Mary Jane Vultaggio, age 97 of Whitewater passed away peacefully on June 28, 2018.

Mary Jane was born on July 28, 1920, the daughter of Elmer and Clara Haylock. She lived her childhood in Edgerton WI and at age 17 met and dated her future husband Sam Vultaggio. In 1942 Sam entered the Army and was stationed in California. A year later Mary Jane and her mother Clara left Edgerton and the two women bravely drove from Edgerton WI to Yuba City California, where on July 23, 1943, she married Sam Vultaggio before he was deployed to active battle in WWll. During Sam’s 3-year absence, Mary Jane worked as a beautician in California. When Sam returned from the war in 1946 they returned to Edgerton, where Sam and Mary Jane ran a successful plaster company and started a family. Eighteen years later Sam, Mary Jane, and son Rick built and operated the Country Squire Motel and Supper Club until 1971. Upon Sam’s and Mary Janes retirement, they built a home in Whitewater and every winter danced their way across Nashville, Tenn., Texas, Las Vegas, and California.

After Sam’s return from the War, Mary Jane and Sam were inseparable, until Sam passed away in 2008. With the help of her beloved caregivers, Mary Jane continued to live in their Whitewater home until the day before she passed away.

Mary Jane’s legacy is her love of family. Her son Rick and wife Kathy. Three grandchildren: Tony (Michele) Vultaggio, Joe (Danna Hoffmann) Vultaggio, and Jenna (Ryan) Rebman. Four great-grandchildren: Brenden Vultaggio, Teegan Robers, Nolan, and Lyle Rebman and Jeff Vultaggio (preceded in death). Her extended family includes Jayden & Grayson Hoffmann, Caitlin Rebman, Krista Doerr (Tony’s sister), the family of her late brother Robert Haylock, her caregivers Mary Heather, Shawnda, Alyssa and Betty, Kay Robers for her help along with all those who she called her friends.

Mary Jane’s secret for her long life: Never think old!

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at 11:00 am at Living Savior Lutheran Church, 1661 Janesville Ave, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Milton Lawns Cemetery in Janesville.

Growing and Learning at the Lincoln Elementary Garden, Mondays from 4 to 6 pm

Everyone is invited to come to the Growing and Learning Garden at Lincoln Elementary on Mondays throughout the summer for our Garden Gathering. Stop on by anytime between 4 – 6 pm to help tend to the garden, harvest and taste healthy foods, do a garden-based project, look for monarch caterpillars and more! Bring your friends and neighbors and make new friends! All are welcome.

The garden is located on the south side of the west wing of the school, just to the north of the new gym. To get to the garden this summer, due to the ongoing construction, please come from the west or north. The garden is accessible around the construction fence. If coming by car, please park on Highland Street north of the track. Do not park in the Lincoln parking lot.

For questions or to get more involved in this project, please contact School Garden Leader Liesl Schultz Hying at LINCSgarden@gmail.com.

Thank you!

UW-Rock County will become a branch campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, effective Sunday, July 1

“I am so proud to welcome the students, faculty, and staff of UW-Rock County to the UW-Whitewater family,” said Chancellor Beverly Kopper. “This is truly a historic and exciting time of transition for both of our campuses, with UW-Whitewater celebrating 150 years. As we come together, we reaffirm our commitment to student success, and to helping students accomplish their higher education dreams.”

The name of the campus will be the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County, pending approval of the UW Board of Regents, which will consider the naming proposal at its August meeting.

Kopper said that while the name of the campus will be changing, its mission of access will remain.

“We will continue to offer affordable, high-quality programs that not only prepare students for the next steps in their education or their job or their career but also prepare them for the rigors of life.”

The joining of the campuses is part of the statewide restructuring of the UW System that was approved June 29 by the Higher Learning Commission, the state universities’ accreditation agency.

From the National Weather Service – Excessive Heat Warning in Southern Wisconsin

…DANGEROUS HEAT AND HUMIDITY EXPECTED FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY…

…EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY…
The National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan has issued an Excessive Heat Warning…which is in effect from noon today to 7 PM CDT Saturday. The Heat Advisory is no longer in effect.

* TIMING…Dangerous heat and humidity is expected through Saturday.

* TEMPERATURE…Highs today and tomorrow will be in the mid 90s, with heat index values between 100 and 110 degrees. Similar conditions are expected on Saturday. Low temperatures tonight into early Saturday morning will only fall into the upper 70s. These warm overnight lows will add to the cumulative impact of the heat.

* IMPACTS…Heat-related illnesses are more likely to occur in these hot and humid conditions. If outdoors, take plenty of breaks from the heat, and drink plenty of water. Check on those more prone to be affected by the heat, including children, the elderly, and those on certain medications.


The University Center at UW-Whitewater is an air-conditioned safe haven for students, faculty, staff and community members. Feel free join us during these hours:

Friday, June 29, 8 am – 9 pm

Saturday, June 30, 8 am – 8 pm

A map of the campus can be found at this link: http://www.uww.edu/campus-info/campus

Irvin L. Young Memorial Library adds outdoor & lawn games to offerings

The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library now has outdoor games for the community to check-out and take home to play with their family and friends. There are 13 different games and each game may be checked-out for one week. This service was made possible through a grant from the Bridges Library System. The games available for check-out are: Wicked Big Kickball, Deluxe Croquet Set, Ring Toss Game, Toss Across Game, Big Bubbles Set, Yardzee Yard Dice (Yahtzee and Farkle), Horseshoe Set, Giant Bowling Game, Giant Checkers, Giant Cards, Volleyball Badminton Combo, Bucket Ball Beach Set, and Giant Tumbling Blocks (Jenga).

Fairhaven breaks ground on Prairie Village expansion

(l-r) Paul Kuenning, President/CEO Fairhaven; Scott Ehlert, Ehlert Construction; Russ Walton, RR Walton & Company; Fred Wileman, Vice Chair Fairhaven Foundation; Jim Caldwell, Chair Fairhaven Board; Kathy Ross, Fairhaven Residents Council Chair; Cameron Clapper, Whitewater, City Manager.

The new Prairie Village Community Center is scheduled to open in the summer of 2019.  It is designed to be accessible and architecturally pleasing both inside and out, fitting into the prairie setting.  The Community Center will be approximately 8,000 sqft. that includes a gathering hall, catering kitchen, refreshment area, fitness room, game room, four season sunroom, and two outdoor patios. Eppstein Uhen Architects of Milwaukee were selected to design the Community Center with input from residents and Fairhaven board.  Martenson-Eisele of Menasha, WI is the site engineer and  Ehlert Construction and RR Walton and Company Ltd., along with many other contractors from the area have been selected for the project.

Whippet Baseball team holds banquet, announces awards

By Nate Parrish

Whitewater Whippet baseball team held its year-end banquet and award winners were announced. Whippets finished in 3rd place in the tough Rock Valley Conference with a 13-5  conference record. Beloit Turner and Jefferson tied for 1st place with 14-4 records. All of the contenders in conference ended up knocking each other out of the state tournament with Jefferson surviving and earning the runner up trophy as Waupun won the State Championship. Although the team did not reach all of the goals they had set for the season, it was still another successful season. The highlight of the year was finally getting the season sweep of Jefferson but the high of getting the sweep quickly turned as McFarland knocked them out of the conference race by sweeping the Whippets at home in a double header the next day. They bounced back to get a couple more wins including a solid win over Delavan that had a very good lefty pitcher in the playoffs only to fall to a hot Jefferson team in the playoffs. Coach Pease thanked the Seniors (Bryce Parrish, Jimmy Duval, and James Dedrick) for their effort and leadership over the years – they will be missed. He said “it is now up to our Juniors (in coming Seniors) to take over the leadership and continue to build what prior Whippets have started”. Dylan Pease was named a Captain for next season with at least one or two more to be announced as they get closer to next season.

The team announced the following awards with picture left to right – Jordan Curtis (All Conference Honorable Mention), Chris Dedrick (All-Conference Honorable Mention), Dylan Pease (2nd team All-Conference, Academic All District, Team Award – Best Situational hitter), Bryce Parrish (1st team All-Conference, 2nd team All District, Team Awards – MVP and Offensive Player of the Year), Cooper Pease (1st Team All-Conference, Team Award – Co-Defensive Player of the year) Missing – James Dedrick (2nd team All-Conference, Academic All District, Academic All State) and Jimmy Duval (1st team All-Conference, Academic All District, Team Award – Co-Defensive Player of the Year)

 

Thank you to everyone that supported Whitewater High School baseball team.

Optimist Club looking for volunteers for Gyro Stand

The Optimist Club needs help!!! We have many work shifts at the 2018 Gyro Stand to fill but not enough available members for this year’s event. Can you, the Whitewater public, help?

There will always be a club member at the stand to “lead the way.” If you can handle a kitchen utensil to put gyro meat, tomatoes, onions, or sauce on a pita, or wrap the pita, or take tickets and hand out made gyros, then you can help! (And we would greatly appreciate it!!)

Use this link to sign up and help us help Whitewater.

Sign Up!

WHS Alumni Band seeking alumni for 4th of July parade

From Dr. Don Deal:

For the 21st year, we will be putting together an alumni band for the July 4 parade. If you’re going to be in this part of the country for the holiday, please consider joining us! I know that some of you have been playing professionally while others haven’t touched it since graduation – ALL are welcome! Instrument loans are available as are fingering charts! No marching is involved, we’ll be sitting on a flatbed truck!

The parade starts at 10 AM on the 4th. We’ll plan to meet at Lincoln Elementary School (Prince St. between Highland and Walworth) around that time although we will be near the end of the parade. (The current WHS band will lead it) Do not attempt to drive up Prince Street that morning, best bet for close parking is in the Middle School (old HS) lot off Elizabeth Street. Drummers talk to me about the best way to get your equipment onto the truck. This year the parade is going from Lincoln to Main Street, then downtown to Whitewater St. and ending at the Cravath Lakefront park (near the downtown area).

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU’RE COMING so I know how many chairs, stands & copies of music we need. Also, please forward this to any other WHS Band Alumni you know from any decade – MANY are not connected through this Facebook page [yet!]

Schumacher makes All-State in softball

Article by Ron Sdano

Alyssa Schumacher recently was named to the WFSCA All-State Second Team for softball. The sophomore catcher hit .551 this spring which places her third on the Whitewater softball all-time list for batting average. Schumacher passed Michelle Haines .549 (1984) to move into third place. Anna Lisa Lawton .558 (1991) holds the record with Missy Fojtik .554 (1983) in second.

Alyssa was also named to the All-District First Team as well as being placed on the Janesville Gazette’s All-Area Team.

Alyssa is the daughter of Mike and Shannon Schumacher