Updated on 4/27/25 @ 1:30 p.m. to add photos of Show Choir. Apologies that they had been accidentally omitted.
Article and photos courtesy of Tom Ganser
The 23rd annual Whitewater Middle School Jazz Band and Show Choir concert was presented on April 22 in the WMS cafeteria.
Under the direction of Stacey Joseph, the WMS Show Choir wowed the audience of at least 120 with two numbers featuring solos by Aurora Gerblick, Felicity Volbright, Serina Soto, Amelia Lefaive, Lucy Baldwin, Lily Tranel, and Eleanor Wilt.
The WMS Jazz Band, under the direction of Justin Kamp, entertained the audience with six selections. The soloists included Raya Fajardo, Melody Smith, Karlee Luna, Liam Egnoski, Liam Springer, Alex Perez-Aguila, and Jacob Christensen.
According to the program, there are 24 students in the Jazz Band and 20 students in Show Choir. It is important to note that the students rehearse and prepare for performance before the start of the school day.
Online registration has officially opened for the 31st Annual VIP Services Golf Outing. The event is scheduled for Monday, June 2, at Big Foot Country Club, located at 770 Shabbona Drive in Fontana.
Craig Poshepny, Executive Director of VIP Services, credits the enduring success of the event to its mission and the exceptional experience it offers participants.
“The Annual VIP Services Golf Outing has become one of the premier golfing events in the region,” Poshepny said in a statement at VIP. “It’s a great opportunity for golfers to enjoy a fantastic day of golf at Big Foot Country Club, one of Wisconsin’s finest courses, all while supporting adults with disabilities.”
Those interested in signing up to reserve their spot can register online at https://onecau.se/_8yuyz1 today. Additional information about the organization and the event can also be found at vipservices-inc.org or by calling VIP Services at 262.723.4043.
Large items will be picked up in the City of Whitewater on Thursday:
~ May 1, May 8, May 15, and May 22, 2025~
These additional pickups are for garbage or recycling items that are too large to fit in the toters. This does not include yard waste, construction materials, hazardous materials, or electronics (including TVs).
The Electronic Recycling Event is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 9 am – 12 pm (or until their vehicle is full, so come early) in Lot B (Cravath Lakefront).
Place all large items including furniture, carpeting, large metal, large cardboard boxes (emptied and flattened), and appliances 6 ft. away from, and not in front of or next to, the toters.
Items such as automotive batteries, tires (two per home per month), drain oil (in sealed 1- 5-gallon container) should also be 6 ft. away from the toters.
Solid waste containers, recycling containers, and bulk items should not be placed at the collection point sooner than 4:00 pm on the day before the collection day.
Solid waste containers, recycling containers, or bulk items should not remain at the curb line after 9:00am on the day after the scheduled collection time. For additional pick-up information or removal of TVs, please contact John’s Disposal at 262-473-4700 for current disposal rates.
It’s time again for the City of Whitewater’s Community Tree Sale!! Each of the last three years, the Urban Forestry Commission has organized and held our Community Tree Sale to offer native trees and shrubs to our community and the surrounding area. Because of the success of these sales and the efforts of our City Forester to plant more native trees in the city, Whitewater now has one of the most diverse tree inventories in the state of Wisconsin! That’s a very big deal! That means that when the next invasive pest shows up, we will lose fewer trees. Remember the emerald ash borer killed more than 600 trees on public land, and many more on private property. Thank you to all past and future buyers and planters for your hard work in making our forest canopy a much stronger and more resilient one.
As in past years, the sale is held during the last weekend in April to coincide with Arbor Day and Earth Day. This year it will be held at Starin Park’s Upper Shelter on April 25th from 10 – 6, April 26th from 8 – 4 and, if necessary, April 27th from 10 – 4 or until sold out. We will be offering more trees this year due to popular demand, but as in previous years, all sales are on a first come, first served basis. Cash and check will be accepted as payment. Remember that these trees are being offered at prices you won’t find anywhere else as Urban Forestry holds this sale not to make a profit, but to cover the costs of the sale as we get more natives into our landscape. Go to arbatstarin.org for a complete list of trees and shrubs that will be available this year, make your list and we will see you at the sale!
In this fourth (and final..?) film of the series, Bridget (Renee Zellwegger) is a now a widow, mother, screenwriter, and, on her smartphone’s apps, has found a suitor 20 years her junior. Also starring Colin Firth, Hugh Grant and Leo Woodall.
Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes our of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/
Beyond The Stigma: Understanding Substance Misuse Together A Community Conversation Series Panel and Small Group Discussion on Substance Misuse Date & Time: Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm Location: Creekside Place, 102 Maple St, Evansville, WI 53536
Substance misuse is a growing crisis in Evansville, WI, and Rock County. In 2022, Rock County ranked 6th in the state for alcohol-attributed deaths, and opioid-related fatalities have risen 25% since 2018. Stigma remains a major barrier to addressing this issue, silencing dialogue, isolating families, and preventing early intervention.
Join us for Beyond The Stigma: Understanding Substance Misuse Together on April 29, 2025, at 6:00 pm. This panel and small group discussion is designed to foster compassionate understanding by raising awareness about substance use disorder, break the cycle of stigma through open, honest dialogue, empower families and allies to support recovery efforts effectively and connect individuals and families to a supportive network to reduce isolation and build resilience.
Panelists include: ● Christine Quinn, Moderator/Founder Living Kindness ● Lori Frison, Psychotherapist & Relationship Coach ● Alicia Ziolkowski, EHS School Counselor ● Sean Mangold, Recovery Coach, Peer Specialist, QPR Suicide Prevention Trainer, SAC-T
This event is free and open to the public. We encourage individuals, families, and community leaders to participate in this important conversation.
Hosts: ● Living Kindness, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, promotes education, support, and compassion around substance misuse. ● The Evansville Fund supports local initiatives that strengthen the community. ● Evansville Community School District
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by Living Kindness. The description below is from their website.
Conversations
Discover the transformative power of Living Kindness Conversations, where we delve into the complexities of addiction through engaging, research-driven discussions. These conversations are crafted to enhance your understanding by featuring insights from top professionals worldwide.
Our diverse formats ensure a rich and interactive experience. Formats vary, including expert videos followed by engaging discussions and practical applications. Whether you prefer the intimacy of face-to-face meetings or the convenience of online sessions, we offer both to fit your lifestyle.
Join us in these enlightening conversations and become part of a compassionate community dedicated to fostering growth and understanding in the realm of addiction.
If you have a topic, you would like us to build a conversation around just email us at kindness@livingkindness.net
The UW-Whitewater men’s bowling club team members, coaches and support staff pose with the trophy after winning the 2025 Intercollegiate Team Championship in Las Vegas.
UW-Whitewater men’s bowling club takes collegiate national title
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s bowling club cemented its place atop collegiate men’s bowling in 2025 by winning the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championship on April 14-19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After qualifying for bracket play as the No. 8 seed, the Warhawks won their next three matches before defeating Wichita State by a 3-0 score to claim the title and finish off an impressive postseason sweep — they won the Great Lakes Bowling Conference, club national tournament, and collegiate national tournament titles.
UW-Whitewater last won the Intercollegiate Team Championship in 2022. The team earned the 2025 Collegiate Club National Championship in late March, the program’s first title at that tournament since 2021.
The club is currently fundraising to purchase national championship rings for team members.
The men’s bowling club is one of nearly 40 club sport offerings at UW-Whitewater. Warhawk club teams have combined to win 31 national championships since 1982. For more information, visit uww.edu/rec-sports/club-sports.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
This week’s image is a post card of the paper mill dam. This dam was originally built in the 1840s to power a lumber mill and created a mill pond that we know today as “Trippe Lake.” The lumber mill was replaced with a paper mill, then in the early 20th century, the condensery was built on the site. This became the Hawthorn Mellody milk plant, demolished in the 1990s. The site now has condos but Trippe Lake is still there, a remnant of the early settlement era in Whitewater.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
By Lynn Binnie Whitewater Banner volunteer staff whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
With only two days’ notice, Marjorie Stoneman and Rosalinda Martinez, on behalf of Whitewater Unites Lives, invited interested residents to participate in a local “Rally in Unity” on Main Street near the bridge with the flags on Saturday, April 19 from 12-2 p.m.
Stoneman provided the following welcome, after which Martinez gave a greeting in Spanish.
“Thank you all for coming today to this Rally for Unity in support of so many important American ideals. My name is Marjorie Stoneman, and I am the co-founder of Whitewater Unites Lives. Whitewater Unites Lives is happy to sponsor this rally. Whitewater Unites Lives – WUL – is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.
That means ALL humans – regardless of race, immigration status, religion, and gender – all people.
So let’s spend the next two hours rallying in support of:
Immigrants
Social Security
Medicare and Medicaid
People with Disabilities
Veterans
LGBTQ+ people
Gun Violence Prevention
Public Education
Colleges and universities
Libraries
The environment
Science and Research
Human Rights
Democracy
The Constitution (copies were distributed)
Kindness
Civility
Choice
Bodily autonomy
Peace Corps
PBS and NPR
The Arts
Civil Rights
Head Start
The list goes on….
Thank you for being here today to celebrate and support all of the good in America!”
One participant indicated that she had counted approximately 130 people in the crowd. Some came from nearby communities. It was likely the largest rally in the city in many years, other than those on the university campus. Stoneman expressed surprise that there was such a response on short notice. “I should not be surprised though because this community has so many people who care for and support others. It’s inspiring,” said Stoneman. Many participants displayed signs; the majority seemed to have gotten Marjorie’s request to “keep our messages proactive.”
An article in The [Janesville] Gazette on April 20 included a report on the Whitewater event. A few excerpts:
“Calls of “this is what democracy look like,” and “the people united will never be defeated,” rang out Saturday afternoon on Main Street in Whitewater, near Cravath Lakefront Park.
Jorge Islas Martinez, who started local adult English as a second language classes in cooperation with the Whitewater school district, said in an address to the crowd that he’s an immigrant who loves the United States. He said people in the Whitewater community are scared of the current administration’s view on Hispanic immigrants. “We are a nation built by immigrants,” Martinez said. Immigrants “came here not for handouts, but for opportunity — for freedom, for a chance to contribute, to raise families and build communities,” he added. His address touched on the growing fear among many immigrant families of the threat of deportation and separation. He noted the emotional toll on children who go to school each day uncertain if their parents will be home when they return. This is not who we are,” Martinez said. “We are better than this.”
Whitewater resident John Wilberding gave out polished rocks to rally attendees, saying they were “courage and resistance rocks” and that he just wanted to do something.
One participant wrote afterwords, “It was a rewarding experience; my first rally but definitely not my last! It was a positive way to turn anxiety into action.”
