http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/articles.sec-6-1-cover-story.html In the age of Google, iPhones and Kindle, are brick-and-mortar libraries necessary? Absolutely. Now more than ever. In fact, libraries are enjoying a surge in attendance, despite the pervasiveness of instant-gratification multimedia options. Nationally, library use is up; according to a 2008 survey conducted by the American Library Association (ALA), 76% of Americans...]]> Our nostalgic claim to Irishness finds us huddled against the brisk mid-March chill on a pre-dawn sidewalk waiting for the doors of the local Irish pub-of-choice to open for St. Patrick’s Day. While it is with a celebratory spirit that we indulge our Irish side (whether embedded in your DNA or just for the day) with leprechauns, shamrocks and green beer, beneath it all is the story of Ireland’s unique pub culture. An integral part of the country’s rich...]]> Selecting a college has always been one of the most important decisions a person will make, but with today’s one-two punch of rising tuition costs and spiking unemployment, the stakes have rarely seemed higher. For most of the population, a bachelor’s degree is a basic requirement for finding a decent job, but these days it’s far from a guarantee...]]> We asked Shepherd Express readers to nominate “social visionaries” who are dedicated to improving our city. We received nominations of individuals who are building communities and transforming our city. From the many great individuals, we chose to highlight four of the nominees for their passion, creativity and generosity of spirit. They are our Social Visionaries for 2010...]]> Scams have been around since snake oil was invented. But consumer advocates say that scams have taken a particularly nasty turn thanks to two recent trends: new technologies that allow anonymous scammers to create fake relationships with their marks, and the downturn in the economy, which encourages cash-strapped people to do desperate things—like wiring money to strangers...]]> Milwaukee’s East Side lost one of its historic landmarks early in the morning on Jan. 19, when after 40 years anchoring North Avenue, the restaurant Pizza Man burned down in a four-alarm blaze. The fire, which has been ruled arson, demolished a building that also housed Cush Lounge, the Black and White Café, the Grecian Delight restaurant and 10 apartments. Pizza Man will reopen, but almost...]]> When the Bradley Center opened in October 1988, it was a gift-wrapped jewel for Milwaukee sports fans. The $90 million arena, paid for entirely by Jane and Lloyd Pettit, helped keep the Bucks in town and raised hopes that Milwaukee would also land an NHL team. The Pettits dropped the latter idea for financial reasons, but for more than two decades...]]> A community-wide problem like domestic violence requires a community-wide response. That’s why advocates for the survivors of domestic abuse and their families have created partnerships that combine medical, psychological, legal and housing assistance. One collaborative effort, the Sojourner Family Peace Center, the result of a February 2009 merger of the Task Force on Family Violence and the Sojourner Truth...]]> Karl Rove’s chief IT consultant, Mike Connell—who was facing subpoena in connection with 2004 presidential election fraud in Ohio—mysteriously died in a private plane crash in 2008. Connell allegedly was the central figure in a long-standing plot to electronically flip votes to Republicans...]]> Ten years ago the country braced itself for the biggest technological crisis of all time. Though that feared Y2K meltdown never occurred, the decade instead brought other, far worse tribulations that would have made those computer glitches seem like a cakewalk: terrorism, war, political divide, a housing crisis, followed by a financial meltdown and the promise of a long, painful recovery...]]> It’s easy to focus on all of the negatives of this decade—the unending wars, the historic terror attacks, the financial instability, the lingering recession. But in spite of these challenges, in many ways Milwaukee made great strides since 2000, and is in the midst of forming its 21st-century identity, one that will keep involved residents in the...]]> The holiday season and the coming of a new year inspire many of us to inventory past actions, meditate on the meaning within our lives and commit to improving the future. To peruse the past year’s headlines—Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, massive product recalls, record CEO bonuses—is to witness the fallout when the prime motivation...]]> Milwaukee’s community of veterans is proving to be adept at healing soldiers from the current wars as well as those who left the battlefield decades ago. Many veterans are reaching out to their peers who are having difficulty transitioning from being warriors in a threat-filled combat zone to resuming their lives as workers, students, spouses, partners or parents. The transition from warrior to civilian isn’t easy, and can be made more difficult by financial stresses...]]> Medical treatments for HIV and AIDS have advanced to the point where patients are now leading longer, healthier lives than ever before, with some patients living more than 25 years after being diagnosed. The flip side of that good news is that with AIDS out of the headlines, young, at-risk populations...]]> An open seat in the governor’s chair is a rare thing. Yet the race to succeed Gov. Jim Doyle is attracting few candidates from both political parties. On the Democratic side, only Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton and 17-year-old Jared...]]> If there’s one thing that leads to the creation of a good orchestra, it’s bad weather. For Edo de Waart, new maestro for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin’s blustery, frigid winters have helped nurture a body of musicians with the potential to one day become a world-class... ]]> If there's one thing that leads to the creation of a good orchestra, it's bad weather. For Edo de Waart, new maestro for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin's blustery... ]]>