June Reque Sweet , age 94, died May 21, 2019.

She was born in Chicago,IL  to Arthur and Maybell Reque on June 11, 1924. She always  proudly claimed Chicago as her home. She was a graduate of St. Olaf College and received a Master’s degree from the Univ. of Missouri.

As a Professor of Early Childhood Development, she taught at the Univ. of Missouri and the Univ. of Wisconsin Whitewater. She was an early influencer of Sesame Street programming and a member of Mensa in her early career. She was a longstanding and active member of The United Methodist Church in Whitewater. June was an intellect of lifelong curiosity and wit, leaving behind years of memorable laughter as her gift to those whose lives she touched.  As a mother she was a pragmatic yet compassionate role model. She was always forgiving, anchored in steadfast and sustained faith.

She was preceded in death by husband, Dr. Robert Caleb Sweet. Survivors include a son, Charles (Terri) Sweet, Monticello,MN, a daughter MaeLynn (James) McCrory, Barrington, IL, grandchildren Ryan Sweet, Kelly Armstrong, Dr. Britt Skaathun, Tory Skaathun, great grandsons Caleb and Grayson Sweet and long time caregiver Debra Zingsheim. She is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Graveside services will be private, Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, WI.

Upcoming City & Community Meetings: Week of May 27 – June 2

Finance Committee Meeting – Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 6:00 pm at the Whitewater Municipal Building – City Manager’s Conference Room

More information, including agenda


Whitewater School Board – Regular Meeting – Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 6:30 pm at the Whitewater Unified School District Central Office

More information, including agenda


Police and Fire Commission Special Session – Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at 9:00 am at the Whitewater Municipal Building – Community Room

More information, including agenda


Parks & Recreation Board – Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at 5:30 pm at the Whitewater Municipal Building – Cravath Lakefront Room

More information, including agenda

Cub Scouts Registration June 1

The Cub Scouts are registering new scouts on Saturday, June 1 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Starin Park Community Building on 504 W. Starin Road. 

For more information: cubscoutpack173@yahoo.com

www.whitewaterscouting173.com

WHS Choir performs Spring Concert

WHS Choir students presented their Spring Concert titled “What a Glorious Feeling!” on May 15th in the high school auditorium.

Bel Canto Choir, The Treblemakers, Music Masters Ensemble, Cadenza Singers, and the WHS Ringers performed.

Students who earned letters, bars, and pins were presented those awards. Nine seniors were recognized for their musical accomplishments and contributions to their respected ensembles. Alisha Parboteeah received the National Choral Award. The concert closed with the song “You Will Be Found.”

Memorial Day Activities

Final arrangements have been made for Memorial Day activities to be held on Monday, May 27th in Whitewater and hosted by American Legion Post 173 and VFW Post 5470.

The parade will form at the First Citizens State Bank parking lot in downtown Whitewater at 10:00 a.m. and will march off promptly at 10:30 a.m. concluding at the American Legion Building, 272 Wisconsin Street. In case of inclement weather the parade will be canceled but the program will be held at the American Legion Building beginning at 11:00 a.m. 

Leading the parade will be the combined color guard of William Graham Post 173 American Legion and VFW Post 5470.

The Whitewater High School Band and the Whitewater Middle School Band will provide music for the parade.

Featured in the parade will be guest speaker Whitewater-native Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Patrick O’Connor.   Also participating will be American Legion and VFW scholarship winners, Badgers Boys and Girls State attendees, the American Legion Outstanding Athlete, and the American Legion Americanism award recipient.   

The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youth organizations are invited to participate. Following the ceremony the public is invited to remain for refreshments and remembrance and reflection.

UW-Whitewater Social Work Program Wins $85,000 Grant to Address Wisconsin Worker Shortage

With Wisconsin’s population aging at a rapid pace and a critical shortage of workers to support this population, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is taking the lead to address this statewide workforce need by inspiring students to pursue careers that support seniors. To fund these efforts, the university has received an $85,000 grant award from Bader Philanthropies, Inc. for the purpose of developing Project GREY (Geriatric Resources for Engaging Your Students).

The goal of Project GREY is to increase the number of students across disciplines who pursue careers in aging. This is a one-year aging awareness and curriculum project that will be offered to students at UW-Whitewater, which is uniquely positioned to foster the goal because the majority of its graduates remain and work in Wisconsin.

“Today one in six Wisconsinites is aged 65 or older and in the next two decades it is expected that one in five will be 65 or older,” said Jeannine Rowe, an associate professor of social work, and Project GREY director. “There is a shortage of workers in Wisconsin to support this aging population, which is largely due to negative perceptions about aging as well as lack of high-impact curriculums. With generous support from Bader Philanthropies, Inc., we will be able to engage in activities that promote student interest in aging and offer creative service-learning opportunities. If we can get students interested in aging early, we have a greater potential to enhance the workforce.”

The plans within Project GREY will be pursued by executing an awareness campaign and offering service-learning courses in collaboration with Fairhaven Senior Services, a senior life plan community located three blocks from campus. In addition to Rowe, the project team includes Yeongmin Kim, assistant professor of social work at UW-Whitewater and Brian Robinson, director of leisure services at Fairhaven Senior Services.

“Even residents with no past connection to UW-Whitewater feel the sense of community and joy during these partnership programs,” said Robinson. “The intergenerational engagements are impactful, and the experiences resulting from these engagements simply cannot be taught in a classroom or be felt from reading a textbook. Fairhaven Senior Services is excited for this opportunity; it will enrich the lives of our residents and enhance the learning experiences of UW-Whitewater students.”

About Bader Philanthropies, Inc.

Milwaukee-based Bader Philanthropies, Inc. is a philanthropic leader in improving the quality of life of the diverse communities in which it works. Through the Helen Daniels Bader Fund and the Isabel and Alfred Bader Fund, the organization funds innovative projects and programs, convenes partners, and shares knowledge to affect emerging issues in key areas. Since its founding in 1992 as the Helen Bader Foundation, the organization has committed more than $275 million in grants and program-related investments, such as loans and equity investments that advance its charitable mission. For more information on Bader Philanthropies, visit www.bader.org.

Whitewater Arts Alliance Hires Part-Time Gallery Manager

Whitewater Arts Alliance Logo
Taylor McDarison

The Whitewater Arts Alliance is pleased to announce that Taylor McDarison has joined the organization as the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center Gallery Manager. She began her work with the Arts Alliance on April 29, and duties will include general gallery management, working with artists and coordinating exhibits.

A graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, McDarison graduated with a BFA with an emphasis in Sculpture/Ceramics. She has presented art related research in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin and served on the executive boards of over 10 student and community organizations.  She has also displayed work in galleries located in Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, and Washington.

Taylor shares, “Having served for three years as the Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) Recording Secretary, I am very aware of how warm, dedicated, and passionate the people surrounding WAA’s inner workings are. From our volunteers all the way up to our board president, I am so happy and proud to be returning to a community of exceptional art advocates. In a way, it feels like coming home, and I am eager to return and be part of a very effective and thriving grassroots art culture.”

City of Whitewater Hosts Electronics Recycling Event

The City of Whitewater has partnered with Midwest Computer Recycling Inc. to host an electronics recycling collection, Saturday, May 25.
Electronics can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to city parking lot A, across from the City Municipal Building located at 312 West Whitewater Street, next to the Whitewater Train Depot.
Acceptable items and recycle costs include:
• TVs – $20 each • Tube TV’s – $10 each • Microwaves – $5 each • Large exercise equipment – $5 each
Cash or check payments will be accepted upon drop off. All other electronics including computer monitors will be accepted at no cost.
Midwest Computer Recycling Inc. employees will be present to assist with drop off.
In previous years the capacity of the recycling container was sometimes reached early in the day, so participants are encouraged to arrive as early as possible.

Johnson and Schumacher Lead Whippets to Regional Win

Article by Coach Sdano; Photos by Bob Mischka

Sara Johnson pitched a complete game to get the win over Waukesha Catholic Memorial by a score of 6-3. This was Whitewater’s first game of the regionals after receiving a first round bye. Johnson gave up 8 hits while striking out 5 and walking 0 in getting her 12th win of the season. Whitewater had a 3-1 lead going into the fifth inning when Alyssa Schumacher ripped a change up over the left field fence for a 3 run homerun and a 6-1 Whippet lead. Schumacher also drove in a run in the first inning helping to put Whitewater on top 2-0. Liz Katzman, Cathering Yang and Kailey Ruhl contributed 2 hits each.

Whitewater now travels to Whitnall for a regional finals game on Thursday, May 23rd.  Start time is 4:30.