“The Whale”
Tuesday, April 11, 1 p.m.
(Drama) Rated R (language); 1 hour, 57 minutes (2022)
A reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher (Brendan Fraser) suffering from congestive heart failure, attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Hong Chau). Oscar nominations included Best Actor and Supporting Actress.
AUDITION NOTICE
Calling all students entering 6th grade through 12 grade! WUSD Summer School Playhouse will be holding auditions for their upcoming production of “Finding Nemo Jr.” on April 26 & 27. follow the link to read the complete course description.
https://sites.google.com/…/wusd-summer-musical-information
Jim McCulloch
WUSD Theatre Director
WHS Players Advisor
As was previously reported in the Banner, a single vehicle crash on April 1 on State Highway 106 near Calkins Road in the Town of Palmyra claimed the lives of both occupants of the vehicle.
One of those who perished was Sara Nowak, 42, of Palmyra, who about five hours earlier had attended the funeral of her husband Louis, who died of cancer on March 19. According to CBS affiliate WDJT-TV, Nowak’s mother, Patricia Cartwight, said of her daughter’s relationship with her husband of nearly six years, “I don’t think she could be without him. So, she is with him.”
As a friend put it in a message on a GoFundMe page set up to support the couple’s family of six children, “Sara went to visit Louis in heaven.“
The story has been picked up by various media including People magazine and The Daily Mail of the United Kingdom.
According to the Daily Jefferson County Union, the driver of the vehicle was Brian Remmel, 62, of Palmyra.
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION CANVASS – Monday @ 1:00 p.m.
The returns of the April 4, 2023, Whitewater Unified School District School Board election will be canvassed by the Board of Canvassers at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2023, at the Central Office Board Room, 419 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin. The canvass is open to the public.
City of Whitewater Plan and Architectural Review Commission Meeting – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes site plan review for an addition to the office building of John’s Disposal
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Community Room- First Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
This meeting is IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone:
https://meet.goto.com/973371133
You can also dial in using your phone
United States: +1 (224) 501-3412
Access Code: 973-371-133
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install
Whitewater Aquatic & Fitness Center Subcommittee – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Community Room 1st Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
in person and Virtual
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87444435075?pwd=RVBCdm40V2JEQXdJRHMxeHhoOFduZz09
Passcode: 269890
Or Telephone:
Dial 1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 874 4443 5075
Passcode: 269890
City of Whitewater Public Works Committee – Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Conference Room
Municipal Building – 2 Floor
312 W Whitewater St
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
As was previously reported on the Banner, the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center (WAFC) has been operating for the past two years without the benefit of the necessary agreement between the City of Whitewater (the city) and the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD). The School Board and Common Council both appointed members to serve on an ad hoc WAFC subcommittee with the purpose of negotiating a new agreement. An organizational meeting of that committee was held on April 2, at which time future monthly meeting dates were established.
In advance of the upcoming subcommittee meeting on April 11, both the city Common Council and the WUSD School Board separately passed on April 6 what has been described as “affirmative statements” expressing their recognition of the importance of the WAFC to their constituencies and the larger community, as well as their commitment to partnering with each other in ongoing financial support of the facility. Those statements are provided below, as is a report on the first meeting of the unrelated “Save the Pool Committee.”
WUSD Statement
The Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center (WAFC) is an important, valued resource to our students, to the residents of the City of Whitewater (City), the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) and the Whitewater community. While the WAFC partnership includes significant support from both the WUSD and City, membership and program revenues are also crucial to its ongoing health. The WUSD is committed to partnering with the City to secure operational and capital financing that allows it to support the WAFC within its other budgetary obligations.
City Council and Staff Position on WAFC
“Save the Pool Committee” Meeting
As was previously announced on the Banner, Cheri Zimdars, Guy Ledwell, Jeff Knight, and Geoff Hale have formed a Save the Pool Committee for the Whitewater Fitness and Aquatic Center (WFAC), with the expressed purpose of educating the public about the value of the center and with the hope “to expedite the completion of a new agreement, educate the public on this issue, and help in any way they can to continue its operations.”
Approximately 30 people attended the first meeting of this group on April 5 at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center. Jeff Knight stated that the financial concerns for WAFC have stemmed from items such as the fact that the annual contributions from the city and WUSD were to have had an inflationary factor, but that was only effective one time; the COVID shutdown; and the fact that no COVID relief funds were applied for or to WAFC. He felt that the subcommittee should be seeking input from the public, and specifically including the original donors. Cheri Zimdars emphasized that the facility is used by all age groups, and the fact that it’s open year round is a real advantage compared with other communities. Geoff Hale described the WAFC as Whitewater’s “most valuable gem.”
Bob McCullough, speaking for his wife Sharon, who was one of the leaders of the founding SWIM organization, described the approximately decade-long efforts to build the facility. A feasibility study that was conducted in the early ’90s predicted that the leisure pool would be responsible for 70-80% of the revenues.
There was discussion about the need to market the facility more effectively. A couple who moved here three years ago stated that they only recently learned about WAFC. They are now members and love the facility. It was reported that people come from communities such as Janesville, Palmyra and Oconomowoc to use the WAFC.
Ron Binning, another of the original leaders of SWIM, spoke of the importance of the swimming lessons offered at WAFC. When he was about five years old he went to Lake Michigan with his family. He’d had no swimming lessons and was at risk of drowning if it wasn’t for a local woman who rescued him. It’s indicated that drowning is the leading cause of death for children age one to four. WUSD Superintendent Caroline Pate-Hefty stated that the district provides free swimming lessons as part of summer school, with 300 children having participated last year. Pate-Hefty, by the way, indicated that the board understands the importance of WAFC to the district and the community, and mentioned that both the district and the city are working to develop affirmative statements. She lamented that there are many false rumors going around, including that she would like to convert the facility into the central office for the district.
There’s an ongoing need for lifeguards, which has been relieved somewhat by the recently lowered age minimum to 15, as well as the recruitment of a number of teachers and senior adults.
City Manager John Weidl stated that the Common Council is unanimously in favor of supporting the WAFC, and added, “We’re going to get an agreement done.” Council members on the subcommittee are Lisa Dawsey Smith, Jim Allen and Jill Gerber. He admitted that there are items on the want list that can only be accomplished if there are donations from the community, such as an electronic sign. Weidl indicated that memberships are up, revenue is up, and the social media presence is increasing.
Steve Watson writes, “The Whitewater Otter appeared to me on April 3 on my morning walk about. I was spring breaking and it welcomed me back home. Our local eagle also made an appearance.”
Our thanks to Steve Watson for sharing these great photos.
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The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has announced alumnus Dan Montanye as the next head coach of the Warhawk women’s soccer program. Montanye started in his new post the week of April 3.
“I am truly honored to become the next head coach of the women’s soccer program at UW-Whitewater,” said Montanye. “This program has meant so much to so many people and I will continue that proud tradition as we move forward into a new era of Warhawk women’s soccer.”
Montanye played collegiately for the Warhawks from 2007-10 and previously served as an assistant coach for the Warhawk men and women in 2011 and the UWW men from 2012-14 and 2021-22.
As a student-athlete, Montanye earned his way into the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record book for goals and points in a season, career goals, career points and career assists. He holds spots in the UWW record book for assists in one season, career goals and career assists.
Montanye played on the 2009 and 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship teams and helped UWW advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2007, 2009 and 2010, including the 2010 team that advanced to the Round of 16. He was a two-time All-WIAC and United Soccer Coaches All-North Region selection.
Following his career at UW-Whitewater, Montanye competed semi-professionally, playing for the United Soccer League’s Thunder Bay Chill in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
After helping the Warhawks win a conference title and two more trips to the NCAA Tournament as an assistant coach, Montanye served as head coach at Iowa Wesleyan University in 2015 and at Olivet College (Mich.) from 2016-19. During his three seasons at Olivet, the Comets collected the United Soccer Coaches All-Academic Team Award three times.
“I am excited to bring Dan back to the Warhawk family as the next head women’s soccer coach,” said Athletic Director Ryan Callahan. “He has the knowledge and passion to continue to build on the rich tradition of our women’s soccer program.”
A native of Mukwonago, Montanye currently resides in Milton with his wife, Mary, son RJ, daughter Eleanor, dog Rooney, and cats Tinker and Sam.
“Thank you to Athletic Director Callahan and everyone involved in the hiring process for trusting me with the future success of this program,” Montanye added. “A special thanks to all my family and friends for their unwavering support over the years.”
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.
A warm invitation to all to join us for Easter services:
6 a.m. – Sunrise Service at Hillside Cemetery
8 a.m. – Worship in the Chapel
10 a.m. – Worship in the Sanctuary with the Chancel Choir and Brass
145 S. Prairie Street, Whitewater
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. Easter weekend finds our local churches busy with both solemn and joyous services. This post card of the Congregational Church was probably taken shortly after the completion of the new addition along Franklin Street in 1926, given the vintage of the automobiles shown in the view.
The addition to the elegant 1885 Romanesque Revival style church building added classrooms, a gymnasium, a small chapel, two parlors, and an office and study. The architect of the addition was Hugo Hauser, a noted designer from Milwaukee, who used the then-popular Tudor Revival style on the addition.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(3747PC, Whitewater Historical Society)