Ktown Connects

At the age of 50, Jo Wynn’s life has begun to unravel – after numerous setbacks, she found herself homeless on the streets of Kenosha. But Jo knew this wasn’t a permanent place for her. She strove to find the avenues to get her off the streets and back on her feet. After witnessing that struggle firsthand, she decided to start the non-profit organization Walkin in My Shoes. Starting with duffle ba...

Today we re-connect with two of our past guests and talk about how they have changed in the past year. Subscribe to Koerri Elijah’s YouTube channel here Follow Koerri’s Facebook page here [JH1]   Find Daniel Thompson’s Uptown Observer here Check out his music – Daniel and his 3AM Saints here Find all the information about the upcoming Kenosha Christmas Carol – starring your hosts Donny and Jason,...

Today we sit down with Carl the Turkey - Kenosha's hottest new celebrity! Don't know Carl? Click here to learn more! Happy Thanksgiving!

As they have been a longtime sponsor of Ktown Connects, you have probably been hearing about the advantageous drupal and e-commerce consulting solutions that Bluehorn Digital can provide to your local business. But if you are anything like Donny and Jason, you might have some questions. On today’s episode of Ktown Connects, we are joined by Matt Glaman of Bluehorn Digital.  Click here to visit Blu...

The House of Nutrition has been keeping Kenosha healthy for generations. In 2014, longtime customer Mark Wistar decided to take the jump and purchase the business. Eight years later and House of Nutrition and Wellness, 5824 Sixth Ave., is now more popular than ever. We sit down and talk to Mark about his early days in Kenosha and how he got involved in this business. Click here to visit the House...

Earlier this year, lifelong Kenoshan David Strash took over as the new president and CEO of the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce. What is the Chamber of Commerce and what does Dave do in his new position? Those questions and more are answered in today’s episode of Ktown Connects! Click here to visit the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce website! This episode was recorded on Monday, October 25th at...

On today’s episode of Ktown Connects, we talk with Paul Ward and Jenifer Fleming of Ashling on the Lough, 125 56th St. Ashling on the Lough provides classic Irish food, delicious beers and cocktails, and, according to Donny, the best Bloody Marys and cheese curds around!  Visit their website here for more! And be sure to like them on Facebook here! This episode was recorded on Monday, October 11th...

Back in 2006, Rhonda Bell took a leap of faith and opened her own restaurant, Twisted Cuisine, 7546 Sheridan Road. After a few solid years, she really found success when she hired on Chef Erica Buskirk to the team and the rest is history! For almost 16 years, Twisted Cuisine has been offering up fine dining in a causal atmosphere… with a Twist! Enjoy this episode as we talk to Rhonda about growing...

With the ability to book a flight in the palm of your hand, what does a 21st century world need with a travel agency? Tom and Monica Karnes of LaMacchia Travel deliver much more than just competitive prices and their charming personalities. We dig deep with Tom and Monica, about growing up in Kenosha, becoming third-generation owners of an iconic Kenosha business, and so much more.  LaMacchia Trav...

Today we connect we artist, singer, model, dancer, TV host, make-up master, and all-around wonderful person Jill Zgorzelski!  Like and follow Jill’s art page here! Like her band The Cats Meow here! Find Women in Motion’s FB page here! Follow Deadgar’s Coffin Classics on YouTube This episode was recorded on Saturday, September 20th, 2021 at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen, 7531 39th Avenue Big thanks to our...

Kenosha is a better place with someone like Dr. Dale Destruction around to keep us entertained, especially during this spooky time of the year!  We sit down and talk to Dr. D about his life growing up in Kenosha, his experiences in the Keno-Core punk rock scene, how he got involved with Jerry Smith’s Pumpkin Farm, the birth of his TV show Crimson Theater, his artwork, his music, and so much more!...

In 2007, Marc Riutta and his friends started a little bicycle pub crawl throughout Kenosha called Handlebars and Bars, that fall, they did it again, this time dressed as zombies and calling it The Ride of the Living Dead. The crowd for the latter grew to levels no local tavern could handle so in 2017, Riutta called it quits on the “zombie ride” – until now. On Saturday, October 2nd, zombies return...

We had a great time connecting with the charming Katy Wallner. From discovering her roots, to her service in the US Army, to her founding the Creatives 4 Community group and finally, Hot Mess Studios – Hot Mess is a new studio in Downtown Kenosha where the guests can throw paint at a canvas and create their own masterpiece! It is perfect for a corporate event, a family activity, or a special date...

This week, we sit down with a few members of the City of Kenosha branch of the Tavern League of Wisconsin. We talk to Kenosha Tavern League President Art DeBaere. Art is also the owner of Champions Sports Bar, 719 50th Street. Follow Champions on Facebook here. We talk to Art about coming to Kenosha and opening his own bar, and then Sara Lucci, Secretary of the City of Kenosha Tavern League, and c...

One of Kenosha’s hottest power couples – Renesha “Rey” Johnson-Langston and Joe Langston are the owners of Kenosha Beauty Supply, 5829 Sixth Ave, and Hit Your Potential Boxing and Fitness, 7709 Sheridan Road. We sit down and talk to them about how they got together as teens and their journey which brought them back to Kenosha. Like Kenosha Beauty Supply on Facebook here! Find out more about Hit Yo...

Growing up in Kenosha, Laura Spair never imagined herself working in the food industry, much less owning her own food business… Laura always imagined herself to be teacher. Well, now she can do both! Today on Ktown Connects, we talk with the owner of The Fresh Bar – Laura Spair. The Fresh Bar is located at the corner of 55th Stree and Fifth Avenue and is operating through the end of September ever...

Who would have thought that talking cars could be so much fun? We sit down with CarBox owner Scott Dooley and marketing manager Johnna McArdle to talk about why they came to Kenosha and what make CarBox the best auto dealership in Kenosha! CarBox is located at 1750 22nd Avenue and open six days a week – Monday – Saturday! Like CarBox on Facebook HERE! Subscribe to the CarBox YouTube channel HERE!...

Enjoy this week’s conversation with Laura Gregorski of Visit Kenosha. For your essential guide to everything fun to do in our hometown – bookmark Visit Kenosha here! This episode was recorded on  Monday, July 19th, 2021 at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen, 7531 39th Avenue . Big thanks to our sponsors: Faded Barbershop for Men, 2227 63rd St Down Town R Saloon, 707 56th St   Captain Mike’s, 5118 Sixth Ave. Lu...

This week we get to sit down with 4/5 of one of our favorite local bands – Donoma!  Find more information about the band on the website here! Listen to their latest album American Rust on Spotify here! Here is video footage of Donoma performing Rustbelt Tragedy in our Ktown Connects studio! They stuck around and did another song from their new album – Maria – click here! This episode was recorded...

From the teenager on the skim board running out to the beach, to your favorite male bartender at Scotty’s tavern, to the current man on the scooter with his own candle company, BLOW CO. Candles – we sit down and get personal with Baron Leaf Olsen. Visit the Blow Co Candle website here! Like the Blow Co Candles Facebook page here! This episode was recorded on  Monday, July 5th, 2021 at Luigi’s Pizz...

“I’ve Been Everywhere” is a song by Johnny Cash that you might hear on your next visit to Hill’s Hotrod Hideout, 4327 17th Ave. But the song can also be the unofficial theme for our guest, Hill Wozniel. We sit down and get Hill’s interesting story of the many paths he took which led him to own the coolest rockabilly joint in town!  Be sure to like Hill’s Hotrod Hideout here! This episode was recor...

From his early beginnings of racing around in grocery carts doing wheelies in the old Piggly Wiggly to keeping the neighborhood kids from climbing on his fire truck/pizza kitchen and everything in between we talk with Kenosha’s own Riki Tagliapietra.  Currently Riki is the president of Downtown Kenosha, Inc., click here to learn more. He is also a contributor to Kenosha.com – read his latest here...

At the age of 12, Rob Greskoviak came to Kenosha with his mother and her new husband, a man who owned a local pizzeria in town. That man was Carl Ruffalo, and he started his Villa D’Carlo home of Carl’s Pizza back in 1957, originally in the Columbus Park neighborhood, before moving to its Sixth Avenue location in 1962. Rob grew up in the business and talks all about pizza, his side-gig in real est...

Although many might know him from his work in the Sauerkraut Five, Lou Rugani has been the distinctive voice of AM1050 WLIP for 29 years. You can hear his show Remembering Kenosha weekdays from 3-5pm on your radio dial or streaming at wlip.com – and on the same network Sunday morning with Music With The Stars from 7-11am.  This episode was recorded on June 7th, 2021 at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen, 7531...

In the middle of a pandemic, Aimee and Danny Crucianelli took over as operators of Fusion – a performing arts venue located at 5014 Seventh Ave. They have had their fair share of struggles, but they have fought on and the future is looking bright! Follow Fusion on Facebook for the latest updates! This might be their main gig right now, but Aimee and Danny are one of the busiest couples in town. In...