Aaaaay! Looks like Fonzie has some die-hard fans. After Hotcakes Gallery owner Mike Brenner announced he will be closing his gallery for good this summer in protest of the bronze Fonz statue that will be erected on the RiverWalk, he received a number of nasty phone messages. “You’re going to end up like Dahmer,” one anonymous caller threatened. “Who made you God?” asked another. “There’s not room for you and Fonzie in the same city.” Yowza. Maybe Brenner should tell them to “sit on it.”
CBS 58WDJT-TV is making room at the news desk for the newest member of its broadcasting family, weekend anchor and reporter Veronica Griffin. Griffin comes to the station from WTXF in Philadelphia. Prior to her gig in Philly, she was part of an Emmy Award-winning live pregame show for the St. Louis Rams. We won’t hold that against her.
It’s a big year for politics, and rumors are running rampant. In the race for Milwaukee County executive, the name ofstate Rep. Jeff Stone came up as a candidate. Insiders say the Greendale Republican expressed serious interest, but was turned back by supporters of incumbent Scott Walker, who told Stone it was a no-no to run against a fellow Republican. Pity. Stone’s acumen on transportation issues could have made him a worthy challenger to the intransigent Walker and the quixotic Democratic candidate, state Sen. Lena Taylor.
The November legislative elections are still months away, but wags see state Rep. Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee) unseating veteran state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills). Darling has struggled with health problems and has not been up for much door-to-door campaigning. Wasserman, though, had knocked on the doors of some 8,000 residents by March asking for votes. (Update: Milwaukee Magazine failed to call Darling for a comment on this item. Darling reports she’s in “very good health,” trains on a treadmill every morning, does Pilates and yoga and intends to campaign aggressively for reelection.)
Chris Lato, who raised eyebrows last year by jumping from Wisconsin GOP flak to WTMJ-AM newshound, has jumped back into politics, joining Waukesha-based Avicom Marketing Communications’ political and public affairs practice. The operation will work both sides of the ideological fence: Joining Lato is Dennis Shook, a Democratic-leaning ex-Waukesha Freeman editorial page editor and ex-staff writer at the Shepherd Express.
Milwaukee native and Seton Hall law school professor Rachel Godsil is doing her part to make America’s cities a little bit better, serving as convener of Barack Obama’s urban policy team. Godsil is the daughter of Karen Royster, executive director of the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future, and Riverwest community activist James Godsil.
Scott Fergus and his wife apparently have done TV ads for eharmony.com, an online dating service where the couple met. Fergus is a former state legislator-turned-Milwaukee developer. He’s also made news because his 151-unit riverfront condo project, First Place, went into receivership (see “Rocky Road,” page 46).
Multidisciplinary artist and musician Terrence Coffman is set to receive the Laird Leadership in Art Award from the Laird Youth Leadership Foundation on April 21. Coffman was praised for his “distinguished leadership and accomplishments” as an artist and as an arts educator by foundation President John O. Laird, son of former Nixon defense secretary and Wisconsin state Sen. Marvin Laird, who started the foundation.
Did you miss the 2008 Golden Globes? Well, you didn’t miss much, except for the national debut of a local rising star. At the Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet at the Voda Spa, Katharine McPhee, last year’s “American Idol” runner-up, sported a howlite and diamond bracelet worth $17,000 and designed by JJ Number 8. JJ Williams, a Brookfield ex-pat now living in southern California, handcrafts the new jewelry line that includes rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, all of which are inspired by her world travels.
Handwriting expert and former Milwaukee police Capt. Jim Ferrier recently got called down to Racine to help put a little election squabble to rest. Last year, Brian Dey submitted 103 signatures in order to be placed on the ballot for Racine’s District 15 county supervisor (a minimum of 100 signatures from eligible voters is required). Ken Hall, the incumbent county supervisor, was suspicious and called in Ferrier to investigate. Ferrier concluded that at least nine signatures were questionable, but County Clerk Joan Rennert tossed out only three, still giving Dey the required number.
Flashback 25 Years
Niko’s bar in Walker’s Point was nothin’ but a low-down shot-and-a-beer kind of joint. Until slam-dancing saved the day. In the April 1983 issue of Milwaukee Magazine, owner Nick Stathas told how he transformed his place into the only punk-rock nightclub in town.
“I remember the first time a couple of bald-headed women came in. I really couldn’t believe it! … The music was nothing that appealed to me, but I didn’t form any opinions or anything.”
Among the bands that performed: the Stupid Frogs, the Famous Dicks, Rights of the Accused, the Clitboys and the Million Dead Cops.
“It’s a just a temporary fad,” Stathas said of the punks. “It’s like when the hippies were floating around … After a while this will fade and something else will replace it.” Today, the bar LaCage stands in Niko’s place.
