Sarah Ballman, 50, of East Troy – Obituary
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Showing posts with label Downtown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Downtown. Show all posts
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Saturday, July 4, 2026
City installs audible traffic signals, updates traffic signal timing Downtown
From The Journal Times.com:
Holly Gilvary
Holly Gilvary
The traffic signal across Main Street on Fourth lasted about 28 seconds late Thursday morning during relatively calm traffic conditions. As shown here, the audible pedestrian signal will indicate when pedestrians can and cannot cross.
RACINE — The city on Wednesday completed the installation of audible traffic signals at six intersections and implemented new traffic signal timing along Main Street between State and Seventh streets.
In a news release, the city said the two measures will improve pedestrian safety and encourage slower vehicle speeds through Downtown Racine.
The audible pedestrian signals provide locator tones and audible walk indications to assist pedestrians who are blind or have low vision in crossing the street safely, according to the city.
The updated traffic signal timing is designed to calm traffic by encouraging drivers to travel at a slower and more consistent speed. Because of the timing of the lights, drivers who try to accelerate between intersections to avoid a red light will encounter longer waits at the next signal, the city said.
The city evaluated several options in response to downtown businesses' and community stakeholders' concerns about vehicle speeds on Main Street. One alternative would have rerouted State Highway 32 off Main Street, which was estimated to cost more than $1.5 million and, according to the city, would not have directly addressed speeding concerns.
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The Racine Department of Public Works installed new signage at intersections with the audible pedestrian signals, such as this one at Fourth and Main. |
Previously, driving between State and Seventh streets during peak traffic periods took an average of 83 seconds. With the new traffic signal timing, the trip will take about 50 seconds longer on average, which the city said will create a safer environment for pedestrians and reduce incentives to speed through downtown. Traffic analysis found the revised timing would increase travel through the corridor to about two minutes while maintaining acceptable traffic operations.
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Downtown Racine offers free music Fridays and Saturdays this summer
From The Journal Times.com:
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Incorruptibles performs in 2025. The band will be back in concert in Racine during the Music on the Monument concert series in Downtown Racine on Aug. 28. |
RACINE — The Downtown Racine Corporation has announced the return of two outdoor concert series: Music on the Monument on Fridays and Saturday Sounds on the Square on Saturdays.
They will offer free live music at Monument Square every Friday and Saturday through Aug. 29, with performances from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Seating is available, as well as room for dancing, a beer garden and food vendors.
The Friday Music on the Monument schedule includes:
- July 3: Ivy Ford Band (5-8 p.m. during First Friday)
- July 10: Rust Belt
- July 17: Kyle Young Band
- July 24: Walking Birds
- July 31: Identity Crisis
- Aug. 7: All The Kings Men (5-8 p.m. during First Friday)
- Aug. 14: Mean Jake
- Aug. 21: Route 66 Belle City Band
- Aug. 28: Incorruptibles
- Sept. 4: Alexandra Smith (5-8 p.m. during First Friday)
Saturday Sounds on the Square will include:
- June 27: Jill Plaisted Band
- July 11: Scarlet Curve
- July 18: Mathew Haeffel Trio
- July 25: Ghosts in the Gravel
- Aug. 1: Saturday June Band
- Aug. 8: Infusion
- Aug. 15: Easy-Flo
- Aug. 22: Lori Lewis
- Aug. 29: Would You Kindly
In the event of severe weather, concerts may be canceled without a makeup date. Weather updates will be posted on the Downtown Racine social media pages.
Parking is available at the McMynn Ramp, Lake Avenue Ramp, Shoop Ramp, Gaslight Point Ramp, and Festival Hall Ramp. All ramps offer all-day parking for $4.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Thursday, April 30, 2026
First Fridays kick off in downtown Racine on May 1
From The Journal Times.com:
RACINE -- The Downtown Racine Corporation's First Fridays kick off on May 1 with a Creative Crawl, a citywide celebration of art, creativity and community.
There will be hands-on activities, artist demonstrations, local author readings, pop-up exhibits and more from 4-9 p.m. throughout Downtown Racine.
Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St., will feature:
- A live set by DJ Unknown (5-8 p.m.).
- Interactive art stations for kids & adults (4-8 p.m.).
- Art Treasure Hunt with prizes.
- Meet the Artist: Amanda Browder (6:30 p.m. talk).
- Live Urban Sketching with Patti Fallon.
- Outdoor public art/postcard painting station.
- Artist demos throughout downtown featuring RAM artists.
Live art and hands-on experiences will include these venues:
- Revelyn Soul: Watch artist Erin Krembs create felted beads & animal sculptures.
- The New Café: Create beaded wind chimes with Pop-Up Adventures.
- Stitched: Fiber art demo with Sherrye Smith + explore Racine’s newest fiber arts hub.
- Art Metals Studio: Father/daughter duo showcasing painting/metalwork collaboration.
The Hotel Verdant, 500 Main St., is offering:
- A rare behind-the-scenes look at a private guest floor.
- Creative cocktail specials at Marguerite.
- A paper floral art demonstration with Laura Gillespie.
Among other highlights will be:
- Busia’s XOXO, 210 3rd St.: Hands-on cookie icing station.
- Photographic Design: Opening reception for the "Windows of the World" exhibit.
- Racine Art Guild, 419 6th St., Spring Juried Show.
- COP House: Student-made jewelry from repurposed materials.
- Over Our Head Players: Interactive puppet “Joke Booth.”
- Public art installations and demos throughout downtown.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Marshmallow Peeps masterpieces take over Racine Art Museum
From JSOnline:
Adrienne Davis
Adrienne Davis
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Monster brides, camping trips, and even classic '90s cartoons − all made from Peeps marshmallow candy − each earned awards during the 17th edition of the candy-inspired art competition at the Racine Art Museum.
The annual exhibition at the Racine Art Museum showcases work from artists who incorporate or represent the iconic candy. The exhibition runs through April 18 at the museum, 441 Main St., in downtown Racine.
The Golden PEEPS Awards, held March 31, served as the exhibition’s opening reception, honoring artists as they walked an orange carpet.
“Each year, we are presented with truly exceptional artwork submissions, which makes selecting award winners incredibly difficult,” RAM Assistant Curator Katelyn Mitchell said in a news release. "It’s always wonderful to see artists transform this unusual material into something novel.”
Mitchell said judges consider creativity, presentation and the use of Peeps marshmallow candy as art media or inspiration.
Awards in multiple categories were presented to artists during the show, who demonstrated clever and skilled use of Peeps marshmallow candy.
Julie Palmer of Racine won first 'PEEP' in the adult division for the Happy Birthday, PEEP Jr. art display − a spring-colored piece featuring Peeps gathered inside a miniature tree house for a birthday celebration.
Among Milwaukee-area winners include Beatrix W. Leach of Milwaukee, who took home second 'PEEP' for Victorian Peeps, an elegant piece featuring miniature Peeps enclosed in an egg-shaped display set on a sophisticated saucer.
Connie Reeves of Wauwatosa received an honorable mention for Peep Mittens, a pair of mittens knitted in vivid Peeps decorations.
In the Young 'PEEPle's' under 13 division, Charlotte Barnes of Racine, won first 'PEEP' for the Peep Scouts Go Camping, a colorful display showing the marshmallow ducks gathered around a tropical campsite.
In the group division under 13, first 'PEEP' was given to Laura and Steve Grayson of Racine for The Peepeux Tapestry: An Epic Bunny Adventure, a tapestry-styled piece that shows Peeps as they travel through history.
Jon and Laura Leach, also from Wauwatosa, received an honorable mention for Spring Dance − colorful Peeps that appear to float in mid-air.
First-place winners and RAM Staff Choice recipients also received a golden glass PEEPS bunny sculpture handcrafted by Hot Shop Glass in downtown Racine.
Hours
Both campuses of the Racine Art Museum are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission rates for the Racine Art Museum can be found here.
For more information on the PEEPS Brand Art Exhibition, visit here.
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
'I'm glad people haven't forgotten about us': Brewery reopens in downtown Racine
From The Journal Times.com:
Holly Gilvary
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — Nine months after its closure, a beloved downtown brewery has made its comeback.
Littleport Brewing Company, 214 Third St., reopened Oct. 13, according to Mark Flynn, who co-owns the brewery with his wife, Chris Flynn.
The brewery will be open 5-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, “or until the Packers game is over” on Sunday nights when Green Bay plays, Flynn said.
The Flynns’ first opened Littleport in April 2021.
Littleport closed in January after original investors “decided they wanted their investment back in their entirety,” leading the brewery to put the building up for sale, the Flynns’ wrote in a Facebook post at the time.
The couple also said in the post that they were hopeful they would reopen in another location in six to 12 months.
Mark Flynn said he and Chris were “shocked” when investors turned the building back over to them, not having found success in selling it after six months.
“It’s nice that we didn’t lose the building,” he said. “Had we lost it, that would have been a loss we’d be carrying the rest of our lives.”
The feel of Littleport is largely the same as it was nine months ago, but Flynn said they will likely host more events. The brewery was just ramping up live music and open mic nights when it closed, and now, Flynn said, they’ve received inquiries about hosting dance classes or yoga classes in the space.
The brewery’s new equipment takes up half the space of their original equipment, leaving room for about 40-50 more people inside, according to Flynn. Support from the community has allowed the brewery to restock and reopen that much quicker, Flynn said.
“Customers’ reaction has been fantastic,” he said. “I’m glad people haven’t forgotten about us.”
The Flynns’ haven’t asked for donations, but customers have been giving them — including donations from a GoFundMe page that has so far raised $5,300 for the brewery.
“It was a friend of ours who set it up and I didn’t know she was doing it,” Flynn said. “It’s nice to see the community rallying around us.”
From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/business/article_dca79299-e392-4035-85dd-ec7f95275afa.html
Monday, September 29, 2025
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Party on the Pavement draws crowds to Downtown Racine
From The Journal Times.com:
Milana Doné
Milana Doné
The 22nd annual Party on the Pavement was celebrated across 12 blocks of downtown Racine on Saturday. Beginning in the late morning, the festival featured live music, more than 40 food trucks, street performances, shopping, games and rides. Party on the Pavement took place along Main Street (from State Street to 7th Street) and 6th Street (from Lake Avenue to City Hall).
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Friday, June 13, 2025
Run, parade, music festival taking place Saturday downtown
From The Journal Times.com:
L.A. Sklba
The 10 mile competitive run begins at 8 a.m., the four mile competitive run starts at 8:15 a.m., and the two and four mile fun run/walk starts at 8:20 a.m.
L.A. Sklba
RACINE — Racine is the place to be Saturday as three major area events converge downtown.
Residents and visitors can pick from a run along the lakefront, a Juneteenth parade and a music festival—or attend all three for a day full of festivities.
The Lighthouse Run, Juneteenth Parade and Racine HarborFest are taking place Saturday, each within blocks of each other.
“A day like June 14 is the perfect example of what makes Downtown Racine so special — a vibrant mix of culture, community, and celebration,” Kelly Kruse, Downtown Racine Corporation executive director, said.
The Lighthouse Run, put on by 5Kevents, kicks off the day downtown at Festival Park, 5 Fifth Street. The annual event is returning for its 47th year and features both competitive and noncompetitive races.
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| Granetzke |
There is also a Carl Granetzke Memorial Kids Run. Granetzke was a local running icon who reportedly ran in more than 800 races in his lifetime and was known for his “infectious enthusiasm,” according to 5Kevents. He died December 20, 2024.
This year, prize money will be awarded to the top three men’s and women’s finishers in both the 10 miles and four miles competitive races.
Advance registration is required. For more information and how to register, go to https://5kevents.raceentry.com/racine-family-ymca-lighthouse-run/race-information.
Just about a block north of the Lighthouse Run finish line, the third annual official Racine Juneteenth Parade will begin at 11 a.m.
The parade marks and celebrates June 19, 1865, the day when the final enslaved people in the U.S. learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Brendan Saunders, from left, his daughter Dorothea, De'rya, Lisa Plunkett and Zoey march in the 2022 Juneteenth Day Parade in Racine. Juneteenth marks the day when the final enslaved people in the U.S. learned of their freedom on June 19, 1865 — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
“It’s a celebration for everybody,” JaVonna Lue, Juneteenth parade committee president, told The Journal Times. “Although we are celebrating Black culture, it’s still not a Black thing. It’s an everybody thing.”
More than 50 organizations are participating in this year’s parade, according to event organizers.
The parade will begin at the intersection of Fourth and Main streets. It will travel south to Main and 14th streets, turn west on 14th Street to Grand Avenue and turn south to the Dr. John Bryant Community Center, 601 Caron Butler Drive, where the parade ends.
There will be a celebration at the Bryant Center following the parade.
Racine residents and visitors can also look forward to Racine HarborFest returning to the lakefront.
The music festival used to be held annually, first taking place in 1987 at Pershing Park. The festival was known for donating some of its profits back to the community.
This year, the event will return at Festival Park on Friday and Saturday, with proceeds going to Racine County Food Bank and Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin.
The festival will feature nine bands across the two days, including Stephen Hull Experience, Bella Cain, Feels Like the First Time (a Foreigner tribute band), and Heart to HeartBreaker, (a Heart and Pat Benatar tribute band).
There will also be food trucks and merchandise booths.
Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. The festival runs 3-11 p.m. Friday and 12-11 p.m. Saturday.
It’s worth noting that anyone who participates in the Lighthouse Run gets free entry to HarborFest.
For more information, including a music schedule and where to purchase advance tickets, head to https://5kevents.strideevents.com/racine-harbor-fest/event-information.
“Events like these not only showcase the beauty and energy of our lakefront district, but they also bring a significant boost to our local economy by drawing thousands of residents and visitors to our shops, restaurants, and attractions,” Kruse said.
People heading into Downtown Racine this weekend can utilize street parking as well as all-day $4 parking at the Lake Avenue Ramp, 300 Lake Ave., the McMynn Ramp, 120 Seventh St. and the Shoop Ramp, 226 Main St., and the Civic Centre Ramp, 501 Lake Ave.
Friday, May 30, 2025
Downtown Racine kicks off summer market
From The Journal Times.com:
Caroline Neal
Caroline Neal
Racine residents gathered at Monument Square on Thursday for the first HayMarket of the summer season. With more than 30 participating vendors, visitors can buy fresh produce, handcrafted goods and food while listening to live music. The market will occur every other Thursday until August 21.
Friday, May 2, 2025
Downtown Racine's newest thrift store opens Saturday
From The Journal Times.com:
Caroline Neal
Caroline Neal
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Tara Gutierrez is opening One Stop Shop Thrift on Saturday, May 3. "I wanted to do something affordable for the community where they can get nice quality items for a very low price," Gutierrez said.
RACINE — No matter the city, Tara Gutierrez likes to thrift any chance she gets, with some of her best finds including a vintage Coach purse she gifted to her cousin.
“Anytime I see something (and) it catches my eye, then I’ll just stop in and see what’s in there,” she said. “I love it because you find so many unique things.”
Now, Racine thrifting and shopping enthusiasts will have a new spot to look for their own unique finds.
Gutierrez is opening One Stop Shop Thrift at 240 Main St this weekend. Accepting donations from the community, the store will sell a variety of goods, including clothing, at affordable prices.
This comes as 8 in 10 Americans are planning to rely more on second-hand shopping to offset rising costs, according to a StorageUnits.com survey. Of that, 48% cited high traditional retail prices as the primary reason for turning to thrifting, and 69% said it was to save money.
One Stop Shop Thrift officially opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, with grand opening celebrations occurring from 2-4 p.m.
Gutierrez, who has been thrifting since she was in her 20s, said sheretail previously considered opening a retail store, like a boutique, but “wasn’t really interested in that” and “didn’t really know where to begin.”
But when her daughter, Fyness, suggested last year that Gutierrez open a thrift store, Gutierrez said it was “an amazing idea.”
“I wasn’t hesitant to jump into it,” she said.
For the past seven months, Gutierrez and Kirsten Murriel, her sister and business partner, have worked to prepare the store, figuring out what donations would be accepted and collecting items for the store.
In fact, Gutierrez said the store is full, and she has overflow in storage.
“The response from the community has been great,” she said. “People are excited. They’re looking forward to it.”
Gutierrez said her spot in Downtown Racine lets her be “right in the middle of everything.”
“To me, downtown is the perfect spot because it’s for everything — all types of businesses,” she said.
Gutierrez said she’s excited to meet community members who have been “looking for this type of store.”
“It’s a family friendly thrift store,” she said.
Gutierrez said she’d also like to help people find certain items that might not be available at regular thrift stores and get it for them at a low price.
Offering quality items at affordable prices is an important goal, and she’s willing to negotiate prices “to help the community.”
In her own experience, Gutierrez has noticed increased prices at some second-hand stores.
Often, when she shops second-hand, Gutierrez will spot a graphic shirt priced at $50, but in her store, customers will be able to get similar items for around $10.
“I wouldn’t sell anything that I wouldn’t buy,” she said. “But the difference is instead of going in and having to pay $50 for it, you can pay $8 or $9 for it.”
Located in the upstairs unit of a downtown storefront, One Stop Shop Thrift is a smaller space compared to other thrift stores, she said.
“Not everyone likes to be in a big environment, so I think that’s a plus,” Gutierrez said.
Although One Stop Shop Thrift is Gutierrez’s first retail endeavor, she didn’t have concerns about opening the shop.
“I have a lot of faith, and I know this is something that I was meant to do. It’s been exciting for me,” Gutierrez said. “It’s a small space that I did a lot with, and I think people will be excited to see it.”
One Stop Shop Thrift will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Currently, the store is accepting donations. Gutierrez said she’ll take “everything, even down to diapers” and board games.
However, the store is unable to take jewelry and furniture, except smaller items such as end tables, due to limited space.
To donate, call 262-412-9052.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
New COP House opens in Downtown Racine
From The Journal Times.com:
The Racine Police Department on Wednesday celebrated the opening of its new downtown Community Oriented Policing House at 434 Main St. RPD Chief Alexander Ramirez, Racine Mayor Cory Mason, Racine County District Attorney Tricia Hanson, Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki, Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce President Mark Lewis, Alder Maurice Horton and other community leaders were present for the ceremony. The COP House will provide a visible police presence downtown, and officers will aim to build relationships with area business owners, according to Ramirez.
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