Ktown Connects

While growing up on what was Kenosha’s west side on Roosevelt Road, a young Maria Zarletti established a strong work ethic with her first job at a nearby popcorn wagon and later at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen a few blocks from her home. She also developed an interest in personal care and nurturing, but nursing did not appeal to her. In 1998, she launched her Equinox massage therapy at the Kemper Center. After two successful years, she la...

Growing up in Southern Illinois, Lacie Dobyns began to have an interest in dentistry. Her path took her around the world as a model for Model Mayhem and Suicide Girls, a temporary career which would fund her schooling to become a registered dental hygienist.  

From her days as a canvas on season 4 of Spike TV’s “Ink Master,” to today running the Seal-A-Smile program, which helps Kenosha kids learn more about dental health, we had a ...

Melissa, Jayna, and Kimberly met while attending UW-Parkside and discovered that they shared a love for music. After evenings spent together watching Disney musicals and drinking whiskey, these talented ladies began to harmonize both their voices and their friendship. They began to take the stage at open mics at Sazzy B’s and on the UW-P campus, leading to the formation of their alt-folk rock band Violet Wilder. They perform in man...

It took Chet Griffith a few years after moving to Kenosha to finally explore the local art scene, and when he finally did, it rekindled the love of art that had lay dormant. He picked up his pencils again and became a member of Lemon Street Gallery and ArtSpace. A few years later, his skills at framing helped him launch his own art supply and framing store – ArtWorks. Today, ArtWorks has moved to its current location at 4513 Sherid...

While in Colorado, Brit Windel met his wife Stacie and shortly after, Brit fell in love with Stacie’s hometown of Kenosha. The couple came to town in 2012 and two years later, they launched their DayBreak Church inside Bullen Middle School. In 2014, they got their brick-and-mortar location in Downtown Kenosha at 5631 Sixth Avenue. Their service is every Sunday at 10am.  See more at ourdaybreak.church

Brit is also an advocate for hel...

Crank it up to 11, because we are going to rock it with Ronny Valeo! We got the one and only Kenosha music legend to come out of hiding and sit down and talk about his life.... 

From his first guitar, to his factory job, to a certain thrash frontman breaking down in tears, Ronny Valeo recalls his life as the guitarist for alternative metal band Screamer and industrial metal band The Electric Hellfire Club, as well as ownin...

When Frank Parise was in third grade, his teacher asked him to read the classic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” and he became enraptured with the character of Atticus Finch. When most kids wanted to grow up and become sports athletes or rock stars, Parise wanted to be a lawyer. It was a tough road, but he did it, and by happenstance, he was brought back to his hometown of Kenosha to practice law. Today, he leads The Law Offices of F...

Growing up just south of Kenosha in Gurnee, Aaron Hunzinger was a tinkerer – he had a fascination with taking things apart and seeing what made them work. Also a young subscriber of Mini-Truckin magazine, he developed a love for cars at a young age. 

Evanston Awning Company, has been going strong for five generations. How does an awning company stay relevant in a world of air-conditioning? They create awnings for numerous films and ...

The Know Your Vote - Kenosha Mayoral Forum 2024 was held on Sunday, February 4th at the Rhode Center for the Arts in Downtown Kenosha 

Moderated by Pete Serzant of WLIP AM1050 
Timekeeper:  Jenna Zeihen 

This podcast was taken from a video produced by Kenosha Community Media and directed by Jason Rimkus 

Theme song, “Kenosha My Hometown”  performed by Dropping Daisies,  written by James “Red” McLeod 

Special thanks to: 

Quinn Smith ...

Today, Jenny Ulbricht is a proud mother, wife, and owner/operator of East View Coffee, but she has had a wild side! We sit down and talk about her travels around the world and how her path led her to Kenosha - the land of her ancestors! 

East View Coffee Company is definitely a place to enjoy a tasty beverage, but it is also a coffee company! Now located in their new brick and mortar location at 716 58th St, they offer freshly roast...

She’s so much more than just another voice! We sit down and learn more about Kenosha’s very own BETSY ADE! Betsy is the lead singer of local rock group Betsy Ade and the Well-Known Strangers. Check them out on their website by clicking HERE! 

This episode was recorded on January 15, 2024 at the A+ Mobility Recording Studio – home of Ktown Connects! 

Casey Family Options Funerals & Cremations, 3016 75th St 

About Time Moving System...

As a young kid growing up on the northside of Kenosha, Alex Kudrna was already a producer – directing the neighbor kids on his backyard stage. He has grown up with a love for Kenosha and in 2016 purchased the Orpheum building in Downtown Kenosha – his goal is to bring Hollywood to Wisconsin and Kenosha via film industry tax incentives! 

Alex has launched the O-Coworking Space in the Orpheum building and, with the help of producer Ke...

“Kenosha Joe” Geiger has done so much in his life, it’s difficult to talk about it all! Joe started his own lawn care business just out of high school and is now in the port-a-potty business as owner of Jackpot Rentals. If you get out to any of the great local Kenosha events – you have most likely used one of his portable restrooms. We get all the dirt on Joe’s life and how he developed his vision into one of Kenosha’s most success...

Growing up on the south side of Kenosha, Stacy Juga had dreams of one day becoming a veterinarian, but at the same time, she began to develop an appreciation of the older items she would find around her grandparents' house. As a military wife, Stacy spent many years overseas before returning to her hometown and now is now the owner/operator of one of Kenosha’s greatest treasure shops – Vintage Underground.  

Vintage Underground...

From a young age growing up sweeping floors in an inner-city Kenosha shoe store, Nick and Tony Chiappetta learned that their family business was a special thing. These brothers are now fourth-generation operators of Chiappetta Shoes, located at their beautiful new store at 4820 75th Street. Chiappetta Shoes offer an old-school, sit-and-fit, customer-focused experience you will not find anywhere else! In addition to footwear, they a...

Put on your Guess jeans and your Air Jordans, grab your walkman and head down to Blast From the Past Pizza, located in the Metra train station at 5414 13th Ave, use the parking lot to the north. Today we connect with Rob and Crystal Hayes, who first opened their business in Kenosha County before moving to their current location this year.  

Blast From the Past Pizza offers up great wings, delicious specialty cocktails, sandwiches, T...

If you recall our episode with Alvin Owens (ep.82, May 2022), you will remember the national field trips Owens organized for Bullen students to learn more about their own heritage and the history of our nation. Well, one of those kids Owens mentored at a young age has branched out to become a mentor of his own! 

DeShaun Foster, a lifelong Kenosha native, was thinking about ways to get involved in the community and got the idea of op...

While growing up in Kenosha, twin sisters Brenda and Becky talked about owning a business together someday. After visiting a paint-your-own pottery studio in Michigan, Brenda brought the idea back home and her sister was on board 100%.  

Their own paint-your-own pottery studio, Alpaca Art, which has continued to grow, and is now located at 4326 Seventh Ave. Alpaca Art is a great spot for people of all ages to paint your own beautifu...

Since he was a kid trying to stay awake listening to the radio for 24 hours straight, Pete Serzant had a dream of becoming a radio personality. Straight out of high school, he began taking steps to achieve his dream and now has the morning drive segment at AM1050 WLIP - Kenosha's premier local radio station.
We chat it up with Pete about growing up in Kenosha, working his way up the ladder at WLIP, and try to get some dir...