From the Village Square

Communities do not plan for their development in the same manner as an architect or an engineer can design a building or a bridge.

The element of design is lacking and without a designer we do not have an end image or an end product. Only the designer can produce these products.

This is one of reasons why one of the first steps taken by those involved in the development of community will seek out a landscape plan for streets and sidewalks or the layout for an industrial park or other elements that can be designed.

Like buildings, these can be designed and developed according to the design plan.  Planning goes on with or without these designed elements.  

This of course, is one of the main reasons why the term “planning” rather than designing is applied to what might give a type of order to development.  It is the process and not a design in itself that is emphasized.

The community planning process depends on the day-to-day workings of the market, the would-be developers, the actions of politicians and on the administrators involved.

The end document, often referred to as the “master plan” appears to give a fixed order to the process and therefore gains a sort of predictive reverence.

A community plan first of all lacks a designer, therefore becomes a nebulous document to begin with. It is subject to interpretation by various people over a period of time. Therefore it is not functioning as an approach to a design, often not the discharging process of the design and even of the ultimate goals or objectives.

My experience with the development of “new towns” around London in England was one where urban designers brought both the planning and development of these towns closest to the discharge of a design.

Therefore, what is lacking in community and urban planning especially in this country is that essential element of urban design and the designer who guides and fulfills the intention of the design.

The element of design in Europe is indicated in the name of the profession, "architect/planner."

Those involved in this process in communities like Shorewood, cannot possibly be involved in this design process of community but only in the on-going planning procedures.

This when closely examined is a process of taking what we know of the past and extending that into the future in the form of document and not design.  The document then becomes a legal reference point. 

The Glendale shopping mall, whether for good or for bad was designed. 

The center of small rural communities obviously lack the qualities found in urban suburbs.

On the other hand, suburban communities lack the elements of the centers of cities.

Viewed from a simplest vantage point, we could say that we are speaking of a kind of human intensity both in presence and activity. However, there are some less obvious physical elements that contribute to centers of cities that could be brought to suburbs to add to the quality of centrality.

Old western communities had second story facades to give a perception of height where a second story didn't exist. The distance between both sides of the street in large cities seems to diminish in relation to the excessive height of buildings.

My studies reveal that those suburbs that give a sense of height and lessen the feeling of distance between the two sides of the street also create this sense of urban quality.

One can test this by observing the height of buildings in the Glendale shopping center.

Building elements 30 to 35 foot high provide this required sense of height. There are other ways that the sense of height can be provided. This is by appropriately placed 30 t0 35 foot high sculptures.

These elements do not have the practicality that would require community developers to go in search of them and to pay the price of these art pieces that appear not to give a return.

I've started to design what can be referred to as “solar energy trees” of this height that would generate electricity for lighting of the streets of the community centers. They are not only art pieces but serve practical needs.

Some of the energy produced can be used to heat crosswalks to eliminate snow and ice accumulation.

Appropriately located these solar energy trees can accomplish several business district needs.

After working on this idea for several years, I've found that a type of solar tree has been developed in Europe and has already been put on display in Italy, Austria and Germany.

Ten percent of electrical energy in Europe is being used for street lighting and it expected that these trees may eliminate need of conventional energy for that purpose.

These trees could prove their worth and become an attraction to communities like Shorewood, if developed appropriately.

I'm beginning to seek some young people with whom to develop these art pieces and for the purpose of manufacturing of these energy-producing sculptures as a business.

The first one-third of one's expected life span, especially in developed countries is spent in education or  the development of oneself for the future.

The future at this period in life seems far away and endless. On the other hand, those who have reached the later stages of this life know that they will be leaving the earth as they reach the far edges at this extended range.

Although the time is relatively short, unlike death-condemned prisoners, older adults do not know their exact departure date.

Once the notion that they are among the oldest segment of the population is accepted, they know that nothing else can be done to remove them from that pool moving toward that drop-off point.

Not many talk or write about the mind set that results in most people as they come to grips with this reality. Some of us will remain in denial, not permitting ourselves to love one another.

Those considering the condition and care of the elderly must also consider the reality that death holds in their thoughts and activities, some people not daring to share their present existence and feelings.

“Future” seems to diminish as a concept and in the importance that it once held, especially on graduating from college. “Time” was in abundance then. “Future” at that stage was an ingrained aspect of human existence.

But imagine living daily, knowing the  flame of the candle, once infinite in energy and time has begun to flicker and soon will be going out, especially as decrease in effectiveness is sensed with each day that passes.  Where is the future here?

These are not the thoughts of those who would build care homes for the elderly. Their services are in fact designed to ignore these realities even if there was knowledge of individual's realities and if any thought was to be given this element of extended living.  What is extended living? 

Who is to engage this mentality, not always found on the surface?

One  as a historian and futurist, living life on a long unending line that makes up both past and future, sees living somewhere on that line that has no beginning and no end.

In that state of mind one need not bother with beginning and it easy not often to think of an end.

Yet there is some acknowledgment that “end” sometimes hovers there in thought  like the clouds of an ensuing rain.  What is the significance of a future with emphasis on the end?

I believe that the number one issue in Shorewood, although partially invisible at the present time is what to do about our school facilities during declining school enrollment.

What would the closing of one school building in Shorewood do to the appearance of a prosperous suburb that we want to present?

The problem of surplus and even aging school facilities cannot be solved by the school board alone. It requires both school and village boards to devise the means for making the best use of these facilities.

This problem must also be addressed by those who would be our representatives in the State legislature as they run for office this year.

Voting senior citizens could become part of the solution, if these facilities were also to be used for the needs of older adults of the community as well.

Programs for bringing the generations together and for serving seniors as well as children in the development of real community need to be devised by the State but with the help of the local community.

We need to instruct candidates who would represent us as to our needs and provide them proposed solutions. Now is the time to do that.

These are my proposals for working out solutions to some of Shorewood's social problems.  I would propose as well, the establishment of  a commission to determine the proper and common use of  our community physical facilities.

Most seniors as they grow older prefer to stay in place and continue to live in their homes as long as they can.

My conversations with older adults in Shorewood and in the north lake shore communities, indicate that seniors rather move if they'd have to, to an apartment or a group home. This before extended care living. In most cases, they seem to prefer group homes.

Seniors would also want to be involved in intergenerational activities, more family-like life as possible. In this case the school systems have a lot to contribute.

The legislature has a lot to contribute along these lines as well. If the school systems were to receive the same type of benefit for each senior as they do for each child in school this would go a long way toward establishing significant programs for intergenerational care and interaction.

Seniors are already paying school taxes for which they receive no benefits, which doesn't seem an equitable situation. What is needed is a long range plan.

The time is right. Many schools have much room to rattle around in because of the low birth rate. At the same time we have an aging population requiring facilities.

A relatively large number of candidates are running for Dr. Wasserman's seat in the legislature representing the North Shore area and they should take this aging population situation into consideration.

The vote for each candidate therefore will be rather thin so that a block of senior votes would be quite meaningful in this race.

It is in the candidates' interest to propose these type of programs for seniors and that they support these kinds of programs to get the seniors' votes.

I would strongly suggest that candidates educate themselves as to these needs and show support for what seniors want, if they want to get elected.

Shorewood has a redevelopment program for remodeling duplexes already  underway.

I'm therefore proposing that two or three of these buildings, closely located if possible, to be remodeled as “group homes” for seniors.

Here small groups of seniors can be provided individual and group facilities and even place for a live-in aid.

These group homes can then be purchased by individuals who would form the group, in the same manner and with similar legal agreements that buyers of condos become involved in these type purchases.

Here is a place where the Village government can take the lead and where present personnel and procecesses can immediately engage in providing for senior needs in our community.

We can combine this particular element of the redevelopment program with the need that seniors have for group homes.

Let's run with the ball, what about it? Don't seniors deserve a response to this proposal?

When American soldiers were hitting Omaha beach, named after my home town, a name taken from a tribe of native Americans, thousands of us were in the Manchester area, fairly north in England in a continuous process of reconditioning and of upgrading hundreds and hundreds of aircraft engines, a process that didn't end until the day of the ending of the war itself.

These were my thoughts, stimulated by the display and shooting of fireworks over Independence Day this past weekend. Love of country and patriotism were talked about by politicians this weekend as well. I don't have any thoughts of soldiers talking about patriotism nor as to whether the term would have better equipped us for the war at hand.

It was personal effort that undergirded that collective linkage of those behind the lines and that connected us to those who were facing death moment to moment.  It was not romantic love of country nor the vagueness of patriotism that dominated our thinking.

It is only when these thoughts no longer exist in the minds of those who once lived at that time that they will be referred to as history, love of country and patriotism. There is a certain emptiness in politicans' words, usually made audible during the 4th along with the noise of fireworks contrasted to the reality of war.

Our love of country comes in the manner in which we link our thoughts to the efforts of the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the care we give them from afar, and as they return, in the manner we help them renew their lives here. The personal attention given them and to each returned body of individuals who once made up part of this country proves our love of country.

Our patriotism is in the manner we give proper attention to their families and to their returning soldiers as they rejoin the country that loves them.

It's not in one day's fireworks, nor in the excuse for a long weekend.

Our patriotism is the way this country cares for its children, its sick and needy, the elderly and those human beings referred to as troops and returning soldiers. This is love of country and the way we display sound patriotism. 

The fireworks cost millions.  Yet can we afford these displays but not the adequate care of returning soldiers?

Americans are “disinformed” about homelessness in this country.

It has recently been revealed that more than 400 teen-agers are separated from family and without a place to sleep or able to appropriately shelter themselves in the Milwaukee area.

What is this country all about? Sweden keeps track of its homeless people in order to determine the cause of their situation and for the propose of providing long-term remedies for these individuals as well as for immediate accommodation. 

In Anerica we don't often know who they are or how many, let alone determine the cause for their homelessness for remedy purposes.

The idea of rugged individualism does not come from any of the religions that I know about. Most religious groups in the U.S. want to intervene and to give care to these unfortunate individuals, especially the children. 

If we can't, as a nation, as a culture look after our children and their development, what are we all about? Most Americans are uninformed about serious social problems in our country.

But "disimformation" about social matters is ingrained in our culture of  “individualism”.  We need a balance to this idea of rugged individualism,  especially when it comes to making sure that children in this country, if not abroad are all to be viewed as the children of God and so treated.

The national political scene seems to be proving the old adage, that things are not always what they appear to be.

Supporters of politicians running for president try to use today's communication media for their proposes of bit by bit developing the image of what their future candidate will look like and how he will conduct himself once he's in office.

Yet no one knows what the future brings in relation to problems to be faced, not even the candidate, especially as to how he will conduct himself and as to which policies will be important to him at the time and which policies will be less significant under the circumstances.

Today's conditions are of course, war with a background of economic recession. War and economics the stuff of government.

Each of the two major candidates through their campaigns are trying to prove that he is the wisest of human beings and the only one to deal with these conditions.

Both use their party as the main political base for this, but as we have two parties rather equally split in numbers but not in distribution, each must win the vote of the majority of his own party and many of those who do not strongly associate themselves with party.

During this election process, there's a tendency to confuse country and government. The party in power seeking to regain power combines country and government as one entity. The one out of power, would prove government to be evil, functioning against the interest of the country.

This is a thesis that requires many more words, but in short the party in power would demonstrate that most of what they have done is good, right and and will be proved to be most wise. The party out of power must prove the opposite and criticize government.

However, in so doing, party representatives place themselves in danger of appearing unpatriotic if not treasonous. War heroes become the center of controversy.

On the one side, heroes are sacred and on the other their accomplishments are to be doubted. There remains a strong tendency for returning heroes, as of old, to become the emperors.

The concept of patriotism confuses those who would have less government, ending up defending government while those who would have government carry out many of their proposed policies finding themselves government's strongest critics.

If General Clark were running against Senator McCain, Clark would have to suggest that the experiences of a prisoner of war, no matter how much we admire McCain, do not surpass the experiences of a general when it comes to heading the government.

Today, this discussion appears to have become significant, with that subject being brought up by General Clark, not a candidate for president.

Things are not what they always appear to be, even less so when discussing presidential politics.

Within the last few years, we've gained two new Shorewood Village Board members, both by appointment.

All of our board members are individually and socially intelligent. Once they jump into the pot of Village politics they seem to acquire a coating, like M and M's in a variety of colors but difficult to differentiate. The Board's activities and their manner of  voting, is referred to as "consensus."

In Shorewood, it is more than mere majority, consensus is more often than not, unanimous This means that even the chocolate coating is the same color.

Individual board members choose to serve and of course do so individually. Once on the board, these individuals seem to loose the individuality which brought them there. They seem to become more combined than individual in their intelligence.

It seems there is something about the nature and consistency of chocolate and if all were put in the sun in a bunch, they'd all melt altogether. Re-election makes incumbents even more like what they already were as they were already in the pot.

The man-on-street's question or the philosophical one that might be asked applies to our legislature and our congress as well. What causes this strange phenomenon? The scientific answer is, “jumping into the pot of likeness” in the first place.   

Most bloggers are interested in more that one issue, but if my interest were only one, it would be that of society's obligation in developing a morality toward the elderly.

We could start with something that I learned as a child, that we should honor our fathers and our mothers.

Because this expression seems too broad for our society and because the idea of honoring anyone not a star or a billionaire is too much to expect, I've been trying to keep it simple.

An indoor or outdoor coffee patio or both where seniors could hang out has been my fundamental and simple issue, a simple code for honoring father and mother. This is not too hard to understand.

Now that one of the leading opponents to this idea has removed himself from the Shorewood Village Board and has been replaced, we might again put some energy into this and if nothing else find who are for and against the idea.

Just as our schools are great places for recreation and sports as well as education, today we find that these facilities have plenty of room and room for senior coffee shops in which seniors can “hang out.”

This we must include in our intergenerational programs. Why not some effort in this direction by the two Boards? Most societies try to “honor their fathers and their mothers,” why don't we?

Ingrained within the Japanese culture, perhaps one of the outstanding ones, is their social feelings for making life as comfortable as possible for the elderly in their society.

Perhaps somewhat difficult to uphold in modern society, the moral is never-the-less there and attention is still called to this social obligation.

Can we in Shorewood call forth such a moral? I think we can. But can the politicians be counted on?

Now we have a new appointed Trustee at Shorewood Village Hall who won out over eleven others.

Each applicant usually submits a resume and gives other information that is reviewed by all the other trustees. The selection system seems a superior evaluation technique to the actual election process. For often the voters do not have that much information about the candidates and they usually vote by emotion, name association or position on the ballot or have no other choice.

As I mentioned in a previous posting, appointment seems to be a way of providing for superior types on the Board. According to this reasoning then the two appointed members here in Shorewood are superior to the other five, especially to those who ran without opposition, except for one who originally gained her seat by appointment first of all.  It seems that appointment is a better test than running without opposition.

What a state of affairs, trustees selecting other trustees superior to themselves. I think I suggested a systematic type of resignation that would bring more members to the Board by appointment rather  than by election. We could even have all seven members serving by appointment rather than gaining seats by election. What an elite system.

Perhaps we should select the president of the United States by establishing an elite group to evaluate candidates and then appointing a president. Wouldn't it be superior to the present system of party nomination, then selecting the one least likely to make too many wrong decisions, but more often than not, election by emotion.

We didn't seem to do too well at several of our last presidential elections, nominations made first of all by the two parties and then actually taking office through our election system, which in some cases left some doubt as to whom was really elected. Appointment seems a more positive option and we should celebrate it here in Shorewood and work toward its more extensive utilization.

This all proves that being too logical doesn't always make sense. Democracy can really function without elections. We don't always know to what degree democratic elections really are democratic or how good they are. Appointments are not as biased as party selections and appointments may beat election by emotion.

President Bush's unpopularity in European countries and in Pakistan, a neighboring country to Iraq doesn't seem to be diminishing according to new accounts in Europe where Bush is today.

Our occupation of Japan, as presidential candidate Senator John McCain often refers to, was more peaceful than our presence in Iraq and it didn't involve us in border disputes with other countries. It is possible however to compare our situation with Iran as similar to what we experienced with China when we were in Japan. Eventually it involved us in Korea and Vietnam.

The history of what took place in that part of Asia is more complicated than I can understand or explain even to myself and there are experts that know more about that I ever will.

However, as I try to keep informed as a layman, I see complications stemming from our involvement in Iraq taking us far beyond Iraq itself. Even a more popular president in 2009 may not be able to extricate our troops and our national involvement in this area. McCain does not put it this way, but he'd be pretty hard put to explain as to what we are going to do in this costly situation.

We have a tendency to get ourselves involved in “quicksand” type of situations in various parts of world, where the more we move the more we are drawn into the quicksand.

Of course, pulling out the troops immediately without considering the overall situation may seem only a political slogan but in the end wasn't that what the first president Bush did? Was that a mistake? But how to do it now?

I wouldn't want to be president either now or within the next eight years as things are going to be tough. Do either of the candidates really know how we're going to solve this one, I don't think so.

If one is fairly healthy, years after “retirement age,” aging can then be comfortable and even entertaining, especially if one does not need to worry too much about her or his economy.

On the other hand, older adults who are not too well and whose economic situations are not too lusty, cannot get much pleasure from their end-of-life circumstances.

Children and grand children and other relatives, if living nearby and who are heedful, concerned and attentive can bring various levels of comfort to most circumstances. Living in familiar places or in long term accommodations, shared over long periods of time with loved ones can also contribute to levels of self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-satisfaction, bringing a great deal of pleasure to living.

Living on ones own can be appreciated by some, but loneness however, presents another factor contributing to unhappiness.

Shorewood is discovering some of the best elements of community through some younger members living here in the village,and who are taking the time to strengthen this elder component and working toward developing the benefits found in functioning intergenerational communities.

I see this as a splendid contribution being made by those who have become so dedicated and actively involved in bringing about this type of unique community. The benefits to both young and old are recognized and it is here in this recognition that we have formed this fundamental component of this new community.

Much is going to result from the energy that has emerged here and I'm grateful to be living here at this time observing and on the fringe of what is taking place.  Perhaps functioning as a small atom or cell of this larger organism that I can consider  what is fundamental in the American character.

I extend my thanks to everyone involved. Soon the whole community will be as grateful, as members begin to understand what has begun to take place here. We are only at the beginning of something outstanding.

Recent watery weather combined with inadequate sewer systems has resulted in flooded basements in Shorewood.

These are long-standing problems that pose negative sanitary conditions.

Who represents these citizens of Shorewood and can speak of solutions? What are the proposed plans for handling these sewer situations in the future?

Along with an aging population, we also have an aging drainage and sewer situation, all requiring the attention of would-be local and state officials. Let's get some answers from them.

Affected citizens would like to hear from those presently in office and those running later this year, as to  the long term plans or approaches that are going to be taken relative to these and other aging elements of our community

In the most positive sense, let's hear about the present backup solutions for flooding basements and the long term plans for upgrading our sewers.

I've been reviewing a number of essays that I have not posted. I think that the reason that I have not is they seem to be too negative in tone.

Any analysis or disagreement with policy can produce some opposition or a surprising perspective of the facts.

Therefore reports can prove over-critical or extremely negative but the results of much analyses, especially in the political realm lend themselves to both these inclinations.

I cannot say, that I move into this field innocently. Because I played my role in local politics for a long time within my profession as an urban designer. “It comes with the territory” as they say, except in England and other European countries, where the politics are left to the politicians and the design solutions to the professionals.

Today I find local politics in the United States to be a microcosm of all politics and close day-to-day observations keep one in touch with the efficacies of real politics.

It is quite definite that most things suggested by individual citizens or people outside the circle are usually not with the political power that energizes proposals perhaps as well as those supported by the leading political groups or members on the boards.

Therefore, even this discussion presents a critical and negative tone. So it is quite natural and seems unavoidable to develop negative attitudes toward government. Perhaps just as it is natural for those who attain power to often ignore those whom they are supposed to represent,

Can this last statement be classified as too critical or too negative?

Nature constantly reminds us of how tenuous our situation is here on this planet as we stand on these floating masses of land that we call continents, sustained by plenty of hot molten stuff that is often displayed in the form a volcanic emission.

Yesterday, the atmosphere also engaged in proving that nature is not so happy with us, blowing down our buildings and inundating our streets, basements and sewer treatment plants, even right here in Shorewood.

Beyond our atmosphere is outer space, not a very friendly place either, especially when the toilets in those metal balloons back up. So what are we to do?

We have to make the best of it, for the earth was here, long before we were and shall perhaps be for many years longer than we survive as individuals and even survive as a human race. Meanwhile, we continue to "back up" a lot of stuff here on nature's surface.

We all know of our unsubstantial nature, but don't like to think of it.  Perhaps that's best.  Instead we often create and dwell in false memories, try to celebrate the present and deny that there shall ever be an end.   If there is to be, we'll invent other places and even develop new illusions.       

But nature, our host, very nervously likes to remind us from time to time that we are not all that welcomed here. And we certainly do not like to pay too much attention to her. But really is there any place else to go?

When I arrived in Milwaukee, long before most people in the world who are living today were born, I tried in my public talks, in English tailored suits and accent, to convince social intellectuals here that sidewalk cafes added something special to living, something festive.

I lectured that we should work toward developing that type of culture for ourselves here in America, yes in Milwaukee.

That was almost half a century ago. Many millions of people of the world have died since.

Over the years those who have traveled to Europe have increased in numbers because of air travel. They have learned a bit of the festive nature of Europeans and their cities. We've seen it and developed a yearning for it but soon forget about it unless we live in New York.

This is a city that superimposes its culture on the underlying American one.  New York is our Rome, our Paris, a world cosmopolitan city.

Today, some of what is coffee shop and some of what is sidewalk cafe has entered our culture and has begun taking on a life of its own. People of the Milwaukee area would have understood what I was talking about today, even if they did not a few generations ago.

Then why, in the redevelopment of our business district here in Shorewood has no one been able to lead us further into that festive direction so that we will attract people onto these fancy sidewalks?

Are the new lamps, planters and brick cross ways going to do it on their own? And what if we throw in a few tables and chairs with umbrellas? Is that going to be enough?

Honoring the linear street and fast moving auto traffic ain't going to do it. Linear characteristics are for moving. These are the very opposite of clustering festive activities.

The grouping of our new buildings should encourage clustering, adding to a sense of enclosure and inspire and promote people gathering. Let's take another look at how the Europeans do it.

The same people that pay village taxes pay school board taxes.

There's plenty of unused space in our schools and the seniors of this community are in need of space for their activities.

Let's make space available for older adult meetings and for many of their activities. It seems that the idea is timely. Where to start? Ideas need public support and I suppose the the right type of marketing.

A couple of weeks ago, in one of my postings, “Sooner rather than later.” I suggested the design and development a solar energy tree, a rather improbable idea for lighting our streets and heating crosswalks in the winter.

The other day I came across Time's summer edition of Style and Design in my dentist's office and there was an actual “Solar tree,” designed and built in Europe, being installed in Austrian, German and Italian cities.  Designers and manufacturers are already involved,even before I suggested the concept.  The tree is on actual display in Florence, in front of the opera house.

Ten percent of Europe's electric power goes for lighting of its streets.

Ideas do become realities, Mr. Johnson.  Maybe you should see a concept of Mangiamele's solar energy tree.  Perhaps others should design their own backyard energy trees. 

"I think that architects will be designing highrise buildings influenced by the need to capture solar energy."

A recent review of nursing homes highlights serious failures in care that causes residents to suffer unnecessary pain, injury, trauma and death in its June 2008 report by the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

These accommodations, not as rosy as they might appear. Shorewood elderly should form an overseeing group to check in on our elderly as they seek these accommodations.

I think we should form an overall central group made up of our senior members. One of its responsibilities should be representing those who will be in these senior homes - - I'm suggesting calling our group the Shorewood Senior Academy., what do you think, Mr. Johnson?