Good Ideas

The Better Approach of the Dark-Horse Underdog

by JOHN ADAMS • 06/09/2014 • 1 Comment

Dark horses (who emerge unexpectedly) and underdogs (who have the odds against them) are not the same thing. Still, I can think of no better combination as a model for approaching the world. While one cannot be a dark horse forever, and one is unlikely to be an underdog perpetually, it’s a powerful and satisfying…

Beautiful Whitewater, City, Good Ideas, Press Release

Thursday, May 15th, 8-10 AM: Make Whitewater Even Nicer

by JOHN ADAMS • 05/14/2014 • Comments

Downtown Whitewater volunteers and supporters: help us give the downtown a little “spit and polish” ahead of UW-Whitewater graduation this weekend! This will be a light cleanup, after the major cleanup April 26. When: Thursday, May 15, from 8 to 10 am. Where: Meet at Discover Whitewater (150 West Main Street). * We’ll be sweeping…

City, Good Ideas, Local Government

Rethinking Fort Atkinson

by JOHN ADAMS • 05/08/2014 • Comments

It has often been said of ancient Israel that her excellence lay in how she differed from her less thoughtful and less civilized neighbors. Not the common and vulgar practices of others, but her own singular beliefs and practices, made her great. Nearby Fort Atkinson has, over recent years, been both an economic rival and…

City, Good Ideas, New Whitewater, Open Government

‘Best Practices, Fair Treatment, Transparency’

by JOHN ADAMS • 04/30/2014 • Comments

Writing about the city requires reading the public documents of local government, even if one chooses not to write about what one’s read. Reading and observing come well before writing. Daily observation inclines an observer not to the immediate, but the distant – one takes a longer view of things. Along the way,…

Beautiful Whitewater, City, Education, Good Ideas, School District, Science/Nature

Science Night in Whitewater

by JOHN ADAMS • 03/20/2014 • 2 Comments

Diet Coke & Mentos from John Adams on Vimeo. Last night was Science Night in Whitewater, and many hundreds from the city turned out to see dozens of displays and exhibits. My family had a fine time, and I’d say that Science Night (held periodically but infrequently) is one of our favorite public events in…

Education, Good Ideas, School District

Rube Goldberg Machines

by JOHN ADAMS • 11/22/2013 • 1 Comment

From Lincoln Inquiry Charter School, there’s a recently-released video of students building Rube Goldberg machines. In their clever work, one finds true innovation: LINCS Rube Goldberg 2013 – Short Version from Whitewater Community TV on Vimeo.

Business, City, Free Markets, Good Ideas, Hip & Prosperous, Local Government, New Whitewater, Planning

The Planning Commission Meeting for 11.11.13

by JOHN ADAMS • 11/12/2013 • 1 Comment

Whitewater’s Planning Commission met last night, and among the topics was consideration of re-zoning and a conditional use permit for Casual Joe’s, a new restaurant, tavern, and distillery to operate at 319 W. James Street (at the site of a long-unused commercial building, the former Fort Auto Body). On 4-3 votes, a majority of…

Beautiful Whitewater, Charity, Food, Good Ideas

Whitewater’s Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast

by JOHN ADAMS • 09/23/2013 • 2 Comments

My youngest and I went to Sunday’s Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at the high school. We had a great time. Light, perfectly-prepared pancakes, the very size of a pan, with link sausages, syrup, butter, and one’s choice of coffee, juice, or water. For a small price, one could order extra sausage, too, as we did. Once…

Beautiful Whitewater, Good Ideas, Health, Sports

Scenes from the Discover Whitewater Races, 9.22.2013

by JOHN ADAMS • 09/22/2013 • Comments

Agriculture, Good Ideas

The Creative, Cheesy Solution to Icy Roads

by JOHN ADAMS • 09/14/2013 • Comments

Here’s a creative way to make use of Wisconsin’s prodigious cheese production:

Beautiful Whitewater, City, Good Ideas, New Whitewater

Join Downtown Whitewater’s August Downtown Cleanup, Saturday, August 24th from 8 AM to Noon

by JOHN ADAMS • 08/21/2013 • Comments

Here’s your chance to be part of a group that’s keeping Whitewater beautiful — Join Downtown Whitewater for its August Downtown Cleanup to welcome UWW students and their families back to town When: Saturday, August 24th from 8 am to Noon. Where: Meet at Discover Whitewater (150 West Main Street). We’ll be sweeping the streets…

Beautiful Whitewater, City, Good Ideas, Sports

The Field of Dreams Begins Construction

by JOHN ADAMS • 08/17/2013 • Comments

Groundbreaking for the Treyton Kilar Field of Dreams in Whitewater took place Friday afternoon. That makes August 16, 2013 a particularly good day for our city. For a fine description of the groundbreaking in detail, with pictures from the ceremony, please see The Wisconsin Happy Farm‘s post on the event. That post includes photos of…

Beautiful Whitewater, City, Development, Good Ideas, Hip & Prosperous, New Whitewater, Planning

Tidying the Town

by JOHN ADAMS • 08/14/2013 • Comments

A new school year begins, and thousands of students on whom the economy of this city depends are returning to Whitewater. Volunteers, as they’ve done previously, will help tidy up the town. These volunteers have, I think, held similar clean-up efforts in June and July. It’s a fine idea. (I’ve not been part of those…

Beautiful Whitewater, City, Good Ideas, Local Government, Weather

Walk the City

by JOHN ADAMS • 03/19/2013 • Comments

Spring will arrive soon. Whitewater, Wisconsin is a small town. Even more conveniently, it’s a small town with an easily-walked, accessible downtown, west-side business district, and compact neighborhoods. In a time of warmer weather, there will be fitting opportunities to explore the city on foot. Whitewater’s full-time leaders – and especially her city manager —…