Editor, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Sandra Parks shared “Our Truth” as a child victim on the state of chaos from gun violence

Posted by Editor | Nov 21, 2018 |

Editor’s Note: For the past three years I have photographed the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at Uihlein Hall of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. I have seen young students share their passion for social justice on stage, then return again the following year with more wisdom and determination. It was encouraging to watch these students, with their whole future ahead of them, and wonder about the trajectory of their lives. Sandra Parks was one such student. She participated in the 2016-17 event, and won third place for her essay. After reviewing the many...

A Living Legend: Gary Wetzel celebrated on 50th anniversary of his Medal of Honor

Posted by Editor | Nov 19, 2018 |

The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center Board of Trustees commemorated the 50th Anniversary

A map to food and drinks along Milwaukee’s Streetcar route

Posted by Editor | Nov 15, 2018 |

Milwaukee Food & City Tours compiled a list of 50 restaurants and bars within 2 blocks along The Hop Streetcar route of 18 stations to feature the vibrancy of downtown. The most obvious stops along the 2.1 mile loop for food has been the Milwaukee Public Market, and the Metro Market grocery store. But for passengers arriving in the city via the Intermodal Station, knowing what the options are enhances the experience of their visit. This map was produced from public information for Streetcar riders, whether they be guests to the area or local residents, to aid in the...

Veterans Day Parade 2018 honors Milwaukee’s Red Arrow Division for its WWI service

Posted by Editor | Nov 13, 2018 |

The 55th Annual Day of Honor and Parade was observed this year on November 10, and took place on the Centennial anniversary of the end of Great War that devastated the many nations from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. Known and celebrated in other countries as Armistice Day, America’s Veterans Day originally marked the end of World War I, and was formally enacted in 1954 to remember all those who served in the nation’s military. The Red Arrow Club of Milwaukee represented the Grand Marshal for the 2018 parade. Given the “Red Arrow” nickname for its tenacity...

Autonomous drone exhibit takes flight thanks to ingenuity of local aerospace company and students

Posted by Editor | Nov 12, 2018 |

On October 27, Discovery World flipped a switch to “Power On!” its new $2 million exhibit, transforming an underused space into a new education center to meet the growing demands of its public mission. Joel Brennan, President and CEO of Discovery World, and Kevin Fletcher, President WEC Energy Group welcomed students to the new exhibit, that will allow students and families to touch lightning, explore wind turbines, experiment with gravitational potential energy, and encounter amazing energy transformations. Presented by the We Energies Foundation, “Power On!” provides a unique experience for school groups. It engages them directly with science experiments...

Downtown voters ride The Hop to cast ballots in midterm election

Posted by Editor | Nov 7, 2018 |

The City of Milwaukee experienced a higher than average turn-out for early voting leading up to the midterm elections. When the polls opened at 7:00 a.m. on November 6, many registered voters used the new Streetcar system to get to downtown polling centers. The entire House of Representatives and a third of the U.S. Senate was on the ballot, along with statewide and local elections. City of Milwaukee officials reported nearly 37,000 voters cast early ballots, which is a 140% increase from the last midterm election in 2014. “We’ve seen really significant voting numbers prior to the election. That...