News

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Ice Age Trail Alliance. Whitewater is an Ice Age Trail Community.

Cross Plains, Wis. (Sept. 1, 2021)— It’s back! The Ice Age Trail Alliance’s popular Mammoth Hike Challenge will take place again this October. 

This year, participants are challenged to walk/hike/run/backpack 41 miles on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and visit 3 trail communities. This is a one-mile increase over last year’s challenge, since 2021 is the 41st anniversary of the Ice Age Trail becoming a National Scenic Trail. Miles can be accumulated individually or as part of a team.

The Challenge is open to all ages and ability levels. That’s in line with the Trail, which offers a variety of trail types; from flat and paved in areas like Janesville or Manitowoc, to rugged and winding in Langlade County. It’s truly a Trail for everyone.

Participants who complete the Mammoth Hike Challenge will earn a 2021 limited-edition challenge patch and certificate. FREE registration is now open at iceagetrail.org/mammoth-hike-challenge.

Itineraries Highlight Trail Communities
To make achieving the challenge goal easier—and encourage participants to seek out new areas they’ve never hiked before—the Ice Age Trail Alliance curated Challenge itineraries, which are available at iceagetrail.com/mammoth-hike-challenge.

The itineraries provide trail maps and showcase the exceptional restaurants, attractions, and historical landmarks in each of the 15 official Ice Age Trail Communities: Antigo, Cornell, Cross Plains, Delafield, Hartland, Janesville, Lodi, Manitowoc-Two Rivers, Milton, Slinger, St. Croix Falls, Sturgeon Bay, Verona, West Bend, and Whitewater.

What’s more, participants are encouraged to download the StriveOn! mobile app. With the power of a smartphone, StriveOn! will activate and connect hikers to unique places along the Ice Age Trail and communities they come across.

The 2021 Mammoth Hike Challenge is sponsored by Duluth Trading Co. and supported by the Department of Tourism Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) grant. In fiscal year 2021, the Department funded 45 JEM projects, awarding $1,130,000 million statewide. JEM grant funds are available to non-profit organizations for the promotion of Wisconsin tourism events and destinations.

“The Department of Tourism is glad to support a campaign that gets people outside and enjoying the natural beauty of Wisconsin, and the Ice Age Trail is such a unique Wisconsin gem,” said Acting Secretary Anne Sayers. “The Mammoth Hike Challenge is a great way to take in glacial landscapes and explore communities near the trail.”

Fast Facts about the first Mammoth Hike Challenge in 2020

• More than 7,240 people registered to participate in 2020
• Generated visitation to all 13 Trail Communities (Sturgeon Bay and Antigo are new in 2021)
• Brought more than $300,000 to local economies

About the Ice Age Trail:

The IAT is a 1,000-mile footpath contained entirely within Wisconsin. One of 11 National Scenic Trails, the IAT highlights the landscapes that were carved out by ancient glaciers, which happen to be some of the most beautiful areas in the state. Approximately 60% of Wisconsin residents live within 20 miles of the IAT.

About the Ice Age Trail Alliance:

The Ice Age Trail Alliance is a non-profit organization which conserves, creates, maintains, and promotes the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. For more information on our work, visit iceagetrail.org.

Editor’s note: The following information is found on wikipedia.org

Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה‎), literally meaning “head [of] the year”, is the Jewish New Year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah (יוֹם תְּרוּעָה‎), literally “day of shouting or blasting.” It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days (יָמִים נוֹרָאִים‎ Yamim Nora’im. “Days of Awe”) specified by Leviticus 23:23–32 that occur in the early autumn of the Northern Hemisphere.

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day celebration that begins on the first day of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year. In contrast to the ecclesiastical lunar new year on the first day of the first month Nisan, the spring Passover month which marks Israel’s exodus from Egypt, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the civil year, according to the teachings of Judaism, and is the traditional anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman according to the Hebrew Bible, and the inauguration of humanity’s role in God’s world.

Rosh Hashanah customs include sounding the shofar (a cleaned-out ram’s horn), as prescribed in the Torah, following the prescription of the Hebrew Bible to “raise a noise” on Yom Teruah. Its rabbinical customs include attending synagogue services and reciting special liturgy about teshuva, as well as enjoying festive meals. Eating symbolic foods is now a tradition, such as apples dipped in honey, hoping to evoke a sweet new year.

The image on the homepage, “Blowing The Shofar on Rosh Hashanah” by slgckgc, is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Editor’s note: The following information is from Wikipedia.

Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September in any given year (i.e. a single day from September 1 through September 7) to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.^[1][2][3] It is the Monday of the long weekend known as Labor Day Weekend.

Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. “Labor Day” was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, which organized the first parade in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the United States officially celebrated Labor Day.^[4]

Canada’s Labour Day is also celebrated on the first Monday of September. More than 80 countries celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1, the ancient European holiday of May Day. May Day was chosen by the Second International of socialist and communist parties to commemorate the Haymarket affair which occurred in Chicago on May 4, 1886.^[5][6]

The image on the homepage, “Happy Labor Day!” by oterrason, is marked with CC0 1.0

Lectures will be recorded and posted to this website: uww.edu/ce/fairhaven

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Kettle Moraine Land Trust.

Calling All Amateur Astronomers: Don’t Miss Astronomy in the Park on Sept. 8
Featuring Veteran Astronomer Dan Koehler, Formerly of Yerkes Observatory

The Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT), in partnership with Walworth
County, will host Astronomy in the Park on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30
p.m. at Price Park Conservancy, located at N6418 Hodunk Rd., Elkhorn.

Under late summer evening skies, KMLT board member and veteran astronomer Dan Koehler,
formerly of Yerkes Observatory, will lead amateur astronomical observers through a beginner’s
presentation designed to introduce basic observing techniques using the unaided eye, binoculars,
and small telescopes. Participants will view basic celestial objects, like stars, planets, and some
“deep space” objects.

In case of inclement weather, KMLT will attempt to host the event on the alternate nights of
Tues., Sept. 14, or Wed., Sept. 15, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Price Park. The group is limited to
20 participants ages 10 and older. Registration is strongly encouraged. Attendees should dress
appropriately for the weather. Sturdy, closed-toe shoes or hiking boots are required. A donation
of $20 per person to KMLT is suggested.

Registrations and questions should be directed to Dan Koehler, dkoehler@wi.rr.com. When
registering, please include the name(s) of the participants and a good contact phone number.
For additional event information, please visit https://kmlandtrust.org.

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.

This is the seventh season of the Lincoln Elementary Growing and Learning School Garden. First seeds were planted in late April by all of the students. Each summer families sign up for a week to care for and water the garden. The garden is a delightful way for families and children to nurture and grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables. The garden is also an awesome way to learn about stewardship, responsibility, and provides a great way for children to connect to their food source. Hands-on, sensory-enriched learning takes place here every day, while building lifelong healthy habits. 

Recently the Davis family signed up to water the garden for a week in August and had a great time. Lucy Davis (13) reports that her favorite thing about the garden is the raspberries and Maya (11) says that her favorite thing about the garden is “watering it because you can see all the different food and flowers.” Zeb (8) enjoys playing around the garden!  

To get involved, learn more about this school garden by contacting Liesl Schultz Hying, School Garden Leader, at Lincsgarden@gmail.com.