Good morning, Whitewater

There are no scheduled public meetings in the City of Whitewater today.

A lucky streak begins…

Rest assured, I am only teasing…in part.

The National Weather Service predicts a mostly cloudy day, with heavy snow tonight, and a high of 27 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts that conditions will be turning wet, “especially the Great Lakes.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

In Wisconsin history for this day, a milestone for our campus at Madison: UW Fieldhouse Dedicated:

On this date the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse was dedicated as the Badgers beat the University of Pennsylvania, 25-12, in a college basketball game. The Badgers played their first game there five days earlier against Carroll College.

Too silly —

Of course Wisconsin beat Pennsylvania — Penn’s mascot is the Quaker, and there is no way a school can win with a rally song that calls, “Fight, Quakers, Fight!”

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no scheduled public meetings in the City of Whitewater today.

The National Weather Service predicts decreasing clouds, and a high of 18 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac continues its series, predicting conditions turning wet, “especially the Great Lakes.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS — “snow” trumps “wet.”

In our schools today, there is a Choir Concert at 7:30 PM in the high school auditorium.

In Wisconsin history for this day, the Wisconsin Historical Society marks the birthday of Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, born in 1933.

On this date Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson was born in New York City. A graduate of Hunter College high school, Abrahamson received a BA from NYU in 1953. She received a JD from Indiana University Law School in 1956. She was first appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1976, to fill a vacancy created by the death of Chief Justice Horace W. Wilkie. She became Chief Justice on August 1, 1996, upon the retirement of Chief Justice Roland B. Day. Abrahamson is the first female to serve as Chief Justice for Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Happy birthday, and best wishes for the retention campaign ahead.

Much more to be posted, I’m sure, on the record of your likely — but unready — opponent, Judge Koshnick of Jefferson County.

Good morning, Whitewater

There is one public meeting scheduled today in the City of Whitewater: the Common Council meeting this evening at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building. The agenda for that meeting is available online.

The National Weather Service predicts snow today, and a high of 17 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac begins a new series, predicting conditions turning wet, “especially the Great Lakes.” I would have guessed as much.

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

In our schools today, there is a Lincoln School Fifth Grade Choir Concert at 1:30 PM and 7 PM in the high school auditorium.

In American history for this day, in 1773, the Bostonians took action against British impositions and held the Boston Tea Party, as the History Channel recounts the event:

In Boston Harbor, a group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians board three British tea ships and dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor.

The midnight raid, popularly known as the “Boston Tea Party,” was in protest of the British Parliament’s Tea Act of 1773, a bill designed to save the faltering East India Company by greatly lowering its tea tax and granting it a virtual monopoly on the American tea trade. The low tax allowed the East India Company to undercut even tea smuggled into America by Dutch traders, and many colonists viewed the act as another example of taxation tyranny.

When three tea ships, the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver, arrived in Boston Harbor, the colonists demanded that the tea be returned to England. After Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson refused, Patriot leader Samuel Adams organized the “tea party” with about 60 members of the Sons of Liberty, his underground resistance group. The British tea dumped in Boston Harbor on the night of December 16 was valued at some $18,000.

Parliament, outraged by the blatant destruction of British property, enacted the Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, in 1774. The Coercive Acts closed Boston to merchant shipping, established formal British military rule in Massachusetts, made British officials immune to criminal prosecution in America, and required colonists to quarter British troops. The colonists subsequently called the first Continental Congress to consider a united American resistance to the British.

The British response was typical, really — a siren’s call — to respond with ever greater control, restriction, and limitation. A small moment became a bigger one, through political arrogance.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are two public meetings scheduled today in the City of Whitewater: the CDA Board of Directors meets this afternoon, at 3:30 p.m. in the municipal building. The agenda is available online.

Later tonight, at 6 p.m., there is a meeting of the Planning Commission, also in the municipal building. The agenda for that meeting is online at the Whitewater website. (Earlier, I had listed the wrong time and date for the event. To every planner, in our city and beyond, in all the wide world, I extend my apologies.)

The National Weather Service predicts a high of only 9 degrees, with high winds. The Farmers’ Almanac concludes a four-day series predicting fair weather, turning colder. This would be that colder, so to speak.

Last week’s better prediction: NWS.

In our schools today, there is a Middle School choir concert at 7 PM in the high school auditorium.

(Last week I suggested — very subtly and sweetly, really — if the students at Washington School would consider singing Oingo Boingo’s Capitalism. Sadly, my musical recommendation was left unadopted. There’s still time for cooler and more receptive heads to prevail, at tonight’s concert — I am an optimist at heart.)

In Wisconsin history for this day, from the Wisconsin Historical Society, in 1847, our state’s Second Constitutional Convention Convenes.

On this date the first draft of the Wisconsin Constitution was rejected in 1846. As a result, Wisconsin representatives met again to draft a new constitution in 1847. New delegates were invited, and only five delegates attended both conventions. The second convention used the failed 1846 constitution as a springboard for their own, but left out controversial issues such as banking and property rights for women that the first constitution attempted to address. The second constitution included a proposal to let the people of Wisconsin vote on a referendum designed to approve black suffrage.

Wisconsin’s current constitution may be found online.

Good morning, Whitewater

The weekend approaches. There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater. No public scheme, government program stands in the way of your weekend’s private enjoyment.

The National Weather Service predicts a mostly sunny day with a high of only 14 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac begins a multi-day series predicting fair weather turning colder.

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

There’s a Holiday Music Program at Washington School today.

Next week: regular posting resumes.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater.

The National Weather Service predicts a partly sunny day a high of 25 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac continues its a four-day series predicting heavy snow for Wisconsin.

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

There’s a 7 p.m. Band Concert at the High School auditorium.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater, this Wednesday.

The National Weather Service predicts increasing clouds with a high of 21 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac continues its a four-day series predicting heavy snow for Wisconsin.

Yesterday’s better prediction: Even.

In Wisconsin history for this day, in 1967, a sad day for our state, and points beyond, as Otis Redding Dies.

On this date a twin-engine Beechcraft carrying Otis Redding crashed into Lake Monona in Madison, killing Redding and four members of his touring band, the Bar-Kays. Otis Redding was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Here’s a video of Redding’s Sittin’ On (The Dock of the Bay):

Good morning, Whitewater

There’s no school today — play responsibly.

There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater, either.

Today, and today only, you’re 2 for 2.

The National Weather Service predicts a high of 34 degrees, with a wintry mix, and — this is a technical term — lots of snow. The Farmers’ Almanac continues a four-day series predicting heavy snow for Wisconsin.

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

In Wisconsin history for this day, in 1844, a day advancing information and expression, as Milwaukee’s First Daily Newspaper Published.

On this date Milwaukee’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Sentinel, was published. David M. Keeler served and manager and C.L. MacArthur was the editor.

Good morning, Whitewater

There is one public meeting scheduled today in the City of Whitewater: the Irvin Young Memorial Library Board meets tonight, at 6:30 p.m. The evening’s agenda is available online.

The National Weather Service predicts a high of 32 degrees, with a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet. The Farmers’ Almanac begins a four-day series predicting heavy snow for Wisconsin. They may just be right, before all is done.

Last week’s better prediction: NWS.

At Washington School today, there is a Fifth Grade Band Concert scheduled for 2 PM and again at 7 PM.

Students of Washington — Oingo Boingo’s Capitalism is always a crowd-pleaser. There’s still time to learn — it practically sings itself.

In Wisconsin history for this day, in 1917, a day of sadness, and mourning, according to the the Wisconsin Historical Society, as Inventor John F. Appleby Dies.

Why so sad, residents of America’s Dairyland? Oh my, steel yourselves, please —

On this date the inventor of the twine-binder, John F. Appleby died. Appleby was raised on a wheat farm in Wisconsin and searched for an easier way to harvest and bundle grains. His invention gathered severed spears into bundles and bound the sheaves with hempen twine. His invention, which was pulled by horses, was a great success.

In 1878 William Deering, a farm machinery manufacturer secured the right to use Appleby’s patent and sold 3,000 twine harvesters in a single year. In 1882 the McCormicks (of the McCormick reapers) paid $35,000 for the privilege to manufacture Appleby’s invention. Appleby spent the rest of his life in his shop trying to create additional successful machinery.

Appleby spent the rest of his life trying to create ‘additional, successful machinery?’

Now, Whitewater, there is a great man — any lesser man would have spent the remainder of his life resting on his earlier invention of a twine-binder. Only a great man would toil on, in the hope of additional gifts for all humanity.

Good morning, Whitewater

Enjoy your snow-covered weekend. Our municipality gives you a fine send-off — there are no public meetings scheduled for Friday in the City of Whitewater.

The National Weather Service predicts a high of 21 degrees, with increasing cloudiness. The Farmers’ Almanac is in day two of a multi-day series predicting that conditions will be “fair then wet.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

Well, at Washington School — Home of the Golden Eagles — it’s Eagle Day and Spirit Day.

In Wisconsin history for this day, in 1879, leaves us with a happy anniversary today, according to the the Wisconsin Historical Society, as the Humane Society of Wisconsin was Organized:

On this date the Humane Society of Wisconsin was organized in Milwaukee. Inspired by Henry Bergh, a New York City philanthropist, and his Humane Movement, the state Humane Society was formed to protect both animals and children. However, with the formation of child protection laws in the early 1900s, the Humane Society of Wisconsin began to focus primarily on animal protection.

The Wisconsin Humane Society has its own website, with information about its work and mission.

The Wisconsin Humane Society receives no government support — only the free charitable efforts of donors sustain their work.

The Wisconsin Humane Society’s mission is to build a community where people value animals and treat them with respect and kindness.

Our goal is to save lives.

The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) is a private nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a community where people value animals and treat them with respect and kindness. For more than 125 years, WHS has been saving the lives of animals in need. As the largest and most recognized shelter in the state of Wisconsin, WHS offers the following specialized services:

a comprehensive adoption program that matches homeless companion animals with new families and provides follow up and support

lifesaving medical care for nearly 20,000 animals annually, including more than 5,000 wild animals
a spay/neuter clinic for animals from low-income households

educational programs for children and adults designed to teach respect and care for animals and to end neglect and abuse and provide information about the link between violence against animals and human violence

companion animal and wildlife tip lines in addition to individual recommendations to assist the community at large

manners classes for dogs and puppies

one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation hospitals of its kind in the nation, rescuing thousands of animals annually

In 2004, the Wisconsin Humane Society merged with the Ozaukee Humane Society to expand our opportunity to help at-risk animals. This new partnership also enables us to operate more efficiently and save more lives.

WHS receives no government support; we are funded through the generosity of community-minded companies and caring individuals like you!