WHS Music Students Perform at Whitewater Middle School

Students from Whitewater High School’s Music Masters Ensemble and Jazz Band celebrated Jazz Appreciation month with a performance for Whitewater Middle School’s music students on April 12th.  Each group performed three pieces that represent the music they have been studying this semester. Congratulations on a fine performance! 

Editor’s note: The above photos and copy were provided by Karen Tordera.

Storm Sewer Improvement Causes Walworth Ave. Closure This Thurs. & Much of May

It is anticipated the Walworth Avenue Storm Sewer and Drainageway Project will begin on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The
project entails replacing storm sewer inlets and storm sewer pipe in Walworth Avenue near the properties of 1011 and
1027 Walworth Avenue, replacing the storm sewer pipe that runs south from Walworth Avenue, and reshaping the open
drainageway.

Walworth Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Prince Street and Elizabeth Street for a day, Thursday, April 25,
2024, starting at 7:00 a.m. to remove terrace trees. It is anticipated to be closed again starting around May 9, 2024, until the project is completed, tentatively scheduled for May 24, 2024.

If you have any questions please contact Brad Marquardt, Director of Public Works.
Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
(262) 473-2239
Bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov

Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the city Department of Public Works.

UW-W Hosting Mike Domitrz in Sexual Assault Prevention Event, Can I Kiss You, on Thurs.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Department of University Health and Counseling Services will host “Can I Kiss You?”, a presentation by WHS/UW-W alum Mike Domitrz, this Thursday, April 25, at 5 p.m. at Summers Auditorium in the University Center on campus.

Domitrz, an author and award-winning speaker, will present a high energy, inclusive program for providing how-to skills for teaching consent, respect in relationships, bystander intervention, and addressing sexual assault.

Admission to the event is free. Food, free t-shirts, and giveaways will be on hand.

Domitrz, who founded The Center for Respect, works closely with students, parents, and educators across the country to produce national initiatives resulting in revolutionary change in America’s approach to dating, respect, and intimacy.

Domitrz served as UW-Whitewater’s May 2023 commencement speaker.

Obituary: Patricia (Pat) S. Johnson, 73

Patricia (Pat) S. Johnson (Welter) passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 21, 2024 with her loving family by her side.

Pat was born on March 24, 1951 in Edgerton, WI., the daughter of Stephen and Florence (Koscyczarek) Welter.

Pat attended Whitewater High School graduating in 1969.  She attended UW-Whitewater.

Pat worked at Schweiger Industries in Jefferson, WI, where she met her first husband Frank Heth.  They had two sons Shane and Todd.

 In 1990 she married Maynard (Skip) Johnson.  They moved to Atlanta, Georgia where Pat was employed by Wal-Mart.  After a number of years in Georgia they returned to Wisconsin to be closer to her sons and grandson and family.  Upon returning to Wisconsin they moved to Stoughton where Pat continued her employment with Wal-Mart in the Human Resources Department.  Pat worked for Wal-Mart for 20 years. 

While in Georgia Pat and Skip enjoyed many wonderful trips into the Georgia mountains.

Pat loved the outdoors; you could always find her in her garden planting flowers, evergreen trees, and listening to the birds.  She found peacefulness and beauty creating new flower beds with stones forming hearts which were her passion; her home was adorned with many hearts.

Pat was a faithful member of Covenant Lutheran Church. She served on the Hospitality committee, Funeral coordinator and volunteered at St. Mark’s church in Madison serving meals to anyone who needed one.  Pat always made sure everyone’s needs were met; even when she could no longer be in the kitchen, she always made sure her family and friends were welcomed.

Pat is survived by her husband Maynard (Skip), Sons Shane (Tracy) Heth, Cambridge, WI., Grandson Max Heth, son Todd Heth, Fitchburg, WI.  Sisters: Stephanie Beran, Fort Atkinson, WI., Barbara Agnew, Green Bay, WI., and Mary Perkins, Shell Lake, WI.  Brother: Marty Welter, Green Bay, WI.

Niece Cindy (Brandon) Pietruszynski, Stoughton, WI.  Nephews: Jay (Sami) Perkins, Hammond, WI., Jon (Nikki) Perkins, Shell Lake, WI.,  Michael (Tiffany) Agnew, Green Bay, WI., and Christopher Agnew, Plymouth, WI.

Great nieces and nephews: Oliver, Samuel and Milo Pietruszynski, Brayden and Olivia Perkins, Ethan, Aleya and Ruby Agnew, Sean and Delaney Agnew.  Many other family and friends and Pat’s faithful companion Dixie.

Preceding her in death were her parents Stephen and Florence Welter.  Maternal and paternal grandparents.

Funeral services will held on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Visitation at 10 a.m. with service at 11 a.m., at Covenant Lutheran Church 1525 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton, WI.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Covenant Lutheran Church, the Children’s Program at Covenant or Rainbow Hospice.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to Rainbow Hospice Care, especially Jody, Lisa, Kendra, Debra, Karen and Nicole.  Pastor Wendy for her support, visits and prayers, to Covenant Lutheran Church, family and friends for the outpouring of love, support and prayers Pat received on this difficult journey.

Cress Funeral Home assisted.

WHS National Honor Society Spring Silent Auction 2024


The National Honor Society at Whitewater High School will be offering a variety of items and services in their Spring Silent Auction this year.  Please review the projects by using the link below and indicate if you are interested in a project and the price you would like to offer.  The highest bids will win the projects.

The auction will be available online until Friday, April 26th at 3:30 pm.  Members will contact you the week of May 1st to make arrangements for project completion.  

Thank you so much for participating!  

The projects that are offered, together with the current bids, may be viewed on this spreadsheet:

Please use this form to place a bid on your favorite projects:

BID ON A PROJECT FORM

Fourth Victim of Three Vehicle Crash Identified

The Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department has identified Patricia A. Seufzer, 59, of Whitewater as being the fourth person who died following a motor vehicle crash on April 13. The crash occurred at the intersection of US Hwy 12 and E County Road in the town of Lima.

Ms. Seufzer was pronounced deceased at a local hospital on April 18, 2024. Preliminary results confirm that Ms. Seufzer died from injuries sustained in the crash. Additional testing is underway at this time.

This incident remains under investigation by the Rock County Sheriff’s Department and the Medical Examiner’s Department.

Editor’s note: Previous posts on the Banner related to this crash:
https://whitewaterbanner.com/victims-of-saturday-motor-vehicle-crash-identified/
https://whitewaterbanner.com/three-killed-in-crash-on-hwy-12/

The Library Presents Reflect & Realign Guided Journaling

Guided Journaling Workshop at the Library

Community members are invited to a free guided journaling workshop led by local writer Katy Daixon Wimer. Enjoy reflective journaling prompts and inspiring, lively conversation. Feel free to bring your own journal or a small journal will be provided. The event will be held at the Irvin L Young Memorial Library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m.

This program is for adults. Teens are welcome with a participating adult. Registration is requested. Visit whitewaterlibrary.org and click on “Events – Registration Forms” to register in advance. You may also email sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262-458-2782 to register, or with any questions. 

Happy Passover to Everyone Who Celebrates

[From myjewishlearning.com] The first Passover seder is on the evening of Monday, April 22nd, and the second Passover seder takes place on the evening of Tuesday, April 23rd. Passover 2024 begins at sundown on Monday, April 22nd and ends the evening of Tuesday, April 30th for most Jews in diaspora. Jews in the land of Israel and some Reform Jews in diaspora will end Passover on the evening of Monday, April 29th.

(From Wikipedia) Passover, also called Pesach or Pesakh (/ˈpɛsɑːx, ˈpeɪ-/;[2] Hebrew: פֶּסַח‎ Pesaḥ) is a ritual meal, the Pesach seder, that occurs the night of the paschal full moon after the 14th of Nisan, eve of the 15th, telling the story of the exodus, and remembering how the angel of death “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague on Egypt. It begins Feast of Unleavened Bread that continues through the 22nd of Nisan, and is one of three pilgrimage festivals in which all Jewish males living in the land of Israel are obliged. On the 16th of Nisan, jews begin the counting of the omer, the memorial offering of the firstfruits of the barley harvest. The counting continues for seven weeks until the Feast of Shavuot, also known as Pentecost.

When the Temple in Jerusalem stood, the paschal lamb was offered and eaten on Passover eve, while the wave offering of barley was offered on the second day of the festival. Nowadays, in addition to the biblical prohibition of owning leavened foods for the duration of the holiday, the Passover seder is one of the most widely observed rituals in Judaism. In the Diaspora the unleavened bread is celebrated for 8 days, based on the concept of yom tov sheni shel galuyot.

Public Invited to Housing Roundtable

The Community Development Authority of the City of Whitewater is excited to announce the upcoming Housing Roundtable, slated to take place on Thursday, April 25, 2024. This pivotal event aims to foster collaboration among City officials, staff, housing experts, developers, real estate brokers, bankers, members of the building trades, and municipal officials from neighboring communities. Together, these stakeholders will explore strategies to enhance the affordability of market rate housing for our vital workforce.

The Housing Roundtable offers an open forum for dialogue and brainstorming, uniting public and private sectors to address the pressing issue of housing affordability. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the event seeks to identify innovative solutions that can positively impact our community.

Thursday, April 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Light refreshments available from 8:30 a.m.)
Whitewater University Innovation Center 1221 Innovation Drive (Located in Whitewater’s Business/Tech Park)

All members of the public are encouraged to attend and contribute their insights to this critical conversation about housing affordability in Whitewater and beyond.

This Week’s City & School Board Meetings

Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 5:30 – CLOSED SESSION
(Prior to closed session will be Election of School Board Officers: President, Vice President, Clerk, and Treasurer (Action Items) B. Election of School Board Secretary (Action Item) C. Establish Date and Time of Annual Budget Hearing (Action Item) D. 2024-25 School Board Assignments and Committee Appointments)

Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street
———————————————–
5:30 p.m. via Zoom Online
Agenda: discuss and consider a certified staff individual 2024-2025 contract FTE revision, and discuss and consider School Board confidentiality due to employee issues.
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88371283442?pwd=VXRwQ29LdWs2U1RFK3pKbzFmbU5TUT09
– Passcode: 037916
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– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 883 7128 3442
– Passcode: 037916
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Closed Session
———————————————–
7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online – OPEN SESSION
Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes 2024-25 Staffing and Programming Recommendations.
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86989782320?pwd=empnSHpLQjYvajJkY1hqTW5wK3BEdz09
– Passcode: 736330
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 869 8978 2320
– Passcode: 736330

City of Whitewater Finance Committee Meeting Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater St
In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88210822123?pwd=GaqyBaG9lLahAxtVylS1hl3sYdCcTA._sO5Rd_cPk-9k9kM Passcode: 412904
Or Telephone:
Dial
+1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 882 1082 2123
Passcode: 412904

City of Whitewater Community Development Authority – Housing Roundtable – Thursday @ 9:00 a.m.
This notice is given to inform the Public that the Community Development Authority of the City of Whitewater is hosting a Housing Roundtable on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The intent of the event is to create a forum that brings City officials and staff together with experts on housing, developers, real estate brokers, bankers, members of the building trades, and municipal officials
from surrounding communities to collaborate with public/private stakeholders to make market rate housing more affordable for our workforce. The event is open to the public.
WHEN: Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Light refreshments will be available prior to the event beginning at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Whitewater University Innovation Center
1221 Innovation Drive (Located in Whitewater’s Business/Tech Park)
A quorum of the Common Council, the Community Development Authority and/or the Plan & Architectural Review Commission may be present. This notice is given to inform the public that no formal action will be taken.

City of Whitewater Urban Forestry CommissionFriday @ 10:30 a.m.
The agenda has not been posted as of 4/21/24.