The Dairy Industry's Fight Toward 'Curd' Immunity In Wisconsin

METRO MILWAUKEE, WI — Wisconsin is "America's Dairyland," so it's no surprise that the state's dairy industry has been doing its part in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Businesses such as Sargento Foods and the Grande Cheese Company have begun holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics for food production workers. And according to Mary Spicuzza with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, food cooperative Organic Valley has even expanded its immunization efforts to members of the community.

Jerry McGeorge, an Organic Valley spokesperson, told the paper that fighting the pandemic was a group effort and "helping get [the vaccine] into these rural communities that we're a part of is important to us as well."

Gov. Tony Evers, who worked at a cheese company long before his move to higher office, applauded the dairy industry’s vaccination efforts in a statement to the Journal Sentinel.

“As someone who spent time in a cheese factory scraping mold off of cheese, I couldn’t be prouder of the work our cheesemakers and dairy farmers are doing to support our state and get shots in arms faster so we’re not just bouncing back Gouda but better than we were before this pandemic hit,” he said.

Museum Events Stay Virtual

Although the public can once again enjoy the Milwaukee Art Museum's collections in person, its annual Art in Bloom and Lakefront Festival of Art will once again be held online.

Bobby Tanzilo with OnMilwaukee reports that the museum will share highlights from the events online rather than have people attend in person. Art in Bloom will be shared online beginning April 22, while highlights from the Lakefront Festival of Art will be shared June 18.

“As the weather warms and vaccinations increase during the spring, we look forward to having visitors see even more of the galleries, connecting together via virtual programs, and exploring the many outdoor options on the Museum grounds,” Robert Stein, the museum's deputy director and chief experience officer, told OnMilwaukee.

Metro Milwaukee Headlines:

• Local Restaurants To Feed Those In Need: More than two dozen restaurants will band together from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday for a free food festival at Sherman Phoenix to help feed the city's women and families in need.
• Potholes Plague Drivers: The Milwaukee Department of Public Works has been busy going around filling the city's many potholes, having received more than 1,500 requests to deal with them since January.
• County Considers Reducing Marijuana Fines: The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors scheduled part of its Thursday meeting to mull a resolution to reduce the fine for possessing 25 grams or less of marijuana to $1.
• Keeping The Light On: Milwaukee residents will soon be paying a new fee to help fund the upkeep of the city's street lights, with homeowners expected to pay around $40 a year.

"There is a lot of established research that shows usage of marijuana is equal across racial and ethnic groups, but what this shows here is a difference in whom this is enforced on.”

— Braden DuPont, a data analyst with Medical College of Wisconsin’s Institute for Health & Equity, talking about a report he co-authored on how the state's Black residents are 4.3 times more likely to be convicted for marijuana possession than their white counterparts.

SPORTS TALK: The Milwaukee Bucks have won eight games in a row. The team’s latest victory came Wednesday night, a 121-119 triumph over the Boston Celtics at home. The team had a 25-point lead at one point but had to hold off a late Boston rally.

Now 29-14, the Bucks will face the Celtics at home again Friday night and then host the New York Knicks on Saturday night.

WEATHER IN A WORD: Cloudy.

LET’S MAKE PLANS: Lumen Christi Catholic School will hold a drive-thru fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday. The event will feature beer-battered cod, baby back ribs and homemade apple cobbler. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the school's graduating class for 2021. The school is at 2750 W. Mequon Road. Preorders are encouraged and can be made at sazs.com/fishfry.

• Lake Lawn Resort at Delavan Lake is offering a special discount for teachers who are on spring break. From now through April, 11 teachers can receive 25 percent off their stay at the resort. First responders and service members are also eligible for a 15 percent discount.
• The Milwaukee Brewers will take to Miller Park American Family Field on April 1 for their season home opener against the Minnesota Twins. The team will allow fans into the stadium at a reduced capacity, and tailgating is prohibited.

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