News

The World of the Arts Explored through UW-Whitewater Lectures in Whitewater and Janesville

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Continuing Education announces free lectures in Whitewater and Janesville this spring. Thirteen lectures offered from January through April will focus on The World of the Arts and are open to all.

For over 40 years, UWW has hosted lectures in the Fairhaven Lecture Series in Whitewater, and began a similar tradition in Janesville in 2020 with the Cedar Crest Lecture Series. From music to literature, film to poetry, the world of the arts will be explored in both series.

Lectures scheduled for 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater include: 

January 29 

Manufacturing “Talent”: How I Teach the Art of Performing

Benjamin Whitcomb, professor, music

Editor’s note: This lecture was already presented. The video is available here.

February 5

Connections Between Art-making, Research and Education

Verónica Soria Martínez, assistant professor, Curriculum and Instruction

February 12

Tragicomedy in the 20^th Century

Michael Y. Bennett, associate professor, Literature, Writing and Film

February 26

Chimes at Midnight: Shakespearean Adaptations and the Late Career of Orson Welles 

Erica Moulton, assistant professor, Literature, Writing, and Film

March 4

Kaftans, Carpets, and the Kaaba: Textiles in the Islamic World

Ashley Dimmig, director, Crossman Gallery

March 11

D.H. Lawrence and the Question of American Literature

Jonathan Ivry, associate professor and chair, Literature, Writing, and Film

March 18

The Handmaiden and the Historical Context of the Japanese Occupation of Korea

Donald Jellerson, associate professor, Literature, Writing, and Film

April 22

Nice Poets. Rude Poets: Satire and Obscenity in Arabic Political Poetry

Asmahan Sallah, associate professor, Literature, Writing, and Film

April 29

Is the Golden-Age of the Broadway Musical Still Golden?

Bruce Cohen, associate professor, Theatre & Dance

Lectures in the Fairhaven Lecture Series are held in Olm Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater. They will be recorded and posted to our website and YouTube channel. Videos of lectures from this and previous series can be accessed for free any time after they are posted. Visit https://www.uww.edu/ce/fairhaven for more information and descriptions of each lecture.

Lectures scheduled for 2 p.m. at Cedar Crest Retirement Community in Janesville include: 

February 22

The Films of Max Ophuls and the Intersection of European and Classical Hollywood Cinema

Donald Jellerson, associate professor, Literature, Writing, and Film

February 29

American Pop Culture Through the Lens of Music

Jeff Suarez, associate professor, Music

Thursday, March 7

Kaftans, Carpets, and the Kaaba: Textiles in the Islamic World

Ashley Dimmig, director, Crossman Gallery

March 13

An Overview of the Profession of Art Therapy

Anna Banwell, lecturer, Integrated Studies

Public lectures held in the Cedar Crest Lecture Series will take place in the Gathering Place at Cedar Crest, Inc., 1702 South River Road, Janesville. Free parking is available and registration is not required. Visit our website at https://www.uww.edu/ce/cedar-crest for lecture descriptions and updates.

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please advise us as soon as possible. Requests are confidential. UW-Whitewater provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA. Please contact Kari Borne at bornek@uww.edu or 262-472-1003 for further information.

About UW-Whitewater

At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater we inspire, engage and transform lives. Our higher education mission began more than 150 years ago — and we now serve more than 11,000 students at our Whitewater and Rock County campuses, 90% of whom stay in the region after earning their degree.  The Warhawk family — led by caring faculty and staff — is devoted to student success within a broad range of academic programs. One of only four Public Colleges of Distinction in the state, the University boasts small class sizes (20:1 ratio), is ranked one of the top 10 public colleges by the U.S. New & World Report, and is the top-ranked college in the state for serving students with disabilities. Continuing Education is committed to meeting the lifelong learning needs of the residents of our region in offering a variety of classes, workshops and trainings that respond to the changing personal and professional interests of adult learners by connecting the University and community. 

A total of 3,757 students earned a spot on the Dean’s List at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for the 2023 fall semester.

The following students were named to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Dean’s List for the 2023 fall semester:

Whitewater

Marijke Arreola

Stephanie Hensel

Tj Kaczkowski

Devon Knowles

Raquel Ortiz

These students have demonstrated their academic abilities by receiving a grade point average of 3.4 or above in a single semester.

“Making the Dean’s List is a tremendous honor. It is a recognition of our students’ hard work and commitment to success,” said John Chenoweth, who serves as UW-Whitewater’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We are proud of our students and hope to see their names on the list again. Congratulations to all who were recognized!”

More than 11,500 students are currently enrolled at the university’s Whitewater and Rock County campuses.

The Fort Atkinson Club Hosts Wellness Day on Saturday, February 3

Saturday, February 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Fort Atkinson Club (FAC), in partnership with Fort Healthcare, invites area residents to this free event focusing on community health and wellness. There will be over 12 experts sharing information on nutrition and fitness, healthy cooking, CPR/AED information, fall prevention and community health as well as preventative screenings, financial and environmental health and more. There will also be chair massage sessions available along with healthy snacks and a variety of other presentations. The FAC, along with Fort Healthcare, is pleased to host this event for the first year.

Wellness Day starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. and will take place on all three levels of the historic Fort Atkinson Club Community Center, which offers a beautiful setting in a historic building overlooking the Rock River. The FAC community center is located at 211 South Water Street East, and visitors can use the front entrance or drop off at our side entrance with elevator, for folks with mobility issues.

“This is going to be a wonderful, fun event and we are thrilled to serve as a venue for many presentations, workshops and informational opportunities that focus on the health and wellness of our community, ” says Executive Director Lawan Glasscock. “There will definitely be something for everyone, from healthy cooking to Zumba demos, wellness screenings and opportunities to connect with those who are anxious to share their knowledge and passion for healthy living.” Everyone is welcome!
For more information, you may contact the Fort Atkinson Club at 920-568-1720.

The Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra’s annual Gala is set for Sat., Feb. 10, 2024, at the Abbey Resort in Fontana.  The event includes cocktails, an elegant dinner and dessert, orchestra concert, auction items, and dancing the night away to the LGSO Swing Band featuring award-winning vocalist Maureen Christine.

The evening starts at 6:00 with cocktails and live music by small ensembles, followed by dinner.  Enjoy a fun evening of music and dancing while supporting a wonderful cause as LGSO leads the audience “Around the World.”

In addition to being the major fundraiser for the year, the Gala is the best way for the orchestra and audience to mingle and get to know each other. It starts with the fact the orchestra isn’t on a stage.  Orchestra members and the audience are side by side as they enjoy the evening’s festivities.

Looking ahead, on Mar. 16 at 7:30 p.m., the LGSO will forces with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Symphony Orchestra at the Young Auditorium in a not-to-be-missed performance of Gustav Holst’s monumental orchestral suite, “The Planets,” along with “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” by Vaughan Williams.

For more information and tickets ($100 plus fees), visit www.LakeGenevaOrchestra.org or call 262-359-9072. The deadline is Sunday, February 4.

Qualifying taxpayers are invited to receive free tax preparation and electronic filing of their 2023 federal and state income tax returns at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Volunteer Income Tax Assistance clinic. This IRS-sponsored program is available for low and moderate-income taxpayers at no cost, and no appointments are needed.  

The UW-Whitewater VITA clinic will be located in the UW-W Community Engagement Center, 1260 W Main Street, Whitewater (next to Walmart). There is plenty of free parking in front of the UW-W Community Engagement Center for VITA participants. Clinic hours are from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays from January 31 through April 10. Clients will be served on a first-come, first-served basis and they should arrive at least one hour before closing.  

The VITA clinic is staffed by certified student preparers and supervised by faculty in the College of Business and Economics Department of Accounting. In addition to providing hands-on experience for graduate and undergraduate accounting students, the free VITA clinic helps residents of Whitewater and surrounding communities.  

“We have many long-time clients who return for assistance each spring,” said Robert Meyers, accounting department lecturer and VITA program co-director. “The opportunity to apply training while working with real people is an invaluable experience for our students.”  

Important information, including a location map, program limitations and required supporting documentation, can be found at https://www.uww.edu/cobe/vita. For additional information, email the VITA Site Coordinator at vita@uww.edu or leave a message at 262-472-5452. 

Congratulations to the following students for participating in the Rock Valley Conference Honors Band on Monday, January 29: Dante Baker, Payton Bunger, Myia Cobbs, Grace Coleman, Jay Downs, Haley Keltesch, Taiya Kolb, Izzy Lavertu, Kay Mikos, and Liz Ngabo.

These students were selected to be a part of this group due to their dedication, hard work, and leadership in the band classroom. They spent the day working with renowned conductor Dr. Scott Teeple from The University of Wisconsin-Madison and performed a concert that same night. 

Article and Photos Submitted by Sam Averill
Whitewater High School Band Director
saverill@wwusd.org

The Greater Whitewater Committee (GWC) will be hosting its annual meeting to celebrate its accomplishments from 2023 and upcoming goals for 2024. This year’s banquet will feature a keynote presentation from Secretary Dan Hereth from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

This event will take place on Thursday, February 8th at 5:30 p.m. at 841 Brewhouse banquet hall, 841 E Milwaukee St., Whitewater. GWC would like to cordially invite the community to attend this event. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., and the keynote speaker will begin presenting at 6:00 p.m with the social hour to continue after his presentation. 

RSVP is required to attend. To reserve your spot, contact Lilly Munkvold or Anna Dahl at pr@knightpublicaffairs.com or operations@knightpublicaffairs.com by Wednesday, February 7th. 

Dan Hereth was appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) in August 2022. Prior to that, Secretary Hereth served as the department’s assistant deputy secretary since 2019, and he served as the Deputy District Director for Congresswoman Gwen Moore since 2007.

The Council of State Governments honored Hereth with a 20 Under 40 Leadership Award in 2023, making him the Council’s first such honoree from Wisconsin.

At DSPS, Hereth has led technology upgrades and guided innovative partnerships with professional associations, employers, and other stakeholders. His work has increased licensing efficiency and bolstered Wisconsin’s professional workforce, while keeping a focus on the department’s public safety mission.

Hereth is a Watertown, WI native and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a Minor in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“ We are excited to hear from Secretary Dan Hereth on all of the success and progress that was made in the Department of Safety and Professional Services,  and their plans for the future,” said GWC President Jeffery Knight. 

For further details, please contact Jeffery Knight at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com. 

 About the GWC 

The GWC is an action-oriented group committed to working with citizens, elected officials, and policy makers to identify, craft, and implement a pro-business agenda. The agenda advances the economic, education, and social policies required to energize and secure the Whitewater area’s economic future, as well as protect Whitewater’s quality of life.

The public is invited to learn about the FIRST Robotics programs throughout the Whitewater Unified School District at an open house on Saturday, February 3. Guests may visit between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. using Door #38 at the high school. This door is located between the back of the auditorium and the overhead shop doors.

Members of the high school FIRST Robotics Competition Team #6574 Ferradermis will provide guided tours of their workspace and the school shop as other members continue to develop this year’s robot. Representatives of the FIRST Lego League Teams from Washington, Lincoln, Lakeview, and the Middle School will also be present throughout the day to show what they’ve been working on this year.

We hope to see you there!

Article Submitted by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor and Banner Volunteer
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

David Stavlo, noted firearm historian, gunsmith, and author will present a program on antique American firearms on Sunday, February 4 at 1:00 p.m. in Whitewater. The presentation is being sponsored by the Whitewater Historical Society and will be held at the Cravath Lakefront Community Building, off Whitewater Street [341 S. Fremont Street.) The presentation is free and open to the public.

Stavlo has been working in the antique firearm industry for more than 15 years. He is the owner of Lodgewood MFG, a full service antique firearms shop that specializes in the repair, restoration, and sale of antique firearms dating from c.1445-1945. Stavlo’s work has been showcased in many publications, including Guns of the Old West, and American Rifleman magazines and on television and film productions. Stavlo has shared his knowledge of antique firearms through many presentations at institutions and organizations around the Midwest, from the Kenosha Civil War Museum to the Ohio Gun Collectors Association.

Stavlo’s presentation for the Whitewater Historical Society event is “An Introduction to Antique American Firearms, From Colonization to the Civil War,” and will outline the changes in American firearm development over a roughly 250 year span, from the first English settlements on the east coast to the Civil War era. Stavlo will show several original firearms from his personal collection of antique firearms.