25 MUST-HAVES FOR THE AMATEUR ADULT
BAND-AIDS, BATTERIES, AND OTHER STUFF YOU’LL KICK YOURSELF FOR FORGETTING
WORDS BY LAUREN FISHER
When you move into your first place, or even your second place, you’re in for 99 trips to the store. After that 99th trip, you’ll pop a DiGiorno into the oven, drag your Craigslist mattress into the coziest corner of whatever room your friends dumped it in, and pop on some Netflix. The oven will beep; the pizza’s done. So you pull it out and head for the boxes where your kitchen tools are packed, panic rising within you as you discover your options for cutting said pizza are a steak knife and a plastic fork. You set to work sawing the pizza into the best triangles you can manage with your makeshift pizza cutter, mentally scheduling your 100th trip to the store for the next morning. It’s better to have and not need than it is to need and not have. So here’s a handy list of household items that are easy to forget but hard to live without, compiled by Volume One staffers who have lived through the tragedy.
1. WINDSHIELD SCRAPER
If you’ve got to be on the road NOW but your beater’s heater isn’t a winner, you’re gonna want to make sure you’ve got a scraper/brush combo tucked in the trunk.
2. SCREWDRIVER
This is one tool you’ll need again and again to open battery compartments, hang pictures – the list goes on. And, in a pinch, turn that Phillips head around and use it as a (very) makeshift hammer.
3. NAIL CLIPPERS
There’s nothing like a hangnail to make you wish you had a pair of fingernail clippers handy. Try to keep them in a designated spot, because these will disappear again before you realize.
4. DRAIN CLEANER
Clogs happen. Keep some drain cleaner on hand so that if your sink won’t drain, you can save yourself a trip to the store.
5. DUSTPAN
Inexpensive, but easy to overlook. When you’ve swept the kitchen for the first time in forever, the last thing you’ll want to realize is that you’ve got no way to pick up the pile.
6. SCISSORS
A sharp, multi-purpose scissors will help you cut out the BS and take you far in life.
7. WINTER BOOTS
I know, I know: 99 percent of the time your sneakers will get you through the day, even after a fresh snow. But invest in a pair of sturdy, water-resistant snow boots and you’ll thank yourself when the need does arise.
8. PLUNGER/TOILET BRUSH
I kid you not: My brother texted me once asking to borrow my plunger. The answer is no, and ew! When you need either of these items, you REALLY need them, so just err on the side of caution and keep them handy.
9. BOX FAN
I protested, but the staff insisted that a box fan is a must-have household item. Run one to keep cool in the summer or to channel noxious fumes or cooking smoke.
10. RUBBER GLOVES
For whatever you need rubber gloves for.
11. BAND-AIDS
Even if you’ve mustered up the cash for a first aid kit, the first thing you’ll run out of is Band-Aids. Make sure to keep a box of assorted adhesive bandages somewhere you’ll remember to swiftly deal with cuts and scrapes.
12. FLASHLIGHT
Your phone might do in an absolute pinch, but there’s nothing like a good ol’ fashioned flashlight to aid your eyes during a power outage, outside at night, or when you’re doing repairs in a tight space.
VolumeOne.org March 21, 2018 32
HOW TO ADULT
ICE IS NO MATCH FOR ONE OF THESE GUYS
FLASHLIGHT, EVER HEARD OF IT?
13. BATTERIES
Batteries are going to be the last thing on your mind when you buy a nifty new gadget, and nothing has a worse taste than the frustration of realizing the remote control for your new media player or bubble machine won’t work without some AAs. Keep an assortment handy so you don’t have to go out again.
14. DUCT TAPE
Duh.
15. LINT ROLLER
Or you can make due by making a loop of duct tape and rolling it against your clothes.
16. OVEN MITT
Your guests won’t be impressed if you’re trying to fashion heat protection out of your dishrags when the casserole’s done.
17. PIZZA CUTTER
Because HOW CAN YOU EAT A PIZZA THAT’S NOT SLICED? (If you’re desparate, see #6 – Scissors)
18. VACUUM
Avoiding this purchase will lead to nothing but misery, particularly if you have carpet or rugs to maintain.
19. BUCKET
The Volume One staff highly recommends you own a bucket. Or go Next Level™ by owning two. In the words of James, “If you need to bucket, and you don’t have a bucket, you’re gonna have a hard time.” And whatever you need the bucket for, a cereal bowl just won’t make the cut. Uses include: mopping, swabbing, gathering, carrying, retching, and so much more!
20. LIGHTER/MATCHES
Whether you need to start a campfire, light a candle to set the mood, or just burn random papers in your kitchen sink with the spray nozzle handy (admit it!), having a fire-starter of some sort is a must.
21. ICE CUBE TRAY
Sometimes you’ll get lucky and someone will leave theirs in the fridge you inherit. But chances are you’ll need ice at some point.
22. JUMPER CABLES
Having jumper cables can be the difference between a good Samaritan stopping to check on you and a good Samaritan actually getting your car going again. Take it from someone who’s driven a beater with a bad battery: Keep a pair of jumper cables in your car, and know how to use them.
23. HANGERS
Now this one’s tricky. Get yourself some hangers to manage your closet. But don’t get too many hangers. They’ll either breed or disappear when you’re not paying attention, leaving you hangerless when you get a new jacket or wading through a mountain of brittle plastic when you need to grab something different.
24. GARBAGE CAN
Try to grab one of these before your first trip to your new place. Trash cans are so ingrained into our routine we seldom think of them. Planning ahead and having a place to put moving trash will be a load off your shoulders.
25. CAN OPENER
Please, before you try stabbing your canned veggies open with a steak knife, just buy a can opener. We don’t want you to have to USE the Band-Aids.
VolumeOne.org March 21, 2018 33 HOW TO ADULT
JUMPER CABLES COMING IN CLUTCH
CONJURE UP SOME FLAMES WITH THESE THINGS
INTRO TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FACTOIDS A FUN WAY TO SAY ‘FACTS’
• Chippewa Valley Population: 210,113
• 23,996 Undergrads/Trades Students @ UWEC, UW-Stout, CVTC
• 21,996 people ages 20-24 in Chippewa Valley
• About one in ten people in the Chippewa Valley are between the ages of 20-24, according to 2015 census estimates.
• 1/30 of Eau Claire, Menomonie, and Chippewa Falls city council representatives are in that age group.
• Alderman/Alderperson - A member of a governing body elected by residents of a district within a city or village to represent that district
• At-large - A member of a governing body elected by all residents of a city or village
• Administrative home rule authority - the authority to organize administrative structures as provided for by state statutes.
• Constitutional home rule authority - the authority to determine local affairs and governance through a charter ordinance. Constitutional home-rule authority is only limited by the Wisconsin Constitution and statewide statutes.
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE CHIPPEWA VALLEY YOUNG ADULTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
People of all ages feel as though it is difficult or impossible to make change on a state or federal level But since Kate Beaton was elected as the youngest member of the Eau Claire city council at 24 in 2016, she has found the opposite is true of working in local government. Beaton was elected to the Eau Claire City Council in 2016, not long after she graduated from UW-Eau Claire. Prior to her election, she was involved in her community as an activist, advocating for university funding and improving food access. In her two
years on the Council, she has seen young people make a big impact on local governance.
Just this month, the response of UW-Eau Claire students to proposed amendments to Eau Claire’s Public Good Order ordinance at a public hearing resulted in the Council deciding to postpone action. “If young people hadn’t come out, we would have an ordinance that didn’t work for everybody,” Beaton said.
Beaton believes that the decisions being made in local government, especially on city council, directly affect the lives of community members, and that young people lend important perspective to the decision making-process. Specifically, she believes young people are invested in the future. “Young people have a lot of life left to live,” she said. “In 2050 I’ll be 58 years old, and I’ll still have a lot of life to live after that.”
“Local ordinances and initiatives address many problems and advance ideas about how to create the kind of city we all want to live in.” Eau Claire City Council President Kerry Kincaid said. She advises people to get involved as early as high school by studying U.S. government and participating in student governance throughout their education.
Randy Knaack, mayor of Menomonie, recommends joining local boards and clubs. He believes that getting involved will help grow and sustain the Chippewa Valley community. Knaack considers his first foray into local governance, through the school board, an eye-opening experience.
“Instead of looking from the outside in, look from the inside out, and things always look better,” he said.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 101
LET’S LEARN SOME STUFF TOGETHER
COUNTIES
Wisconsin is divided into 72 counties, which each have administrative home rule authority. This means they are able to decide how to organize and consolidate their administrative departments only as allowed or mandated by state statute or the constitution.
Counties administer state programs such as health and wellness programs, the court system, highway maintenance, and more.
County government is made up by a board of supervisors who are elected in even-numbered years for two-year terms. The board members elect a county board chair who is responsible for running meetings, appointing committee members, and serving as a spokesperson for the board.
The County Board adopts laws, (ordinances) for the county, and adopts resolutions that state the county’s stance on issues including state legislation.
TOWNS
Towns are areas not included within the boundaries of Cities or Villages. They are subject to a system of government determined by state legislature, applied as uniformly as is practicable. Towns only have the powers delegated to them by state statute. These powers include provision of law enforcement, fire protection, and roads, as well as the levy of taxes.
All eligible voters in a town may participate in town meetings in a form of direct democracy. Town meetings have authority over issues specified by state statute, including town property taxes.
An elected town board is made up of a chairperson and 2-4 supervisors, although some towns also elect for other positions including clerk, treasurer, and constable. The town board is responsible for day-to-day administration of the town.
CITIES/VILLAGES
Cities and villages have constitutional home rule authority, which means they are able to determine local affairs and governance through a charter ordinance. These ordinances can be created and implemented without specific statutory provision, but are subject to the Wisconsin Constitution and statewide legislation.
Cities • Cities may operate under a mayor-council structure or a council-manager structure. The mayorcouncil structure consists of an elected council and mayor. The Mayor serves as the chief executive of the city. The Administrative duties are spread among elected and appointed officials. The council-manager structure involves a council of elected officials. The council is responsible for adopting ordinances and resolutions. The council appoints a manager who is responsible for managing city operations.
Villages • Villages may operate under a presidentvillage board structure or a village board-manager structure. The village-board structure is made up of a board of trustees and president who are elected at-large. The board is responsible for adopting ordinances and resolutions. The village board-manager structure involves a board of elected members as well, which then appoints a manager to implement policy and administration.
LOCAL STRUCTURES
Eau Claire uses a council-manager structure of governance. The city council is made up of 11 members: five aldermen, and five members and a president elected by the city at-large. The council appoints a city manager, who administers the daily operations of the government.
Menomonie is governed by a council-mayor system. Eleven aldermen represent 11 districts, and a mayor is elected by all voters. A president is also selected through an election among the council. The administrative duties of Menomonie are carried out by an appointed city administrator.
Chippewa Falls also uses a council-mayor system. The council is made up of seven aldermen and a mayor who is elected at-large. The administrative duties of Chippewa Falls are divided among the council and appointed officials.
VolumeOne.org March 21, 2018 34 HOW TO ADULT
• • •
• • •
GET YOUR KNOWLEDGE UP WITH SOME BASIC INS AND OUTS
WORDS BY LAUREN FISHER / PHOTO BY NICK MEYER
THIS IS EAU CLAIRE CITY HALL ... SEE? WE’RE LEARNING ALREADY!
VolumeOne.org March 21, 2018 35
