Neighbor Spotlight – Page 26 – Riverwest Currents

Neighbor Spotlight

Neighbor Spotlight: In Memory • John Okopinski

by RWCurrentsOctober 2011November 2013

The Old Ways

By Vince Bushell, photos Sarah Kurowski (top, and Michelle Jones & Shelly McClone following)

The beginning of this story was published in December, 2002. I wrote it in November of 2002. Nine years ago.

I walked into the Falcon Bowl and slid onto a bar stool and gave barkeep John Okopinski a nod.

“Hi John, gimme a Klisch.”

Neighbor Spotlight

Neighbor Spotlight: Nik Bastman

by Jan ChristensenSeptember 2011November 2013

By Vince Bushell,
photo Vince Bushell, Nik Bastman

October is Nik Bastman’s favorite month. That will be obvious if you look at his arm on the front page. Of course the arm is attached to Nik all year long, celebrating fall colors, bats, pumpkins, ghosts and other delightful and slightly scary things throughout the year. That is just his right arm. I will discuss his left arm later.

Neighbor Spotlight

Sean Kafer • Neighbor Spotlight

by Jan ChristensenSeptember 2011November 2013

by Janice Christensen, photo by Greg Thompson

Sean Kafer has a map of the Mississippi near Madrid, Iowa from 1877. It shows the main channel of the river surrounded by wide meandering channels colored red or blue, wandering miles into the surrounding countryside. “That’s the way the river was. It changed course every year,” Sean says.

Neighbor Spotlight

Neighbor Spotlight: Ketiwe Zipperer

by Jan ChristensenAugust 2011November 2013

by Suzanne Zipperer,

When you become an “elder” in your community, you begin to look around for those members of the next generation who share your values and who can take over some of the community efforts. Riverwest is lucky to be rich with enthusiastic young people who are socially progressive, understand the importance of community service, and bring talent and energy to Milwaukee.

Neighbor Spotlight

Neighbor Spotlight: Laura Hazel Newman

by Jan ChristensenJuly 2011November 2013

photo by Vince Bushell

Laura Newman has a vivid memory from her childhood.

“My mom made us stand on a popcorn bucket, because we were still little. She held her hand on our throats and had us say our names so she could feel the vibrations. Then she held her hand on her own throat and felt the vibrations as she said our names.”