Shepherd Express - December 2021

DECEMBER 2021

IT’S TIME FOR

Holiday Lights

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DECEMBER 2021 | 5

NEWS 08 New Day Dawning?

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12 Putting Electric Cars on Wisconsin Roads 14 This Modern World 16 Biden's Most Politically Popular Economic Innovation–Taxing the Wealthy — Taking Liberties 18 MPS: Diversity Unmatched

by Any District in Wisconsin — Issue of the Month 20 Thresa Stevens is an Advocate for Native Victims of Sexual Violence — Hero of the Month 22 Milwaukee State Representative Jonathan Brostoff — Off the Cuff

FOOD & DRINK

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26 Light the Winter Solstice with a Fiery Crème Brûlée — Flash in the Pan

SPECIAL SECTION 28 No Headache Holiday Dining 32 Holiday Drink Guide SPONSORED BY

32 Three Cocktail Kings for the Holidays 36 The Growing Popularity of Non-Alcoholic Beers 38 Holiday Gift Guide 2021

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SPONSORED BY

CULTURE 50 It's Time for Holiday Lights

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54 13 Things to Do on New Year's Eve — This Month In Milwaukee

LIFESTYLE

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60 Holidays are no Friend to Mental Health — Out of my Mind 62 The Year in Review — Cannabis 66 15 Ways to Make Your Home Merry & Bright When Time Is Tight — Domicile

HEAR ME OUT

SPONSORED BY

70 Christmas Covid Cupid — Dear Ruthie 72 World AIDS Day is a Reminder that Despite Great Progress, HIV Continues to Spread — My LGBTQ POV

ART FOR ART'S SAKE 74 From the City that Always Sweeps

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Cover: Photos by Alan Herzberg. Illustrations by Ali Bachmann.

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Louis Fortis (ext. 3802)

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GENERAL MANAGER: Kevin Gardner (ext. 3825) MANAGING EDITOR: David Luhrssen (ext. 3804)

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BUSINESS MANAGER: Peggy Debnam (ext. 3832) EVENT COORDINATOR: Casey Trotter (ext. 3816) ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Bridgette Ard (ext. 3811) Tyler R. Klein (ext. 3815) SALES MANAGER: Jackie Butzler (ext. 3814) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Chuck Hill (ext. 3822) IN MEMORY OF DUSTI FERGUSON (OCTOBER 18, 1971 – NOVEMBER 20, 2007) WEBMASTER: Barry Houlehen (ext. 3807) WEB WRITER: Allen Halas (ext. 3803) STAFF WRITER & CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Blaine Schultz (ext. 3813)

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DECEMBER 2021 | 7

NEWS

New Day Dawning?

PROPOSED LAWS PROMISE TO HELP WISCONSIN HIT TIPPING POINT WITH SOLAR

BY DAN SHAW

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Photo by kievith/Getty Images.

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or Paul Harder of Whitefish Bay, the solar panels he had installed on his house nearly six years ago are far more about the return on investment than concern for the environment.

According to Harder’s calculation, his savings on electricity bills amount to 8% percent a year. A 30-year treasury bond. notes Harder—who owns the mortgage brokerage White Oak Mortgage LLC—yields only a little over 2% annually.

That’s why it’s a cause of some surprise for Harder that not more homeowners have followed him in taking the solar plunge. With interest rates having hovered around historic lows for years on end, Harder can name almost no others way of obtaining such yields save in the stock market, with its far greater risks.

The environmental benefits are almost an afterthought.

“I think a lot of people are making an error when they look at solar,” Harder said. “They aren’t looking at it the correct way—as yield versus risk. They aren’t seeing it as a conservative investment.”

COST STILL AN OBSTACLE Yet, no matter how enticing the prospective returns, there remains one large obstacle preventing many homeowners from

going solar. J.D. Smith, business development coordinator at Milwaukee-based Arch Electric, said the cost of installing a residential solar array runs anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000, depending on factors ranging from the size of the system needed to the amount of sun a particular property gets.

Unfortunately, Wisconsin’s policies supporting the solar industry are among the weakest in the U.S. Whereas the federal government provides a 26% tax credit for residential project, Wisconsin contributes a mere $500 through its Focus on Energy program. Making matters worse, Wisconsin’s net-metering policies—which govern what homeowners and businesses receive when they generate more energy than they can use and put the excess on the grid for distribution—vary from one utility jurisdiction to the next. The lack of uniformity complicates estimations of expected returns.

A pair of bills before the state legislature promises to greatly improve the situation. One proposal, still in its draft form, would explicitly allow so-called third-party financing in Wisconsin. In this type of financing, an independent solar company—a third party—leases rooftop space from a homeowner or business for a nominal amount and then install its own equipment there. Any money saved on energy bills is then split between the installer and the property owner.

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Found in almost every other state, third-party financing exists in a legal gray area in Wisconsin. Large utilities like We Energies in Milwaukee have taken legal action against third-party installers in attempts to maintain their monopoly right to undertake generation projects in their own territories.

CLARIFY THE RULES? Heather Allen, executive director of the renewable-energy group RENEW Wisconsin, said even though third-party financing is not strictly illegal in Wisconsin, no homeowner is going to risk a lawsuit to pursue it.

“We need clarification from the legislature,” she said. “Nobody wants to go through the work of getting a project built and dealing with the financing it if a utility could then just challenge it in court.”

The second bill due to appear before lawmakers this year would allow homeowners to take part in “community-solar projects.” These are specifically meant for people whose properties don’t get enough sunshine or are otherwise not suited to solar generation.

Community projects allow homeowners to essentially pay to obtain power from a large solar farm lying at a distance, often in a rural area with few obstructions.

Once again, community projects are fairly common in other states, but not in Wisconsin.

“This would be ideal for customers who have high energy needs but don’t have a lot of roof space,” Allen said.

Both bills are giving solar advocates like Allen reason for hope. Unlike previous proposals of a similar ilk, they’ve already attracted a fair amount of interest from at least some of the Republicans who control the state legislature.

Public Service have joined forces with Madison Gas & Electric to invest in at least five large projects throughout the state, including the massive 300-megawatt Badger Hollow Solar Park in Iowa County.

Smith of Arch Electric said he’s convinced there remains plenty of pent-up demand. Adopting legislation to explicitly allow third-party financing and community-solar projects, he said, would go a long way toward meeting it. The pandemic, Smith said, has made people not only more aware of how much energy they are using at home but also eager to find ways to reduce their bills.

“Many people have just been locked in their home and shut off from outside world,” Smith said. “So the issues of energy use and security have become of intense interest.”

Smith said professionals in the solar industry tend to talk about states hitting a tipping point. Places where solar arrays were once rare all at once find themselves almost rushing to install the systems. California, which gets almost a quarter of all its electricity from the sun, hit that point around 2016. Minnesota, which gets nearly 4% of its power from solar, came to it more recently.

With the right mixture of policies and incentives, said Smith, Wisconsin could soon reach its own tipping point. A report released in October by the consulting firm Cadmus found that Wisconsin could one day get as much as two-thirds of its energy from rooftop solar installations. The only thing standing in the way is a lack of the right policies.

“Wisconsin is a state of practical people,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of farming culture here. So the fact of the matter is the vast majority aren’t going to do unless it’s a really good financial move.”

INVESTMENT BY ENERGY COMPANIES When such policies were pushed for in the past, they often ran aground on opposition from large investor-owned utilities. But many of these same companies have now themselves come to embrace solar. We Energies and its sister company Wisconsin 10 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Dan Shaw is an editor and writer with 20 years in the industry.

His experience includes jobs at daily newspapers in the U.S. and overseas. Besides his freelance writing, he now edits both a daily construction newspaper and the Wisconsin Law Journal.

Photo by kievith/Getty Images.

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PUTTING ELECTRIC CARS ON WISCONSIN ROADS WITH REV-MIDWEST, ECONOMICS MEETS ENVIRONMENTALISM

BY DANIEL GROSS

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Illustration by dickcraft/Getty Images.

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odern cynicism dictates that, without a substantial financial motivation for industry leaders, politicians and lobbyists, climate change would be allowed, possibly even encouraged, to run its wrathful course. It is no great comfort, either, that the wealthiest among us, those in a position to affect change on the largest scales, have begun jettisoning themselves off-planet, possibly under the misguided notion that wealth insulates, but the vacuum of space insulates completely.

For those of us who are stuck on terra firma and who have not yet managed to sequester hundreds of billions of dollars from the global economy, there needs to be another course of action.

In a time when governmental investment in the public interest, let alone the environment, is viewed as a partisan controversy, the solution is glaringly simple: Make investing in the environment and the public good a profitable venture. A recent agreement among five midwestern state governors seeks to do just that. The Regional Electric Vehicle Midwest Coalition (REV-Midwest), a bipartisan agreement endorsed by governors from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, has primed electric vehicle investment to become one of the major economic drivers for the region.

REV-Midwest was created through a Memorandum of Understanding among

the constituent states, essentially pledging each state’s commitment to the furtherance of several goals. Among the intended goals, the states have committed to increase incentives for electric vehicle sales among consumer and commercial fleets, expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure to accommodate interstate travel and to offer incentives for manufacturers of electric vehicles throughout the region.

MAKING ELECTRIFICATION VIABLE Unarguably, the most important step in the fulfillment of this agreement is the expansion of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure. As the cost of electric vehicles steadily decreases, one of the largest barricades to investment on both the public and private sectors has become range uncertainty. A vehicle that can travel 300 miles on a single charge had better be within 150 miles of the nearest charger at all times, and in all directions.

The REV-Midwest agreement is the first attempt at a multi-state solution to that problem. It would be downright hobbling for electric vehicle owners in Wisconsin if they could travel within their state, but face uncertainty about a return trip if traveling to another state. This agreement seeks to standardize charging station distances along heavily trafficked corridors.

This step will no doubt require partnership between participating states and private companies offering charging services. Large energy companies have huge investments in the freeway refueling infrastructure, and states are primed to offer incentives, be they tax based or otherwise, for them to adopt electric charging as a regular service. What REV-Midwest does is make the transition a matter of fact, rather than a matter for debate and compromise with the existing fossil fuel companies.

MAKING ELECTRIC VEHICLES A large part of the agreement’s language is dedicated to the transitioning of workforce specialization from internal combustion engine manufacturing and repair to electric vehicle assembly and servicing. Training programs and educational curricula are going to be essential to DECEMBER 2021 | 13

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any well-intentioned effort to transition to an electrified motorway. This may include the establishment of new fields of study within regional technical colleges, retraining programs for mechanic shops and dealerships or the creation of entirely new service stations. Education and manufacturing will be key to the implementation of this plan.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT One of the most interesting arguments put forth by REV-Midwest is the environmental impact of the proposed agreement, which is, of course, framed in terms of economics. By transitioning to mostly electric vehicle traffic along major highways and freeways, the sound and air pollution experienced by adjacent properties will drop significantly, raising property values. Housing along major transit lines has historically been relegated to the most economically disadvantaged, and by marginally increasing the comfort of homes in communities near mass transit areas, property values may increase.

REGULATION Among the most important issues in a multi-state agreement is the coming together on regulatory standards. This might finally see Wisconsin strike down some of the more regressive policies instituted by the Walker administration, like the gas tax that penalizes electric vehicle owners for not having to purchase gasoline. We may also experience pressure to reverse the state’s restriction on wind power, though the Republican legislature would likely fight against it, unless the dollar amount is great enough. This agreement seems to be crafted to ensure that the money’s there to sway even the most resolute politician.

There is a chance that we can accomplish something worthwhile. But we need for everyone to be pulling in the same direction to make it happen. Whether your motivation is global salvation or personal profit, this partnership represents one of the best opportunities we have.

Daniel Gross is a Milwaukee writer.

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Illustration by dickcraft/Getty Images.

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NEWS TAKING LIBERTIES

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resident Biden’s robust packages of major legislation include plenty of innovative programs to rebuild a booming, transformative economy that will improve the lives of most Americans for years to come. His most politically popular innovation in taxation also is about to begin.

For decades, one rightwing Washington lobbyist has scared not only Republicans, but also many Democrats out of raising taxes on the wealthiest people in America. That’s Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, who convinced nearly every elected Republican to sign a pledge never to raise any taxes ever. His crude political philosophy: “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.”

Most Democrats wouldn’t sign such a ridiculously irresponsible pledge, but politicians in both parties remember that President Bill Clinton defeated incumbent George H.W. Bush in 1992 after Bush violated his tax pledge despite emphatically promising: “Read my lips. No new taxes.” Never mind raising taxes was fiscally responsible in 1990 to pull the country out of the recession following President Reagan’s huge tax cuts for the wealthy.

So what’s changed in the past 30 years to make Biden’s tax increases on the wealthy not just acceptable, but politically popular? After Biden’s defeat of President Trump, polls showed 67% of Americans supported raising taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations—88% of Democrats, 70% of independents and even 45% of Republicans.

TRUMP’S MILLIONAIRE FRIENDS One major development was Trump’s 2017 tax cut adding $2 trillion to the national debt over 10 years with 83% of the benefits going to the wealthiest 1%, Trump and his millionaire and billionaire friends. It was the first unpopular tax cut in political history.

The voter backlash in 2018 returned control of House of Representatives to the Democrats.

Biden’s Most Politically Popular Economic Innovation—Taxing the Wealthy

BY JOEL MCNALLY

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The backlash continued by ousting Trump last November and it was just as clear. When voters in 36 battleground congressional districts were presented with 10 issues, the importance of “making sure the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share of taxes” was second only to “handling the coronavirus pandemic.”

That meant fair taxation of enormous wealth ranked above “creating jobs,” “lowering healthcare costs” and “raising incomes for the middle class.”

All those issues were important, but voters are increasingly aware of just how obscenely distorted America’s tax system has become. Tax cut politics year after year have tremendously expanded the record wealth of those at the very top while average Americans fall further behind.

When ProPublica investigative journalists obtained tax records showing the nation’s best-known billionaires—folks like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg — paid little or nothing in income taxes in recent years, it simply confirmed what Americans have always known.

Illustrations by Michael Burmesch.

CORPORATE LOOPHOLES The most fraudulent tax argument under Trump was how much Republicans should lower the corporate tax rate. Corporations were fighting to lower their top rate from 39% to 25%. Instead, Republicans lowered it to 21%. That made less difference than you might think. With tax credits and multiple loopholes, few corporations ever pay the actual tax rate. Fifty-five of the largest corporations paid no income tax at all on $40 billion in profits last year.

That’s why an overwhelming majority of Americans were eager for Biden and Democrats to stop allowing astronomically wealthy individuals and corporations to get away without paying any income taxes at all. That shouldn’t be difficult in a democracy, right?

It is when Republicans really don’t support democracy anymore and the Senate has 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking ties. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema also were tag team obstructionists.

When Manchin supported raising tax rates and closing tax loopholes on ultrarich individuals and corporations, Sinema refused.

But that didn’t prevent Biden and other Democrats from restructuring the economy to provide a wide range of desperately needed programs serving all Americans instead of just those at the top, all paid for without raising taxes for anyone making less than $400,000 a year.

It’s just the beginning of going after individual and corporate wealth that has long escaped taxation in creative new ways.

That includes a minimum tax on corporations that otherwise would pay none and special surcharges on annual incomes above $10 million and $25 million. But the biggest source of new revenue could simply be an enormous increase in the underfunded IRS budget to hire more agents and modernize technology to go after high-income tax cheats. Research suggests the richest 1% underreport their actual income by more than 20%.

There’s a long way to go before the wealthiest Americans on the planet pay their fair share in taxes despite all the personal services they receive from politicians. We could speed up the process by removing every politician pledging never to raise taxes on the wealthy.

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

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NEWS ISSUE OF THE MONTH

MPS: DIVERSITY UNMATCHED BY ANY DISTRICT IN WISCONSIN

BY BOB PETERSON

Illustration by Michael Burmesch.

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n mid-November, the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) received notice that 100 Afghani refugees were scheduled to arrive in Milwaukee, joining several Afghani families already enrolled in MPS.

The recent immigrants add to what was already an impressive multiracial, multilingual student body at MPS, from our African American, Latinx, Native American and Hmong students, to our white students. It’s hard to explain how proud this makes me feel.

The notice was not unusual. MPS has long been the educational home for recent immigrants and refugees. When they knock on the door, we welcome them in, no questions asked.

UNRECOGNIZED TREASURES

MPS has all the problems facing every large urban district in the country, and those must be addressed. But one of its unrecognized strengths is the significant number of students from other countries, bringing a rich diversity of culture and language.

By last count there were 85 distinct home languages spoken by MPS students. Eleven MPS schools have students speaking 15 or more languages.

The district’s Mexican immigrants have long been acknowledged.

Recent arrivals also include Rohingya refugees fleeing the violence in Myanmar, African immigrants such as Swahilispeaking Somalis and French-speaking Congolese families (some of whom attend the MPS French immersion school.) There is also a growing number of immigrants from Central America.

I witnessed this diversity first-hand at a pre-pandemic South Division High School graduation. As the ceremony began, students walked onto the dais where I was sitting and welcomed people in 11 different languages.

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The diversity of our students is just one of the unrecognized treasures of MPS. Other little-known strengths include: • Our Spanish, French, German, and Italian immersion programs. In addition, 21 schools offer bilingual (Spanish/English) programming.

• Our Montessori Schools. MPS has eight Montessori schools, more than any other public school district in the country. The most recent addition is the Riley Dual Language (Spanish/ English) Montessori school.

• Since 2015, MPS has established 14 “community schools” which include wrap-around health and social services and work with more than a dozen community organizations, from the 16th Street Health Clinic to the Milwaukee Urban League.

• International baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) programs are offered in 25 of our high schools and middle school, allowing students to earn college credit before they graduate. The district also has “dual enrollment” arrangements with Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee allowing students to get credit in a variety of disciplines, from nursing to mechanical HVAC systems.

The list could go on, from the eco-friendly “green revitalization” of our playgrounds to our STEM programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Yes, we have serious challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a shortage of certified teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers and other staff. We need to work harder at issues of equity, ensuring that all students are treated with respect and dignity, and have access to quality curriculum.

But many of our challenges are rooted in larger problems.

Milwaukee, for instance, is one of the most segregated metropolitan regions in the country and ranks as one of the worst cities for African Americans. Life expectancy can vary by as much as 12 years, depending on the zip code where one was born. And a new report by the Sentencing Project found that Wisconsin has the highest incarceration rate of any state in the country.

Those numbers are driven by Milwaukee County, where nearly 70 percent of the Black population lives.

MPS is working to address these problems, in conjunction with the unions representing MPS employees, in particular the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, and with area officials, community organizations and businesses.

At times, the problems facing MPS seem overwhelming. But I know that, quite literally, MPS is educating the city’s future.

It should be no surprise that many of our elected officials graduated from MPS high schools—such as County Executive David Crowley (Bay View High School), County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson (Milwaukee School of Languages), and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (Marshall High School). A majority of Milwaukee alderpeople graduated from MPS high schools—Nik Kovac, Ashanti Hamilton, Milele Coggs and Khalif Rainey from Riverside University High School; Marina Dimitrijevic, Chantia Lewis and Cavalier Johnson from Bay View; and Michael Murphy from Madison High School.

I wake up every morning thinking about MPS. After teaching in the system for three decades, serving as president of the teachers union for four years, and now serving as president of the school board, I know all-too-well the issues we face.

But I am optimistic.

I value the more than 10,000 educators and staff who work for MPS. Above all, I value our students, who bring a breadth and depth of diversity unmatched by any district in Wisconsin.

Bob Peterson is President of the Milwaukee Board of Schools Directors and taught fifth grade in Milwauke Public Schools for 30 years.

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NEWS HERO OF THE MONTH

Thresa S tevens is an Advocate for Native Victims of Sexual Violence

BY ERIN BLOODGOOD

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Photo by Erin Bloodgood.

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f you look up the number of victims of sexual assault, sexual violence and sex trafficked victims in Milwaukee, the numbers are striking. Particularly among Native women, the rates of sexual violence and abduction are high and under reported.

Thresa Stevens, who is Menominee, works with Native women and men in Milwaukee who fall victim to this violence and suffer from trauma. As the Native American Advocate for Women and Children at Healing Intergenerational Roots (HIR) Wellness Institute, she helps people find resources, gets them to a safe space, and if they want, she connects them to counselors at HIR Wellness.

As the name suggests, HIR Wellness focuses on healing trauma that develops through generations of people who have been marginalized and colonized, a part of the mental health field that is overlooked. Many of the people Stevens helps have likely suffered from intergenerational trauma prior to falling victim to violence. Our country’s historical injustices have caused this trauma and led many Indigenous women to fall victim to sexual violence.

Care allows Stevens to connect these victims with counselors or occupational therapists at the wellness institute depending on their needs. This approach creates a communal support system modeled after the way Indigenous tribes have communal healers with unique specialties.

Thresa Stevens and HIR Wellness Institute have helped so many Indigenous women and men escape from violence and provided them with a path for healing. But if the systems in place and federal laws do not change, the problem will continue. “I can only do so much,” says Stevens.

Learn more about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women at www.mmiwusa.org or get involved with the Wisconsin Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force.

Learn more about HIR Wellness Institute at hirwellness.org.

Erin Bloodgood is a Milwaukee photographer and storyteller.

See more of her work on her website at bloodgoodfoto.com.

Stevens can understand this historical trauma firsthand. “My grandma went to the Indian boarding schools, so she was never loved, and she didn’t show love at all,” she says. “So, it got passed on to my mom. My mom was the same way and for me, I had to realize she’s not able. And that took a lot for me.”

Many Indigenous people like Stevens still know or are related to someone who was forced to go to boarding schools that the U.S. government created to strip Indigenous children of their heritage. Children were subject to violence, and many died due to illness and lack of healthcare. This is a weight that many Natives carry—and the traumatization continues today as the federal government upholds laws and practices that oppress these communities.

MISSING AND MURDERED Also a legal advocate, Stevens explains how the laws in place cause more cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

The 1978 Supreme Court ruling of Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe, for example, made it so tribal nations could not prosecute non-Natives if they commit a crime on tribal land. As a result, it is shockingly common for Native women to be abducted and the offenders to go uncharged for the crime. “We can kill you, we can kidnap you and there’s nothing anyone can do. You can’t charge us,” Stevens explains. “It shows how the system just fails.”

With the support of HIR Wellness, Stevens is doing what she can to right those wrongs and help women get out of violent circles.

She is one part of HIR’s Circle of Care, a model for healing that was created by Founder and CEO Lea S. Denny. This Circle of

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NEWS OFF THE CUFF

Photo by Tom Jenz.

Milwaukee State Representative

Jonałhan Brosłoff

BY TOM JENZ

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ilwaukee’s State Assembly Representative Jonathan Brostoff, 37, is truly a man of his people. His 19th District is one of Wisconsin’s most diverse, and includes Hispanics on the South Side, upper middle-class whites in Downtown, college students and academics in the UWM area, and Blacks in Riverwest, which itself is ethnically diverse. Brostoff has represented his people since 2014 and knows the territory. The citizens of his district are politically active. He listens to their concerns through town halls and emails, but likes to be out among his constituents, walking, chatting, hearing about their needs. To gain public input, he also does outreach events on various topics.

We met at a coffee shop near the UWM campus. I found him fascinating—glib, informed, combative and thoughtful.

You have the challenge of looking out for a wide range of citizens with a wide range of interests.

It can be a challenge, but it’s also a reflection of the severe segregation culture of Milwaukee. I sometimes have hard conversations with people as we try to discuss the systemic issues of racism. There’s a term for this called NIMBY, “not in my backyard.” Through my interactions with people, I try to help them overcome that divisive mentality.

Your own domestic situation is a living example of diversity. You are Jewish and are married to a woman of Hmong ethnicity, Diana Vang-Brostoff, an activist in social welfare, I believe.

We met in college at UWM. Diana is a constant source of good energy to have in my life. We have two kids now.

I’d like to hear about your background, where you grew up, what your parents were like.

I grew up on the East Side by UWM near Downer and Locust. My dad’s from Chicago, my mom from Washington D.C. My dad is retired but he was a labor lawyer, and my mom taught at UWM. My interests came from them. My dad’s work included disabilities advocacy and wrongful terminations. My mom did a lot of labor organizing, even worked on the famous national Kerner Commission about racial issues.

What about your schooling? I think you went to Milwaukee public schools.

Yes, I did. I started at Elm in elementary but there were some shootings in the area, and my mom moved me to Hartford School near UWM. I ended up at High School of the Arts off 23rd and Highland. I was into creative writing and wrote some one-act plays. I still have a creative ear for dialog and I like rap music. English has such a wide range of sounds that it’s enjoyable to juggle the language creatively.

“THE CITY COULD BE PUTTING 50% OF THE BUDGET TOWARD PUBLIC HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND 5% TOWARD POLICE. I’M TALKING ABOUT TARGETED ECONOMIC INVESTMENT, MIXED HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSIT, GOOD HEALTHCARE, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION” Did you attend UWM right away after high school?

Since I was 14, I worked at Pathfinders, which is a temporary shelter for 11 to 17 year old homeless kids. After high school, I did a year of service at AmeriCorps which helps with community needs. Amazing experience there. As an 18-year-old punk, I was looking after 20 homeless families in a shelter, from babies on up to 17-yearolds—45 to 60 kids. One idea I came up with, I toured a lot of rich boutique clothing shops and got them to donate clothes and linens to the families. I also organized weekend field trips to expand the kids’ interests.

After a year working at AmericaCorps, I went to UWM and majored in Political Science. While in college, I realized the importance of government because government makes rules, allocates resources, and institutes systemic changes. In college, I became a legislative assistant for County Supervisor Chris Larson. I also did a paid

internship with Iowa Senator Tom Harkin in Washington D.C. He was one of the leaders on the American with Disabilities Act.

What did you do after you graduated from college?

I was still working for Chris Larson, and I was waiting tables to earn a living, even had the idea of opening my own restaurant. But a good opportunity came along after 19th District State Representative Jon Richards decided to run for Attorney General. I entered the race, and was fortunate enough to win in my first time running for state office.

Then, you started focusing on ways you could help with people who faced difficult challenges.

Most of my political efforts revolve around three separate categories. The first issue focuses on the rights of deaf people. I was part of a landmark epoch for laws to expand deaf access in Wisconsin. I worked with deaf people all over Wisconsin. I do sign language myself, learned that language from two of my best friends in Washington D.C. They are deaf. Since I met them, I’ve been a fierce advocate of deaf issues in Wisconsin.

Then, you have two other issues you are working on.

The second issue is maintaining minimum safety standards in speech pathology, disability access, and building safety, for instance, that deaf people have a right to counsel who understand their ways of communicating. I also advocate safety standards for landscape architecture. For example, if you walk into a building, you need to know that building is safe. The architects are required to have a minimum set of safety standards and the contractors who build it are licensed for competency,

Your third big issue is currently controversial and has produced public anger on all sides. Police reform.

Police reform and police violence. One of my biggest projects has been ending qualified immunity for police. Right now, police cannot be held civilly liable for their actions. This is incredibly problematic. It encourages a culture of corrupt cops and more police brutality. I’d like the police DECEMBER 2021 | 23

NEWS OFF THE CUFF

to no longer be physically aggressive or violent. Cops should only be taking actions that are within the law. I believe that police should be held to higher standards or at least to the same standards as ordinary citizens. In Wisconsin the police union is so strong that they own a lot of politicians.

It’s difficult to get reforms passed.

I like your idealism. Who can’t like an idealist?

I was lucky. I came from a good family and support system. But ultimately, the police are a cancer on the city budget because they are eating up resources that need to go to social programs. For example, the city could be putting 50% of the budget toward public health and infrastructure and 5% toward police. I’m talking about targeted economic investment, mixed housing, public transit, good healthcare, and public education with no more than 18 students per classroom.

You hold a state office. How can the state help with reducing the number of police?

One of the bills I’ll be introducing this session is for every dollar you spend on police enforcement, you have to spend two dollars on education and social programs.

The problem is too many people are excluded from writing the budget whereas police unions have a powerful influence on budgets.

With your expertise, I’m sure you’ve experienced the political cliche, “the art of compromise.” Should there be compromise on these issues we’ve been discussing?

There are issues that people can be right about and wrong about. If someone is stabbing me in the neck and I say stab me in the stomach, I won’t make that compromise. However, if I say we should spend $150 million on violence prevention and we end up at $130 million, that I can compromise on. I won’t compromise on moral issues, but I will compromise on issues of policy.

Photo by Michael Burmesch.

24 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Tom Jenz is a Milwaukee writer and photographer. For his column, Central City Stories, visit shepherdexpress.com.

DECEMBER 2021 | 25

FOOD & DRINK FLASH IN THE PAN

Light the Winter Solstice with a Fiery Crème Brûlée

BY ARI LEVAUX

T

he dark days around winter solstice make human beings hungry for light. It could be a decorated tree, a menorah in the window, or just some lights on your house. Whatever your creed or culture, you probably have a tradition that casts a glow during the holidays. But this time around, as we bid farewell to a dumpster fire of a year, pretty lights might not be enough. It might be time to light things on fire.

Fire can be cleansing and creative as well as a force of destruction and some of us surely hope to rise like phoenixes from the ashes. But first we have to tuck in 2021 and we’re going to put it to bed in style with a flaming orange eggnog crème brûlée, finished with a bourbon flambé. A group of phoenixes is called an odyssey, which is appropriate, because this dish is a trip.

The bourbon and sugar bonfire doesn’t produce the typical glassy crème brûlée finish, so it won’t coerce the eater into disfiguring the delicate custard by jabbing its exoskeleton with a dessert spoon. The sugar melts, but the bourbon prevents it from recrystallizing into a glassy sheet. Instead, they combine into a granular topping that’s firm yet soft.

This recipe is for people who don’t have one of those silly crème brûlée torches. Perhaps you’ve been melting your crèmes brûlée under the broiler, like a sensible person would. If it never occurred to you to simply ignite a bunch of sugar and booze atop your custard, you’re excused. But that is why we are here.

A fire that burns only to destroy isn’t worth its emissions. But the bourbon and sugar bonfire atop a crème brûlée burns with purpose: to cast light while combining bourbon and sugar into a penetrating sauce that soaks into the orange vanilla eggnog custard below.

This crème brûlée flambé works because it has too much of everything. Too much nutmeg, too much orange, too much bourbon and too much sugar. But all of this too muchness adds up to just the right balance of too-strong flavors.

Plus, it looks good on fire, especially when you toss in cinnamon, which sparkles and dances in the flames. Enjoy the pyrotechnics of this beautiful transformational force as we show 2020 to the doors and venture forth into the new year like an odyssey of custard-happy phoenixes.

26 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

ORANGE EGGNOG CRÈME BRÛLÉE FLAMBÉ The strong flavors of orange juice, nutmeg and bourbon hold one another in check, while adding excitement to this otherwise mild-mannered custard.

THE CUSTARD

Fills four ramekins, which for me is about one serving.

• 2 cups cream • 4 egg yolks • ¼ cup sugar • 2 teaspoons freshly ground nutmeg • ¼ cup fresh orange juice + 1 tablespoon OJ concentrate, or some similar amount of juice • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • ¼ teaspoon salt • 4 buttered ramekins • Optional: thin-sliced shards of orange peel for the garnish Preheat the oven to 325. Place an edged cookie sheet on the top rack. Pour two cups of water into the sheet (to create steam for the custard).

Heat the cream slowly in a heavy-bottomed pan on the stove. Meanwhile, combine the yolks, sugar, nutmeg orange juice, vanilla and salt in a mixing bowl.

When the cream starts to simmer, add it slowly to the mix, stirring in a little at a time to temper the yolks. (“temper” means heat the yolks and combine them with the hot cream in a smooth, controlled way that doesn’t cook and curdle the eggs.)

Add the warm batter to your buttered vessels and place them on the cookie sheet in the steaming water, and bake for an hour, until they are bubbling evenly.

The bubbling starts on the edge and moves toward the centers, until the entire surface shrinks and tightens and hardens into a darker yellow.

Remove from the oven. If serving right away, prepare to light your fire. If serving later, allow to cool to room temperature, and add the orange peel shard garnish, if using. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Illustrations by Alhontess/Getty Images.

Photo by Ari LeVaux.

Pinches of ground cinnamon tossed into the flames make for a pleasing display of pyrotechnics

FLAMING BOURBON SUGAR SAUCE

A tablespoon of bourbon is actually quite strong; you’ve been warned. I used my neighbor’s good stuff until he cut me off, so now I use Southern Comfort. And remember kids: never cook with something you wouldn’t drink. Covers four ramekins with flambé • 2 tablespoons white or turbinado sugar • 2 tablespoons brown sugar • 4 tablespoons bourbon • 12 pinches of cinnamon powder for the flame Serving time could be the minute they come out of the oven or the next day after the ramekins have properly chilled and the custard has settled. Whenever it’s time to light those fires and serve those crèmes brûlée, mix the sugars together and get ready to pour the whiskey.

To each ramekin at a time, pour in a tablespoon of whiskey and light it with a long-necked BBQ lighter. Let it burn for 30 seconds while you toss 3 or so pinches of cinnamon into the flames and watch the spraying sparks. Then add a tablespoon of sugar mix to the ramekin, and let the fire burn out, dissolving the sugar.

When the fire dies, it’s ready to serve. When the first Orange Eggnog Crème Brûlée Bourbon flambé is gone, check the calendar. If it’s still 2020, eat another. Repeat until it’s finally over.

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

DECEMBER 2021 | 27

SPECIAL HOLIDAY DINING

No Headache Holiday Dining

BY SUSAN HARPT GRIMES

I

t’s customary during the holidays to have celebratory gatherings with friends, family, business pals and others. Rather than trying to make do with a too small space or a mundane potluck, maybe it’s time to give yourself a gift and go out to make merry this year.

28 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Several area restaurants offer private or semi-private rooms or big tables to accomodate a large group. So, if you’re on the lookout for a unique spot to host a festive lunch or cozy dinner during this season, consider one of the following local favorites. Please make note that

reservations are recommended and in some cases required. Make sure to call or go online to be sure that the establishment you wish to visit can accommodate your group during this busy time.

Photo by hkt83000/Getty Images.

EDDIE MARTINI’S

ELDR + RIME

8612 W. Watertown Plank Road 414-771-6680

2300 N. Mayfair Road 414-867-9200

eddiemartinis.com

eldrandrime.com

With a comfortable, well-appointed dining room and two lovely semi-private dining areas for seating of about eight-12 people, you’re bound to find an appropriate spot to enjoy a holiday gathering. Known for their incredible steaks and fresh seafood, everyone in your group will be pleased with their meal.

Festive touches and special menu items only add to the appeal of the always excellent service and cuisine diners have come to expect all year-round at Eddie Martini’s. A word to the wise, don’t miss out on possibly the best lobster bisque in town.

For people who love the sleek, clean lines of Scandinavian design, and delicious food prepared with innovative cooking techniques, Eldr + Rime may be the perfect spot for your holiday gathering. There are two private dining spaces, with seating for up to 32 and 16, respectively. In the main dining room, there is plenty of space for smaller groups. Depending on how adventurous your friends or family are, Eldr + Rime also has reservable outdoor stuga for up to six guests, so you can keep warm and cozy in your own private bubble. Be sure to grab a cup of glogg, a traditional Scandinavian beverage reminiscent of mulled wine, perfect for bringing some holiday cheer.

THE FOX & HOUNDS RESTAURANT & TAVERN 1298 Friess Lake Road, Hubertus 262-628-1111 foxandhoundsrestaurant.com The year-round hunting lodge aesthetic of The Fox & Hounds lends itself perfectly to the beautiful holiday decorations they put up each year. Beautifully festooned fireplaces, a multitude of Christmas trees, and a general atmosphere of merriment will turn even the Grinchiest visitor’s mood around. Semi-private and private dining spaces could work well for gatherings of various sizes, as the dining area is spread out into several themed rooms. On Christmas day, The Fox & Hounds team goes all out with a huge buffet, wellstocked with favorites like carved prime rib, roast beef, and ham, along with all the other fixings you’d hope for.

DECEMBER 2021 | 29

SPECIAL HOLIDAY DINING

MADER'S

Photo by Michael Burmesch.

JACK PANDL’S

MADER’S

PARKSIDE 23

1319 E. Henry Clay St. 414-964-3800

1041 N. Old World Third St. 414-271-3377

2300 Pilgrim Square Drive, Brookfield 262-784-7275

jackpandls.com

madersrestaurant.com

parkside23.com

When all lit up at night during the holiday season, the outside of Jack Pandl’s resembles a life-sized gingerbread house.

Inside, you won’t be disappointed. The cozy dining room and welcoming staff will make you feel right at home. This is a place steeped in tradition and beloved by generations. Larger groups can be accommodated but depending on the size of that group you may still be quite close to other diners. Traditional German fare as well as supper club favorites make Jack Pandl’s an excellent choice for your Christmas Eve dinner.

Germans are well-known for their great love of Christmas. Step into Mader’s German restaurant during the holiday season, and you’ll feel yourself being swept up into that Christmas love. Decorated with lighted garlands and trees, the historic dining room takes on an almost magical air. Private dining spaces are available but fill up quickly. Likewise, the Christmas Day Brunch is very popular, featuring all of your family’s German favorites. Be sure to stop in the Knight’s Bar for an incredible Mader’s Old Fashioned made from their own 100-year-old recipe.

As a farm to table restaurant, Parkside 23 offers the freshest of foods year round, and makes seasonal local foods the stars of their menu. The elegant, yet understated, dining room can accommodate groups of moderate size, but the private “Beer Room” can hold about 35 seated guests.

Simple decorations and soft lighting will help to bring the holiday cheer. Parkside’s varied menu offers many options, highlighting gluten-free items for folks who are often overlooked in group dining scenarios. Make sure to treat yourself to their exceptionally good creamed corn.

Susan Harpt Grimes is a longtime restaurant and features writer for the Shepherd Express.

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DECEMBER 2021 | 31

SPECIAL HOLIDAY DRINK GUIDE | SPONSORED BY DISCOUNT LIQUOR

Three Cocktail Kings for the Holidays

BY GAETANO MARANGELLI

PINEAPPLE AMARO TODDY

32 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Photos by Gaetano Marangelli.

O

nce upon a time in the village of Wauwatosa, on a night wrapped in snow and bound with ice, a score of Christmas carolers in scarlet capes and hoods bundled up and down a neighborhood. They broke the stillness of the frosty night by serenading houses with holiday songs—“Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells,” “We Three Kings” and “Joy to the World.”

Chef Paul Bartolotta, cofounder and owner of the Bartolotta Restaurants, was recreating the neighborhood Christmas caroling parties staged by his father, T. J. Bartolotta. Tudy, as he was known to friends and followers, was a legendary Milwaukee impresario, a producer and director who created magical scenes for grand operas and Broadway musicals, nights of neighborhood Christmas carols and quiet conversations over cake and coffee.

Their throats dry and their lips blue, the Scarlet Carolers bundled to Paul’s house for a festive holiday table and a glorious bowl of Vin Brulé—Italian Mulled Wine. In his years of culinary study in the regions of Italy, Paul enjoyed Vin Brulé during the winter holidays.

As bright as an alto and lush as a soprano, as rich as a baritone and deep as a bass, the Vin Brulé warmed the carolers’ lips, slaked their thirsts, and cheered their hearts.

Along with Chef Bartolotta’s recipe for Vin Brulé, the writer and cookbook author Valerie Peterson offers us her recipe for Liquid Mistletoe from Peterson’s Holiday Helper and mixologist Brandon Reyes, general manager of Bittercube, offers us his recipe for the Pineapple Amaro Toddy. Three cocktail kings for the new holiday season.

Photo courtesy of and taken by Brandon Reyes, General Manager of Bittercube.

DECEMBER 2021 | 33

SPECIAL HOLIDAY DRINK GUIDE | SPONSORED BY DISCOUNT LIQUOR

Vin Brulé (Mulled Wine) CONTRIBUTED BY CHEF PAUL BARTOLOTTA. INGREDIENTS • 1 bottle of good quality red wine (750 mls) • 150 grams of sugar • 3 strips of orange peel (avoid the bitter white pith) • 3 strips of lemon peel (avoid the bitter white pith) • 2 star anise • 3 cloves • 3 cinnamon sticks • 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg

METHOD • Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan and stir.

• Over medium-high heat, bring all ingredients to a simmer and carefully flambé.

• When the flames go out, the alcohol has been cooked off.

Remove from the heat.

• Strain the mulled wine through a fine sieve. Discard the orange peels, lemon peels, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon sticks.

Photo by samael334/Getty Images.

• Serve immediately.

Photo courtesy of and taken by Brandon Reyes, General Manager of Bittercube.

Pineapple Amaro Toddy CONTRIBUTED BY BRANDON REYES OF BITTERCUBE. “A soothing beacon of comfort during the cold winter months, the hot toddy lends itself to experimentation with spice,” says Reyes.

“The pineapple amaro toddy employs apple brandy to accentuate the embittered, fruit-forward pineapple amaro. Picture the warm aromas of apple pie and pineapple upside down cake in an oven, baking together . . .”

INGREDIENTS • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice • 1/4 oz tapped Wisconsin maple syrup • 1 oz Laird's Apple Brandy • 1 oz Heirloom Pineapple Amaro • 4 oz hot water off the boil • 2 full droppers Bittercube Jamaican No. 1 Bitters • Glass: 8 oz Glass Mug • Garnish: Dried orange slice studded with cloves 34 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

METHOD • Temper cocktail glass by filling with boiling hot water while constructing cocktail.

• In a separate vessel, combine 4 ounces boiling water, apple brandy, pineapple amaro, maple syrup, bitters and juice.

• Lightly stir the cocktail to combine ingredients.

• Empty water from serving glass and pour cocktail into warm cocktail glass.

Photo courtesy of writer and cookbook author Valerie Peterson. Photo by Dan Salyer.

Liquid Mistletoe “I love punches as an easy way to serve drinks to a crowd,” says Peterson, “but take care because, like a good cocktail, the ‘punch’ comes in a tasty, velvet glove. Ice rings and ice blocks melt more slowly than ice cubes and therefore keep your punch chilled for longer with less dilution.”

Makes 30 servings NOTE: Start festive ice mold at least a day before you’re going to use it. Use a ring mold, a Bundt pan or, for block, a well-rinsed waxed milk carton with top cut off. Put cranberries, lime slices and mint leaves along the bottom with about 1.5 inches of water.

Freeze until firm. Add 2 inches of water and another layer of fruit.

Freeze until firm. Continue making layers until you’ve filled the mold. Freeze until rock-solid, at least overnight.

CONTRIBUTED BY VALERIE PETERSON FROM PETERSON’S HOLIDAY HELPER: FESTIVE PICK-ME-UPS, CALM-ME-DOWNS AND HANDY HINTS TO KEEP YOU IN GOOD SPIRITS (PRH/CLARKSON POTTER).

INGREDIENTS • 2 liters dark Jamaican rum, such as Myers • 1 liter apricot brandy • 1 liter orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec • 3 cups freshly squeezed lime juice (about 30 limes), well chilled • 3 cups orange juice, well-chilled • Festive ice ring or ice block (see note) • 1 liter club soda, well chilled

METHOD • In punch bowl, combine the rum, brandy, orange liqueur, lime juice and orange juice.

• Place the ice ring or block in the bowl.

• Add the club soda.

• Serve in punch cups.

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.

DECEMBER 2021 | 35

SPECIAL HOLIDAY DRINK GUIDE | SPONSORED BY DISCOUNT LIQUOR

The Growing Popularity of Non-Alcoholic Beers

BY BLAINE SCHULTZ

36 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Photo by PavelKant/Getty Images.

T

here are many reasons to drink non-alcoholic (NA) beer, but one is the recent trend, Dry January, which follows New Year’s Eve—the most indulgent night of the holiday season.

According to one report, one in five Americans plan to participate in Dry January.

Big names such as Heineken, Coors, Beck’s and Old Milwaukee produce NA beers along with familiar brews, while Sharp’s (Miller), Kaliber O’Doul’s and Clausthaler focus on the NA market.

LAKEFRONT BREWERY’S LOCAL NA A number of craft breweries have marketed NA beers. Locally, Milwaukee’s Lakefront Brewery leads the pack. Their Riverwest Stein NA Amber Near Beer is described as “medium-light body with a dash of caramel malt sweetness that’s quickly curbed by a pleasing crisp, near-lager finish.”

For beer aficionados, it is less than 0.5% ABV and 24 IBUs (International Bitterness Units scale, a gauge of beer’s bitterness) with Two-Row Pale, Caramel and Roasted Barley Malts, as well as Zeus, Willamette and Cascade Hops.

Low-to-no-alcohol beverages have become increasingly popular.

It is one of the hottest markets these days, said Michael Stodola, brand manager of Lakefront Brewery. “Between older drinkers not wanting the drunk or the calories, to Millennials who see beer as fattening, NA beers are very popular. Breweries like Athletic Brewing have built fame and glory on NA.”

Photo by Michael Burmesch.

Lakefront founder and president, Russ Klisch, always sees opportunities out there and to develop a local NA was one he wanted to jump on. That turned out to be a great innovation, because the Riverwest Stein NA is selling well, Stodola added.

“We have our friends at Octopi (in Waunakee, Wis.) brew this beer for us because they have the equipment. They brew the beer with our exact recipe and then use their de-alcoholizer to remove the ethanol,” Stodola said, “The process isn’t so different, just one piece of key, very expensive machinery.”

Lakefront Brewery is realizing the desire for local NA beer. “We’ve been appreciative of our NA fans out there so much that talk of doing more is now a regular dialogue. Low-to-no-alcohol beers are becoming popular on a health trend,” he said. “Obviously, this trend is playing into the hands of the hundreds of Seltzer brands out there.”

Blaine Schultz is a Milwaukee musician and staff writer for the Shepherd Express.

DECEMBER 2021 | 37

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | SPONSORED BY WISCONSIN STATE FAIR

1 2 0 2

Holiday Gifł Guide

ART*BAR

BRADY STREET

722 E. Burleigh St., Milwaukee 414-372-7880 facebook.com/artbarmke/

bradystreet.org

Give the gift of Original Art this Holiday. “MINI” TINY ART @ TINY PRICES, is the largest local small art show of its kind. Over 150 juried talented artists have created small art pieces (under 8” x 8”) and everything is priced under $100. View from over 700 pieces on display and 1,500 items in back-up stock, the show is replenished daily and has something for everyone. Art Bar is open daily at 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. on weekends.

Please mask if not vaxed. All credit cards accepted; the show runs until Dec. 31.

Brady Street offers gift options for all the people (and animals) in your life. From retail stores, to restaurants, nail salons, hair salons, barbers, tattoo parlors, and even a pet store—Brady Street is a one-stop shopping destination for the gifts that will delight your family and friends. Shop local. Shop Brady.

C3 DESIGNS 2110 10th Ave., South Milwaukee 414-764-3892 C3-designs.com C3 Designs and their custom design team just celebrated winning their 25th jewelry design award. They specialize in crafting all of your one-of-a-kind jewelry needs for the holidays, and every occasion!

BBC LIGHTING 2015 W. St. Paul Ave., Milwaukee 414-933-0808 Shopbbclighting.com Milwaukee’s largest lighting showroom has something for every style and taste. Wander the aisles and find unique treasures that you can find only at BBC Lighting. Ask about our gift cards which will brighten the lives of family and friends this Holiday Season!

38 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

DECEMBER 2021 | 39

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | SPONSORED BY WISCONSIN STATE FAIR

DOOR COUNTY CHRISTKINDLMARKT

FISCHBERGER’S VARIETY

10310 Fieldcrest Road, Sister Bay, Wis. (Corner of Museum Past) doorcountychristmasmarket.com

2445 N. Holton St., Milwaukee 414-263-1991 Fischbergers.com

Door County’s first ever European-style Christmas Market! Starting the last weekend in November, Christkindlmarkt will showcase vendors selling handcrafted, made-in-Door County goods, with food booths selling traditional northern European fare. Shop as Christmas music fills the air! The market is scheduled to be open three weekends: Nov. 26-28, Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 11-13.

There’s so much in stock this holiday season at Fischberger’s Variety! Celebrating our 15th year, we mean to bring you the funnest, freshest gifts, free gift wrapping and you’re done! Gifts for the whole family, always edgy and wholesome. Always at the lowest possible price!

IGNITE DISPENSARY 1550 N. Water St., Milwaukee 414-810-0011 Ignitedispensary.com Ignite Dispensary is your trusted dispensary for Hemp, CBD, hemp-derived Delta-8, tobacco, and vape products. We are passionate about helping you enhance your lifestyle and are proud to provide the best products on the market and that’s why we only carry brands that are licensed and independently tested for potency and purity. If you want a shop that you can trust, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you are looking for stress or tension relief, or something to enhance your focus or mood, we’ve got what you’re looking for.

40 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

KNUCKLEHEADS

MB SQUARED PHOTOGRAPHY

2949 N. Oakland Ave., Milwaukee 414-962-3052 knuckleheadsCBD.com

MbSquaredPhotography.square.site Instagram: @mbsquaredphotography

Stop by Knuckleheads and check out their large variety of Wellness products! An updated product menu is available on their website. Visit on a Saturday or Sunday and enjoy discounted Wellness products!

Discover why Knuckleheads was voted “Best of Milwaukee” Best Head Shop, Vape Shop and CBD Shop in 2020!

Easy to frame 8”x8”, 12.5”x12.5” photography art prints, as well as drink coasters/magnets are available. Milwaukee, state of Wisconsin, and Midwest region is highlighted.

DECEMBER 2021 | 41

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | SPONSORED BY WISCONSIN STATE FAIR

MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET

MINOR’S GARDEN CENTER, INC

MilwaukeeMakersMarket.com

7777 N. 76th St., Milwaukee 414-354-4830 Minorsgardencenter.com

Milwaukee Makers Market encourages shopping local this Holiday Season on Dec 19th at Discovery World from 10am - 4pm ! The Holiday Pop-Up Market will feature over 40 Local Small Businesses including Art, Jewelry, Soaps, Clothing, Candles, Unique Gifts, Milwaukee-themed accessories, and MORE! Admission to the Market is FREE!

42 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Let Minors help you continue your family tradition of choosing the best fresh Christmas tree! You can choose from our very popular flocked trees, handmade wreaths, and poinsettias. All in your favorite color!

Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

What’s Under Your Tree?

JEWELERS GUILD

RAISALS

2408 E St. Francis Ave. 53235 | 414-488-2727

PIZZA MAN Locations in Milwaukee, Mequon, & Wauwatosa Pizzamanwi.com Pizza Man knows pizza is on everyone’s list, so give the gift of pizza! For every $100 in Pizza Man gift cards that you purchase during November and December, you get a $20 bonus gift card.

Give Pizza Man gift cards, because wrapping a pizza is just weird.

SCONI BOYS DISPENSARY 2719 S. 108th St., West Allis 262-324-4367 Sconiboys.com Sconi Boys is a Wisconsin dispensary offering a different yet inviting experience that is perfect for all consumers. Enjoy our broad selection of house brand products, including boutique indoor flower, handcrafted hash, edibles, topicals and concentrates. Browse our DIY section (including Delta 8 & THC-O), sign up for an educational workshop, and don’t miss out on our Happy Hour Specials!

DECEMBER 2021 | 43

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | SPONSORED BY WISCONSIN STATE FAIR

SPARROW BOUTIQUE

TACKY GRANNY UGLY SWEATERS

2260 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Bay View Sparrowboutiquemke.com

facebook.com/tackygrannysweaters

Locally owned boutique and gift shop featuring contemporary women's clothing, handmade jewelry and accessories, art gifts and more! Shop online at sparrowboutiquemke.com or shop in person, seven days a week!

Show off your local pride at your holiday parties with a sweater from the Tacky Granny! Our sweaters show off all you have to love about your city, with the added ugly sweater flair! Designed and printed locally in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Custom designs are also available.

SPARROW COLLECTIVE

THE JEWELERS GUILD

2224 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Bay View 414-747-9229 Sparrowcollective.com

2408 E. St. Francis Ave., St. Francis 414-488-2727 Jewelersguild.biz

Brick-and-mortar artisan gift shop featuring tees, home goods, body care, jewelry, art and gifts sourced from locally and independently owned brands across the United States. Follow @ sparrowcollective for all the latest goods.

Located in South Bay View just off KK on St, Francis Ave., The Jewelers Guild does custom design, repairs, appraisals, as well as very special Make Your Own Wedding Rings along with classes and workbench rentals. Offering a selection of beautiful bespoke jewelry. More information and pix on their IG @jewelersguild, online or phone.

44 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

DECEMBER 2021 | 45

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | SPONSORED BY WISCONSIN STATE FAIR

TRALEE IRISH IMPORTS 5423 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee 414-662-7175 traleeirishimports.com Located just West of Wauwatosa on Vliet Street, Tralee brings you every food item from the Emerald Isle and the United Kingdom that you’ll ever want. From candy and potato chips to sausage and breads, Tralee offers the widest selection of Irish and British foods in Wisconsin. Stop in today for the leprechaun on your list or just treat yourself to the many selections of candy!

URBAL TEA THE TOOL SHED: AN EROTIC BOUTIQUE 2427 N. Murray Ave., Milwaukee 414-906-5304 Toolshedtoys.com The Tool Shed believes that loving our bodies is a revolutionary act, and that sexuality, pleasure, and intimacy are central to human well-being and health. Our shop offers a curated selection of quality sex toys, lubes, body products, books, and gifts in a welcoming atmosphere. Questions? Our friendly staff of sexuality educators is available to help. Staying safer at home? We ship and offer curbside pickup at toolshedtoys.com!

THEATRE GIGANTE Theatregigante.org Stories from Holidays On Ice Come celebrate the holidays with Theatre Gigante and bring the imp in you along. This production will be live streamed into the comfort and warmth of your own home. For a donation in any amount Theatre Gigante will send you a link to the performance.

Dec. 20th and 27th at 7pm. For details go to theatregigante.org.

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3060 S. 13th St., Milwaukee 414-231-3970 Urbalhealth.com Urbal Tea, on Milwaukee’s Southside, offers teas that are formulated with positive energy and health benefits. They’re full of nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants that help you stay healthy.

With full leaf herbs and high quality ingredients, Urbal Tea focuses on big benefits and bold flavors. The cafe offers tea themed Advent calendars, gifts, and a variety of beverage options.

VERDANT 2680 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee 414-763-3762 Verdantcbd.com Ring in the holidays with the finest quality DELTA 8 THC and CBD products and enjoy complimentary gift wrapping! Founded by a family with an extensive background in the Health Care Industry, Verdant CBD is dedicated to providing only the highest quality CBD and DELTA 8 THC products for health and wellness on the market. Each of our hemp-based products undergo stringent testing for quality, assuring that you’re buying products you can trust. Free shipping on orders over $25 when you visit us 24/7 at VERDANTCBD.com.

Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

DECEMBER 2021 | 47

SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | SPONSORED BY WISCONSIN STATE FAIR

WINTER WONDERS

WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS AT RACINE ZOO

Boerner Botanical Gardens in Whitnall Park 6751 S. 92nd St., Franklin Winterwonders.org

200 Goold St., Racine Racinezoo.org

Boerner Botanical Gardens is enhancing the 2021 Holiday Light Show with new effects, bigger displays and new technology tricks! Santa will be on site to share his holiday wishes. Tickets for full carloads are $25; limited nightly “skip the line” tickets are $35.

Tickets should be purchased in advance online. All carloads receive a free gift bag with coupons, ornament, and other items on certain nights. COVID-19 safety guidelines followed. Open nightly 5-10 p.m. including holidays, Nov 19-Jan 2.

Marvel at the sight of dazzling illuminations from your vehicle!

Drive through Racine Zoo's Wonderland of Lights enchanting light show featuring delightfully decorated trees, charming characters, and abundant holiday adventure. We are OPEN on all holidays including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Enjoy a fun night out with the family for the holidays! Nov. 19-Jan. 2

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR Wistatefair.com Give the gift of the State Fair this holiday season! The best prices are available NOW with $10 Fair Tickets! Elf Pack & Santa’s Sack bundles will get you the biggest savings for you or that Fair Lover in your life! Sale ends Dec. 31, 2021!

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Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

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IT’S TIME FOR

Holiday Lights

ANNUAL DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL STRIVES TO 'CONNECT THE COMMUNITY'

BY CATHERINE JOZWIK 50 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

D

owntown Milwaukee’s dazzling Holiday Lights Festival has returned for its 23rd year and will brighten the district through Jan. 1, 2022. Showcasing more than half a million lights, this year’s free festival, sponsored by many local businesses and organizations, features three decorated parks, socially distant family-friendly activities, snacks and more.

Holiday Lights is presented by Johnson Financial Group and organized by Downtown BID, #21. During the Downtown BID’s early years, member businesses decorated streets and teamed up with local retailers to adorn their shops. In 1998, the organization expanded the festival by adding three themed parks and a holiday kickoff event. Since then, other activities have been added, including its popular Jingle Bus tour and Santa’s Mailbox in Cathedral Square.

“The evolution has been really interesting and amazing,” said Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 since its inception more than two decades ago. “We are one hundred percent excited that we can still find ways to connect with the community.”

NEW AND EXCITING EXPERIENCES Weirick said that planning the Holiday Lights festival is a yearround job. “There’s not a week that goes by that we’re not thinking about Holiday Lights,” she added. “We’re always looking at

Photos by Alan Herzberg. Illustrations by Ali Bachmann.

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ways that we can provide our visitors with new and exciting experiences over the holidays.” In addition to Holiday Lights, BID #21 organizes several other large annual events, including Downtown Dining Week, Taste & Toast and Downtown Employee Appreciation Week. “Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 is a phenomenal organization with unbelievably committed property owners and leadership,” said Weirick.

Every holiday season, the BID decorates Cathedral Square, Pere Marquette Park and Zeidler Union Square. This year, visitors of all ages can watch an animated polar bear band play cheerful tunes at Pere Marquette’s HiBEARnation Station.

Zeidler Union Square’s “Home Is Where the Hearth is Powered by WE Energies” includes a simulated fireplace and cozy chair, providing ample opportunities for selfies.

Cathedral Square Park will once again pay tribute to Milwaukee’s vibrant neighborhoods and schools through its theme, “Community Spirit Park.” In the past, hundreds of elementary students decorated the park’s evergreen trees with hand-crafted ornaments, interacted with police on horseback, and took a Hop tour of Downtown Milwaukee. Although fewer schools (around 70, according to Weirick) participated in decorating the 100 evergreens this year, a number of businesses helped out. The park’s blinking Singing Tree offers another visitor attraction.

DOWNLOAD THE JINGLE BUS In lieu of the in-person Jingle Bus Tour, a free five-episode podcast, available in

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English and Spanish, can be downloaded through IHeart Radio.

Visitors can follow the Jingle Bus route and witness its sights on foot or by car.

This year, Downtown Milwaukee visitors can sample treats selected by Milwaukee Food & City Tours while taking in the glittering sights. Jingle Joy bags ($15) are available for purchase at Zeidler Union Square’s Jingle Joy Drive-Thru, operating 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 3 through 18. Credit cards and cash are accepted.

Designed by local artist Andrew Schumann, the 21st edition of the Holiday Lights pewter ornament features the Warner Marquee of the Bradley Symphony Center, the new home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The ornament costs $19.95 plus shipping and is available for purchase at shop.milwaukeedowntown.com.

“It’s a really great way to commemorate the historic marquee and welcome it to the Milwaukee area,” said Weirick. Past ornament editions, including 2020’s Hoan Bridge and 2008’s Milwaukee County Historical Society, are available for $24.95. “They make awesome gifts all year round,” she added.

“I really look at Holiday Lights overall, and the significance of the event and just how important it is as it relates to the community,” Weirick said, noting that the event’s free activities bring “joy and delight to the Greater Milwaukee community. I love so many of our neighborhoods in this city, and we need to serve one another. The more united we are, the stronger we are as a city.”

She believes that the Holiday Lights Festival not only fosters community but enhances Milwaukee’s reputation as a fun city to visit. “Milwaukee has become a great regional and national destination,” added Weirick. “Our locally-owned businesses have been through a lot over these past 16 months. I encourage everyone to come Downtown and dash through the glow.”

Catherine Jozwik is a Milwaukee writer and frequent contributor to shepherdexpress.com.

Photos by Alan Herzberg. Illustrations by Ali Bachmann.

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THIS MONTH IN MILWAUKEE

13 Things to Do on NEW YEAR’S EVE

BY ALLEN HALAS, BARRY HOULEHEN, DAVID LUHRSSEN AND BLAINE SCHULTZ 54 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY HORSESHOES & HAND GRENADES W/RYAN NECCI & THE BUFFALO GOSPEL PABST THEATER, 8 P.M. Now into their second decade, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades continue with their traditional string band hootenanny. Emerging from the pandemic with the album Miles in Blue, the quintet welcomes the New Year with Ryan Necci & The Buffalo Gospel.

KOCH MARSHALL TRIO SHANK HALL, 10 P.M. Ring in the New Year with musical virtuosity spiked with humor courtesy guitarist Greg Koch, drummer Dylan Koch and Hammond B3 organist Toby Marshall. Amid challenges, the trio released their second album From the Up' Nuh during the pandemic.

ALUMINUM KNOT EYE W/FLORIDA BROTHERS BAND CIRCLE A, 8 P.M. Contrary to musical conspiracy theorists, there is little more than coincidence that noise-rockers Aluminum Knot Eye just happen to play Riverwest’s Circle A Café every time Father Time turns the page. Ringing in the New Year with punk rock mayhem, they will be joined by Florida Brothers Band.

NATE CRAIG LAUGHING TAP, 8 P.M. AND 10:15 P.M. Ring in the New Year with comedy and champagne. Comedian Nate Craig, who appeared in the Netflix series “Maniac,” and wrote for MTV’s “Ridiculousness,” performs two shows.

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CLUB LIFE KREWELLA AT STELLAR SPARK NEW YEAR’S EVE THE RAVE, 8 P.M. Dance your way into 2022 with a solid lineup of EDM DJs at The Rave, with an all-ages bash that kicks off at 8 p.m. and runs through the night. Krewella will headline the party, which also features sets from Athenis, Nate Derus, DJ Reims, Opticbox and Finchie.

MILWAUKEE’S BIGGEST NYE PARTY POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO, 8 P.M. Celebrate the new year in style at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino this year. Enjoy exciting casino gaming like nowhere else with DJs all through the night. Tickets include a champagne toast, party favors, complimentary coat check and free structure parking.

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Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

NEW YEAR’S EVE 2022 DISTRICT ON WATER, 9 P.M. Ring in 2022 and watch the ball drop as you dance the night away at one of Milwaukee’s premier Latin night clubs. A complimentary champagne toast and premium open bar until midnight are among the festivities, as well as a lineup featuring DJs Danny Boy, DMatic, DJ Breezy and DJ Aztek.

‘90S DECADE NEW YEAR’S EVE AJOBRADY’S, 6 P.M.

2022 ALL ACCESS NYE

Turn back the clock while you turn it forward at AJOBrady’s in Menomonee Falls, as they celebrate the new year with a ‘90s themed party. A first-come, first-serve dinner will be available as the doors open, and a complimentary champagne toast will be offered at midnight. Listen to your favorite throwbacks all night long!

ELWOOD’S LIQUOR & TAP, 10:30 P.M. The DJs will be pumping beats on Water Street for the new year, as Elwood’s Liquor & Tap hosts their 2022 All Access NYE party.

Exclusive drink specials and a cover charge-free evening will be available for those who get their wristbands by 10:30 p.m. at the bar.

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FAMILY EVENTS

Photo courtesy of The Harlem Globetrotters.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS FISERV FORUM, 1 P.M. AND 6 P.M. Wait, you've never been to the New Year's Eve Harlem Globetrotters game? Okay, this is the year to do it. This is a really really longstanding Milwaukee tradition, and the clown princes of basketball are giving you two games to choose from as they dunk and half-court-shot their way against the mighty Washington Generals. Just cue “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM 10 A.M.-3 P.M. For a quiet yet thought-provoking way to spend the last day of the old year, visit MAM’s current exhibition by photographer An-My Lê. As a teenager, she was among the Vietnamese evacuated by the U.S. when Saigon fell in 1975. In 1995, Lê returned to her homeland for the first time, bringing a largeformat camera with her. Since then, she has spent composed evocative photographs telling stories about the impact of the military on people, landscape and cultural memory.

WILD LIGHTS

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM 10 A.M.-5 P.M. Stop by granny on the porch and wish her a happy New Year!

The museum's open regular hours, and that includes the Theater and Planetarium from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Check out the Planetarium shows: “A-Z Astronomy” or “Wisconsin Stargazing,” or take in a giant film at the IMAX Theater: Ocean Odyssey or Superpower Dogs.

WILD LIGHTS MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO, 5:30-9:30 PM

Photo courtesy of Milwaukee County Zoo.

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Take a stroll through the zoo illuminated with millions of twinkling and sparkling lights placed throughout the forests and pathways.

The zoo will be lit up with special exhibits like Jungle Bells, Flamingle All the Way, and Winter Woodland, with special festive food and drink for sale. Weather permitting, you can even ride the train or the carousel.

Illustrations by Sophie Yufa.

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LIFESTYLE OUT OF MY MIND

Holidays are no Friend ło Menłal Healłh

BY PHILIP CHARD

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he American version of “the most wonderful time of the year,” now fast upon us, bears little resemblance to the definition of a holiday, which is “a day of festivity or recreation in which no work is done.” Right. In fact, the lead up to these happenings, including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s, as well as the actual days themselves, often generate plenty of toil and loads of stress. For many, this time of year proves more nerve wracking and exhausting than any other, so the holidays are no friend to mental health. In fact, surveys show over half of us report marked increases in stress, mostly from hurry sickness, gift giving, financial hardships and family conflict.

The season’s greetings we exchange suggest otherwise. Examples include “happy holidays” and “have a blessed Christmas” and “be of good cheer,” and many more. However, most prominent among these is “peace.” Sadly, there’s little of that. Time was when the holidays were a welcome respite from the hurry sickness, task mania, politicizing and frenetic lifestyles that now typify our always-on culture.

There is a unique kind of peace one experiences when the world pauses, when the relentless avalanche of daily living shudders to a stop, even if just for a day. Don’t get it? If so, perhaps you grew up following the advent of our relentless 24/7/365 culture, one in which the world never truly closes, where too many folks spend more time staring at screens than each other, and when

even Thanksgiving is now yet another shopping day. For most of us, the only way to get a feel for the peace I’m referencing is to inhabit the dead of night. Sure, always-open businesses are out there, but most folks are sleeping, traffic is minimal and there are few intrusive sounds. That is, unless one spends the night face-planted on some screen. Absent that, the silence and darkness provide a sensory sanctuary where one can simply be, rather than do.

WORLD ON PAUSE For example, one snowy Christmas Eve long ago, my siblings and I walked the empty streets of our hometown. There were no cars about, the hamlet’s two gas stations were shuttered, as were all other commercial establishments. We weren’t pestered with smartphone dings, nor aware of any “breaking news,” and the quiet enveloping us was unbroken by traffic noise or thumping music. When we stopped and listened, our ears were greeted by the faint hiss of falling snow. The world was on pause. There was an unspoken community understanding that, with few exceptions (such as emergency responders and health care workers), Christmas was a time to park the cars, close the shops and settle in for that proverbial long winter’s night.

Perhaps because the pace of existence was much slower then, the yuletide hiatus didn’t seem like such a major departure from the norm. But if such a widespread cessation in commerce and activity were to occur today, it would stand in stark contrast to our always-on, plugged-in, pedal-to-the-metal culture. And that would be just fine.

Increasingly, I hear overwhelmed, burned out, task buried people say, “I just wish the world would stop for a while.” The absence of a collective pause in our society, one when we all agree to just chill, makes it challenging to catch one’s psychological breath.

Sure, it can be done. There are retreat centers, wilderness treks, parks and other sanctuaries from modern mayhem, but the broader culture doesn’t encourage these timeouts. The implicit message is that we should be “on” every waking moment. Among the many deleterious impacts of this admonition is that most of us are sleep deprived, chronically stressed and overworked.

Americans regularly leave over a half-billion vacation days unused every year.

In the past, major holidays were times to “hush” everything, settle back into just being, rather than doing-doing-doing, and abide with family, friends and one’s self. Today, they are being swept up in the tsunami of commerce, task mastering and busyness that is the modus operandi of so many of our lives.

Think I’m an anachronistic Scrooge dumping on the holidays? Well, if you want, call me old-fashioned. Just don’t call me on Christmas.

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.

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW NINE STATES LEGALIZED MARIJUANA IN 2021

BY JEAN-GABRIEL FERNANDEZ

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Photo by Lucky Project/Getty Images.

2021 was a pivotal year in the fight for legal marijuana nationwide.

Marijuana is currently legal in 36 states for medical reasons, and recreationally available in 18 states. Only four states still maintain the full prohibition of cannabis products; an additional three states have decriminalized but not legalized it; and seven states keep marijuana banned but legalized some cannabis products such as CBD oil.

Wisconsin is torn between a progressive governor and a regressive legislature. Gov. Tony Evers repeatedly attempted to pass cannabis reform, including full legalization, through the levers of power accessible to him, but the Republicancontrolled legislature shot down every attempt, with Republican State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announcing that marijuana legalization has “zero chance of ever passing a Republican legislature.” Currently, two competing bills have been introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature: One bill, sponsored by state Sen. Melissa Agard, seeks to legalize marijuana, while another, backed the Republican majority, seeks to further increase the criminalization of cannabis in the state. The latter has much better chances to pass through the Republican gridlock.

Elsewhere in 2021, seven states adopted recreational marijuana, and two more adopted medical marijuana. Most states that have not legalized cannabis still choose to decriminalize it, like Louisiana, and other states, including Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, are still debating marijuana reform bills as of press time.

Referendums on the ballot of the November 2020 election are directly linked to some states’ reforms. Three new states gained recreational marijuana rights, one more has gained medical marijuana rights, but two more measures were struck down

by Republican-stacked courts, depriving residents of South Dakota and Mississippi of recreational and medical cannabis respectively. As it can take months to act on the decisions made at the polls, reform decided in November 2020 rolled out in 2021, starting with Montana.

MONTANA - RECREATIONAL Possession of cannabis became legal on Jan. 1 after more than 340,000 Montana residents voted for Initiative 190 at the polls in 2020. Recreational sales will not start until 2022, however.

ARIZONA - RECREATIONAL The state began 2021 with legal possession of marijuana; retail sales of recreational cannabis started on Jan. 22. Arizona became the state with the fastest turn-around from prohibition to recreational sales. In a model of democratic efficiency, it took less than two months between the certification of election results and the first legal joint being sold.

NEW JERSEY - RECREATIONAL It took until Feb. 22 for the November election results to become law in New Jersey. Unlike Arizona, where a ballot initiative is directly transcribed into law when approved by the voters, New Jersey requires legislative action to apply the results of any

successful referendum. New Jerseyans approved the Marijuana Legalization Amendment with more than 67% in favor, but this meant nothing until lawmakers passed legislation that enabled the reform, which they resisted. Residents of the state continued to be arrested for theoretically legal possession of marijuana until lawmakers agreed to harshen penalties for adults who provide minors with marijuana.

SOUTH DAKOTA - MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL (OVERTURNED) The state’s Measure 26 to legalize medical marijuana won by a large majority of 70%, while the recreational Amendment A won by 54%. Medical cannabis became legal in the state as of July 1, 2021, without additional hurdles. This is where the real troubles begin, as Republican officials have fought to overturn the legalization process. The most significant problems arose when GOP judges and lawmakers resorted to foul play to overturn democratically chosen measures with bipartisan approval.

South Dakota would have become the first state to legalize both medical and recreational at the same time, but Republican Gov. Kristi Noem and her administration struck down the recreational half of the measure.

The South Dakota Supreme Court is currently considering whether to take up this case and reinstate legal recreational cannabis. As every member of the South Dakota Supreme Court is affiliated with the Republican party, advocates are not expecting the court to support the voters’ decision. Instead, South Dakota lawmakers are attempting to pass a bill that would etch into law the legalization of recreational marijuana regardless of what Republican dogmatists want.

MISSISSIPPI - MEDICAL (OVERTURNED) Despite having voted in favor of legal medical marijuana by a huge margin—more than 73%—Mississippians were robbed of it

by Republican courts. When Mississippi instated citizen initiatives to put issues on the ballot, the state had five congressional districts. The state constitution states that the congressional districts must each represent 20% of the signatures on the initiative, requiring support from all five districts. However, in 2000, Mississippi abandoned one congressional district. The state now only has four districts, but the constitution still requires signatures from five different districts—which is impossible.

Despite this issue, there have been numerous ballot initiatives in Mississippi since 2000, all of them were allowed by the state’s supreme court—until now, when the court cited this as a reason to block the legalization of marijuana.

NEW YORK - RECREATIONAL On March 31, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill legalizing adultuse cannabis in New York. It had been a key promise of Cuomo’s to fill the city’s coffers and focus on social justice, especially racial reparative justice. The bill took three years of debates but was passed by both chambers of the state legislature with a supermajority of votes.

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ALABAMA - MEDICAL

CONNECTICUT - RECREATIONAL

Several Republican lawmakers staged a filibuster to kill the marijuana reform bill when it hit the floor. Regardless, SB 46 passed and, on May 17, medical marijuana was added to Alabama law. While the bill was ultimately approved, the final version was stripped down through committees; the marijuana tax revenue directed towards research was halved, the list of qualifying conditions to receive cannabis treatment was shortened, and provisions were included to make it difficult and costly for doctors to have the ability to recommend marijuana to their patients.

Gov. Ned Lamont was personally invested in legalization and he personally introduced bills towards this goal. Although the path to success was rocky, the governor signed the full legalization of marijuana, along with social justice provisions. Possession became legal on July 1. Retail sales should begin before the end of 2022.

Another source of worry for Alabama activists is that the bill only allows physicians to prescribe marijuana when “conventional therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy is contraindicated or has proved ineffective,” thus encouraging doctors to privilege prescribing addictive opioids rather than non-addictive cannabis.

NEW MEXICO - RECREATIONAL Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had her sights on legalization for years, but it repeatedly fell through. It did so in 2021 too, because of Republican obstructionists in the legislature, but the governor called a special legislative session dedicated to marijuana and the proposal was accepted with a thin margin. Recreational marijuana became legal on June 29, with Republican-imposed restrictions on the amount one can own and a ban on public consumption of cannabis products. Retail sales are set to start in April 2022.

VIRGINIA - RECREATIONAL The Virginia Legislature proved to be a model of efficiency with its legalization efforts: In April 2020, lawmakers decriminalized cannabis. In August of the same year, the first medical dispensary in the state opened. In February 2021, lawmakers legalized recreational cannabis as well. Without a single Republican lawmaker voting in favor of it in either chamber, the recreational bill had near unanimous support among Democratic lawmakers.

Initially, legalization was supposed to become effective in 2024; but Gov. Ralph Northam himself introduced amendments that changed the effective date to July 1, 2021, accelerating the schedule by three years. Unfortunately, retail sales cannot start until lawmakers vote on it again, and Virginia voters elected Republican Glenn Youngkin as their new governor in the meantime. The future of cannabis sales, and perhaps cannabis legalization itself, is now uncertain in Virginia.

Jean-Gabriel Fernandez is a journalist and Sorbonne graduate living in Milwaukee.

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Photo by Mr_Twister/Getty Images.

15 Ways to Make Your Home Merry & Bright When Time Is Tight CONSIDER THESE IDEAS TO DECK THE HALLS WHILE BEATING THE CLOCK.

T

BY MARK HAGEN

he holidays should be a happy time, full of laughter, love and luscious treats; however, between planning menus, stuffing stockings and other party prerequisites, the stress of it all can be a bit too much. Consider these seasonal shortcuts before hauling out the holly, and you’ll turn your home into a winter wonderland in no time.

1. START WITH A PLAN.

2. TAKE AN INVENTORY.

Deciding what, where and how you’re going to decorate (inside and out) is the first step to any successful holiday makeover. Create a realistic plan for what you’ll decorate, how much you’ll spend and the amount of time you’ll dedicate to trimming your home and you’ll set yourself up for success.

Quickly review the holiday décor you already own, and you’ll avoid unnecessary trips to the store. Looking to cut expenses this year? Make a promise to only decorate with items you have on hand.

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3. FILL APOTHECARY JARS. q

4. REMEMBER THE BATHROOM.

Set ornaments, pinecones, acorns, peppermints or small evergreen twigs in apothecary or even mason jars and you’ll instantly add whimsy to any space. (You’ll use fewer ornaments if you insert an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll in the middle of the jar and fill around it.)

If you’re having guests, they’ll most likely hit up your restroom. A little holiday flair in this room goes a long way.

Photo by zoombull/Getty Images.

5. ADD TWIG BRANCH LIGHTS. p Stick a set of these small, affordable, battery-operated LED twigs in an existing floral arrangement, vase or a basket.

They’re a perfect way to add a bit of enhancement to your home without an ounce of effort.

6. THINK OUTSIDE THE TREE. Don’t have time for a Christmas tree this year? Hang a wreath or two around the house for instant holiday appeal.

7. DECORATE THE MANTEL. The fireplace is automatically a focal point, so deck out the mantle with evergreen boughs, garland and a strand or two of lights for instant elegance.

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Photo by heliopix/Getty Images.

8. GO NATURAL.

11. DECORATE THE ENTRY. q

Spray paint thin sticks and branches white and use them to decorate mantles or floral arrangements. Add spray-on silver or gold glitter for extra flair.

Setting a few decorative pieces on a foyer table or hanging a garland over an entryway mirror sets the mood when guests arrive at your home.

Photo by poligonchik/Getty Images.

9. THROW IN THROW PILLOWS. p Holiday-themed pillows featuring cheery messages such as “Joy” or “Noel” add whimsy to any room. Don’t have any?

Simply tie wide colorful ribbons around your plain throw pillows. Create a large bow on the front of the pillows for easy, affordable decorations.

10. MAKE IT SCENT-SATIONAL. Oil- and wax-warmers quickly fill homes with the scents of the season. Even if you don’t put up a single holiday decoration, aromas such as gingerbread, cranberry, pumpkin, evergreen and other familiar scents immediately transform homes.

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12. THINK SMALL. Tiny touches add up to big impacts. Balance small evergreen sprigs on top of framed artwork on the walls. Hang miniature wreathes or single ornaments from doorknobs.

13. BE SELECTIVE. When decorating the outside of your house, skip areas not seen by those passing by. There’s no need to light the back of a tree that folks aren’t going to see.

14. WRAP IT UP. q You’ll enjoy maximum impact with little effort when the wrapping paper complements the tree or the room in which the gifts sit.

Photo by photoguns/Getty Images.

Regardless of how much (or how little) you decorate this Christmas, be sure to carve out time to relax and enjoy the season. After all, nothing dresses up a home like a happy host, anxious to share holiday cheer with family and friends.

Mark Hagen is an award-winning gardener, former caterer and Milwaukee lover. His work has appeared in Country Woman Christmas, Fresh Home and Your Family.

15. DIM THE LIGHTS. q When all else fails, dim the lights and grab the candles.

Candlelight makes everything a bit more special, and this time of year is no exception.

Photo by ASIFE/Getty Images.

DECEMBER 2021 | 69

HEAR ME OUT DEAR RUTHIE | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

Christmas

COVID CUPID

DEAR RUTHIE, A guy asked me out recently. When I asked his Covid status, he seemed annoyed. He said he was negative but unvaccinated. (I am fully vaccinated.) I decided to go on the date, and things went well.

When he went in for a kiss on date No. 2, I pulled away and explained I was uncomfortable kissing a near-stranger during a pandemic who hasn’t been vaccinated. He said, “OK. Whatever. Have a good one,” and walked away. Did I overreact? Should I call and apologize?

THANKS,

Quesłioning Queen DEAR QUEENY, Happy holidays, honey! I hope your Christmas is festive, fun and Covid-free!

What do you have to apologize for? A concern for your own health? You have no need to apologize, my little sugarplum doll. Vaccination status is clearly key for you where lovers are concerned, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You call the shots regarding what you want in a boyfriend. Stick to your guns and look for someone who best fits your expectations in a partner.

XXOO

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

Follow her on social media, too!

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

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DEAR RUTHIE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Ruthie's Holly-Jolly Social Calendar DECEMBER 1 GRAND OPENING “MARY” CHRISTMAS POP-UP BAR AT HUNTY’S SOCIAL CLUB (734 S. FIFTH ST.): The team at Hamburger Mary’s decked the halls of Hunty’s for a pop-up you’ve got to see to believe. Classy meets kitschy where mulled wine, peppermint martinis and other specialties keep spirits bright. The pop-up is open all month, giving you time to take in the (silly) splendor of the season.

DECEMBER 4 A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER (108 E. WELLS ST.): A tradition in Cream City, this popular production runs through Dec. 24 and promises a wonderful wintry experience for all. This year’s show features Kevin Kantor (The Legend of Georgia McBride) as Ghost of Christmas Past, a role traditionally played by a cis woman. Don’t miss this exciting change in casting when you reserve tickets at www.milwaukeerep.com.

DECEMBER 5 “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH LIZZIE BORDEAUX & FRIENDS” AT LACAGE NITECLUB (801 S. SECOND ST.): Give Jack Frost the brush off when you enjoy this cute, cozy variety show from everyone’s favorite little elf, Lizzie Bordeaux. Mix and mingle when the doors open at 4 p.m. but grab a good seat for the 6 p.m. holiday revue.

DECEMBER 7 OPENING NIGHT “THE GOLDEN GIRLS CHRISTMAS SHOW: A DRAG PARODY” AT HAMBURGER MARY’S (730 S. FIFTH ST.): Purse Strings Production serves up this all-new Christmas delight. Dorothy (Dear Ruthie), Blanche (Dita Von), Rose (Brandon Herr) and Sophia (Miss Birdee) bring the laughs while Hamburger Mary’s brings the yum! (Your ticket includes dinner, the show and dessert.) Written by Anthony Torti, the production ends Dec. 23 but performances sell fast, so see www.brownpapertickets.com (2021 Golden Girls Holiday Parody Show) for tickets soon.

DECEMBER 9-12 BLACK NATIVITY AT MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER/WILSON THEATER (929 N. WATER ST.): Take in the story of the Nativity through scripture, song, dance and poetry from the African American perspective. Written by Langston Hughes and directed by Dimonte Henning, this year’s production includes a post-pandemic take on life. See www.marcuscenter.org for tickets and more.

DECEMBER 10-12 “CHRISTMAS AT THE BASILICA” CONCERT AT BASILICA OF ST. JOSAPHAT (601 W. LINCOLN AVE.): Celebrate this magical time of year with the Bel Canto Chorus. Let this impressive chorus fill you with holiday cheer during a remarkable concert featuring classical selections as well as traditional Christmas carols. Stop by www.belcanto.org for performance times and tickets.

DECEMBER 21 SCREEN QUEENS AT THIS IS IT (418 E. WELLS ST.): Take in a favorite holiday movie alongside drink specials and some of Milwaukee’s campiest queens every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. What will the movie be? You’ll have to drop by the bar to find out!

DECEMBER 29 SPARKLING WINE, CHEESE & CHOCOLATE (VIRTUAL) PAIRING BY INDULGENCE CHOCOLATIERS: Indulgence Chocolatiers (211 S. Second St.) hosts another digital delight with this celebrations of flavor ... and wine! Reserve your kit by calling 414223-0123. Pick it up the day before and invite a few friends over for the pairing. Chocolatier Julie Waterman walks you through the confections, cheese and wine via an 8-9 p.m. Facebook Live event.

DECEMBER 2021 | 71

HEAR ME OUT | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

WORLD AIDS DAY IS A REMINDER THAT DESPITE GREAT PROGRESS, HIV CONTINUES TO SPREAD

BY PAUL MASTERSON

72 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Illustrations by Michael Burmesch.

T

his year’s World AIDS Days, Dec. 1, fell on two significant anniversaries. Forty years ago, in 1981, a New York City LGBTQ newspaper, The New York Native, ran an article entitled “Disease Rumors Largely Unfounded.” It was the first reported appearance of a rare disease that seemingly was affecting gay men. Soon thereafter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed cases of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in gay men.

It would later be given the designation AIDS for “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.”

In 1984, HIV, human immune deficiency virus, was discovered to be the cause of AIDS. In Wisconsin, the first case of the disease was reported in 1982. That individual was from out of state. The first Wisconsin resident would be diagnosed in 1983.

Cases rose exponentially, locally and worldwide. Infection with HIV inevitably was a death sentence.

Fifteen years after that first report, infection numbers began to stabilize and, in fact, decline. An experimental therapy, the medication, azidothymidine or AZT, successfully treated those infected and despite serious side effects, managed to improve their health. In the following years, new anti-retroviral therapies evolved to the point of suppressing HIV viral loads to an undetectable level. Those infected but with undetectable virus levels were determined to be incapable of transmitting the disease to others. The crisis seemed to be contained with those treated living normal lives. HIV had become a chronic but manageable infection. Today, the positive news is that of the nearly 7000 Wisconsinites currently living with HIV, 71% are virally suppressed.

PREVENTION THROUGH EDUCATION Beyond treatment of those already infected, efforts in prevention through education have, since 2014, been buttressed by preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a drug program that can reduce HIV transmission by 99%. The drugs Truvada and Descovy have been approved as PrEP therapy. Payment is largely covered by insurance, BadgeCarePlus, and Federal programs.

Forty years after its first recorded cases, it would seem like the HIV/AIDS pandemic is largely under control. However, the most recent statistics released by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, while indicating a new infection rate trending lower, is not quite as optimistic as one might expect. While PrEP data reveal a 55% average annual increase in persons using PrEP across the United States, studies indicate that PrEP uptake in Wisconsin remains slow.

In 2018 I spoke with Dr. Jeffrey Kelly of the Medical College of Wisconsin, who, in a partnership with a study in Cleveland, OH, had received a $3.4 million National Institute of Health grant to study PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) awareness among men having sex with men (MSM). The five-year research project with 500 participants between Milwaukee and Cleveland, focuses on men of color because that particular demographic had traditionally shown higher rates of infection. In a recent follow-up conversation with Kelly, he indicated that, while the study is continuing, the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed its progress.

Among people of color, along with a history of health care disparities, distrust of the health system, inherent cultural and religious issues vis-a-vis the LGBTQ community, a specific gay community phenomenon has presented itself as an obstacle to PrEP uptake, namely PrEP shaming. In this scenario, those taking PrEP are stigmatized for being promiscuous. The result is a significantly lower percentage of PrEP uptake within the demographic with the highest infection rate.

Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Department of health Services (DHS) data report for 2020 reveals a slow decline in new cases over the past 10 years. It also confirms the continuing trend of new infections in a certain demographic, namelypeople of color, and cites 61% of 208 newly diagnosed cases concentrated in this group. The majority of those are in Milwaukee County. The DHS report did not include any new PrEP data.

Milwaukee’s Vivent Health, today a national leader in comprehensive HIV care and prevention, along with Diverse & Resilient, 16th Street Clinic and other agencies continue the struggle for a world without HIV/AIDS., Yet, despite this incredible infrastructure, access to care, and particularly to PrEP, has been disproportionate. While this has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is primarily due to pervading social disparities.

Perhaps once COVID-19 is truly on the wane, a concerted effort will be made to refocus on revitalizing strategies to make care accessible for all, remove stigma and achieve zero HIV transmission.

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.

DECEMBER 2021 | 73

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

FROM THE CITY THAT ALWAYS SWEEPS

BY ART KUMBALEK

I

’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a?

So listen, I got a confession to make: When I started to see Christmas kaboodle in some stores before Columbus Day for crying out loud, I got to admit that I started to look a little forward to the holidays, what the fock. But now with the holiday season heating up big-time but good, I must confess that I’m sitting here with not a thing to celebrate but my own failure to deliver the goods I had on my list this month for you’s. Here’s why.

I thought for sure by now at this late date in the season, I’d have this holiday song I’ve been working on for years ready for your preview, ’cause if you hear what I hear this time of year every year, you know damn well that the creaky seasonal canon needs new ammunition. Yes sir, I believed that my tune, “Every Day’s Just Another Focking Holiday,” not only would hit the charts Numero Uno with a big ol’ bullet but it would be the first holiday tune in human history that could be played each and every day of the year. And then some hotshot impresario would turn it into a Broadway musical and I’d be a millionaire, I kid you not.

But I’m having troubles working out the bridge to the tune, such that I feel like jumping off it like a regular George Bailey, and it definitely is not a wonderful life. Not when you’re flirting with the iron maiden of deep, dark despair on account of another failure—that being my inability once again to get the Art Kumbalek Mistletoe Belt Buckle to the holiday market. This really blows.

And I tell you, based on the number of queries I field throughout the year as to the availability of this fine gift idea, the Art Kumbalek Mistletoe Belt Buckle is also a million-dollar moneymaker waiting to happen. You may recall that the AKMBB is conceptualized to be so much more than just a focking stocking-stuffer gag gift, in that the belt buckle is designed to be compatible with the Art Kumbalek Big Boy Belt. Modeled on Batman’s ultra-handy utility belt, the snazzy Big Boy Belt—to be available with the Mistletoe Belt Buckle for only an additional buck two-eighty—would sport all kind of clips, loops and high-tech doo-dads so as to hold practical items like a can of beer, Bowie knife, ChapStick, loaded flask, carton of Pall Malls, an extra pair of socks; so that you could cart this stuff around the town and maintain accessible convenience whilst on the street.

74 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

But alas, what with the production and supply-chain schmutz, this Santa can’t locate a decent sweatshop. I found that a lot of these Fourth World elves are looking to make 14 cents an hour and I simply can’t do business if I have to focking fork out bluechip Third World wages like that. Hey, who could? Beats me.

And it just occurred to me that some of you’s may also be feeling failure and disappointment this time of year even as I write and you read, and the least I could do is give you a handy tip since I got experience in this area. You know what I do when I get disappointed cum out of whack? Nothing, not a damn thing that’s what, ’cause why bother? Just suck it up and steady yourself for the next load of dashed desire due down the pike any second.

And never ever forget that your crap casserole might not be some other knucklehead’s filet mig-focking-non; so what makes you think you’re so hoity-toity special you can’t have some disappointment once in a while? Hey, you tell me.

And then I’ll tell you to remember this, from the English poet John Donne about 500-focking years ago: “No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if Clod bee washed away by Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.”

Jeez louise, those old farts couldn’t spell for crap, ain’a? I had to read the above a couple, three focking times until I understood that the important thing not to forget is that every time a bell tolls, an angel gets its wings.

So, there you go. And as a devotion upon an emergent occasion, I wish you happy holidays, merry Christmas, joyous whatever-it-is-you-got-deserves-celebrating. And to all: I hope you get what’s coming to you, right here, right now, and I mean that in the best way. Be damn sure to celebrate this holiday good and plenty.

You just can’t ever be 100 per-focking-cent sure that it may not be the last one you’ll get; so make it a good one, what the fock, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

Belt/Buckle photo by Alex Milan/Getty Images. Mistletoe and holly illustrations by Jeanna Draw/Getty Images.