News

The Whitewater Community Foundation is now accepting applications for Spring Community Action Grants.  Grants will be awarded to local non-profit organizations actively working to support the greater Whitewater community with educational, cultural, charitable and benevolent projects that will benefit and improve the community. 

Projects are expected to be accomplished within a specific period of time (generally not more than one year) and should be creative, innovative and address community needs.  The deadline for submitting applications is April 30, 2026.

Virginia Coburn, WCF Board Member who chairs the Community Action Grant Selection Committee, said, “I’m inspired by the number of local organizations sponsoring programs and projects to benefit the community.  The Foundation has given grants to The Community Space, Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, First United Methodist Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Whitewater Rescue Squad and many more. I invite you to read the pages on our website to see if one of your projects is eligible for an action grant.”

Organizations interested in pursuing a Whitewater Community Foundation Action Grant should check out the Foundation website at https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/?s=Action+Grants  or contact Ginny Coburn at virginiacoburn@coburn.com for more information.

The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.

More information about the Whitewater Community Foundation can be found at https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/ and on Facebook. 

The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.

Editor’s Note: The above was provided by The Whitewater Community Foundation.

The LWV Whitewater Area is proud to announce that it will sponsor two candidate forums in March in advance of the April 7th Spring Election.

Whitewater Common Council Candidate Forum

Saturday, March 7, 1:30PM – 3:00PM

Whitewater City Hall Council Chambers, 312 W Whitewater Street

There are three open seats on the Council with two candidates running for each seat. The candidates are:  Aldermanic District 2 (Wards 9 & 10) Gavin Kelleher and Sean Liebherr;  Aldermanic District 4 (Wards 6, 7 & 8) Brian Schanen (incumbent) and Chuck Mills; and, Member at Large Aubrey Thompson and Orin Smith. All candidates have agreed to attend the forum.  

WUSD School Board Candidate Forum

Saturday, March 14, 1:00PM – 2:30PM

Whitewater City Hall Council Chambers, 312 W Whitewater Street

There are three open seats on the School Board and four candidates. The candidates are:  Stephanie Hicks (incumbent), Lisa Huempfner (incumbent), Christy Linse (incumbent), and Terri Jones. All candidates have agreed to attend the forum.

The League sponsors candidate forums for the benefit of YOU, the voter. At the forum, you will be asked to write your questions on cards distributed by the League. Questions are reviewed by question checkers, who sort them by topic and check for redundancy. We do not accept questions targeted to specific candidates. Questions prepared by the League board will be used only if there are not enough questions provided by residents in attendance at the forum.  

Both forums will be moderated by League member Karl Brown, Associate Professor of History at UW-Whitewater.

City of Whitewater Urban Forestry Commission – Monday @ 5:30 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2347588688575?p=zch7gsowSGLOzNCwSV

City of Whitewater Police & Fire Commission – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the below link to join the meeting
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22182703466609?p=72YXfCFHNXiMmjlwbO
You can also dial in using your phone:
Phone Number: 1-929-229-5663 Phone Conference ID: 359 534 838#

Whitewater Unified School District School Board =- Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes A. Resolution Establishing Parameters for the Sale of Not to Exceed $15,575,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes; B. WUSD 2024-25 Audit Report; .C. Referendum Update; D. UWW Childrens Center and Whitewater Unified Partnership; .E. Strategic Planning Update
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
6:00 p.m.
———————————————–
6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82146377184?pwd=AEdIoBt14wLTmdFeoJWyayWVdLL5Xf.1
– Passcode: 836551
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 821 4637 7184
– Passcode: 836551

City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Review and discussion of status of the Innovation Center and the Early Childhood
Education and Childcare Center (ECEC) project; Review and possible action on Development Agreement with Whitewater Alpha Real Estate, LLC; and Discussion on moving garbage and recycling services to a special charge.
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West
Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190 *In Person
and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2767274998917?p=JZsyPGk11aeZdpBrcG
Meeting ID: 276 727 499 891 7
Passcode: rv3TB3nK
Dial in by phone
+1 929-229-5663, 890210123# United States
Phone conference ID: 890 210 123#

City of Whitewater Lakes Advisory Committee – Wednesday @ 4:00 p.m.
Agenda
Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West
Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190 *In Person
and Virtual
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 – 4:00 PM
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/23024647953882?p=0xWG70oJJ3JEQ1YW1K
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/23024647953882?p=0xWG70oJJ3JEQ1YW1K
Meeting ID: 230 246 479 538 82
Passcode: pa7ka3GW
Need help? | System reference
Dial in by phone
+1 929-229-5663,,717102861# United States
Phone conference ID: 717 102 861#

Jayne Lubke playing the organ that will be dedicated on April 19

The Milwaukee Brewers’ former organist will keynote the dedication of First Congregational United Church of Christ’s newly installed organ. Dean Rosko of Allen Organ Co. will highlight the organ’s features during the Fort Atkinson church’s 10 a.m. worship service on Sunday, April 19.

Serving as organist for worship will be Jayne Lubke. The Nurture ministry team will host a luncheon following the service.

The public is invited to the organ dedication. Among the attendees will be the Rev. Rachel Bauman, associate minister of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ. First Congregational UCC received the organ from the Whitewater Congregational United Church of Christ when it closed permanently last April.

The Renaissance Quantum organ manufactured by the Allen Organ Co. was dedicated to the memory of the late Robert Jennings. A music professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for 26 years and choir director at the Whitewater church for 17 years, Jennings passed away in 2013.

The founder of Allen Organs of Wisconsin LLC in 2020, Rosko served as organist for the Brewers baseball team from 2003 until right before the 2024 season, when the live organ was removed from American Family Field. He also has been the organist for Milwaukee Admirals hockey games at UW-Milwaukee’s Panther Arena since 2015.

In addition, Rosko is director of music and organist at the Church of the Gesu next to Marquette University in Milwaukee, vice president of the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society and a past board member of the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

The costs for procuring, moving and installing the Allen organ at the Fort Atkinson church totaled $40,032.37. Persons wishing to contribute toward that effort may write a check to First Congregational UCC with a notation of “Organ Fund” in the memo line.

Located at 31 W. Milwaukee Ave. in Fort Atkinson, First Congregational UCC is an inclusive congregation that welcomes persons of all races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, family structures, faith backgrounds, abilities and economic circumstances.

For further information about the church or organ dedication, call (920) 563-4802 or email
officefortucc@gmail.com.

The Whitewater Music Boosters is holding its next bi-monthly meeting on Monday, March 2nd from 5:30-6:30 PM. Don’t forget – we are only meeting via Google Meet ( https://meet.google.com/fko-afzc-hxa ) for the remainder of the school year.

Agenda, Past Minutes and Other Documents:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TuBl93A6i-eHoumy9RN1HDvYWYLHdbeN?usp=sharing

Constitution:https://docs.google.com/document/d/176FiAPf8aBMIY6qAUMseCVGTBSoBRencaSgcpmIwuek/edit?usp=sharing

Ways to get involved: 

Way #1:
We know that our meeting times don’t work for everyone, but anyone can volunteer!

Whitewater music events frequently need your assistance. Look for opportunities from Whitewater Music Boosters and from teachers in the future. Volunteering is a great way to support students in their music experience.

Upcoming arts events:

Feb. 26 HS Spring Play 7:00pm HS

Feb. 27 HS Spring Play 7:00pm HS

Feb 28 HS Spring Play  7:00pm HS

Mar. 1 HS Spring Play 2:00pm HS

Mar. 2 Middle School Orchestra Clinic 3:30pm MS Band Room

Mar. 3 Chamber Music Festival 4-8pm HS 

Mar. 4 Elem. String Recital 3:40pm LINCS Cafeteria

Mar. 14 District S&E (HS ONLY) ALL DAY East Troy HS 

Mar. 17 Lakeview Fine Arts Night 5-7 pm Lakeview Elem.

Mar. 20 Washington Spring Program (4/5) 1:30pm Washington Elem.

April 9 MS Play  Daytime   HS Auditorium

April 10 MS Play 7pm   HS Auditorium

April TBD    HS Jazz & Music Master Tour 2:00-3:30  Middle School

April 11 MS Play    7pm   HS Auditorium

April 12 MS Play    2pm  HS Auditorium

April 15 Chamber Music Recital 7:00 pm   HS Auditorium

April 25 State Solo & Ensemble Festival    All Day UW-Whitewater

April 23 Lincoln Fine Arts Night 5:00pm Lincoln Elem. Gym

April 28 MS Show Choir/Jazz Band Concert 7:00pm WMS Cafeteria

April 30 Spring Orchestra Festival  6:30pm HS Auditorium

May 1 MS Jazz/Show Choir tour   All Day District Elem.

May 5 6 & 7th Grade Band Concert  7:00pm HS Auditorium

Way #2:

Over the recent years, our funds have steadily decreased, so we could use people to donate and/or fundraise! In addition to supporting student activities through volunteering, Music Boosters supports the growth of students through sponsoring music related activities and providing monetary support for instruments, uniforms, and other needed items that aren’t budgeted for. Donors are recognized on social media and through the programs at district music events, but can also donate anonymously if it’s preferred.

Donate/Share Form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qkxHs1iNBujuaWKY7SqiDjH4QjZQ5dg2/view?usp=drive_link—

Whitewater Music Boosters

Supporting the Whitewater Unified School District

wwusdmusicboosters@gmail.com

Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by WWUSD Music Boosters.

The Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association (WPRA) has named Jefferson County Parks Director Kevin Wiesmann its 2025 Park Section Outstanding Professional of the Year. Wiesmann received his award during a reception at the WPRA Annual Conference & Trade Show on February 5 in Wisconsin Dells.

The Outstanding Professional of the Year Award recognizes parks professionals with seven or more years of experience who excel in their mission to promote the benefits of parks and whose actions hold true to the WPRA mission statement: “So everyone can play.”

“Kevin leads a talented, dedicated Parks Department staff that ensures residents and visiting guests enjoy all that our parks have to offer throughout Wisconsin’s four seasons,” said Michael Luckey, Jefferson County Administrator. “Our parks aid in preserving the rural heritage of Jefferson County, which is central to our way of life and a point of community pride.”

Wiesmann oversees an extensive collection of outdoor recreational amenities, including 22 County Parks, more than 1,300 acres of parkland, facilities, and flood-mitigation properties, popular trails for bicyclists, hikers, snowmobilers, and cross-country ski enthusiasts, and an acclaimed Dog Park. His team has developed key relationships with volunteer teams and “Friends of” groups, resulting in more than 400 hours of volunteer work and investments of more than $300,000 in the Jefferson County Parks Endowment Fund, per the 2025 Parks Department Annual Report.

In 2026, Wiesmann is leading an update of his team’s Parks & Outdoor Recreation Plan (PORP), which will inform parks development in Jefferson County for the next five years. “We are excited to interact with our Parks fans to hear what they value most about our County Parks and get feedback for making these special places even better for all visitors,” said Luckey. “With Kevin’s guidance, I’m certain our plan update will provide thoughtful stewardship and great ideas for future park spaces.”

For more about Jefferson County Parks: https://parks.jeffersoncountywi.gov/

The following students are members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s production of “The Prom.” The production, directed by Robyn Accetta and produced by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide of New York, New York, will run Feb. 20-28 at Barnett Theatre in UW-Whitewater’s Greenhill Center of the Arts

Whitewater, WI 53190: Olivia Mauritz, who is studying Art, is a member of the Cast, serving in the role of Ensemble/Understudy Kaylee.

Whitewater, WI 53190: Alex Martin, who is studying Music, is a member of the Pit Orchestra, serving in the role of alto saxophone.

Tickets are on sale for the performances and can be purchased in person at the Greenhill Center of the Arts, online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. There is a $2 surcharge for tickets purchased at the door at the time of the event. Barnett Theatre is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190. For additional information about the UW-Whitewater Department of Theatre/Dance visit uww.edu/theatre.

About “The Prom”

“The Prom,” directed by Robyn Accetta, is a vibrant, feel-good musical that brings together an impactful story of queer love, Broadway glitz and small-town grit in a story bursting with humor, heart, and humanity. Full of show-stopping songs and powerful moments, this production celebrates redemption, transformation, and the joy of being seen. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the love, or the glitter – there’s a place for you at “The Prom.” Produced by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide of New York, New York.

Editor’s note: Additional information regarding performances of “The Prom” may be found in this Banner article.

2-15-26

Sunday, February 15: Steve Watson writes, “Two pair of swans by the scenic overlook this morning. One pair decided to find better accommodations and took flight.”

Monday morning and two are still here. Apparently they’re comfortable here, at least for now.

Our thanks to Steve Watson for making the rounds of the lakes with a watchful eye and camera and sharing the results generously with us.