Award-winning guitarist and recording artist Peter Fletcher giving free performance April 16th at Racine Public Library

March 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

The Racine Public Library, located at 75 Seventh Street in downtown Racine, celebrates the return of award-winning New York classical guitarist and recording artist Peter Fletcher with a free performance on Saturday, April 16th at 2 p.m. The event is open to the public and seating is available on a first come/first served basis.

This concert will feature selections from Fletcher’s 2008 CD release on Tower Hill Records: Music of the Baroque. Other repertoire will include Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata No. 147 as well as the Chaconne in D minor by J. S. Bach; Usher-Waltz, an unusual and intense piece by Russian guitarist and composer Nikita Koshkin; two works from Maurice Ravel’s exquisite Mother Goose Suite, and music of Weiss, Albeniz, Villa-Lobos Ponce, Reusner, and Grieg.

The program will culminate with Koyunbaba, by composer/guitarist Carlo Domeniconi. This is one of the most unique and exciting works in the classical guitar repertoire.

Peter Fletcher began guitar study at the age of seven under classical guitar instructor, John Sutherland. In December, 1983, he made his formal debut at the age of fifteen under the auspices of The Brasstown Concert Association in North Carolina. Wrote the critic of The Cherokee Scout, “He has technical facility but what one remembers about his playing is the nuances, the poetical phrasing, dynamic and tonal changes, his harmonics, his cadences.”

Fletcher has studied extensively with world renowned classical guitarists such as Jose Tomas, David Leisner, David Russell, Oscar Ghiglia and Pepe Romero. In 1995, he received the Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music under Nicholas Goluses, and was twice the recipient of an Eastman Graduate Award.

In demand as a performer, Mr. Fletcher has been invited to give recitals at cultural venues throughout the country. He made his New York Debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in February 2007, and returned in March 2009.

Peter Fletcher’s three recordings, The Art of Classical Guitar, A Peter Fletcher Recital and Federico Mompou: Guitar Works (Centaur Records CRC 2588), have received critical acclaim.

In September ‘05 Centaur Records released Peter Fletcher plays Erik Satie (CRC 2731). Steven Rings from The American Record Guide states: “The works all sit very nicely on the guitar, and Fletcher’s performances are taut and incisive, counteracting the common tendency to play Satie’s music like sleepy New Age.”

Wrote Steven Rings of The American Record Guide: “He has a strong technique, a consistent tone, and a strong interpretive imagination.”

Proclaimed Peter Burwasser of Fanfare Magazine: “Fletcher plays it all with a gracious virtuosity that makes for a very pleasing hour plus of unaffected musical poetry.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Entertainment | No Comments »

Opening Day ceremonies, homestand details set for the Brewers

March 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

The Milwaukee Brewers begin the home portion of the 2011 season schedule on Monday, April 4th with the Home Opener against the Atlanta Braves. Details for Opening Ceremonies and the entire homestand follow.

Tickets for the Home Opener are sold out. Very limited seating is available for the Saturday, April 9th game against the Cubs. Tickets remain in most seating categories for the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday games against the Braves and the Friday and Sunday games versus the Cubs.

Monday, April 4 vs. Atlanta Braves, 1:10 p.m. (Home Opener)
•Parking Lots/Gate Opening Times: The Miller Park parking lots will open at 10 a.m. on Opening Day. The gates to the ballpark will open two hours before first pitch.
•First Pitch: Fans will want to ensure they are in their seats for a very special ceremonial first pitch. No additional details will be announced in advance.
•National Anthem: Joseph Attanasio, father of Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio, will sing the National Anthem before Monday’s Home Opener.
•Associated Bank Brewers Magnetic Schedule Day: All fans in attendance will receive a Brewers 2011 magnetic schedule, compliments of Associated Bank.
•The 9th Annnual Klement’s Opening Day First Brat Relay Race: Prior to the Home Opener, the Famous Racing Sausages will take part in the 9th Annual Klement’s Opening Day First Brat Relay Race, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Klement’s plant on Chase Ave. The Famous Racing Sausages will deliver the “First Brat” all the way to Miller Park (weather permitting).

The Brewers are urging fans to plan ahead when considering parking options for all games at Miller Park, but in particular for the Home Opener.

Fans may purchase parking passes in advance for all home dates at Miller Park, including Opening Day. In addition to the Miller Park Box Office, fans may purchase parking passes through brewers.com or by phone at (414) 902-4000.

Consistent with recent years, the Brewers have arranged for overflow parking at Wisconsin State Fair Park for Opening Day. In the likely event that Miller Park lots reach capacity, fans may take the 84th street exit from I-94 and enter through gate #7. From there, they will see signage and staff directing them to the parking area. A $10 fee will cover vehicle parking and shuttle services are free. Buses, provided by Riteway Bus, will be staged near the US Cellular Gate at State Fair Park and will offer service to and from Miller Park before and after the game. Shuttle services are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. and will run until approximately 1.5 hours after the game. Buses will pick up in the drop-off location which will be located on VA grounds. Fans should follow the path marked “Stadium” which will lead them to the Right Field Gate

MILLER PARK GATE OPENING TIMES (Except for Opening Day; subject to Change In Season)
•Gates open 2 hours prior to the scheduled start of all Marquee Games.
•In April, May and September, gates open 90 minutes prior to the scheduled start of non-Marquee Games, 7 days a week. In June, July and August, gates open 90 minutes prior to the scheduled start of non-Marquee Games Sunday-Friday and 2 hours prior to the scheduled start of all Saturday games.
Tuesday, April 5 vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:10 p.m
•Time Warner Cable Customer Appreciation Days: In the month prior to a redemption date, Time Warner Cable customers can find a buy-one, get-one free Terrace Level ticket voucher in their Time Warner Cable statement. Vouchers may be redeemed by mail, at the Miller Park Box Office, or online at brewers.com/timewarnercable.
Wednesday, April 6 vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:10 p.m.
•Valvoline Instant Oil Change Special Coupon: The first 20,000 fans 18 and older will receive a special coupon offer from Valvoline Instant Oil Change.
Thursday, April 7 vs. Atlanta Braves, 12:40 p.m.
•Weather Day at Miller Park: April 7 is the 3rd Annual Weather Day at Miller Park, a special day for students that includes a Meteorology lesson and Weather Day Quiz from Storm Team 4, followed by a special Science Fair featuring Discovery World and the Learning Shop prior to the Brewers game against the Braves. For details, call (414) 902-GRPS (4777) or visit brewers.com/weatherday.
•Discovery World Coupon: The first 10,000 fans through the gates will receive a coupon for free child’s admission to Discovery World with the purchase of an adult admission.
•Kids and Senior Citizen Discount Day: Kids 14 and under and seniors 60 and over receive up to 50% savings on all seats except for Bernie’s Terrace and Uecker Seats. For information, call (414) 902-4000 or visit brewers.com/tickets.
Friday, April 8 vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:10 p.m.
•Potawatomi Pen Schedule: The first 20,000 fans 21 and older will receive a pen schedule, courtesy of Potawatomi.
•Time Warner Cable Student Nights: High school and college students can purchase Terrace Reserved tickets for half price when showing their current student ID at the Miller Park Box Office, courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Tickets can be purchased by calling (414) 902-4000 or visiting brewers.com/students.
•Brewers Fair Fridays: Every Friday is a $13 Fair Friday at Miller Park. A Fair Friday purchase includes one Terrace Reserved ticket to one of 13 Friday Brewers home games during the 2011 season and one general admission ticket to the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair presented by U.S. Cellular®. For information, call (414) 902-4000 or visit brewers.com/statefair (subject to availability). Offer ends July 31.
•Miller Lite Beerpen: Each Friday home game, all fans 21 and older can be part of the Miller Lite Beerpen in the Right Field Loge Bleachers. Tickets are $20 and include a Brewers t-shirt and special entertainment in the Miller Lite Beerpen. Marquee games are $30.
Saturday, April 9 vs. Chicago Cubs, 6:10 p.m.

Sunday, April 10 vs. Chicago Cubs, 1:10 p.m.

•Kalahari Resorts VIP Savings Card: The first 10,000 fans 21 and older will receive a Kalahari VIP Savings Card, courtesy of Kalahari Resorts.
•Great Clips Kids Base Run: Kids 16 and under can run the bases after Sunday home games. For details on how to enter to win the chance to lead off the Great Clips Base Run, visit participating Milwaukee-area Great Clips salons.

The illustration used in this article was drawn by Joseph Szabo.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on the Milwaukee Brewers official website

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Sports | No Comments »

Kenosha Public Library use stabilized at peak levels in 2010

March 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Kenosha Public Library (KPL) use stabilized at peak levels in 2010. Despite pay freezes and unpaid furlough days, KPL staff continued to provide Kenosha citizens the top quality service they have come to expect. Even though furlough days shut KPL down five additional days in 2010, customers still visited the Library a record 873,209 times, an increase of 1% over 2009.

In 2010, customers checked out 2% fewer magazines, books, CDs, and DVDs than in 2009, the year with the most checkouts ever. But customers did check out 3% more items in 2010 than in 2008. Library program attendance followed much the same pattern, dropping 5% from 2010, but topping 2008 numbers by 5%.
Usage of computerized resources continued increasing at a rapid pace last year. The combined total of library catalog searches, computer workstation sessions, electronic source uses, and website hits reached 3,057,558, an increase of 18% over 2009. 2010 marked a continuation of the trend that KPL customers are accessing these resources more from home, work, and school than at Library computer workstations, where usage declined by 19% from 2009.

KPL administered five federal grants on special needs, early literacy, job training, computerized services and resources, and the Big Read. Featuring John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, “The Big Read Kenosha” successfully focused Kenosha residents on one fascinating topic and engaged them in a rewarding shared experience. 2010 marked the first year in a two year grant from the Gates Foundation to upgrade computer equipment and software at Northside, Simmons, and Uptown libraries.
KPL continued to operate comprehensive, cost effective library programs at four branches and the Bookmobile and provided access to quality library services and collections for 69 hours a week during the school year and 65 hours a week in summer.

KPL remained an exceptional value in 2010, costing the average Kenosha household about $180 a year or less than 50¢ per day.

Tags: ,
Posted in Features | No Comments »

Deadline approaching for entries into An All Media Juried Competition at Racine Art Museum June 4th-August 27th

March 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

This juried exhibition showcases work from the studios of artists in Racine, Kenosha, and Walworth counties. Members are of the Racine Art Museum (RAM) are also invited to enter work. There is an entry fee of $15 per artist, which is waived for RAM members. Deadline for entry is Saturday, April 16th.

On Sunday, April 17th, Graeme Reid will jury the selection. Reid is Assistant Director at the Museum of Wisconsin Art, having previously worked at the John Michael Kohler Art Center (Sheboygan, WI), the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette (IN) and the Swope Art Museum (Terre Haute, IN). Over the years, Reid has curated over 120 group and solo exhibitions.

Up to three original works may be submitted confined to the following media:

2D: acrylic, oil and watercolor painting, drawing, assemblage, printmaking, and photography, including black and white prints, color prints, video, film and digitally generated or enhanced prints.

3D: basketry, book-arts, ceramics, wood, glass, metals, mixed media, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles.

Over $1,000 in prizes will be awarded. The Awards Ceremony and Opening Reception is Saturday, June 4th, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Wustum Museum, which is located at 2519 Northwestern Avenue, Racine. Awards will be presented at 3 p.m.

For more information and to download a prospectus, click here.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Features | No Comments »

Super Bowl XXXI Champions Levens, Brown, Freeman to join ‘Packers Tailgate Tour’ set for May 10-14

March 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Members of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XXXI Championship team, Dorsey Levens, Gilbert Brown and Antonio Freeman are among the scheduled ‘Packers Tailgate Tour’ celebrities added to the 2011 lineup, which kicks off May 10, in Marquette, Mich.

The Tour, which is set for May 10-14, will host evening tailgate parties in Marquette, Mich., (May 10), Ashland (May 11), Eau Claire (May 12), Wausau (May 13) and Green Bay (May 14). Evening tailgate parties will begin with Tour celebrities arriving at each location by 6 p.m. and will run until 8:30 p.m.

Each Tailgate Tour stop will be hosted by a local non-profit organization and will feature a flavor of famous Lambeau Field tailgating food, giveaways, Tour celebrity question-and-answer sessions, and autographs.

Official tailgate party tickets can be purchased for $30. General admission tickets will also be available for $5, which includes access to the Tour celebrities Q-and-A sessions as well as tailgate party activities (autographs not included). Food and beverage will be available for purchase.

Marquette, Mich.: Superior Dome. To benefit the Bay Cliff Health Camp. $30 and $5 tickets on sale at Bay Cliff’s website at http://www.baycliff.org/site/home.html. General admission tickets on sale at Econo Foods, Marquette (906-266-3500); SuperOne Foods, Marquette (906-228-6777); and Lake Superior Community Partnership, Marquette (906-226-9658).

Ashland: Bay Area Civic Center. To benefit the BRICK Ministries Inc. $30 tickets on sale at Bay Area Civic Center, Ashland (715-682-2221); Radio Shack, Ashland (715-682-8300); M&I Bank, Ashland (715-682-3422); and Washburn IGA, Washburn (715-373-1028).

Eau Claire: County Expo Center. To benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters Northwestern Wisconsin. Tickets on sale at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin, Eau Claire (715-835-0161).

Wausau: Marathon Park. To benefit The Women’s Community, Inc. Tickets on sale at Chatterbox, Wausau (715-842-3059); City Grill, Wausau (715-848-2900); and The Women’s Community, Wausau (715-842-5663).

Green Bay: Green Bay East High School. To benefit the Green Bay Area Public School District. Tickets on sale at Festival Foods locations, De Pere (920-336-6520); East (920-465-3800); Suamico (920-965-0042) and West (920-496-2966).

Please note general admission tickets not available for Ashland location.

Tickets for the tailgate parties will go on sale April 7. Evening tailgate party locations, hosting organizations and ticketing information are as follows:

The illustration used in this article was drawn by Joseph Szabo.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on the Green Bay Packers official website.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sports | No Comments »

Statement of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin on Introduction in Congress of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

March 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

“It is extremely important for Congress to recognize and address discrimination that exists in employment against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. It is up to Congress to assert that such discrimination is illegal and un-American,” said Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. “I am proud to join Congressman Frank and our colleagues in introducing this inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and look forward to working with them this Congress to advance the legislation,” Baldwin said.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin’s official website.

Tags: , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Scott Walker releases balanced budget legislation

March 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Yesterday Governor Scott Walker released legislation that will allow the state to end the year with a balanced budget.

“This legislation will allow the state to finish this year’s budget in the black without raising taxes on the middle-class,” said Governor Scott Walker. “The balanced budget legislation also allows us to put an additional $176.5 million into healthcare for the poor.”

The legislation will also refinance the state debt, lowering the state’s interest payments, allowing the state to fulfill the necessary Medicaid commitments for low-income families; funding that the previous administration did not have in its budget. It will also allow the state to address the deficit of $22 million in the Department of Corrections.

Additional details of Walker’s legislation are below:

Debt Refinancing – The bill authorizes the refinancing of principal payments in fiscal year 2010-11 on the state’s general obligation bonds. These principal repayments will be paid in future years. This provision will reduce debt service costs by $165 million in fiscal year 2010-11.

Address FY11 Medicaid deficit – Medicaid costs are expected to exceed current GPR appropriations by $176.5 million. The bill would increase the Medicaid GPR appropriation to address this shortfall, ensuring continued coverage for low-income families.

Corrections – The bill provides $22 million GPR to address shortfalls in the Department of Corrections adult institutions appropriation. These shortfalls are due to health care costs, overtime, and reductions in salary and fringe benefit budgets under Act 28.

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Funding for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – The bill allocates $37 million of excess TANF revenues to increase TANF funding for the EITC from $6.6 million to $43.6 million in fiscal year 2010-11. By increasing TANF funding, GPR funding for the EITC is reduced by a commensurate amount.

Act 28 Required Lapses by DOA Secretary – Under Act 28, the Department of Administration Secretary is required to lapse or transfer a total of $680 million in 2009-11 from appropriations made to executive branch agencies to the general fund. The bill would reduce this amount by $79 million to ensure the lapses can be met in the next three months as this was ineffectively addressed by the previous administration.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s official website.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Ted Wulfers and Ted Russell Kamp playing at McAuliffe’s Pub in Racine April 16th

March 30th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Roots Rockers Ted Russell Kamp and Ted Wulfers are pairing up for a Midwestern Tour. On that tour includes a stop at McAuliffe’s Pub, located at 3700 Meachem Road in Racine, on April 16th where they will be performing beginning at 8 p.m.

A workingman’s musician with a thorough grasp of his craft, Ted Russell Kamp comes into his own as a solo artist and songwriter of note with his new CD Get Back To The Land.

Get Back To The Land is the follow up to 2007’s widely praised Divisadero, which was named one of the Top 40 Americana CDs of 2007 and which No Depression called “terrific”and 2008’s Poor Man’s Paradise, which was named one of the Top 100 Americana CDs of the year.

Get Back To The Land is a juicy gumbo of country, Southern-fried rock and soul in the style of Kamp’s lifelong inspirations J.J. Cale, The Band, and Kris Kristofferson. Kamp wrote or co-wrote all 13 songs, with a storyteller’s flair for offbeat characters, interesting turns of phrase and a sense of realism that is grounded in honesty and soulfulness. Aside from making his own music, Ted has also been the longtime bassist for Shooter Jennings, writing many of the songs for Shooter including ‘Steady At The Wheel’ which went #1 in Texas for 8 weeks.

Ted Wulfers is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist that splits his time between Chicago and Los Angeles. Wulfer’s combination of Heartland rock and Stadium pop with Stonesey swagger have earned him comparisons to Tom Petty, The Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon with a bit of
Dierks Bentley thrown in.

Wulfers’ new single “Here We Go” from his upcoming CD Lucky No. 7 has been charting on Top 40 and Hot AC radio and keeps adding new markets.
In 2008, Wulfers was inducted into the Nashville Independent Radio Hall of Fame as a result of having a song, “Carls Rogers Blues” topping Nashville radio charts at #1 for seven straight weeks.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Entertainment | No Comments »

Workshop with the Master Series with Jewelry Artist Brenda Schweder offered at Racine Art Museum April 9th and 10th

March 30th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Learn how a few key bends and loops of steel wire capture your favorite found objects (or any undrilled items or loose cabochons) into fabulous jewelry you won’t find anywhere else. Steel wire manipulation, forging, texturing, cleaning, and finishing are covered. Steel wire techniques are adaptable to sterling, gold, copper, and other wire types. Please bring a lunch each day. Additional $30 supply fee due to the instructor. The cost is $152 for members of the Racine Art Museum and $190 for non-members for the two day workshop.

Saturday, April 9th and Sunday April 10th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. is when the workshop will be taking place.

The supply list for the class can be seen here.

Call (262) 636.9177 to register for the workshop, which will be held at the Racine Art Museum’s Wustum Museum located at 2519 Northwestern Avenue in Racine.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Features | No Comments »

Congressman Ribble forms Congressional Job Creators Caucus

March 30th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Representative Reid Ribble today announced the formation of the Congressional Job Creators Caucus in the 112th Congress. The permanent working group, which is open exclusively to those members of congress with experience as small business owners, intends to apply real-world job creating experience to the congressional legislative process through forums, white papers and most importantly, recommended legislative action.

As a former small business owner for over 30 years Representative Ribble was surprised to learn that no such caucus existed here in Congress.

“No offense to my colleagues here, but we’ve created a caucus for just about everything under the sun except creating a job. I hope this group of business owners-turned legislators can help fill that void.” Ribble said.

“In my business, I’ve experienced good times and bad. I’ve hired and fired and budgeted and dealt with government bureaucracies and regulators,” said Ribble. “Decades of experience taught me what it takes to run a successful business that creates jobs. All the members of this caucus bring that same experience to the table and stand ready to apply their private sector skills into molding a more jobs-friendly government.”

Another caucus member, Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA) also commented on the formation of the new group.

“As a business owner and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of private sector experience, I am excited to join other Members of Congress in the Job Creators Caucus who have a similar background. With unemployment pushing 9%, Congress needs the input of former business owners who have had the first hand experience of saying, “You’re hired.” I will bring my experience as a job creator to work in this caucus to get government out of the way and free up our small business owners across the country to start hiring again.”

Current members of the caucus include: Reid Ribble (WI-08), Scott Rigell (VA-02), Richard Hanna (NY-24), Bob Gibbs (OH-18), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) and Stephen Fincher (TN-08).

It is worth noting that all the current members of the Congressional Job Creators Caucus are members of the Republican Party.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Congressman Reid Ribble’s official website.

Tags: , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

« Older Entries