Stuffed:

Me, too.  Not a surprise. Thanksgiving dinner at my house included turkey, stuffing, cranberries, fruit medley, corn, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry bread, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and other goodies.

Gathering with family, relaxing, and sharing a meal.  Celebrating and reflecting. Giving thanks. What a great American tradition.

I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving holiday.    

Next up is the mad dash, shop-till-you-drop post-Thanksgiving day frenzy known as Black Friday. Such stressful activity will likely burn up a few calories.           

In a previous blog entry, I expressed appreciation for the free meal that Applebee's provided veterans on Veterans Day.

And now, I'd like to thank Golden Corral for the free dinner that it provided to veterans on Monday, November 17.  There was a big turnout at the Waukesha restaurant despite that night's icy road conditions.  My husband (a Vietnam War veteran), several of our friends who had served in the military and their spouses, and I were among the many who attended the event.

VETERANS PARADE              

According to various internet sources, the Pledge of Allegiance was first published in 1892 in The Youth's Companion magazine in Boston, Massachusetts. It was worded as: “ I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” It was revised about 30 years later with the words “the flag of the United States of America” replacing the phrase “my Flag.”  In 1954, Congress and President Dwight Eisenhower added the words “under God” to the pledge.

Congratulations to:

Eisenhower’s Softball team--the Division 2 State Softball Champions. The team was recognized at Monday’s School Board meeting. Coach Jeff Setz gave a speech thanking the girls and touting their efforts and accomplishments. He called them champions both on and off the field. A wonderful tribute, indeed.

New Berlin West Boys Track Qualifiers for the WIAA State Track Tournament

Elementary School Chess Club (Elmwood, Glen Park, Orchard Lane, Ronald Reagan Schools )--national award winners. Coach Randy Bubolz took 38 chess players to Pittsburg and came back with 6 team trophies and 6 individual trophies. At Monday’s Board Meeting, Elmwood principal Jo Boardman thanked and praised Mr. Bubloz, a community member, (who was not present) for his volunteer service and chess team’s achievements.

Eisenhower and New Berlin West students graduating Saturday  

New Berlin West’s graduation ceremony is on June 14 at l:30 pm in the NBW Field house.

The Eisenhower graduation ceremony, which is also on June 14, has been re-located to a Church and the time changed.

The following announcement is posted on the NBPS web site:

Updated June 11, 2008.   Due to recent heavy rains, the Eisenhower High School stadium field is unusable for commencement ceremonies. The original alternate location was the high school gymnasium. Those who have attended an indoor ceremony there in the past largely agree that this is not a comfortable venue for a dignified commencement ceremony. No air conditioning, difficult steps and risers, and a tight limit on the number of guests all make this a less-than-desirable location. Fortunately, a much more suitable and comfortable location for June 14, 2008 has been secured, even on short notice.

Commencement will now be held at  Elmbrook Church, 777 South Barker Road, Brookfield.  The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. (originally 1:30 p.m.)

My previous blog post about Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties Support Our Troops Day (Saturday, May 31) mentioned two scheduled events: 1) The 2008 RIDE for the Wheelchair Games, a motorcycle rally to raise awareness and funds to send Wisconsin paralyzed veterans to the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Omaha, Nebraska  and  2) Reclaiming Our Heritage, a free-admission, living history event with encampments from all the major military eras in U.S. history.

Here's more information I've received about the 2008 RIDE for the Wheelchair Games. The day's event includes:

• 8-8:45 am Famous Dave's breakfast at the sign-in at the House of Harley (62nd & Layton in Greenfield)
• 8:30-9:12 am, explanation of day's events, speech from Sheriff Clarke
• 9:12-9:15 am, leave to the VA grounds. There the rally will lead the Positively Patriotic Parade for Reclaiming Our Heritage
• Escorted memorial procession leaves the VA to tour past veteran memorials in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

       The tentative destinations are:

• New Berlin:  National and Casper 10:25 am
• Franklin's Memorial: Loomis and Drexel 11 am
• Greendale's American Legion on Grange and 63rd  11:05 am
• Oak Creek's Memorial (Rawson Avenue and 6th) 11:20 am
• Air refueling wing on Pennsylvania  11:30 am
• Veterans Park Lincoln Memorial Drive 11:40 am

       Next: 

• 12 noon-3 pm, Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro for lunch
• Auction for Cemetery-by-Lantern tour tickets. (Tour of the cemetery features detailed stories of men and women buried in Wood National Cemetery. Firing squad and bugle accompany solemn hymns of the 1st Brigade Band)
• Raffle for a handmade motorcycle themed quilt
• All are encouraged to meet back on the VA grounds for Reclaiming Our Heritage

On this special day for mothers, I'd like to share the following* -------

M-O-T-H-E-R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,            
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government (NBCRG) President Ralph Heun spouted lots of nonsense in the NBCRG March 7 blog entry. See my previous blog entry titled  NBCRG Spin and Blunders.

In that March 7 NBCRG blog post, Ralph Heun complained that citizens and civic groups cannot use City Hall. He bemoaned the “short-sighted policy that has kept election forums, Christmas and July 4 parades and other events from being televised”--and he blamed Alderman Bill Moore for it. He accused Ald. Moore of being a prime instigator in passing an ordinance two years ago that prohibited any non-city group from using City Hall/or City Channel 25 for any purposes. What a distortion of facts! Actually, in 2006 Ald. Moore argued against and voted against the restrictive policy/resolution No. 06-11. Furthermore, Ald. Ken Harenda---whom NBCRG has chosen to endorse not only voted in favor of this awful policy/resolution that Heun has complained so bitterly about, he made the motion to approve it.

Let’s get something else straight: Ald. Dave Ament called the Feb. 16 meeting at City Hall, but it was for area residents--not only his own District #7 constituents. The meeting dealt with Coffee Road changes, as well as sidewalks, side paths or bike trails in various areas of the City. Heun’s statement that Ald. Poshepny (District #5) was not shouted down is untrue. When Ald. Poshepny attempted to speak, some members of the audience rudely yelled out. I witnessed that. Heun admits that Ald. Ament asked Ald. Poshepny not to speak. And yet, others at the meeting were allowed to speak.

Perhaps if NBCRG President Ralph Heun had not stood beside Ald. Ament at the front of the room, facing and addressing the audience, for part of the meeting --which did occur-- it would not have appeared so much like a NBCRG meeting or political rally. Interesting that Ralph Heun, the president of a political action group, was allowed to do that and grandstand, but the 5^th District alderman who tried to speak during the meeting was silenced and not permitted to speak!  A so-called  “informational meeting”-- that prevents someone--an elected official--  from asking questions or providing information?  Does that serve the public's best interests?  Well, the format gave Heun the opportunity to spew negative comments about the Transportation Committee, sidewalks, etc.

If it was just an “informational meeting” as Heun contends, why was there a stack of inflammatory “Just Say No” fliers opposed to sidewalks (and referring to a petition) prominently displayed on a table inside the meeting room ( by the entry), a petition for people to sign--as well as two individuals seated at the table, apparently to assist them?

And why wasn't a City traffic engineer invited to the meeting? Kudos to him for coming to the meeting anyway (it was held on a Saturday)  to answer people’s questions. Ald. Ament introduced the City traffic engineer, but acknowledged during the meeting that he hadn’t invited him.

Heun also maintained in the NBCRG blog entry that Ray McInerny, Sr. is president of a small group that apparently is not active as they claim to be exempt from state law requiring that expenditures over $25 must be reported to the City Clerk. What a bogus accusation!

Ray’s group formed late last year. It’s an active group whose membership is growing. Heun misrepresented the facts: State law requires that a group that is supporting or opposing candidates (political action group) be registered with the City Clerk before making expenditures over $25. Ray’s group registered in October -- before it even knew who would be running for office in April (candidates had until Jan. 2 to file to get their name on the ballot) and is in compliance with that law. As for filing an exemption: Political action groups and candidates are eligible for exemption from filing campaign finance reports if they don’t anticipate accepting contributions or making disbursements totaling more than $1000 in a calendar year and don’t accept more than $100 from a single source during the calendar year. Local candidates typically claim exemption status. New Berlin candidates for local public office (including those endorsed by NBCRG) often claim exemption from filing . Independent committees have to file itemized campaign finance reports. In 2008, when Ray’s group decided to support a specific candidate--it filed as an “independent committee” and filed the appropriate reports by the reporting deadline as the law requires.

Ironically, Ralph Heun stated, “ If Mr. McInerny does not know the facts, He should not make the complaints”. Mr. Heun should follow his own advice.

Attention: New Berlin School District residents and parents

If you want a better understanding of school district finances and your taxes---or have questions---don’t miss the one hour presentation given by New Berlin Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Kreutzer at 7 pm on Wednesday, March 12.  A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

The topics will include:

• how taxes are derived
• comparison data
• budgetary priorities
• future fiscal planning.

This financial presentation and Q&A session will be conducted at New Berlin West Performing Arts Center, 18695 W. Cleveland Ave.

According to the NBPS District web site, Dr. Kreutzer will be available after his presentation until all questions have been answered.

Dr. Kreutzer did a slideshow presentation on school finance at the October 8 School Board Meeting that was impressive, fact-filled, and down-to-earth. I expect his March 12 presentation will be as interesting and informative.