2005 Best Blog Entry:

KANDAHAR 2: DANGER

Oshkosh Native Colin Crowley spent time in Pakistan and Afghanistan documenting the work of Shelter for Life, an international aid organization based in Oshkosh, WI. In this piece, Colin offers a powerful reflection on the gap of understanding that plagues US-Middle East relations.


2005 Best Journey by a Local:

Colin's Story - Colin Crowley in Afghanistan & Pakistan

Colin offers some amazing tales as he journeys through the impoverished third world. He took two trips in 2005. Read about the first at Life in Afghanistan


2005 Best Community Website:

OshkoshNews.Org

Although raw and unrefined, Oshkosh News offers a bountiful variety of resources and links to local outlets in the Oshkosh area. It serves as a central hub of the local internet community, and has been the leader in creative and innovative journalism.


2005 Disgruntled Elected Official

Greg Underheim in The Constitutional Amendment Response

In response to a general email opposing the shady constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions, Underheim had this to say:

Thank you for your recent email regarding a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage in Wisconsin. It is a great disappointment to me that you seem not to know that I’ve opposed and voted against this amendment the last time it was brought before the legislature. Since I was one of only two Republicans who did so, I thought it probable you would know this.

Normally when someone agrees with your point of view, the tendency is to thank them and encourage them to continue to support their point of view. But to answer your question directly, I intend to oppose a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, again.
Gregg


2005 Best Local Music Album Release

1. Bathtub.Lightbulb.Heartattack. the Willis
Although the official label release is in January 06, many Oshkosh locals have been fortunate to hear the sounds. Good Stuff

2. Minimalist and Anchored. Hellar Mason
A good blend of musicians (we're biased) including Todd Mohe, the Wandering Sons, ABV, and others.


Worst City Decision of 2005

PMI, Oshkosh City Council

Generous donations and city tax funds combined to pay for the Leach Ampitheater, a fine outdoor concert venue and water-side park. What a great location for the community to gather... if you can afford to.

The city of Oshkosh handed over control of the property to PMI, a Green Bay based for-profit venue management corporation. What could have and should have been a fantastic venue for local groups and organizations to hold events, PMI now requires a hefty $1500+ base rate to use the space. The city council never thought to clarify this (or anything really) prior to signing the deal. This gets them the prestigious 2005 worst city decision of 2005 award.


2005 Best Local Organization/Agency

ADVOCAP

While state officials gleen over their passed local tax freeze, county and city officials are feeling the brunt: fewer dollars coming in from the state (instead spent on corporate tax breaks, roads, prisons... etc) and fewer local tax dollars means fewer funds to provide the heavily needed services that local governments should provide.

In comes ADVOCAP, a local community action agency serving the people and communities of Fond du Lac, Green Lake & Winnebago Counties. No other agency in the area comes close to offering such valuable and needed services to our low income communities: Affordable Housing, Business Development, Community Employment, Foster Grandparents, Head Start, Senior Nutrition, Meals on Wheels, Home Weatherization and Rehab, and the list goes on. Thank you ADVOCAP!!!!!!!!


2005 Best Local Display of Democracy

2005 Spring City Council Elections

With 14 challengers to only 3 seats, democracy was strong and healthy in the city of Oshkosh. Go to Oshkosh News for a candidate recap.

Runer-up: Iraqi War Troop Withdrawal Referendum movement in Oshkosh. This dedicated group of local activitist knocked on well over 3000 doors to bring attention to war and democracy and to collect signitures in support of their idea to allow the citizens of Oshkosh to voice their opinion on the most important issue of the past 4 years.

2005 Worst Local Display of Democracy

2005 Spring City Council/Mayor Elections

Local elections took a turn for the worse with the outlandish candidate spending in the 2005 city of Oshkosh elections. Mayoral candidate Bill Castle raised and spent nearly $10,000. Council candidates Bryan Bain and Meredith Scheuermann raised and spent nearly $4000 each. All three were victors. Let us hope that this expensive and exclusive process of "offices for sale" doesn't become the norm. Check out the Northwestern's recap of the candidate fundraising and spending totals

Several candidates had placed a challenge to keep spending under $1000. Congratulations to those who agreed to this challenge.


2005 Best Addition to Downtown

Apple Blossom Books

Every good downtown needs a good independent bookstore. Oshkosh now has theirs with Apple Blossom Books at 513 North Main Street. Though the inventory may not be massive, the store offers a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere with exciting special programing including: children's storytime, readings from local authors, book clubs, holiday events, and more. Welcome to Oshoksh!


2005 Bad Boy of the Year

A recent US House challenger and prominant figure of the local Democratic Party, this Bad Boy had one crazy run in with a lady and the police. While this in no way lessens his political insight, it was enough to earn quite a bit of attention in the internet community, as well as the ABV 2005 Bad Boy of the Year Award.


2005 Hypocrit of the Year

Mr. Stewart Riechman in Bloggin'

See February 13 Editorial by the Northwestern's Stewart Riechman. According to Stew, "Blogs pollute the political process and election discussions in Oshkosh."

Then jump to his April 10 editorial. Stew acknowledges that "“Yes, whether I like it or not, chat rooms and community Web sites will be a factor in politics and may even set the agenda.”

Then jump to October 1, where Stew writes on his newly created blog, "Now I find that what I do in the ink on paper world is becoming more and more irrelevant."

While veteran website coalition the ABV Times welcomes the rookie blogger Stew to this new forum, such a drastic turnaround has unquestionably won him the prestigious Hypocrit of the Year award.

Note to our historian: Stew has decided - or someone has decided for him - to delete his blog. We're sure he won't loose any more hair over it, as he does have a much larger audience through his newspaper.


2005 Best Local Artist of the Year

Playwright Richard Kalinoski

UW Oshkosh professor Richard Kalinoski has written some amazing plays, including his most acclaimed "Beast on the Moon" which has won over 30 prestigious international awards and has been translated in over 11 languages. Richard is one of the "biggest catches" that UW Oshkosh has made in years, and if you ever have the chance, see one of his plays - or all of them - you will be amazed.

ABV staff has been fortunate to check out Richard's "Between Men and Cattle" at the intimate Next Act Theatre in Milwaukee. It is creative, challenging, and intensely thought provoking. It is an honor to have him be a part of the Oshkosh community!


2005 Best Local Event

Oshkosh Community Earth Charter

Eight days of wildly appropriate material designed to make you think and act. Discussions on clean energy and Careers with a Conscience, socially charged theater, a social justice expo, and a Model United Nations Simulation: World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The highlight of the week was an evening with Program Director of Honor the Earth and the founding director of White Earth Land Recovery Project Winona LaDuke. First, Winona offered an intimate presentation on Wars, Energy, Global Climate Change and the Environment which was followed by a slow foods dinner - Biodiversity, Wild Rice and the Slow Food Movement. What an amazing lady!!


2005 Best Local Idea

Tie. Fox River Corridor Riverwalk and the Pollock Family Aquatic Center


2005 Newcomer of the Year

Ronald Hardy

Out of no where came a soft spoken, articulate political junkie who has risen up to rival the political fatheads of Oshkosh and Wisconsin. Ron has become an active player in the online community, revamping the LWGP website and running one of his own (now the world knows Ron). Recently he has been a key facilitator of the peace movement, serving as coordinator and spokesman for the troop withdrawal referendum. Meanwhile, he has served as advisor to a campus group, has held local and state offices within the Green Party, and has raised an extremely bright young daughter with his wonderful wife Amy.


2005 Most Needed but Ignored

Tie. Bike Lanes and Smart Growth Plan

It is a shame that a city the size of Oshkosh does not have bike lanes that interconnect the entire city. Other than a small stretch near the UW Oshkosh campus, bikers are forced to either compete for space with the crazed automobile operators or attempt to follow the cracked and broken sidewalks of the pedestrian walker. Also taking into consideration the estimated 3000 - 6000 adults who currently don't have their license, it just does not make sense that Oshkosh is without menas for healthy, inexpensive, and safe alternative transportation.

Regarding the Smart Growth Plan, com'mon! This is something that should have been developed in 1898, much less today. And Smart Growth doesn't just mean plans to put a big box Walmart on the border of Oshkosh and the town of Algoma. We are talking intelligent growth that considers environment, health, community, housing, transportation, economics, and design. For more on what should be done, check out SMART GROWTH ONLINE


2005 Best Radio Show

Tie:
Democracy Now! Sundays on WRST 90.3 FM from 1pm-2pm

Radio Commentary Fridays, from 6:15pm-7:00pm


2005 Best Community Support Program

Saturday Morning Farmer's Markets