Author: Editor

Ben Domian: A life influenced by family and Lance Sijan

What the general public saw when they watched the reality TV show “Kicking & Screaming” was a handful of survival experts and non-experts paired together to overcome the challenges of tropical Fiji. What they likely missed was the true patriotic character of one participant, Ben Domian, his deep love for country as a third generation member of the Air Force, and a lifelong dedication to the legacy of his boyhood hero, fighter pilot Lance Sijan. Lance Peter Sijan was born in Milwaukee in 1942 and graduated from Bay View High School in 1960. On March 4, 1976, he posthumously...

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Tour of local success stories kicks off Milwaukee small business week

In recognition of Milwaukee entrepreneurs, event organizers hosted a special tour of small business owners located around the city on May 1 to showcase their personal stories and positive community impact. The idea behind the bus tour for Milwaukee Small Business Week was to give community stakeholders a chance to go into the heart of the city and get a firsthand look at the small businesses that are thriving, and hear about the benefits of the city programs that helped them to open their doors and storefronts. “Our Small Business Bus Tour is a unique opportunity to get up...

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Jim Guy: Theater props make a most unusual garage sale

The average garage sale offers unique trinkets from the life of a neighborhood family. Multiply that a few times, and it starts to come close to the accumulation of things by Milwaukee’s largest theater company. Except for experimental theater, rarely does an audience expect to see an empty stage with naked actors. The performers do get all the attention on stage, but their craft would be incomplete without props. From simple objects and costumes, to elaborate sets, props are a vital part of the live theater experience. Since 1998, Jim Guy has been producing these important visual elements for...

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Joel Brennan outlines Discovery World expansion at president’s breakfast

“Working with our community partners, we have formulated a vision for an exciting and transformational project that will help shape our organization’s future for the next 20 years, and allow us to have a more significant impact on kids in our community.” – Joel Brennan The winning robot from Team 1675, aka the “Ultimate Protection Squad,” kicked off the annual president’s breakfast on April 24 by delivering speech notes to Joel Brennan, Discovery World’s CEO and President. Brennan introduced the students from Rufus King International High School, who recently won the FIRST Robotics competition and qualified for the World...

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Doug Johnson: Family is about love and not skin color

With a career that spans three decades in the music industry from a sound engineer to booking top artists for Summerfest, Doug Johnson is most proud of his other full-time job as being the father of adopted African-American twins. His holistic approach to life, persistence for social justice, and insightful parenting in action takes on racial issues with healthy and direct action. Johnson’s philosophy serves as an example beyond his living room and as a model to the segregated Milwaukee community for how to embrace and incorporate racial diversity. | Q&A with Doug Johnson Milwaukee Independent: What is the...

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