Living in Wisconsin allows us to experience all seasons, including the quiet snowy winter. Snowflakes cover the grass and turn into hills for our children to sled down and enjoy life. Warm cups of tea become our go-to; we feel warm and cozy with thick socks. Winter is Mother Patchas’ way to rest and recover, bringing us spring with an abundance of flowers and warm breezes that kiss our cheeks.

In 1968, Mayor Henry Maier called the Milwaukee River “an almost dead artery.” A year later, in Cleveland, the Cuyahoga River, fouled by industrial pollution, caught fire. Even in our nation’s capital, the Potomac River was so dangerous, falling in required a tetanus shot.