Marjorie Stoneman

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. 

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Music.

Get into the holiday spirit with UW-Whitewater Department of Music’s Gala Holiday Concert on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Young Auditorium. The air is filled with music and excitement as ensembles play throughout the building before the performance, during intermission, and immediately following the large concert. The Gala is an annual tradition that features nearly every student ensemble in the Department of Music. All profits from this event support Department of Music Scholarships. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in advance at tickets.uww.edu. You can also visit Ticket Services or call 262-472-2222 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ticket Services is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts, 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI. 

Tickets for the general public are $30; $25 for individuals over 65 and $20 for under 18 years of age. Tickets purchased at the event will include an additional $2.00 surcharge. In addition to ticket sales, we welcome gifts through our Angel donation program. Gifts can be made online at uww.edu/coac/gala-benefit-concert. Alternatively, checks made out to the UW-Whitewater Foundation can be sent to Gala Holiday Concert, 950 W. Main Street, CA2031, Whitewater, WI 53190.  

On the night of Dec. 2, small ensembles will begin performing at 6:45 p.m. throughout the Young Auditorium and in the atrium of the Greenhill Center of the Arts. The first half of the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will include performances by the Brass Ensemble, Vocal Jazz, Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. During intermission, various smaller ensembles will perform throughout Young Auditorium. The second half of the concert will feature the Chamber Singers, Percussion Ensemble, Whitewater Symphony Orchestra, Harmonia and Concert Choir. In addition to the festive music, a limited number of commemorative ornaments will be available for purchase as supplies last.   

Glenn Hayes, Interim Department Chair for the Department of Music, will be hosting the event. “Our Holiday Gala concert is a joyous event for the entire family! We present a wide array of styles and ensembles. Literally, there is something for everyone! Do not miss the chance for outstanding live music on December 2nd,” said Hayes. 

Come get into the holiday spirit and support the UW-Whitewater music students at 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 2. The main concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Young Auditorium located at 930 W. Main St., Whitewater, Wisconsin 53190. Tickets are available at tickets.uww.edu or by calling 262-472-2222. All profits benefit the Department of Music student scholarship fund. For more information or to become a Gala Angel by donating to the Department of Music student scholarship fund, visit uww.edu/coac/gala-benefit-concert. 

The College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offers rigorous programs in music, theatre, dance, and the visual arts; internships, pre-professional opportunities in journalism, advertising, and applied communication, and innovative interdisciplinary studies. The mission of the College of Arts and Communication is to cultivate and inspire creativity, diversity, expression, inquiry and integrity through embodied education in the fine performing and communicative arts and professions. For more information visit uww.edu/coac. 

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Join internationally renowned author Erik Larson as he discusses his bestselling book  “The Devil in the White City” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, at Young Auditorium on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus. The event is free and open to the public, and a live-streaming option is available. 

Larson will be focusing on the leadership needed to create the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair even as evil loomed in the underbelly of the city in the form of H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer. The book won an Edgar Award for best fact-crime writing, and was a finalist for a National Book Award. 

The event is presented by the Tommy Thompson Center on Public Leadership and co-sponsored by UW-Whitewater and the Whitewater Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national History Honors Society

As part of his visit to UW-Whitewater, Larson will be the keynote speaker at the 39th annual Creative Writing Festival on campus on Thursday, Nov. 30. The festival allows more than 500 high school students the opportunity to connect with peers and writing professionals and attend workshops, keynote speeches and competitions in a college setting.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Deb Weberpal.

For November National Caregivers Month, the Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative recognized local caregivers with gift cards, flowers and cards of thanks. Pictured are some of the caregivers from Rockin’ Respite.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area.

The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area’s Book Club welcomes community members to join the last of our three Book Club discussions of Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia.  Our third and final Book Club discussions will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023, 6-8 p.m., at the home of Dwight Watson, 220 S Church St in Whitewater. 

League members and the general public are invited to fully participate in discussions of this engaging memoir by a gender non-conforming writer.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Roberta’s Art Gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Explore the preservation of India’s ancient manuscripts at Roberta’s Art Gallery with “The Aesthetic Shape of History,” an exhibit by Anthony Cerulli. Cerulli’s photographs, which will be on display through Dec. 11, demonstrate the power of the space in which physical archives are stored. He provides artistic value and insight into present history and culture through a significant mode of documentation and preservation. 

“The Aesthetic Shape of History” is a selection of photographs that highlight Cerulli’s extensive photo-ethnographic art project, Manuscriptistan, which began in 2003. In 2015, Cerulli’s work in the field of South Asian Studies was recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship, a prestigious award given to those with exceptional work in the arts. This educational exhibit will feature photographs of archival manuscripts and artifacts from three states in India including Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala. Cerulli states, “I aim to highlight the value of bringing sensual, spatial, and artistic awareness and consideration to the things with which, and the spaces in which we conduct research.” 

Anthony Cerulli is a professor of South Asian Studies in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Cerulli is also the director of the Center for South Asia and director of the Health and Humanities Program at UW-Madison.   

An artist reception will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. where Professor Nathan McGovern and Dr. Ashley Dimmig will join Cerulli for a panel discussion on the beauty and historical importance of this work. McGovern teaches in the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies at UW-Whitewater, focusing on Asian philosophy and ancient India. Dimmig teaches in the Department of Art and Design and is the director of the Crossman Gallery at the Center of the Arts at UW-Whitewater. The reception will also include an audience Q&A and an open house with refreshments.  

Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center at 800 W. Main Street, Whitewater, Wis. The gallery collaborates with campus departments, student organizations, and community artists in coordinating and sponsoring exhibits. During the academic year, the gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. Roberta’s Art Gallery is closed on Saturday and Sunday. 

At Roberta’s Art Gallery, we pride ourselves in providing free and open exhibits to the public, and attending certain events can earn students class credit. If you are interested in being featured in the gallery, please contact us for a proposal request. Reach us at ucart@uww.edu or 262-472-3193. Visit our website for any questions or inquiries and follow our Instagram at uww_rag.  

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

WHITEWATER—The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is screening the film, “Pearl” on Tuesday, November 14 starting at 5:30 p.m. This is one of several events that the library is hosting to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. Community members are invited to attend this feature film set in 1920s rural Oklahoma, based on the remarkable true story of Chickasaw aviatrix, Pearl Carter Scott, the youngest licensed pilot in American history. Mentored by world-renowned aviator Wiley Post, Pearl first pilots a plane at the age of 12 and becomes a commercial pilot and local celebrity before she reaches adulthood. As she finds love and becomes a wife and mother, her two greatest passions collide.  

The screening will be held in the library’s Community Room located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. There is no cost or registration. Call 262-473-0530 with questions.  

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Knight Public Affairs, LLC.

The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, 5k, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle held their eleventh annual race banquet on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at Willow Brook Golf Course. Race sponsors, team leaders, volunteers, and four local charities came together for an evening to celebrate the accomplishments of the 11th Annual DWS race. 

During the banquet, the DWS presented $5,000 to each of the four charity partners to total $20,000 distributed. The four charities include: Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), Bethel House, Whitewater LEADS, and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. In addition $260 was donated directly from anonymous individuals to the charities of their choosing on the DWS website. Throughout the past eleven years, the DWS has raised a total of $274,500 for the local charities of Whitewater. 

“DWS’ mission is to make this a community event and give back to organizations that dedicate their time and support others in the city of Whitewater. ”DWS Executive Director Jeffery Knight says, “I’m glad we get to celebrate the hard work of the individuals who put a lot of effort into the race. It was an honor to present these distinguished charities each $5,000 and I look forward to doing it for years to come.”

“This is our eleventh annual banquet and it’s always a wonderful night to get together, to enjoy our friendship and get excited for next year’s race,” said Greater Whitewater Committee Chairman, Crystal Singer. 

“It is great to see all of the hard work pay off on race day, from the sponsors, volunteers, and community members. It really makes the DWS a special community event,” said Race Director, Dawson Miller. 

The DWS Team would like to thank everyone who came together to make the 11th Annual race a success. The banquet celebrated the hard work and dedication that was put forth by the volunteers, sponsors, charity partners, and team leaders who make the DWS an event to remember year after year. 

For further details, please contact Executive Director, Jeffery Knight, at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com.

About the DWS

The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features, while keeping everyone in the community active. All the proceeds from the race are donated to four local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for homeless families), Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, and the university to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit: www.runwhitewater.com.