Blogage

In case you have not heard, the news has had two consecutive Fridays where there has been over 100 people in the main room listening to live music. www.johnharbors.com

John Harbor’s is across the street from the Associated Bank on Main Street and is an untraditional Coffee House. They serve good food and are friendly hospitable folk. This is the kind of place people tell me we need in the Falls but never seem to support. Well, at least the last part has changed. You can get a good cup of Joe, a nice wine or a beer in a totally smoke free environment. You can even get a Bourbon but you have to spell it for Jeremy, the bartender.

The main room looks like a hip living room and is an ideal place to have a meeting or to hear live music-a rarity in this village. It is a great place to take your spouse, friends or even your kids if it is early enough and they like Gelato.

Two weeks ago there was a trio of Arrowhead High School girls playing music to a group of supporters, along with seniors, middle aged men and women, some wearing Harley gear and some wearing western wear (me). Everyone was getting along just fine.

While most of the bars I frequent these days only serve lettuce and tomatoes, I don’t normally find myself hanging with HS kids, but these were kids who were mature beyond their age. It was fun to watch them have fun. I would hope my kids spend Friday night this way when they get to be that age.

There are some events on May 2^nd and 3^rd that will benefit kid's organizations so what better time to check this place out for yourself.

This circular conversation continues to this day. No scientific proof exists against genetically modified crops just feeble mental resistance to science. Europe, always pretending to be the superior intellect to the U.S, saw the obvious advantage to Monsanto’s product as a way to kill their seed and agricultural business. Therefore, naturally, they decided to ban any genetically modified food products under the guise of protecting their citizens from harm. In actuality, it was an absolute trade barrier. Japan, never willing to take second place to trade barriers banned containers, and anything in them, that at one time contained genetically modified food products.

France, even blocked several UN tankers of corn, donated by the U.S. to Zimbabwe’s starving people to “protect” them from the evils of genetically modified crops. Tens, and possibly hundreds of thousands of human beings starved to death as a result. Meanwhile, the scientists who created genetically modified products eat them, and continue to feed them to their children knowing they are perfectly safe. By starving innocent humans to make a point, environmentalists may have created a mental standard that makes the Spanish Inquisition look like the apex of human thought and kindness.

Monday evening was my last night as a School Board member.

I want to thank the community for putting their faith in me to undertake this major responsibility. At the end of three years, I hope you feel that I have served you well.

My Agenda – The Top Six February 2005

1.   At the very top of my agenda is raising test scores. (Please click on the Test Scores link on the left) My goal would be to get our test scores from the bottom quartile, in Waukesha County, to at least the third (hopefully higher) in the next 3 years. Since MFSD it in the top quartile of spending and at the bottom in academic test scores, my ultimate goal would be to reverse those positions.

Well, this was an aggressive goal and while scores are rising, they are rising everywhere else and we are not rising fast enough for us to pull ahead. Encouraging is the greater degree of seriousness this district and community places on test scores and many viable solutions are underway. We have begun to ensure that curriculum is being taught consistently between classes, in all elementary schools.

3.   The MFSD should conduct an outside/independent evaluation of our district, and similar districts, to benchmark how much we are spending on items, such as maintenance, compared to other districts.

First there is an ongoing maintenance and replacement plan in place. Second, the maintenance budget has been increased by about $150,000 per year since I have been on the board. I need to verify that number and may modify this post as I am going off memory right now.

Chuck Mangione played at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center to cap off a High School Band competition. Brookfield Central won but MF and Hamilton were not participating.

Mangione can be credited (or cursed depending on your opinion) for pioneering the “Smooth Jazz” genre of music. He composed and played beautiful jazz that was accessible to a whole new generation of music lovers. He wasn’t Miles Davis but he probably opened Miles’ music to an audience that may have passed it by.

I had lost touch with Mangione’s music for a long time but was still impressed by the quality of some old favorites such as “Land of Make Believe” and “Bellavia.” The sound was excellent and the band very tight.

Mangione recalled playing “Children of Sanchez” in Poland and at the completion of the song; people stood, wept, put their hands over their hearts, and cheered with all their might. It was a musician’s dream until he later learned the song was the designated anthem of Poland’s democracy movement. Still, a very cool tribute to the composer.

The program notes also boasted: “A 1980 issue of Current Biography called "Feels So Good" the most recognized tune since "Michelle" by The Beatles. Recently, smooth jazz stations throughout the United States have recognized Mangione's "Feels So Good" as their all-time number one song.”

My wife and I took our trumpet playing son and friend to the concert and were delighted to find them both tapping their feet and paying close attention to the musicians. Next stop: Miles Davis.

"I will not stop until the truth about the corruption in Menomonee Falls comes out and is dealt with in the proper way."

                                                            Jefferson Davis      http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/story/index.aspx?id=734696

 "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor"

                                                     God

The Menomonee Falls School Board will be holding a workshop on Monday April 7 , 6-8 pm, to hear the final reconfiguration proposals as prepared by various teams of teachers and administrators.  These proposals were presented to the public and open for comment at three recent Board hearings.

If you were not able to attend or have not had the opportunity to present feedback, I would like to extend this opportunity.  The full reconfiguration proposal, as presented by Ms. Tayes, Dr. Nicholas and Mr. Hintz can be found on the district website.  Dr. Marty has also prepared a pod cast reviewing these items. (http://www.sdmf.k12.wi.us/sdmf2/news/podcast-superintendent.html) or http://216.92.102.167/web_pages/falls/admin/index.html#headline7

I would love to hear your feedback prior to our meeting, April 7th.

Please email me your comments.  Please include the particular item you are addressing and whether you would like to see it implemented or not.  Please give specific reasons, if possible for your opinion. (Please note that these ideas were presented in the spirit of improving student performance.) Please include positive feedback as well as negative.  If you are positively impassioned about an item , please let us know you think it is a good idea.
I will print all responses and take with me to the meeting.

If you have any clarification questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Please feel free to pass this along to others who may be interested.