So this is the 15th anniversary for on Milwaukee.com and what follows may well be described as ass-kissing.

Those who know me, however, will know for sure that not only have I never kissed ass I am not about to start now.

I would like to explain how I became connected to OnMilwaukee.com because I think it sheds some light on their 15-year journey.

I was at home on a Sunday night several years ago and I was watching Mike Gousha’s talk show on channel 4. The guest was someone named Jeff Sherman and he was talking about OnMilwaukee.com in a specific sense, but in a larger sense he was talking about the city of Milwaukee.

I listened to him talk and was very impressed with the grasp that he had of both the potential and the issues facing our city. I wrote him a letter. In the letter I said that hearing him talk gave me confidence that the next generation of leaders in our city were well-equipped to handle both the challenges of problem-solving and the issues of growing the city into the kind of place we all wanted it to be

I said that my generation had its chance and we had wielded the reins of power for what we believe to be the good of everyone who lived in the city. I added that I felt comforted that his generation was now taking control.

Well, Sherman answered my letter and we met for coffee and talked about his burgeoning role in the leadership of our city. He was familiar with my work as a journalist and suggested that I meet with Andy Tarnoff his partner in founding OnMilwaukee.com and the publisher of the publication.

We talked at length about the possibilities that someone with my historical perspective might add something to the panorama of OnMilwaukee.com.

I will remember always what he said during that meeting.

"We want to write about everything Milwaukee, "he said. "The good stuff the fun stuff but we are also not afraid of the warts and the problems."

And thus began our association. I write about sports. I write about our city. And I review plays.

I have done lots of journalism in my life. Print, radio and TV. And I can say without fear of any kind of contradiction that I have never been quite so proud as I am to be part of OnMilwaukee.com.

I have not been here for the entire first 15 years. But maybe, if I’m lucky, I will be here for the next 15.

All of the people who are part of this endeavor should be very proud of what they have created. It is meaningful. It is important. And it is something of importance to all of us who live in the city.