The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office is predicting a long duration snow starting Friday afternoon/evening through Saturday. They expect that an initial 2-3 burst of snow Friday evening will be moderate to heavy snowfall. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect for our area beginning at 6 p.m. Friday until early Saturday morning. 2-3″ of snow is anticipated.
The League of Women Voters presented its annual State of the City, School District, and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater forum on January 9. [Apologies that the Banner is late in posting this.] The event was very well attended, with nearly all of the seats in the Municipal Building Community Room being filled. The video recording of the event may be viewed here.
Congratulations to the following students on their academic achievements.
The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area is pleased to sponsor a public program on Homelessness in Fort Atkinson on Thursday, February 20, 6:30 PM – 8 PM. The program will be held in the Dwight Foster Library Community Room, located at 209 Merchants Avenue in Fort Atkinson.
The program will be presented by Jerry Mitchell, President of the Homeless Coalition of Fort Atkinson, and HCFA Executive Director Sheri Bronstad. Kathleen Townsend, a member of HCFA, will moderate.
The Homeless Coalition of Fort Atkinson is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides transitional housing and emergency assistance to families and individuals in need in the Fort Atkinson area. It held its first meeting in January 2019 after the death of Keith Lueloff in November 2018. He was found in a park after a very cold night. A group of concerned citizens from churches, organizations and businesses in the city gathered to discuss options to coordinate support.
Please join us to learn more about the Homeless Coalition of Fort Atkinson, what services it provides, how it functions and how you can help support its mission to “Enhance the quality of life for persons and families who need a place to live.” Light refreshments will be served.
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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!
Clearing Snow from Fire Hydrants can Save Lives…
A clearly visible, accessible fire hydrant could save your home – or even your life. If a fire hydrant is buried in snow, firefighters can lose valuable time trying to locate it when they arrive at a fire. You can perform a valuable public service and protect yourself, your family and your neighbors by taking on the responsibility of shoveling out and clearing a fire hydrant near your home during and after a snowstorm. Here are a few suggestions:
Know the location of the nearest fire hydrants
Make sure they are shoveled after each snowfall
Clear the snow three feet around the hydrant so firefighters have enough room to use the hydrant
Taking the time to remove the snow from around a hydrant near you can save precious minutes in case of a fire. The City of Whitewater appreciates community members who take the time to shovel out hydrants.
Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
(262) 473-0560
bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov
Editor’s Note: The following interview was done by Marjorie Stoneman on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives.
Fabian Lopez, owner of Five Star Lopez, has lived in Whitewater for 32 years and said, “I love this place. I love the U.S.A.”
Born in Mexico, he came to the United States for a better life. He enjoys the fresh air, which is a refreshing change from the pollution in Mexico. “You can breathe like you are in the woods,” he said.
Before he came to the U.S. Fabian took English classes in Mexico. He then continued to learn English through the ESL program taught by Jorge Islas-Martinez.
He worked for a while at Generac while he was building his car repair business. He worked all day, and often until 10 p.m., to support his family and build up his business, Five Star Lopez.
He owns Five Star Lopez on 113 East Main Street in Whitewater, where they service car motors, transmissions, electrical, tires, brakes, mufflers and suspension. “We do everything,” he said.
“It is important to me to make customers happy. I like my customers,” said Lopez.
He says some customers just tell him to do whatever needs to be done, because they have a lot of trust in him. He always wants to make sure to provide quotes and make sure that customers are aware of the cost and details. “We have good customers so we want to do it the right way. We help people when they need it,” he said.
Fabian’s son Darryl is opening another car repair location on 265 South Wisconsin Street in Whitewater. Fabian is also considering opening a shop in a nearby town in order to help more people.
“We are lucky because we have good customers who put good reviews on Google,” he said.
Registration for the annual FBLA Royal Ball is open!
Royal Ball is a semi-formal dance for 4K through 5th graders to be held on Friday, March 7 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. The cost is $15, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Use this link to register.
Information Submitted by Baron West
Whitewater High School FBLA Advisor
bwest@wwusd.org
Placing second in the Prepared FFA Speaking competition held recently at Whitewater High School is Whitewater FFA member, Emily Schmidt. Emily is receiving her plaque from Section 10 State FFA Sentinel, Allyssa Schauer.
Emily will go on to compete at the Sectional competition on April 2nd at East Troy High School for the chance to compete at the State level in June.
Article and Photo Submitted by Paul Majors
Whitewater High School FFA Advisor
pmajors@wwusd.org
BaristaCats Cafe and Sanctuary for Wayward Cats invites the community to a heartwarming event celebrating the joy that our feline friends bring into our lives. Join us on February 13 and 14 from 1 to 6 PM for a special experience filled with love, companionship, and of course, cats!
For a $5 donation, you will receive a personalized Pawlentine from one of our adorable coolcats. These charming tokens of affection make the perfect gift for loved ones or a cherished keepsake. As a special treat, each participant will also receive a delicious snack to share (with the kitties), generously provided by our friends at Fussie Cat.
BaristaCats Cafe and Sanctuary is more than just a café—it’s a place to relax, destress, and connect with both friendly faces and our resident kitties. We are committed to providing a welcoming and safe environment for all who visit.
Cats – Community – Coffee
Reservations are required [for which there is an additional cost besides the $5 for the Pawlentine] and space is limited, so be sure to secure your spot in advance. To book your tickets, visit https://baristacatscafe.org/reservations. Before your visit, please review our Pawlor Rules and Frequently Asked Questions to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Join BaristaCats in spreading love this Valentine’s season with the purr-fect celebration at BaristaCats Cafe!
Submitted by Downtown Whitewater, Inc.
