Maple & Main

Last week started off Otto’s Art Academy’s Summer Camp Season.

Each year we host weeklong summer camps that teach the basics of drawing and adding color to make your pictures look real.

On the last day of camp, we take a break from the fine art portion of drawing and painting and do something out of the ordinary.

This year, our first camp worked on a public art project.

Each student designed and painted a wooden fish to be put on display throughout the summer in the garden outside of the Academy.

It now looks like a dozen artful fish are making their way down to the Fox River via the alleyway outside of the Academy doors.

So if you find yourself downtown for Friday Night Live or an Art Crawl, an afternoon snack or a day of shopping, please take some time to head to the west end of Main and check out the fish.

When the breeze blows, the fish actually appear to be swimming.

We want to thank all the artists who contributed to the display. They did a great job and the fish really add an element of fun to the neighborhood.

However, the birds that usually hang out in the garden are having a tough time getting used to them.

REGARDING THE FISH PHOTOS: It has come to my attention that the image host I used to display the fish pictures occasionally runs banner adds that are "a little questionable". Please use discretion when viewing them with your kids (as you should any time they use the internet). I will be looking for a different image host ASAP.

This photo was taken just last week.

This is Lucky. He and his brothers and sisters were born in our bushes during the early part of April 2007.

A few short weeks later, Lucky’s siblings met a tragic end. Something (a coyote or a fox) got to them one Friday night.

At first we thought the predator got the whole family. But a few days later, we saw one little lone survivor out nibbling clovers.

That is why we named him Lucky.

Lucky was really adorable (as most baby bunnies are). The kids in art class were especially excited to catch an occasional glimpse of him during the day.

One particular afternoon, he was so bold as to come right up to the front door and peer inside- causing complete pandemonium in class. Students fled their easels and crowded around windows to get a look at the cute little bunny.

Cuteness aside, Lucky had an expensive habit.

He liked Impatients. And Moon Flowers. And the tall weed-like flowers my wife and I planted by the fountain near our porch.

I finally constructed a few chicken wire fences to stave him off, but early one morning I caught him knocking them over and grazing on our petunias.

It’s hard for me to be mad at a baby bunny. They are just so darn cute and fluffy.

So the bunny and I battled back and forth for a while, him eating our flowers and me building fences.

I know what you are thinking- wow, what a horrible burden to bear. A bunny was eating your flowers. Big deal.

But it was enough to drive me to the point of wishing ill fate on Lucky.

I had built fences. I tried to shoo him away. I let the dogs scent the yard. My neighbor told me to shoot him (not only could I never shoot a baby bunny, but I believe discharging a firearm within city limits may have some legal ramifications).

At wits end, I finally decided to take a new approach.

I gave up.

I sat back and looked at the problem and realized I was being ridiculous.

It’s a rabbit for cryin’ out loud. Let it go.

So I did. And it felt good.

So good as a matter of fact that I decided to take the rest of the day off from my chores.

To celebrate my new-found peace, I cracked a soda and headed out on the deck. With my feet up and a cold pop in my hands, I watched the sun set, with a strong feeling of serenity in my mind.

Hours when by and Monica and I enjoyed some good conversation under the stars.

Then, around 11PM, some unexpected company arrived.

A giant owl silently perched himself on the telephone pole by our deck and began perusing the area of parking lot three for dinner. Monica and I sat as silent and still as possible, hoping we wouldn’t scare him away.

A half hour went by, and I began getting a cramp from not moving. I looked at my wife, she looked at me, we looked at the owl, and he looked back at us.

It was eerie. And very, very silent.

At 11:35, he changed positions. Instead of facing the river, he now turned to face the street, perhaps for a fresh perspective.

At 11:40, I had to go to the bathroom so bad I couldn’t stand it. I slowly got up and slinked into the house.

Our visitor didn’t seem to mind.

In the middle of my time out, Monica burst into the bathroom and shouted, “Dude…you missed it! The owl got something!”

Turns out, while I was away, the owl spotted something rustling in the day lilies.

He focused his gaze, made a swift swoop to the ground, and nailed his prey.

A little squeak echoed through the cool night air and sounded the end of the varmint’s days. The owl then flew off to another pole and began dining on his catch.

Nature in action is an amazing thing sometimes.

The following day, our Impatients bloomed fresh flowers. Usually by mid day, the blooms were gone- ingested by our little furry friend Lucky.

That night, as we left to walk the dogs, Monica noticed the flowers were still in bloom.

The next morning, more blooms opened- and they too were left alone.

It became all too obvious that the sun had set on Lucky’s short life. His little light was extinguished by the powerful talons of a Great Horned Owl.

Problem solved.

"Pray the Onion Stops Blaspheming Jesus"

His words, not mine.

The best part about living downtown is that you never know what’s going to happen from day to day.

This is happening right now, Friday afternoon, 2PM, at the corner of Maple and Main. A peaceful protest by a single man with something to say.

Everyone has their own opinion- and their own way of expressing it.

The South Street parking ramp finally got its facelift.

The photo above shows the new paint job it received last month. This is a view from the Wisconsin Street entrance of the garage.

The Downtown Business Improvement District’s Design Committee worked for months to get the City’s approval to go ahead with the project and this is the final result.

The colors were chosen to compliment the downtown “welcome” banners that hang on the street lampposts. The Design Committee hopes to add banners to the garage some time in the future and perhaps paint the South Street side to match.

Local artist Bill Taylor was commissioned to do the work. His work can be seen throughout the streets of downtown- the Gettelmans mural on the Wisconsin House at the end of West Main, the OshKoshB’gosh mural on the back of the Lopez Bakery building, and the mural on the side wall of ABC Hobby.



He did a great job on the parking structure.

The garage has been an ongoing subject of debate for the BID. Its poor condition and inadequate maintenance schedule put it on the Design Committee’s radar. It was their hope that a little paint and some much needed attention would make the dilapidated structure more appealing to the eye and thus encourage more people to use it.

I though readers would be interested in seeing the final design of the new Midwest Dialysis Center building.

This building will be constructed at the corner of Madison and St. Paul- across from the Full Moon Bar and kitty-corner to Waukesha State Bank.

The Waukesha Plan Commission wanted a structure more like this…



But, in the end, the Commission settled for the design you see here.



In all honesty, this final design is a far cry from the original proposal of block walls and a flat roof.

It’s not the Taj MaHal, but it includes materials such as a chiseled limestone base and a decade brick face, which enhances the design of the center greatly.

The gentlemen who operate the facility were extremely patient with the demands of the Commission- they sat down with concerned board members to discuss different design ideas and redesigned the center twice to meet the board’s requests.

In the end, the City of Waukesha will receive a well designed, state-of-the-art kidney dialysis center, near the hospital, which is why the owners chose the location.

Some folks have commented on the fact that they wanted to see the property developed into retail storefronts. Retail is great for a downtown, but it is the property owner's decision to sell the land to whomever he or she wishes.

I think the center will be a great addition (and a good neighbor) in the Downtown area.


Who Uses a Dialysis Center?

Since the time I posted my last blog regarding this center, there seemed to be some confusion among a few readers of exactly what this center does.

Dialysis is a treatment that does some of the things normally done by healthy kidneys. It is needed when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body's needs.

Dialysis is a mechanical way of filtering waste from your blood. It can replace the function of your kidney, albeit imperfectly, while your kidneys are healing. Dialysis treatment for acute kidney failure is usually done at a hospital or dialysis center, not at home.

The most common form of dialysis used for acute kidney failure is known as hemodialysis. It removes extra fluids, chemicals and wastes from your bloodstream by filtering your blood through an artificial kidney (dialyzer). Blood is pumped out of your body to the artificial kidney through a vascular access that's created surgically, usually in your arm or leg. Your blood moves across membranes inside the artificial kidney that filter out waste. Less than 1 cup of blood is outside your body in the dialyzer and tubing at any one time.

Kidney failure is most often caused by the following issues:

1. Diabetes
2. High Blood Pressure
3. Glomerulonephritis
4. Genetic Disorders (A family history of kidney issues)
5. Urinary Tract Obstructions or Infections
6. Autoimmune Disease
7. Drugs, Toxic Chemicals, and/or Alcohol

Regarding Number Seven

In my last blog, it was a comment I made about alcoholics needing dialysis that seemed to strike a cord with some readers. Diabetes, hands down, is the leading cause of kidney failure.

However, in talking with the owners of the center personally, I was surprised by how many patients are treated for issues resulting from drug and alcohol abuse.

The sad reality is that the number is on the increase. Thus the need for such a center will always be there.

Every drug you put into your body passes through your kidneys. If the drug is not taken following a doctor's orders, or if it is an illegal substance, it can cause injury to the kidneys. When they are healthy, your kidneys can rid your body of its waste materials. But if your kidneys do not work properly, you must be treated either by dialysis or with a kidney transplant or you could die.

What drugs are harmful to your kidneys?

Pain Medications
Your kidneys could be damaged if you take large amounts of over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Thousands of Americans have destroyed their kidneys by using excessive amounts of these medications.

Alcohol
Heavy drinking can hurt both your kidneys and your liver. Alcoholics have a high risk of developing both kidney and liver failure.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics can also be dangerous if they are not taken correctly. People with kidney disease need to take a smaller