Front Page
COLMAN LANTERN BLOWS OUT
“Save the Yerkes” is a phrase invented to unite a small collection of groups and as many citizens as possible to “save” the Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay from extinction and even potential destruction. There is no question that, following the first attempt to shed itself of the Yerkes nearly ten years ago, the University of Chicago is still trying to sell it off and be rid of it. The last time they were above board about their intentions but suffered so much in the way of bad public reaction and relations that they withdrew that attempt. They are back, however, and much more wizened. This time they will be “forced” to sell because they spent six months advertising that they wanted all this public input and advice. What they want is money. The communities around the lake lack the funds, the personnel, and the wizened capability to run a major educational and fully functioning observatory. The University of Chicago knows that. All these groups of people around the lake and many individuals from all over have been gathered together to discover what might be done to prevent the sale and/or destruction of the observatory.
Unfortunately, that is nothing, just like the University of Chicago knows. Dianne Colman, wife of Mr. Colman, the most do nothing patrician snob who ran the Geneva Lake Conservancy right into the ground, has been put in charge of the volunteer effort. Hosanna in the highest. Here is the mission statement put out on the website for the Save Yerkes effort headed by Mrs. Colman:
“Welcome to the official Save Yerkes Observatory website: Mission Statement: #SAVEYERKES seeks a smooth, productive, and mutually beneficial transition of operations at Yerkes Observatory, in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, from the University of Chicago to the Observatory. We look forward to bringing together the university, staff, community, and all stakeholders by promoting positive feedback and stories through the #saveyerkes platform. Concerned with upholding the values of the observatory and maintaining its link to the surrounding community, we have taken to social media to uphold these principals and values throughout the transition process.”
What was Mrs. Colman’s first objective to accomplish this mission? Find something for the Yerkes to transition to? Nope. She spearheaded an effort to come up with a sticker. Save Yerkes.
Brilliant. The second objective to accomplish the mission? Come up with a “T” shirt. Why not a ridiculous bumper sticker like the fledgling failing Save Hillmoor operation came up with? That’ll work. But Mrs. Colman had one more arrow in her quiver. She had the arrow of silence and last week she hauled that arrow out and fired it (aimed by the University) straight into the heart of any effort to save the Yerkes. She agreed to a confidentiality agreement between herself and the university. What does that mean? That means the entire effort can quietly die in silence. This agreement is supposed to give Mrs. Colman more secret information in order to “negotiate” more effectively.
Negotiate what? The “transition” of the awful, cold and mean-spirited management of the University of Chicago into the good guys they want to be seen as when they dump the Yerkes for cash, which they’ve been going to do all along. Again. One would have thought that Mrs. Colman, who has to live around the lake, might have exercised more intellect and integrity in serving in the role of the Yerkes savior. She has to live among the very people who will be violated by the likely result of what’s going to happen in October. It is recommended that anyone who can, should buy the stickers and “T” shirts because those items are going to become very collectible items indeed, long after Yerkes is just a memory.
Your Yerkes piece is misinformed, inaccurate and mean-spirited, in the extreme.
Amazing how so many people see things differently.
The beauty of the Freedoms found in our Country.
Everyone can express their ideas.
Maybe you can point out the misinformation.
Based on your analysis and insight.
Wow. No author credit to this editorial?
How does this so-called news source survive, and how have we become so lucky to be infected by it?
Chalk it up to the staff.
Amazing how lucky so many residents are.
Thanks, David
I was so disheartened to read your front page article on the Observatory situation. I found the August 8 issue in a waste basket at my bank, as I was throwing my coffee cup away. I fished it out so I would have something to read as I waited to see my banker. I’m a little sorry I found it, and a little glad I did.
I’m sorry because I think you are spreading some real untruths about MS Coleman. In this age of Trump’s War on the Media- this article seemed to be just uninformed vitriol. My comment is: if you are compelled to spread vitriol- then at least present facts to base it on. Saving the Observatory means a lot to the community- and right now, at this precarious point in time, your little article was certainly not helpful. I have never met MS Coleman, but I loudly thank her for her efforts.
I’m a little glad that I found this article because it told me so much about your publication. These days- you never know what or who to believe! Like most people, I just want the unbiased truth.
We always appreciate the opinions of others. That is what makes the country so exciting.
We are curious, What is sponsorwisconsin.com? There does not seem to be a website with that name.
The Truth is an elusive butterfly, especially when most who seek it have already made up their minds
to an alternative reality.