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SEOC marks 100 days of activation, accomplishments essential to statewide efforts

MADISON  —​ Gov. Tony Evers today applauded the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) on their diligent response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as June 21 marked the 100th day that the SEOC has been activated in response to the pandemic. This is the longest continuous activation in Wisconsin history.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) working alongside Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) staff, all state agencies, the Wisconsin National Guard (WING), Epic, Exact Sciences, and nonprofits such as the United Way and the Salvation Army successfully implemented a state coordinated effort to flatten the curve and box in the virus.  “The hard-work of the SEOC early on in the pandemic was vital in protecting the health and safety of Wisconsinites,” said Gov. Evers. “On behalf of the state, I would like to thank all those committed employees that work diligently to ensure our communities are safe, our frontline workers are protected, and that Wisconsin continues to remain prepared to battle COVID-19.” Some of the SEOC’s notable accomplishments involve preparing for outbreaks by increasing hospital and lab capacity, acquiring and distributing personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other necessary supplies, ramping up testing infrastructure, expanding the contact tracing system, providing the public with COVID-19 updates, and ensuring the state safely reopens. Through the funding provided to Wisconsin under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the SEOC strategically directed funds toward programs and initiatives that address some of Wisconsin’s most urgent needs caused by the pandemic including a $1 billion investment  in testing, contact tracing, operations, and response, a $100 million investment  for long-term care, home- and community-based providers, and a $200 million investment aiding local governments in their COVID-19 response. In addition, the SEOC mobilized more than 3,800 WING citizen soldiers and airmen to serve as poll workers in the April 7 election, operate a state warehouse to receive and transport PPE, train temporary nursing assistants, and conduct a flyover salute to the state’s healthcare workers. As of today, the Wisconsin National Guard alone, has collected more than 145,000 specimens at 190 testing sites in approximately 55 counties across the state. Collectively, the SEOC took Wisconsin’s lab capacity from the ability to perform zero COVID-19 tests in early march to the current daily capacity to perform 17,668 tests. As of June 21, Wisconsin has now tested 491,702 people. While these are among just some of the responses led by the SEOC, these major accomplishments have been instrumental in the statewide efforts to slow the spread of the virus and get back to our Wisconsin way of life. For up-to-date information about Wisconsin’s COVID-19 response, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage.We encourage you to follow @DHSWI on Facebook, Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram for more information on  COVID-19.

On June 17, Al Hutchison (center), President of the UW-W Community Optimist Club, presented a check for $500 for the Whitewater Food Pantry to Co-Managers Barb Quast (left) and Pat Chaput (right).

Mr. Hutchison indicated that the donation was made possible by the sponsors and 23 teams that participated in the Optimist Club’s 7th Annual Trivia Night on February 21.

Photo by Marjorie Stoneman, Whitewater Banner staff

Carol McCormick writes, “Mom and three kits taking advantage of an early mulberry season. Her other two didn’t make it to the picnic on time! A family of five is not unusual, but the first time for us on Trippe Lake.”

Carol McCormick’s description of the second photo, which she titled Living in Harmony: “Just a follow up from the fox sighting. A young fox in the woods willing to share mulberries with a sandhill crane. Neither was intimidated by each other. Nice to see!”

— Our thanks to Ms. McCormick for sharing these special photographs with us.

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage.  Thanks for thinking about this!

From the UW-Whitewater Sustainability site

Both the UW-Whitewater campus and City of Whitewater have received designations from the Arbor Day Foundation for our commitment to prioritize and protect trees (Tree City USA, Tree Campus USA).  Additionally, UW-Whitewater has received Level II accreditation by Arb Net, the Interactive Community of Arboreta.  To honor UW-Whitewater’s Sesquicentennial in 2018, “The Salisbury Idea” was launched in efforts to plant one of every tree native to Wisconsin on campus grounds and create a virtual tour to recognize the unique qualities of each species of tree.  As part of this project, a digital map was created to catalog approximately 1,700 trees at UW-Whitewater.  The City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Committee engages in activities such as surveying citizens about local trees, nominating notable trees for recognition and protection, and responding to threats from invasive species.  The focus on protecting tree resources in Whitewater is truly a joint venture, so we are excited to extend this partnership even further.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the UW-Whitewater Sustainability Office and City of Whitewater are coming together to continue advocating for trees by launching the “50 Trees for 50 Years” campaign in hopes of planting 50 trees throughout the campus and community before Arbor Day 2021.  Trees will be planted in city parks, local elementary school grounds, and prominent areas of campus for current and future generations to enjoy.  Despite the challenges we face, it is important to keep investing in the health and well-being of future generations and trees offer a variety of benefits that accomplish that goal.

Make a Donation – Tree benefits

• Trees clean the air we breathe
• Trees help handle stormwater
• Trees make communities healthier
• Trees increase property values
• Trees keep us cooler
• Trees save energy
• Trees shelter and feed wildlife
• Trees are good business
• Trees pay us back

Your financial donations to support these efforts will make a difference by helping us plant an even more diverse selection of trees around our community. All funds raised will be used to purchase trees from a local nursery, labor costs, and plaques for each of the trees planted. It costs approximately $250 to plant one tree and care for it for the first year. We hope to have fulfilled our goal of funding 50 trees over the next year and we plan to host an event, as appropriate to protect public health, to celebrate and recognize all donors before planting the trees.

Tree plantings make great gifts! All donations will receive a digital certificate which can be personalized to include “in memory of,” “in honor of,” or “in support of.” Donations of $250 or more will have the option to select a preferred planting location, tree type, and customized tree plaque. Other donation amounts have additional incentive options including a digital certificate and access to exclusive events.

Donor Gift	$25	$50	$100	$250
Digital Certificate	X	X	X	X
Exclusive Event: Tree History Tour at UWW		X	X	X
Exclusive Event: Tree Identification Walk			X	X
Select species of tree sapling				X
Customized Plaque				X
Preferred Tree Location				X

Donate Now! Please click here for online giving. Donations are made through the UW-Whitewater Foundation, and are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Offline: Checks must be made payable to UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc. Please include Sustainability Program Support in the memo line of the check, and mail your donation to:

UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc.
Alumni Center
800 W Main St
Whitewater, WI 53190

Or call 262-472-1105 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT to make a credit card gift by phone.

Employer Matching Gifts: Many companies match employee contributions to increase the impact of giving. Check with your employer for current matching gift program information.

The UW-Whitewater Sustainability Office is excited to announce the UW-Whitewater Nature Preserve as a registered Monarch Waystation, or area conversing habitats for monarch butterflies. The campus added nearly 400 milkweed plants to the large-scale prairie restoration plans. These plants were donated by Monarch Watch as part of their program, Bring Back the Monarchs. These essential nectar sources will be enjoyed by hundreds of monarchs later in the summer.

The community is encouraged to enjoy the tranquil walking paths throughout the Nature Preserve and prairie while watching for monarchs in all phases of their life cycle! For more information about this initiative, please visit: http://blogs.uww.edu/sustainability/2020/06/11/uw-whitewater-joins-monarch-watch-and-receives-free-milkweed-for-monarch-waystation/

The Walworth County Fair seems to be one of the few major events that is still scheduled for this summer, September 2-7. The Fair Board applied with the City of Elkhorn for a temporary Class “B” Beer and “Class B” Wine License, indicating that this unprecedented step was necessary due to many events at the fairgrounds having been canceled this year, as well as fair attendance being expected to be down, both due to the COVID-19 virus. The fair has prided itself on being alcohol-free for 170 years.

The Elkhorn City Council denied the permit at its meeting on June 15. However, the matter was reconsidered at a special Council meeting on June 22, with the alcohol permit application being the only item on the agenda. Per The Gazette, the permit was approved on a 4-2 vote, with the restriction that sales are limited to 4:00-9:30 p.m., and the beverages can be consumed only in the horse track and grandstand areas. Five members of the public spoke in favor of the permit, while eleven people spoke in opposition.

For the article in The Gazette, click here.

The Whitewater community is invited to watch and participate in a series of virtual discussions on race, racism, trauma and moving forward. 

These powerful and insightful programs, which air live on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in June, include the voices and lived experiences of members of our campus community, and invited guests, as we reflect upon race and racism in America and we search for ways to move the conversation and our society forward. Warhawk participants, and invited guests, share honest, brave and heartfelt comments at a time when we are all learning and looking for constructive ways to live in a fragmented society. The events on June 22 and June 29 will be posted to the Events section of the University Facebook page.

Links to previous videos can be found below:

June 9 – “Today’s Black Students and Professionals: Living in an Environment of Social Chaos” https://uww.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/uww/recording/0fef3daa2af44ae9a3806073df56d412

June 16 – “Racism from a White Person’s Lens”https://uww.webex.com/uww/lsr.php?RCID=f5d94c87c4d24d3990a08e99440d6be7

This powerful and insightful program, which aired live on June 16, includes the voices and lived experiences of members of our campus community as we reflect upon race and racism in America and we search for ways to move the conversation and our society forward. I’d like to thank our Warhawk participants for their honesty, bravery, and heartfelt comments at a time when we are all learning and looking for constructive ways to live in a fragmented society.

Our panelists included:

• Sara Kuhl, Assistant Vice Chancellor of University Marketing and Communications
• Janelle Crowley, Chief Human Resource Officer
• Nate Maddux, Assistant Professor – College of Integrated Studies
• Adam Paddock, Associate Professor – History
• Ethan Hoeppner, Student – WSG Director of Student Affairs and Interfraternity Council President

Many questions from students, faculty and staff were also addressed during the presentation.

For easy reference, timestamps are included below so that you can quickly navigate to topics of interest to you.

0:00—Introduction.

2:25—Why is the Black Lives Matter movement so triggering to white people?

28:03—What is the role of white people in the discussion of policy reform and in changing laws?

39:09—I’m white and not in a position of power to make policy changes, what can I do besides confronting my peers and voting?

45:13—When will [the university] be including cultural competence as a category to be reviewed for performance evaluation of all faculty and staff, for hiring candidates at the university, and for professional development funding?

48:08—Intent vs. Impact and how we can help others learn without getting defensive.

56:18—What changes should we have the City of Whitewater Common Council make?

1:04:00—Discussion on white people and apologizing for slavery.  

1:08:55—How do we bridge the nation’s political divide to address these national problems?

1:19:02—Discussion on Blue Lives Matter.

1:21:39—Closing Remarks.

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library will begin adjusting services, starting June 29. The Library Board of
Trustees strongly supports allowing the Library Director to add in-person services in the Library in
phases, following CDC guidelines, the rules of the City and State, and in coordination with the Bridges
Library System to ensure the safety of staff and patrons. The guidelines for the second phase are as
follows:

Library Patrons are ENCOURAGED to wear a mask or other face covering when visiting the library.

Library Patrons MAY:

1. Continue to get materials through curbside pickup service from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. MondayFriday. This will continue to be at the NORTH doors of the library on Center Street.
2. Pick up holds inside the library.
3. Use a computer for an hour without an appointment.
4. Select their own library materials and check out inside the library.
5. Continue to use our many digital services.
6. Make a 1-hour appointment to use the Makerspace.

Library Patrons MUST: Keep 6 ft of physical distance between themselves and other patrons and/or library staff.

Phase Two In-Person Service Restrictions: Visitors may not stay at the library for more than one hour. All extra chairs have been temporarily removed to reinforce this restriction.

The Library reserves the right to change any of these procedures at any time in response to
changing conditions.

At the May 12, 2020 Walworth County Board of Supervisors meeting, Whitewater resident Al Stanek was appointed to the Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission (WRRTC).

Per the WRRTC website, “The mission of Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission (WRRTC) is to preserve and protect the publicly-owned railroad corridors throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.   Established by Charter in 1982, WRRTC is made of appointed representatives from Crawford, Dane, Grant, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock, Sauk, Walworth, and Waukesha Counties.  The Commission collaborates closely with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) and Wisconsin and Southern Railroad (WSOR) to see that their communities have quality and reliable access to freight rail service.  WRRTC helps communities in southern Wisconsin be economically competitive through connection to the national rail system.” The Banner asked Mr. Stanek about the responsibilities of the Commission, and his interest in serving on it, and received the following reply. “I worked in rail and other infrastructure planning for 20 years at the WI Dept. of Transportation and recognize the value of maintaining a rail option for keeping and attracting businesses.  Having a rail option keeps transportation costs competitive and is essential for some. The State of WI helps maintain this infrastructure on lightly traveled lines like here in Whitewater just as the state supports roads, airports, harbors and public transportation. The Commission establishes policies for the railroad that runs through Whitewater. Our depot, by the way, is seen as a statewide example of preservation and having a Whitewater representative enhances cooperation with the operator on things like the City Market and other uses of the park like the 4th of July celebration.“

Madison, Wis. — The 16 graduating members of Overture Center’s Jerry Ensembles, two premier musical performance groups representing the Jerry Awards, have declared their post-high school education plans. Thirteen of the seniors are pursing degrees in the performing arts.

“It’s extremely competitive to get accepted into a performing arts program,” said Gail Becker, director of the Southern Wisconsin Jerry Ensemble. “Students must go through a lengthy audition process, which is usually 8-10 months of grueling preparation, study, research, travel, polishing, material searching, training, coaching and, finally, performing.”

The accomplished singers of the Jerry Ensemble participate in the group 1-3 years each, delighting audiences with songs from musical theater classic gems, singing the National Anthem at sporting events and performing solos, duets, trios and more. According to Overture’s Programming & Community Engagement Manager Karra Beach, performing live with the ensemble helps students develop poise and confidence while building technical skills in acting, singing and dancing.

“One of my favorite things about being in Jerry Ensemble is that I’m able to do the thing I love and make great friends while doing it!” said Ethan Hanson, DC Everest Senior High School. “The biggest skill I gained from being in the Jerry Ensemble is having the self-discipline to work on things daily and improve upon myself.”

Lauren Harkness of Whitewater High School gained important life skills, too. “Getting to perform all over Madison, especially Overture Hall, has been rewarding and exciting. I learned how to be flexible and to always say yes to challenges,” she said.

In the university acceptance process, students are accepted into a university academically, and then they must be separately accepted into the theater or music program, which requires live auditions either at the school or at one of three National Unified Audition locations: Chicago, Los Angeles or New York. There are usually 30-40 schools at the Unified Auditions, which allows students to audition for numerous university programs in one location over the course of a few days.

“Keep in mind, because of the thousands of students vying for 12-20 available slots in a program, odds of acceptance are slim,” said Becker. “Students audition for 12-14 schools during an audition season. They typically prepare two musical pieces and two monologues to perform; however, many have 6-7 pieces in their audition book, ready at a moment’s notice. This takes months of practice and getting it just right, picking the perfect songs, fine tuning the best monologues, so they can stand out and show their best self. It’s all about being unique and genuine.”

Parnassus Funk of Madison West High School agrees it’s important to be genuine. She stated, “The Ensemble showed me that the best thing you can bring to the table at any audition is you. If you are kind and easy to work with, your path to success will be a lot easier!”

Summarizing his experience, Tristin Thompson, Lakeland Union High School, said, “Participation in a performance-heavy group like the Jerry Ensemble strengthened my artistic résumé and gave me practical experience in learning material quickly and collaborating with other artists, all of which was very useful in my college audition process.”

Ava DeCroix of Middleton High School agrees it was a valuable experience. She noted, “As a member of the Jerry Ensemble, I’ve been introduced to some of the more professional aspects of the performance world, such as networking, behind-the-scenes technology and a fast-paced rehearsal process. I definitely feel that these experiences prepared me for success in both performance and other fields at the college level.”

Following is a list of the Jerry Ensemble seniors and where they will be attending college:

SOUTHERN WISCONSIN JERRY ENSEMBLE

• Ava DeCroix, Middleton High School – Notre Dame (Glynn Scholar), Voice Performance and Computer Science
• Emma Dias, Waunakee High School – Marquette University or DePaul University, Voice and Theatre
• Julian Engle, Middleton High School – DePaul University, Film and Television Production
• Olivia Foght, Waunakee High School – Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Musical Theatre
• Parnassus Funk, Madison West High School – Webster University, Musical Theatre (deferred until 2021)
• Lauren Harkness, Whitewater High School – UW Milwaukee, Voice and Public Relations
• Kyle Kapusta, Oregon High School – Millikin University, Musical Theatre
• Jamal Stone, Sun Prairie High School – Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Musical Theatre
• Gabriella Unitan, Stoughton High School – UW Madison, undecided

CENTRAL WISCONSIN JERRY ENSEMBLE

• Riya Bolander, Marshfield High School – State University of New York Binghamton, Psychology and Music
• Ethan Hanson, DC Everest Senior High School – North Dakota State University, Musical Theatre
• Isabella Kneeland, Antigo High School – Saint Norbert College, Biology/Pre-Med
• Maegan Mansfield, Northland Pines High School – UW-Milwaukee, Acting
• Jarreth Schaefer, Marshfield High School – UW-Stevens Point, English Education
• Somerset Seymer, Northland Pines High School – UW-Eau Claire, Theatre
• Tristin Thompson, Lakeland Union High School – Oklahoma City University, Musical Theatre

“These students have approached the college application process with positive energy, gratitude and grace,” said Becker. “I’m very proud of all my students who tackle this journey. It’s not perfect, and it’s sometimes not fun, but we, who are performing artists in our souls, know it’s the only way. It’s our passion and nothing will stop us from pursuing it.”

According to Jamal Stone of Sun Prairie High School, “Any experience is good experience and the Jerry Ensemble provides just that. Being a part of the group is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

The Jerry Awards is a high school musical awards program that encourages, recognizes and honors excellence in high school musical theater. The program began in the 2009/10 school year with 23 productions within 45 miles of Madison and has since expanded across the state through partnerships with Marcus Performing Arts Center, The Grand Theater and Viterbo University Fine Arts Center. Educators and industry professionals review productions at Wisconsin high schools and/or community theater organizations and provide valuable feedback to students. In its first decade, the Jerry Awards engaged more than 700,000 students, teachers, theater professionals and community members and has grown into a nationally recognized showcase of the brightest stars in Wisconsin high school musical theater.

Students in participating high schools can participate in the Central or Southern Jerry Ensemble, the premier performance groups representing the Jerry Awards. Students are selected through auditions each year. The Central Wisconsin Jerry Ensemble is directed by Marshall DeLonay and the Southern Wisconsin Jerry Ensemble is directed by Gail Becker.

JERRY AWARDS SHOW: Each June, Overture honors high school musical theater programs in a Jerry Awards show. The much-anticipated culminating event will occur virtually this year on Sunday, June 21 at 7 p.m. via Facebook Live. The 90-minute show, featuring video clips of musical theater performances, student and school awards and special guests. Two hundred and seventy-one 271 Jerry Awards will be presented recognizing excellence with multiple recipients in each category.  Click here to view the complete list of recipients.

Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wis., features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and four galleries where national and international touring artists, 10 resident companies and hundreds of local artists engage people in nearly 700,000 educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture’s mission is to support and elevate our community’s creative culture, economy and quality of life through the arts. overture.org