Dustin Reichwald

Art by WAA Members at CAC November 8 to December 9

The annual Whitewater Arts Alliance Members Show (and sale) will be exhibited at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street, from Thursday, Nov. 8 to Sunday, Dec. 9. Except for Thanksgiving week, the gallery will be open Thursday through Sunday each week from 12:00 to 5:00 PM.  The Whitewater Arts Alliance invites the public to an opening reception on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.  Viewing the exhibit is free of charge and open to everyone interested in the visual arts.

The WAA Members Show welcomes art pieces by Whitewater Arts Alliance members in any 2-D or 3-D medium completed during the last two years. The Alliance encourages each artist to submit three to four pieces.  All participants will be entered in a blind drawing for a free 2019 WAA membership.  The drawing will be Sunday, Nov. 11.

Anyone can become a member of the Whitewater Arts Alliance by completing a membership form and choosing a contribution level.  Check out www.whitewaterarts.org and click on “getting involved” and “membership” for more details.

From Nov. 8 to Nov. 18, show visitors will also have the opportunity to help select four pieces for the 2019 WAA note cards.  When visitors enter the exhibit, docents will give each visitor a set of four adhesive stickers. While viewing the art pieces on exhibit, the viewers will place one or more of their stickers on the white cards beside their favorite pieces.  Photographs of the four pieces with the highest number of stickers (votes) will be printed as note cards.  After the close of voting on Nov. 18, Virginia Epps will notify the winners.  At about 2:30 P. M. on Sunday, Dec. 9, a WAA representative will announce the viewers’ choices.  The Whitewater Arts Alliance is pleased to give the members whose pieces are chosen for the note cards a set of 12 cards.  If all systems work well, the note cards will be available to the artists and for purchase on Dec. 9.

Members of the Whitewater Arts Alliance are to bring their art to the Cultural Arts Center gallery on Sunday, Nov. 4 between 4:30 and 6:00 PM.  Artists are to pick up their art pieces after the note card distribution on Sunday, Dec. 9 at about 2:30 P.M.

 

Jazz Big Band Swing Dance – November 3rd

Come join the Whitewater High School jazz band and the UW Whitewater Jazz One for a fun night of dancing, food, and jazz music! Tickets are $10 each or buy 3 get 1 free. Tickets can be bought from a WHS Jazz member in advance or at the door. All proceeds help fund trips for the band program.

When: November 3rd, 7:30
Where: Whitewater High School Cafeteria

If you have any questions, email fhanson@wwusd.org or call 262-472-8175!

Hope to see you there!

Random Acts of Kindness completed by the Whitewater Gymhawks Youth Gymnastics Team

Members of the Gymhawks Gymnastics Competitive Team in Whitewater recently worked together to complete 19 Random Acts of Kindness from October 5 – 24 to celebrate the memory of their former teammate and friend, Avery McCarthy. Avery was an 11-year old, talented and hard working gymnast, who was also a follower of Christ with a kind heart and a love of life. She focused on giving of herself and helping others, bringing joy to people every day simply by letting them know she cared. Each year, the 19 days between Avery’s birthday and the day she tragically passed away six years ago are celebrated – by completing 19 random acts of kindness in her honor. Inspired by the love and guidance provided by their coach, Allison Annala, and in celebration of the girls’ bond as teammates and friends, the team eagerly completed their Random Acts of Kindness throughout Whitewater and their surrounding communities. As team members reside in Whitewater, Palmyra, Janesville, and as far away as Watertown, Oconomowoc, Orfordville and surrounding areas, a variety of area organizations and individuals benefitted from the team’s efforts. A sample of their acts are noted below (a complete listing with additional photos and related video can be found on the Gymhawks Facebook page).

Day 12 – Ava (level 4) delivered a baking package to a retired teacher at her school who is recovering from cancer

Day 10 – Falyn (level 4) donated 19 handmade fleece blankets and pet food to the Humane Society of Jefferson County

Day 9 – Benzi (level 3) donated personal care items and doughnuts to the shelter for women and children at the House of Mercy in Janesville

Day 7 – Makayla (level 4) donated 19 items, including kid-friendly snacks, to The Little Food Pantry in Whitewater

Day 6 – Izzy (level 7) delivered a fall plant and a special “Thank you” to the Vice Principal at her school for going above and beyond in helping her throughout the year

Day 5 – Bailey (level 3) delivered flowers care package to the 3rd floor nurses and patients at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater in memory of her great-grandmother who was a resident there until she passed.

Day 4 – Trinity (level 6) Baked cookies to share with her whole class at school

Day 3 – Lacy (level 3) Donated 19 pairs of socks to the Community Clothes Closet in Whitewater

Day 1 – Carmen (Level 5) and Courtney (Level 4) delivered a box of fire-themed treats to the Janesville fire station and cookies to their police station to thank their local heroes

The Gymhawks Gymnastics program is a developmental gymnastics program run by the UW-Whitewater Gymnastics team. Young gymnasts learn in state-of-the art facilities with professional and caring staff and train in the same facilities as the five-time NCGA Division III National Gymnastics Champions Whitewater Warhawks. Gymhawks offer recreational group sessions, private and semi-private lessons, gymnastics camps, birthday parties, and has a USAG Competitive Team.

The Gymhawks competitive team currently consists of 21 team members, competing at Levels 3 – 7. Their team has completed the first two of five scheduled competitive meets this season and 12 gymnasts have already qualified to compete at the State Gymnastics Competition on December 1st for Levels 3 – 5. Gymnasts Amethyst Grunnert (Level 3), Ava Zepezauer (Level 4) and Rhianna Pena (Level 5) are currently leading each level with high scores.

For more information about Gymhawks Gymnastics, contact Head Coach Allison Annala at gymhawks@uww.edu or 262-472-1454, find them on Facebook under “Gymhawks Gymnastics” or at the University of Whitewater’s website.

For more information about Averydayministries, find them on Facebook under AVERYday Ministries.

WUSD Geography Project Shared at Geofest Conference

John Houwers was a presenter at the 2018 Geofest that was held on the campus of St. Norbert College. Geofest is sponsored by the Wisconsin Geographic Alliance every year. It is Wisconsin’s best geographic education opportunity for K-12 teachers and the community. Students in last year’s AP Human Geography course were selected to participate in the Google Expeditions Beta project #LoveWhereYouLive created by John Houwers, Whitewater Unified School District Tech Integrator and students at Whitewater High School. Houwers shared a project created by students in Mr. Greg Stewart’s AP Human Geography Course.

Teachers gained insight into how their city’s history and geography can be understood by students by creating a Virtual Reality Tour using Google’s Tour Creator. This project can be can shared with others in Whitewater and the world. At the end of the conference, geography teachers from around the state had a firsthand look using VR headsets.

Mr. Stewart would like to thank Carol Cartwright of the Whitewater Historical Society for her time and effort in working with the students in assisting with the project. Many of the students were fascinated with the incredible photo archives collected by local historians. Students gained an appreciation of Whitewater’s past through geographic inquiry.

Chad Lewis Presents: Wisconsin’s Most Haunted Places – Tuesday, October 30

Chad Lewis Presents: Wisconsin’s Most Haunted Places

October 30, 6:00 p.m.

Open to all Ages; Free!

Irvin L. Young Memorial Library

This presentation takes the audience on a ghostly journey to some of the most haunted places in the state. It covers the entire state, from wandering ghosts in the North Woods, to a haunted B&B in Milwaukee. From phantom creatures prowling the woods to graveyard apparitions located in your own backyard, no place in WI is without its own hauntings.  This program is free and open to everyone.

More on Chad Lewis:

For over two decades Chad Lewis has traveled the back roads of the world in search of the strange and unusual. From tracking vampires in Transylvania and searching for the elusive monster of Loch Ness to trailing the dangerous Tata Duende through remote villages of Belize and searching for ghosts in Ireland’s haunted castles, Chad has scoured the earth in search of the paranormal.

Chad has been featured on the Discovery Channel’s A Haunting, William Shatner’s Weird or What, ABC’s Scariest Places on Earth, Monsters and Mysteries in America, along with being a frequent contributor on Ripley’s Believe it or Not Radio. With a Master’s Degree in Psychology, Chad has authored over 20 books on the supernatural, and extensively lectures on his fascinating findings. The more bizarre the legend, the more likely it is that you will find Chad there.

For more information: 262-473-0530

HALLOWEEN FRIGHTFUL FUN!!! A Quiet Place – Tuesday, October 30 at 12:30 PM, Seniors in the Park

In addition to a really spooky story, we will witness a “Skeleton Dance” (cartoon), a dreadful short (“The Masks”) and then our Main Creature Feature, “A Quiet Place.”

Mark will have Halloween treats for all!

From Wikipedia:

A Quiet Place is a 2018 American science fiction horror film directed by John Krasinski, who wrote the screenplay with Bryan Woods and Scott Beck. The film features a family facing struggles in a post-apocalyptic world. The family faces monsters which are blind and have an acute sense of hearing. Krasinski also stars alongside Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe.

A Quiet Place premiered at South by Southwest on March 9, 2018, and was released in the United States on April 6, 2018, by Paramount Pictures. It became a major box office hit, grossing over $338 million worldwide, and received acclaim from critics, who praised its originality and atmosphere, as well as the acting, direction, and sound design, calling it a “smart, wickedly frightening good time.” A sequel is scheduled to be released on May 15, 2020.

When: Tuesday, October 30 at 12:30 PM

Where: Seniors in the Park

 

City of Whitewater Information and Updates

LEAF AND YARD WASTE COLLECTION:

The City of Whitewater Department of Public Works will conduct a leaf and yard waste collection the:

  • Week of November 5 – November 9
  • Week of November 12 – November 16

Yard waste must be bagged in clear or transparent bags only.  The City offers Bio-Bags at the Finance Department free of charge while supplies last.  Yard waste will not be collected if not properly bagged or placed in non-transparent or black bags.  Please place your bagged yard waste on the curb by Monday, November 5, 2018. Brush will not be collected as part of the yard waste collection.  Residents requesting brush collection may call 473-0560 to make an appointment for pick up on Tuesdays.

NOTICE:   It is against City Ordinance Chapter 12.08 – Street Obstructions, Section: 12.08.010 – Prohibited to deposit any yard waste debris on city streets or right of ways other than City of Whitewater designated days.

If you have any questions, please call the Streets Department at 473-0560.

COMPOST SITE CLOSING FOR THE SEASON

CITY OF WHITEWATER

 

The last Wednesday the compost site will be open is Wednesday, October 31, 2018, from 2 pm to 6 pm. The site is located on the north end of Jefferson Street.  In addition, the last Saturday the compost site will be open is Saturday, November 10, 2018. The compost site will close for the season at 2 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2018.

If you have any questions, please call the Department of Public Works at 473-0560.

City of Whitewater Holds Open House for Newly Renovated Wastewater Facility

The City of Whitewater welcomes the community to visit the newly renovated wastewater facility for an open house. The open house will take place on Tuesday, October 30th from 3 pm to 7 pm and is open to the public. Citizens are encouraged to tour the plant to view the new equipment. Citizens can also ask questions to learn how the facility works and services the City of Whitewater.

The wastewater facility is located at 109 County Road U, east of the Whitewater Greenhouse and shares a driveway with John’s Disposal.

State Assembly candidate forum available online

On behalf of the League of Women Voters of the Whitewater Area and citizens of Wisconsin State Assembly District 43, I’d like to publicly thank candidates Don Vruwink and Gabriel Szerlong for participating in the League’s recent candidate forum for the State Assembly District 43 race.  Thirty citizens were in attendance and the candidates fielded nineteen questions during the 1-½ hour forum on issues including school safety, roads, economic development, and redistricting, to name just a few. Only two questions, known in advance by the candidates, came from the League board and they were turned to only when questions from the audience were exhausted with time remaining. The forum was both civil and informative – democracy at its very best.  At a time in our politics when there is great division and mistrust, the forum was an occasion for each candidate to simply state their views before the electorate.  We applaud their level of civic engagement in our democracy and wish them both the very best on Election Day.  There will be one winner on that day but at the forum, there were many. Voters win when they’re given opportunities to question candidates on issues that matter to them in order to make informed choices in the voting booth.

The League’s SA District 43 candidate forum was filmed by Whitewater Community TV and can be view on their website.  A Candidate Questionnaire prepared by the League for SA District 43 candidates can also be viewed on the League’s website, visit www.lwvwhitewater.org.  The League encourages all eligible voters to vote on November 6th.

Sincerely,

Ellen S. Penwell

LWV Whitewater Area

To view the candidate forum,