Shepherd Express April 2026

JUDGE CHRIS TAYLOR for Wisconsin Supreme Court

OUR ENDORSEMENT FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT: APPELLATE COURT JUDGE CHRIS TAYLOR

HOW MILWAUKEE’S FILM FESTIVAL WAS CREATED IN 2003

BY FORMER MILWAUKEE MAYOR

TOM BARRETT

With Milwaukee’s Film Festival coming in a couple of weeks, it reminds me of my first election for Mayor of Milwaukee and how Milwaukee finally got a major International Film Festival. While I was running for mayor in 2003, Louis Fortis, editor/publisher of the Shepherd Express came to me with a plan. (Louis and I served together in the state legislature over a decade before, so I knew him well.) He said I think you are going to win, and I and Dave Luhrssen, then arts and entertainment editor and currently managing editor of the Shepherd, decided Milwaukee needs a major international film festival.

Of the 50 largest U.S. cities, Milwaukee was one of just three that did not have a large international film festival. There were some excellent small, specialized festivals in Milwaukee like the LGBTQ or the French film festivals. The Shepherd felt it was time for Milwaukee to step up and create a major cultural event.

Others had tried but Louis, who I view as a serial entrepreneur, having created other institutions and businesses might be the person who could make it happen.

He asked me to get involved while I was campaigning, which is a job and half by itself, but I agreed with their vision and wanted Milwaukee to join the other 47 major cities and have a major international film festival.

THE NECESSARY FIRST STEPS AND DECISIONS

One of the first things one does when one is creating something that will have a major impact on the city is to contact anyone who might be affected in some way.

Louis and Dave met with a lot of people connected to film in one way or another. They heard a lot of negativity from those who tried to convince them that others have tried to do what you are talking about doing, and it just won’t work in Milwaukee. Basically, the advice was that “you will be wasting a lot of your time and money.”

They argued that Milwaukee is just different. Louis said that he always thanked him for their advice and then just moved forward with the plan to create the Milwaukee International Film Festival.

There were hundreds of things that had to be put in place to make it happen. Some of the major ones were reserving the venues, choosing the timing of the event, hiring staff and organizing as many volunteers you can convince to help. Raising the necessary resources to make it happen and marketing it was life or death for a new event. Louis literally agreed to personally guarantee that any money raised would be repaid if the event did not take place. I assume that might have depleted any pension fund he had. We also chose to start as a 10day event rather than just an extended weekend event. Regarding the timing, for example, we did not want to compete or conflict with the Wisconsin Film Festival,

which is held in Madison in the Spring and had been in existence for several years. We also knew that we were a new festival and we would be competing for the international films. There were often just two or three copies of many international films circulating in the U.S. so the distributors were going to be sending the movies to the established festivals.

In 2003, the films were still coming in those massive reels like the ones we used in elementary school classrooms. Making sure we didn’t step on the toes of the smaller specialized film festivals and knowing it would hard to get the films we wanted, we moved our debut event to early November, understanding that our customers might be standing in line in the snow. Fortunately, it turned out to be the right decision.

OPENING NIGHT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS

Opening night was a big success. I was on the stage at the Oriental Theater with Louis to help introduce the opening night film and explain the vision of the film festival and the plans going forward. The theater was filled to capacity, and the Milwaukee International Film Festival was born. For next five years, I continued to be onstage with Louis for the opening night event at the Oriental as we watched the Milwaukee International Film Festival grow into a major cultural event for our growing and changing city.

As the internet began to change the media world including the Shepherd, Louis began to phase out of his active involvement with the film festival. Even as he pulled back, the Shepherd continued to support our city’s film festival. I always remind myself what Louis said to me when he first approached me about creating a major film festival. He said, “I want this film festival to be the Shepherd’s gift to Milwaukee.”

APPELLATE COURT JUDGE CHRIS TAYLOR FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT

BY THE SHEPHERD EXPRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

Wisconsin voters are fortunate to have a very distinct choice between the two candidates running for State Supreme Court. The Endorsement Committee of the Shepherd Express strongly endorses Appellate Judge Chris Taylor for State Supreme Court.

When questioned about judicial philosophy, Judge Taylor was very clear and succinct, “Equal Justice under the law which insures that no individual or entity is above the law, and that the rule of law must apply to everyone, including the most privileged and powerful” Judge Taylor has spent her career fighting to make sure that everyone has an equal shot at the American Dream.

Earlier in her career, Taylor served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as a state representative, she introduced over 250 bills and resolutions to expand access to affordable health care, protect and ensure clean drinking water, and to provide economic support for working families. Also in her earlier career, she served as legal director at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

When her opponent was questioned about her political philosophy, her opponent has stated that “I am an originalist with a leaning towards textualism.” Originalism is a legal theory in the U.S. that argues that judges should look to the Constitution and interpret it as it was interpreted when it was written,

essentially going back to what the original creators of the constitution meant. Wisconsin became a state in 1848 so at that time women did not have the right to vote, there was no electricity, no cars, no telephones, no internet, etc. Originalism is a theory promoted by the late, far right U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia to justify interpreting the constitution in often-bizarre ways to justify his far-right positions.

The choice for voters is clear, and we strongly support Appellate Judge Chris Taylor to become the next Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice.

AT SHEPHERDEXPRESS , WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES.

8 How Permaculture Can Make Earth (and Milwaukee) Sustainable

The Midnight Rants of Donald Trump: The same guy as before or a more erratic version of him?

Electricity Pricing in the Age of Data Centers — Issue of the Month

This Modern World

Julie Enslow's Lifetime of Fighting for Peace, Justice and Nonviolence

Hero of the Month

Interview with MSOE President Eric Baugartner — MKE SPEAKS: Conversations with Milwaukeeans

FOOD & DRINK

Pasta Tree's Got It's Groove Back

Interview with Russ Klisch of Lakefront Brewery — Beverages

Brewers Look For Another Bite of the Apple in 2026— Sports Spotlight

Staying Afloat Amid Debt's Rising Tide

Personal Finance

The Sears and Roebuck Do-It-Yourself House

Yard Tips for Dog Owners

G ut Funk? Can Supplements Help?

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IN MEMORY OF DUSTI FERGUSON (OCTOBER 18, 1971 – NOVEMBER 20, 2007

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How Permaculture Can Make Earth (and Milwaukee) Sustainable

BY VIRGINIA SMALL

Earth Day reminds us that we share one planet, that all environmental issues are globally interrelated. One framework for environmentalism is to view ourselves as part of “ecosystems” in which our individual actions matter.

In 1978, Australians David Holmgren and Bill Mollison co-developed the concept of “permaculture” as a way to garden and live holistically. Permaculture, sometimes called “ecological design,” focuses on regenerating land and other resources, rather than depleting them.

Over time, Holmgren and Mollison refined a set of permaculture ethics and principles, drawing upon their studies of natural systems and long-term human communities. They educated people around the world about how “whole-systems” nature-based practices could be implemented. The term permaculture has since evolved to encompass much broader practices.

A WHOLE-SYSTEMS APPROACH

Permaculture builds on three central ethics: care of the Earth, care of people and “fair share” approaches to resources. In 2002, Holmgren published a set of 12 principles that have become the most widely used, according to the Brighton Permaculture Trust.

These principles are often depicted as a circle or wheel, and they function as a continuous feedback loop. They can be applied in many contexts, from designing a garden to shaping an organization to urban planning and development. Permaculture principles offer a framework that invites reflection as well as thoughtful action.

They emphasize patterns of landscape, function, and species assemblies. Pondering these principles can help people to determine where and how various elements should be placed and organized to provide maximum benefit to the greater whole. Permaculture concepts inform wide-ranging efforts including food-waste reduction, composting, agroforestry, regenerative farming and living, ecological gardening, food sovereignty and planning for resilience.

David Holmgren synthesized the following 12 permaculture principles:

1. Observe and interact.

Take time to notice what’s happening before you act.

2. Catch and store energy.

Make use of abundance now to have resources later.

3. Obtain a yield.

Design so that your work produces something useful.

4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback.

Learn from mistakes and adjust.

5. Produce no waste.

Find ways to reuse, recycle, or repurpose.

6. Use renewable resources and services.

Work with what nature can replenish.

7. Design from pattern to detail. Start with the big picture, then refine.

8. Integrate rather than segregate. Build connections so that things support each other.

9. Use small and slow solutions. Start simply; grow steadily.

10. Use and value diversity. Encourage variety for strength and resilience.

11. Use edges and value the marginal. Look to the overlooked; that’s where innovation thrives.

12. Creatively use and respond to change.

Treat change as an opportunity, not just a challenge.

FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE

Numerous Milwaukee-area residents and entities incorporate permaculture principles in gardening, landscape practices and other wide-ranging projects.

Sam Odin, owner of Village Farmstead with his partner Sara Krohn, continues to be inspired by permaculture concepts in all aspects of their organic farm in Oak Creek. Now in their ninth growing season, Odin and Krohn used permaculture’s whole-systems approach from the beginning as they developed their one-acre farmstead. Odin especially studied Dave Jacke’s writings about permaculture and “ecological design for temperate climates.” This meant assessing all aspects of their location, site, climate, water sources, existing structures, fence lines, circulation and legal issues before making decisions about vegetation and how humans would interact with the space.

Ultimately, they focused on “growing a habitat here that will support what we choose to grow—through long-term building of soil and use of raised beds.

“What I took away from studying all this is to pay attention to the ‘scales of permanence,’ in all aspects of planning,” Odin said. “Everything is connected and you cannot do just one thing” without considering interrelated impacts.

Milwaukee agroecologist Katherine (Kata) Young was introduced to permaculture principles in 2004 while working on organic farms through WWOOF (World Wide Organization of Organic Farms). She completed the Permaculture Design Course (PDC) in 2006, and later taught workshops, served as a guest lecturer at PDCs, and provided landscape design services informed by the principles. In 2012, Young began higher-education pursuits, including earning a master’s degree in agroforestry from Yale. She currently offers consultation to both private landowners and the public/ civic sector to increase adoption of regenerative land management practices. Young said, “The beauty of permaculture is that it’s not onesize-fits-all. It allows for a full palette of design solutions that align with the complexity of life.”

Brandice Kirchner, whose professional work has focused on food security and environmental education, recently completed the Permaculture Design Course. She and her husband are applying the concepts to their urban residential site as well as planning for a business that draws upon their experience in hospitality to host weddings, chef’s dinners and wine tastings. Study of permaculture has enhanced her knowledge base acquired through academic degrees in conservation and environmental science, as well as sustainable business.

Karen Lemke views permaculture concepts as a valuable foundation for promoting comprehensive systems change. An educator, author and storyteller, she focuses on food waste and just-transition climate solutions. Lemke recently completed the Permaculture Design Course through the Design School for Regenerating Earth and applies it to both her home garden and consulting work.

“I have been weaving principles of bioregionalism and permaculture with limiting unsustainable overconsumption, she said.” She addressed these interwoven themes at the 2026 Midwest Climate Summit held in Cleveland in late March.

As local proponents attest, the enduring and flexible lens of permaculture offers many paths of entry and many ways to develop holistic solutions. It provides tools for pondering and catalyzing ways that we can all mutually flourish.

PERMACULTURE RESOURCES

Permaculture: Principles and Pathways

Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren. Revised edition, 2025, Melliodora Publishing

Edible Forest Gardens: Ecological Design and Practice for TemperateClimate Permaculture (two volumes), by Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier, 2005, Chelsea Green Publishing

Permaculture Design Course (PDC) offered through various platforms, in person and online

“Making Permaculture Stronger: resourcing permaculture design in life” https://makingpermaculturestronger. net/, a blog, podcast and book project stewarded by Dan Palmer

Dr. Lyla June Johnston, www.lylajune. com; Indigenous ecologist, musician & filmmaker who speaks to humanity’s role in “becoming part of the Earth’s systems”

Village Farmstead, Oak Creek, https://www.villagefarmstead. com/ CSA (Community- Supported Agriculture) memberships; seasonal events offered in conjunction with the Wisconsin Farmers Union. Milwaukee-Waukesha chapter

Wisconsin Permaculture Convergence, site and dates TBA; wipermconvergence @gmail.com

10th Annual Midwest Permaculture Convergence, June 26-28, 2026, Heart Valley Springs, Bloomingdale, Michigan

Milwaukee Citywide Earth Day Cleanups, anchored by the 31st annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup Saturday, April 25 9 a.m. to noon

Volunteers will remove thousands of pounds of trash across 100+ sites. Registration for sites typically closes on April 23.

KEY 2026 EARTH DAY CLEANUP OPPORTUNITIES:

• Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup

(April 25, 9 a.m.-noon): The largest event, covering the Milwaukee River Basin, with free supplies and t-shirts for volunteers.

• Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center

(April 11, 9 a.m.-noon): A spring cleanup for the 25-acre woodland site operated by Milwaukee Recreation.

• Project Clean & Green (Starts April 21):

City-wide sanitation crews will target specific neighborhoods to collect furniture, yard waste, and general debris.

• Neighborhood Cleanup Dumpsters (April 18–June 2):

The DPW provides 20-cubic-yard dumpsters for organized community cleanups. Reservations by calling 414-286-3345.

GET INVOLVED:

• Individuals/Groups: Register as a site volunteer at milwaukeeriverkeeper.org.

• Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful (March 1–Oct 31): Offers tools and bags for independent group cleanups.

• Rock the Green (April 26): Following the cleanups, this event at the Harley-Davidson Museum offers a zero-waste celebration.

Virginia Small is an award-winning journalist and lifelong writer. She has served as a senior editor for a national magazine, a staff reporter and cultural reviewer for several newspapers, and a contributor to many national and regional publications.

The Midnight Rants of Donald Trump:

THE SAME GUY AS BEFORE OR A MORE ERRATIC VERSION OF HIM?

BY E.G. NADEAU ILLUSTRATION BY LUC NADEAU

On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere and several other revolutionaries rode by horseback from Boston to Lexington, Concord and other towns in the Massachusetts Bay area to warn of the approach of British troops. Because of this alert, local militia had time to assemble and take on these British forces, driving them back to Boston and marking a critical early victory in the American War of Independence.

The title of this article indirectly compares Trump’s midnight rants to Revere’s midnight ride—the former, a set of attacks on American democracy (and democracy in general); the latter, a major event leading to the establishment of democracy in the United States.

In the past few months, a number of writers have suggested that Trump may be losing his marbles. Others have argued that he's the same narcissistic guy, just acting out on a bigger stage. This article is part of a series on Trump’s corruption. This one explores his recent erratic behavior and the consequences of this behavior for his country and the world.

THE HYPOTHESIS THAT HE’S GETTING CRAZIER

In January 2026, Paul Krugman wrote an article about Trump’s “sundowning" symptoms. Sundowning may affect people with early-stage dementia. It often occurs at night and can cause confusion, aggression and other disoriented behavior. Trump sometimes makes bizarre late night posts on his social media platform Truth Social.

A few examples:

• After the October 18 No Kings March, Trump posted an AI video of himself wearing a crown dropping feces on protesters from a jet fighter.

• Attacking the “Seditious Six”: In late 2025 and early 2026, Trump repeatedly targeted six Democratic lawmakers (including Senator Mark Kelly) for a video they made regarding the military's duty to the Constitution. He labeled their behavior “seditious” and shared posts suggesting such actions are “punishable by death.”

• Racist imagery of the Obamas: In February 2026, Trump posted a video at approximately 11:45 p.m. ET that depicted former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes.

• He sent a message to the Prime Minister of Norway at about 10:30 p.m. on January 18, 2026, which stated in part: “Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace…. Denmark cannot protect [Greenland] from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also…. The World is not secure unless [the United States has] Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”

• On March 2 and 3, 2026, he sent a series of posts about US attacks on Iran. A headline in The Daily Beast, summarized them as follows: “Trump Goes on Wild Posting Spree to Try To Shift War Blame.”

But can one jump from these examples of bizarre late-night behavior (and other similar eccentricities) to the conclusion that Trump has a degree of dementia that should disqualify him from office?

OTHER ACTIONS THAT SHOW A METHOD, OR AT LEAST SOME MEASURE OF RESTRAINT, IN HIS “MADNESS.”

One could argue that being the TACO (Trump always chickens out) president is a (not very good) bargaining strategy, rather a sign of being nuts. Even his over-the-top threats to take over Greenland could be categorized that way. After all, he has backed off (for now) on the potential US invasion of that large icy landmass (although his very strange late night post to the Prime Minister of Norway, cited above, comes across as totally wacko).

THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD HYPOTHESIS

Another way to view Trump's behavior during his second term in office is that it is not much different from his behavior during his first term, or for that matter throughout his adult life. He’s always been a narcissist, a bully, an erratic decisionmaker, and has exhibited other traits that many of us do not consider presidential (or normal). He’s been impeached twice. He was almost impeached a third time for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Many of us believe he is a very despicable man. He now has a bigger stage on which to be despicable and a more pliable cast of enablers, but is he any crazier than he’s always been?

THE BIGGER STAGE MAKES HIM MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER

Unless Trump’s erratic and/or bizarre behavior dramatically increases, we’re probably stuck with him for the duration of his second term. Even if he does cross over into some more dangerous form of psychosis, it is far from clear that Congress and others in his sycophantic retinue have the will to, or interest in, deposing him.

Trump's increasingly narcissistic behavior reflects what happens in the absence of any internal restraint such as a moral compass or any external constraint such as the law.

He hears only encouragement for his unhinged impulses, receives mostly accolades for his over-the-top selfaggrandizement. No one in his inner circle, almost no one in Republican congressional leadership or among the oligarchs who want to stay on his good side, presents a credible counterpoint to Trump's sense of himself as the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong.

He filters out or disparages criticism from domestic voices and international leaders who dare challenge his pronouncements and actions.

Unlike Paul Revere's warning to the early revolutionaries, Trump's midnight “rides” have a much baser message: “Look how important I am.” It is undeniable that Trump is correct in the only way that matters to him: he is important. He is important in a world-changing way, in a way that will echo for generations.

He will be remembered long after he is dead—perhaps as long as Paul Revere—not as someone who acted selflessly and put himself in danger to help usher in an era of democracy but as someone who acted solely out of selfinterest to help bring it to the breaking point.

CONCLUSION

So, crazy (in the colloquial sense) or not, Trump will continue to go on his midnight and daylight rants, and to threaten democracy at home and abroad. His military campaign in Iran, the 17th largest country in the world, is sewing chaos with no apparent end game. At home, he is attempting to coerce Congress into approving the so-called “Save Act,” which would destroy the electoral voting process in the United States. Paul Revere is probably turning in his grave.

We must continue to oppose his anti-democratic actions through non-violent protests, the critically important midterm elections, legal challenges to his constitutional over-reaches and the defense of local and states’ rights.

E.G. Nadeau is co-director of the Cooperative Society Project, dedicated to the idea that humanity may be on the verge of a new era of cooperation, democracy, equitable distribution of resources and a sustainable relationship with nature.

Electricity Pricing in the Age of Data Centers

BY WILLIAM HOLAHAN

Wisconsin households have been feeling the sting of rising electricity bills, driven by colder winters and higher natural gas prices. But a far larger force is now bearing down on the grid: the explosive growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Massive data centers— some capable of consuming as much electricity as a mid sized city—are being proposed across Wisconsin at high speed. Everyday ratepayers are right to worry about what this means for their electric bills and for a grid that already needs expansion and modernization to support economic growth and address climate change.

Electricity requires enormous fixed infrastructure investment—generating plants, transmission lines, substations, transformers—before a single bulb can be lit. Once that infrastructure is in place, utilities face a second category of costs: the variable expenses incurred when customers actually use electricity. Because fixed costs are so large and duplicate infrastructure would be wasteful, electricity is a natural monopoly. In Wisconsin, investor owned utilities operate subject to the oversight of the Public Service Commission (PSC), which sets prices that approximate the true cost of service while allowing investors a fair rate of return.

Traditionally, utilities recover both fixed and variable costs through a “two part tariff,” one part for maintaining the system and another part for the electricity customers use. Since each household or business enterprise represents only a tiny share of total demand, this structure has long worked smoothly.

THE VERY LARGE CUSTOMER PROBLEM

Hyperscale data centers, however, upend this balance. These facilities require staggering amounts of electricity— often the equivalent of 300,000 homes—and they consume it continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Meeting that demand requires new generating capacity, high voltage transmission lines, and dedicated substations built specifically to serve those data centers. They are not just another customer.

Economists have long advocated the principle of marginal cost pricing: the customer who causes a cost should pay for it. Costs caused by serving hyperscale data centers should not be folded into the general rate base and shared with ordinary customers. Instead, applying the marginal cost principle would place data centers in their own tariff class, with rates that reflect the extraordinary cost of serving them separately.

A dedicated two part tariff would ensure that data centers pay both for the electricity they consume and for the extra capacity required to generate and deliver that power. This approach protects ordinary ratepayers from subsidizing hyperscale customers.

THE STRANDED ASSET PROBLEM

There is, however, a third and often overlooked risk: assets stranded if a data center closes before its planned closure date but after utilities, state agencies and local governments have built expensive infrastructure to serve it. These investments are made with the expectation of steady electricity sales revenue. If a data center shuts down early, that revenue stream dries up. Who gets stuck with the bill for infrastructure that no longer has a customer? The utility that owns the infrastructure dedicated to the now-departed customer? The general public that would see a surcharge on their electric bill?

The principle of marginal cost pricing comes into play once again: the extra capital investment was caused by the data center that requires the extra power. If corporate owners require dedicated infrastructure to support their electricity needs, they should also bear the financial risk that the investment may not pay off, and the utility's asset will not be needed. They are the best bearers of the risk that their investment will not pay off and will have to be shut down prematurely. They have a better understanding of the market for data center services; they control their own long

term business strategies; and they are better positioned than Wisconsin households to absorb potential losses. In other words, because the utility's assets are dedicated to them, they should be responsible for both their own installed assets—i.e., servers, building, cooling equipment— and the utility's assets installed and dedicated to service of their data center.

The time to protect the public is before a project begins. Risk shifting guarantees should be written into contracts before any dedicated infrastructure is built. One straightforward approach is a binding commitment that the company will pay the expected revenue stream even if a data center underperforms or shuts down. Additional payment assurance could be provided by third-party agreements including credit default agreements and bank letters of credit.

As Wisconsin heads into a political season, voters, reporters and debate moderators should press candidates on how they think the PSC should evaluate utility rate cases. They should be asked whether large industrial customers should cover the full cost of the infrastructure they require—and how they would keep those costs from being shifted onto traditional ratepayers.

William Holahan is emeritus professor and former chairman of the Department of Economics at UW-Milwaukee.

Julie Enslow's Lifetime of Fighting for Peace, Justice and Nonviolence

BY BEN SLOWEY

For Julie Enslow, fighting for a better, peaceful, justiceforward world has been a lifelong odyssey. She tries to live by the source-unknown quote, “Serving others is the rent we pay for taking up space on the planet.” As a peace activist and founding member of grassroots organization Peace Action of Wisconsin, Enslow has been involved in community organizing for more than half a century and remains a committed freedom fighter to this day. “One thing that’s always amazed me is how a human being will respond to an emergency situation and save the life of a complete stranger, putting their own totally at risk,” she affirms. “It’s an instinctive part of human nature to help others survive.”

Since its founding in the ‘90s, Peace Action of Wisconsin has advocated against U.S. war intervention and increased defense spending while supporting nuclear disarmament and the reinvestment into community needs and environmental protections—all from a nonviolent, anti-racist and gender-equal lens. Peace Action organized against the First Gulf War as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while currently mobilizing against war in Iran and providing weapons to Israel. The group has done substantial work around Palestinian human rights, Indigenous selfdetermination, labor movements, climate justice and mutual aid.

Originally from East Troy, Enslow grew up with progressive parents who instilled in her the value of service to the community and others from an early age. As a kid during McCarthyism, Enslow remembers when her family first got a TV set and watched the McCarthy hearings. “My dad couldn’t stand Joe McCarthy. That was my first political memory (laughs).”

ARTIST AND ORGANIZER

Having loved painting and drawing, Enslow studied art at Cardinal Stritch University and worked as an art teacher in inner-city schools and community centers for many years, plus she brought her creative wits to organizing spaces.

“I painted more banners and signs for demonstrations than any drawings or paintings I had ever done (laughs). It became a way I integrated both parts of me as an artist and organizer.”

Upon moving to Shorewood in the early ‘60s, Enslow’s first exposure to activism was during the Civil Rights Movement when she plugged into a group of Shorewood activists campaigning for open housing ordinance. From there, Enslow joined the anti-war and anti-nuke movements during the Vietnam War. Issues frequently overlapped through the ‘60s and ‘70s, exposing the overarching problems of capitalism, patriarchy, racist imperialism and corporate greed. Enslow explains, “You had the Civil Rights Movement, and the anti-war and anti-nuke movements, and the farm workers and anti-poverty work, then the women’s movement came along in the early ‘70s. All of those things were happening at once, but you started to see the interconnections.”

Enslow also participated in food cooperatives, community meal programs, school open enrollment initiatives and caring for unhoused folks, plus she got involved with the United Farm Workers (UFW). “We would go out every Saturday to the supermarkets and leave leaflets outside asking people to boycott grapes and lettuce,” Enslow mentions about UFW. “That national boycott really put pressure on the owners of large farms and it enabled workers to get contracts and form a union.

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

She also became good friends with late Milwaukee socialist mayor Frank Zeidler. “He always had hard candy in his pockets, and he would give everybody some hard candy, then go on a socialist rant about how this candy was made by a socialist family in Chicago,” Enslow says. “He was one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met.”

Photo of Julie Enslow by Cathy Kaye. Illustration of Dove by GettyImages/Bitter.

Enslow co-founded the Milwaukee chapter of national organization Mobilization for Survival (MFS) in the late ‘70s, which combined the nuclear disarmament and antinuclear power movements. In just a couple of years, the organization’s membership had numbers in the thousands. Once the MFS national organization folded in the early ‘90s, however, its Milwaukee chapter morphed into Peace Action Wisconsin. Initially based in a Downtown office, Peace Action operated out of Riverwest for many years before relocating to Zao MKE Church (2319 E. Kenwood Blvd.) on Milwaukee’s East Side.

In the early 2000s, Enslow and partners George Martin and Brian Verdin formed the Milwaukee MLK Jr. Justice Coalition. In 2008, Enslow was honored with a Lifetime Peacemaker Award by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. Recent years have found Enslow continuing to spearhead programming focused on the link between militarism and climate change. “The U.S. military is the largest consumer of fossil fuels in the world and is the world’s largest polluter,” she notes.

Comparing peace activism then and now, Enslow observes that the three main pillars of organizing—education, lobbying and public witness (demonstrations, civil disobedience, etc.)—remain largely unchanged. However, she points to how there is now a far more significant youth element to social justice movements. “I am so pleased to see this new crop of organizers who are doing these mass demonstrations around Gaza, around ICE and for the No Kings movement. It’s fabulous.

Having organized lots of demonstrations and rallies and events over the years, I know how much work that takes and that there’s a real skill to that. Seeing people take up the mantle and doing this kind of organizing is so encouraging.”

One thing Enslow knows for certain is, we have so much more power as a united voice than as individuals, and that once the working class prevails over the Trump administration and its attempts at fascist authoritarianism, it is imperative we as a society build something new. She elaborates, “I’ve had to learn the lesson that you might not see any big successes in your lifetime. None of these things are going to happen overnight, and we’re not always going to see the fruits of our efforts in our lifetime. But we stand on the shoulders of people who come before us, and we hope to inspire the next generations to do the same.”

Peace Action of Wisconsin “stands for peace” at a different Milwaukee intersection every Saturday. For its schedule, visit the organization’s website.

Ben Slowey is a Staff Writer for the Shepherd Express.

MSOE President Eric Baugartner

Speaks of "Industry as our customers—and our students serve those customers"

BY TOM JENZ

One of the city’s most impressive institutions, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, is home to more than 3,000 students and carries outsized credentials. MSOE is ranked among the top engineering schools in the country.

For a place with national bragging rights, it feels almost shy. Many Milwaukee residents walk or drive past without realizing that behind those brick walls, robots are being programmed, rockets are being designed, at least on paper, and future industry leaders are working to bring projects to life.

Step inside and the mood feels focused but friendly. There’s a courtyard that softens the city edges and an art museum honoring the evolution of work. The classrooms and labs hum with activity. Students test prototypes, run simulations, and tackle real-world challenges with the kind of intensity usually reserved for playoff season.

When I walked into the building, classes were letting out. I was fascinated to see the diversity of students hurrying to their next classes. Those students are not just bright, they are seriously bright. Coming from 40 countries, they bring global perspectives and impressive brainpower. It’s the kind of place where “engineering toys” mean advanced technology, and casual conversation might include phrases like “load-bearing capacity” or “algorithm optimization.”

MSOE offers 22 bachelor’s degrees across nine academic departments, 10 in engineering along with nine master’s programs. But more than the numbers, it’s the culture that stands out: practical, collaborative, and tacitly ambitious. In Downtown Milwaukee, big learning is being built every day.

It is in this setting that I met MSOE’s president, 59-year-old Dr. Eric Baumgartner. We settled into the conference room adjacent to his office.

Tell me about growing up, family, neighborhoods, schools, and your educational path. I understand, as a boy, you were interested in science fiction.

I loved science fiction, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Dune, Arthur C. Clarke, I ate that stuff up. I grew up in a little farming community in upstate New York, Fort Plain. My parents both grew up in New York City, started their family there. My dad was an insurance guy. Eventually, we moved up to Fort Plain where he bought an insurance agency. There were 70 kids in my high school graduating class.

Did you have an interest in engineering early on?

I was interested in space science. I was a fan of Carl Sagan and his “Cosmos” series. I was an avid follower of NASA, and I wanted to work there. I even wanted to be an astronaut. I decided to become an aerospace engineer. I went to Notre Dame and got my undergrad degree in aerospace engineering, then got my master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati.

My thesis focused on the Space Shuttle engine. In 1990, I went back to Notre Dame for my PhD, and I worked with a professor who was developing a mobile robot for indoor use.

In today’s world, home robots are not unusual. I’m thinking of vacuum cleaners. Yes. That experience was my first introduction to working on robotics. It was fun. I built my own robot including the hardware and software and earned my PhD in 1993.

What was your first job after university life?

I was an assistant professor at Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula, a good engineering school. But yet I still wanted to work in the field of engineering. I got a summer faculty fellowship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. After my third year at Michigan Tech, I landed a full-time job at NASA in California. That was 1996. I worked in robotics, and our goal was to explore other planets. My focus was on the planet Mars. In 2003, we launched the Mars Rovers. I was responsible for the robot arms. When the Rovers landed on Mars, I helped build the sequences and became a Rover Driver, and in 2004, I drove the Opportunity rover around the Martian surface.

What a wonderful accomplishment. How did you end up at Milwaukee School of Engineering?

After 10 years, I wanted to get back into academia, and I became dean of engineering at Ohio Northern University.

In 2017, when MSOE put out an ad for a vice president of academics, I applied and got the job. I held that job until I was appointed president.

What are your job responsibilities in this role?

MSOE has a long history, been around for nearly 125 years. My job is to be a good steward for the college. I meet with alumni, corporate and community partners and work with our board of regents. I try to raise funds and make sure we remain financially secure.

MSOE was founded in 1903 by a German immigrant who saw the need for engineers to support industry like Johnson Controls, Allen Bradley and A.O. Smith. Over these many years, MSOE has served area industry. We think of industry as our customers, and our students serve those customers. Currently, we are still technically focused on engineering.

I was interested to learn that MSOE offers bachelors’ bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. How does nursing align with the discipline of engineering?

Healthcare disciplines are getting more technical, and nursing fits beautifully. Nursing includes machine learning, charting and testing data. We offer two master’s degree programs, one, mental health and two, executive leadership for nursing professionals. Nursing is in high demand for professionals.

MSOE offers advanced degrees for adults already out in the workforce. How does that program work?

We offer both credit-bearing and noncredit-bearing programs. For example, we built an undergraduate program in computer science eight years ago that focuses on artificial intelligence, AI. Then, we created a Master’s of Science in Machine Learning. Before Covid, we were an inperson educational environment. Since then, we have gone virtual. The Machine Learning Master’s program was set up as virtual, generally 5 to 7 p.m. in the evenings, lectures, labs and interactions with faculty. Same with our business schools, and classes are offered for a semester or half semesters. Nearly all of our master’s programs are offered in an online format. We also have noncredit programs for professionals in various disciplines.

Artificial intelligence, including robotics, is now and will be in the future a huge driver of human behavior, science, business and learning. Where do you see AI influencing engineering?

We’ve been fortunate to have a supporter named Dwight Diercks, a graduate of MSOE and now a senior vice president of NVIDIA.

NVIDIA is the most valuable company in the United States and the world. Huge in the artificial intelligence economy.

It is. Dwight was in on the ground floor at NVIDIA. Around 2015, he could see the future of AI being where we are today. Dwight gave us a chunk of his stock to create a computational science hall. That building opened in 2019, the Dwight and Diane Diercks Computational Science Hall.

Inside that building is the AI data center, which is accessible to our students. Dwight named the data center “Rosie.” MSOE was in on the ground floor of AI education at the undergraduate level.

We keep working on how to educate better by using AI in all our disciplines. We are one of the leading institutions in the application of AI.

Let’s talk demographics: Your student body is approximately 71% male and 29% female. Do you see more women getting into engineering? And what about foreign students and people of color?

Over the decades, there has been a lot of work to move the needle as to gender in engineering. In fact, my youngest daughter is an engineer. It’s not easy for women in the world of engineering. That ratio of men to women has remained stagnant for a long time.

Many educators are reaching out to girls in the 3rd grade to 8th grade window including MSOE. We are doing this work through our We Energies STEM Center. That is a critical time for encouraging girls to take an interest in engineering. There is the flip side story for the nursing field, which is female-dominated.

Women have the caretaking gene.

Yeah, the greatest interest by women in engineering is the giving-back sense such as biomedical-engineering because those women want to help people.

What about people of color?

We’ve seen a shift in our demographics, and we have more students of color coming here than in the past. That’s great. We want to be inclusive. We emphasize that an education in engineering and nursing provide a great return on investment, good-paying jobs in the future.

It’s like a practical education. Right. Everyone at MSOE has the opportunity to achieve economic status.

Coming here, I was walking down North Broadway, and the students were exiting their buildings. I saw a remarkable variety of ethnic groups. When I arrived here eight and a half years ago, we did not look that way. Walking around campus now, it looks and feels different.

What do you envision as the future of engineering? Will there be new fields?

We are educating students for future jobs we don’t even know exist. We have to be responsive for the needs of industry. There will be more quantum and AI disciplines. But we are still going to need civil and electrical engineers to build highways and buildings and automobiles. There will always be foundational engineering principles.

Tom Jenz is a Milwaukee writer-photographer and author of the Central City Stories column at shepherdexpress.com.

Pasta Tree ’s GOT IT'S GROOVE BACK

BY HAZEL WHEATON

The Pasta Tree has been operating continuously from its location on Farwell Avenue for 45 years. Obviously, a restaurant with that staying power must be doing something right. However, the Pasta Tree's reputation has taken a slight hit in recent years, with online reviews running the extremes of praise and disappointment. After being named the Best Italian restaurant in Milwaukee by Shepherd Express readers in 2012, it's had a spotty record since; while often praised for its cozy, romantic setting, it didn't win a finalist spot for its food after 2013. But in 2025, The Pasta Tree came roaring back, making the final slate for Most Romantic, Best Italian, and Best Chef for owner/chef Suzzette Metcalfe. Has The Pasta Tree got its groove back?

Walking into the restaurant, it's easy to see why it's a go-to for a romantic evening. Dark painted walls, gilt-framed mirrors, simple linen tablecloths, and plush couches give it a luxurious, intimate feel. Diners can choose between the original room and the new one; both are lovely, but if you're looking for dinner near a crackling fireplace (in season!), opt for the new. Fair weather will see the opening of the patio space to the rear of the restaurant—a sweet, gardenlike space tucked away under an arbor of greenery.

We started with cocktails (an adventurous chocolate cherry cognac old fashioned and a rum-based concoction made with lavender and muddled strawberry) and rosé prosecco. The wine list is an admirable assortment of excellent Italian specialties—corvina, Montepulciano and Nebbiolo.

ALL FRESH, ALL GOOD

As the food arrived, the quality was clear. All pastas and sauces are freshly made; the chef's excellent foundational tomato sauce cloaked Romano meatballs (some of the best meatballs I've tasted) and layered into rich and meaty lasagna. A creamy, richly flavored lobster bisque, a crisp, perfectly fresh garden salad with house-made herbed croutons, a luxurious fettuccini alfredo with smoked salmon, mushrooms and fresh herbs were all outstanding. We all stole forkfuls from a serving of wonderful lamb bolognese, the earthy and tender lamb complemented by cinnamon in the sauce. I ordered my manicotti with alfredo sauce, since I'd already tried the tomato sauce with my meatballs.

Photos by Timothy Czerniakowski.

The pasta rolls were so drowned in velvety sauce I had a hard time finding them. A minor complaint, since I took leftovers home and not only ate the second manicotti for lunch, but then also tossed the remaining sauce with a small dish of pasta as a side dish for a third meal. It's not like it went to waste!

The hits were so good that they made the misses disappointing. The mushroom risotto was slightly undercooked, the veal marsala was a little tough, and the shrimp portion of the shrimp alfredo seemed a little stingy.

We ordered a spread of exquisite desserts, including seasonal cannoli (pistachio and honey), a flourless chocolate nemesis cake, affogato, and tiramisu. At which point our server returned, saying, “I'm sorry. We have a cannoli situation.” The situation was that they were one short, so while one of us got her full complement of two cannoli, the other got one cannolo and what looked like a full serving of tiramisu. Both the cannoli and the tiramisu were fresh, light, and not too sweet; the chocolate cake was rich, dense, and not too sweet—the perfect ending to the filling meal.

Parking on Farwell Avenue can be difficult, but Pasta Tree customers get 20% off at the lot directly across the street; register upon arrival at the restaurant to receive the discount.

The Pasta Tree

1503 N. Farwell Ave.

(414) 276-8867, https://pastatreemilwaukee.com/

Hours:

Closed Monday & Tuesday

Wednesday–Saturday 5–9 p.m.

Sunday 5–8 p.m.

Appetizers: $10-$26

Entrees: $18-$44

Desserts: $12

Hazel Wheaton is a Milwaukee writer. She has had the privilege of learning about food by talking to local experts and tasting everything she was offered—including almond pastries in Morocco, whisky and haggis in Orkney, escargot in Lyon and more.

THE BREWERY THAT MADE Milwaukee Cool

BY GAETANO MARANGELLI

Once upon a time, a tour of a brewery in the City of Milwaukee—Beer City, Brew Town, the Beer Capital of the World—felt like a perfunctory march through a widget factory, for which you were rewarded with a glass or two of industrial beer.

And then, suddenly, ostensibly out of the city’s ether, a tour of an improbably established brewery called Lakefront became the best bibulous experience you could have in Milwaukee. Before long, a tour of Lakefront Brewery became a cultural symbol of all of the ways that brewery changed the city, as well as the country’s beer industry.

Along with offering one of the most popular brewery tours in the United States (which delights you with glasses of beer throughout the tour), Lakefront Brewery became the first certified organic brewery, producing the country’s oldest certified organic beer (Organic E.S.B.), and the first government-certified, gluten-free beer (New Grist), and the first beer in the country made entirely from a single state’s indigenous ingredients—with all Wisconsin barley, wheat, hops and yeast strain (Wisconsinite). Adding to these achievements, Lakefront offers its beers to the city at its wildly popular beer hall.

One of the founders of Lakefront Brewery, Russ Klisch, tells us more about the birth and growth of the Brewery that Made Milwaukee Cool.

AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSS KLISCH OF LAKEFRONT BREWERY

Gaetano Marangelli: How did you fall in love with beer?

Russ Klisch: I've always been close to beer. When I was young, my step-grandfather worked for Schlitz and brought free cases of beer to my dad. I always remember my dad coming home from work, opening a bottle of Schlitz, and smiling. At that time I knew that beer was a special beverage. When I started drinking beer, I loved that it was the beverage of moderation and all the different flavors derived from its four ingredients. It has always been a special beverage for me.

GM: What attracted you to being a brewmaster?

RK: I was attracted to brewing beer because it incorporated several of my favorite topics. Chemistry, mechanical, food processing and flavor development.

GM: What led you to start Lakefront Brewery? And why has Milwaukee embraced your brewery for all of these years?

RK: When you are young and you feel you have a good idea, you take the chance and try to start something special. Our homebrewing success and the start of the craft beer movement in the United States gave us the confidence to start the brewery.

Photo of Russ Klisch courtesy of Lakefront Brewery.

Milwaukee has always liked local, hardworking individuals with a good product, and when that product is beer the town notices. We have always worked closely with our accounts and got to know them and their customers. Personal relationships go far in this town.

GM: Lakefront Brewery is an established innovator in the beer industry. Your brewery introduced the first American beer made entirely from a single state’s indigenous ingredients—with all Wisconsin barley, wheat, hops and yeast strain. What inspired you to innovate the beer?

RK: I was always intrigued about the spontaneously fermented beers that are brewed in Belgium. About how they brew their beer. They put the batch in a shallow, open tank, open the windows on the side of the building, and let the natural yeast in the air enter and ferment the beer. I've had these beers and they are delicious. I've always wondered if that would be possible in Wisconsin.

Back around 2007, I started working with farmers to grow hops in the state and then found other farmers that were willing to grow barley. I always read about how terroir affects grape flavor in wine and wondered if ingredients grown in the state would give an indigenous flavor to the beer. Then I found a PhD microbiologist who ran a homebrew shop. I told him I had locally grown hops and malt and asked what it would take to get any locally grown yeast. One day he showed up, took about a pound of my state grown malted barley, crushed it, added water and it started to ferment. He isolated three different yeast strains from this and then brewed a small batch with each one. We found one strain that acted somewhat like a normal beer yeast and had it worked up to make a batch of beer for us. From this, the Wisconsinite was born.

GM: Which beer jobs, brewers, breweries have most affected you?

RK: I was inspired by the writings of the Beer Hunter, Michael Jackson. The way he wrote about beer made you almost taste it and realize how special it was. He was the first to educate everyone on the world's diverse and special beer styles.

From his writings, my brother and I were inspired to homebrew many of the styles that he wrote about. Some of those won homebrewing competitions which motivated us that we could brew great beer if we started a brewery.

As for a brewer, I'd say that Jack McAuliffe inspired me the most. He built the first microbrewery from scratch using old dairy equipment and showed that good beer could be made without purchasing expensive brewing equipment.

GM: If you could curate a flight of three beers from your brewery for any beer drinker—from neophyte to connoisseur —which beers would they be? What about them do you love?

RK: I would choose Riverwest Stein Amber Lager, Lakefront IPA, and East Side Dark Lager. I tell people: if you can drink two of the same beers and want a third, that is a good beer. And you can do that with all three of these beers. They are all classic styles that have withstood the test of time and all still sell well today. The beers bring out the flavors of the specialty malts and hops used in them.

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.

Milwaukee Brewers Look for Another Bite of the Apple in 2026

BY KYLE LOBNER

The 2025 Milwaukee Brewers led the majors in wins, made the postseason for the seventh time in eight seasons and were one of the last four teams chasing a World Series championship. They’re one of just three MLB teams with four 90-win seasons in the 2020’s (the Dodgers and Yankees are the others). Despite all of that success, however, as the calendar turned to 2026, they weren’t near the top of anyone’s list of favorites to do those things again.

To some extent the Brewers have brought that upon themselves. Despite having spent much of the decade on the cusp of immortality they’ve largely opted not to go “all in” with either money or prospect capital. Their biggest transactions since 2018 have mostly been sales, not purchases: They’ve traded Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader, Devin Williams and now Freddy Peralta for younger, less expensive players.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Brewers tried the opposite: When Prince Fielder had one season of team control remaining in 2011 the Brewers could have traded him but instead opted to build around him, trading for elite starters Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum among others and building the team that would get closer to a championship than the franchise had been in almost three decades. After the season Fielder left as a free agent, however, and the Brewers’ contender status left with him.

YOUNG, INEXPENSIVE TALENT

Under David Stearns and Matt Arnold the Brewers have pursued a different path, accumulating young and inexpensive talent in an effort to build a team that can sustain contender status year after year on a budget ranging from “below average” to “extremely small.” Viewed through that lens it’s hard to argue with their results. Even in the only season since 2017 when they didn’t make the postseason (2022) they spent 95 days in first place in the NL Central.

The MLB postseason is often compared to a crapshoot. Short series at the end of a long season create a seemingly random environment where luck rivals talent as a deciding factor. In that environment putting all of a team’s eggs in one basket in pursuit of a “superteam” would be less likely to lead to a World Series win than a slow and steady effort to remain in position to contend every year and hope one of those “bites at the apple” will come away with the whole thing. The Brewers’ 5-14 record in postseason games since 2019 would suggest that there might be a little more to it than that, but perhaps their lucky year just hasn’t come yet. The projections and prognosticators are not always pleased with the way the Brewers go about their business. It’s easier than ever to qualify for the MLB postseason but FanGraphs’ playoff odds have given the Brewers a sub-40% chance of doing so on Opening Day in 2024, 2025 and now again in 2026.

During spring training in 2025 longtime MLB columnist Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic described the Brewers’ strategy as “curious at best” and criticized owner Mark Attanasio for clamping down on spending and reducing his team’s margin for error. The Brewers’ repeated success in seasons where they didn’t appear to have positioned themselves to contend has earned Arnold and manager Pat Murphy backto-back Executive and Manager of the Year Awards. Arnold was the first ever to win that award twice, and Murphy is the first NL Manager to win his award in back-to-back seasons since 2005.

The path the Brewers are following is not common or conventional and at some point it may not work. For now, however, they’ve followed this path to the postseason enough times that it would be a surprise if they don’t exceed expectations again.

Kyle Lobner writes the weekly Brewers On Deck circle column for shepherdexpress.com.

STAYING AFLOAT AMID DEBT’S Rising Tide

BY MICHAEL MUCKIAN

Do you still suffer sticker shock every time you go to the grocery store? Fill your car up with gas? Buy a round for friends at the local watering hole?

That sensation used to be reserved for large-item purchases like buying a new car. (Hence the term “sticker shock.”)

But despite early promises of the current presidential administration, life itself has only gotten more expensive as the days, weeks and months roll by. Absent any social or economic miracles, that upward debt trend is likely to continue.

How bad is bad? According to a Debt Relief Karma analysis of data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Wisconsin ranks 33 out of the 50 states in terms of individual debt growth among its residents. During the last decade personal debt rose 28.57% for Badger State residents, growing from $36,930 in 2013 to $47,480 in 2023. Those numbers represent an absolute increase of $10,550 per resident over the 10-year period, which has likely gotten worse in the past two years.

Wisconsin ranks one notch below Iowa, which had a personal debt increase of 28.60%, and just ahead of Hawaii, with a 28.13% growth in personal debt over the past decade. Leading the overall list is Utah with personal debt rising 59.43%, while the slowest growth was seen among residents of Connecticut at 10.20% growth per resident.

MIDWEST THRIFT

So, yes, it could be worse—in fact, much worse as it is in states not tempered by good old Midwestern fiscal conservativism. But for those who literally are swimming in debt, who may have lost their healthcare, and are missing other federal financial safety nets—not to mention meals— it doesn’t really matter that the average Utah resident is shouldering a personal debt load of $80,240. Sucks even worse to be them, I guess.

Is there an answer? The old trope of “earn more, spend less” applies here, but you already know that. And if you can’t do either, or at least not enough to sway the balance of your personal financial equation, there are some things you can do that may turn the tide, or at least help you in the short run, work more effectively toward your financial goals.

Debt relief strategies exist, but you must first honestly acknowledge your situation, recognize your shortfalls regarding finances, and find the desire and discipline to put good financial strategies into practice. They may represent techniques you already know, but perhaps they are steps you haven’t yet tried.

• Firstly, create a detailed budget that tracks your total income and expenses. Knowing how much is coming in and from where is as important as knowing how much is going out and to whom, a factor that in many cases may be within your control.

No one ever got rich by cutting out their daily $5.55 Starbucks Caffe’ Latte, but at the end of the five-day work week that’s an additional $27.75 (plus tips and taxes) not spent that can be used for other expenses (and 500 fewer calories that you’ve consumed in that week, too.)

• Debt consolidation is another effective strategy that can have surprising long-term results. Too many of us have high interest debt spread across a variety of accounts, largely credit cards. Too many large monthly payments can take a big chunk out of the money you have to work with. You can save money by combining high interest debt into a single lower-interest account, reducing the number of monthly payments, spreading the debt out over a longer period of time, and possibly freeing up more cash for immediate usage.

Finding a lower interest rate also will lessen the hit to your monthly budget. Just be sure you don’t open additional forms of debt (i.e. more credit cards), which can undermine your entire money-saving strategy.

• One strategy many people miss is contributing to their own personal emergency fund. Having actual cash on hand as a safety net can stop you from charging payments for unexpected expenses that may arise and incurring additional interest debt. The more money you spend on servicing debt—i.e. paying interest—the less money you have to spend on things you need and want.

• Finally, consider “snowballing” your debt by paying off smaller accounts first and then using the excess funds to pay more to other accounts until all the accounts (or most of them) are paid off. Once again, the tactic results in fewer monthly payments and, assuming you pledge the same amount to debt relief each month, finds you retiring more debt more quickly and ultimately being better able to manage your money in a meaningful way.

And, no, that doesn’t mean you can go back to your daily Starbucks habit. Learn from your experience and move forward.

Michael Muckian was the banking and finance writer for the Milwaukee Business Journal and is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financing and Accounting and The One-Day MBA in Finance and Accounting.

The Sears & Roebuck Do-It-Yourself House

BY HAZEL WHEATON

Seventy-five years before IKEA opened the doors to its first store in the U.S., offering Americans the opportunity to assemble their own furniture like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, Sears Roebuck was doing much the same ... on a much larger scale. The kits that Sears delivered to their expectant customers wasn't furniture to outfit a house—it was the house itself. Crates that contained everything from roofing and siding to paint and varnish were shipped to the building site and then painstakingly assembled.

The legend of Sears kit houses has spread in recent years, and many people across the country claim to own one. However, genuine Sears kit houses are relatively rare, with only about 65,000 having been built between 1908 and 1942. Confusion comes because Sears & Roebuck sold an endless list of components and fittings, plumbing supplies and construction materials; spotting a Sears company stamp on a cross beam or window frame is much more likely than finding out that Sears packed and shipped the ingredients for your entire house.

That discovery was a surprise for Jane Konkel, who owns an authentic Sears kit house in Washington Heights. She only found out about her home's curious historic nature when a local journalist reached out to her while researching a story for the neighborhood newsletter. Until then, she hadn't heard of the ultimate in DIY projects. “It was a surprise,” she says. “It wasn't like I was looking for a Sears Kit House to buy. But it's so cool to think about, their dropping off all the pieces like that. And then—did Sears send out contractors to put it together? Or was it just, ‘Come on over, we're putting my house together!’”

WORKING-CLASS CUSTOMERS

Depending on the area of the country, it could have been either. Kit house sales were concentrated in a few states, mostly in the Midwest and the mid-Atlantic region. On the East Coast, Sears grew into the role of developer, eventually collecting committed buyers into “home clubs,” then building them a neighborhood. In the Midwest, they focused on individual working-class buyers, and those buyers either hired contractors to do the building or did the construction themselves. Milwaukee proved a strong market due to the proximity of the Sears distribution site in Chicago, but also thanks to a population distinctly suited to rolling up their sleeves and building things.

By the end of the 19th century, nearly 30% of Milwaukee residents were of native German descent, a demographic with a rich vein of craftsmanship and handwork. Sears sold the homes through catalogs and designated sales offices; the sales office in Milwaukee was located at the junction of North and Fond du Lac Avenues. Sears wasn't alone; there were at least seven other companies, including Montgomery Ward and Harris Homes, that also offered house kits.

By the time Konkel's house was built in the early 1920s, Sears was offering around 40 different home designs; Konkel has a copy of an original catalog page promoting her model pinned up. “The Rembrandt,” the early ad copy reads, “is an unusually well-arranged Dutch Colonial House.” At the bottom of the page are the house's schematics, making it easy to track the changes that have been made over the years.

Photo courtesy of Hazel Wheaton.

The kitchen was originally closed off behind a swinging door; by the time Konkel took up residence in 2000, previous owners had opened the space and added a wide communal counter between the kitchen and dining room.

She has fond memories of her kids hanging out and doing homework at the counter while she was making dinner. “It was such a smart thing to cut out [the door frame] ... I can't imagine cooking in that kitchen with a wall there.”

The original owner of the house might not have found the kitchen cramped; in place of a modern, full-size refrigerator, the catalog notes that the icebox was to be situated at the rear entry, “which can be iced without icemen tracking the kitchen floor.”

HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS

The Rembrandt was part of Sears' “Honor Built” tier, which boasted high quality materials, including the wood floors and trim that are still in place and beautiful today. The living room contains a lovely natural wood fireplace, and French doors open to a sunroom, surrounded by windows on three walls. The sunroom was an optional extra; the price for the house without it was $2,393, and just $250 more for the addition. “By today's standards, it seems so reasonable,"” says Konkel. “Why wouldn't you do it? That’s my favorite feature of the house. That's my living room in three seasons out of the year.”

The catalog listing also details the white paint that was destined for the siding; the exterior is now a vibrant blue. Stepping inside, you'd be hard pressed to find a white wall or safe color choice anywhere. A library worker for MPS and natural artist, Konkel has selected color and pattern everywhere you look—walls, drapes, upholstery, even the painted piano that stands in the dining room is a riot of color. Homemade artwork, hers and her children's, is everywhere. She points out a purple sofa; a red chest that sparks a memory. “I remember moving it in, and one of my friends said, ‘It doesn't match!’ And I said, ‘What do you mean, it doesn't match? Nothing matches! That's my style!’” While it's true nothing matches, everything goes together in a lush, bohemian whole, gathered from years of exploring estate sales—perfectly demonstrating the theory that the oddest assortment of objects will harmonize if they were chosen by the same person.

There's one exception. Along the wall in one of the three upstairs bedrooms is a purely functional, strikingly modern white IKEA storage shelf, packed with books and craft supplies and artwork. It may not fit the explosion of color and inventive style of the rest of the decor, but it does match the house in one way—she assembled it herself.

Hazel Wheaton is a Milwaukee writer, homeowner and gardener

Y ard Tips for Dog Owners

BY HAZEL WHEATON

Is it true that people with puppies can't have nice yards? Not at all. But it does require planning and maintenance. And a damaged yard can still recover. That's the beauty of growing things—they almost always grow back.

The despair was almost overwhelming. I stood in my back yard and stared up at the sky. “People who have puppies can't have nice things,” I said. “And people who have nice things can't have puppies. You've made your choice.”

When I'd moved into my house three years earlier, the back yard was a cool, green haven with hostas, peonies and a lush bank of ferns arrayed along the fence on one side and a bed of day lilies along the other. I made additions: hydrangeas, yarrow, and a small vegetable garden. I had ambitious plans for a pollinator bank.

But in the meantime, I’d added something else: A rambunctious 40-pound pup of uncertain heritage courtesy of the Humane Society. In a shockingly short time, a bare strip of dirt ran diagonally through the center of the yard and then spread outward. He dug up the hostas, flattened the ferns and made a healthy snack out of the tomatoes and peppers. That final moment of despair came when I discovered his love of digging extended to the root base of the evergreen hedges, the yarrow, and my living room carpet.

So, is it true that people with puppies can’t have nice yards? Not at all. But it does require planning and maintenance. And if you haven’t planned ahead, you can still recover your lawn’s beauty. That's the beauty of growing things—they almost always grow back.

PREVENTION

The best way to deal with damage is to prevent it from happening in the first place. There are alternatives to a grass lawn, like gravel, wood chips, pavers or artificial grass, but let's say you want to keep your natural greenery.

First, and simplest: Let your grass keep a bit of height. Taller grass means deeper roots, which means a more durable lawn. Adjust your mower accordingly and never mow the grass shorter than five inches.

If your dog loves to dig, try to figure out why. If it's just an isolated scrape to keep cool, it's not a huge problem. But if they just love to dig—and many do—you can’t eliminate the behavior, only redirect it. If you have a fenced yard, add a row of bricks or garden stones along the base. Protect vulnerable plants by fencing off flower beds and garden areas. Then, create preferred digging spots and train your dog to use them. Mulch beds are magic, because they’re easy to rake back into place and have no root systems to damage. You can also make a sandbox out of a kiddie pool or a raised garden bed. Make digging spots more attractive by burying toys or bones or treats. If your dog starts digging elsewhere, redirect them to the preferred spot, where they’ll always sniff out something worth finding.

The most common way pets damage grass is with their waste. Preventing that damage isn't difficult but does require vigilance. The prime offender: the high nitrogen content in urine and feces. Nitrogen is an effective fertilizer in small doses—most fertilizers contain nitrogen—but when concentrated, it can alter the chemistry of the soil.

With your dog helping, you don't need to add nitrogen, so look for a fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content and fertilize just once or twice a year. Watering the area where your dog pees dilutes the nitrogen and prevents ugly yellow burns. You can also lower pH levels at the source by keeping your dog hydrated (which you should do anyway). Some commercial pet food supplements promise to prevent grass damage by altering your dog’s chemistry but check with your vet before adding any supplements to your dog’s diet. Pick up poop immediately (or at least once a day) to ward off fungal diseases and parasites. Dogs often will find a favorite spot and seek out other areas if that spot is already soiled, so if you clear away waste immediately, you’re more likely to contain the waste to one area. If you’re working with a puppy, lead the pup to a specific potty spot during housetraining, then immediately clean up after them.

REPAIR

However, if you're like me, you didn’t do the prep work and are now stuck doing the work of yard repair. First, those grass burns. Check to see if the roots are intact by trying to pull up the yellowed grass. If it holds, it’s the urine causing the problem, not a root issue. Try sprinkling the spot with gypsum; if it doesn’t improve in a few days, add a handful of grass seed. Follow this routine throughout the summer, regularly reseeding new problem spots.

For widespread damage, like the dirt path that transformed my yard into a moonscape, more drastic measures are needed. Highly compacted areas (zoomies are fun to watch, but they wreak havoc on the soil) may need aeration. A landscape specialist can do this or, depending on your level of comfort, you can rent an aerator from a garden supply company.

Then, reseed dead or thinning areas. Look for a blend of grasses, as single-type lawns are less durable. Tough grasses like tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrasses are often sold in a mix with white clover, which is fastgrowing, hardy and pollinator friendly. You can also opt for a thicker ground cover—sedge, creeping thyme, ivies, moss, or ornamental grasses—but make sure you choose varieties that aren't toxic to dogs. Reseeding takes time, as you must keep your dog off areas of new growth for up to three weeks. Work section by section, fencing off vulnerable areas until the seeds fully sprout.

In the worst-case scenario, you may want to just throw up your hands and start over. If that's the case, call a landscaper for a consultation. But be clear that you’re looking for sustainable solutions, or you'll start the same cycle all over again—because that dog isn't going anywhere!

Hazel Wheaton is a Milwaukee writer, homeowner and gardener.

Gut Funk? CAN SUPPLEMENTS HELP?

BY KATHERINE BAYLISS, MD

Have you gone to a Health Store looking for something to help with your gut dysfunction only to be paralyzed in front of a wall of gut support supplements? The overwhelm is enough to send a person to the shelf with the Pepto-Bismol and Metamucil.

Per my previous articles, microbiome function and gut repair can be complex and if you haven’t already, I urge you to take a look back for greater context. I often use nuanced and sometimes complex protocols individualized to my patient’s circumstances. But to help you through the supplement quagmire, this article focuses on two popular supplement categories that many use but are often misunderstood: Probiotics and Prebiotics. Both can be tremendously helpful for building gut resilience though keep in mind they are not substitutes for foundations such as diet.

PROBIOTICS: CONSULTANTS, NOT COLONIZERS

A probiotic is defined as a live microorganism that, when taken in adequate amounts, confers a health benefit. I often describe them as microbiome consultants. Rather than taking up permanent residence, they show up, assess the chaos, and influence shifts in the ecosystem toward balance—encouraging beneficial species and discouraging disruptive ones.

Researcher and clinician Jason Hawrelak, PhD, shares his extensive work correlating specific probiotic strains with researched clinical outcomes through his Probiotic Advisor website. He emphasizes that probiotics are not interchangeable, despite marketing that suggests otherwise.

Often overlooked is the importance of strain specificity (for example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a species, while Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a strain). Hawrelak likens this to dog breeds: all the same species (Canis lupus) with vastly different characteristics (think Great Dane vs Chihuahua).

Here are a few of my “go -to” probiotic strains listing just some of their studied benefits:

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG well studied; helpful for antibiotic- associated diarrhea, Irritable bowel syndrome, NSAID (Ibuprofen etc.) use and more.

• Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 – useful for disruptive species overgrowth, slow transit time, metabolic syndrome and diarrhea.

• Bifidobacterium longum BB536 – supports motility (constipation), immune function and microbiome balance.

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-1 4 – oral probiotics that support the vaginal microbiome.

• Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I -745 (a beneficial yeast) – invaluable after antibiotics; suppresses pathogenic and yeast overgrowth and supports gut barrier integrity.

Check out Probiotic Advisor data base to learn more and always read supplement labels. If it doesn’t even list strains, it is probably not a great product.

PREBIOTICS: FEEDING THE RIGHT GUESTS

If probiotics are the consultants, prebiotics are the chefs. Prebiotics and prebiotic-like fibers are non-digestible complex carbohydrates that selectively feed beneficial microbes. Obtainable in certain foods, supplemental prebiotics offer larger doses and can be even more effective. Here are some favorites with just some of their benefits:

• PHGG (Sunfiber ™) – helpful for both constipation and diarrhea; well tolerated and promotes butyrate -producing bacteria (butyrate is anti-inflammatory and nourishes the gut lining).

• Lactulose – supports keystone species and suppresses pathogens in part by lowering stool pH; helpful for leaky gut and yeast suppression (prescription required in the U.S.).

• Inulin / Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) – support beneficial microbes and have demonstrated benefits for immune function, calcium absorption and blood sugar regulation.

• Galacto - oligosaccharides (GOS) – may support anxiety reduction, traveler’s diarrhea prevention, constipation relief, calcium absorption and metabolic health.

BE MINDFUL: Meet your microbiome where it’s at. Prebiotics can cause gas, bloating, or loose stools, particularly in individuals with significant microbiome imbalances or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In these cases, professional guidance can be helpful. Trial each separately, starting at low doses. Advance slowly and adjust doses up or down as needed. Once tolerated, prebiotics can be layered and doses gradually increased over time.

THE TAKEAWAY

Not a quick fix, building gut resilience is a gradual process requiring steady consistent attention along with selfkindness. When the microbiome is supported thoughtfully, it adapts, recovers, and maintains balance with less effort. That quiet competence is the hallmark of a healthy gut that translates to a healthy you.

The content of this article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-treatment.

Katherine Bayliss, MD, a Milwaukee native, practiced in conventional medicine as a pathologist for 25 years. She now lives her passion, helping others through the more holistic Functional Medicine model.

Stress Everywhere All the Time All the Time

BY PHILIP CHARD

Some of my colleagues and I refer to it as “ubiquitous stress,” meaning it’s everywhere all the time. For most of us, it’s not the sort of stress that is specific to us as individuals, although there’s plenty of that going around. Instead, it is the type we share collectively in a manner that permeates the background of our lives.

Unless you’re mentally checked out, you know the list. There’s the climate disaster, the rise of oligarchy, Orwellian propaganda, needless wars, inflation, hate and cruelty, the coddling of pedophiles, rising income disparities, growing disruptions from AI, America’s political civil war, the poisoning of our food, water and air, the healthcare crisis, and on and on. You can probably add a few I missed.

Psychotherapists and other caregivers increasingly hear about these disturbing issues from their clients. A recent survey shows over two-thirds of shrinks report their clients discuss ubiquitous stress frequently. Meaning in therapy, people are spending an increasing amount of time focused on our collective disquiet rather than their personal issues.

TOXIC SOUP

Why? Because it’s no longer easy to dismiss what is happening in our world as somehow “out there” in a way that doesn’t impact us as individuals, families and communities. We’re drowning in a toxic mental soup of disheartening news, and many are struggling to come up for air.

One of the effects of this conundrum is that the craziness all around us amplifies whatever craziness we feel inside ourselves. Carrie is a case in point.

“My depression and anxiety are amping up,” she told me.

“Has something changed for the worse in your life?” I asked.

“Not in my life, but in the life of the world,” she replied

GENERAL ANGST

It’s challenging to determine the prevalence of this malady across the general population. Folks who come to psychotherapy tend to be more sensitive and empathic. Meaning they may experience this suffering more acutely. However, there is considerable anecdotal evidence suggesting many if not most of us feel this generalized angst.

There are population-wide mental health statistics showing overall rates of anxiety and depression have risen substantially over the last 10 to 15 years, a period coinciding with the proliferation of so-called smartphones, elevated political strife, intensifying natural disasters and the Covid pandemic. We can’t definitively link this uptick to ubiquitous stress, but if it quacks like duck . . .

Of course, some folks who feel this dread may not recognize its source. I’ve encountered a number of people who don’t connect the dots until someone points out the obvious.

DOOM SCROLLING?

Many of those with the highest stress levels in this regard are news junkies and doom scrollers. It’s one thing to be informed, it’s another to be saturated. However, even folks who limit their exposure to news and social media know enough to realize we’re in bad shape.

What to do? There’s a ton of advice from people like me, but there are limits to how much you can swim in slop and not feel sick. I’ve told clients (and myself) the importance of reclaiming control of one’s thoughts rather than playing an endless dystopian loop in one’s head.

However, even when we’re not consciously focused on the disasters unfolding around us, the sense that they’re underway does not vanish. Just because something is out of one’s awareness does not mean it is out of one’s mind. Consciousness operates on multiple levels simultaneously, so this angst can be like a stone in one’s shoe. You can still walk, but it hurts.

When I inquire with colleagues about what they believe is behind the profound escalation in mental health issues, some point to brain toxicity from forever chemicals and microplastics. Others blame information technology and our screen addiction. However, most suspect it’s ubiquitous stress.

Contemplating this dilemma, I take some comfort in these words from Mr. Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.”

Now more than ever, it’s vital that each of us becomes one of those people.

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.

Kee ping ‘Good-for-You’ at Kind Oasis

BY MICHAEL MUCKIAN

As part of a family that has been creating and managing Milwaukee businesses for more than 100 years, John Kashou knows that “good business” is, well, good business. But he also knows that some businesses can be better for their customers than others. And it was that line of thinking that led to the creation of Kind Oasis, a cannabis products business on the city’s East Side.

Located at 2169 N. Farwell Ave., Kind Oasis occupies 12,000 square feet of a building his grandfather George Kashou built in 1920 as the home of the George Kashou Carpet Company. The company was passed down through three generations until Kashou’s brother Robert closed the operation down but kept the building in the family. Today, it’s home to one of the state’s largest cannabis stores, with 2,000 square feet of retail sales space, another 1,000 square feet dedicated to providing meeting space for various community groups and nonprofits. The remaining 10,000 square feet has yet to be used, Kashou says.

In reality, the Kind Oasis building already was an area landmark even before he opened his store. Along one exterior wall is a large painted mural of a leopard with a tear coming from its eye. Passers-by routinely have their picture taken with the leopard, including the occasional wedding party. Kashou hopes this kind of recognition will help not only his business, but all other cannabis-based enterprises to succeed as well.

GOOD FOR CUSTOMERS

“I got into this business because I thought cannabis was a good-for-you type product,” says Kashou, who with his brother George used to operate Kangaroo Brands, a food company that specialized in pita bread and chips and ready-made sandwiches.

His experience researching food and additives, as well as conversations with medical personnel, cemented his belief that cannabis and its derivatives were something good for his customers.

In fact, Kashou conducted some pretty significant research, drawing on his experiences in the plant-based food industry to examine common elements found in cannabis. He studied Eastern medicine and its applications and visited other cannabis operations in Wisconsin, as well as California and Colorado, to see what levels of professionalism characterized other cannabis retailers. What he learned led to the design and execution of Kind Oasis and how it treats its customers.

“John is pretty humble about his efforts, but he dug very deep in terms of research,” says Jason Handal, the company’s CEO, a lawyer, and Kashou’s nephew who spent 23 years in the executive offices of Northwestern Mutual before going to work for his uncle.

“I came out of retirement to start this business six years ago and haven’t looked back,” Kashou says.

CANNABIS REFORM COALITION

These days much of Kashou’s efforts are focused on the Wisconsin Coalition for Cannabis Reform (WCCR), a trade association he helped found dedicated to advancing evidence-based cannabis policy that prioritizes public health, economic opportunity and criminal justice reform. The group, currently headquartered at Kind Oasis, was brought into being eight months ago due to a growing number of legislative initiatives that surfaced last year at the State Capitol in Madison.

Photo of Kind Oasis by Timothy Czerniakowski.

The most heinous of these, he says, involved the state’s alcohol beverage industry and the Tavern League of Wisconsin and their efforts trying to draw the hemp industry under its wing.

“We started collaborating with alcohol distributors to handle logistical delivery of hemp-infused drinks to various stores and bars,” Kashou said. “Their answer to that collaboration was an attempt to rewrite the laws and include hemp in their legislation.”

Kashou and his colleagues began efforts to organize hemp famers, product manufacturers, retail outlets, and other small enterprises into an alliance strong enough to face the strength of Tavern League and its members.

TAKING ON ALCOHOL

“We knew how big and entrenched the alcohol industry is, and the Tavern League is one of the largest and bestfunded associations in Wisconsin,” Kashou explained. “The alcohol industry is a well-established, well-oiled machine that has the help of the state legislature. This is really a David-vs.-Goliath story.”

What Kashou would most like to get is support from consumers and cannabis customers. WCCR already has more than 100 members, and it’s going to need a whole lot more to ultimately achieve its goals.

“It’s fascinating to see the quality and professionalism of the cannabis entrepreneurs, farmers, and advocates across the state,” says Handal, “and the amount of blood, sweat and tears that go into building these businesses.

The industry is growing and, from a societal standpoint, it’s here to stay. Customers are stepping forward.”

Kashou, who has stepped away from Kind Oasis management to concentrate on lobbying and legislative work, has a message for those interested in seeing the cannabis industry survive and thrive.

“What I would love to see is a much greater consumer engagement in this process,” Kashou explains. “We are here because of consumers supporting these products. More consumer engagement on the legislative side is critical to success. Tell legislators, who only listen to the loudest voices and respond to greatest amounts of donations coming in, to give us a fighting chance.

“Look us up at joinwccr.com,” he adds. “That will create a greater chance that David may finally kick Goliath’s ass, in so many words.”

Michael Muckian was the banking and finance writer for the Milwaukee Business Journal and is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financing and Accounting and The One-Day MBA in Finance and Accounting.

A Conversation with Milwaukee Art Museum’s New Director

BY SHANE MCADAMS

On a late winter afternoon, I had the pleasure of speaking with the Milwaukee Art Museum’s new director, Kim Sajet, about everything from her love of language to stained glass to Jerry Saltz—and her early thoughts about where she might steer the museum. The conversation warmed my chilly spirit and gave me the sense that a season of renewal might be arriving for our arts community as surely as it was for the weather.

At the time of our interview, I hadn’t heard a disparaging word about Sajet from anyone—only praise and admiration from dozens of art folks across wildly different backgrounds. That, of course, piqued my curiosity. It also stirred a giddy hope I’ve learned to temper over 15 years in the Milwaukee art world. I’m happy to report the goodwill tracked. She’s a delight—and I’d like to think we got lucky. Long after our conversation ended, I found myself wondering what this stroke of luck might mean for Milwaukee’s art scene as we head into the spring of a rapidly evolving cultural climate.

SM: I heard you were born and raised in Australia, yes?

KS: Raised, actually.

SM: Oh, so where were you born?

KS: I was born in Nigeria, raised in Australia, a Dutch citizen, and I've been here (United States) for 30 years.

SM: Wow, do you get back to Holland often?

KS: I have a home there … our family has a home there. I have a severely disabled brother in a high-care institution in the Netherlands. So, I'm constantly doing the trip there and back to be with him. He lives in a town called Vught, which is outside of Hertogenbosch, or DenBosch, which I guess is the English translation.

SM: I used to go to a school called Nijenrode every summer…

KS: Oh my gosh, you went to Nijenrode?!

SM: Every summer.

KS: Well, our home is in Hilversum. And Nijenrode is in Loenen aan de Vecht. It's around that area, I think.

SM: Perhaps, I was young and cloistered. I used to bartend there in the summer. There was a castle and I remember the bar was in a dungeon?

KS: So, did you do business?

SM: I had a friend who did. He was a foreign exchange student at my school, and I went to visit him in the summers. He's still my friend today—33 years later. How’s that for the value of culture and exchange? Anyway, so you came to the States—and did that transition encourage the art bug in you or did you have it your whole life?

KS: We came to the States about 30 years ago. I had already run two museums before that time. I'd run the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, which is in Melbourne, Australia, and then the Waverly Gallery.

Kim Sajet Portrait

I'd gone back for school, and my undergraduate was in art and French. Then I went back for a museum studies degree and an MBA. We came to the States because my husband planned to do his PhD at Temple University, and we decided to relocate at that point.

SM: What was your initial interest in the arts? Was it historical, as a savorer of fine things? What were your earliest inclinations?

KS: My younger brother was born severely disabled— autistic, deaf. He has a mental capacity of about a 2-year-old. And my mother was both a social worker and a psychologist. My father was a businessman, but, you know, my entire young life was working with people with disabilities—physical mostly, but also mental disabilities. It was so consuming that I hardly thought about much beyond it. And then there was a certain point where I wondered what else excited me.

At that time, I just happened to get very interested in history, art, art making, and just sort of started really exploring that.

This was in high school, and I started making art. In Australia at the time, the curriculum was kind of split in two. So 50% was theory—art theory, learning all about art history—and the other half was actually making art. I did that for my final year and did a project with stained glass windows, which ended up in our family home.

There were four windows of a tree with Australian native birds. I think there was a kookaburra, a cockatoo, some rosellas—you probably don't know what these are. There were these four birds.

I completed that part of the program and then sat the exam for art history and theory and here I am.

SM: Wow, a stained-glass window! So cool. Was it an ornamental architectural fixture or a permanent window? Do you still have it?

KS: Yes, permanent. It's still there. My parents—my mom doesn't live in that house anymore—but you can still go past and see the windows.

SM: Oh my gosh, you should go get those windows!!

KS: You can still drive by and look at it if you’d like!

SM: You should see if they'll trade you for them. Take the windows out and install them in Milwaukee?

KS: I'm not really that attached to it. I know at one point my mum knocked on the door and said, “Can I just go and have a look at those windows?” And they're like, “Ah, we love these windows,” so that’s satisfying.

SM: Such a cool story! So, you're kind of a famous artist? Do you still have an art practice today, still make stuff?

KS: I do, and then I write. I really do a lot of writing now, rather than visual art or studio art. I have a book that's about to be published by Princeton University Press. It will come out next year.

SM: What's the subject?

KS: It's about early photography—about the period of Reconstruction and the carte-de-visite photograph in America.

SM: Is that your academic specialty?

KS: No, I consider my academic specialty to be aesthetics and semiotics—so aesthetic theory—but there's probably not a lot of call for that at the moment. But I'm interested in how science and symbols, and to some extent language, change over time and have different meanings attached to them in different circumstances.

SM: Me too!

KS: Do you speak any other languages?

SM: I do not. Well, I speak a little French. I studied in France, but never really picked it up.

KS: Because I speak fluent Dutch as well and there were just expressions either in English or in Dutch that didn’t translate. And my French is OK, but to the level where you're like, OK, I wish I could access a certain phrase in this particular language so I could express to you what that actually means in this other language.

SM: Indeed, so from Europe back to Milwaukee—when did you first visit Milwaukee? Had you been here before your candidacy for this role?

KS: I had been once before. It was a pretty long time ago— pre-COVID. I came to see the Kandinsky show here. I think it was 2013 or 2014 from what I can remember. But it was really sort of a fly-in, fly-out. So I really got to know the city when I looked into it in depth, obviously, when I started interviewing for the job. My impression of the city developed from a number of encounters, and then talking to colleagues and kind of getting a sense of the collection, what the leadership was like, what the board wanted to achieve. And then also, you know, what the city was like and did I want to live here.

SM: You were at the National Portrait Museum before, right? My brother used to work for the Smithsonian as a videographer. I think he worked with you there. He produced all the video documentation of art lectures—like when Jerry Saltz was there. I remember he called me and asked if I knew him. I was like, “Of course.” I said he was like the art world’s Dick Vitale—kind of an enthusiastic mascot.

KS: I always think of him as Puck. Puckish guy.

SM: He is puckish, such a good adjective. You’ve been here about five months now. What are you most excited to accomplish?

KS: I want the Milwaukee Art Museum to be a place of wonder, joy, learning, and community that helps create a better future. Rather than defining it simply as a place with objects on the walls, I see it as a program of creativity and innovation that happens to include those objects. People should be able to enter the museum through many different doors. Maybe you come with your grandkids on a school trip, maybe for a lecture, maybe for a good cup of coffee, maybe just to wander through an exhibition. If all those experiences can coexist, the museum becomes an empowering civic space.

SM: Museums often feel like temples, I think. How do we reconcile the ideals you mentioned with the reality that art museums can be imperious?

KS: Museums historically did grow out of palaces. The Louvre was literally a palace before Napoleon declared it open to the public. Architecturally many museums resemble classical temples—the Parthenon model. Today our challenge is to create layers of experience.

Photo courtesy of the VISIT Milwaukee Media Library.

You can present challenging art but should explain it in different ways for different audiences. A 12th-grade student might approach a Gertrude Abercrombie exhibition differently than an international visitor or an art insider from Chicago. Our goal is to be nimble and welcoming, while still maintaining rigor.

SM: I always try to avoid insider language when I talk about art. I give tours at Saint Kate and learned that you have to meet people where they are because some people actually want art historical context and then some people approach it personally.

My go-to is to say art is just like any human that may be a friend. It doesn't have to have meaning, but they're all primary and independent. You know, and some friends are extroverts, others reserved. You have friends who are quiet, but you trust the hell out of them, because when they do say something, it matters.

KS: Exactly.

SM: Let me ask you this. Complete the sentence: In five years, I’ll feel satisfied with my tenure at MAM if …

KS: If we have a more diverse audience and enough great programming that new audiences feel the museum is an indispensable part of their cultural life.

SM: Hallelujah. And in your early adventures exploring Milwaukee—what eccentric turnips have you pulled up?

KS: It’s a very robust arts community, though I’ve only scratched the surface. I went to a wonderful Ruth Arts event. I’ve visited the Haggerty. I went to the Milwaukee Rep recently. I hopped around Gallery Night last weekend. I’m mostly just trying to learn the ecosystem a little at a time. One thing I really enjoy when the weather cooperates is riding my bike to work. It’s a beautiful city to explore that way.

SM: I have to say I appreciate that you made it to so many places on Gallery Night. My friend Sasha—the Pfister artistin-residence—mentioned you stopped by.

KS: Yes, it was lovely to see her.

SM: For what it’s worth, I appreciate your candor and your enthusiasm for Milwaukee. Thanks for taking the time to chat. I hope we can do it again.

KS: You're welcome—that’s a very kind thing to say.

SM: Let’s do some good stuff, right? It’s a city worth elevating.

KS: Absolutely.

SM: Well, Kim, I’ll see you around the block. Good luck until then.

Shane McAdams is curator-in-residence at Saint Kate-The Arts Hotel, co-owner of Real Tinsel Gallery and art critic for shepherdexpress.com.

THIS MONTH IN MILWAUKEE 12 Things to Do in April

BY SOPHIA HAMDAN, DAVID LUHRSSEN, BLAINE SCHULTZ AND BEN SLOWEY

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6

48 Jews: Layers of Identity p Jewish Museum Milwaukee

Elvis, Jewish? Perhaps the most surprising entry in the “48 Jews: Layers of Identity” exhibition is a portrait of the King drawing a six-gun. Inspired by a film still, painter Jac Lahav portrays two Presleys in one frame—a dual identity? Elvis had Jewish friends throughout his life, wore a Chai and, according to recent research, might have had a Lithuanian Jew deep in his mother’s ancestry.

According to the museum’s curator, Molly Dubin, Lahav was inspired to begin his series of Jewish portraits in response to the stereotyping of American Jews as white, Ashkenazi, Eastern European in origin. “He wanted to explore the breadth of Jewish life and explore how identity is created.”

“48 Jews” contains many surprising faces, including Zhao Yingcheng, a Ming dynasty philosopher and member of the Jewish community that took root at the east end of the Silk Road. And then there’s Milwaukee-reared Madame Goldye Steiner, a Black woman who became a cantor and Yiddish theater performer in New York. “No matter what your background, you will find a connection to your own story,” Dubin says.

APRIL 6

Imani Perry, Black in Blues

America's Black Holocaust Museum

In collaboration with Boswell Books and Niche Book Bar, author Imani Perry visits Milwaukee's historic Bronzeville to discuss her latest work, Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, emceed by local literature influencer Cree Myles. Perry artfully examines the nuanced role of the color blue in African American culture and history, “from the dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century to the fundamentally American art form of blues music and the blue flowers [she] plants to honor a loved one gone too soon.” Tickets available for purchase from Boswell Books.

APRIL 9-13

MKE Wine Weekend u Various Locations

Get ready to sip, and savor at the third annual event, a celebration of wine, culture,and community in the heart of our city. MKE Wine Weekend 2026 includes tastings and curated events that highlight the diversity of wines and the people behind them. whether you're a seasoned wine enthusiast or just beginning your journey, this weekend is designed to educate, inspire and delight. For more information, visit mkewineacademy.com.

APRIL 10-11

Wincor Conducts Shostakovich No. 1 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Bradley Symphony Center

In a concert dedicated to youthful talent, rising young conductor Katharina Wincor will lead the orchestra on something from Mozart’s earlier years, his Piano Concerto No. 9 (written at age 21), along with Dmitri Shostakovich’s conservatory graduation piece, his First Symphony (at age 19). Guest pianist David Fray joins the MSO for the performance.

MILWAUKEE WINE WEEKEND

Double Elvis (Elvis Presley), 2025, acrylic on canvas by Jac Lahav courtesy of Milwaukee Jewish Museum.

Photo of Milwaukee Wine Weekend courtesy of Milwaukee Wine Academy.

MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET

APRIL 11-12

Festival of Slovenian Films

UWM Fine Arts Cinema, Mitchell Hall

Among the selections at this year’s festival is the 2025 drama by director Urška Djukić, Little Trouble Girls, which follows the sexual-romantic awakening of the 16-year-old protagonist enrolled in a music school. Sonja Prosenc’s 2024 comedy Family Therapy is a satire about a wealthy family inspired by Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Teorema. The festival will also include a trio of short films. Well regarded on the festival circuit, the selections will be presented with English subtitles. Admission is free.

APRIL 11

Little Blue Crunchy Things Turner Hall

For the second half of the ‘90s Little Blue Crunchy Things were among the bands that kept Milwaukee on the music industry map. LBCT had a good run from 1992 through 2000, releasing CDs, touring the Upper Midwest, even playing New York’s Knitting Factory. And the crowd-slamming excitement they generated never entirely dissipated. This reunion evening kicks off with a screening of the documentary film Florence.

APRIL 12

Milwaukee Makers Market t Discovery World

Celebrate Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Makers Market on Sunday, April 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Discovery World Pavilion. The Market champions local artists, creators, designers and seasoned crafters to celebrate the city’s small businesses, while offering a one-stopshop experience for the Milwaukee community. Learn more about the event at milwaukeemakersmarket.com.

APRIL 16

Brew City Shanty Sing Layman Brewing

Join the crew at Layman Brewing on the third Thursday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m for the Brew City Shanty Sing, a local tradition of singing maritime work songs around the bar. No experience necessary— booklets containing lyrics are provided and folks are welcome to bring their own instruments.

Photo

APRIL 17

The Wedding Present w/ Mark Robinson Sings Unrest X-Ray Arcade

The Wedding Present commemorate the 35th anniversary of the release of their pivotal album, Seamonsters

The LP was recorded by Steve Albini in twelve days during 1991; The Guardian noted, “Albini has given The Wedding Present considerable weight, with [David] Gedge’s voice trickling between banks of scowling guitars” and went on to feature it in its list of “1,000 albums to hear before you die.”

APRIL 18

Los Tigres del Norte q Miller High Life Theatre

No other norteño group tells the story of the immigrant experience in the U.S. quite like Los Tigres del Norte. Mexican immigrants themselves, they moved to San Jose, California, from Sinaloa, Mexico, in the late 1960s as teenagers. Led by vocalist and accordionist José Hernández, they started playing locally.

In 1971, the frontman heard a live mariachi song about cross-border drug trafficking, a pivotal moment that would inspire Los Tigres’ heartfelt and cinematic songwriting. The prolific northern Mexican cowboys have served as working-class heroes, narrating candidly the lives of the voiceless population in songs that transcend generations.

APRIL 19

Bach Chamber Choir: Bach is in the Air St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Brookfield

Few composers wrote as often or as well as J.S. Bach. Like a reporter on deadline, he was a working musician with ecclesiastical and state employers who consistently demanded new material. In his only recorded self-assessment, he said: “I worked hard.” The Chamber Choir will perform Bach’s “Out of the Depths I Call, Lord, to You” and works by other composers.

APRIL 26

James McMurtry and the Martial Law Review w/ BettySoo Shank Hall

When he finally decides to hang it up, James McMurtry’s body of work will be recognized as a chronicle of America as the 20th century bled into the 21st. He downplays his job description onstage as a “beer salesman” but McMurtry’s songs cut to the bone—character-driven with people often in circumstances that will define their lives. One day it will be a worthwhile project to connect the dots from characters in his songs beginning with his 1989 debut Too Long in the Wasteland

MILLER HIGH LIFE THEATRE

Our president: can anyone or anything stop him? I can’t take it anymore. His outrageous policies: the attack on our Democratic institutions, inhumane treatment of immigrants, alienating our longtime allies, destroying our environment, Venezuela and the latest—Iran; these actions are changing the face of what we stand for as Americans. Incomprehensible!

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more. Not to mention all of the corruption and personal profit from his crypto schemes and other backroom deals. Disgusting!

But now, my intolerance of the president has escalated to a new level: our own health. I’m not talking about his absurd anti-vaccination policies.

I bump into friends and they share that they have recently visited Urgent Care for sleep disorders, high blood pressure problems and uncontrollable anxiety attacks.

Now, he’s wreaking havoc with the nervous systems of Americans. How do we survive another three years?

I’m ready to give up.

Losing Hope

We can’t give up. Our president and his MAGA base want us to do that. If we give up, they become more powerful.

Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary to President Bill Clinton recently said: “Never forget this: The forces undermining our democracy, rigging our economy, polluting our planet, and stoking hatred are counting on you to give up. Cynicism is how they win.”

We can’t give up. Our future is too important. At this moment, our President’s approval ratings are plummeting and getting worse. He’s losing public sentiment over three issues: 1) The Economy; 2) Inflation and 3) The Abusive Treatment of Immigrants.

INDEPENDENT VOTERS THINK ICE HAS GONE TOO FAR. Make Your Voice Heard – Protests make a Difference.

Rachel Maddow (MS Now) appeared on Jimmy Kimmel in early January of this year. Kimmel asked her if she thought protests (like those in Minnesota) made a difference. Maddow responded positively. “Protests make a huge difference.” She talked about the political science term, called the 3.5% rule.

This concept claims that when 3.5% of the population of a country protests nonviolently against an authoritarian government, that government is likely to fall from power and “transformative changes are inevitable.”

The October 2025 No Kings March drew nearly 7 million people or approximately 2% of the population.

We’re almost to 3.5%.

WE MUST ACT

Indivisible Milwaukee is a grassroots group that defends democracy and advocates for a progressive agenda.

They are most known for their successful organization of the No Kings March that took place in many cities across the U.S. indivisible.org

Download the 5 Calls app. They make it easy to contact our federal and state elected leaders. 5 Calls lists 10 timely issues to choose from. If your issue is not listed, there is a search bar to locate it. They provide background information and talking points on each issue selected.

They also give the names and numbers of your federal and state elected leaders. Issues are updated regularly. You always have up to date information.

For example: They list a series of issues and ask what’s important to you. Such as: Stop Unauthorized Strikes on Iran or Stop ICE’s Aggressive Attacks on Immigrants. Since these two issues are federal, contact information for federal leaders are provided.

Issues such as Keep ICE Out of Your DM Data and Stop ICE from Building Camps in Wisconsin are state issues. Contact information for the governor and your state legislators are listed.

ECONOMIC BOYCOTTS

The People’s Union USA, out of Chicago, is one of the many grassroots organizations that encourage consumers to stop spending money on designated days. These efforts have had mixed results thus far. Thepeoplesunionusa.com

However, organized resistance against Target stores, for their reversal of DEI policies is having a definite impact.

Register to Vote and Volunteer to Help Register Others

To register to vote, go to: MYVOTE.WI.GOV

There are many organizations that help register people to vote:

Souls to the Polls: www.soulstothe pollswi.org League of Women Voters: mylwv.org

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin: PPAWI.org

Democratic Party of Milwaukee: milwaukeedems.org

RUN FOR OFFICE

If you feel called to run for office; go for it. This is the perfect time. Most people believe that after the midterms, the House will turn Democratic, which will hopefully stop most of President Trump’s policies. You don’t have to do it alone. There are several organizations that can provide training and strategic support.

League of Women Voters – my.lwv.org

Wisconsin Progress – wisconsinprogress.org

Emerge Wisconsin – wi.emergeamerica.org

Electing Women Wisconsin –electingwomenalliance.org

Democratic Party of Milwaukee –milwaukeedems.org

If we stay active by doing small and big things, our strength will remain solid. We can look to the citizens of Minnesota, who have taught us how to resist with their unyielding humanity. They kept fighting day after day.

Please don’t give up. We need every one of us to stay in this fight. We are getting closer. Day after day.

I have full confidence in you,

KEEP IT REAL

DEAR RUTHIE,

I’m casually dating two people—a man and a woman. People assume that bisexuals cheat on everyone … and now I rather feel like I am doing just that. In my defense, both of these relationships are new and there haven’t been any discussions on exclusivity. That said, I still want to tell both parties I’m seeing other people so I’m not hiding anything. How can I go about that?

HELP,

Two-Timing Thom

DEAR TOMMY,

Being bi sure as heck doesn’t give anyone a free pass for twotiming. I’m glad to see you agree and want to be transparent with the two people in your life. Keep it real, sugar!

Be transparent with both partners. Let them know you don’t feel the relationship is ready for exclusiveness and ask if they feel the same. If so, create some rules so no one gets hurt. If either of them reverts to the “bi equals cheating” crap, hand them a fact sheet and a cold drink and head for the door. XXOO

Ruthie's Social Calendar

APRIL 2

VIEWING OF CLUE WITH LESLEY ANN WARREN AT MARCUS

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (929 N. WATER ST.): Join the original Miss Scarlet for a screening of the hit comedy Clue. See why this movie has become a cult classic with commentary by one of its stars. Stop by www.marcuscenter.org for tickets.

APRIL 3

THE BIG GAY PROM AT OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS (201 S. STATE ST., MADISON): Enjoy the prom you’ve aways imagined with this evening of memory making. The theme of the dance is Enchanted Forest, so come ready for photo ops, food, dancing and fun. Dress in your best, bring a date or party solo, but nab tickets at www.thebiggarmarketllc.com.

APRIL 5

EASTER SUNDAY AT HARBOR ROOM (117 E. GREENFIELD AVE.):

Spend Easter with your chosen family during this noon to 7 p.m. party. In addition to mimosa, screwdrivers and bloody Mary specials, you’ll enjoy a 1 p.m. buffet, prizes and more.

APRIL 7

CHAPTERS FOR CHANGE BOOK CLUB AT MKE LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER (161 S. FIRST ST.): Here’s a book club that gives back to the community every month. First, the group discusses the month’s read, then everyone works together to perform an activity that supports a cause directly related to the book. A great way to meet new people, the club meets at 7 p.m. See www.mkelgbt.org for details.

APRIL 11

DOGGY DAY AT DEER DISTRICT (333 W. JUNEAU AVE.): Grab your fur baby and get ready for a day of fun! Free and open to the public, the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. day includes a marketplace, food, beverages and so much more. A benefit for Winston’s Wishes animal rescue, the day is one you and your fourlegged friend won’t want to miss.

APRIL 18

LATIN NIGHT AT WALKER’S PINT (818 S. SECOND ST.): Addictive Latin beats fill the air during this 9:30 p.m. bash that’s sure to become the highlight of your weekend. See why this women’s bar remains a hot spot in Walker’s Point when you take in the fun every first and third Saturday of the month.

APRIL 24

“RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” VIEWING PARTY AT FLUID (819 S. SECOND ST.): Love watching the country’s favorite reality drag competition? You’ll adore it even more surrounded by folks who share your passion. Stop by the 7 p.m. viewing party just once, and you’re sure to pencil it into your social calendar every week.

APRIL 25

SOFT LIFE, LOUD LOVE WOMEN’S DANCE PARTY AT POP

(124 W. NATIONAL AVE.): Celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week with this 7 p.m. bash. Enjoy a DJ, dancing, craft cocktails and more until midnight, but stay until bar close and party the night away with the team at this Walkers Point hot spot.

APRIL 26

SPIRIT AND VENDOR FAIR AT NEW BERLIN ALE HOUSE

(16000 W. CLEVELAND AVE.): Check out a bevy of mediums, tarot card readers, healers and other spiritual vendors during this 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event. See www.eventbrite.com for a chance to register for a door prize as well as details on the day.

FSSBL

Celebrating 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Softball in Milwaukee

BY PAUL MASTERSON

or half a century, since 1977, Milwaukee’s Saturday Softball Beer League (SSBL) has led the city’s LGBTQ+ community as a model of sportsmanship, inclusion and just plain fun. As a founding city of the national LGBTQ+ softball organization, NAGAAA (North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance), Milwaukee’s role in the history of national sports was immediate. It hosted the national Gay Softball World Series in 1979 and again in 1985. Finally, in 2009, SSBL hosted its third and greatest event, NAGAAAFest, a world series that brought dozens of local, national and international teams and hundreds of players to Cream City. Of course, in the interim years between world series, SSBL produced an almost annual softball tournament, the Dairyland Classic, that found its roots in those early years as the Wreck Room Classic.

SSBL’s longevity and success are rooted in a very basic premise (and, coincidently, the motto of NAGAAA-Fest): fun and friends first. That simple concept may be the reason why SSBL has sustained itself without scandal, financial crises or disruption for its five decades. Its leadership is and has always been made up of dedicated volunteers motivated by the love of the sport and the social dynamics of teamwork. That may explain why commissioners, board members and team members tend to stay on for the duration while other organizations find themselves hunting for new leadership every few years.

Speaking of finances, the league has always been selfsufficient, relying on team and players’ fees, sponsors and income derived from volunteering, staffing a beer pod at PrideFest and as concession workers for Milwaukee Brewers’ games. Now in its 19th year of stadium volunteering, there are already nearly 40 people signed up to help at 61 games for the upcoming season. The program not only raises funds for the league but also for players with 75% of the income dispersed to individual volunteers as reimbursement for sport relevant costs (like players fees), tobacco cessation products and sports relevant travel. That program benefits the league by involving those who might not otherwise be able to participate. In recent years, the average income per game has been over $1,500.

POSITIVE IMPACT

That constancy is also reflected in SSBL’s positive impact on the community on and off the softball diamond. It has engaged the broadest range of participants across all demographics from sexual identity and gender, age and ethnicity. For that reason, we awarded the Shepherd Express LGBTQ Progress Award to SSBL in 2016 in celebration and recognition of its 40th season and to its founder, Tommy Salzsieder, in 2018. In 2024, the Progress Award honored Mona Garcia, an ally and long-term SSBL board member, who also served as a consultant to NAGAAA’s board of directors.

In a conversation with SSBL’s current commissioner, Kurt Baldwin, I asked what was on tap for the league’s 50th anniversary season. “We are doing a fundraising Bingo at Pop on Saturday April 4 and a kickoff party follows on Sunday, April 26 at Walker’s Pint. Food and merchandise will be available. The season starts on May 2. Right now, we have nine confirmed teams but working on one or two more. We will have a booth at PrideFest displaying some of our historical items. There will also be an SSBL contingent in the Pride Parade, which will celebrate our new logo (that features the Hoan Bridge and the Milwaukee skyline) and tagline, ‘Bridging our Past to our Future,’” Baldwin said.

There will also be a Dairyland Classic Tournament (DLC), July 10-12. Traditionally held over from Labor Day weekend, the dates were moved to accommodate the gay softball World Series that will be held that weekend in Columbus, Ohio. Three SSBL sponsored teams plan to attend.

COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS

“To celebrate our history, every week at our extra innings event (social events at SSBL sponsor bars) we will be giving all players and fans commemorative buttons celebrating the last 50 years. Most of them will be old logos from tournaments, World Series and from the league itself. Players who collect the most of them will be able to use those to win prizes at our end of season banquet,” Baldwin said.

“Another thing with the 50th season, every registered player will receive a commemorative 50th season jersey from SSBL. Meanwhile, we’ve been handing out window clings to our sponsors to display in their front windows showing that they support our league currently or in the past. We also have posters in Spanish in recognition of the support we receive from the Hispanic community.”

Beyond the celebration of softball and the camaraderie of the sport, SSBL’s 50th anniversary represents the culmination of undeterred community identity and activism, in which individuals rallied around a mission to simply play ball. In doing that, they confronted detractors (like a conservative Milwaukee suburb that did not want to allow a gay softball league to play in its park … but eventually relented when less homophobic heads and rental fees prevailed). Ultimately, though, the bond of sharing America’s favorite pastime (along with some brats and beers) contributed to the advance, if not the embrace, of our common values of quality and inclusion.

Congratulations and thanks, SSBL!

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.

From The City That Always Sweeps

BY ART KUMBALEK

I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, here we be, April already, fourth month of any given year just so you know—and why?

Thanks for asking. Because astro-rocket-mathematician types have done declared that as fact from all the way back to those ancient Greeks and then later the up-start Romans who had so much calendar schmutz up the butt that they needed to go try figure names and dates of months back when the Earth was flat and the people had no space satellites and such to tell them when to plant the rutabagas or the best time of season to begin a slaughtering conquest of their neighbors and beyond. Getting one’s calendar notched up with the time of day and year was a big deal, what the fock.

By the way, Easter comes early this year. April 5. “Jumpin’ Jehosaphat,” you might shout to the heavens. “This gol’ darn Easter. It’s early, it’s regular, it’s late. Sounds like I’m waiting for the goddamn bus instead of some kind of religious hoopla.”

Allow me to explain, and please be seated: The exact date when Christ became resurrected got nothing to do where Easter shows up on your calendar. Easter appears the first Sunday after the full moon, also known as the paschal moon that comes after the vernal equinox. Now, if the paschal moon—deduced from a system of golden numbers and epacts and does not necessarily coincide with the astronomical full moon—occurs on a Sunday, Easter day is the succeeding Sunday. Thus, unless you’re a focking idiot, you know that Easter can fall anywheres between March 22 and April 25. Got that? Yeah, me neither.

Anyways, April 5 does have some historical significance. Cripes, it’s the date back in 1614 when the English colonist John Rolfe got hitched to Pocahantas who went on to become a major character in the early 17th-century drama, “The Housewives of Jamestown, Virginia,” which for all I know may be streaming somewheres, what the fock.

Perhaps more significantly, April 5, 1922, the American Birth Control League, progenitor of Planned Parenthood (bless ’em in each and every way), was incorporated.

But I beseech thee, what do we really know of this month called “April”? I’ll tell you’s what we know, ’cause I spent a good chunk of a handful of minutes researching. Saddle up.

April is the month some scholars have deduced to be named after the ancient Greek goddess known around those olden vivilacious establishments as Aphrodite—“associated with love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion, and procreation.” Hot-cha!! You betcha!

Jeez louise, bet you a buck two-eighty had we started naming months back in the 1950s rather than a couple-three thousand

years ago, the fourth month of the year would’ve been named “Monroe,” you think?

Also known is that the much ballyhooed poet Thomas T.S. Stearns Eliot (born 1888) kicked off his famous “The Waste Land” with this: “April is the cruellist month.” And for a guy born in St. Louis, Mo., who moved to England at the age of 25, you just got to wonder at what point of the voyage did he lose his spell checker, ain’a?

(Curious sidenote: Lauded hambone actor Vincent Price (1911) was also born and raised in St. Louie and would become quite comfortable adopting an English fop de rigueur; although Vince never won the Nobel Prize for Literature as did T.S, Vinny was awarded top-billing in Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine and that’s got to count for something.)

So yeah, it’s April. What else can I tell you’s? This: I can advise that you best not kibosh your Internal Revenue Service obligation come the middle of the month. They know who you are, where you live, what you had for breakfast. Count on it.

Here’s a tip from me: My tax return every year consists of a simple short handwritten note that I mail in, and it goes something like this:

“Dear IRS Sir, Madam,

“Hey, I already paid. The federal tax on alcohol alone I cough up yearly to you’s ought to be enough to buck-up a bridge or fill a focking pothole somewheres, ain’a? So let’s call it even. And may I remind you that according to the Book of Kumbalek, ‘income’ is a synonym for ‘imaginary.’

“But thanks for your interest.

“Sincerely,

“Art Kumbalek”

Good lord, I do believe this Internal Revenue Service tax thing really ought to be made voluntary for the regular folks, like they did with the military service years ago. Hey, how ’bout they turn tax-time into a pledge drive, à la National Public Radio. If the citizen chooses to flip the government some dough, he and/or she at least should receive a focking tote bag or coffee mug for making the donation, abso-focking-lutely.

One more thing: Remember Earth Day, April 22. As long as we still have a blue planet that we can all call home, we ought to celebrate for at least one day, and then shall the preservation work continue.

And so onward we march forward from April showers to May flowers, lord willin’, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.