Ktown Connects

This week, we style it up with Sarai Gilmore, longtime hairstylist in Kenosha and owner of Salon on Sixth, an Aveda concept salon, 5040 Sixth Ave. For more contact info, like them on Facebook here. This episode was recorded on  May 24th, 2021 at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen, 7531 39th Avenue . - Big thanks to our sponsors: Captain Mike’s, 5118 Sixth Ave. Blue Collar Tavern, 2627 63rd St Union Park Tavern...

We did something a bit different this week, we brought back two of our past guests for a game of music trivia! We welcome Sarah Kovach of Wink Beauty Boutique and Jake "The Weather Guy" Hoey click here to find out how you can become a PATREON supporter and get all the great bonus stuff!

Andy Berg is a local politician, social justice activist, community volunteer, and veteran. He is the man behind The Garden of Eatin’ – a local community service project which has been providing food for the local food pantries for the past 8 years. Visit the Garden of Eatin’ website here for more information! Andy has also gone to the extremes lately to get his voice heard on social and political...

Growing up in the Columbus Park neighborhood gave John Collins a rich appreciation for his hometown. Today we talk to John about his life and the many avenues his life has taken including paperboy, Wilson Elementary School teacher, and the tribulations he took on as the Kenosha County Executive in the mid-80s when over 5,000 Kenosha workers at the AMC plant had concerns about the future of their c...

On Saturday, May 8th the Kenosha HarborMarket kicks off it’s 18th season located at it’s regular summer location at 56th Street and 2nd Avenue, just feet away from the beautiful Kenosha harbor! Last year, Andrea Forgianni came on as the new executive director of the Market and she is joined by new board member Gary Schneeberger in our studio to talk about what to expect this summer at “Kenosha’s O...

2020 was hard on the world, but it seems Kenosha got an additional kick in the ‘you know what’ last year. Many people dwell on the negative in the world – but not Shay “Mr Keno$ha” Majors – Shay has created his own brand which combines his humanitarian work with his activism in an attempt to capture a positive spin on our community. But, that isn’t all – he is active in attempting to create a conv...

In the spirit of journalistic integrity, this episode is being posted completely raw and unedited, it contains adult language. On this special episode of Ktown Connects we sit down and talk with Kevin Glowicki of  Never Stop Media.  With his media company, Glowicki has been exploring a theory of a fourth shooting victim on the night of the Kyle Rittenhouse incident in Kenosha.  Never Stop Media ha...

In 1973, Jim Spata (along with his wife Lyla) came to Kenosha to look at a promising pizzeria that was on the market. Shortly after, Jim knew that his life in Chicago was now over as his family started a new life in Kenosha as the new owners of Valeo’s Pizza, 5021 30th Avenue! Forty-eight years later, the Valeo family might be long absent from the business, but the high quality food and excellent...

Since 2008, Anthony Kennedy has served as the 10th District Alderperson for the City of Kenosha – but he is 1st with Ktown Connects! Anthony is quite the character and is not your typical politician!  On this week’s episode, we dig in deep with Anthony and talk about his recent involvement with former and current alders, and some of the controversial issues he has been involved in. We had a great...

For the rest of us, we have 24 hours in the day, but for Joshua Ferguson, he must have a few extra – that’s the only way we can figure Josh can do all the amazing things he does. On top of working a full-time job, Joshua is also a local business owner, active in several community groups, a musician (Yungrisky), a writer, and he still manages to be an amazing family man to his wife, Charrie and the...

Cheryl and Gary Farrand are soon celebrating four years in Downtown Kenosha with The Pine Blossom, 5925 Sixth Ave-A, a charming shop filled with great gift ideas for someone special – or just as a treat for yourself. Stop in and see their treasures. They are currently open Thursdays – Sundays! Visit their Facebook page here! Check out Gary’s great artwork here! This episode was recorded on  March...

As a young petunia-picker, Beth Dary was frequently told by her mother that “idle hands were the devil’s work.” After years of creating her own art and being one of the earliest vendors at the Kenosha HarborMarket, Beth is now the executive director of the Lemon Street Gallery and ArtSpace, 4601 Sheridan Road. Stop on by Lemon Street to see the best of local art! They are currently open Friday and...

For almost 25 years, Scott Barter has been the host of Kenosha Today – a local talk show which has been featured on Kenosha’s public access TV channel, AM1050 WLIP, and is now streaming live on YouTube with replays being aired on channel 14.  Two-time mayoral candidate Scott Barter and German singer Steve “Elmo” Schneider join the show today to talk about growing up in Kenosha and becoming an esse...

As a second-generation owner of a downtown business with a long eccentric reputation, Brett Bjorn of Bjorn’s Fine Clothing, 5614 Sixth Ave., has taken the sales of men’s clothing into the 21st century! Brett talks about growing up in Kenosha as the son of Mike Bjorn, and taking over the family business. Visit their website here! This episode was recorded on  February 15th, 2021 at Luigi’s Pizza Ki...

Last year, as the pandemic was just starting, Manny Ramirez was  laid-off from his job. So, what others would take as a down turn in life, Manny saw as an opportunity. With a successful marketing campaign and a delicious product to back it up – Mr. Wings was launched and ended up being  voted the best wings in Kenosha in 2020 – the first year in business for Manny! Be sure to follow Mr. Wings on F...

In 2017, Dana and Terry Nelson took over as the proud new owners of Kaiser’s Pizza and Pub in Downtown Kenosha. Then just last year, they opened up their new bar & grill – The DownTown’r Saloon. They are also the owners of the uptown shot-and-a-beer dive bar The Blue Collar Tavern. We sit down with this Kenosha power couple and get their story, why they came to Kenosha, how they met, and so mu...

Matt Geary came to Kenosha many years ago as just another one of those annoying college kids… but he fell in love with the town and hasn’t left. Today he is the owner of Public Craft Brewing Company – a superb craft beer and food destination in Downtown Kenosha.  We talk to Matt about how he got involved in craft beer and all about his new location! This episode was recorded on  February 8th, 2021...

Today we get to know more than Mayor Antaramian. We get to meet John the Cowboy. We get to meet John the Gold miner. We get to meet John the college kid.  Kicking off our second season we sit down with Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian. We are aware that the sound level on Jason’s mic is a little loud in the beginning, this does clear up pretty quickly. Apologies.  This episode was recorded on January...

At Studio Moonfall, located at 5031 Seventh Avenue, Donovan Scherer’s house of art and stories creates illustrated novels taking readers of all-ages on adventures into worlds of fantasy, horror, and science fiction.  More recently, you may know him as the artist behind the Color of Kenosha coloring books featuring everyone who is anyone in our city! Visit these links to see more about Donovan and...

Samantha Jacquest took her love of books and made a career as the owner of Kenosha’s independent bookstore, Blue House Books, located in Downtown Kenosha at 5615 Seventh Avenue. Stop on down at Blue House Books where Sam will be happy to recommend something for you, or place a special order!  This episode was recorded on November 30th, 2020 at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen, 7531 39th Avenue. Big thanks to...

In 2017, Angie Cook and Ben DeSmidt took over ownership of what was then called Pete’s Place at 4520 8th Avenue. Now renamed Union Park Tavern, Angie and Ben have taken the things that made Pete’s special, particularly their award-winning Friday Fish Fry, and have expanded their business to focus on great food seven days a week and live entertainment nearly every day. Angie and Ben sit down with K...

While attending Carthage College, Chris Allen was new in town and accepted an internship at the Kenosha History Center – flashforward 11 years later and Chris is now the Executive Director of this non-profit organization which includes the Southport Light Station Museum. We these keys to our past, Chris brings us some interesting stories about himself and our hometown. Due to the pandemic, the His...

2020 did not go as planned for Alexandria Binanti, the Executive Director of Downtown Kenosha, Inc. In this exclusive interview we talk to Alex about what brought her to this point in her life and the variety of challenges she and the organization have faced in 2020. - www.downtownkenosha.org  Big thanks to our sponsors: Bluhorn Digital, https://bluehorn.digital/.  Bird of Paradox Studios, https:/...

After growing up watching his father, Frank Trecroci, transform real estate across Kenosha, Ben Trecroci is now the second generation of Trecroci Realty, located at 522 56th Street in Downtown Kenosha. We sit down with Ben and talk about old Kenosha, wrestling, and so much more! Visit their website here https://trecrocirealty.com/  This episode was recorded on November 2nd, 2020 at Luigi’s Pizza K...

In July 2019, Jeanette and Michael “Mick” Kelly took over the business long known as Captain Mike’s, located at 5118 Sixth Avenue. While keeping the things that have kept the business a success and improving on things that needed it, Jeanette and Mick have turned Captain Mike’s back into a noteworthy downtown Kenosha establishment. Today we connect with Jeanette and Mick on how they met and took o...