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Whitewater Unified School District School Board Election Canvass – Monday @ 9:00 a.m.
Agenda – click on “meetings” in upper right corner
The returns of the April 5, 2022, Whitewater Unified School District School Board election will be canvassed by the Board of Canvassers at 9:00 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2022, at the Central Office Board Room, 419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin. The canvass is open to the public. 

Plan and Architectural Review Commission – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes site plan review for Dollar General store
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Community Room- First Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/770052197
You can also dial in using your phone.
1 (872) 240-3412
Access Code: 770-052-197

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes 2021 draft financial audit and bond issuance
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
City Manager’s Conference Room – 2nd Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/535799973
You can also dial in using your phone.
1 (872) 240-3212
Access Code: 535-799-973

City of Whitewater Public Works Committee – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Community Room
Municipal Building – 1st Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.

City of Whitewater, Board of Zoning Appeals – Thursday @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda – Shopko Optical, 1139 W. Main Street, applying to exceed maximum allowed sign size
In Person and Virtual
Community Room
Whitewater Municipal Building
312 W Whitewater St.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/319664637
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122
Access Code: 319-664-637

As was previously announced on the Banner, “Turnout in the City of Whitewater for the Spring general election on April 5 was steady but not overwhelming, with 1376 votes cast. Per the unofficial results … Jim Allen defeated Chuck Mills by a very comfortable margin to retain his seat as Council Member at Large. Al Stanek also beat Curt Knull by a large margin to succeed longtime supervisor Jerry Grant on the Walworth County Board of Supervisors, District 4. Lukas Schreiber was elected to his first full term representing Aldermanic District 2 with nine votes, and Jill Gerber, running unopposed to represent District 4, received 331 votes. According to City Clerk Michele Smith, this will be the first time in history that the Council has had a majority of female members, by a margin of 4 to 3.”

Our thanks to Tom Ganser for sharing these photos.

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

If you have been on the Highway 12 bypass lately, you have seen the progress being made on the new Whitewater water tower south of the high school. This view from 1889 shows the building crew completing the metal tank on the old water tower in Starin Park. The water tower was part of the new water system installed in that year that included a pump house, a water reservoir, and several miles of pipe. Because of the new water tower, the old water tower will be decommissioned after over 130 years of service. It is hoped that the community will get together to preserve this important historic landmark!

Editor’s note: The city has indicated that there is no intention to demolish the water tower when it is taken out of service. It might be expected that funds will be required to preserve the landmark over the coming years.

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

(2437P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Editor’s Note: This information was provided by Kiwanis, with photos by Tom Ganser.

The Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club thanks the entire Whitewater community for generously donating $4,500 at the sit-down, dine-in Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 2.  Kiwanis served more than 500 breakfasts at its first dine-in Pancake Breakfast since 2020.

Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club President Patrick Taylor said, “We were so excited to see people in person and enjoy camaraderie and friendship as we feasted on the delicious Kiwanis pancakes and Jones sausage.  Thank you to everyone who donated to support our mission of helping children.” 

Kiwanis Whitewater Breakfast Club is made up of dedicated volunteers who help children in the Whitewater community and the world, all with funds raised going directly to projects helping improve the lives of children in the community and the world.  Each year, the club distributes approximately $20,000, with over half going to the Whitewater Unified School District, including shoes and scholarships.  Kiwanis helped to build the Flowing Well Shelter, the shelter and soon-to-be-installed accessible playground equipment at Starin Park and Treyton’s Field of Dreams, the WHS football field lights and press box, as well as adopting a highway to clean up.  In addition, the group donates to the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club, the Friends of the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center Family Partnership Fund, the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, Camp Wawbeek, and more.

More information can be found on the Whitewater Kiwanis Breakfast Club Facebook page. If you are interested in joining the club, helping the children and having fun at the same time, contact us!

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

Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by The Friends of Lorine Niedecker and the Dwight Foster Public Library.

The Friends of Lorine Niedecker and the Dwight Foster Public Library invite you to celebrate National Poetry Month with this special poetry event: “Hear The Solitary Plover: A Poetry Reading” on Tuesday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m.

The poets published in the Winter 2022 issue of “The Solitary Plover” will join us in-person and remotely for a reading of their work. This reading will be moderated by Plover poetry editor Tom Montag, who will also read from his latest work.

You can attend:

IN PERSON at the Dwight Foster Public Library, 209 Merchants Ave in Fort Atkinson

REMOTELY by viewing the Live Stream on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/S-bGAImcRj4

The Solitary Plover is the newsletter of the Friends of Lorine Niedecker. It is issued twice each year, in winter and in summer. You can sign up to receive The Plover in your email, read the Winter 2022 issue and previous issues on the Friends of Lorine Niedecker website here: https://lorineniedecker.org/solitary-plover-archive/

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by ReVamp Nutrition in Whitewater.

ReVamp Nutrition in downtown Whitewater hosted a fundraiser for National Down Syndrome Day. Jericca, owner of ReVamp, has a longtime friend whose daughter was born with Down Syndrome. Jericca came up with a special tea and shake combo to help spread awareness of the condition. Down Syndrome occurs when extra genetic material is added to a chromosome. The reason why March 21st was the date is because the 21st chromosome is split into three copies instead of two.

Remi is a thriving seven month old baby who resides in Northern Wisconsin with her parents on a 50 acre homestead; they have dogs, horses, and barn cats. She was born with Down Syndrome as well as a congenital heart defect, and had open heart surgery in January. Danielle, Remi’s mother, got in touch with Jericca and asked if she would be willing to sell bracelets to help with bills in times of hardship. Jericca was touched to the heart that she asked and this was just the beginning of the fundraiser that came to mind. “We wanted to create a special combo for Monday that was associated with the blue and yellow in the Down Syndrome ribbon. Within a few hours the Down Syndrome Awareness Combo was created: Royal Blue Pina Colada  and Pineapple Breeze. The shake was coconut flavored with swirls of blue. The tea had flavors of pineapple, mango, and peach and was yellow in color. We wanted to make the most of this fundraiser and decided that one day was not enough. The Down Syndrome Awareness fundraiser was available all week long,” said Jericca.

For every combo sold, ReVamp donated a portion of the proceeds to Remi’s family. All the proceeds made from the bracelets went directly to the family along with many donations graciously given by the customers of ReVamp Nutrition. “We were so grateful for this opportunity to support a family who needs help during this time and for everyone who made it possible. As for Remi and family we hope that this donation will help in any way possible and we want you to know the ReVamp Nutrition is and forever will be #remijeanstrong,” concluded Jericca.

Editor’s note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation. The Whitewater Banner is owned and operated by the foundation.

Danielle Frawley has stepped aside in her role as President of the Whitewater Community Foundation as of April 1, 2022.  Danielle has served as President of the Foundation since 2018 and will remain on the Board as an at At-Large Member.  Under Danielle’s leadership, the Foundation has continued to grow and expand its outreach in the greater Whitewater area.   We are grateful for Danielle’s leadership and appreciate her continued commitment and dedication to the Whitewater Community.  Roni Telfer and Therese Kennedy will assume leadership of the Foundation serving as Co-Presidents.  

About WCF: The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “Enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures” through scholarships and community action grants. To donate and support the continuation of the Whitewater Banner, simply send a check made out to Whitewater Community Foundation to P.O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI, 53190, or donate online at whitewatercommunityfoundation.org by clicking on the “Donate” button on top of the contact page. For tax purposes, the Whitewater Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Corporation. 

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the University of Wisconsin Whitewater’s College of Arts and Communication, Department of Music.

The College of Arts and Communication at UW-Whitewater announces five upcoming concerts taking place throughout April. Coming up on Tuesday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 21 are the Jazz II and Jazz I Spring Concerts followed by the Sonict Ensemble on Friday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m.. Next are two concerts on Sunday, April 24 with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble at 3:00 p.m. and Meistersingers, Singing Sirens and Concert Choir at 7:00 p.m.. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. Masks are suggested for anyone attending events in the Greenhill Center of the Arts and the Young Auditorium. Do not come to campus if you are ill. For the most up to date campus safety information, visit the Warhawks are Back webpage.

The Jazz II Ensemble, performing Tuesday, April 19^th at 7:30 p.m. is a student ensemble directed by Bradley Townsend.  The ensemble will play tunes that vary in styles, from the sounds of Wayne Shorter’s modern jazz of the 1960’s to the gospel/blues of Charles Mingus and even a hip-hop shuffle by Ike Sturm. 

The Jazz I Ensemble, performing Thursday, April 21^st at 7:30 p.m. in the Light Recital Hall, is a student ensemble directed by Dr. Michael Hackett and will feature Milwaukee trumpeter and former UW-Whitewater student, Eric Jacobson. They will be performing works by Horace Silver, Matt Harris, Charles Mingus and more. Jacobson will perform a solo on “April in Paris” by Vernon Duke/E.Y. Harburg arr. Bob Mintzer, “Sail Away” by Tom Harrell arr. Eric Richards, and “The Red Snapper” by Bobby Shew arr. Don Menza.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, performing Sunday, April 24^th at 3:00 p.m. in Young Auditorium is directed by Dr. Glenn Hayes. As a part of the official Earth Month 2022 events, Steve Bryant’s “The Automatic Earth” for wind ensemble and electronics will be performed. The composition addresses the ongoing climate catastrophe and evokes the psychological effect of the impending disruptive change to our entire way of living on the planet, even under a best-case scenario. The piece weaves together two threads: the climate crisis, and the technological transformation of what it is to be human. The tandem acceleration of technological wonder and ecological catastrophe means, at best, a strange, unrecognizable future, likely within our own lifetimes.  Other compositions include Kataoka’s “Amenominakanushi – Father of the Universe,” Iannaccone’s “After a Gentle Rain,” and Meechan’s “Song of Hope” featuring trumpet soloist Dr. Matthew Onstad. Students from the Department of Environmental Sciences and UW-Whitewater Sustainability will be in the lobby before and after the concert to share information with concert attendees.

 Beyond the five ticketed events happening this month in the Department of Music, there are a multitude of free events including student recitals, ensembles, studios and even a guest artist. For a full lineup of events, please visit uww.edu/coac/events.

There are five featured concerts happening this April in the Greenhill Center of the Arts. They include: Jazz II on April 19 at 7:30 p.m., Jazz I Spring Concert on April 21 at 7:30 p.m., Sonict Ensemble on April 22 at 7:30 p.m., Symphonic Wind Ensemble on Sunday, April 24 at 3:00 p.m. and The Meistersingers, Singing Sirens and Concert Choir on Sunday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. Masks are suggested for anyone attending events in the Greenhill Center of the Arts and the Young Auditorium. Do not come to campus if you are ill. For the most up to date campus safety information, visit the Warhawks are Back webpage.

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by the City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission.

City of Whitewater, Wisconsin Arboretum At Starin Park Grand Opening Announcement

On Friday, April 22nd, 2022 at 2 p.m., the Arboretum At Starin Park (AASP) will be unveiled during the City of Whitewater’s Earth and Arbor Day celebrations! The event will begin with a welcome from the city’s Chair of the Urban Forestry Commission, Sherry Stanek under whose guidance the effort was initiated to establish the AASP in 2020. The City Manager, Cameron Clapper will deliver remarks and a City Resolution. This will be followed by the City Parks & Recreation Director, Eric Boettcher who will discuss the work that is to be accomplished here in 2022.

The initial landscape designs will be ‘unveiled’ by Landscape Designer Danielle Bell of Native Roots Landscape Design of Glendale, Wisconsin. These designs will give everyone a look at what our first steps will be at developing micro-climate areas representative of Wisconsin’s various growing areas. The goal is to establish the plantings for a welcome center and the first three of these micro-climates in 2022, as part of planting 150 trees and shrubs in the Arboretum this year. Ultimately, these micro-climate areas will be part of a nearly one mile path that weaves around and through the nearly 35 acre Starin Park.

Our Wisconsin DNR Representative, Olivia Withun, will be at the park to award the City Forester, Brian Neumeister, the city’s 2022 Tree City award and also a Tree Campus award to Sustainability Director for UWW, Wes Enterline who has been a valuable partner to our efforts. In the last couple of years, Wes has had two arboreta accredited on campus, The Salisbury Arboretum and The Chopp Arboretum and has been an invaluable resource for Urban Forestry members.

On Arbor Day, Saturday, April 30th, the Urban Forestry Commission will be holding a Children’s AASP Day from noon until 2 p.m., featuring many tree activities that will help kids and adults learn about the importance of trees and also birds in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day (May 17th this year). We will have a bean bag Migratory Bird Toss game, our Who’s A Snowy Owl selfie station, tree ring counting, tree cookie crafts, a wingspan banner where families can see how their ‘wings’ compare to birds and many other fun activities. We are offering snacks that are all derived from trees, and even more importantly, lots of fun!

This year will also be the UFC’s first year offering a Community Tree Sale! Native trees will be available for purchase by community members on Earth Day, April 22 from 1 to 6 p.m., April 23rd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Arbor Day, April 29th from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. and April 30th from 10 a.m. until noon at AASP’s lower shelter in Starin Park. The purpose of this sale is to get native, high quality, air pruned trees into the city’s tree canopy where they will thrive.

This work is being undertaken with the generous support of local sponsors and the award of a $25,000 Wisconsin DNR matching grant as well as community volunteers and would not be possible without each and every one of them.

For more information about all of these community events, visit the Arboretum website at www.ArbAtStarin.org. We look forward to seeing you at The Arboretum At Starin Park!