Lee Matz, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Gilligan’s Island: The disturbing themes I noticed while binge watching the classic sitcom during the pandemic

Posted by Lee Matz | Feb 10, 2022

“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip. That started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship.” Those lyrics began the opening song of the beloved sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.” Broadcasting for three seasons from 1964 to 1967, the series followed the adventures of seven castaways trying to survive a shipwreck on an uncharted Pacific island. It would be well over a decade later that I was exposed to the series, when it was rebroadcast in the early days of syndication on WTCG in Atlanta – the little Ted Turner UHF station...

How watching Korean food videos can be a soothing vacation as the pandemic drags on in Milwaukee

Posted by Lee Matz | Jan 31, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed many residents of Milwaukee the time to improve their cooking skills, either to preserve their sanity during isolation or from simple necessity. One thing I never expected was that watching food preparation would become part of my entertainment and exercise routine. I am not a foodie, but I really do like food. And I have always loved Korean dishes, particularly kimchi. I could eat those pickled vegetables directly out of the ceramic pot after fermenting. But for an actual meal, I have enjoyed bibimbap and bulgogi for most of my life. That appreciation came...

Tom Barrett: A photographic retrospective of his time as Milwaukee’s Mayor

Posted by Lee Matz | Dec 17, 2021 |

When Tom Barrett became Mayor of Milwaukee I was still living overseas. I would take my first picture of him at the Lebowski Fest in August 2013. I photographed him on occasion over the following years, and by 2016 it would be fair to say that I saw the Mayor at an event at least a twice a week.

A tour with TSA: Detecting guns and enforcing COVID protocols at Mitchell Airport before Thanksgiving

Posted by Lee Matz | Nov 22, 2021 |

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) has seen a rise in passengers trying to bring a gun past security checkpoints. These incidents have been stopped during the routine X-ray screening of carry-on luggage. Some firearms were detected with loaded rounds of ammunition.

Legacy of Faith: Sixth generation from Brumder Family still attends church founded by George and Henriette

Posted by Lee Matz | Nov 19, 2021 |

Members of the Brumder Family at Grace Lutheran Church from left to right: E.J. Brumder, Robo Brumder, Valerie Patricia Brumder, Matson Brumder Holbrook, Sarah Holbrook Slaughter, and Ada Slaughter. As thousands of German immigrants came to Milwaukee in the middle of the 19th Century, Grace Lutheran Church was built on the corner of Broadway and Juneau Avenue. Its congregation has worshiped there ever since the dedication of the original building in 1851. And descendants from one of the founding families still call it their place of worship today. At the age of 18, George Brumder emigrated to Wisconsin in...

David Crowley: A Day in Photos during the Pandemic with the County Executive

Posted by Lee Matz | Sep 17, 2021 |

With a love of community and lifelong determination for helping people, David Crowley is part of a new generation of empowered political leaders that answered the call of making Milwaukee County a more equitable place to live. As the first African American individual elected as Milwaukee County Executive, Crowley took on the responsibility just as the world began shutting down from the pandemic. It was a year of unprecedented uncertainties that required adapting to many new realities, all while striving to fulfill social services for County residents. Into the second year of his term in office and with ongoing...