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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Video; Wedding: Cutting Edge

Click on the post for the latest.

Underemployment and Unemployment time bomb coming

The time when hot air meets reality is coming shortly. Click on the post for story.

Yahoo: Senate probes "meltdown fraud"

Click on the post for the latest.

Cash for Clunkers: Tomorrow the last Day?

Huge rush of orders; Because of backload of processing, they may have already approached the limit of funding--tomorrow may be the last day? Click on the post for details.

yahoo: Video: Twitter for business---bad taste or huge potential?

Click on the post for the video.

Web News: Land's End launches Packland---links virtual with real

Click on the post for the latest from Land's End---a virtual fantasy site for kids that then links them to real backpacks and benefits to shoppers at Sears and Lands End.

Reuters: S&P up 2%---bulls charge on Wall Street

Just when I thought everybody was going to the beach...the bulls charge. Click on the post for the story.

Why Apple doesn't do Market Research----

Click on the post for a classic article.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Technology: The Edge; Using Twitter for Customer Service, Sales.....and more

Click on the post for an interesting article on cutting edge stuff....or at lease in the trial stage.

Video: 1 of 4:Water Rates: Sauer Speaks

Video: Public works meeting 7-28, 2009: Dave Sauer, Evansville city engineer discusses draft filing that has been submitted to secure Wisconsin Dept of Administration approval for project. Inital draft filing would triple charges for those who used least, provide no incentive to conserve. ...Committee discussed possible revisions...

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Video: 2 of 4: Public Works: Water Rates; Sauer Speaks

Video: 2 of 4: Public Works: July 28, 2009: Dave Sauer explains the initial draft filing of rate schedule; Committee discusses. Total debt of filing for Wastewater plant will be about 8 million. Complete audio of this discussion is on the Observer.

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Video: 3 of 4: Water Rates; Sauer Speaks

Video: 3 of 4: Public Works, Tuesday, July 28, 2009: Dave Sauer speaks on Water rate draft filing: Girls use more water than boys. Water rates to almost triple for lowest users in draft filing; Anti conservation; Anti senior citizen; Council will decide the mix of fixed v variable rate structure.

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Video: 4 of 4: Water Rates: Dave Sauer Speaks

Video; 4 of 4: Public Works: Tuesday, July 28, 2009; Dave Sauer speaks on Draft Rate filing.

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Onion: New Apple 3Gi launch---only true believers can see it

Click on the post for the latest.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Water and Light meets tomorrow: Budget on Agenda

Click on the post for the latest. Water and light has some capital budget dreams for the next 5 years---they are currently in "dream status." It's reality time.

Audio: Public Works: WWTF: Rates Discussion

Audio: Public Works: Tuesday, July 28, 2009: Full discussion of current status; approval of the Wisconsin DOA: Rate schedule filed and approved but subject to revision---several options discussed to cause less adverse effect on seniors and low volume users, and encourage conservation.

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Public Works: Rate filing for New Sewage Rates--draft--to be revised

 
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Mpls: Art Cars on Parade



Click on the post for the latest from the Twin City Daily Planet.

Minutes; Library technology expenses loom; sign expenses;

Cost saving and spending are discussed at the same meeting. Click on the post for the minutes.

Video: 1: Children's Peace Project

Video: 1 of 3: Terry Tolan gives an overview of the history and the vision of the Children's Peace Project

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Video: 2 of 3: Children's Peace Project

Video; 2: Terry Tolan shares the history and the vision of the Children's Peace Project.

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Video: 3 of 3: Children's Peace Project

Video: 3 of 3; Terrry Tolan describes the history and the vision for the Children's Peace project

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WSJ: Hearing on Wisconsin Groundwater Laws Tomorrow

Click on the post for the details in the Wisconsin State Journal.

Pioneer Press: Federal Lawsuit seeks freeze to foreclosures in Minnesota

Click on the post for the latest.

Style: Mpls: Vintage City Classics featured at Uptown Art Fair---August 7th


Friday, August 7, 2009 at 12:00pm
End Time: Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 5:00pm
Location: Uptown Artfair
Street: 2825 Hennepin Ave S
City/Town: Minneapolis, MN


VCC is hosting a summer sale, right in the midst of Artfair Weekend! We will be showing off tons of new designs, including a new VCC clothing and hair accessories. You can also find some great art plastering the walls, all for sale, by local artists Devin McCabe and Eric Franzen.

We will be located on 2825 Hennepin Ave right between Bobby Bead and Homegrown Glass.

Hours:
Friday 12-8
Saturday 10-8

Monday, July 27, 2009

Mailbag: City Administrator clarifies the definition of "debt" in recent presentation

(Ed.note: The increase of sewer rates for the proposed Waste Water Treatment Facility will be discussed at the meeting tomorrow night. This debt is proposed to be from revenue bonds that are not part of General Obligation bonds, but tied to the revenue stream of water and light bills. )

City administrator writes:

The most recent debt schedule I have is from the April 30, 2009, transcript for the Lake Leota bond issue; copy attached. The GO debt outstanding at that time was $8,308,585. On a population of 4947 (it’s a year old, but the most current official number), this would be $1,680 per capita.



The statutory limit on general obligation debt is 5% of the city’s tax base. Our value is around $317 million (it is estimated since we won’t get our assessment ration from the state until November but close enough for our purposes here). The statutory limit would be $15.85 million. So the 4/30/2009 GO debt outstanding was 52% of the limit.



Please note that the statutory limit (and the presentation by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance) only applies to general obligation debt, not revenue debt. We are not looking at GO financing for the wastewater facility.

-Dan




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Public Works Meets Tomorrow Night: Increase in Sewer Rates on the agenda.

Click on the post for the full agenda.

Dateline Normal, Mn.: "ALL the books are Harlequin Romance Novels in the Normal, Mn. Public Library"---FICTION

Click on the post for the latest.

Pastor Bob Schaefer of Evansville Luthern Church announces resignation

Click on the post for the latest.

Business Beat; Formecology gets press; leader in sustainability ...landscaping

Check out the latest spot from Madison Tv. featuring one of Evansville's business owners.

CNBC: "The Pause that Refreshes?"----Are stocks headed lower?

The positive housing report today did little to prevent the bears from taking some profits as we approach August on Wall Street---a time of usually lower volume as the locals head to the beach for some R and R.

Click on the post for the story on CNBC.

Dateline Normal, Mn.: The Poor and Homeless pay for healthcare of the rich--FICTION

Click on the post for the latest.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Bloomberg: The myth of "Free" internet content

The days of free are coming to an end. Click on the post for the story.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Video:2: Todd Berry: Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance

Video:2: Committee of the Whole: Todd Berry explains the data comparisons to be presented

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Video: 1: Todd Berry, Wis. Taxpayers Alliance

Video: 1: Todd Berry, Wis Taxpayers Alliance, Address to Evansville Committee of the Whole, Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Begins by reviewing the big picture---Wisconsin budget compared to the nation. After all the accounting games are removed, Wisconsin has been in structural deficit for decades, and is currently laging the nation in jobs, GDP, and when the stimulus money is withdrawn in 2011---the numbers get worse.

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School Beat: Hatfield Speaks; "Big Picture---If it's "EXTRA" it will not be paid for by the Taxpayer"

Just prior to the regular school board meeting last Monday was a special meeting to approve the purchase and sale of another lot for the school construction course....Mr. Hatfield offered a "friendly amendment" to the resolution that would allow sale of the lot and house only if the price exceeded the purchase price---he pointed out that the school board is not in the position to be taking losses in the current budget situation.....Supr. Carvin replied that there was "educational benefit" in the house and that she would not prefer the language in the resolution. The friendly amendment was rejected.

So---Mr. Hatfield made the announcement of the theme for the coming year---it is not clear whether the board will struggle to toe the line. Immediately after the vote, it was revealed that the board had thought that the "Prom expenses" were paid for the by class funding drives---when in fact $1000 had been spent without board authorization.

It could be a long year.

Stay tuned to the The Evansville Observer.

Todd Berry: "It's about telling the story...or finetuning it....It's about LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION"

Businesses and governments these days love "free" ideas...and last Tuesday, Todd Berry of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, after questions from the Evanville Observer about what the "solution" was to the Wisconsin budget picture as well as specifically about what the solution could be for "Evansville"----gave the answer.

Wisconsin manufacturing will recover...aided by high tech in the manufacturing process. This has already begun. In his travels, he has seen, in the old buildings of old line firms, shiney computer aided manufacturing. The recovery for Wisconsin will be in a V by location in the State and will not be uniform.

As far as Evansville specifically,,,and he waited for the last 2 minutes to articulate it-----we need to refine the message---that we are a community with assets, and the key asset is that we have the perfect LOCATION...we are poised near Madison and Janesville and we have an engaging community where kids, and citizens can get involved. We are a "bedroom community" and that is a plus.

There was silence when he ended his presentation. Why? It is not the bricks. It is the people and the community...and the location. Change the message.

Thank you Todd Berry.

And the last thing was the most impressive. He said...."Of course I could be wrong on this...but that is just my sense of it....."

Remarkable...a public official who says "I might be wrong."

Clips of the full hour presentation are on The Observer, as well as the full audio of the meeting. It is a classic.

For full hour long video DVD movie, email fre2observe@yahoo.com

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Video: 5: Evansville Budget--Citizen Ideas requested

Video: Evansville Budget Shortfall---Citizen Ideas requested.

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Video: Discussion Questions: Raising Fees?

Video: Evansville Committee of the Whole; Raising User Fees considered---

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Video: 2: Evansville Faces Budget Shortfall

Video: 2: Evansville Faces budget shortfall; Dan Wietecha sums up budget shortfall and ask questions of staff and citizens as to ideas for "streamlining" government, as well as cuts to balance the budget.

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Background: City of Evansville, Wi Fiscal: Budgets: Audits; Tax info

Click on the post for the budget information provided at the City of Evansville website to review the budgets, audits etc for the past two years.

Video; 1: Evansville Faces Budget Shortfall

Video: 1: Evansville Faces Budget Shortfall: July 21, 2009: Dan Wietecha, City Administrator reviews the revenue decline and expense increases and the net result--a budget shortfall--asks for citizen and employee input for ideas re cuts

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Gazette; Evansville faces $132,000 budget shortfall: Ideas wanted

Click on the post for the article by Gina Duwe in the Gazette today.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Audio: Todd Berry: Wis. Taxpayers Alliance

Audio; Todd Berry; Wis Taxpayers Alliance; Evansville Common Council Committee of the Whole; Tuesday, July 21, 2009: Discussion of the Budget picture of Wisconsin; Of Evansville, and its comparable communities; Thoughts and Discussion.

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Video: School Board: Finance Report:

Video: Evansville School Report: Deb provides update to Finance report.

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Video: 2 of 2; Prom policy details

Video: Evansville School Board; July 20, 2009: Prom Policy proposal details.

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Video: 1 of 2: Prom Policy discussed

Video: 1 of 2: Evansville School Board: July 20, 2009; Prom Policy overview.

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Video: Evansville School Board: 7/19/09: Supr Carvin Report

Video: 7/19/2009: Supr. Carvin Reports on Academic Advising Results for last year and the search for a new High School principal.

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Pioneer Press: Best Buy Corp seeks applicants with "Twitter" experience

Click on the post for the latest.

March 2008: Nostalgia: WWTF: Sauer Speaks

Audio: Public Works: March 2008: Mr. Dave Sauer speaks of alternatives being considered for upgrade to the WWTP and the general process of planning

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Gazette; Milton School Taxes could go up 10%

Click on the post for the article today in the Gazette.

Gazette: Larson Acres proposes to expand to 2600 cows.

Click on the post for the article in the Janesville Gazette.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Audio; School Board Finance Report: Deficit

Audio: Evansville School District: July 20, 2009. Deb Olsen reports on prelim numbers, final number on enrollment finale in Sept but district faces deficit to come out of fund balance.

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Wind: New Court of Appeals Decison: Are local wind ordinances toast?

Click on the post for the detailed decison. You make the call. What is your opinion on ...the opinion?

Audio; Evansville School Board: "Prom and Special Events"

Audio; Evansville School Board: July 20, 2009; Student Council Advisor and committee draft policy proposal for Prom and Special Events for board consideration--

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Evansville Schools---July Reports --New Principal Search; Budget; Goals

Click on the post for the reports to be delivered tonight.

Monona Terrace: Thursday Special

Yahoo: Finance: The Saga of ARS; Auction Rate Securities

Click on the post for the latest. Too bad Schwab had not had a contract for 'Disclosure Services."

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Thursday, July 16, 2009

School Beat; Pioneer Press: EauClaire Parents to Fund School Trips---

In the current funding crisis for schools, school trips have become obsolute and unaffordable for the taxpayer----In EauClaire, Wisconsin, parents have stepped up---click on the post for the article.

Nightmare: "The $1000 ice cream cone"

Tuesday night, after a long day of work and blogging afterwards, I was a litle overextended. And when I get overextended, I do tend to have dreams.

I had a very vivid dream that I went across to the local store to get an ice cream cone----two scoops with just my favorite ice cream. But when I was ready to pay, the clerk said, "That will be $1000." What a shock!!!!!

With the ice cream cone dripping in the heat, I rushed to ask why the huge cost--- the clerk explained that due to the stimulus program for dairy, the costs had gone to $1000....it really was only $500, but due to unexpected engineering and legal costs, it had doubled to $1000.

WOW. What a nightmare. I was beside myself on what to do. Then....

I just calmly handed the ice cream cone back to the clerk---with the soft cone dripping rapidly.

I awoke from the dream....and rushed down to McDonald's where I was very relieved----the cones were still just a dollar.

Childrens Global Peace Project--Focus Group---Wed. July 22, 2009 7PM--You are Invited










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Nostalgia: 6/29/2009/ Audio: " Freedom Means...."Fiction

Audio; Tales From Normal, Mn.: "Freedom means never having to pay for your own sewage plant." FICTION

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WSJ: Cardiac Corner: New Defib Study at St. Mary's in the Spotlight

Click on the post for the details of the VEST study ongoing at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Karoke or Politics?




I have taken some teasing lately about my posts of the Karoke from the 4th of July---the graph above gives you some perspective of the relative popularity of politics v karoke. There is just nothing that compares to American Idol....or Evansville Idol. Look for even fuller coverage next year.

Safety Net ends December 31, 2009?

In the State of Wisconsin description of the grants awarded under the Recovery Act they state:

"A Better Safety Net for the Unemployed
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enhances the benefits available to unemployed individuals in 2009. In Rock County, an estimated 29,108 individuals will receive an increase of $25 in weekly unemployment benefits. In addition, an estimated 6,674 individuals will be provided with additional weeks of benefits through December 31, 2009. "

Which economist has a fantasy that this economic crisis in Wisconsin will be over by December 31,2009?

You make the call.

Evansville Council contracts with Ehlers Inc. for "Disclosure Services."

 
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Disclosure Services page 2

 
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As noted in the memo, disclosure services are needed since in times of rising interest rates, and challenged ratings of municipal bonds, as well as adverse conditions affecting cities and towns all across America, it might be necessary to notify bondholders that their heretofore highly rated securities are..well...not so highly rated. Make a note of it.

Wisconsin: Gov: Analysis of Recovery Grants to Schools, Counties etc.

Click on the post to see the specifics of how much money is going where.

Police Station Construction Bid analysis

 


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Audio; Council: Wind Turbine at WWTF

Audio; Mayor Decker reviews some of the details of the financing and grants available for the wind turbine to be erected at the new waste water treatment plant.

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Click on the post for the complete City of Evansville Podcast Archive on Mediafly.

Audio: Council: CMAR report

Audio: Council approves resolution documenting the 2008 CMAR or Compliance Mainatance Annual Report of effluent Limit Violations----or the reason for the necessity of making changes to the sewage treatment system for Evansville.

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Click on the post for the complete archive of Evansville City audio via Mediafly.

Audio: Council: $600,000 for roadwork

Audio; Evansville Common Council: July 14,2009; Council acts to accept $600,000 for roadwork---roadwork covers north 4th Street and not 4th street to the schools.

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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Audio; Lake Leota: Dredged material unexpected costs

Audio; Common Council: Dredged material impact on Every property discussed and costs

MP3 File

Click on the post for the complete audio archive on Mediafly. Subscribe today for daily updates. Download to your computer. Enjoy.

Audio: Common Council: Police Station Remodel

Audio: Common Council: July 14, 2009---proposed budget amendment to $287,000 from $250,000.

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Evansville Common Council--budget amendments ---July 2009

 

 
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Audio: Common Council: Budget Amendments 2009

Audio: Wastewater Treatment Plant Estimates ----changed from $3,600,000 to $7.233,521.

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Evansville Common Council Meets Tuesday, July 14

Click on the post for the full agenda.

CapTimes; OpEd: Reflection on Robert McNamera and the burden of being wrong...

Click on the post for the latest.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Twitter: Courtside; Ricci will testify----

Ricci will testify in the Supreme Court Hearing this week. The Irony---he used a preference for disability due to dyslexia in order to be hired. Is his case against the Supreme Court nominee having it both ways?

Click on the post for the story.

OpEd; Sotomeryer must admit she was WRONG about New Haven Firefighters--the Supreme Court was RIGHT

Judge Sotomeyer, in the hearings starting today, must admit she will comply with the wisdom of the Supreme Court----and follow the rule of law--and that law now specifies that she was WRONG in the New Haven fire fighters case, and that the court must be race NEUTRAL and give all races equal opportunity. It is not about a WISE LATINA being better...it is about being racially blind....and fair. Make a note of it.

Dateline Normal, Mn.: "The Committee of the Hole"--FICTION

Click on the post for the latest.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Gazette: Evansville gets $600,000 stimulus money for road repair

Click on the post for the story today in the Janesville Gazette: The stimulus grant enables the project to happen " a few years earlier" than planned.

Check out the 5 year capital budget for Evansville and see if you can find the West Main road work in it:

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Dateline Normal, Mn.: "Heroes never bust their budgets--they just AMEND em"----FICTION

Click on the post for the latest from Normal, Mn.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

WSJ: Should Caucus Meetings be Open to the Public

Click on the post for the article in the WSJ today.

OpEd; Hotair: "Put Nothing in Writing--ever"

Click on the post for an OpEd on the latest from the transparency corner.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Blogs; "Chasin": On Taxes

Click on the post as "Chasin" weighs in.

Yahoo Finance: Treasury proposes rules to regulate futures markets

Good sign. Click on the post for the full story. The health care market is even tougher to regulate than the financial community so, the regulation of the futures is a trial run of the skills necessary. Click on the post.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Gazette; Elkhorn Police Using Twitter

Uses for Twitter are growing. Click on the post for the latest.

Yahoo: Bill to clip wings of Federal Reserve gains momentum

Transparency----now Congress may make the Federal Reserve keep their promise of transparency. Click on the post for the full article in Yahoo.

Evansville Finance Committee Meets Thursday night----

Click on the post for the full agenda.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Mailbag; I and E Club Meets TONIGHT: July 8th Meeting features Inventor

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at the Eager Economy Building, 7 East Main Street, Evansville, at 6:30 PM.

Our guest speaker this month will be Evansville's very own Mike Hasz. Mike has been an independent inventor for about 12 years. He will talk about the trials and challenges he has encountered while filing for the patents, of which Mike now owns several. He will offer some suggestions and tips that worked for him, and also discuss some things that did not work so well. You won't want to miss this! (Mike is also the Club Facility/Refreshment VP). Come network and collaborate with like-minded individuals - share resources, exchange ideas, and be mentored. Refreshments for the July meeting will be sponsored by Allen Realty, Inc.

Mpls: Fashion: Green: Vintage City Classics Launches-----



Congrats to Joan and the ladies of Vintage City classics who have launched a line of "green" fashion items distributed through several fine Metro Twin Cities outlets.

Click on the post for the full article in Metro Magazine.

The Evansville Observe hopes to have some video of the line later in the summer---as well as the new website. Stay tuned. I don't know fashion. I leave it to the ladies...and the ladies at Vintage City Classics...they're retro...and green...and made in the U.S.A.....what could be better?

Education Grants Available for low wage workers

Subject: Education Grants available for low-wage workers



Opportunity Grants
Up to $1,000 will be provided for tuition, fees, books and supplies. Eligible areas of study are those identified by the regional boards as high demand occupations, such as health care, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and energy.

The grants will cover short-term training, enabling individuals to earn certificates or degrees. The grant program also includes registered apprenticeships in high-demand occupations.

In addition to the grants, individuals can receive up to $250 to cover the cost of tools and uniforms, exam fees, transportation and child care.

Individuals should apply for grants through their regional workforce development boards by visiting their local Job Center . Find the nearest Job Center or call toll-free 888-258-9966.



Grants Available To Help Low-Wage Workers

$1,000 Grants Available To Workers


MADISON, Wis. -- New grants are available for low-wage earners to help pay for technical college classes in the fall.

Gov. Jim Doyle announced a total of $1.5 million in grant money. The $1,000 grants are available to workers with no education beyond high school whose household income is currently less than $29,140 for a family of two.

The money can be used for tuition, fees, books and supplies. Eligible areas of study are those identified as being high-demand occupations, including health care, biotechnology and energy.

In addition to the grants, up to $250 per applicant is available to pay for the cost of tools and uniforms, exam fees, transportation and child care.

Application sites can be found at www.jobcenterofwisconsin.com.

Gazette; EDuwe Blog: Wis Taxpayers Union coming to Evansville July 21---

Click on the post for the article. The Observer will provide full audio and video coverage. Be There.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Art Appreciation for Young Children: Thursday, July 23, 2009--FREE

Art Appreciation 101 for Young Children which will be held on Thursday, July 23rd from 6:30-8 PM at Evansville High School . Believe it or not, even infants can begin to appreciate art. Learn how to introduce art appreciation and talk with children of all ages about art made by them and others. Try creative ways to react to art. This workshop is part of Penn State University ’s Better Kids Care Series.



Continuing education certificates will be available. Childcare will be provided for those that register at least 24 hours in advance.



If you have questions or would like to register, please contact me at 314-9006 or email jennifer.dalsen@cssw.org



Thanks,
Jenny





Jenny Dalsen

Family Resource Center Coordinator

Exchange Family Resource Center

Children's Service Society of Wisconsin

2020 E Milwaukee Street, Janesville , WI 53545

(608) 314-9006 * (608) 314-9009 FAX

jennifer.dalsen@cssw.org

Redevelopment Meets Tonight----New project to be discussed

Click on the post for the agenda.

Monday, July 06, 2009

Video: Evansville Idol: Round 1

Video: Evansville Idol: Round 1

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Video; Evansville Idol: Round One:

Video: Round 1; Every Rose has its Thorn....

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Video: Evansville Idol: Round 1

Video: Evansville Idol: Round 1: "Johnny Be Good"

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Gazette; Janesville gets FEMA grant for $900,000 to remove 9 homes from floodplain

Click on the post for the latest.

Video; Evansville Idol: Round 1

Video: 3; Evansville Idol: Round 1--

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Video: Evansville Idol: Round 1: a Buddy Holly classic

Video: 2; Evansville Idol: Round 1

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Video: Evansville Idol: Round 1: Competiton Heats Up. "Folsum Prison."

Video;1: Evansville Idol: July 5, 2009: Round 1 Selected Cuts. Turn the volume up for best listening.

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TwinCities.com: Favre Puts Deposit down on Edina Condo----

Rumor has it he will sign by the time ticket sales open on July 20th-----Click on the post for the latest.

Mailbag; On the Street:

After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion, that their ancestors already had a telephone-network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, a California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: ' California archaeologists, finding traces of a 200 year old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.'

One week later, The Courier Hub, a local newspaper in Wisconsin, reported the following: "After digging as deep as 30 feet in his pasture near Stoughton , Wisconsin , Ole Olson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Ole has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Wisconsin had already gone wireless."

Video: Even the Judges Sing at Evansville Idol

Video; Judge Denise warms up the crowd as Evansville Idol competition begins. July 5, 2009; Evansville, Wisonsin.

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Video: Evansville Idol: 2nd Round

Video; Evansville Idol: 2nd Round: July 5, 2009.

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Video; Evansville Open Idol: 2nd Round

Video: Evansville Open Idol: 2nd Round: July 5, 2009

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Sunday, July 05, 2009

Video: Round 2; Evansville Idol

Video: Evansville Idol: Round 2: July 5, 2009

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Video: Evansville Idol: Round 2

Video: Evansville Idol: Round 2: July 5, 2009

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Video: Evansville Idol: 2nd Round

Video: Evansville Idol 2nd Round: 7/5/2009

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Video: 2nd Round: Evansville Idol

Video: 2nd Round Evansville Idol: 7/5/2009

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Video: Evansville Idol: Second Round

Video: Evansville Idol: 2nd Round Competition: 2009

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Video: Evansville Idol: 2nd Round: 7/5/2009

Video; Evansville Idol: 2nd Round:

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Video: Evansville Idol: 2nd Round

Video: 2nd Round Competition: Evansville Idol Competition: 7/5/2009

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Video: 7/4/2009: Evansville Idol Karoke

Video: Second Round of Evansville Idol 7/4/2009

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NYT: Rent a Textbook---the latest way to save money

Click on the post for the latest.

WSJ: State Aid Cuts for Schools shock Madison Schools

Click on the post for the latest.

Friday, July 03, 2009

Observer promises full coverage of 4th Karoke Event----

Chasin the News has laid down a challenge for the Evansville Observer...can he film an event and participate at the same time???? Mark your calendars to be there for this once in a lifetime event. Plan on video on the Observer of Evansville's finest citizens showing their karoke talents live---Sunday.

Click on the post for the challenge.

Pioneer Press: Wisconsin Banks worried: Suggest no sunglasses,punk apparrel

Click on the post for the latest. Remember it was just a movie.

Yahoo: Housing rescue expands

Click on the post for the details. Remember. Only a complete foreclosure holiday will do. That is what the Observer predicts. Count on it.

Audio: "Being Independent Means...."Fiction

Audio; Tales From Normal, Mn.: "Freedom means never having to pay for your own sewage plant." FICTION

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OpEd: Review of Public Enemies: The Close ups Examined

Nobody loves closeups like the Observer. And nobody loves overhead Busby Berklie like the Observer. And yes I like the black and white films of the the 30's...but...was the film shot with too much closeups??....I would have loved a Busbie Berkley overhead of the dance scene, but ...my daughter who was in the scene says that the actual setting of the scene was so large that it was not possible. Overhead for the bank robbery but not the ballroom just seems unfair.I also wonder whether it could have been a bit lighter. Seemed too dark. I, in my old age, had a problem seeing the details. I hope they lighten it on the dvd release.

Anyway....I cannot wait till I see the film again...and you?

Gazette; Krauthammer: "The Meaning of Ricci

Click on the post for an analysis.

The days when states can conduct valid examinations and then churn them, and churn them till they can align their favorite prospects for hire is over. Ricci is a fair warning.

Click on the post for the article.

The Extras of Public Enemies thrilled

Click on the post for the articles. Even the Observer had a daughter that he thinks is in the nightclub scene---happens so fast I need to go back a second time.

The gunfight scene in northern Wisconsin is worth the price of admission. Click on the post for the reviews.

"Thriller"---What the U of Minn Marching Band could have taught the Brits

Click on the post for the University of Minn marching band warm up---The British Royal Band is just too stiff---the warm up would have helped. Click on the post.

British Royal Guards stun crowd with "Thriller"

Click on the post for the British Royals version of "Thriller".

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Music Corner: Michael Jackson Rehearsal Tape released

Click on the post for a look at Michael Jackson on stage for rehearsal two days before death.

Evansville Plans Big 4th of July Agenda----Music Starts TONIGHT---Thursday, July 2nd

Click on the post for the music gigs and the detailed schedule.

More Historic Preservation Districts planned

Click on the post for the upcoming meeting.

There are several advantages to new historic districts; for some folks that have discussed making East Main a historic district, the advantage would be to eliminate any further commercial development or mixed use development on East Main.

Redevelopment Corner: More redevelopment downtown?

Click on the post for the upcoming meeting.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Never Underestimate the Power of a Broom

A little nostalgia

MP3 File

Lodging Special: Cobblestone Inn Special for 4th of July Weekend

Click on the post for the special. Tell them the Evansville Observer sent you.

Public Enemies: Bibliography: Pioneer Press:

Click on the post for the bibliography to go with the movie.

Pioneer Press: Background: Dillinger Details in St. Paul examined

Click on the post for some background.

Catalog Corner: Catalogs move to video; Twitter; Facebook to connect

Click on the post for a glimpse of the new---Fair Indigo uses video, twitter, and facebook to connect to customers. It's an uptempo world, and firms are moving quickly to keep up to changing ways of communicating.

Blogs: The Gangsters in St. Paul

The gangsters had a major presence in St. Paul, Mn. during the 1930's----and in addition to the bars and nightclubs to frequent in St. Paul, on the weekends, during the heat of the summer, they motored out to the lakes---on the East to White Bear Lake and to the West, Lake Minnetonka. Click on the post for a blog that reviews some of the activities in St. Paul...and the tours available...as in historical preservation.

As a boy, I remember vividly remember my grandmother pointing out the cottage that Ma Barker rented out for one summer---She should know. She rented it to her. ...right on the path above the dock on the east side of White Bear Lake in Mahtomedi. Ah the glory days. The days of speakeasies....and much more. I know because one had once been in the apartment building I lived in when I was a boy. Tucked in the basement. Did not seem very stylish. But then things were a bit different from the movies.

It must be remembered that the action by the FBI to kill John Dillinger was purposeful drama---because up until that time the public enemies were considered the banks and not the gangsters---at least there was real mixed feelings. The rate of foreclosure was very high and there had been a bank and foreclosure holiday---

Thus the perfect timing of "Public Enemies" being released today.....just in time for the coming foreclosure holiday....Sen Clinton mentioned and advocated for it during her campaign....and if the reworking of mortgages does not work, look for it to happen again....

We are today, as then, filled with a glorification of "Gangsta" and "Thriller" but want to be law abiding most of the time, at least when convenient.

Poems of the Fishermen by Richard T. Woulfe

Click on the post for the Poems of the Fishermen.

Huffington Post: Major Social Upheaval Ahead?

Click on the post for the latest from the Huffington Post.