This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
THE TOP TEN FRANKLIN STORIES OF 2008: #10
TODAY I BEGIN A SERIES ON MY CHOICES FOR THE TOP 10 FRANKLIN NEWS STORIES OF 2008. I WILL POST A STORY EACH DAY, COUNTING DOWN TO THE #1 NEWS STORY ON DECEMBER 31ST.
July 9, 2008: The second Sendik's in Franklin opens at the Shoppes at Wyndham Village.
Photos:FranklinNOW
Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor, Franklin aldermen, MIlwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, state Senator Mary Lazich and other dignitaries helped cut the ribbon for the new Sendik's at a ceremony under gorgeous sun-splashed skies.
July 9 was truly a great day for Franklin. A big crowd turned out for the celebration including many people who worked so hard to see the project come to fruition and their vision fulfilled.
Mark and Mary Carstensen made the quality development dream come true along with the mayor, Common Council, and the Franklin Plan Commission.
That sunny, picturesque July day was significant because the Franklin community collectively had been and is still crying out for quality destinations to shop and dine. When those scissors sliced through the tape, Franklin became the only community to have not one but two Sendik’s shopping outlets.
Two weeks later, the long awaited Target right next door to Sendik’s opened, and what many thought would never happen in Franklin, at least for many more years, finally transpired after what seemed like never-ending meetings, obstacle courses, and hoops to jump through. Par for the course in tortoise-paced Franklin.
Of course, there were the nitpicky naysayers.
Target wasn’t pretty enough.
Not green enough.
Not enough green space.
No bike paths.
Too much concrete.
Too many parking spaces.
Not enough pedestrian walkways.
My favorite was this bit of selfishness: No place for me to sit down and have my coffee and bagel.
Franklin blogger Greg Kowalski went after Target for selling food and wine, asking, “Can someone please tell me why I'm shopping at Sendik's Fine Foods?”
Kowalski, supposedly studying business, fails to understand that competition is desirable in the marketplace. The one-size-fits-all model of the mediocre public school system doesn’t work and shouldn’t apply in the free market. We need Target and Wal-Mart and Kohl’s and Sendik’s and Pick ‘n’ Save and Sentry.
Competition is good for everyone. The more shopping options for Franklin residents, the better. To suggest that people won’t shop at Sendik’s because Target now has Merlot is, well, pretty dumb. Besides, the food offerings aren’t the same at Sendik’s and Target.
When Franklin blogger John Michlig compared the huge Target sign to the wall in the movie, “King Kong,” Kowalski had to jump right in the mud-tossing party. He took the rather juvenile step of having a contest on his blog, asking readers to write in with nicknames and phrases ripping the look of that large Target sign. While Franklin celebrated the grand opening of two very welcome retail establishments and basked in the glow of progress and success, two writers were taking potshots. Now that’s real community pride. The two went so far as to suggest that Target will force Sendik’s to close. One, I don’t think so, and two, why so negative?
I will repeat what I blogged this past summer:
“Congratulations, Mark Carstensen for seeing another dream become reality. Keep in mind that you’ll never win with some folks who will constantly moan and groan and cry that there aren’t enough flowers and there aren’t enough bike stands and there aren’t enough places for them to park their butts to sit by a fountain and have coffee and a bagel and there aren’t enough walkways for the droves of people who want to walk to Target.
You done good, Mark.
Congratulations, Franklin. You’ve waited a long time for these developments to take shape and they’re finally here. I have every confidence you’ll be loyal in your support.”
THE TOP 10 FRANKLIN STORIES OF 2008
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10) MAJOR OPENINGS AT THE SHOPPES AT WYNDHAM VILLAGE
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