / GREEK RESTAURANT PLACE TO EAT ALONE

OAKLAND GYROS CHEF

ADAM PAWLAK CHICKEN SANDWICH

CRAFTY COW BURGERS & FRIED CHICKEN

36 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

FRENCH RESTAURANT

MAXIE'S MAC & CHEESE

COMET CAFE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT / MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

GERMAN RESTAURANT

HEIRLOOM MKE

MADER'S RESTAURANT

OUTDOOR DINING

GLUTEN-FREE/ FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

BARNACLE BUD'S

CAFE MANNA

PIZZERIA - DEEP DISH / PIZZERIA - WOOD-FIRED OVEN / STREET FOOD VENDOR

HOT DOG / KITCHEN OPEN AFTER 10 P.M.

FLOUR GIRL & FLAME

THE VANGUARD

PIZZERIA - THIN CRUST

BALISTRERI'S ITALIANAMERICAN RISTORANTE

FEBRUARY 2024 | 37

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

LO C ALLY- OW N E D R ES TAU R ANT RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW

STEAKHOUSE / SUPPER CLUB

VEGAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

HARBOR HOUSE

FIVE O'CLOCK STEAKHOUSE

TWISTED PLANTS

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

SUB SANDWICH

VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

COUSINS SUBS

BEANS & BARLEY

SUSHI

VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

KIN BY RICE N ROLL SUSHI BAR

HUÉ ASIAN KITCHEN

ST. PAUL FISH COMPANY

TAPAS (SMALL PLATES)

STORY HILL BKC

SOUPS

THAI RESTAURANT

THE SOUP MARKET

RICE N ROLL BISTRO

LAKE PARK BISTRO SANDWICH / TAKEOUT/CURBSIDE PICKUP

LULU CAFE AND BAR SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

LA MERENDA

WINE LIST

M E D I C AL ALCOHOL & DRUG REHAB CENTER

COSMETIC SURGEON

PERIODONTIST

ROGERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

DR. ANAND PATEL VISAGE FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY

DR. EDDIE MORALES

CHIROPRACTOR

CHIROPRACTIC COMPANY OF GERMANTOWN

DENTIST

COSMETIC DENTIST

EYE DOCTOR

DR. DANIEL M. DOMAGALA, DDS

MAJOR DENTAL MILWAUKEE EYE CARE CLINICS OF MILWAUKEE

CHIROPRACTIC COMPANY OF WAUKESHA PSYCHIATRIST / PSYCHOLOGIST

LAKESHORE PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES

HOME MEDICAL CARE

SOUND THERAPY

AURORA HEALTH AT HOME

ADAGIO SOUND HEALING

HOSPITAL

SPEECH THERAPIST

FROEDTERT HOSPITAL

COMMUNICATION AND FEEDING SPECIALISTS

LASIK SURGEON

MILWAUKEE EYE CARE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

VITA FITNESS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY ORTHODONTIST

BELL ORTHODONTIC SOLUTIONS 38 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

TELEMEDICINE PROVIDER

THRIVE HOLISTIC MEDICINE WOMEN'S MEDICAL SERVICES

MORELAND OB-GYN ASSOCIATES, S.C.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 39

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

M I LWAU K E E M US I C ACOUSTIC MUSICIAN

COVER/TRIBUTE BAND

METAL BAND

EVAN CHRISTIAN

FAILURE TO LAUNCH

STILL STAYER

BLUEGRASS BAND

ELECTRONIC ARTIST / RAP/HIP HOP ARTIST / VOCALIST - MALE

MUSIC PRODUCER/ENGINEER

WHISKEYBELLES BLUES BAND

MILWAUKEE BLUES ROCK COLLECTIVE

JOHNNY FRANCHINO FOLK BAND

LADYBIRD

CLUB DJ

INDIE BAND

DJ SHAWNA

SOCIAL CIG

COUNTRY

JAZZ COMBO

REBEL GRACE

DE LA BUENA

40 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

MYSTIK MUSIK POLKA BAND

SQUEEZETTES ROCK BAND

THE NEW GREY VOCALIST - FEMALE

ANNA ZALESKI

FEBRUARY 2024 | 41

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

O UT & AB O UT ALL-AGES VENUE / LIVE MUSIC VENUE / ROCK CLUB

BAR WITH A PATIO / MOCKTAIL SELECTION

CACTUS CLUB

BOONE & CROCKETT

COUNTY CLARE IRISH INN & PUB

ARCADE/GAMING / VIDEO ARCADE

BEER GARDEN

JAZZ CLUB

UP-DOWN MKE

SOUTH SHORE TERRACE KITCHEN & BEER GARDEN

CAROLINE'S

ART STUDIO/CLASSES (NON-BAR)

CREAM CITY CLAY, INC. POTTERY SCHOOL & ART STUDIO ATTRACTION FOR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS / BREWERY TOUR / MILWAUKEE TOUR

BLOODY MARY

SOBELMAN'S COCKTAIL KIT

LAKEFRONT BREWERY

GREAT LAKES DISTILLERY & TASTING ROOM

AXE THROWING BAR

CRAFT BEER SELECTION AT A BAR

AXE MKE

SUGAR MAPLE

BAR FOR QUIET CONVERSATION / COCKTAIL LOUNGE / ROMANTIC BAR

DANCE CLUB

AT RANDOM

ESCAPE ROOM

BAR ON A BUDGET

THE DRUNK UNCLE BAR TO BE SEEN IN / HOTEL LOUNGE

THE BAR AT SAINT KATE BAR TO WATCH SOCCER / SPORTS BAR / TRIVIA NIGHT

MORAN'S PUB

MAD PLANET

IRISH PUB

KARAOKE BAR

DRUNKEN COBRA BAR & GRILL MARGARITA

CAFÉ CORAZÓN MARTINI

ELSA'S ON THE PARK MICROBREWERY/TAPROOM / PET-FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENT

OPE! BREWING CO. NEW BAR (OPENED IN 2023)

CAMP KARMA

ESCAPE THE ROOM MILWAUKEE

PLACE FOR FAMILY FUN

HAPPY HOUR

STRIP CLUB

MULLIGANS IRISH PUB & GRILL

SILK EXOTIC DOWNTOWN MKE GENTLEMEN'S CLUB

HOOKAH LOUNGE

CASABLANCA IMPORT BEER SELECTION AT A BAR

VON TRIER

SAFEHOUSE

WHISKEY SELECTION AT A BAR

THE VANGUARD WINERY

SOLU ESTATE WINERY & MEADERY

R EAL ES TATE REAL ESTATE AGENCY

REAL ESTATE AGENT/BROKER

SHOREWEST REALTORS

PETER ADAMS, COLDWELL BANKER REALTY

42 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GROUP

WELCOME HOME MILWAUKEE

FEBRUARY 2024 | 43

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

S E RV I C ES R EN D E R E D ACCOUNTANT/TAX ADVISER

BOUTIQUE HOTEL

HAIR REMOVAL

NELSON TAX ACCOUNTING LTD

SAINT KATE THE ARTS HOTEL

ROSE AESTHETICS THIRD WARD

AESTHETICIAN

CATERER

HAIR SALON - MEN'S

LOVELY SALON AND SPA BUNZEL'S MEAT MARKET ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION

WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY MILWAUKEE CAMPUS AUTO BODY SHOP

MILWAUKEE AUTO BODY AUTO DETAILER

METRO CAR WASH & DETAILING AUTO SERVICE & REPAIR

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSINMILWAUKEE

COUNTY CLARE IRISH INN & PUB BODY PIERCING STUDIO

AVANT-GARDE

DOGGY DAY CARE/BOARDING

BAY VIEW BARK

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION FOR GETTING A HOME MORTGAGE

EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION FINANCIAL INSTITUTION FOR OPENING A CHECKING ACCOUNT

INSURANCE AGENT/BROKER

GRAMOLL & ASSOCIATES INC AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE LASHES

LASH DOLLS MILWAUKEE LAW FIRM - BANKRUPTCY

DEBT ADVISORS LAW OFFICES MILWAUKEE

UW CREDIT UNION

LAW FIRM - BUSINESS

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION PROVIDING BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

MELNICK & MELNICK, S.C.

EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION

LAW FIRM - CRIMINAL DEFENSE

FINANCIAL PLANNER/ STOCK BROKER

LAW FIRM - DIVORCE

EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION GREEN BUSINESS

TALL GUY AND A GRILL CATERING

44 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

THE PFISTER HOTEL SHOREWEST INSURANCE ASSOCIATES LLC

EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION

BED AND BREAKFAST

HOTEL ROOMS

EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION

BANK

OVER THE MOON BARTENDING

LOVELY SALON AND SPA

INSURANCE AGENCY

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION FOR GETTING A BUSINESS LOAN

BARTENDING SERVICES

HAIR SALON - WOMEN'S

CREDIT UNION

MANYO MOTORS CHASE BANK

CUTTING GROUP

KIM & LAVOY, S.C. NELSON, KRUEGER & MILLENBACH, LLC LAW FIRM - ESTATE PLANNING

FOX O'NEILL & SHANNON

S E RV I C ES R EN D E R E D LAW FIRM - FAMILY LAW

NAIL SALON

SENIOR LIVING FACILITY

BAGLEY LAW FIRM LLC

NAIL BAR MILWAUKEE

CLEMENT MANOR

LAW FIRM - FULL SERVICE

PET GROOMING/SERVICES

TATTOO PARLOR

GIMBEL, REILLY, GUERIN & BROWN, LLP

EMBARK PET SPA

BLACK RABBIT TATTOO COLLECTIVE

LAW FIRM - NEW (UNDER 5 YEARS)

JONES LAW FIRM LLC

DEE VON DRASEK PHOTOGRAPHY

LAW FIRM - PERSONAL INJURY

PICTURE FRAMING GALLERY

HUPY AND ABRAHAM

SOUTH SHORE GALLERY & FRAMING

MOVING COMPANY

PHOTOGRAPHER

VETERINARIAN

COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINIC WEDDING VENUE

THE IVY HOUSE

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

S PO RTS & R EC R EATI O N BOWLING ALLEY

PADDLESPORTS - RENT OR BUY

BAY VIEW BOWL

MILWAUKEE KAYAK COMPANY

ENDURANCE EVENT

MILWAUKEE LAKEFRONT REC SPORTS LEAGUE MARATHON BREWCITY BRUISERS | MILWAUKEE FAVORITE BREWERS PLAYER ROLLER DERBY CHRISTIAN YELICH ROCK CLIMBING VENUE FAVORITE BUCKS PLAYER

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

ADVENTURE ROCK MKE

FAVORITE PACKERS PLAYER

AARON JONES GOLF COURSE

WHITNALL PARK GOLF COURSE MINI GOLF COURSE

GASTRAU'S GOLF CENTER

FEBRUARY 2024 | 45

SPECIAL PETS | SPONSORED BY TAILS N' TRAILS PETS LLC

Winter Pet Safety—and Indoor Fun

BY SHEILA JULSON

Photo by alexei_tm/Getty Images.

S

nowy winter walks and sledding can bring joy for people and pets, but when temperatures plummet and usher in extreme cold and ice, our pets are prone to many of the same dangers faced by humans. Keep your pets comfortable and safe this winter with a little planning and preparation.

It’s hard to resist those big, loving eyes if Fido still wants his walk when mercury dips to subzero. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), cold tolerance can vary from pet to pet, based on factors such as their coat length and thickness, body fat stores, age, breed and overall health.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reminds us that if the weather is too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, too. Regularly check the weather reports, be aware of your pets’ tolerances and adjust accordingly. The AVMA recommends keeping dogs and cats—even cats that are let outdoors—inside during extremely cold temperatures.

When letting dogs out to relieve themselves, watch for signs of distress such as shivering, whining or if they frequently lift up their paws. North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) notes that when the temperature dips below freezing, limit a dog’s outdoor activity to 10 to 15 minutes, and watch them closely for said distress signs. Even northern breeds such as huskies are prone to dangers from extreme cold if they are typically indoor pets.

Shorten your dog's walks to less than 10 minutes during cold weather to protect from weather-associated health risks.

Try to keep dogs off of salted sidewalks; the chemicals in many ice-melting products can irritate pets’ paws. Dogs can also get sick if they lick any of that chemical residue from their paws. Protect pets’ paws with products such as Musher’s Secret (available at Bark N Scratch Outpost), a 100% natural, food grade wax that forms a breathable, dense barrier on animals’ paws.

46 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Dog boots and shoes come in a variety of models and fabrics to protect paws during all seasons. Correct sized boots will be more comfortable and less likely to fall off. Sweaters and coats offer additional protection from the elements.

Consult your local pet store associate for guidance on proper fitting for your pet’s winter gear.

INDOOR ZOOMIES KEEP WINTER BOREDOM AWAY There are fun games that can keep a dog physically and mentally stimulated when stuck inside. Long hallways can serve as an area to play catch with soft toys (be sure to first clear away any breakables!). The American Kennel Club suggests hide-and-seek for dogs that know basic commands: “lead the pet to a room and ask them to stay, then leave and hide in a different location. Find a hiding place, and then call their name to encourage the pet to come find you.

Celebrate the big accomplishment, once they’ve figured out where you are.”

Outward Hound Nina Ottosson puzzles (available at Bark n’ Scratch Outpost) are also great boredom busters for your dog. These “brain games” will keep your pet’s mind (and nose!) engaged as they search for their reward.

Find common household objects such as boxes or stacks of books and set up a mini-obstacle course in a clear area of the house. Encourage the dog to run or jump through.

Milwaukee is home to several indoor pet play parks that offer private or group play sessions. Find one that matches best with your dog’s social skills and let the games begin!

Article sponsored by Bark n’ Scratch Outpost. Locally owned since 2006, Carrie, Michael and staff are dedicated to educating pet owners about healthy options for their pets. Bark n’ Scratch is located at 5835 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213. www.milwaukeepetfood.com

FEBRUARY 2024 | 47

SPECIAL CANNABIS | SPONSORED BY BLUE DREAM VAPE & SMOKE

Blue Dream Vape & Smoke’s Array of Cannabis Products

BY SHEILA JULSON

O “

ur main focus is to bring cannabis to Wisconsin,” says “Nugget” Jaber, owner of Blue Dream Vape & Smoke, with two locations on Milwaukee’s East Side at 3473 N. Oakland Ave. and 2865 N. Murray Ave.

The inventory is similar at both locations, but the Murray Avenue location boasts more than 50 strains of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) cannabis flower. As a precursor to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), THCA is the non-psychoactive form of THC found in raw, unheated cannabis. It converts to THC when the flower is heated or aged.

Blue Dream Vape & Smoke carries strains considered exotic, such as Apples and Bananas, or well-known ones that have been on the market for years, such as Gary Payton, named after basketball player. Popular strains include Glitter Bomb, Pandemic and Purple Funk.

48 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

The staff will work with customers to determine their needs, how they prefer to use cannabis (via smokables, edibles or drinks) or if they want “a body high or head high,” Nugget says. They also consider customers’ individual tolerances for cannabis.

Name brand vape cartridges include Muha Meds and Runtz, along with rechargeable vape cartridges infused with the trendy hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol (HHCP) cannabinoid.

Locally made edibles include gummies in varying doses that can be purchased individually or in larger quantities.

Other edibles include Stoney Patch sweet-sour soft chews, Heavy Hitters gummies and Holy Rope, along with brownies and cookies, and even cereal bars made by Mellow Fellow.

Cannabis Juice Delta 9 fruit drinks come in several flavors such as lemonade.

PAIN RELIEF For those seeking cannabidiol (CBD) for relief of pain or anxiety, Blue Dream Vape & Smoke offers CBD lotion, topicals, Cutleaf brand tinctures, bath bombs, gummies and pet treats. The CBD cigarette brands include Wild Hemp Hempettes.

Blue Dream Vape & Smoke also carries incense, pipes and trays. Their non-cannabis items consist of tobacco products and vapes; clove cigarettes; Diamond Shruumz, which Nugget says are not hallucinatory mushrooms but instead are micro dosed to improve focus and energy; and Kava, an alternative to alcohol, which Nugget describes as a relaxing tonic. They carry a large assortment of cigars.

Nugget curates inventory based off of employee and customer feedback. “The more options you’ve got to offer, the better,” he says. “I always check the certificates of analysis of every product I carry. I make sure every product is legal for us to sell it here in Wisconsin.”

He says they see many repeat customers, including students from nearby UW-Milwaukee, as well as older neighborhood residents. He likes to stay on top of cannabis trends and offer products new on the market. “I want the customer to walk out happy. If a customer didn’t like a product, I’ll give them something else to try. We work with the customers so they feel comfortable and safe coming in here.”

CANNABIS INDUSTRY FORECAST “Wisconsin is not legalizing marijuana anytime soon—let’s be honest,” Nugget affirms. “But a lot of our customers are still

enjoying what’s out here right now.” He blames liquor industry interests for hindering full legalization in Wisconsin.

He also sees stores such as his that sell vetted cannabis-derived relaxation or “head and body high” products as an option for avoiding harmful or deadly drugs such as opiates or fentanyl.

A lot of players in the cannabis industry have come and gone since the “Green Rush” after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp with no more than .3% THC. The Farm Bill is up for renewal this year. As of press time, Congress missed the September 30 deadline, and the bill has yet to be finalized.

It remains uncertain which hemp priorities will make it into the final version.

Cannabis laws also vary from state-to-state and are ever-changing. Nugget hopes to see federal marijuana legalization in the final version of the 2023 Farm Bill. “Let’s legalize it and get it done with. We’re surrounded by all legal states, so let’s just legalize it to bring in more revenue to start fixing roads and improving schools. I wish they would legalize it for that reason.”

For more information about Blue Dream Vape & Smoke, visit bluedreamvapemilwaukee.com, facebook.com/p/ Blue-Dream-Vape-Smoke-100027310286913.

Sheila Julson writed about food and cannabis for shepherdexpress.com.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 49

CULTURE

Eric Blowtorch’s Shameless Bopaganda!

BY DAVID LUHRSSEN WITH BLAINE SCHULTZ

Shame a Politician. Courtesy ericblowtorch.bandcamp.com.

E

ric Blowtorch has worked with a roster of great Jamaican musicians, recording with reggae aces such as U-Roy, Big Youth, Prince Jazzbo, Clement “Sir” Coxsone Dodd and Roland Alphonso. The remarkable thing is that Blowtorch doesn’t hail from Kingston or Montego Bay but Milwaukee’s East Side. His encounters with the musicians he admires weren’t random. “It was a conscious pursuit,” he says.

Blowtorch has also recorded with members of Fishbone and, closer to home, with esteemed Milwaukeeans such as Paul Cebar, Robyn Pluer, Paul Finger and a gamut of rock, jazz, R&B and genre-bending players. Collaboration has been operative throughout Blowtorch’s 30-plus years of making records, a working method in keeping with the communitarian socialism that permeates his lyrics.

Eight albums, nearly a dozen singles and another dozen tracks on compilation albums—and he’s still not a household name in his hometown.

Well, household names aren’t what they used to be. Stardom was never as important to Blowtorch as doing good work—on stage, in the recording studio and in the community where he lives. Blowtorch is incredibly passionate, and while thoroughly articulate, he scatters words like sparks from a Roman candle when excited by an idea, and excitement comes easily to him.

Blowtorch’s apartment is crammed to the rafters with evidence of his interests. Crates of LPs rise to the ceiling, shelves of books, 78 RPM records (he spins Elvis’ “Mystery Train” to demonstrate how much stronger it sounds in that format) and a rack of hats for a vintage hipster look. His enthusiasm for music, culture and politics is boundless.

50 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

PUNK, REGGAE, HIP HOP When still in high school, Blowtorch (also known by his given name, Eric Beaumont) hopped the No. 15 bus from Whitefish Bay to the East Side, where he discovered, in rapid succession, punk rock, reggae and hip hop. His first band, The Laytons, were punks searching for the funky reverberations of Jamaican dub. Experiencing hip hop up close in segregated early ‘80s Milwaukee meant “crossing artificial boundaries because I wanted to meet hip hop musicians. I didn’t belong visually in the hip hop world, but all the brothers blessed me—and the sisters too!” he says.

In 1984, Blowtorch encountered a mentor in one of Milwaukee’s most respected bandleaders, Paul Cebar. “Meeting Cebar changed everything,” Blowtorch recalls. “He’s very politically and culturally astute. He also understands how sex and music are intertwined, and that humor is critical …

Cebar expanded my understanding of culture and America’s place in culture. He was always so generous with his time.”

Blowtorch recalls sitting with Cebar at El Matador till closing time, listening to him explain the history of New Orleans marching bands and Black literature.

Blowtorch’s recording career began in earnest in 1990 with the release of his first album, Shame a Politician, marking the debut of his own label, Bopaganda! He hasn’t stood still for long ever since. “I feel privileged to practice what I preach,” he insists. “I wanted my music to make people feel the way I did when I heard Springsteen, The Who, The Clash, the people who convicted me and touched my heart.”

The name Bopaganda! is a pronouncement: what you are about to hear in these grooves is politics from an oldschool hipster’s stance. “Even if you don’t recognize it, everything is political. How you treat your friends is political,” Blowtorch says. “Personal politics can emanate from love and sympathy.”

FEBRUARY 2024 | 51

CULTURE

The Alphabet. Courtesy ericblowtorch.bandcamp.com.

Blowtorch identifies himself as a democratic socialist.

“Living Larger than Life” from his 2009 album The Alphabet is a tribute to how Milwaukee’s old-time socialists made the city a beautiful place to live. “I try to paint pictures, tell stories, even write short cinematic pieces,” Blowtorch says of his lyrics. His 2023 song “Sanctuary City” opens with the line “Clouds over the caravan.” “That hopefully prompts an image in the listener’s mind and engages their natural curiosity about what the people in the caravan are trying to escape. And why there are infants making this brutal journey,” he explains. Lyrics are vital but inseparable from the music. “It helps to have a pretty melody and a driving rhythm,” he adds.

MUSIC’S NOT ENOUGH Words and music alone aren’t enough. Blowtorch has always been willing to roll up his sleeves for a better society.

In the ‘90s he joined the staff of Silver Spring Neighborhood Academy, “working with kids in risk of academic failure. I had to earn their trust, give them time to vent. I was in it to win with those kids.” His song “God’s Little Girl” is “all about what those kids are going through—how do you offer hope?”

He worked as a librarian at Milwaukee County Jail from 2003 through 2009.

“On my first Christmas as jail librarian, I joined a choir put together by Catherine Sidney, the jail chaplain, in singing Christmas carols to the folks living in the jail. I brought my Great Grandpa Albert’s old Harmony, the guitar I first learned on. We went to quite a few housing units, which housed up to 64 people each … One of our last stops was a woman’s housing unit. While we were singing ‘Silent Night,’ I looked up and almost everyone in the balcony was crying.

I thought about these women's kids, their grandkids, their folks—in my whole life singing, I never felt more like this is what I was put here to do.” Blowtorch is now a paralegal working with the incarcerated at the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility, helping them apply for public benefits and navigate critical aspects of their release.

Along the way, he found time to collaborate with his dad, Roger A. Beaumont, a history professor at Texas A&M, on a three-act musical called The Ethiopian Ball. Inspired by an actual operetta performed by emancipated Black women in 1783, it was recorded for broadcast on WMSE by a host of prestigious Milwaukeeans including jazz singer Adekola Adedapo, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra violinist Glenn Asch, Kings Go Forth trumpeter Eric Jacobson and many more. Since its 2015 debut on WMSE, The Ethiopian Ball has been aired in Charleston, SC, Portland, OR and elsewhere in the U.S. Blowtorch drew on Gilbert and Sullivan, infused it with touches of blues and gospel. The melodic, rhythmic quality of his father’s lyrics were a delightful shock, Blowtorch said at the time the musical debuted.

His most recent album, 2021’s Quality Items, was a triple LP. And there’s no end in sight. “Some people have kids. I have records,” he says. “I want to leave something that lasts.”

Quality Items. Courtesy ericblowtorch.bandcamp.com.

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David Luhrssen co-edited a book on Milwaukee music, Brick Through the Window, with Eric Beaumont, Steve Nodine and Clancy Carroll. He is Managing Editor of the Shepherd Express. Blaine Schultz is a longtime Milwaukee music writer and musician and is Staff Writer for Shepherd Express.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 53

CULTURE

This Month in Milwaukee

12 THINGS TO DO IN FEBRUARY

BY BARRY HOULEHEN, ELIZABETH LINTONEN, DAVID LUHRSSEN, JOHN SCHNEIDER AND BLAINE SCHULTZ THROUGH FEBRUARY 18

FEBRUARY 3

Little Women p Milwaukee Rep, Quadracci Powerhouse While respecting the integrity of Alcott’s novel, Kate Hamill’s 2018 stage adaptation of Little Women is a version created for audiences today. “Much like Louisa May Alcott staged plays with her sisters in their living room, so we are an ensemble of artists who are putting on a play set now, then, and in our collective imagination,” director Marti Lyons says.

Graham Hunt w/ Rustbelt, q Shontrail and DJ Yuppie Cactus Club With Midnight Reruns, Graham Hunt hinted he was a songwriter to keep an ear on. Since going solo, Hunt has embraced cassette and vinyl with his releases. Try Not to Laugh continues his trajectory with tunes like “Emergency Contact.”

Shepherd Setlist said, “The song finds him grappling with the world collapsing in, but he’s got someone to rely on who make things just a bit better.”

THROUGH APRIL 28

Try Not to Laugh

Cory Bonnet: Patterns of Meaning u Grohmann Museum For “Patterns of Meaning,” Pittsburgh painter Cory Bonnet used old wooden foundry patterns as the foundation for new creations—paintings, sculptures and assemblages. “Patterns of Meaning” is a novel approach to historic preservation coupled with a thoughtful repurposing of industrial artifacts,” says Grohmann’s director James Kieselburg. “Patterns from frames, wheels, core boxes and gears become the materials on which scenes of industry are painted, from which glass is cast, and with which new sculptural assemblages are constructed.”

Courtesy of Grohmann Museum at MSOE.

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TOP: Katie Peabody, Rebecca Cort, Cy Paolantonio, and Amelio García in LIttle Women. Photo by Bronwen Houck.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 55

CULTURE Graphic courtesy of First Stage.

Illustration by blacklight_trace/Getty Images.

FEBRUARY 9-10 Beethoven Piano & Pictures u at an Exhibition, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Bradley Symphony Center Modest Mussorgsky sought “a new kind of melody” that emulated the inflections of human speech. Whether or not he achieved that end, the Russian composer added several works to the classical music canon, including Pictures at an Exhibition (1874). Moved by the death of his close friend, painter Victor Hartmann, Mussorgsky wrote Pictures with unusual speed as a tribute. The piano suite will be accompanied by Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and a work by early 20th century Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas, Redes.

FEBRUARY 3-MARCH 3 The Lightning Thief p First Stage, Todd Wehr Theater The old gods are still among us. In Rick Riordan’s 2005 novel The Lightning Thief, a 12-year-old boy with ADHD, Percy Jackson, stumbles into an odyssey on a class trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He must confront a nasty Fury, a Minotaur and other beings while coming to terms with his own identity as the son of Poseidon (by a human mother). Sequels followed sales, and then a Broadway rock musical by Rob Rokicki.

FEBRUARY 10 Reverie Road Irish Culture & Heritage Center Reverie Road is a new Celtic trad band of former members from well-known groups Solas (John Williams on accordion and Winifred Horan on fiddle) and Gaelic Storm (Katie Grennan on fiddle), plus concert and Indian raga pianist Utsav Lal. They come to town on their first tour with a brand-new album. Judging from their already-released single “The Gap of Dreams,” this promises to be a great show from some veteran players.

FEBRUARY 8-11 Genesis q Milwaukee Ballet, Pabst Theater The 11th edition of Milwaukee Ballet’s biannual Genesis International Choreographic Competition offers three one-act world premieres from company dancers by exciting emerging choreographers chosen by artistic director Michael Pink. Covid risk limited the 2022 competition to Americans, but this year’s contestants are Australia’s Jack Lister, Italy’s Matteo Di Loreto and New Jersey’s Tsai Hsi Hung. Qualified judges from around the country select the winner who will return in 2025 to create a full-length premiere. A cash award also goes to the one choreographer voted favorite by audiences.

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All Messed Up XII Linneman’s Riverwest Inn Twelve years of keeping Riverwest weird, All Messed Up is a two-night blitz of bands that were assembled by random drawing back in December. This year’s edition features 16 bands—rock and roll petri dishes—that joined together to come up with a 20-minute set of music.

FEBRUARY 16-18 Songbird Florentine Opera Marcus Performing Arts Center Jacques Offenbach’s operettas have been ranked “among the finest of all light musical entertainment,” an inspiration for Gilbert and Sullivan. The Florentine Opera’s Songbird is a slimmed down version of Offenbach’s three-act La Périchole (1850), a story of impoverished street singers too poor to pay for a marriage license. Songbird switches the setting to New Orleans and moves the calendar forward to the 1920s.

FEBRUARY 22

FEBRUARY 13

Photo by OSTILL/Getty Images.

FEBRUARY 16-17

Matthew Sweet w/Abe Partridge p Shank Hall On his 2021 album Catspaw, Matthew Sweet finally assumed lead guitar duties.

In over three decades of recording Sweet collaborated with and was mentored by legendary hired guns Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine and Ivan Julian. With an unextinguishable work ethic Sweet has found time to record Under the Covers; three volumes and counting, the collaboration with Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles cherry picks the duo’s favorite songs from decades beginning in the ‘60s.

Molly Grace w/ The Wonderlands Vivarium Milwaukee music opens a new chapter with the debut of Vivarium; the venue replaces The Back Room @ Colectivo. The Wonderlands christen the stage followed by headliner, “bonafide pop-funk starlet” Molly Grace who is “blazing her own lane with her heart, humor, and charm.”

FEBRUARY 24 La Morra: Shaping the Invisible St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Early Music Now presents the sevenmember pan-European ensemble focused on the music of Renaissance Italy. Safe to say that most of us have never heard the music La Morra’s singers and instrumentalists will present, including work by composers such as Giovanni Serraglia and Henricius Issac.

Their concert will be an excursion beyond the usual canon of early European music.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 57

LIFESTYLE ASK ALLY

Dear Ally, New Year. New Problem!

I still can’t believe it. Joan, my wife of 30 years wants to move out of the city to Elm Grove, “where it’s quieter.”

What? The idea of moving threw me off completely. What happened to making decisions together? Me, move to the suburbs? I’m a City Guy, now bracing for a big blowout. But that comes natural to our marriage.

Dear City Guy, I’m afraid you’ve jumped to the conclusion before you have all of the information.

You didn’t mention any of your ideas about why she wanted to move. “Quiet” doesn’t tell us much. It gives us an idea of the neighborhood she prefers, but nothing about her need to move. If we think of moving as a possible symbol of your marriage, what changes does it suggest?

I’m confident that a deeper discussion will lead both of you to talk about your commitment to your marriage and what changes are needed to strengthen it. This is the time, City Guy, to ask Joan all kinds of questions. Make sure your tone of voice is gentle and without blame or judgement. It’s also the time to genuinely try to understand her perspective, without advancing your own.

As I’m sure your therapist warned, this isn’t the time for finding solutions. This is the time to better understand Joan’s reasons for wanting to move. The biggest gift you can give her right now is your listening. Can you do that again?

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When the kids were growing up, we’d easily disagree on screen time, curfews and their friends. Once they moved out of the house, we fought over typical couple stuff: sex and money. We went to see a pretty good therapist. Joan claimed I never listened to her. With the therapist’s instructions, I practiced active listening, rather than rushing to solve her problems. I can’t help it that I’m a guy sometimes. But I try not to do that anymore, and we’ve been getting along much better. Joan even noticed

Possible questions to ask her are: Your idea to move to Elm Grove comes as quite a surprise to me. Help me understand your process of coming to this choice. I’d really like to understand it. (Hint: the best thing you can do is avoid starting the question with Why. This often puts people on the defensive, creating an even bigger barrier to authentic communication. Always remember that your priority here is to better understand Joan’s perspective.)

Once you have asked, just listen, without interrupting, for as long as it takes.

Follow-up questions could be: • I’m a bit confused about your timing and coming to this decision on your own. Would you like my feedback?

• You’ve talked about how much you enjoy being a grandmother, how will an Elm Grove move impact that?

Before you talk to Joan, take a brisk hike in nature to clear your head, open your heart and chase away any fear.

Create space in your head, to develop an authentic curious mindset. Most importantly, if true, tell her how important your life with her is and how you’d like

and complimented me. But now this?

I have no idea where she’s coming from or even why she wants to move at all.

All I know is that I’m a City Guy and have no intention of moving. This is our home. Besides, one set of grandkids live here, and we need to be part of their lives. Most of our friends are here too. How do we fix this?

City Guy

to continue the journey together. After she’s completely done talking, you can be honest and share your feelings about why you want to stay in the city.

Who knows? Maybe it’s as simple as finding a different house in a quieter neighborhood.

My sense is that a compromise will organically present itself once total honesty is revealed.

Good luck City Guy! We’ll be standing on the sidelines to support you and Joan. Let us know how it goes at: AskAlly@shepex.com Remember, a successful relationship nurtures independence for both parties. Anne Truitt says it best: “Love … is the honoring of others in a way that grants them the grace of their own autonomy.”

Here for you,

Ally

Send your questions to AskAlly@shepex.com.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 59

LIFESTYLE OUT OF MY MIND

NARCISSISM:

I T hink I’m Wonderful, and So Should You

BY PHILIP CHARD

O

f all the mental health diagnoses populating the media of late, narcissism likely garners the most attention. What’s more, it’s the label of choice many paste on those they dislike, whether it fits or not. In contrast, calling someone “depressed” often elicits empathy or concern, while labeling them a “narcissist” usually evokes disdain. The term paints people with a broad and often inaccurate brush. So, exactly what is narcissism?

Even after plenty of research, the answers sometimes become mind-numbingly complex. We hear about so-called narcissists who are “functional” or “malignant” or “sociopathic,” and the like. Psychology defines narcissism as a personality disorder, a fundamental flaw in character, one usually very resistant to change. So, what common characteristics manifest in those exhibiting this type of personhood?

Current thinking proposes two primary types of narcissism: overt and covert. Think of the overt variety as grandiose and “out there.” Donald Trump and Elon Musk are the current poster children in this regard. It’s relatively easy to spot, as these folks are vain and full of themselves 60 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

to the point of bursting at the psychological seams. In contrast, their covert mental cousins often appear hypersensitive, defensive, socially insecure and joyless. Consequently, some psychologists refer to them as “vulnerable narcissists.” Like their grandiose counterparts, they feel superior to others and crave elevated social status but fail to exhibit the same “Look at me!” grandstanding.

Why? Probably due to fundamental underlying insecurity.

Many sociological studies show ruminating about ourselves is ubiquitous, so the next time you’re feeling self-conscious, relax. Chances are people aren’t paying nearly as much attention to you as you imagine. They’re too busy focusing on themselves. So, given the propensity for self-absorption across the general population, when does this self-centeredness become narcissistic?

When you amp it up and add entitlement to the mix.

SELF-ABSORBED, ENTITLED

One might suppose the missing factor here is self-awareness, that narcissists don’t recognize how full of themselves they are, and that if they did, they would mend their ways.

However, that’s not the case. Many narcissistic individuals are aware they think very highly of themselves but, at the same time, feel they deserve being a legend in their own mind. They feel entitled to what they most want, the fawning admiration of others and elevated social status.

Regardless, there are two characteristics common to all narcissists, and, interestingly, they’re also present to a lesser degree in many who are not of this persuasion.

Self-absorption and entitlement.

Regarding the former, for most of us, focusing extensively on oneself is par for the course. Babies and very young children exhibit this proclivity to a high degree, only gradually learning they are not the center of the universe and that “other” and “self” are distinct. Some psychanalytic theorists speculate that narcissism is caused by the disruption of this developmental transition, meaning the recognition that it’s not all about me.

So, how do we distinguish between folks with garden variety self-centeredness as opposed to those exhibiting outright narcissism? There’s no fully reliable litmus test, but here are some indicators to watch for:

Man with crown photo by Lyamport Galina Vyacheslavovna/Getty Images. Woman with crown photo by Deagreez/Getty Images.

• The absence of empathy, even for family or supposed friends.

• A strong sense of entitlement and believing “the rules” do not apply to them.

• A transactional approach to relationships with a focus on what they can get from others.

• A lack of guilt or remorse for wrongdoings or transgressions.

• Never accepting culpability.

It’s always someone else’s fault.

• A tendency to overreact emotionally when not getting what they want.

• A strong self-referential focus in which they make everything about them while showing little genuine interest in what others have to say or share.

Unfortunately, behavioral scientists indicate there is a subset of narcissists who are facile at cloaking these tendencies, making them harder to spot, particularly at first.

However, when these folks don’t get what they want, the genuine article usually emerges.

If you have a narcissist embedded in your life, or trying to be, setting firm psychological boundaries proves critical. In doing so, keep in mind this phrase from writer Annie Lamott: “No is a complete sentence.”

Philip Chard is a psychotherapist and author with a focus on lasting behavior change, emotional healing and adaptation to health challenges.

For more, visit philipchard.com.

• Callous indifference to the needs and suffering of others.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 61

HEAR ME OUT DEAR RUTHIE | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY It’s that crimson time of year where lovers love, daters date and singles … well … single. Whether you chose to envelop yourself in Cupid’s embrace, seek out Cupid’s arrow or gather with friends to give Cupid a collective middle finger, make it a Valentine’s Day to remember.

Treat your sweetie or yourself to something cute and creative this month. (For a truly special treat, drop by C3 Designs. Their jewelry is the stuff memories are made of!) See my social calendar for change-of-pace date-night ideas. I hope to see you out and about, but if not—have a helluva Valentine’s Day!

DEAR RUTHIE, My wife has thrown in the towel when it comes to housework.

When we got married, we agreed that she’d stay at home while I worked. For years, this worked great. Now, however, our home is a mess, she rarely cooks, bills aren’t paid and there’s no food in the house unless I go shopping. Our Christmas decorations are still up!

Attempts to discuss the problem have backfired. Any advice on getting to her to clean up her act—literally and figuratively.

THANKS,

Clean Kristina

DEAR MRS. CLEAN, I noticed that you call this “the problem.” Perhaps the issue is that your wife doesn’t see this as a problem at all. Start thinking of this as a “situation” and focus on how this “situation” came to be. I’m guessing she’s no longer happy being a housewife and wants to mix things up. Perhaps she wants a career or wants children. Maybe she feels something is lacking in the marriage. Or what if she’s just tired of cleaning the f’ing house?

Discuss what her future happiness looks like. Suggest sharing household responsibilities, allowing her time to pursue that happiness. As she explores a renewed outlook on life, she’s more likely to thrive in and out of the home, which will ultimately create a happier life for both of you.

XXOO

Ruthie

Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Contact Ruthie at dearruthie@shepex.com.

Follow her on social media, too!

Facebook: Dear Ruthie | Instagram: RuthieKeester | Twitter: @DearRuthie

62 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

DEAR RUTHIE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Ruthie's Social Calendar FEBRUARY 3 & 4 “THE GOLDEN GIRLS SPECIAL” DRAG PARODY AT RACINE THEATRE GUILD (2519 NORTHWESTERN AVE., RACINE): If you missed the alloriginal comedy in Milwaukee, contact the Racine box office at 262-6334218 for a chance to see the production. Dorothy (Dear Ruthie), Blanche (Dita Von), Rose (Brandon Herr) and Sophia (Marcee Doherty) thank you for being a friend.

FEBRUARY 7 ASHLEY GAVIN AT TURNER HALL (1040 VEL R. PHILLIPS AVE.): Largely known for her podcast, “We’re Having Gay Sex,” comedian Ashley Gavin sets her hilarious sights on Brew Town with a 7 p.m. show.

Check out the groundbreaking funny lady when you buy tickets at www.pabsttheatergroup.com.

FEBRUARY 14 QUEER KARAOKE AT CACTUS CLUB (2496 S. WENTWORTH AVE.): Whether you want to sing a song or watch the fun, a great Valentine’s Day is sure to be had at this alternative sing-along. The artist-run music venue kicks off the all-ages party at 7 p.m.

FEBRUARY 16, 17 & 18 “FEVER: A PEGGY LEE CELEBRATION” AT BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER (717 N. SECOND ST.): Renowned recording artist and Tonynominated actress Ann Hampton Callaway pays homage to the legendary Peggy Lee during this concert. Callaway shares the spotlight with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, making tickets available at www.mso.org.

FEBRUARY 22 “MARGARET CHO: LIVE AND LIVID!” AT THE PABST THEATER (144 E. WELLS ST.): Comedian, actor, five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee, and overall goddess, Margaret Cho brings her latest to Cream City with this 7:30 p.m. show. Go to www.pabsttheatergroup.com for tickets.

FEBRUARY 23 “BREAKUPS: SING YOUR HEART OUT” VARIETY SHOW AT THE FITZGERALD MANSION (1119 N. MARSHALL ST.): The city’s chorus for gay men and their allies, Our Voice Milwaukee, offers up this tongue-andcheek alternative to lovely-dovey Valentine’s dates. I emcee the 7 p.m. fundraiser so nab your seat via www.ourvoicemke.org.

FEBRUARY 27 ARCOIRIS SUPPORT GROUP AT MKE LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER (315 W. COURT ST.): Created for Latinx young adults, this welcoming space seeks to build a supportive community. The 6-7 p.m. discussion includes topics such as coming out, navigating a bi-cultural life and strengthening family connections. See www.mkelgbt.org for more.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 63

HEAR ME OUT | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

Bayard Rustin: A Black Gay Civil Rights Hero Receives His Place in History

BY PAUL MASTERSON

O

ver the years, Black History Month has become ever more inclusive, recognizing the pantheon of Black LGBTQ heroes and historic figures. They represent the spectrum from visual and performing arts, to literature, activism and politics. Still, for the most part, those personalities are celebrated solely by the LGBTQ community primarily because their historical contributions have been made within that community. The unfortunate reality is that for some, particularly the activists and politicians among them, the lack of broader recognition is due to the fact that they are LGBTQ. The greatest among them, civil rights champion Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), is one such person. In Rustin’s case, the effort to change that has been slow but sure.

Among Rustin’s chief proponents in that effort is President Barack Obama.

In 2013, President Obama honored him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian award. It was presented posthumously, 50 years after the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom organized by the civil rights leader. The event drew 250,000 participants with its most memorable moment being Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The March would lead to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The recognition of Rustin as the architect of its success was long overdue.

In late 2023, Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, released the film Rustin a biographical drama that stars Colman Domingo in the title role (he’s expected to win an Oscar for the performance).

The film recounts Rustin’s efforts to organize the March on Washington.

64 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

MOTIVATION FOR JUSTICE However, the real story is Rustin’s homosexuality and how it was both the inadvertent motivation for his commitment to social justice and as well as the cause of his subsequent erasure from the historical dais by both his allies and enemies. For Rustin’s Black political colleagues (and rivals) his sexual identity provided them with the means to relegate him to a behind the scenes role while they took credit for the success of the March. Meanwhile, for his white detractors, attacking his morality served as a means of undermining the civil rights movement itself. Besides, neither could accept the truth that such an extraordinary moment could have been orchestrated by a gay man for the greater good of the country.

This supreme disservice has deprived subsequent generations of LGBTQs, especially of the Black community, of an inspiration and example to emulate.

As the film so sensitively reveals, Rustin’s legacy should have established him on a par with Dr. Martin Luther King as a civil rights leader. His engagement as a social justice advocate began at an early age when he fought against racist Jim Crow laws and their segregationist policies.

Throughout the following decades beginning in the 1930’s he was active in numerous political causes including desegregation, unionization of Black workers, non-violence and, later LGBTQ rights. He did it all as a matter of moral conviction. Rustin is exactly that hero the community has always needed.

Hopefully, organizations like Diverse & Resilient that serve the LGBTQ community of color, the LGBT Community

Center and the Milwaukee Black Holocaust Museum will take advantage of Barack and Michelle Obama’s gift and hold Rustin viewing events. Black History Month offers the perfect rationale to promote this positive and honest retelling of Rustin’s story.

RUSTIN PARK? Meanwhile, locally, another effort to raise the awareness of Bayard Rustin is being launched by Bill Meunier.

A long-term gay political activist, Meunier’s many roles in Milwaukee’s LGBTQ progress, include his founding of PrideFest and managing the LGBTQ faction supporting Jesse Jackson’s Wisconsin presidential campaign in the 1980’s. His idea is to garner a broad spectrum of diverse and multi-cultural community support for a campaign to rename a Milwaukee County park after Bayard Rustin.

The purpose of such renaming would not only be to honor Rustin’s contributions to the struggle for both civil and LGBTQ rights, but also to create a public space as inspiration and source of pride for all Milwaukeeans, especially those of color. It would also serve as reminder of the importance of Rustin-style activism, especially in these troubled times when rights of major segments of American society are threatened by those same political forces that opposed the civil rights movement three score years ago.

Paul Masterson is an LGBTQ activist and writer and has served on the boards of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, Milwaukee Pride, GAMMA and other organizations.

FEBRUARY 2024 | 65

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

From The City That Always Sweeps

BY ART KUMBALEK

I

’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So how’s your 2024 going so far, what with its fading new-year smell? Seems kind of like the previously used year?

Yeah, me too, what the fock

Cripes, February, already? Jeez louise, I’m thinking perhaps the best thing I can say about it is that the second month of the year signals we’ve only got a couple, three more months of winter around these parts. On my other hand, the least thing I can say is it’s a Leap Year, so we get to suffer one whole extra day of this furshlugginer month, for cripes sakes.

So yeah, second month of this newish year, commonly known in the modern day as February, and also commonly known as the hardest month to pronounce, especially if you’re downing one hot focking toddy after another and cranking up the thermostat ’cause the weather sucks butt and what else can you do?

Of course, here in the Cheeseland, when we attempt to enunciate “February,” as in “February sucks and the hell with Valentine’s Day,” what I hear is “Febooree sucks…” etc.

Yes indeed, the letter “r” placed between the letter “b” and the soon to follow “u” has vanished here in the Upper Midwest, and so you hear “Febooree” (or “Febree”) as Badgerlanders negotiate the King’s English whilst speaking like we got a mouthful of creamed corn, yours included—Go Pack!—what the fock.

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But within these frigid February crappy days, it’s a cram-packed month, you betcha: What with your Valentine’s Day, your Super Bowl football Super multi-billion dollar advertising Sunday (so that you learn which kind of bag of snack chips you ought to buy), your Presidents’ Day (a big favorite of mine on account that there’s no mail delivery, thus pushing forward by a day the inevitable query from some kind of health “provider” as to where is their dough from out of my pocketbook for “services”).

And for certain religious-cult members, there’s the Ash Wednesday—the kick-start to the Lenten Season when it is so prescribed that one foregoes this-or-that so as to mimic Jesus alone in some kind of desert for 40 days and 40 nights with nothing for sustenance than to suck on his loincloth, or something like that.

So yeah yeah, as a years-and-yearsago former matriculater over at Our Lady In Pain That You Kids Are Going Straight To Hell But Not Soon Enough, I still feel the guilt-obligation to give up something for Lent. One thing I know, I sure don’t have the personal constitution to ape the Lord and do something like fast for the 40 days out in the wilderness. No way could I pull that off; although, to be fair and balanced to myself, that was probably a little easier for Him to do than it would be Me, after all, from the pictures I’ve seen of the Lord, he really didn’t look like a very big eater to begin with, ain’a?

No sir, this year for Lent I’m thinking to forego learning how to play the trombone. Done and done—and I just imagined that I heard my dinkyapartment neighbors drop to their knees in gratitude.

And February: Black History Month, designated for the least month timewise, wouldn’t you know. My fellow Americans, if, and when, I am finally elected to be president of your United States of America on Nov. 5, 2024, Black History Month is to be 12-times a year but good, I kid you not.

So, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I’d like to remind all the fellas to not forget the focking flowers ’cause the ladies go for them in a big way, you betcha. Like this one woman who was talking to the neighbor lady “over the fence” when she sees her husband coming home carrying a bunch of some kind of flowers. “Isn’t that nice, he’s bringing you flowers,” the neighbor lady says. The woman says, “Oh, great.

Looks like another weekend flat on my back with my feet up in the air!” And the neighbor says, “What—you don’t have a vase?” Ba-ding!

In conclusion, I say to you’s, what with the Valentine’s Day folie à deux, good luck and god speed with your love and romance. And as tradition here dictates, let me remind you what the famous Greek philosopher Anonymous said about that: “The ideal relationship can only be achieved when one partner is blind, and the other is deaf,” ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

Photo by gpointstudio/Getty Images.