Whitewater Arts Alliance Summer Concert Series Savory Sounds Returns Starting Thursday

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by Whitewater Arts Alliance.

The Whitewater Arts Alliance, in partnership with Fairhaven Senior Services, First Citizens State Bank, Fort Community Credit Union, Olm & Associates, PremierBank, and Associated Bank will present their 2022 concert series Savory Sounds at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on June 23, 30, and July 14, 21, and 28. Attendees may bring their own lunch or purchase lunch from participating vendors while they enjoy music by the The Brothers Quinn, Brass Knuckles Brass Quintet with Percussion, Amanecer Y Más (Marco Wence Trio), Ken Lonnquist and Friends, and the Ken Killian Combo Killer and the Salty Dogs.

Following is the Savory Sounds schedule, which runs 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on the following dates at the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s Cultural Arts Center near the Birge Fountain at 402 West Main Street:

DateArtistFood Vendor
June 23The Brothers QuinnLa Preferida
June 30Brass KnucklesSubway
July 14Amanecer Y MásThe Sweet Spot
July 21Ken Lonnquist and FriendsRocky Rococo
July 28Ken Kilian ComboThe Black Sheep

Whitewater Arts Alliance Board Member and Chair of Savory Sounds, Christine Hayes, says “Welcome to a phenomenal free lunch concert series filled with music for all! Sit by the beautiful Birge Fountain as you listen. Buy or bag your lunch and bring a chair or blanket. Come rain or shine. These are musical opportunities you won’t want to miss, supported by our local financial institutions and businesses. There is parking available across the street at First English Lutheran Church or on side streets.”

On June 23 and July 21, the City of Whitewater and the Whitewater Arts Alliance are hosting a free but registration-required Music and Art Wonder Club that starts before the Savory Sounds events at 10:00 a.m. each day. Attendees are required to register on the City page: www.wwparks.org. After enjoying the music and lunch, attendees are also invited to explore the exhibits at the Cultural Arts Center. For June’s exhibit, “Explorations: Photographs by Jeff McDonald” and “Around and Around” by Mary Nevicosi will be coming to a close. July features photography by the community to honor the late Fran Achen with the 13th Annual Fran Achen Photography Competition.

The Cultural Arts Center is located on 402 West Main Street in the historic White building near the Birge Fountain. Parking is behind the building. An elevator is available for access from the parking lot entrance.

Big thanks to our sponsors!

And to all sponsors who wish to remain anonymous!

Local Residents Honored by UW Oshkosh

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by UW Oshkosh.

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh officials have released the names of students who qualified for the Dean’s List and Honor Roll in spring 2022 across its three campuses (Fond du Lac, Fox Cities and Oshkosh). The term grade-point average (GPA) requirement for University Honor Roll is 3.3; the term GPA requirement for Dean’s List is 3.75 out of a possible 4.0. To qualify, a student must have been enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits. There can be no individual grades below a “C” and no incomplete or non-reported grades at the time the process is run. 

Whitewater, WI

 Hannah Allen, Dean’s List
 James DuVal, Dean’s List
 Fabian Gonzalez, Honor Roll
 Allison Martens, Dean’s List
 Jazmine Peterson, Honor Roll
 Liz Wilson, Honor Roll

Another Potential Heat Wave Monday & Tuesday

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office

Looking ahead to Monday and Tuesday, the combination of temperatures in the 90s and sticky dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s will lead to heat indices reaching 95 to 100 on Monday and 95 to 105 on Tuesday. 

Confidence continues to increase for a hot and sticky Monday and Tuesday with heat indices approaching concerns for Heat Advisory conditions, especially Tuesday. There is uncertainty on exactly how high we will see heat indices reach, especially Monday with uncertainty with dew points and how southwest winds will impact temperatures, but it looks to be fairly similar to this past Tuesday and Wednesday.

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Celebrating Fathers Passing Along Family Names

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

In honor of Father’s Day, we celebrate fathers passing along family names, in this case an exact family name. This image is of Harry Chapman Leffingwell IV (right) and Harry Chapman Leffingwell V (left) of Leffingwell’s Men’s Store. Many families have Juniors, but few have namesakes that last more than five generations.

Harry Chapman Leffingwell I came to Whitewater in 1843 and started a general store. Harry Chapman Leffingwell II operated a livery stable. Harry Chapman Leffingwell III began working for Halverson Brothers men’s store in 1917. In 1946, he and Harry Chapman “Chappy” Leffingwell IV purchased Halverson Brothers and renamed it Leffingwell’s. Under Chappy Leffingwell and Harry “Harry” Chapman Leffingwell V, Leffingwell’s was a fixture in downtown Whitewater for decades. Harry’s son is Harry Chapman Leffingwell VI, continuing the family tradition.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(4366P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Local Resident Named to Dean’s List and Graduates from Marquette University

Emily Marquardt of Whitewater, WI, has been named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2022 semester at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This past spring she also graduated from Marquette. Marquardt earned a Bachelor of Arts in History. Marquardt was one of 2,855 students to graduate from Marquette in May. The university celebrated its 141st Commencement with a series of events, including Graduate Recognition Ceremonies at Summerfest’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater and a Baccalaureate Mass on campus.

To make the Dean’s List, students must have earned at least 12 credits for the spring 2021 semester and have no disqualifying grades. The GPA threshold varies by college – for the College of Education and the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.7 to be named to the Dean’s List. The undergraduate GPA requirement is 3.5 for the following colleges: the Diederich College of Communication, the College of Business Administration, the College of Health Sciences, the Opus College of Engineering and the College of Nursing. All other programs have a 3.75 GPA minimum. 

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,500 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.

The Storywalk is back at First United Methodist Church

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by First United Methodist Church.

The Storywalk is back at First United Methodist Church in Whitewater.  If you are out for a walk, feel free to walk by 145 S. Prairie Street to read “If you Plant a Seed” by Kadir Nelson.  This is a great book that speaks to the power of our actions both in our gardens and in our lives. We hope you enjoy!

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Reducing the Risk of Financial Exploitation

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions

DFI Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by Sharing Tips to Reduce the Risk of Financial Exploitation

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by sharing tips to reduce the potential for financial exploitation in financial accounts and increase the likelihood of prosecution should such exploitation occur.

“I’ve been proud of our efforts to protect aging and older adults, including signing several bills to help prevent elder neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation, as we continue our work to support Wisconsinites of every age,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we join Wisconsinites across our state in pledging to continue this critical work helping to prevent abuse against aging and older adults across our state.”

Since World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2021, Gov. Evers signed bipartisan legislation to establish response and investigation requirements for abuse, neglect, financial exploitation of aging and older adults who are at risk, creating penalties for physical abuse of older adults, and increasing penalties for crimes against older adults. On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2022, the DFI is working to raise awareness about financial crimes and exploitation and ensuring aging and older adults are protected from predatory practices.

“Many older adults add a friend or relative to their bank accounts as a joint account owner in order to avoid probate or for the convenience of having someone else make sure the bills are paid,” said DFI Secretary-designee Cheryll Olson-Collins. “However, once someone is made a joint owner of the account, they have a right to use the money in the account in any way they choose. Despite the fact that the original owner was the person who contributed to all of the funds to the account, growing it over years of hard work and saving, the new joint owner will be able to spend all of the money without consequence.”

The DFI cautions account owners to carefully consider their options before adding anyone to their financial accounts as a joint owner. If the primary concern is probate, this can be easily avoided by using a Transfer on Death (TOD) or Payable on Death (POD) account, which does not transfer ownership of the account until the death of the account owner. If the primary concern is to allow someone else to handle the payment of bills, there are other options, such as designating a trusted individual as an authorized agent on an account. This can often be achieved by simply filling out a form supplied by the account owner’s financial institution.

“The benefit of designating someone as an authorized agent is that it gives the individual the access they need to account funds, but also places on them a fiduciary duty to act in the account owner’s best interest,” said DFI Secretary-designee Olson-Collins. “Misuse of funds would be actionable as financial exploitation or theft, and it is much simpler to prosecute an exploitation case where the wrongdoer does not have the defense that they had an ownership interest in the account.”

If account owners have questions about designating a trusted individual as an authorized agent or how TOD and POD accounts work, they are encouraged to contact their financial institution.

Additional resources can be found at local Aging and Disability Resource Centers and the Elder Rights Project of Legal Action of Wisconsin. The DFI also partners with these agencies, as well as the Dane County Adult Protective Services, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc., and the Wisconsin Department of Justice in the fight to end elder abuse in Wisconsin.

The image on the homepage, “Personal Check” by danielfoster437 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Whippet City Mile is Free This Year

Photos of previous Whippet City Miles courtesy of and copyright by Bob Mischka

The Whippet City Mile will be run again fifteen minutes prior to the 4th of July Parade. “This year will once again be free as there will be no T-shirts given out,” said Race Director Mark Maas. With there being no cost Maas is hoping more families will participate. “It’s all about having as many kids as possible running down Main Street before the parade.” The usual Harley Davidson procession will lead the runners down Main Street. “It’s just a great way to kick off the 4th of July Parade.” Information and registration forms can be found at whippetcitymile.com

Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Mark Maas.

Wildlife for All – Sat. at Natureland; Families with children welcome

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by the Kettle Moraine Land Trust.

The Kettle Moraine Land Trust announces its Wildlife For All event for 2022, Reptiles and Amphibians of Southeast Wisconsin. The event will be held June 18th at the picnic shelter in Natureland Park, Whitewater from 10 am until 11:30 a.m. Families with children are welcome to attend and learn about the amazing reptiles and amphibians that call Walworth County home.

The event is free to the public as part of KMLT’s community environmental education efforts. Register in advance by contacting Rachel Tanis at rachel@kmlandtrust.org. Donations to KMLT will be accepted at the event.

Our speaker, Dr. Joshua Kapfer, is Professor of Biology at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater and a certified wildlife biologist with the Wildlife Society. In a presentation suited for both adults and children, Dr. Kapfer will outline the species of reptiles and amphibians we can find in Walworth County and talk about where they live and what they need to thrive.

Visitors will be able to interact with specimens and models of these creatures at our touch table.

KMLT is delighted to welcome Josh Kapfer to its Wildlife for All series. Dr. Kapfer earned his masters degree in biology and aquatic science at the UW-La Crosse and his Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from UW-Milwaukee. He has worked as a natural resources regulator with the Wisconsin DNR as well as an environmental consultant with Stantec engineering services company. Josh has been a professor for 12 years, and is broadly interested in vertebrate ecology and conservation. Most of his published research focuses on amphibians and reptiles. He is co-editor and co-author of Amphibians and Reptiles of Wisconsin, which is slated for publication this year.

Natureland Park is located at W8338 Territorial Road in rural Whitewater, WI.

KMLT’s mission is to preserve and protect the natural heritage of the Southern Kettle Moraine through land conservancy and resource management. We are a land trust accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

Celebration of Life: Thomas (Tom) Grotelueschen

A Celebration of Life for Dr. Grotelueschen
Evergreen Golf Course, on Sunday June 26th  from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Thomas (Tom) Grotelueschen retired from UW-Whitewater in 1995 as Emeritus Professor in the College of Education and Professional Studies.

He passed away, in the presence of loved ones, at Cape Canaveral Hospital, FL on March 4, 2022,  eighteen days short of his 89th birthday

A Celebration of Life for Dr. Grotelueschen is planned by the family at Evergreen Golf Course, on Sunday June 26th  from 1:00-4:00 p.m., N6246 US Highway 12, Elkhorn, WI 53121. Please attend and bring a story of remembrance to share.  His full life story is available here. https://www.channel3000.com/thomas-tom-s-grotelueschen/