Marjorie Stoneman

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Wild Ones Kettle Moraine Chapter.

While Wisconsin’s Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) leads the way for evaluating climate change impacts on Wisconsin and identifying solutions, much of the research conducted on carbon sequestration has been in natural landscapes and agricultural lands. Intact, diverse ecosystems show the greatest resilience to climate change and can better absorb stress. Furthermore, interconnected ecosystems are critical to ecological health and the ability for flora and fauna to adapt to climate change. Residential ornamental landscapes have potential to sequester carbon, reduce flooding and erosion and enhance biodiversity. As gardeners, our practices are part of the whole landscape system and we can contribute to creating healthy and diverse ecosystems.

In this interactive discussion, we will briefly take a step back to understand the basics of climate and the carbon cycle so we have a common understanding of impacts in Wisconsin and the relationship of gardeners to the changing landscape. Together, we will explore science-guided gardening practices, actions and resources to reduce emissions, better sequester carbon in plant biomass and soil and retain ecological functional values across landscapes. You, as gardeners, no matter your experience or gardening expertise, no matter if you have a large, small or no yard, can help lead the way through sustainable gardening practices to adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

Julie Hill is the Horticulture Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison Division of Extension serving Walworth, Rock and Jefferson Counties. She works with local, regional and statewide partners to provide horticulture education to residents of Walworth, Rock and Jefferson counties and statewide audiences. As a free service to these counties, Julie also provides advice on a variety of lawn, landscape or gardening issues and concerns.

WHEN:  Saturday, March 16. 2024, at 10 a.m.

WHERE:  South Kettle Moraine State Forest Headquarters, Eagle

      S91W39091 Highway 59; One mile west of Eagle, on Highway 59

Open to the Public.  No admission fee.

Editor’s note:  Monica Los was interviewed by Marjorie Stoneman on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives.

Every immigration story is unique, and Monica Los’ path to citizenship and living in Whitewater is no different.  Born in Peru, Monica traveled to the United States during the summer to visit family in Boston and as a working student in Lake Geneva during the summer of her law school studies.  After a variety of experiences both in the United States and across the world, Monica’s path has led her to Whitewater, where she and her husband are raising their 11-year-old daughter. 

She is so grateful to the people of Whitewater who have welcomed her and her family, are respectful, willing to help, and care about the community. 

“Whitewater has been very healing,” said Monica.

Monica’s journey began in Peru, where she attended an all-girls school run by German nuns. 

As a law student in Peru, Monica wanted to explore the world, and she ended up choosing Wisconsin, specifically Lake Geneva, for her summer work.

At a resort, she helped with housekeeping and then was promoted to the office because of her great dual-language skills.  As a student there she realized she was making more money than many of the immigrants who lived and worked there.  She learned how to make a bed for the first time and was taught by one of the local immigrant workers.  She later met that same woman through her work at Planned Parenthood. 

Both of Monica’s parents were chemical engineers in Peru and her father a professor, so education was important to them.  Monica met her husband while in Wisconsin, and eventually decided to finish her schooling at UW-Whitewater.  She came to the United States with a ‘fiancé’ visa, and as such they had to interview with an American woman who asked them to prove their relationship was real.  Her fiancé pulled out a stack of calling cards that he had purchased to make the long-distance calls to her and that sealed the deal. 

Monica has two undergraduate degrees, one in political science and one in international studies.  She then went on to earn her master’s degrees in public administration and nonprofit management at DePaul University. 

Because medical costs are so expensive in the United States, Monica would, each year, travel to Peru for checkups and medicine.  One year she had run out of birth control, and found out she could get help from Planned Parenthood.  She made a promise to herself that, “If I can ever do something for them I will totally do that.”  Years later, she ended up as the manager of Planned Parenthood.

“I am on the side of privilege and it is a duty and an honor to represent those who cannot represent themselves,” she said of her work as manager of the Planned Parenthood of Delavan.

She is also aware that the majority of immigrants are focused on work, work and more work.  In many countries, like Nicaragua, people are not allowed to stand up for themselves politically, so it does not come naturally.  She hopes that the people who have lived here for a long time will realize they have a voice and know that they can help make the community stronger.  And she hopes newcomers will realize that they have advocates and people who welcome them into the Whitewater community.

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club.

The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club will be holding a sit-down, dine-in Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 16 from 6:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. (or until the pancakes run out).  All are invited to bring their appetites to the Old Armory, 146 W. North Street, in downtown Whitewater.  No tickets will be sold, and people are asked to make a donation of at least $7 to help cover the food costs and support our charitable mission.  Additional donations are welcome to help support the children that Kiwanis serves.

Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club President Patrick Taylor said, “We are so excited to see people in person and enjoy camaraderie and friendship as we feast on the delicious Kiwanis pancakes and Jones sausage.  The Old Armory has been our home-base for years, and we are continuing that tradition.” 

Whitewater Kiwanis is a group of dedicated volunteers who help both children of the Whitewater community and the world, all with 100% of funds raised going directly to youth projects and zero to administrative costs. Over the past five years the club raised funds to make possible the recent installation of the city’s first piece of inclusive playground equipment, a We-Go-Round, in Starin Park.  Annual donations are also made to provide shoes and winter clothes for students, as well as support for organizations such as the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, The Community Space, and the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club.

If you have an interest in helping youth in Whitewater, you can check out Whitewater Kiwanis on Facebook and join our Club by contacting Patrick Taylor at Petaylor.law@gmail.com.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by The Community Space.

Whitewater has long been a place that comes together to solve issues. When it became apparent that additional resources were needed to support the southeastern Wisconsin community, a group gathered, led by co-founders Kay Robers, Marjorie Stoneman and Kristine Zaballos. They brainstormed ideas, they found a building and, within a few short weeks, opened the doors of the Community Space amid the 2019 polar vortex.

In just five years, the Community Space has become a vital resource for people in Whitewater and neighboring communities. It is a food pantry, a clothing and household goods shop and resource center all rolled into one volunteer-run organization that serves more than 500 people every week. The Community Space is open to all, with no residency or income requirement, making it easy for anyone to walk in and select food, furniture and other items. Everything is free.

“It’s not a model we’ve seen anywhere else,” said Zaballos, who serves as executive director of the nonprofit. “So it sometimes takes newcomers a minute to understand they are welcome to take what they need and to share what they don’t need with others.”

“It’s really about sharing resources and keeping things out of the landfill,” said Zaballos. “If we can share what we have, it makes the community stronger and more resilient.”

The Community Space grew out of the Community Clothes Closet, a multi-decades effort started by Art Hughes to give out warm coats that operated out first out of the trunk of his car and later out of a local church. Kay Robers took over from Hughes and managed for years before moving the operations to the Community Space, where she serves as site manager.

“We have so much more space to accept donations or sort through them now, and the facility is much more accessible to older people or people with mobility issues,” said Robers. “It’s amazing to see how it’s grown and how many people it serves.”

During the pandemic, the Community Space pivoted to stay open while protecting its mostly older volunteers and its visitors and added refrigerators and freezers to accommodate the pounds of free milk, cheese, meat, produce and other perishable food funneled through the organization.

“We went from giving out 30,000 pounds of food in 2019 to giving out 300,000 pounds in 2020,” said Robers. “It was quite an operation, and nothing we could have done without all of the volunteers who stepped up.”

At 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, the Community Space will celebrate its fifth birthday with a potluck open house. Participants are welcome to bring a picnic-inspired dish to share. A short program will take place at 5:30 p.m., and tours of the facility will be available during the event. The food pantry will be open as well.

The Community Space is located at 834 E. Milwaukee St. on the east side of Whitewater. It offers evening and weekend hours to accommodate working families and also hosts ESL classes, bilingual health advocacy and other resources. Donations fund 100% of TCS’s expenses, which are largely utilities. There is no paid staff, and most of the food is provided by Feeding America of Southeastern Wisconsin at no charge. Donations to fund our operations are gratefully accepted at P.O. Box 213, Whitewater WI 53190.

For more information about The Community Space contact Kristine Zaballos at 206-972-9936 or thecommunityspaceww@gmail.com.

Fast Facts

• The Community Space opened Jan. 29, 2019, during the polar vortex, serving as a temporary 24/7 emergency shelter for the first few days through a collaboration with the Whitewater Police Department and the City of Whitewater.
• All items free of charge to all, without income, residency, or other limitations.
• The Community Space distributed 30,000 pounds of food in 2019 and more than 300,000 pounds in 2020 as it responded to the COVID pandemic.
• In 2023, there were about 25,000 visits, more than 16,000 volunteer hours were recorded, and more than 211,000 pounds of food, 144,000 items of clothing, and countless furniture, housewares, books, bedding and other items shared.
• The Community Space achieved 501(c)(3) status in 2023.
• It is 100% volunteer-driven, with no paid staff positions, and 100% donation-funded. No local, state or federal public funding supports the mission.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Public Library.

Looking for something to do with your family over winter break? The community is invited to a demonstration by Ferradermis Robotics Team at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Wednesday, December 27. Drop in the library’s community room anytime between 9:30-11:30 a.m. to see the team operate their robot and answer questions.

Ferradermis, FIRST Robotics Competition Team #6574, is based out of Whitewater High School. The mission of Ferradermis is to create a sustainable extracurricular environment and provide mentorship for high school students to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC).

This is a free, fun family event. The Irvin L Young Memorial Library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater.

Contact Sarah French with questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-458-2782.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Fort HealthCare.

Over the past year, construction equipment has been very visible on the Fort HealthCare campus. Two major projects are now completed that will vastly improve parking options for patients, visitors, and Fort HealthCare staff members. The Ambulatory Services Parking Lot has been reconfigured, almost doubling parking spaces for patients and visitors. In addition, after almost 20 years of remote parking for employees, there is now enough space for all staff to park on the hospital campus. Both of these improvements are intended to enhance both the patient and staff experience at Fort HealthCare.

In addition to this project, Fort HealthCare has another major remodeling project slated to begin in 2024. This project will again aim to improve the patient and visitor experience at Fort HealthCare by consolidating several clinical services onto the main campus. “By placing many of our services together on the Fort HealthCare campus, patients will spend less time navigating across town,” states Dr. Michael Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer. He adds, “Our goal is to optimize the patient experience. Unifying the location of multiple clinical services will help accomplish that.” In addition, this remodeling project will replace mechanicals in the older part of the building that have been operational since 1949.

“It is important for Fort HealthCare to be good stewards of our facility and to continue to update and improve the buildings over time. Our aim is to continue to be the trusted, community hospital serving Jefferson County. We have been here for over 80 years. Our commitment to this project reflects Fort HealthCare’s enduring dedication to the health and well-being needs of our patients and community well into the future,” concludes Dr. Anderson.

About Fort HealthCare

Fort HealthCare is committed to improving the health and well-being of our communities, with a vision to be the healthiest community in Wisconsin. As the leading healthcare provider in the region, it is our goal to reach as many members of the community as possible with health and wellness messages, providing tools and resources to help individuals improve their health and quality of life while collaborating with several partners to positively improve the population’s health overall on a long-term basis. Please visit FortHealthCare.com for more information.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. The department has previously indicated to The Banner that Rock County residency is not required to enroll in their classes.

Sheriff Fell is pleased to announce that the Rock County Sheriff’s Office will offer our first 2024 ATV Safety Education Course on January 9, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and January 20, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., at the Rock County Fairgrounds – Craig Center, 1301 Craig Ave, Janesville, WI 53545. Students will need to attend both sessions to graduate.

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, is required to complete an ATV Safety Education Course in order to legally operate an ATV or UTV in areas open to the public within the State of Wisconsin. It is recommended that participants are at least 12 years of age or turn 12 shortly after the class.

ATV Safety Education Course – Class #1
Session 1: January 9, from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. @ Rock Co. Fairgrounds – Craig Center
Session 2: January 20, from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. @ Rock Co. Fairgrounds – Craig Center

Registration is now open. Complete the online enrollment form to reserve a seat. https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/sheriff-s-office/recreational-patrol/atv-education

Class size is limited to thirty students. Upon submission of the registration form, the submitter will see an onscreen confirmation message with course information. The course fee of $10 per student will be collected at the first session. If the student is under 18 years old, a parent/guardian will need to attend the first session with the student. Students will receive course materials at the first session. Please direct any questions to Deputy Trevor Lund at trevor.lund@co.rock.wi.us

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.

Jim Winship is a WUL Hometown Hero, and he was nominated by The Capital Campaign Committee for the Whitewater Public Library renovation, “For his service as the Chair of the Irvin L. Young Library Expansion and Renovation effort. Jim led the Capital Campaign committee with dedication, care, and creativity. Jim was loud and proud about the needs of the library, mobilizing the whole community who responded with enthusiasm and generosity, swiftly raising $2.3 million, exceeding the original goal of the campaign.”

The Committee shares:  “Jim Winship is a gem in our community. He is committed to improving the lives of all who call Whitewater home.  Jim’s engagement with the City Council, Bethel House, and UW-Whitewater reflects a passion for fostering connections and creating opportunities for people to support one another. If our nomination stopped there, Jim would be deserving of the Hometown Hero award. But with Jim, there’s always more to his service and dedication.

Specifically, we join together to nominate Jim Winship for the Hometown Hero Award for his service as the Chair of the Irvin L. Young Library Expansion and Renovation effort. Jim led the Capital Campaign committee with dedication, care, and creativity. Jim was loud and proud about the needs of the library, mobilizing the whole community who responded with enthusiasm and generosity, swiftly raising $2.3 million, exceeding the original goal of the campaign. Thank you, Jim, for your tireless leadership to improve a trusted and essential community institution. Your genuine love for our town inspires us to be change agents, embracing the role of building a brighter, more resilient future for all.”

The Capital Campaign Committee:

Anne Hartwick
Jon Kachel
Richard Haney
Ginger Katzman
Doug Anderson
Jennifer Motszko
Gayle Stettler
Kelly Davis
Stacey Lunsford
Diane Jaroch

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com 

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by VIP Services.

VIP Services will be hosting their second annual ‘Casino Night Benefit’ on Saturday, February 10th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Geneva Tap House, located at 252 Broad Street in scenic downtown Lake Geneva. Funds raised at the event will be used to support VIP’s ongoing community programs and their essential services for adults with disabilities. 

Tickets for this unforgettable event are only $50 each and include entrance, playing chips, snacks, and a wide selection of beverages including wines, seltzers, and many varieties of beer. Guests will have the opportunity to play blackjack, roulette, craps and Texas hold’em. The top three chip holders at the end of the night will get to pick from the prize table. 

Craig Poshepny, Executive Director of VIP Services, sees the benefit as a chance to educate the public about VIP’s many services and create new connections in the community. 

“This is such a unique event, and it is also a great forum for talking about those we support in their efforts to overcome challenges and barriers to find employment and other opportunities to become involved in the community,” Poshepny said during a promotional announcement at VIP. “Moving the benefit to Geneva Tap House creates an opportunity to reach a wider audience here in Walworth County, form new partnerships, and hold an even bigger event than we did last year.” 

Poshepny said the additional space at Geneva Tap House will make it possible to have additional gaming tables and host more than 150 guests. Those interested in buying or reserving tickets are encouraged to call VIP Services at 262.723.4043 or visit the organization’s offices in Elkhorn. 

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Public Library.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is offering free yoga sessions for adults. Release holiday stress with a 60-minute gentle yoga flow that is nourishing to the body, led by Amanda Matzke. The practice will include poses to encourage strength and flexibility with a focus on breathing, listening to the body, letting go, and staying in the present moment.   

Participants must bring their own yoga mat. Blocks and a bolster are suggested but not required. A firm blanket folded can be used in place of a bolster. Adults are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions, which will be held in the library’s Community Room at 5:00 p.m. on the following dates: 12/11, 12/14, 12/20, 12/21, 12/26, 12/27, 12/28 and 1/3.  

The library is located at 431 W. Center St. in Whitewater. Visit the library’s website at whitewaterlibrary.org for more information or contact Sarah French with questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-568-2782.