Editor's Note: Blossoms and Barbs is a weekly compilation of comments submitted via mail, e-mail and online that are specifically marked as "blossoms" or "barbs." On the marching band issue, of course, there have been many, many other comments made that were not labeled as a "blossom" or a "barb" and thus were not included in Blossoms and Barbs.
A barb to all the idiots who complained about the school band.> MHS does not have a marching band anymore because of money issues. Gone! So they just went one step further, and at least they were there and playing. To those idiots who complained about the beer on the Square, go home if you don't like it. You have had it your way for 150 years. Now it is time to let people move around. By the way, no one was laying in alleys or stumbling around, and family time is not after midnight. Now if you want to complain, then complain about the long parade and no fun floats anymore. - Lynn Zimmerman>
A barb to the Federal Communications Commission >for limiting its $40 converter box coupons to only two per household. As a result of someone else in the house I live in ordering their coupons before me for their two televisions, I do not qualify to receive a coupon.
A barb against those who park > in designated bicycle lanes. This is a problem at the north end of West 3rd Avenue near Decatur Road and the entrance to the Sugar River State Trail. Wherever there is a wide edge line, bicycle route signs or a painted silhouette of a bicycle on the pavement within the bicycle lane; that is a designated bicycle lane.
A barb against drivers >who do not yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks on Center Avenue in Brodhead. If a pedestrian is in the crosswalk, they have the right of way and vehicles are supposed to stop for them. I do not have time to wait for lines of traffic. Most of these drivers that do not yield to pedestrians are probably through traffic (I'm giving the benefit of doubt to local drivers). This is a major reason why Brodhead needs a bypass. The traffic is just too heavy through Brodhead. Tell your elected officials that Brodhead needs a bypass now, not years from now. - Dave Searles, Brodhead>
This is a big barb to Cheese Days> in general. Where would Cheese Days be without the farmers? Everyone else is making money, and they all forget where they make their money. It's from the FARMERS. We didn't go down to Cheese Days at all. Why make the other people rich, and they want to make us poor? The milk price is falling while everything else is skyrocketing. We lose money every day. I could think of 50 other things to spend my money on other than Cheese Days. I really don't want to make our cheesemakers any richer than they are. They are making us poorer. The farmer see NO benefit from Cheese Days. - Denise>
A huge blossom to La Vern F. Isely >and the wonderful comical remarks he graces us with week in and week out. You truly are a visionary. - Tim Gunderman>
A barb to the Presidential Debate Commission and Mr. Isely. >To the PDC - Why would you pick a moderator (Gwen Ifill) whose book, "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" will be released on Jan. 20, 2009? I thought a moderator was supposed to be unbiased. Ms. Ifill obviously has a financial stake in one side. To Mr. Isely - I expect my leader to lead, NOT just talk. A debate can be postponed a day or two, or a week. Voting counts. I prefer someone who works for a solution and votes yes or no over the candidate who says, "Call me if you need me." Or, even worse, "Present." - Debates?>
My name is Claire Wyttenbach and I am a band student at the Monroe High School. I would never send a barb to anyone, but I need to send a barb to all those who have been criticizing> our performance in the Cheese Days Parade. Don't you think that students read the newspaper? We all worked very hard in preparing and performing the song, and to then be criticized and barbed? It saddens me that people have the nerve to criticize the hard work of students by writing negative comments. Yes, we didn't march, didn't have the "proper" uniforms, and read sheet music, but we sounded great and I was proud to be a member of the MHS band. Riding the float was so much fun, I would do it again in a heartbeat. The other bands did a fantastic job, and I commend them for marching on such a sizzling, hot day. All the students in the parade, whether marching or riding on a float, took time in their busy schedules to rehearse, doesn't that say something? Also, our band program isn't based on marching. If you weren't impressed with the parade, you should come to one of our band concerts. We have an amazing band program filled with dedicated and passionate students. Lastly, I can't believe our entire band program is being judged by one performance that differed from the norm. Sorry to those who fear change, and thank you to Mr. Schilt, Mr. Henkel and Jeff Ditzenberger for a wonderful Cheese Days experience. - Claire Wyttenbach, Monroe>
A barb to everyone who's making the Monroe band students such as myself feel like crap. >Thanks! - Band Student>
The Monroe Garden Club would like to give blossoms to everyone who made the spaghetti supper >another success. Thanks to our sponsor, Monroe Pizza Hut, Monroe Moose Lodge and for the donations from Wal-Mart, Culligan Water Conditioning, McDonalds and Pick 'n Save. Thanks to all the helpers who contributed their time before, during and after the supper. It was very well attended. Thanks to all the people who bought tickets. All is very much appreciated. Proceeds from the annual spaghetti supper are used for community projects and contributions to charitable organizations. - Helen Y>
A blossom to everyone involved with the Reality Store >at Monroe High School. It was my pleasure to volunteer to help Gail Eiserman, family consumer science teacher, and the vocational education teachers of Monroe High School to work on the Reality Store on Sept. 30. With the help of Green County businesses and agencies, seniors from Monroe High School received a small taste of real-life situations. The Reality Store enables the seniors to simulate life and financial skills by doing such activities as renting apartments, buying cars, getting insurance, establishing credit and checking accounts. They also had to deal with "fate" situations (those unexpected expenses and events that happen to all of us). The students I helped were all so polite and appreciative. I also was very happy to see Mr. Larry Brown, superintendent of schools, Ron Olson, business manager, and Jennifer Thayer, curriculum director, participating with the students. Good job, everyone. - Mrs. Jana Miller, Monroe>
A blossom to the person who returned my wallet. >I had lot my wallet on Friday, on the Square. There were a lot of people because of Cheese Days. I didn't think I would get my wallet back, but some honest person turned it in. I am so glad there still are some honest people around. - Judie Walden>
A barb to the Monroe Times >for not publishing the agenda of the U.S. LST 325 when submitted. Many people could have seen the ship at Moline, Ill., Clinton or Fort Madison, Iowa. I served on LST 851 and LST 874. - Robert Penniston, Monroe>
We just wanted to offer up a big blossom to Brian Gray and The Times> for the great Life article called "Sharing History" with the Hendrickson family sharing such an important part of history together, so that future generations will know firsthand the events that took place in the life of this veteran and others in our area. A big blossom to Jim Hendrickson and all of our area veterans >for their service then and now. Thanks also for reminding us all of the importance of taking the time to do these "life experience lessons" while we still have the opportunity to do so. - Dave and Lori Soderberg>
A barb to the people >(we hope they weren't local folks) who were very inconsiderate by walking and talking in front of the stage during Ecumenical church services at Cheese Days. Also, standing in front of those who were seated. Have you ever been to a parade with people forever marching around? No! A path was left on the south side of the Square which had a continuous stream. The folks seated next to buildings even found some who stood in front of them. When asked to move, they acted like they had rights. - Anonymous>
A huge blossom to the Monroe Arts Center >for doing all the work it takes to bring a great musical icon - Don McLean - to our small town. True talent is when a performer can sing beautifully with just a guitar and music he wrote by his own hands ... and bring tears to the eyes of many in the audience. It was truly a musical event I will never forget for the rest of my life!
Another blossom to the Monroe Arts Center >for hosting an awesome exhibit in Frehner Gallery. "Driftless Artists" Sarah Aslakson, Jeanne Ausmus, Robert Beck, Carolyn Bishop, Jennie Crase, Kathleen D'Angelo, Tina Duemler, Amanda Jordan, Kathy King, Deb Meyer, Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Lyric Ozburn, Joan Stackpole and Terry Tackett are local talented artists from southern Wisconsin who have pieces on display for the rest of October. It's really worth seeing the wide variety of local "color" on view. Take a walk through on your lunch hour! - Mary Soddy>
A huge barb to Josh Boll >for his comments about the itsy-bitsy, tiny towns and their bands that do take pride in coming to Monroe to participate in the Cheese Days parade. No, they cannot compete with Monroe's concert bands. They do not try to. None of these small towns has a "marching band." They have a band that represents their school and community - they march when it is time to march - they do pep band when it is time to support their sports teams and they perform concerts when it is concert time. No band needs to have a flashy uniform to march. Is it nice? Yes, but not a requirement. The uniform does not make a marching band. Yes, the uniform adds to the appearance, but it is the band members, their music and their efforts that we all remember. Maybe all those itsy-bitsy, tiny towns should bypass the next Cheese Days parade, since they cannot compete with the Monroe band. As a member of one of these itsy-bitsy, tiny towns, I cannot express how proud I was to see our band MARCH on parade day. The Cheese Days parade is Monroe and Green County's showcase event. The Monroe band should have showcased your community. Did it? Way to go, all you itsy-bitsy, tiny towns - your pride was on display, and all of us itsy-bitsy, tiny town residents say "Thank you!" - Proud Itsy-Bitsy, Tiny Town Resident>
