by Dino Corvino on December 20th, 2009
I think I need to preface this immediately. My good friend Rob Mentzer made a top ten list on his blog, and I am concerned that his top ten list is simply so far out of the loop that it will create a rift in the fabric of all space-time, and as such the universe will fall into molecular chaos and entropy. His blatant use of things like this list of his are apocryphal, and could very well lead to some sort of apocalypse.
That being said, this is a list of my favorite musical things that happened in Wausau this year. We would love to get more lists from you.
- “Godspell”: This show at the PAF was so overwhelming to me. It was one of those right place, right time sorts of things. Tough work schedule, tough whatever, and ka-pow, I ended up sitting there crying with tears of joy. The energy and exuberance was so high, so powerful, and so uplifting, I was moved to just heights I had not expected. It moved me, and it was grand.
- The release of ‘Before the Devil Knows Your Dead’ by Meantooth Grin: This album was 18 months in the making, and it started to feel like Tom Jordan’s ‘Chinese Democracy’, but when it came out it raise the bar for what all blues cats were going or should do next. It is a well-written, well-arranged, well-played local masterpiece. It puts all the False Dog records to absolute shame with its real emotions and amazing production.
- Triclops at the PI: I am not a PI sort of fellow, but the Triclops show was so amazing, and so powerfully destructive that it shook the walls off that whole block. Triclops are one of those bands that are sonically unique, and performance aggressive. It was pretty amazing.
- Scott Holt at Malarkeys: I am sure that including one of my friends in the list is not all that kosher, but objectively Scott did things even better than when he got a stand ovation at Big Bull Falls. City Councilman Rosenberg called him a virtuoso, and Tyler Vogt said ‘Now that Scott Holt has shown us what is possible with a guitar’. And, in my observance, I think Scott sang better than ever.
- Sneak Peak/Why Not Wausau: The set up concert on the mountain was epic. It paves the way for people to see Why Not Wausau as a legitimate thing. The guys from Flapjack Creative did something, in their first year, that few others do in a lifetime in town.
- The Rob Piehl/Tom Jordan/Eric Messenberg jam: I did not get to hear this in person, but by all accounts these three cats did something amazing. It is great when two guitar KILLERS like Eric and Tom can get together. You’ve got to hope Eric comes back bigger stronger, and heavier.
- Receiving a copy of ‘icantfeel’ by iloveghosts: I have said for a long time, that my favorite band to EVER come out of central Wisconsin is iloveghosts, and their record is an overwhelming assault on the senses. Brave, emotional, techie, and cool. Iloveghosts are rock stars. PERIOD.
- Rob Mentzer/Tom Neal/and Sam Staples on WNRB: I love WNRB, but do not catch as much as I should. But when these guys are on, I listen from start to finish. WNRB is cool.
- The Demise of the Fillmor: It is not okay to root for the decline of something, but I think the final nail in the coffin showed a lot of people that music is a profession, and not a hobby. And when you do not know what you are doing, a lot of things go wrong. I do not think Dan and Bill were bad guys, I just think they were in over their heads and made some bad choices. We all do. Now, the Fillmor is free and can be snatched up by someone who knows what they are doing.
- The Blueheels/Pat McDonald/Vinny Bex Dae. These cats have all played all over, and when they played Malarkeys (or anywhere else in town), they blew up the place. We are lucky musicians still see Wausau as a good place to come and play.
So, what do you think? Send us your list, and we can try to post them.
by Dino Corvino on December 8th, 2009
We just got this in an email…our first snow emergency of this winter season. Are you ready?
“SNOW EMERGENCY
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 –In anticipation of the heavy snowfall which has been forecasted, a snow emergency will be in effect from 12:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 9, 2009 until 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2009. Vehicles which are parked on City streets are subject to being ticketed. It is very important for vehicles to be off the streets so snow plowing operations can take place.
Drivers are urged to use caution on snow-covered streets and stay clear of snow plows.”
by Dino Corvino on November 18th, 2009
This comes to us directly from the Office of Mayor Tipple
“Wednesday, November 18, 2009 – Today temporary layoff notices were issued to ten (10) employees. This was necessary in order to immediately reduce our expenses before year end. This layoff is indefinite.
The City of Wausau is implementing two (2) non-voluntary temporary layoff days (furloughs) for 2009. The furloughs apply to all full time and permanent part time employees of AFSCME Local 1287 and 1287CH. The leave days are as follows:
1287 Full and Permanent Part Time Employees:
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
1287CH Full and Permanent Part Time Employees:
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Crossing Guards will be excluded from the December 23, 2009 lay off day (furlough) as school will be in session that day. City Hall and Customer Service Counters of the Police Department, Community Development Authority and Public Works will be closed on the above days. These layoffs were selected in an attempt to minimize disruption of city operations and services to constituents.”
by Dino Corvino on November 1st, 2009
At Citizen Wausau we consider ourselves as a part of the community, we want to engage in the projects that we see as interesting or valuable. We want to engage the process of growing our city in new and exciting ways, ways that build community. That’s why we’re proud to introduce a new idea: TweetBus.
What is Tweetbus?
TweetBus starts with a simple goal: we want to increase both awareness and use of the Wausau Public Transit System, the bus. Public transit is a vital part of our city’s growth. Sadly, every year Public Transit seems to be attacked around the time of the city budget. So we want to do something fun and progressive that uses technology to create awareness of the Public Transit System.
Members of the CW family will be riding the bus all day on Saturday November 7th. We would love your company, but we’ll get to that in a second. We will be using Twitter to provide a live play-by-play of the day, and you can follow events as they happen on the new TweetBus website.
Want to Join Us?
You can take part in this adventure in any number of ways, from all day participation, to just a run here or there, to simply following along and spreading the world.
- We will be meeting at 8:45am Saturday November 7th at the Downtown Transit Center, and getting on the bus for our day long sojourn. We would love to meet you there, and start the day together. If you cannot make it there, or just want to do a part of the day, see below. We would welcome you to the fun of a day on the bus.
- Follow our progress on Twitter. Participants in the event should use the hashtag #tweetbus at the end of any relevant tweets. You can follow all the #tweetbus posts on the TweetBus website, or by searching for them on Twitter.
- If you plan to participate, share your Twitter username in the comments. We’ll try to put up a list of expected participants later this week!
Twitter on the Go
All you need to participate in TweetBus is a mobile phone. Twitter allows for any number of ways to tweet from your phone; click here for more info. At the very least you can use text messages to update Twitter – just make sure you end them with the #tweetbus hashtag! Smartphone users can do the same or use any of the many Twitter apps that are floating around out there.
Goals
The goals are simple. Increase awareness, use these new tools, and have a little fun. We love seeing the people who read and take part in CW at events, and we hope that this is another way for us to connect. We think that even if it is only a ride or two through out the day, it will be a good cause and some fun. We hope to upload some photos to a Flickr group, and maybe collect some stories of people who ride the bus, the drivers, and all the surrounding good times. Public transit is important, it is a part of the infrastructure of any city, and we want to highlight it here in Wausau.
So again, we are meeting prior to boarding…
Saturday November 7th
8:45 am
Downtown Bus Terminal
We hope to see you there.
by Dino Corvino on October 30th, 2009
Flu season. Right here, right now, sadly upon us. People appear to be leaking all around me, sniffling. Shaking, fevers. My favorite director Larry documented a vicious attack of the flu on his facebook page. It seemed like a tale out of ‘Trainspotting’.
So, the questions is really about prevention.
What are you doing to protect you and yours?
Do you get a flu shot?
What is your favorite home remedy for cough and cold season?
by Dino Corvino on October 26th, 2009
Today, I read in the Wausau Daily Herald that the nightclub, Break-A-Way, has gone to the police for help. They need the police to help them weed out the bad patrons, and they want to WORK WITH the police to get this done. I was shocked, appalled, and it made me realize I have a different world view of this troubling incident.
First off, a night club is by its nature not a family place. We do not go out at 11:30 at night to find wholesome fun. At 11:30 at night, in a bar, chances are the world is pursuing something a bit illicit, whether it’s love, drink, or something worse like trouble. But, it is not a library or a church social–it is a night club.
Secondly, I think this place is a dump. Years ago a friend was the bouncer there, and managed to get STABBED. I have to admit that he was a bad bouncer. But, knowing this is a place where someone would consider pulling a knife out and stabbing someone, what’s even more telling is that person HAD a knife to stab someone with. I was a bouncer for a long time, and someone only brought a knife to the bar once, and he had to get thrown out, then GO GET it, bring it back, and threaten me with it (and for the record we did not call the police).
Is it right to get rid of your manager? Sure. Is it right to blame him? Sure. Did you know he ended up down the road at IC Willy’s? Sure enough. Is this going to be the new place to go to for trouble? Does trouble follow this fellow? We shall see. Is it right to do all of this publicly in the media? Well, I am guessing that at some point a lawyer and a judge might decide, but we shall see how that goes as well.
But, is it right to go to the police for your troubles if your business in many ways facilitates drunk driving or other illicit behavior? I don’t think so. I think the bar owner, who by all accounts is a rather absent bar owner, could easily remedy this by bringing in a good doorman, some bartenders with some strength, paying them a bigger wage so they do not have to be so dependant on tips, and go from there.
Would you want to go to a place where you have to worry that the owner is in direct communication with the police? Sure, if you aren’t doing something wrong, then of course you have nothing to worry about. I think though that this gets to a larger issue. With the invasive nature of the police in small communities like this, does it lead to larger issues? Should we need to have them in our bars, in our Starbucks, in the Wal-Mart parking lot, or the library? Should we let them tap into the security camera feed and watch everything live?
Is the role of the police to come when called, or to set up shop as a tacit form of intimidation and information gathering? In the case of a night club, is it not self defeating to bring the police to your place? I mean, by the very act of having a beer, you are driving under the influence EVERY TIME. By bringing this heightened police presence and cooperation, is Break-A-Way not endangering their own customers?
Now granted, I come from a different time and place. I have always thought that a bar should be seedy, and a bit outlaw. Of course I want to feel safe, but, I understand that sometimes the wild things in the hearts of men need to roar. Sometimes we need to simply brazenly wallow. I think there is a place for that sort of thing in our city. Clearly we all have an expectation of safety, and all of the rest of it. But, sometimes you just have a bit of fever in your soul, and you just need a safe place to burn that off. And when I do, I would not do it at a place where the owner talked openly about bringing the police in to help out.
Is Break-A-Way like the Oakland Raiders? A long storied night club that has gone to seed with bad ideas, bad management, and bad execution? Is it time for Al Davis to sell the Raiders? Has the city changed too much for the old ideas of what a night spot is or is not to be relevant?
Also, I have to point out the hypocrisy of this action just a little bit. In open session this City Committee was resistant to Tyler Vogt of Malarkey’s wanting to open a second bar downtown. I believe the quote was, “That is just what downtown needs, another bar.” Well, Malarkey’s has a near-perfect reputation, and is met with resistance in making a commitment to downtown, yet a bar that is famous for being a haven for police activity is consistently given a second, third, and 47th chance.
I think it is fair to wonder what it would take to actually get police or council action in this town.
by Dino Corvino on October 21st, 2009
Recently, Carol Mularkey passed away. It appears she was best known as an art teacher in the community, but I knew her as something different — a swimmer, and a constant presence in my 20s. To be frank, she was a nag, a nitpicker, and she was tough, and I had no idea why.
I met Carol when I was about 17. In my teens and 20s I thought my career was going to be in the water. I was a lifeguard, swim teacher, and lifeguard instructor all over the state and the nation. In my teens, I worked for DC Everest Community Education as the morning lifeguard for AM Lap Swim, and that is where I met Carol, and God I hated her.
AM Lap swim is the coolest thing ever. Swimmers, when they are growing up, need pool time. And a traditional time, for some reason, is to do that is in the morning. As swimmers age out of competitive swimming, it is not uncommon for those sleep patterns to keep going, and AM Lap Swims exist all over the country.
I was a lifeguard, a teen, and a child of punk rock. I wanted NOTHING to do with AM Lap swim, or “AM” anything for that matter. But, I needed money, so there I was at five A.M. at my high school, driving my green Pinto. The first person I met was Carol. She was there before me, and standing there looking at me very disapprovingly. I opened the door without saying a word, and away we went.
Carol was a fish in those days. She swam a lot, and fast. The unique thing was she wore a thermometer on her suit. It was one of those REI key chains, and she had it right there. When she got done swimming she checked that, and told me the temperature of the pool. I had no idea why, and frankly I thought she was some kooky old woman who thought I could somehow make the pool warmer or colder. I was young, so what did I know?
One day, I overslept, and was late. I was concerned as I pulled up, and there she stood. Boy, did I get an earful. She let me know that I was disappointing her, and that people were counting on me, and I needed to take this seriously. To be fair, I was sound asleep as she let me have it, so I couldn’t have cared less.
I did that for a few months. Then summer came, and I went to the RS Pool. The following year I taught swim lessons with Peter Rotter and Ted Tautges at the Woodson Y. I’m sure they don’t remember, but I remembered them. One day, Carol and Sue Lewitzke teamed up and wanted to talk to me. They asked me to lifeguard for the Wausau Triathlon. I was thrilled. I was scared to be involved, but Carol made a point of pressing me into service with: “You better do a good job, people are counting on you.”
Years later, I was in college, and I came home for a bit. I asked if I could get some AM shifts to get some money over Christmas. And sure enough, Carol was still there. Now I was even more arrogant, and cavalier. One day, I over slept and did not even go open the pool. Somehow Carol managed to track down my home phone number, and called to scold me. But, it was not a scolding, it was more about not living up to my potential, and how I had opportunities and I needed to take them seriously.
Her having my phone number led to wake up calls over the winter months, since she was planning on being there. I had the keys, so she needed me there. But, it was never just nagging. It was always about potential and opportunities.
Years later, as my aquatic career was coming to an end, and I had a bit of success as a writer, I got a call in Milwaukee from Carol. She said she had seen my name in the paper, and got a hold of the play or story mentioned. She said she was proud of me for living up to my potential and asked if I was still teaching swim lessons (which I still was). Then she wanted to talk to my girl Jackie. She and Jackie talked for a while, and Jackie laughed and laughed. When it was over, Jackie hung up and did not tell me what was said.
A few weeks later though something magic happened. Jackie and I were in a rough patch in our relationship. I was teaching some parent-child swim classes at Nicolet High School, and some lessons for younger kids, and Jackie came. She sat with the parents, and watched me sing songs, and blow bubbles, and teach kids to use the kick boards. The thing is Jackie never came to watch me teach.
After lessons Jackie came over and hugged me and smiled, and gave me a big smooch. She said she was sorry for the hard times, and we both laughed. I was wearing a Speedo, and shivering, so I was a funny sight. I asked why she came, and she said Carol suggested it. Carol told her that I was full of crap, but when I was teaching swimming I was not, that the kids would not let me, and I was a great teacher.
We learn life lessons in strange ways. This woman was a nag and a pain, but might have saved our relationship that time. While it did not work with Jackie, I was always proud that she came to see me teach little kids how to swim. It always made me proud. I think Carol knew it made me proud to be a swim teacher, and I think she wanted to know I took it seriously.
Thanks Carol. Thanks for teaching me that the things we are passionate about are important, and should be pursued with seriousness and intensity. Thanks for all of it.
by Dino Corvino on October 14th, 2009
This case has been lingering about the City of Wausau for some time. It appears that a judgement was handed down. For the complete judgment see the link below.
Van De Yacht Decision.10.13.09
October 14, 2009, Wausau, WI – Judge Barbara Crabb of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin has granted a motion for summary judgment in the matter of Christine Van De Yacht vs. the City of Wausau and James Tipple, William Nagle, Michael Morrissey and Ann Werth in their individual capacities. This closes the case, unless it is appealed by Van De Yacht.
Van De Yacht Decision.10.13.09
by Dino Corvino on October 2nd, 2009
I want to preface this by saying the following…I know Paul Klocko. I have known him for at least 8 years. For a while there he and I were friends, but we are not now. That seems like disclaimer enough.
I do not know if you have been following the news lately, but our little town, and our town daily newspaper made the national news recently. It appears that the staff of the WDH released the name of one of his forum commenters to a local official, Dean Zuleger of Weston.
The commenter, screen name ‘juanmoore’, real name Paul Klocko, attacked Dean Zuleger personally and professionally when Zuleger won the Person of the Year award. The attacks were made in regards to his weight, his eating, and several other things. Calling Dean fat, and Little Hitler. Good stuff. Stuff you tend to only say if you are anonymous. Keyboard bravery I call it.
Dean, as is his right, asked the Daily Herald for the name of the poster. I say it is his right, because I tend to think it is our right to ask for anything we want. I recently asked Andy for his bike, and like a grown up, Andy said no. I once asked the bank teller for a million bucks, since I was there, and she said no. We laughed.
In this case Dean asked, and WDH said yes. Hence, the drama.
Then some fallout comes from Zuleger writing Klocko a letter inviting him to come into the office and talk about whatever issues he might have. The letter was cleared by the City Attorney, so the language was pretty safe. I know this because the letter is all over the internet. You know, from when the man upset about his anonymity not being protected gave preemptive interviews.
Klocko never went in to speak about any grievance he might have with the Village Administrator, from the Village that he lives in.
So what do we know…
- Klocko made anonymous attacks. He has admitted to that, in several news stories.
- Zuleger asked the WDH for the name of juanmoore.
- Mark Baldwin gave Zuleger the name. That has been documented.
- Zuleger wrote a letter. He admitted that. Klocko gave the letter to a website. The anonymous guy gave the letter to be put up on the internet.
- Klocko got the letter and felt intimidated. He said that in several interviews. Again, anonymous guy, giving interviews.
- Klocko states in interviews that his reaction was emotional and probably a mistake, and his anger at his rough patch was misdirected at Dean. In case you forgot, man upset about anonymity, giving interviews.
- Klocko sells popcorn.
- Mike Beck and the WDH apologized to Klocko. Klocko confirmed that in news stories. Anonymous guy giving interviews.
- The WDH clarifies their policy.
- Klocko has not gone into handle any grievance with Zuleger, as of this writing.
- Klocko claims to contact the state Attorney General and an attorney. Not sure why since everyone has admitted what they did.
- Klocko said he just wants to get to the bottom of this, and he does not want a dime.
Did we just not get to the bottom of this? What more is he looking to do, other than continue to drag Dean through the mud?
Let me see if I can get my mind around this…a man who is upset that his anonymity was not protected, is now appearing as an attacker in the Huffington Post, and has given interviews to the local papers, as well as AP (the worldwide news agency) reporters, about attacks that were personal, reactionary, and misdirected anger. So, upset that he is not anonymous, but somehow wants recognition? Now, how does that balance out?
How is it that Klocko admits that his attacks came from a mistaken place — a place of anger that came from him having a rough time, and resentment about Zuleger getting an award-yet the reaction from the one he attacked was somehow inappropriate? When he admitted his initial action was inappropriate.
Klocko, who says he wants NOTHING from this, has gotten an apology from the WDH, has appeared in the Huffington post as well as blogs across the world, is continuing to contact lawyers and the State Attorney General. To what end? Everyone has admitted everything that they have done, Klocko attacked, Dean asked, Baldwin said yes, Dean wrote a letter, Klocko got a letter, the WDH apologized. What more is there? What secret information can possibly be out there? All the players in this story have become shockingly transparent. What is Klocko thinking happened? What is his motivation if not to further attack Zuleger? What comes from further legal action to things already admitted?
Then we get into the fact that this is like an attacker suing a victim of the attack. Klocko attacked Dean in the WDH online site. And he said it was a mistake, he said so in the AP piece. Well, if it was a mistake, then apologize and move on. The only one keeping this a story, well, is Klocko.
What sort of arrogance is it when you attack someone personally, and then further drag them through a never ending wave of drama involving more lawyers?
Paul, nothing seems to be in dispute here. It seems like you got what you wanted. Unless of course you want something else.
by Dino Corvino on September 29th, 2009
With one post on the WDH forum, it appears that Carl “gets more done by accident than you do on purpose, jack” Kluz is returning to behind the scenes work in local politics. His forum post clearly signaled a desire to work on council elections again.
This appears in an article about 400 Block Fundraising…
“Only 201 days until the next city council elections on April 6, 2010.
Anyone wanting to run for local office as a taxpayer advocate may contact me at carl.kluz@careerstep1.com and you will have all the help you need.”
I have met Carl one time, and we talked for hours. I learned a lot, there is no other way to say that. I learned a lot from my lunch with Carl. Carl is information packed, like a good soy stir fry is packed with dense nutrition. He gave me a lot of information, a lot of his perspective, and I was left swimming after he was done.
For those of you who do not know, Carl has been a part of the last few mayoral elections. He worked hand in hand with Linda Lawrence during her run, then he switched teams and helped current Mayor Jim Tipple get elected.
Carl was also allegedly responsible for a post on the WDH forum that led to increased security at City Council meetings.
Carl has told me, and others have confirmed, that he was very pivotal in getting both Mayors Tipple and Lawrence elected. His hard work and tireless support of the electoral process is what makes Carl one of the go to people for certain candidate types, and he responds by being very selective of the people he works for.
Rumors have it that both print newspapers have tried to contact Kluz to seek out what his plans are, and these same rumors have Kluz rebuffing all requests for interviews.
It appears that Kluz has come out of “retirement” and is getting back in the game of Wausau Council politics. I am not sure if this is a good thing either for Carl or for the council, but it appears he is back.
