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Apostle Island Booksellers' Theron O'Connor Pens Pointed Letter to the Editor of Wisconsin State Journal

3/30/2016

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In response to declining populations in over half of Wisconsin's counties last year, Theron O'Connor of Bayfield WI's Apostle Islands Booksellers penned the following letter to the editors of Wisconsin State Journal:
Editor
Wisconsin State Journal
1901 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI 53713
Madison, Wisconsin 

Dear Editor:

          Much as I appreciate and support Wisconsin Public Radio, I am categorically opposed to its policy of taking funds from and promoting the predatory business model of Amazon.com, Inc. That model has been catastrophic for local businesses and, as a consequence, ruinous to local communities especially in the rural parts of our state. While WPR boasts of its alignment with and support of such communities in Wisconsin its partnership with Amazon enables their demise.

          First the big-box stores drove commerce from our rural downtowns to the fringes of our communities. The profits accrued to distant corporate interests. Amazon is administering the coup de grace by driving commerce out of our communities entirely. Despite its enormous revenues Amazon has consistently operated at a loss. It has concentrated its energies and resources on destroying its competition in local communities by predatory pricing practices. Small businesses cannot absorb the losses incident to that kind of price war. They take the immediate hit, but the community takes the deeper, long-term hit. Not a dime of the sale stays in the local community. Not a job is created in the local community. No rent is paid. No services are employed. This is monopoly, not competition!

          Look, I understand the dynamics of disruptive capitalism as well as the next person. That does not mean that its supposed positive consequences should simply be endorsed and lived with. The economies of scale, efficiencies and perceived consumer benefits are only part of the equation. The collateral damage to our communities also needs to be considered, evaluated and responded to accordingly.  

          WPR claims that “strengthening Wisconsin's communities” is essential to its mission. To “strengthen” is to have agency and take an active stance. To take $20,000 from Amazon and to direct its listeners to the Amazon sales website is to actively “weaken” Wisconsin’s communities. I have been unable to persuade WPR of this contradiction. I would expect better of this otherwise worthy organization. 
                        
                        Sincerely,
                        Theron O’Conno
In Apostle Islands Booksellers most recent newsletter, which redistributed the letter to their customers, the bookstore also added the following statement:
Sometimes our friends can unwittingly be among our worst enemies. Wisconsin Public Radio is a great, long-term institution in our state. We understand their financial pressures as more and more “public” funds are withdrawn. But, the damage done to rural Wisconsin communities by its partnership with Amazon.com, Inc. is unacceptable. We ask that you support us in our effort to get their attention and revisit their mission of “strengthening Wisconsin’s communities.”
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2013 Voice of the Heartland Award winner Jim Harrison Dead at 78

3/30/2016

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At the 2013 Heartland Fall Forum, MIBA and GLIBA honored poet, novelist, essayist, food connessuir, and outdoorsman Jim Harrison with the first jointly-given "Voice of the Heartland Award." Harrison attended the trade show and conference's awards ceremony and spoke from his table about his relationship to the Midwest, where he grew up and where many of his novels are set. Harrison died at 78 years old on Sunday, March 27 2016.

Watch video captured by an audience member of Jim Harrison's Voice of the Heartland Award acceptance speech below.
Click the links below for more information about Jim Harrison's life and passing.
  • Author and friend of Harrison Philip Caputo reports Harrison's death as "a poet's death, with pen in hand" on facebook.
  • NY Times Obituary
  • NPR Obituary (with audio)
  • Yahoo! News' "Things to Know about Jim Harrison"
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New Owners for Once Upon A Crime

3/9/2016

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As reported by Minnesota Public Radion, Pat and Gary Frovarp have sold Once Upon a Crime Books in Minneapolis after 14 successful years. The couple is retiring. New owners Dennis Abraham, Meg Kelly-Abraham and their Daughter Denise plan to expand the store's online presence.

Read the full story from MPR here.

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Midwest Independent Booksellers Association
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