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Seniors in the Park Presents The Mauritanian – Tues., 5/25

We don't live in a world of goodies and baddies, do we?' The true story behind The Mauritanian | Movies | The Guardian

“The Mauritanian”(Drama/Thriller) -Tuesday, May 25, 1 pm
Rated R (Violence, sex, language), 2 hours, 9 minutes (2021)
Based on his NY Times bestselling memoir, “Guantanamo Diary,” this is the true story of Mohamed Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charges, by the US Government, for years. Alone and afraid, Slahi finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander and her associate who battle the US Government in a fight for truth and justice. Starring Jodie Foster (Winner, Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe & AARP Movies for Grownups);  Tamar Rahim, Best Actor Globe nominee; and Benedict Cumberbatch.

There is a capacity limit, so please register in advance online, by email (dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov), or phone (473-0535). Facial coverings are no longer required for those who are fully vaccinated..

Local Students Receive Honors at Southern New Hampshire University

MANCHESTER, NH (05/20/2021)– Maria Kulick of Whitewater (53190) has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Winter 2021 President’s List. The winter term runs from January to May.

Full-time students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above are named to the President’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits; undergraduate day students must earn 12 credits in fall or spring semester, and online students must earn 12 credits in either EW1 & EW2, EW3 & EW4, or EW5 & EW6.

MANCHESTER, NH (05/19/2021)– Jack Foust of Whitewater (53190) has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Winter 2021 Dean’s List. The winter term runs from January to May.

Full-time students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits; undergraduate day students must earn 12 credits in fall or spring semester, and online students must earn 12 credits in either EW1 & EW2, EW3 & EW4, or EW5 & EW6.

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with an 88-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 150,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. Recognized as the “Most Innovative” regional university by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner. Learn more at www.snhu.edu.

No. 5 Warhawk Baseball Claims WIAC Tournament Title

By Chris Lindeke
Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Box Score

WIAC Championship Web Page

The No. 5 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team captured its third straight conference tournament title and seventh all time Saturday afternoon with a 13-9 victory against UW-Stevens Point in the final game of the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Presented by Culver’s at Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium in Whitewater.

With the win, the Warhawks (37-5 overall) secure the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, which begins with the regional round next week. UW-Whitewater will host a six-team, double-elimination regional tournament starting Thursday at Miller Stadium.

The NCAA will announce the 48-team national tournament field on Sunday night on NCAA.com.

Trailing 9-6 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, first baseman/pitcher Donovan Brandl singled through the left side with two outs, and was brought home by left fielder Matt Korman, who doubled the opposite way to trim the deficit to two runs. After a pinch-hit, run-scoring hit to center by Ben Wilkins, catcher Ryan Norton extended the inning further with another hit to put two on with two outs.

On a 1-0 count, centerfielder Zach Campbell hit a double to deep right center field to plate Wilkins and Norton and give the Warhawks (37-5 overall) the lead for good.

Ben Muscatello got the first two outs in the top of the eighth, and Brandl came on for the final out, inducing a fielder’s choice ground ball to end the frame.

Korman provided insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out, three-run homer out to left center field to account for the final margin.

Brandl stayed in the game on the mound and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his first save of the year.

Kade Lancour pitched a scoreless seventh inning and earned the win, improving to 2-1 on the season.

UW-W took the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning on consecutive two-out, run-scoring hits by right fielder Jacob DeMeyer and Brandl.

The Pointers (32-11) took the lead on a three-run homer in the top of the fourth, but the Warhawks responded with three in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly by Campbell and a pair of wild pitches.

The two teams traded runs in the fifth inning and, with UW-Whitewater leading 6-4, UW-Stevens Point plated five runs in the top of the sixth to take a three-run advantage.

Korman tallied four of UW-W’s 17 hits and collected three runs scored and four RBIs. Campbell posted two hits and three RBIs, and shortstop Nick Santoro finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Brandl collected three hits, one run scored and one RBI, and DeMeyer registered one hit, two walks, three runs scored and one RBI. Norton scored two runs with one hit, and designated hitter/pitcher Connor Moroder knocked in one run with a sacrifice fly.

Connor Spear started on the mound for the Warhawks and pitched 4 1/3 innings, striking out six. Moroder got out of a two-on, one-out jam in relief of Spear in the fifth and pitched 1 2/3 frames.

UW-Whitewater will play in its 13th consecutive NCAA Tournament and 23rd in program history.

Rainbow Hospice Care Annual Virtual Memorial Service Available Now

(Rainbow Hospice submission) Each year, Rainbow Hospice Care offers a spring memorial service to honor the memory of those that passed away over the last year. The program format changed last year to a virtual service to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions and remains virtual for this year. Even though the program is mostly geared towards family and friends of former Rainbow patients, all are invited to watch and participate in the memorial.

“Because so many were unable to have a funeral for their loved one, or the funeral was much smaller and limited because of the pandemic, we thought it would be helpful to offer a memorial ritual to give those who are grieving a simple opportunity to remember and honor their person,” said Rainbow Hospice Care Bereavement Counselor, Laura Wessels.

This year’s theme is, “These Stones will be an Enduring Memorial,” and reflects on the lasting impact that a loved one has made on all the lives they have touched. Viewers can also participate in a stone ritual of remembrance to honor their loved one’s life with Wessels and Rainbow Bereavement Counselor Hilary Furnish.

“Just as our memories of our loved one remain, so a stone remains. The ritual is a way to claim how the bereaved will carry their loved one with them into the rest of their lives,” Wessels said.

This year’s service was filmed outside in the prayer labyrinth at the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek.

“It’s a place where one can go for quiet and pay attention to one’s grief,” Wessels said. “Hilary and I thought it would be an especially appropriate setting for the service.”

The public can watch the event on Rainbow’s YouTube channel. The service will air beginning on Saturday, May 22 and will be available for some time.

No. 5 UW-W Baseball Advances to WIAC Title Game

By Chris Lindeke
Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Friday, May 21, 2021

Related Links:

UW-La Crosse Box Score

UW-Stout Box Score

WIAC Baseball Championship Web Page

The No. 5 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team won its first two games Friday at the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship Presented by Culver’s to advance to the title game of the conference tournament.

The Warhawks (36-5 overall), the tournament’s No. 2 seed, edged third-seeded UW-La Crosse 5-4 in the first game of the day, and followed up the performance with a 10-0 triumph in seven innings against No. 4 seed UW-Stout to cap the day.

UW-Whitewater will play in the WIAC championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday against the winner of the UW-Stout/UW-Stevens Point game that starts the day at 12 p.m. With a loss, the Warhawks would play the same team again Sunday at 12 p.m. in a winner-take-all contest.

In the opener against UW-La Crosse (30-12), the Warhawks knocked three solo home runs, including a walk-off shot by second baseman Sam Vomhof with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Third baseman Tucker Criswell and first baseman Donovan Brandl provided the other homers as part of a two-run third that gave UW-W a 4-3 lead.

After three scoreless frames, the Eagles tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the top of the seventh, and neither team scored again until Vomhof sent a shot opposite field over the left field fence for his first long ball of the season.

Shortstop Nick Santoro plated the remaining two runs for the Warhawks on a two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the second. Left fielder Matt Korman reached base three times with one hit and two walks and scored one run.

Pitcher Connor Spear earned the win in relief to improve to 6-0 on the year, tossing a pair of scoreless frames. Matt O’Sullivan started the game and allowed four runs (three earned) with six strikeouts over seven innings. Spear and O’Sullivan combined to strand 11 UW-L runners in the affair.

In the nightcap against UW-Stout, UW-Whitewater touched home plate four times in the bottom of the third inning and five times in the bottom of the seventh. Korman lifted a two-run home run to deep left field to end the contest by run rule.

Criswell joined Korman with two RBIs to lead the Warhawk offense. Centerfielder Zach Campbell registered two hits, one run scored and one RBI, and Santoro collected three hits and two runs scored. Vomhof and Brandl each finished with two hits and two runs scored.

Righgt fielder Jacob DeMeyer and pinch hitter Connor Moroder plated one run apiece for UW-W.

Westin Muir tossed all seven innings to improve to 8-1 for the season, not allowing a hit after the first batter of the game. He walked one hitter and struck out a season-high 11 batters as part of his efficient performance.

Joyce Mendoza completes the UW-W Business Professional Development Program

(UW-Whitewater submission) Joyce Mendoza from Whitewater, WI, who is majoring in accounting, completed the Professional Development Program offered by the College of Business and Economics at UW-Whitewater.

Mendoza completed a series of co-curricular activities that build communication, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, digital technology, intercultural fluency and career management skills.

A total of 22 business majors completed the program, which has been designed to help ensure undergraduate business majors are equipped with career readiness competencies that employers value.

A Great “Sign” Greeted Audience Leaving Friday’s WHS Summer Shorts ; More Shows on Sat. & Sun. @ 2 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser, who writes, “Look what greeted audience, actors, and tech crew immediately when they went out the doors after the May 21 performance of ‘Summer Shorts.’ The south end of the rainbow went right into the high school, and per Jim McCulloch, people were saying it was a sign.” Tom said the show has about ten songs, ran a little over an hour, and “couldn’t have been better. It was a fun show; the perfect thing for the high school and the community.” See below for reservations.




(WHS Players submission) Due to the unpredictable weather, the Whitewater High School Players have moved their production of “Summer Shorts” from the Cravath Lakefront Amphitheater to the WHS auditorium this weekend.    Performances will still be Friday May 21, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23, at 2 p.m.  The event is free, reservations are required and seating is limited. Tickets are still available as of noon on Saturday. The Whitewater Unified School District COVID-19 policies requiring masks and social distancing will still be in effect.  Call 262-472-8178 or email jmcculloch@wwusd.org for reservations.  Donations will be taken at the door for the Anne and Lane Kuske Drama scholarship fund.

Popular Downtown Tavern Likely to Close for Two Months

By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

The owner of a popular downtown Whitewater student-oriented tavern reportedly has agreed to suspend operations for two months this Fall as part of a compromise to avoid potential nonrenewal of the bar’s liquor license.

Gregory Condos, the registered agent for GAC Enterprises, Inc., which conducts business as Pumpers & Mitchell’s at 158-162 West Whitewater Street, faces the potential action after the Whitewater Police Department recommended nonrenewal because of what was described as an excessive number of related police calls and a history of being nonresponsive to department requests to curb underage drinking and do a better job of monitoring patron behavior. The agreement was hammered out after two public hearings in front of the Whitewater Alcohol Licensing Review Commission.

City Licensing Commission Acting Chair and Common Council member James Allen offered this observation at the May 20th hearing: “It’s very difficult for Council members to hear something like this.  We don’t want to shut a business down for a couple of months; we want to bring businesses to the city.  But these actions flew in the face of those who follow the rules.” 

The agreement would renew Pumpers & Mitchell’s license for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 but temporarily suspend the ability to operate from September 1 through November 2. It also includes a half dozen other conditions ranging from improved video recording and fake ID detection technology as well as enhanced staff training and cooperation with police to requiring background checks for employees along with more aggressive actions to refuse service to those who appear to be intoxicated.

At an initial hearing on May 3 Whitewater Police Chief Aaron Raap provided Alcohol Licensing Commission members with summaries of 70 police incidents referencing Pumpers & Mitchell’s that had occurred in the period between May 6, 2020 and April 22, 2021. Raap, who served for over 26 years as a Milwaukee police officer, told committee members that as a District Captain in Milwaukee he was responsible for an area that included “40 or 50” similar taverns and had not seen that type of related police activity tied to one licensee. He also pointed out that Whitewater PD senior officers requested better cooperation from the establishment in October of last year without success.

Raap said that evidence pointed to a “pattern and practice” of the establishment that indicated “an uncooperative management style and absenteeism on the part the licensee.”

Pumpers & Mitchell’s representatives argued that the establishment was being unfairly singled out because of their role as “a closing bar.” The manager offered the observation that because the facility had a dance floor many customers migrate there as closing-time approaches after drinking at other establishments or at parties. He also pointed out that he felt that the tavern had robust security on site and that identification of fake IDs is extremely difficult. In addition, the bar manager and licensee Condos pointed to the fact that they had recently taken delivery of a state-of-the-art technology for identifying fake IDs and linking IDs to images of the individuals presenting them to enter.

The three member commission voted unanimously to recommend the proposed settlement agreement to the Common Council, which is expected to be on the agenda at its next meeting on June 1, and as a consequence agreed to postpone what was anticipated to be a very lengthy nonrenewal hearing that was scheduled for May 24. Gregory Condos has reportedly signed off on the agreement.

WHS Choir Students present a “Circle Concert”

By Karen Tordera
Vocal Music Teacher
Whitewater High School
ktordera@wwusd.org

On Friday afternoon, the WHS Choirs sang in a “Circle Concert.” Bel Canto Choir, Cadenza Singers, and Music Masters Ensemble met in the cafeteria and performed the music they had been working on in class. Each of the choirs sang for the other choirs. Music letters, bars, and pins were awarded. Carter Waelchli won the Lyle award and Cora Linos won the Choral Director’s Award. It was a great way for our Choir students to perform and share some wonderful music! 

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Nunn-Bush Shoe Co.

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

Pictured here in this October 1946 snapshot is Vivian Henderson (1928-2016), a lifelong Whitewater area resident. She worked for the Whitewater Division of the Nunn-Bush Shoe Factory of Edgerton. The Whitewater factory was located in part of one of the Whitewater Manufacturing Company’s buildings on Whitewater Street between 1946-1958.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society collections!
(3048P, Whitewater Historical Society)

The Whitewater Historical Society collects, preserves, and interprets the history of Whitewater and the surrounding area. Be sure to join us next week for more from the Society’s collections. Please “like” us on Facebook, and check out our website at whitewaterhistoricalsociety.org!​