News

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by the Irvin L. Young Library. 

Steve Person will be at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library on Tuesday, October 24 at 5:30 p.m. for the “Victorian Undertaker” presentation, which focuses on Victorian funeral and mourning customs, including a display of mortuary and embalming equipment and instruments. Adults and teens are welcome to attend this free event.  

It was during the Victorian Era that the ritual of death became increasingly sophisticated and this period saw the development of the modern cemetery, morticians, and public funeral complete with floral arrangements and the hearse for transportation of the deceased. The “Undertaker” of the Victorian Era was the forerunner of today’s funeral director. Many of the traditions that are observed in our funeral process today came to be from superstitions of the 1800s. 

Steve Person retired after 47 years as a funeral director. During this time, he has developed an interest in the history of the funeral industry, especially during the Victorian Era.  

The library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. There is no cost or registration to attend. Contact Sarah French with questions or accommodation requests at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-568-2782.

Get ready for the Fall Musical! Mean Girls (the high school version) will open on Thursday, November 16. Shows are November 16, 17, and 18 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 19 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and may be purchased by calling the box office at 262-472-8178.

We are in the Halloween Spirit for two Tuesdays in a Row, October 24 and 31!  Free Halloween Treats, too!!

“Hocus Pocus”
Tuesday, October 24, 1 p.m.
(Comedy/Family/Fantasy)
Rated PG. 1 hour, 36 minutes. (1993).

A teenage boy and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in, before awakening a trio of diabolical witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimi) that were executed in the 17th century. Now, the witches wish to suck the life out of the little children in order to stay alive…Yes, it IS played for laughs.

Update 10/21 @ 4:30 p.m.: Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. There is no admission charge. Regular participants in Seniors in the Park programming are requested to pay an annual fee: for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District, $10, and non-residents, $15. A fund is available for those who may not be able to pay the fee.

Editor’s note: The following announcement was provided by Rep. Ellen Schutt.

Representative Ellen Schutt (R-Clinton) is pleased to announce an upcoming event at which she will offer official Wisconsin Blue Books. This is an opportunity for constituents to discuss state related issues and learn what Representative Schutt has been working on in Madison.

Monday, October 23, 2023
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Irvin L. Young Memorial Library
431 W Center St, Whitewater

Editor’s note: According to the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, this book, which contains 777 pages, “published biennially, ….is a valuable source for information about the State of Wisconsin. First published in 1853 as a manual for legislators, the Blue Book has evolved into a useful tool for the state’s residents, as well as a historical record of Wisconsin state government. The Blue Book’s mission is to furnish the legislature and the public with information on state officers and governmental organization, along with statistical information and articles of general interest.”

Although often distributed at no charge by legislators, the book is also available on this site for $14.60; it is not known what the shipping cost may be. The book is also available at no charge online.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #214 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Oct. 21, 2023, in honor of U.S. Army Private First Class Charles A. Dickman, who lost his life in the Korean War and whose remains have been identified and returned to Wisconsin for burial. “We are grateful Private First Class Dickman is returning home so he can be laid to rest in peace,” said Gov. Evers. “Private First Class Dickman gave his life fighting for the values and freedoms we hold dear, and today we recognize and honor his courageous service and sacrifice.” Private First Class Dickman was a member of M Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action after his unit engaged in defensive actions near Chochiwon, South Korea, now modern day Jochiwon, on July 12, 1950. After regaining control of Chochiwon in the fall of 1950, the Army began recovering remains from the area, which were temporarily interred at the United Nations Military Cemetery Taejon before being buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. On June 20, 2023, Private First Class Dickman’s remains were positively identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s Korean War Disinterment Project. Private First Class Dickman will be buried with full military honors on Sat., Oct. 21, 2023, in Cashton.

Experience the brilliance of the esteemed Whitewater Symphony Orchestra. 

Immerse yourself in a captivating symphonic journey as the orchestra’s harmonious blend of woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings come together to bring classical masterworks and modern-day compositions to life. This concert features several of UW-Whitewater’s top-performing groups, faculty artists, and talented guest musicians from local high schools. With their unrivaled talent and dedication to musical excellence, the WSO promises an unforgettable performance that will leave you awe-inspired.

The concert will open with selections from Mozart’s famed Requiem, including the Dies irae and Lacrimosa movements often heard today in video games. Joining the UWW Chamber Orchestra will be the Mukwonago High School Concert Orchestra and choirs from Elkhorn and East Troy high schools, along with the UWW Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. UWW conducting faculty Robert Gehrenbeck and Christopher Ramaekers will share the podium, with a quartet of talented UWW voice majors serving as vocal soloists.

UWW violin and cello faculty, Leanne Kelso and Benjamin Whitcomb, will join the full Whitewater Symphony Orchestra for Brahms’ passionate Double Concerto in A-minor, conducted by Christopher Ramaekers.

An excerpt from Franz Schubert’s “Tragic Symphony” will be heard under the baton of student conductor John Swillinger. Beethoven’s elegant and energetic Symphony No. 2 concludes the program, conducted again by maestro Ramaekers.

Friday, October 20, 7:30 p.m., Young Auditorium. Purchase of online tickets is recommended, as there is a surcharge for tickets purchased at the door. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for age 65+, and $4 for under age 18.

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Edgerton Hospital.

FREE, PUBLIC EVENT — Edgerton Hospital employees are set for their annual Trunk or Treat event, and this year, they will have a special guest.  The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile will be onsite, to add some additional fun, excitement and perhaps encouragement for hot dog inspired costumes.

Trunk or Treat will be held, Saturday, October 21^st, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., in the main Edgerton Hospital parking lot.  The address is 11101 N. Sherman Road.

Area children are invited to come dressed in their Halloween costumes and collect candy from the trunks of vehicles in the parking lot. There will also be prizes, Wiener Whistles, and more for children and families to enjoy!

For more information, visit www.edgertonhospital.com

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

Continuing the theme of historic houses in Whitewater, this week we present an image of one of the best Queen Anne style houses in the area, the Engebretsen-Dorr House, built in 1895 and lovingly maintained for several decades by Rev. Gerald and Nancy Wendt. The house was built for local merchant and mayor Ed Engebretsen. His daughter, Ruth Engebretsen Dorr and her husband, John, lived in the house for many years in the mid-20th century. Ruth Dorr was an important local historian whose notes and writings are still used today at the historical society museum.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(1966P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Wisconsin Makers in Whitewater is offering a course on Autodesk’s Fusion 360, a software program for 3-D modeling.

The two-hour class will take place on four consecutive Thursdays, starting on Oct. 26, at the makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. Hours are 7 to 9 p.m.

Instructing the class will be Nick Stratton, owner of Hotends.com in Whitewater. The company makes innovative J-Head hotends, the portion of the 3-D printer that extrudes the filament. 

Hotends.com customers range from end-users running their own 3-D printers at home to companies like Lockheed Martin and Made In Space, which has the 3-D printer on the International Space Station.

The class is limited to 10 students. Cost is $40, with payment on the first night. To register, contact Al Jewer at (630) 430-9498 or lafcat@lafcat.com.

Fusion 360 is an integrated Cloud computer-aided design (CAD) software that also provides computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), computer-aided engineering (CAE) and printed circuit board (PCB) solutions. It is user-friendly and provides internet training materials for beginners.

Each class participant will need to bring either a Windows or Mac laptop, onto which Fusion 360 will be installed. Free licenses for members and participants will be available.

At the first class Oct. 26, Stratton will assist participants in downloading and installing Fusion 360 and obtaining their licenses. There also will be an introduction to Fusion 360 and its capabilities.

Week 2 will focus on basic 3-D design concepts. Participants will begin designing a simple project with the intent to 3-D print it. This will include an introduction to downloading existing designs to be able to modify them.

In Week 3, students will continue designing their 3-D printable project with an introduction to more advanced techniques. They will be shown how to overcome various issues in 3-D printed models such as supports, overhangs, etc.

Week 4 will focus on finalizing designs for 3-D printing and creating output files to print on Wisconsin Makers’ Taz-6 and Formlabs 3-D printers.

It is anticipated that a future course will be offered to address issues and techniques for creating designs on Wisconsin Makers’ CNC router. 

Wisconsin Makers is a nonprofit regional makerspace (community workshop) offering an affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators by unlocking their skills through continual experimentation and training. Work areas/equipment include: 3-D printing, laser engraving, machining, welding/fabrication, electronics, blacksmithing, woodworking, ceramics/pottery, jewelry making, arts/crafts, quilting/fabric arts, matting/framing and more.

For more information about the makerspace or memberships, visit Wisconsin Makers’ Facebook page at @wisconsinmakers or call President Al Jewer at (630) 430-9498.