The coronavirus pandemic has changed our everyday life, but it doesn't need to change who we are. So, in addition to our ongoing coverage of the coronavirus, OnMilwaukee will continue to report on cool, fun, inspiring and strange stories from our city and beyond. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay informed and stay joyful. We're all in this together. #InThisTogetherMKE
"You know that saying, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?’ That’s exactly what we’re sharing," said Anne Zizzo, founder and chief executive officer of Zizzo Group, which has launched the Share Lemonade campaign with Fox6.
The ShareLemonade.com web site, Zizzo says, aims to share "good news" stories from around the Milwaukee area during the coronavirus outbreak and Safer at Home sheltering period.
"Our community needed a place to come together and share good news and positive stories," she adds.
"We hope ShareLemonade.com will bring people happiness by sharing their good stories about simple acts that make their days better and reminding us that we’re all human, and we’re in this together."
The site launched on Monday and has two stories posted so far, one each from Summerfest and the Milwaukee Brewers.
But you don’t have to be a news organization to share a story. Head to the web site and there’s a form you can fill out to share your stories of goodwill in the face of difficult times.
On Friday, local businesses will take part in a "Lemonade Light Up" to help spread the word.
Area buildings and landmarks will be bathed in lemonade yellow light to celebrate optimism and positivity and will remain lit until dawn on Monday.
Among the participating sites, so far, are the U.S. Bank Center, Fiserv Forum, 833 East Michigan, Miller Park, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Gas Light Building, Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and Summerfest's digital boards at its entrance gates.
"We’re grateful that we could provide this gift to our community that will remind ourselves of all the good we encounter every day," says Zizzo.
OnMilwaukee.com is a media partner in ShareLemonade.com.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
